The Ones Who were Chosen

by Lady Lilium

  ‘Oh Drake’ Lucas said shaking his head. ‘I don’t even know where to begin.’

  Strange creatures began to appear all around them, of every size and shape. Lucas recognised them as aberrant, drawn to Ebony by some unknown will. They slowly began to approach her, wary however of the other guardians.

  ‘Are we safe here?’ Drake whispered, nervously backing away from a beast that passed inches from him.

  ‘Don’t be afraid’ Ebony called to the others as she dusted herself off. ‘They will not hurt you.’

  ‘Lucas watch out!’ Reuben shouted.

  Lucas’ his heart stopping in his chest at the sight of the aberrant that stood behind him. A tall exaggerated beast, with a thin body and a long tube-like mouth. It narrowed its eyes at Lucas, towering over him and hissing.

  ‘It’s ok’ Ebony reassured him. ‘They are safe.’

  ‘That’s the same beast that nearly took my life’ Lucas spoke calmly back at her, staring up at the aberrant as it remained immobile where it stood.

  ‘He was probably just scared’ Ebony comforted. ‘These creatures are not bad, only misunderstood.’

  The aberrant moved closer to Lucas then, making a strange noise as if smelling him.

  Lucas lifted a hand tentatively. He reached forwards, fingers outstretched. He touched the aberrant at the base of its tube mouth, the creature jerked back slightly as if startled. Its skin was extremely hot to the touch.

  ‘You see’ Ebony beamed. ‘They’re not bad at all.’

  ‘Come away Lucas’ Reuben said to him mistrustfully.

  The aberrant drew away from Lucas sharply, suddenly hissing; clearly now it was agitated. It stalked past him, drawing closer to Ebony and standing near her, as if simply waiting.

  ‘We have to do something’ Indigo said to the others, now having calmed himself.

  ‘But what can we do?’ Siren asked him. ‘I have lost my orb fighting the creature Li, I can no longer see Crystal, and you’ll be hard pressed finding a philosopher’s stone that does want to be found.’

  ‘You think I don’t know that?’ Indigo shot back, smacking a hand to his forehead in frustration. ‘But we must do something. Or else Lagoon…’ he trailed off, hand slipping from his forehead as he lapsed back into thought.

  ‘She’s really that important then?’ Sian asked.

  ‘You have no idea’ Siren raised an eyebrow at her.

  ‘Then she must be found’ Sian said.

  ‘I can find her’ Ebony mumbled.

  ‘What?’ Indigo broke from his trance then. ‘What did you say?’

  ‘I said I can find her’ Ebony repeated, this time louder.

  ‘How?’

  Ebony threw her arms out, indicating all that was around them. ‘Aberrants’ she said.

  ‘I don’t follow.’

  ‘You brought the aberrant Culture with you to help you search’ Ebony went on. ‘These aberrants are drawn to her. She is stronger than me after all, more power, more magic. They are more attracted to her than they are to me. I could locate Crystal using them.’

  ‘How?’ Indigo repeated.

  ‘By my demand.’ Ebony examined her surroundings, as if searching for something. ‘Ah’ she said when she had found it.

  She leant forwards, opening her hands out as one of the aberrants crawled closer to her.

  ‘The aberrants fled when Crystal was attacked’ Ebony said. ‘She must have sent them away to protect them.’

  Ebony placed her hands lovingly under the chin of the beast that had approached her. A scrawny thing with a short face, large teeth and great black wings folded beneath its black body.

  ‘I can control them’ Ebony whispered, ‘as she can. I can send them to her, so that she may be found.’ Ebony tilted her head towards Lucas and Reuben. ‘Are you ready to fly?’

  ‘Yes’ Lucas said quickly, overriding Reuben as he opened his mouth to speak.

  ‘But Lucas’ Reuben spluttered. ‘Are you sure you want to do this? You could get hurt. You remember how powerful the elder guardians we fought were?’

  ‘Don’t you see?’ Lucas said turning to him. ‘We finally have a purpose now. Don’t you remember when we were kids how often we wondered why? Now we know. This is what we are meant for, as guardians. To protect.’

  ‘Spoken like a true guardian’ Indigo nodded slowly with pride. ‘I feel that you will grow to become something great.’

  ‘So this aberrant will lead us to Crystal?’ Reuben asked Ebony doubtfully.

  ‘It will’ she nodded.

  ‘Then what are we waiting for?’ Lucas asked.

  ‘We don’t have wings like you do’ Indigo told him. ‘We will have to catch you up.’

  ‘Fine.’

  ‘And who else will come?’ Indigo raised his voice, speaking to the others.

  ‘I must stay with my brother’ Sian said. ‘I've got a lot of explaining to do. I owe him that much.’

  ‘He will not understand’ Indigo glared impatiently.

  ‘I must try nonetheless.’

  Indigo shrugged.

  ‘I will go’ Venom said, stepping forwards. ‘I want a taste of what it’s like to be a guardian...this new life.’

  ‘You will get it’ Indigo told him in warning. ‘Have no doubt about that. Lauralie, Sian, Drake,’ he said facing them in turn. ‘Can I trust you to watch over Ebony while we are gone?’

  ‘I'm not getting involved’ Drake said flatly. ‘I want nothing to do with this life.’

  ‘We will watch over her’ Lauralie breathed, glancing towards Ebony and forcing herself to smile. ‘We’ll um…wait here.’

  ‘You’d better go quickly’ Ebony said. ‘There’s not a lot of time.’ She ran her hand over the aberrant’s forehead that stood before her, sending her wishes into its mind.

  The winged creature backed away, turning and beginning to run. Gaining speed and quickly rising in the air.

  ‘Hurry’ Ebony told the brothers.

  Simultaneously the brothers called forth their wings, magnificent dark bronze wings, almost identical to one another.

  They leapt to the sky, Ebony gasping in wonder as she watched them go, swiftly followed by the other winged creatures. The aberrants without wings remaining on the ground ran in the direction the brothers flew, the direction Crystal was. Indigo and Siren unprompted ran in the same direction, following the beasts as Venom followed after them.

  Ebony remained, with Lauralie, and the ever quiet Diz. Sian kept close to her brother, and Drake stood separate from the group, watching Ebony and conveying no emotion whatsoever. Ebony noticed his missing arm, and wondered with sadness what he must be feeling.

  ‘Please’ Ebony whispered to the sky. ‘Come back safely…Lucas…’

  It was out on the balcony of the hotel that Lagoon was sitting and drinking. The iced whisky half full sloshed around in the cut glass that he held. He swirled the ice around again.

  It was quiet in the room behind him. Arran and Kreas had gone. Lagoon found himself wondering if they would both return alive.

  He took a sip of the sharp whisky, and spoke to himself.

  ‘There are many threats out there.........many guardians….much magic…….we will get them in the end. It’s only a matter of time.’

  It was then, as if in answer to his words, that he saw the most curious thing.

  It was a sort of mechanical dragonfly, with jewelled eyes of emerald green and fast beating glasslike wings. It was beautiful.

  ‘What is this?’

  It darted towards him, though Lagoon sensed it was no threat.

  He held out his hand instinctively, and the dragonfly landed on his palm. A vision shot through his mind. A girl in a white dress running through the town towards him; she had long white hair and her eyes were grey.

  It was her.

  The dragonfly jumped off his hand then, darting through the air and into the room behind him. Lagoon rose from his seat, and followed the mechanical device through the room, towards the st
airs and up, reaching the highest floor and going further. The dragonfly led him to a door that opened out onto the roof.

  Outside it was very cold, and the wind was strong this high up.

  Standing on the edge of the rooftop, facing away, was Crystal.

  ‘Calmly, and without fear. Do you know what fate meets you my dear?’

  Crystal turned slowly to face him. The dragonfly darted about above their heads.

  ‘Tell me. Why do you choose to give up now after all this time?’

  ‘I came here willingly’ Crystal told him, ‘so that no others would come to harm.’

  ‘Such a gentle soul’ Lagoon cooed. ‘So caring.’

  ‘I wish for no more pain’ Crystal said. ‘No more suffering.’

  ‘Then you shall have it’ Lagoon replied. ‘I shall harm the others no more.’

  Lagoon reached for his belt, and drew forth a gun. Very slowly, he began to load it.

  Crystal took a deep and steady breath as she watched him.

  ‘There are other guardians on their way here’ Lagoon told her. ‘They wish to save you.’

  He finished loading the gun, lifting his chin up high and observing her.

  ‘Two of them will be here soon. They are young…let me think…’ he closed his bright yellow eyes, brow furrowed in concentration. ‘I can feel them’ he whispered. ‘Brothers. With wings.’ He sneered.

  ‘Please don’t hurt them’ Crystal begged him. ‘They only wish to protect me.’

  ‘My dear’ Lagoon reassured her. ‘It is only you that I want.’ He bowed his head. ‘Here they come.’

  The brothers landed either side of Crystal, facing this new stranger with defiance.

  ‘I find it strange’ Lagoon voiced before either of them had a chance to speak, ‘that you would put yourself in harm’s way to protect her.’

  It was only a short time later that the other guardians arrived, Indigo, Siren and Venom. And all around them, aberrants began to appear. They flocked in the sky, blocking out the sun in all their mass, and on the rooftop they gathered in number. Some followed after the guardians through the building, and others climbing up the outside of the building itself.

  Lagoon shrugged when they had all appeared, sighing and showing his hands.

  ‘I guess that is all of you then.’ He ran his fingers through his blue streaked white hair. ‘Even with all of you’ he told them. ‘You could not stop me.’

  ‘Powerful, but not invincible’ Indigo replied.

  ‘Oh Indigo. We used to be such good friends once.’ He sighed in reminiscence of that time long ago. ‘I may not be invincible’ Lagoon gleamed, showing white teeth, ‘but I'm near enough.’

  And then he did something that surprised everyone. He threw the gun to Siren.

  ‘Here’ he said to her. ‘Shoot me.’

  She raised the weapon slowly, holding the gun with both hands. Her arms began to shake violently, as she slowly turned the barrel of the gun towards her own head.

  ‘No!’ Crystal screamed.

  Lagoon gave her a mischievous look, putting a finger to his lips and turning back to Siren to watch. Indigo who had jumped forwards to strike Lagoon had stopped suddenly, he too was trembling violently now. His shoulders were quivering as he reached inside his robes, pulling out his sword and turning it on himself.

  ‘One more to go’ Lagoon sang with pleasure, turning towards Venom. ‘Oh.’ He looked disappointed. ‘You have no weapons on you. How sad.’ He flashed his perfect teeth again. ‘No matter. We can improvise.’

  One of the abarrants nearby turned on him, grabbing Venom from behind and immobilizing him.

  ‘You can control aberrants?’ Venom gasped, as he was held down by a fiery beast with massive horns.

  ‘I can do many things’ Lagoon rejoiced.

  He threw his hands up towards the sky, and as one, all the flying beasts scattered as fast as they could, heading in every direction away from them. Those without wings also fled, escaping the rooftop by any means necessary, and howling as if in pain. The only aberrant that remained, was the one holding Venom down.

  ‘There’ Lagoon said with pleasure. ‘That’s better.’ His look turned sour then. ‘I could kill you all if I wanted. It would only take but a mere thought.’

  His attention moved towards the brothers.

  ‘Do you want to try anything funny?’

  Reuben glanced towards Lucas, but he looked defeated, as if he realised this was too much for them to handle. Now he only looked on.

  Lagoon smirked. ‘I didn’t think so.’

  He pulled a second gun from his person, pointed, and shot.

  The bullet hit her in the centre of the chest.

  She fell, disappearing over the edge of the building.

  The magic forcing Siren and Indigo to turn the weapons onto themselves ceased, and the aberrant released Venom. But by the time they looked up, Lagoon was gone, along with the philosophers stone Crystal.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Last Breath

  Lucas could hear nothing but the blood pumping in his ears, the adrenaline coursing through his body. He thought of Ebony, as he turned and glanced behind him, to the drop where Crystal had fallen seconds before.

  But she was nowhere to be seen. And when Lucas faced ahead again, Lagoon too was gone.

  Indigo was losing his mind. He had fallen to his knees, laughing hysterically in panic and despair.

  ‘Did you see that?!’ he cried. ‘Even with all of us we’re no match!’

  ‘Indigo’ Siren screamed shaking him violently. ‘Get a hold of yourself!’

  Venom calmly turned to the aberrant that stood behind him, hissing at it. The beast snarled back, then turn-tailed and ran, as fast as it could away and to places unknown.

  Lucas took a step back towards the edge.

  ‘Lucas?’

  He fell, as Crystal had done. Spreading his wings and soaring away, ignoring his brother as he called after him.

  ‘Lucas!’

  Only one thought rested in Lucas’ mind. One fear; and that was for Ebony.

  They would surely be coming for her next. He had to reach her before they did.

  He found Ebony, with Lauralie, Diz, Sian and Kyle. Drake was nowhere to be seen.

  The moment he landed, Ebony ran to him and embraced him.

  ‘Lucas!’ she cried, sobbing into his shoulder. ‘Crystal is dead!’

  ‘I know’ he replied calmly.

  She looked up at him. Her large bright pink eyes so beautiful and so sad began to shimmer.

  ‘I felt her fear’ Ebony whispered. ‘She was so afraid…’

  ‘Ebony’ he told her grasping her firmly by the shoulders. ‘I have to get you out of here. We have to escape.’

  ‘Oh Lucas…’ tears began to roll down her cheeks. She could no longer hold them back. ‘There is nowhere I can run now that they won’t follow’ Ebony cried. ‘I cannot leave this town! I am trapped here because of the magic all the elder guardians put here in order to trap her.’

  ‘I have to try’ Lucas pleaded. Unconsciously in his desperation he dug his nails deeper into her shoulder, but she did not flinch.

  ‘But you’ll put yourself in danger.’

  ‘I don’t care’ Lucas shot back defiantly. ‘I just can’t….I can’t…’ He gritted his teeth, eyes beginning to shine.

  Ebony raised her hands towards him, lifting his chin up.

  She stood on her tip toes to reach him, kissing him deeply. Lucas in his shock did not resist.

  He knotted his fingers around her body, spreading his wings.

  Rising upwards, he flew away with her.

  Back on the ground, Sian uncrossed her arms.

  Taking a slow and steady breath, she silently turned and strode away.

  ‘Lucas’ Ebony begged, as she squirmed in his arms. ‘Lucas put me down.’

  ‘I have to get you out of here’ he said back to her, holding her tightly so that she would not fall.

  ‘I can’t�
�� she whined. ‘I can’t leave the town. Please put me down.’

  Lucas began to drop closer to the ground, tilting his wings to slow their descent. However, completely unknown to him, his path was being followed by a creature on foot.

  Lucas landed in a quiet alley and let go of Ebony.

  ‘You’re so strong’ she said to him, ‘I wish I was like you.’

  ‘I'm not strong’ Lucas answered with remorse. ‘I am weak, so weak. I failed to protect my brother in the past. I failed to protect Crystal. I failed even to protect you.’

  Lucas cast his mind back, thinking of Lagoon.

  ‘That man who killed Crystal. He was so powerful. He was able to stand against all of us, with only the slightest effort.’ His eyes glazed over then as he thought of Lagoon and his incredible power. ‘I want to be like that someday. I want to be powerful like him. If I were, then maybe I could have done something.’

  Ebony lifted her hand, touching the side of his face tenderly.

  ‘It’s not your fault that I am trapped here Lucas. It’s the fault of those that hunt me.’

  ‘We could try to escape this town’ Lucas urged.

  ‘I can’t’ Ebony shook her head. ‘I cannot cross the net that surrounds this town. It would hurt me. I am afraid, that if I do somehow manage to cross it, it would kill me.’ She lifted her head up towards the heavens. ‘It is there’ she whispered, ‘directly above us, right before my eyes. I can see it.’

  ‘I see nothing’ Lucas said glancing up.

  Ebony bowed her head.

  ‘I just wanted to…’ she drew a deep breath, struggling to speak now, as if her throat was tightening. ‘I just wanted to thank you’ she said at last, meeting his gaze. ‘For everything you have done for me.’ She bit her lip, so hard that it began to bleed. ‘Thank you’ she whispered with a smile. ‘No matter what happens from now on, I want you to know that I regret nothing.’ She faced him directly now, standing tall. Suddenly she was not afraid.

  ‘I love you Lucas.’

  His heart stopped in his chest, and he stood there before her utterly still.

  Ebony stared back at him, her unnatural bright pink eyes so different to the ones he had first known.