Reluctant Hero (The Dunamis Covenant Book 1)

by Ron Francis

  "Fine, I know your middle name because we were friends as kids and everyone used to call you TJ." She paused because this was painful for her and it wasn't how she wanted him to find out about their past. "Your middle name is Jefferson because your parents were history buffs. You were my best friend in elementary school. You gave me the stuffed tiger you saw in your dream on our first day of kindergarten. When your parents died and you moved away, I never even got to say goodbye. I cried for weeks." A tear began to form in her eye, but Thomas wouldn't look at her. He just drove faster.

  "You knew me from when we were kids? Why didn't you just say something? Why would you lie about that? I told you my dream and you acted like it was nothing."

  "It wasn't a dream, it was a memory. I was there."

  "Even worse. That would have been a perfect time to tell me who you really were. How am I supposed to trust you, Abby? You've been messing with me this whole time." He swerved across two lanes and took the exit.

  "Where are we going, Thomas?"

  "We're going to meet Lucas, he'll be able to help us."

  "Thomas, no, we can't trust Lucas."

  "What do you mean, 'we can't trust Lucas'? Of course we can trust Lucas, he's my best friend!" He paused and then added, "If there's anyone here I don't trust right now it's you, and you still haven't told me what's going on." She felt like she had been punched in the gut when he said that last line. She hated to think the man she loved didn't trust her.

  Chapter four

  When they arrived at the warehouse-styled club Thomas thought Lucas would be at, he began to look through the dark, crowded room, but couldn't find his friend. Moving lights of changing colors swept across the people dancing to the loud music, while around the edges of the club, people talked and drank in low lit booths. He could tell that Abby didn't want to be here, but he didn't care. People eyed him because he was carrying his backpack. If they needed to run again, he didn't want to have to leave it behind. His phone beeped with a text and he realized that he hadn't checked his phone in a couple hours. He checked his message and it was from Lucas, it read: Thomas, we ended up on the west side of Dallas at an old school bar called Dannyboy's. Hope we'll see you later.

  Thomas couldn't believe his luck. He was almost forty-five minutes away from Lucas, at a club where he didn't know anyone, with a woman he barely knew and didn't trust. He began to walk back towards the door where Abby stood, impatiently tapping her foot and looking at every person as if they were a potential enemy. He walked past her and she followed him out of the club into the foyer. He noticed two more of those dark-clad warriors walking towards the door of the club. He looked to Abby and could tell that she had seen it, too.

  The foyer they were in was nearly seventy feet long and fifteen feet wide. The walls were corrugated metal, and the metal rafters in the open ceiling created an industrial look. There were three entrances to the foyer from outside and one large entrance to the club from the foyer. Several people were milling about, either waiting for a friend or trying to temporarily escape the driving bass of the music inside. There was one entrance on each side of the foyer, and one larger entrance in the middle which was lined up with the entrance to the club. They were standing in front of the larger entrance while the two warriors gradual approach to the building was nearing its end. Thomas knew he hadn't been spotted yet, but also knew it wouldn't be long.

  "We need to get out of here, TJ," she said. She looked at his arm and added, "You're injured and unarmed, we can't keep fighting these guys."

  "How are we getting away from them? Are your people around? Are they going to protect me?" Thomas motioned air quotes when he said the word people. He found himself in the unenviable position of being insanely attracted to a woman he didn't trust. Maybe I should just hear her out. He didn't know what to do when all of a sudden, the two warriors were tackled in the parking lot. "What was that? Who did that, Abby?"

  "I can answer that! If you will come with me," A voice from the other side of the foyer called. Abby and Thomas whirled around and looked over at the voice, ready for another attack. She could tell Thomas recognized him.

  "The purse snatcher?" he asked. "Abby, what is the purse snatcher doing here?"His confusion was evident as his defenses dropped and he looked back to Abby.

  "He's not a purse snatcher, it's a long story," she replied.

  "Great, another long story! Wait, I know him from somewhere else, too. Your name is Asa, right?"

  Asa's shock was evident as he replied, "You remember me?"

  "I heard my father call your name in my dream a couple nights ago." Thomas replied.

  "Well, your world is about to become a whole lot bigger, but you need to come with us now or you will be killed!"

  *****

  "Someone needs to tell me what's going on?" Thomas yelled while they drove away from the club in Asa's black Escalade. The adrenaline had slowed and now the questions came flooding in.

  "You have experienced a glimpse of the world you truly belong to." Asa replied as he merged onto the highway.

  "Did that sound good in your head before you said it? Because to me it sounded pretty stupid, and it didn't really answer my question." Thomas said, rubbing at the bruise above his eye.

  "There's no need to be sarcastic, TJ," Abby said. "Asa will explain everything to you. You just need to give him some time." She was wrapping a new cloth around the cut on his arm while she spoke.

  "Those men tried to kill me with swords! With swords, Abby! And it sounds to me like you knew it was going to happen. I feel like I'm almost out of time, so let's skip the preamble and just skip to the part where you let me know what's happening right now. Starting with the fact that you knew we were friends as kids, and why you know the purse snatcher. Is everything charades and lies with you people? He hated to yell at Abby, but at least now he knew why he felt there was more going on. I never would have guessed in a thousand years that this, whatever this is, is what she was up to. He was trying to keep cool, but he was desperate to know all the details of this new reality he was thrust into.

  "Fine," Asa replied. "You want to know all about us, I will tell you. First, I played the role of bag snatcher to make sure Abby met you. We knew you had no knowledge of your true identity and needed to act fast because dark forces were closing in. My apologies if you feel manipulated in any way, but I assure you, it was for your own safety."

  "All right, fine!" Thomas replied. "What's done is done. Now, what's this 'true identity' stuff all about?" Thomas noticed they were driving back towards Arlington, and he thought they might be heading to Abby's house.

  "Our people are called Ethereals. There are three types of Ethereals that walk among normal humans; Mages, Paladins and Shifters. The Dark Clans have a different name for their Paladins but their abilities are the same. They call themselves Zdrada. All Mages have magical type abilities to a varying degree. Many Mages have almost no power. Some can do no more than slide a penny across a desk, or influence the role of a dice, others can cast powerful spells, heal a wound, or even use telekinesis to move objects with their minds. The powerful ones have several of those abilities. Mages are born with misshaped ears, like that of how humans portray elves. In modern times, most Ethereal parents that have Mages will cut their children's ears at birth, so the children can live as normal humans. As you can see," he took his hat off and gestured to his own ears while he drove. "Mine did not." Asa turned off Green Oaks onto Cooper and Thomas knew they were heading to Abby's house.

  "With Paladins, there is no difference in appearance in any way between Paladins and normal humans. Most Paladins, like Mages, have little if no power. You might see them as a great athlete, or they might be a good fighter. Paladins are endowed with physical gifts, like Mages and Shifters, some are good and some are bad. Some of the more famous Paladins are people like King Richard the Lion Heart and Theodore Roosevelt. For the strongest Paladins, they have a physical prowess beyond measure, and charisma that attracts people in addition
to their strength and speed."

  "You keep saying 'normal humans'. Are you not normal, or are you not human?" Thomas asked.

  "Yes, WE are human, but there are slight differences. Our people grew alongside humanity, but humanity has always feared our powers. With good reason, too, the dark clans of our race can cause great unrest for normal humans." Asa answered while turning onto Abby's street.

  Thomas was intrigued, the information could not come fast enough, but he did want to slow down and get some clarification. "So, do Mages read from a kind of book of spells then, like Harry Potter or something?"

  Asa frowned at the mention of the famous book series. "Not exactly. While many Mages do have powers, we were born with them. We don't have a book of spells or potions we make," Asa replied.

  "But you do cast spells? Right?"

  "For lack of a better term, yes, but not in the way you mean. Some Mages are powerful enough to make things happen with their words, but there is a limit to what they can do, and they don't have to memorize or chant a set group of words to make it happen. For some of the younger ones, that sort of thing helps them focus, but in reality they can use whatever words come to mind."

  "What about wiccans, are they Mages?"

  "No, they are just normal humans trying to find their own way. They are looking in the wrong place, but they mean no harm."

  "So, are you and Abby good Mages then?"

  "Abby is not a Mage." It seemed to Thomas that Asa was beginning to get irritated by his questions. They pulled into the driveway of Abby's red-trimmed house and they piled out of the car. They were met by a group of men at the door of the house.

  Thomas ignored the men and continued questioning Asa. He noticed that Abby hadn't spoken since Asa had begun his explanation. One of the Mages began tending her wounds while another cleaned and bandaged the gash he had in his arm from the Zdrada's sword. "Okay, what am I then? Why am I so important?"

  "You are a Paladin."

  "I'm a Paladin? Is that how I was able to knock that Zinder or whatever he is across the room?"

  "Zdrada," Asa corrected. "And yes it was, now let me explain, Thomas, with no more questions until the end," Asa paused and then continued his explanation. "We believe you to be one of the most powerful Paladins in history. That is why the dark forces seek to kill you. They killed your parents when you were seven years old. One of our Mages along with two Paladins were able to get you to safety far away from the people that sought your destruction."

  That revelation almost knocked Thomas off his feet. This can't be right, he thought. "But I was told my parents died in a car accident. Are you saying that my aunt and uncle lied to me all those years?"

  "No, that is what they were told, for your own safety. The Mage who found you in the woods after your parents had been murdered also put a spell on you to forget your true identity in an effort to keep you safe. Your interaction with Abby seems to have brought some of those memories to light."

  Thomas looked over to Abby and noticed she wouldn't meet his eyes. He looked back at Asa and asked. "Where does Abby fit? Is she a part of this whole Ethereal world or does she just work with you guys?" He noticed for the first time since they had come into the house that it was almost bare. There was no decor on the walls, and there were a few folding chairs around a plastic table in the dining room. An old brown couch with some more folding chairs facing it made up the living room's furnishings.

  Asa gestured to the couch and said, "Have a seat and we'll continue." When Thomas sat, Asa looked at Abby, and then back to Thomas and continued his tutorial. "Abby is a powerful Shifter. She can take several different shapes if she needs to. The less gifted Shifters can only take one other shape. Among these less gifted ones, wolf is the most common shape they can take. The powerful ones can take several shapes. The easiest shapes for a Shifter are the wolf, the tiger and birds of prey such as an eagle, hawk or falcon. These forms are the easiest because they have been passed down from generation to generation. In the beginning, those forms were chosen because those animals were feared or revered by many cultures. After centuries, they became the easiest shapes to take. Shifters also have the power to force images into people's minds."

  Thomas wasn't sure he believed that last part. "Shifters? Really? I'm not sure I buy that."

  "Be that as it may, those are the three types of the Ethereals in summary. Some believe our race's name comes from the idea that we are descendants of the children of fallen angels. According to the book of Genesis, chapter six, they were called the Nephilim. Many of us do not buy into that theory, although there is no other theory as to where we came from. Right now, Ethereals account for less than one-tenth of one percent of the world's population. Even with those of us manifesting considerable powers, we could never fend off all of humanity if they desired our destruction. Now you may ask your questions."

  Thomas sat in silence for a long moment before looking up. "First of all, I really don't believe much of what you just said. If you're a Mage, show me your power." Thomas sat there with an unconvinced look on his face.

  Asa sighed, "Fine, if it's a demonstration you require, pick any item in this room. Anything at all, and I'll throw it across the room with my mind."

  Thomas pointed to the plastic table that had the chairs around it and said, "That table."

  Asa pointed at the table, moved his finger, and the table sailed into the wall. "How about the chairs, would you like me to throw them as well?"

  "Holy!" Thomas was shocked. Maybe it is all true. He thought about all he had just heard and then asked the next question to pop into his head. "In my dream, I heard the words; 'Dunamis Covenant' several times, what does it mean?"

  "Dunamis is the Greek word for power. The Dunamis Covenant or Covenant of Power is an agreement between the Council of Light and the Shadow Assembly that neither group will seek ultimate power. It was enacted thousands of years ago and it is what Devlin threatens," Asa replied.

  "Who's Devlin?" Thomas asked.

  "Devlin is the man that had your parents killed, he is the man that sent those men to your house and to the club to kill you, and he is the man trying to break the covenant which would expose Ethereals to humanity." While he spoke, the men that had treated his and Abby's wounds left the safe house to make sure the neighborhood was secure.

  "So, we're trying to protect the covenant then?"

  "In a manner of speaking, yes."

  "I gotta tell you, Asa, I don't think I'm the guy to stop this Devlin character. Pick someone else, it's not me. I just want to be a normal guy living a normal life."

  "Trust me, Thomas; I can assure you that you are the one! How else can you explain your ability to fight off armed attackers, or know who I was before I introduced myself? You are the one to lead the fight against Devlin."

  "I can't explain any of this," Thomas said, still not convinced, and continued on a different line of questioning. "So you're also telling me that Abby can change into an animal? I don't believe that one either." Then a thought hit him, wait, did she push that image of her kissing me into my mind? What about the one of her being knocked down? Did I not have those thoughts on my own? That thought troubled him, because if that were the case, she had violated his mind even if she thought it was for his own good.

  Asa looked at Abby and said, "Abby, it is time. I understand you wanted to bring Thomas along a bit slower, but now he knows." She looked at him with her green eyes pleading for something, but for what? Acceptance? Does she think I will be driven away when I see what she really is? He nodded, wondering if she could do it, or if this was all a big ruse. He wasn't sure he could trust anything she said anyway, but he did want to see if she could really become an animal.

  She undressed and Thomas wondered if he should look away. "Tiger is my favorite form to take, are you sure you're ready?" she growled. Before he could indicate his readiness she became a tiger, a fierce, green-eyed tiger. The transformation was almost instantaneous. Thomas jumped back a little. He hope
d she didn't notice. He flinched again when she roared. She shifted back to herself and looked up with a wary eye to see Thomas eyeing her with a look of astonishment on his face. She put her clothes back on with practiced ease, her eyes never leaving Thomas.

  All Thomas could think to say was, "Wow! I can't believe that's possible."

  "You're okay with this? You're not repulsed?" she asked with hope in her eyes.

  "Shocked maybe, but not repulsed. I do have some questions, and you have a lot to answer for." When he said that, Asa left the room to give them time to talk. Thomas was shocked that what he had just witnessed didn't drive him screaming from the room. This must all be a dream, he thought even though he knew it wasn't. Still, he hoped to wake up any moment now. He began to pace around the room, then he asked her, "When you turn into a tiger, can you still understand us? You know, still hear what we're saying and know what we are doing?"

  "Yes, I retain full comprehension, but I am unable to speak except to roar; which I kind of enjoy." She was looking up at him as if seeking his approval. Gone was the confidant woman that had been toying with him since they first met, replaced by this timid young woman that was desperate for reassurance. He wasn't sure if he was the one to give it to her at the moment. He still didn't trust her and he was already trying to process a lot. He was being told he was part of some secret magical world, his parents were murdered by some mystic bad guys, and that people could become tigers and wolves. He needed to talk to Lucas. As if Lucas would understand any of it and be able to advise him. His reaction would probably be, 'Is she still hot? Then I don't see the problem.'

  Thomas walked into the kitchen and poured a glass of water. He drank it in two gulps and then returned to the living room. He sat in the edge of the brown couch and said, "Asa said that you could force images into people's minds. You put that image of you kissing me in my mind when I first saw you, didn't you? Then you put that second image of you being knocked to the ground in my head as well. Why? Was that to trick me into helping you?" He didn't understand why out of all the things that had happened since he met Abby, that this was what was bothering him.