Chapter 13
“That’s absurd Lydia there’s no way we could be twins.” Caleb said looking more at Belac than at her. ”My mother died when I was baby and my father never said anything about having a brother.”
“Because your father was ashamed of what happened I’ll bet having sent away your brother.” Grace guessed getting drawn into the conversation.
“Shut up Grace.” Lydia snapped. “We don’t know what happened back then all we know is that they share a twin trait from our ancestors’ way of doing things, in the end I could be wrong and they might not be twins at all.”
“Yeah that’s why we look so much alike because we aren’t related.” Belac frowned.
“Isn’t there someway we could find out for sure?” Grace asked.
“There’s only one person that could possibly know for sure, we would need to ask the Spirit King he has knowledge of everything that happens within the barrier. Maybe he can remember what happened back then.” Lydia pondered out loud.
“First things first before we go I’d like to know something.” Caleb said.
“What’s that?” Belac asked.
Taking Graces’ hand Caleb looks at her in the eyes. “For a very long time now Grace I’ve had feelings for you but I never said anything because I didn’t want to pull you into the problems our lives came with, I never wanted to risk you and if I couldn’t fully date you then I didn’t want to try at all, for me it was all or nothing but now that you know the truth about us I want to know if you will be my girlfriend?”
Surprised Grace puts one of her hands to her mouth. “I’ve wanted to be with you for the longest time Caleb! I’d marry you right now if you’d let me!” She laughed nervously tackling him in a hug.
“Wow, is it just me or did she take that a little too far?” Belac laughed.
“Not really, typically our people are married by sixteen or seventeen.” Lydia answered. “That still doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.”
“Really you guys get married that young?” Grace said more nervous then she was before.
“Yeah, ready to get hitched?” Mace said walking into the room.
“Ah no.” She answered.
“They’re just teasing you Grace ignore them, let’s just work on being boyfriend and girlfriend for now.” He smiled.
Wrapping him in her arms with a deep passionate kiss both of them feel a charge of energy through them making them forget where they are and leaving them a little dizzy from the feeling.
“Wow I haven’t had many kisses in my life but that was something!” Grace said holding her head still reeling from the kiss.
“Same here.” Caleb smiled in a daze.
“That’s wonderful lover boy I’m so glad we now have the security risk in our group but if you recall we have a few pressing matters to attend to right now.” Lydia frowned.
“Maybe you and Mace should actually kiss for once it may do something for you.” Caleb snapped annoyed at her.
Looking at Mace. “I’d rather kiss a lawnmower blade.” She rolled her eyes.
“Hey he’s not the only other guy here my lips could use some attention.” Belac said raising his eyebrows.
“There’s a pig pen out back knock yourself out slick.” She laughed walking towards the door. “Now Caleb decide what you’re going to do with your…girlfriend while we speak to the king.” Lydia says forcing herself to be polite.
“That wasn’t funny Belac, keep your eyes and mitts off my fake girlfriend.” Mace yawned. “Now where are we going? Clearly I missed something.”
“Yeah, Lydia thinks we are twins so we’re going to go and ask the Spirit King if it’s true.” Caleb answered.
“Of course it’s true.” Laughed Mace. “According to the archives you had a twin brother that died at the same time your mother did clearly that was a lie or exaggeration.”
“You knew about this and never told me.” Caleb said getting in his face.
“I thought that your dad had told you and you just never wanted to talk about it.” Mace shrugged.
“Are you kidding me? I’m supposed to know everything there is about our people and yet today I find out how twins are named and that I have one.” Caleb said sitting in a chair holding his temples.
“Wow you really didn’t pay attention during our lessons did you?” Mace said walking back out of the kitchen. “Let me know when we’re leaving I’ll be in my room.”
“Big day, you find out you have a twin brother, your father lied to you and you have a girlfriend! Congratulations!” Belac smiles.
“You seem to be taking this well.” Grace eyed suspiciously.
“When you’ve been kicked from foster home to foster home with creatures trying to kill you for reasons unknown to you things like this don’t really surprise, besides I’m just happy I have family and a place to live now.” Belac shrugged. “I don’t need to know why my mother and father abandoned me frankly I’m not sure I want to know I don’t think any answer would make me feel better.”
“I’m sorry you’ve had such a rough life.” Grace said empathically.
“It’s in the past, I’ve put it behind me.” He shrugged. “So are we going to ask the big kahuna or what?”
“Yeah even if you don’t want to know I do, Grace would you mind staying here until we get back? I don’t know how the King would take to you being with us.” Caleb questioned.
“I don’t know how I feel about staying here all alone while you guys are gone, I don’t think Lydia would like that very much.” She answered.
“You can wait in my room, there’s a TV, dvd player, radio and video game system.” He said leading her into the hallway with Belac following them. “Belac your room will be right across the hall from mine.” He said over his shoulder pointing to the room across from his.
“Are you sure you want me to stay here?” Questioned Grace looking at his perfectly clean room.
“I’m sure we have a lot of time to make up for.” He smiled.
“We’ll be back before you know it.” Belac smiled closing the door after inspecting his fully furnished room.
“I’ll be waiting.” She smiled kissing Caleb one last time before he closed the door.
Belac waited as the two of them finished kissing, afterwards the two of them walked by Mace’s room pounding on the door with a shout letting him know it was time to go, before they reached the end of the hall Lydia came bounding up the stairs frantic and out of breath.
“We’ve got problems!” She said holding her side.
“What is it Lydia?” Belac questioned concerned like he had been a part of the family for years.
“A force of fifty dark clan members have attacked the barrier trying to get through I’m told they are lead by three cloaked figures probably the new leaders we’ve heard about and they seem intent on trying to destroy the king. A general call to any light clan members that can help and of course to us has gone out.” She answered holding her side.
“So much for getting any answers today.” Caleb said grabbing a staff.
“Oh we’ll get some answers it’ll just be after we beat the hell out of some unwanted visitors.” Belac smiled grabbing a sword from the wall.
“This isn’t like the few losers at school newbie this is battle hardened dark clanners, you make a single mistake and you’re dead.” Lydia snapped.
“Relax on the speeches Lydia he’ll be fine.” Caleb said stepping in between them.
“If you say so, he’s your brother. You guys want to risk it that’s your problem.” She huffed walking past them to Mace’s room. “Rise and shine Mace we’ve got work to do!” She said banging on the door.
“Geez clam down sweetie I’m sure the Spirit King will be there whether or not we hurry.” Mace yawned.
“Not if he’s killed.” She said smacking him on the back of the head.
“Killed?” He questioned rubbing his head.
“The barrier is under attack, now let’s go.” She yelled pus
hing him towards the stairs.
“The barrier is under attack?” He repeated grabbing an axe off the wall. “Well why didn’t you say so?”
“I did say so, now let’s go!” She yelled. “The battle is on the west end of the barrier.”
“Then Belac and I will head to the west end of the barrier.” Caleb decided.
“Why?” Lydia demanded.
“The only reason I can see that they would be attacking in force is to draw us there and away from the other side of the barrier. We’ll fly to the east end and if I’m wrong we’ll immediately turn around and join you in the west end fray but I’d rather be safe than sorry.” Caleb reasoned.
“Fine, hurry up and go on your wild goose chase.” Lydia said calling the spirit of a hawk to her and flying away.
“For the record, I understand why you are going to check out the west end but I hope you are wrong about the trick.” Mace said calling a cheetah spirit to merge with.
“Do you really think it’s a diversion?” Belac asked.
“It’s what I would do if I were them.” Caleb pointed out.
“But I thought nothing by itself could cross the barrier.”
“Like I said better safe than sorry and with the barrier getting weaker who knows what could happen.” Caleb said calling a spirit to himself and growing wings.
“Lead on then Caleb but for the record I hope you’re wrong too.” Belac said calling up a spirit himself and growing wings.
Together the two of them flew to the east end of the barrier over looking everything as the barrier stretched into the distance, Caleb was about to turn around so they could go join the battle when suddenly a glimmer catches the corner of his vision.
Turning sharply in the air Caleb and Belac land in a nearby tree watching in disbelief as Lucas slowly forces himself through the barrier.
“It’s not possible!” Caleb whispered to Belac. “Lucas has never been this strong.”
“Maybe we should wait until some others can help us then.” Belac pointed out.
“No, he’s the one that killed our father he has to pay for what he did.” Caleb said staring in anger.
“Then I’m with you brother let’s have some revenge.” Belac said jumping from the limb of the tree ready to plunge his sword into Lucas’ chest but right before he reaches him Lucas moves with indescribable speed twisting and grabbing Belac by the wrists and slamming him into the floor.
Less than a second later Lucas has the sword at Belac throat looking up at Caleb in the tree. “What shall it be Caleb, watch your friend here die or take his place the choice is yours.”
Unexpectedly a portal opens in front of Lucas with a familiar woman jumping on him and in seconds draining his energy until he throws her off running into the forest towards Passion Falls.
“Are you okay?” She asked helping Belac to his feet as Caleb landed next to them. “You boys should be more careful.”
“We can handle ourselves.” Belac said dusting himself off. “Miss…?”
“Heather, but you two can call me mother seeing as you are my children.”
Spirit Warriors The Tunnel Of Light Page 13
