Forged by Greed

by Angela Orlowski-Peart

  “Well, that sucks, doesn’t it? And this opportunity happens only once every ten thousand years? Why would the Magicians do that? Shouldn’t they create the Amulet just to ensure the balance and peace? Why leave a loophole?” He was getting both confused and angry.

  “It wasn’t up to them, if that’s what you are implying. Nobody can overwrite the natural laws of the Universe. That loophole was there already at the time of the Amulet’s creation. No magic, even the most powerful, can change that. So there is only one way to save the peace in the Human World. You and Jasmira must not be together and in love during the winter solstice this year.” Crystal gently stroked her ravens’ feathers. The birds’ beaks opened slightly, as if they were trying to decide what noise to make.

  “So you took the memories away only until this is over?” Jatred sounded hopeful.

  Crystal turned away from him and started walking. She crossed her arms cover her chest, and the wide sleeves of her white tunic fell back to her elbows.

  “Why is this knowledge such a secret? If the other Shifters knew what’s going on, we could unite and fight.”

  “To prevent the panic from building up and spreading, these facts must be handled in a secretive manner. The Shifters of either Race can’t do anything to change the ways of the Universal powers or to restrain the Summer Goddess from her ambitions and fantasies. She is very powerful and rarely merciful or considerate of those who get in her path.”

  “But there must be something we can do. We can’t just sit and wait, keeping everything covered-up.”

  “My priority is to protect you, my Prince, and the lives of all my Shifters and the humans,” said Crystal, her expression earnest. “If the knowledge of the Amulet and its powers spreads throughout either or both Races, your life might be in danger. And if some of your kind, or the Summer people, learn about the ten-thousand-year mark and its implications, both you and Jasmira will be in grave danger. Some people would try to stop the events from happening by simply ending your lives.”

  Jatred stopped in his tracks, a look of incredulity on his face. He shook his head and resumed walking, catching up to the Goddess.

  “Remember. If both Races’ Royal heads are romantically involved during this year’s winter solstice, they will set the wheels in motion for Amber. The powers of the Universe are always channeled through each Race’s King and Queen. And when these powers are unleashed by your and Jasmira’s love, even the Amulet won’t be able to stop the Summer Goddess.”

  “So you just took a liberty of removing a part of my memories? Without asking—”

  “Prince Jatred!” Crystal whipped her face around, her eyes blazing. The ravens took to the wing in a hurry. “I had no choice. Too much is at stake. You simply must not be involved with Jasmira. Don’t you understand?”

  The air around the Goddess exploded into thousands of tiny icicles. They rushed out in all directions. Jatred’s body throbbed in pain where the icicles stabbed him. He gasped, ducking low, and covered his head with his hands. Heavy dark clouds appeared from nowhere and hung low over their heads. Thunder shook the area and a bolt of lightning split the clouds. Freezing rain fell over him, prickling his skin like miniature daggers. The flesh on his exposed hands and neck was covered in small red marks. Blood oozed from each spot in thin wavy streaks. He clenched his teeth. Crystal’s frenzy lasted for almost a whole minute, but then the storm receded and revealed a blue sky above.

  Jatred looked up at the Goddess. His head was still tucked between his shoulders. She transformed into Gaia, an ancient Greek goddess of creation. She stood close to twenty feet tall. Her long green hair fell in cascades over her shoulders and down past her waist. An abundance of green leaves, twigs, flowers, and seeds were woven through her tresses, making them vibrant with life. Tiny animals, birds and bugs crawled and hopped along the length of her hair. The Goddess’s pale-blue eyes didn’t have any pupils, and her skin took on a green hue.

  She raised her arms to the sides. Her long lime-colored gown flowed in the cool breeze. When she gazed down at the startled Jatred, her lips didn’t move, but he heard a clear whisper in his mind, “Prince Jatred. Obey your Goddess and protect your Race. Have faith in me. I will lead you through hardship. Go now and be vigilant.”

  Slowly, she moved her arm forward. Jatred looked at her hand. She opened her fist, revealing the Amulet. A series of blue rays burst outward in a symphony of brilliant display. The Amulet flew to him, and the chain slithered around his neck like a snake. The clasp fastened itself in place. The Amulet felt as cold as an ice cube against his skin.

  A series of images ran in front of Jatred’s eyes, like a fast-forwarded movie. He saw himself as a toddler with his laughing parents on the floor behind him; uncle Tyrrell, much younger, throwing him up in the air, and catching the giggling two-year-old in his arms; Jatred running with a soccer ball and kicking it hard at his father, who guarded the goal, then jumping, his little five-year-old fist pounding the air; himself again, encircling his small arms around his mother, his ear pressed onto her pregnant belly, listening intently; six-year-old Jatred, wailing in Tyrrell’s tight embrace, his small face stained with tears, his skinny body shuddering from uncontrolled sobs.

  CHAPTER 30

  Human World, November 17, early afternoon.

  Jatred lay on his back, panting, his eyes opened wide. Cold drops of rain drummed on his face. He rolled onto his side and propped himself up on his elbow. He looked around, trying to decide what to do next. If these visits to the Winter Realm continue, I’ve gotta figure out a way to get thrown out of there right inside my house. Preferably onto my bed, and not in some random location. Damn rain, it’s so freakin’ muddy here.

  He assessed his appearance and cursed. Thick dirt that had stuck in clumps to his clothes and Converse shoes was running in the rain, leaving brown streaks on the fabric.

  “Jatred?” He heard a girl saying his name, a note of disbelief in her voice. A pair of worn-out tall boots with metal buckles transitioning into tight blue-jeans materialized in front of him. Savannah looked down at him incredulously. She wore a short green jacket and a round flat-crowned hat, pushed to the back of her head.

  “Oh, hey, Savannah,” Jatred managed a small smile, raising his hand in greeting. He was still propped up on one elbow, trying to look comfortable and matter-of-factly. “Long time no see.”

  “What are you doing lying in the mud? What happened?”

  “Uhm… nothing.” He shrugged and got up, smiling.

  She fixed him with an odd look. Her eyes traveled from the dirt smudges on Jatred’s face to his muddy shoes. The corners of her mouth twitched. “You call that nothing?”

  “Do you live close by?” he asked, as if his disheveled looks had not been a subject of their conversation. “I could walk you home, if you want.”

  “Sure. It’s just a few blocks from here.” She smiled and started walking. “I always cut through this park when I walk home from work.”

  “You’re coming back from work already? What time is it?”

  “Must be just a few minutes after one. I left the store at one. On Saturdays I work there only a few hours,” she said, stealing a side-glance at Jatred.

  I’ve been gone only for about five minutes. Funny, how the concept of time is so much different in the Winter Realm. I could never get used to it. It totally felt like hours. He scratched his head and looked sheepishly at Savannah. He cleared his throat and asked, “So. Do you work every day?”

  “Nah. I go to school. I just help my mom on Saturdays. She’s the manager of that store,” she said, swinging her small purple backpack back and forth. “When Dad left us, I decided to contribute to our ridiculously low budget. It just felt right to help her, especially because she… kinda struggles with some… uhm, bad habits.”

  “Sorry to hear about that. And about your dad—”

  “It’s okay. He wasn’t really my dad, just a stepfather. And not even a good one.” She shrugged, her face indifferent.<
br />
  “Where do you go to school?” Jatred took his muddy jacket off and, rolling it into a ball, stuffed it under his arm.

  “Waldorf High School.” Savannah looked at Jatred, who now wore only a semi-clean black t-shirt and his mud-splattered jeans. “Aren’t you a bit cold?”

  “No,” he said uncaringly.

  She was silent for a long moment. “Yep, I guessed that much.” She nodded, fixing him with a knowing glance.

  Jatred lifted his brows and laughed. “What? I usually don’t feel cold.”

  “That’s what I thought.” She stopped in her tracks and faced him. “Are you one of them? I mean, like Logan?”

  Jatred looked away, smiling. He bit his lower lip and returned his gaze to Savannah, studying her features. “What do you think?” His eyes bored into hers.

  “I think you are.”

  “Are you afraid of me?” Jatred’s smile disappeared.

  “There’s nothing to be afraid of, when you know what you’re dealing with,” she said somberly. “And I know. I know a lot about your kind.”

  “So you should also know we aren’t much different from humans,” he whispered, leaning close to her ear, and then pulling back to study her reaction.

  She held his gaze in silence. Something relaxed in her features, and a small smile returned to her lips. “No. I think you’re better than us.”

  “How did you figure out what I am?”

  “Logan taught me. It’s something in your face, like an animal face underlying the human features. Or your eyes maybe. I don’t know how to explain it.”

  “Logan should keep his mouth shut.”

  “But we were together. I figured out right away he wasn’t like us… like humans. He wouldn’t say anything, but I kept nagging him.”

  Jatred pulled the front of his t-shirt up, revealing his flat stomach with strong abdominal muscles bulging under his skin. He wiped the rain off his face with the shirt and tugged the fabric down into place. Savannah watched him in silence, one of her eyebrows lifted. She smiled awkwardly when she realized he’d noticed. She shivered and shook her head. Drops of water danced off her hat, rolling down over her jacket.

  “You’re freezing. I would’ve offered this, but …” He motioned to the bundle under his arm, smiling broadly.

  “But it’s covered in muck,” she finished his sentence, laughing. “Thank you anyway. That was very considerate of you.”

  She casually bumped her shoulder into his arm. Jatred looked as if he was trying not to laugh.

  “So you and Logan are not together anymore?”

  “No.” She swung her backpack and looked expectantly at Jatred. He returned her gaze and grinned. She laughed softly and bit her lower lip.

  “Then, can I see you again? Soon maybe?” he asked, looking away. “Not like a date. Just to hang out, you know.” He kicked a round pebble to the side of the path.

  She tilted her head to one side, considering. “Uhm, yeah. That would be fine, I suppose.”

  “Tomorrow night?” The corners of his mouth lifted. He kicked another small rock. Two black crows, grazing in the grass, jumped up with a screech and flew away.

  “Let me think about that.” She casually bumped her shoulder into him again.

  He laughed and stuffed his hands in his jeans pockets.

  “I have violin practice tomorrow at eleven. Then I need to finish my homework, but I should be done by four or so.”

  “Dinner then. My treat,” he said. “Violin, huh?”

  “Yep, I’ve been playing since I was seven.”

  “I wish I could say I’m musically talented.” Jatred grinned. “But that would be a long stretch.”

  “I’m sure you have some talents.” Savannah let out a short laugh.

  “If you stick around, you might see plenty of them.”

  “This is where I live.” She stopped in front of a small rambler house.

  Green moss grew in patches on the roof. The paint was peeling from the window frames, and one of the gutters was broken. The grass in the tiny yard was mowed though, and flowers were planted along the fence.

  Savannah followed Jatred’s gaze and said quietly, embarrassed, “It’s not much. But it’s ours.”

  “Not everyone can live in a mansion.” Jatred smiled and shrugged. Something tugged at his consciousness after he said that, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. He frowned and looked away, suddenly deep in thought. Mansion, mansion, mansion. What about a mansion? A vision of a very large house with a three-tiered fountain in front of it swirled in his mind. He didn’t hear Savannah’s answer, and she had to touch his arm to get his attention.

  “Jatred?” Someone called out his name.

  They both turned and saw Penelope, a look of surprise on her face. She stopped her white Audi by the opposite curb and hopped out of the car, keys in hand. Her long red tresses cascaded down her back..

  “Jatred, for Goddess’s sake. You’re okay!” she shouted with her mind to him. “Jasmira is going crazy over all this.” And out loud she added, trying to keep her voice casual, “Hi, Savannah.” She stopped in front of them and looked at Jatred, assessing his messy appearance. Then her gaze fell back on Savannah standing close to him.

  “Hi, Pen. What’s up?” Jatred tipped his chin, smiling to Penelope, and then added with his mind, “Not as okay as I was before, but still alive. Let’s not talk about this now.”

  Penelope glanced between their faces. “You know each other?”

  “Yeah. Kind of.” Savannah shivered and wrapped her arms around herself.

  Jatred gently touched her arm and asked, “Are you cold?”

  At that motion Penelope’s eyes got wider. She opened her mouth but no sound came out.

  “Oh, I’m fine. Don’t worry.” Savannah shook her head.

  “Jatred, what are you doing?” Penelope’s voice sounded alarmed in his head.

  He ignored her remark and instead said, “Nice wheels. New?”

  Penelope looked at him. She no longer tried to keep worry out of her face when she said with her mind, “Jatred, you have to see Jasmira. It wasn’t her fault. She was tricked by—”

  Jatred’s eyebrows drew together, and the muscles of his jaw clenched. “No idea who you’re talking about. Everyone tells me about her. But I don’t remember anything.”

  Savannah looked from Penelope to Jatred in silence. She didn’t hear them speak in each other’s head, but suspected it. Slowly, she slid her hand around Jatred’s arm and leaned closer to him, causing Penelope to glare at her.

  Noticing Penelope’s expression, Jatred breathed a small laugh and shook his head, “Okay, Pen. It’s cool.”

  “I better go. See you later.” Penelope tried to keep her expression indifferent, but failed miserably.

  “Yeah.” Jatred nodded.

  Penelope pressed her lips into a tight smile. “Bye, Savannah.” She turned around and walked to her car.

  Jatred and Savannah followed her with their gaze.

  “That was… interesting,” Savannah said when Penelope drove off. “Was she upset about something?”

  “About my ex. I’m sorry. Look, don’t worry about that.” Jatred faced Savannah, his hands clasped behind his back. He watched her, the smile gone from his face. For a moment, when a gust of wind tossed her straight blond hair, he thought it looked black and curly. He blinked, but the vision was gone. She shivered again.

  “You’re cold. You should go inside.”

  “I’m all right.” She shrugged and smiled. Something caught her attention and she leaned closer to Jatred. She looked keenly at the gold rope-chain barely visible above his t-shirt. “That’s so pretty. What is it?”

  The jewel pulsed with an icy energy against Jatred’s skin. Amulet. I must get it home.”

  “I should let you go. I’ll see you tomorrow night. Should I pick you up from here?”

  A look of disappointment crossed Savannah’s face. “Yeah. Sure.”

  “Okay then. See you.” He
smiled tentatively, and then took a few steps backwards. She stood by the shabby gate, her hand on the metal handle. She smiled and waved to him. Jatred stuck his hands in his armpits and, turning around, quickly strode away. His hand shot to his chest where the Amulet pressed gently against his skin, the icy feeling gone.

  CHAPTER 31

  Human World, November 17, early afternoon.

  “You’re back! Are you okay?” Tyrrell sprang to his feet and walked hurriedly toward Jatred.

  “I’m fine.” Jatred winced and coughed.

  “Did she give you the Amulet?”

  “Yep.” Jatred pulled the Amulet from under his t-shirt.

  “Let’s put it in the vault.” Tyrrell’s face relaxed at the sight of the jewel. “Where did you end up this time?”

  “In the muddy grass at the park down the street.” Jatred dropped his rolled-up hoodie onto the floor. He kicked off his muddy Converse shoes and rushed after Tyrrell to the basement.

  “I don’t like this summoning,” Tyrrell murmured, his voice deep. “I knew the Goddess was going to call you to the Realm but still… You’re in the house with me one second and gone the next. At least she didn’t keep you long.”

  Jatred didn’t say anything. He looked down at the Amulet hanging from his neck and slid his fingers over it. Tyrrell stole a quick glance at Jatred. They entered the basement without turning the lights on. Their eyes adjusted quickly to the darkness as they maneuvered between the shelves.

  “We didn’t do much of anything outdoors this fall,” Tyrrell commented. “The preparations for your coronation are to blame for it. Good thing we’ll climb tomorrow morning.”

  Jatred winced. The coronation. So weird, like we lived a couple centuries ago. The thought reminded him of something, or rather of someone. I talked about this with… who was that? He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. In his mind he saw dark-brown eyes, the same color as his uncle’s. But these belonged to a girl. She rolled them in mocking exasperation.