by Lynn Landes
She hears the scream of a child in pain. Elina takes off at a full run into the trees, towards the sound. Heart pounding in panic, she pushes through thick trees and hears mocking laughter, followed by another scream of pain.
Rage ignites in an instant when Elina sees a young girl surrounded by two fallen angels and a group of ten demon companions. They are laughing and tormenting her. Elina begins to build her power, letting it ripple through her body and into her hands. The heat feels good she thinks, as she waits for the perfect moment to strike.
Her eyes are drawn to the black hair of the young girl. She looks to be about ten years old, but it is hard to tell because her hair covers her face. The child is cowering on the ground and nursing her wounded arm.
“Tell us where your family hides and we will kill you quickly, girl.” One of the fallen promises. The group of demons surrounding her snicker, for they know it’s not true. The little girl stands up and cradles her arm.
“If you are smart, and your kind never are, you will let me go and run before my brother gets here.” The laughter dies as the group becomes agitated. Some hiss and spit with rage at the audacity of the child. Anger fuels the hunger for blood and the desire to hurt her grows stronger.
“I will make you watch, child, as I skin your brother alive and then you will join him in his endless…” the fallen angel starts to say only to be interrupted.
“Yeah, I’ve heard it all before,” she says covering her yawn with her good arm. Elina smothers her chuckle, I like this kid she thinks. Her smile fades as a demon strikes her across the face, sending a spray of blood across the green grass.
The child grunts and falls with a thud to the ground and looks up at the demon with a smile. She tosses her hair back from her face and wipes the blood from her mouth with the back of her good hand.
“I warned you,” she whispers with a wicked grin and black wings explode from her back. She leaps straight up into the air and lands on the top of a tree, clinging to it like a monkey. Elina’s heart almost stops when she hears her call out, “Hey, where’s the popcorn?”
Oh my God! It can’t be her! Distracted Elina steps from her cover, into the open, just as the ground below the clearing explodes with warriors. They attack the fallen and Elina realizes it was a trap. They used the child as bait to lure the demons! Elina shifts to shadow to watch the battle.
Alexandria leaps from the sky and dives straight into the fray. Her eyes are completely black and she attacks the demon who struck her. He is busy battling the humans, when she lands on his back like a leach! She sinks her fangs deeply into his throat, drinking as much as she can before he flings her to the ground.
“Run now and I may kill you quickly, demon,” she snarls with his blood dripping down her chin.
“Your Father wants you back, Alexandria!” He snaps at her. “Come back with me and I will let these humans live,” he promises.
The child looks away and her black eyes meet the stunned blue eyes of the Keeper and she snaps, “Not today!”
“Lexy?” Elina whispers.
The battle grows fierce and Elina watches as one, by, one, humans are tossed into the center of the clearing, next to the child. Bloody and bruised they are all weary as the leader speaks.
“We seek your leader,” pointing a sharp blade at Lexy’s throat, he asks, “Where is the Hammer?”
Elina’s heart thumps with anticipation for she knows who the Hammer is. It’s Alex! Unable to deny the truth anymore, Elina stares at Lexy, and the reality of her situation strikes home. Malach pushed her ten years into the future!
Lexy is in trouble, where is Alex? Just as the thought forms, she hears the sound of a male voice. “Now!!!” The humans in the circle, huddle around Lexy, linking hands, one moment they are together, the next they are gone!
Elina is stunned to see Alex, the man. He is not the young fifteen year old she remembers. He stands six feet tall, with long dark hair, and the dark eyes of their father. The sight of him brings tears to her eyes and she has to force herself to stand still and stay in the shadow.
Alex smiles and attacks. Her fear for him has her dropping her protective shield and stepping out to help him. He is up against two fallen angels and a group of bloodthirsty demons, they will not touch her brother!
Elina draws her swords carving through three of the demons before she notices they have all stopped moving, and are staring at her.
She smiles at Alex as she leaps at the leader of the fallen scissoring her blades together decapitating him.
Alex recovers quickly and attacks the other fallen angel, who jumps for Elina. The demons surround the two keepers and Alex is forced to put his back to his sister.
“Alex, together we can…” Elina starts to say, but he cuts her off.
“There is no we, Keeper!” Alex lets his fury go and it rolls off of him in a wave detonating the remaining demons and fallen angel. It continues into the trees blowing them over in a shower of splinters and dirt as they fall.
He spins quickly and she finds his sword at her throat. Her turquoise eyes are filled with tears as she stares at her brother.
Chapter 6
“You have put us all at risk by coming here! I should destroy you where you stand!” he snarls at the sister he thinks betrayed them all.
“Let me explain, Alex?” Elina pleads.
Alex puts his sword away, “You will explain, just not here. We have to move quickly, they will follow our threads. Shield yours and follow me!”
Elina trembles with emotion as she does what he asks. They leave the destruction behind and she follows his golden light through space. When she feels the wind stop, they arrive at a small house in the middle of a thick forest.
“Where are we?” Elina asks.
Alex stares at her, “This is the house that was supposed to protect Lexy and me. It didn’t quite work out that way, did it sister?” he growls at her.
“Alex, we need to talk.” She says quietly stepping towards him. Alex backs away from her hand and pushes his long hair back, frustrated. Part of him wants to trust her, but he will not risk his people for her.
“No. I have a better idea. Show me!” he says, grabbing her face with both hands. “Show me your memories,” he whispers and he takes from her what he needs.
Elina does not fight him, she simply gives him all of her memories, their memories, and waits.
“What trick is this?” he asks with horror in his brown eyes.
“No trick, Alex. Yesterday, I was with our family, but Malach,” her voice breaks. Holding back her tears, “What of Malach, Alex? Is he alive?” she asks him.
Alex begins pacing back and forth. Trying to wrap his mind around what he is learning. Elina watches and waits for him to process the information he has discovered.
“Is that all you care about, sister?” through clenched teeth. “What of my Father, or Varena? What about Lexy?” he turns away from her in disgust and stomps away. Unable to look at her for the moment he goes into the small house and gets his medical kit out.
Elina stares at him as he goes inside. She is exhausted and she wonders, ‘Is that all she cares about?’ Quietly she follows him inside and finds him in the dark kitchen tending to his wounds, and he looks at her and lights a candle.
“What about humanity, Elina? Do you not wonder what has gone on in these last ten years?” His anger shows on his face and in his stance.
Exhausted and overwhelmed, Elina looks at him and stammers. “I, I,… of course I do, Alex! I’m so tired. I need to sleep and put things in order. Can’t you see that I am just as confused as you are?” She pleads with him to understand.
He turns away from her, “The morning after Hunter took us and brought us here, I woke up in another place. I was no longer in this cabin but on a ship in China. Her voice whispered to me to get up, waking me and I never understood why, until now.”
Alex looks back at Elina with understanding filling his eyes. He walks past her through the house out onto a back deck. He drops
down onto the ground and begins to pry up the last board on the step. It is old and the nails are rusted squeaking as they are pulled free.
Elina follows him more confused than ever and watches as he draws out a large knife to pry the board up. The cracking and splintering of the wood causes her to jump. He tosses the board aside and pulls out a small wooden box.
Elina steps closer drawn by the look of excitement on his face. “What is that, Alex?” eyes wide with anticipation.
“I will show you, but not here. Follow me.” He pushes past her back into the house and leads the way back to the living room. He places the box on the table and turns to look at his sister. Can he trust her? Should he trust her?
“Don’t be ridiculous, Alex! Of course you can trust me.” Elina snaps her temper flaring.
Alex smiles at her and whispers back, “It has been a long time since I trusted anyone, sister.”
His hands tremble as he slowly opens the lid and pulls out its contents.
“Wake up, she said. The voice woke me and I found that I had traveled back in time. I was on a ship, I could tell by the bunk I was sleeping in and the rocking of the ship. She led me through the passageway to a kitchen, where I found this.”
He looks at the surprise on her face and smiles. “I know it is hard to believe, but if anyone could, it would be you. When I came home, I stashed the box under the steps to hide it. I did not know why, until now. It must be meant for you! I had just finished hiding it, when Varena screamed. Hunter tried to stop them, but they were too strong. I came through the back door in time to watch them pull his heart from his chest. Varena was protecting Lexy. She must have known she wouldn’t escape because she used her gift and pushed me to safety. I don’t know how long I lay in the woods, but when I came home they were gone. I buried my father and never looked back.”
“Alex, I’m so sorry,” she starts to say but he stops her.
“Raphaim has never stopped hunting me, or our kind. He freed the Fallen and humanity didn’t stand a chance. We had no protection. I saved the ones I could and destroyed any that got in my way. I never understood the meaning of that moment, until now.”
He unrolls the cloth covered item and in his hand rests an antique quill. Intricately carved from wood. It is simple and beautiful.
“Alex, it must be for you. It was entrusted to you, not me, brother.” She says stifling a yawn.
“There is no such thing as coincidence, Elina. You can rest for a few hours that is all I can give you. I have to return to my people.” Alex rolls the quill up in the cloth and replaces it in the box
“Below you will find rations. Food and water. Eat and sleep. You will need your strength. You can sleep in the basement, I have made a small bed of sorts.”
She reaches for his hand, but he steps away.
“Alex? I’m glad you’re here. I’m sorry for all you have been through. We will figure this out together,” Elina promises stifling a yawn. She walks towards the basement and follows the steps down to get some much needed rest.
“Rest while you can, Keeper. Once my world knows of your existence they will bring all of hell after you,” Alex says with a dark look in his eyes.
Chapter 7
Elina walks into the darkness of the basement, aided by a small solar powered lantern Alex gives her. Electricity is a thing of the past and fire draws the demons. She sees a makeshift bed on the floor in the corner and is barely able to keep her eyes open. Elina kneels on the floor, placing the lantern and the box on the concrete ground. Bowing her head, she prays.
“Father, I am sinking. I am lost here, those I love are hurt or dead. I do not know why I am on this path, but I trust you to show me the way. Guide me and protect the ones I love. Amen.”
Alex listens to Elina’s prayer and he wonders how long has it been since he has called out to his Father. Had he walked for so long in anger that he’d forgotten how. He slides down the wall outside the stairs and decides to stay. He casts a protective shield around the house. He will watch over her and let her rest. He may not pray, but he does know that things always happen for a reason. They will figure it out, together. Alex leans his head back and closes his eyes, he dreams of her again.
“Our Dreams are more than just our hearts desire; they are a window to the universe. Pay attention to the details, write them down as they happen, before the images begin to fade into memory,” his deep voice tells her.
“I will Ya-Ya.” Maeling tells her grandfather. At eight years old, she is a gifted watcher and it is a family honor to assist those passing over. They are privileged to guide the lost and help them find their way home. All of that changed two years ago when Maeling was taken by a Demon to be used as bait.
The demons wanted to use her to catch the Keeper and they almost succeeded. Elina, the Keeper was able to save Maeling and warn her family of the danger. She told them not to use their gifts until they could shield themselves from the evil concealed in the dark.
In order to protect themselves, they agreed. But a child’s mind is easily healed as trauma fades to memory over time, and memories fade to dreams.
“Last night my dream was so strong, Ya-Ya. I saw a boy older than me and he was in a cave, and…” she starts to say but he interrupts her.
“Less talking, more writing.” He says as gestures at the small wooden table. Maeling’s mother brings in tea. As she looks at the two of them with their heads buried together, she sighs.
“Lessons are over now, Maeling,” her Mother says, “Why don’t you go to the docks and meet your father? You can walk home with him.” She laughs when Maeling jumps up excitedly and runs to get her shoes.
“I love to see the ships!” she calls out as she flies through the doors. The scent of spices fills the air and Maeling takes a deep breath as she looks around.
Maeling skips down the cobblestone street past the wooden markets and through the crowded city streets. Noise overflows as people visit all the markets, buying and trading their goods. She hurries past the fish market and turns the corner.
The massive ship comes into view and the black lacquer boat with red trim pieces is stunning. Today, they were testing the crimson accordion sails. Her Father designed the ship and was in charge of overseeing the construction. She loved to play inside the ship and often found other children her age to play with.
“Baba!” Maeling cries out when she finds her Father watching the sails rise and fall. He turns with a smile to greet his daughter.
“Is it quitting time already?” he asks.
“Yes Baba, we should hurry before the markets close,” she replies jumping up and down in excitement.
He laughs at her enthusiasm telling her, “Give me a few minutes little one. I need to oversee the loading of the cargo. We are checking it today to see how much she can hold.” Rubbing the back of his neck, he turns and yells at someone ordering them to pick up speed, then follows them snapping out orders.
Maeling makes sure to stay out of the way as she watches the workers load the ship. A shadow catches her eye and she goes completely still. It is creeping along behind a worker and she jumps when it leaps onto the man’s back and sinks its claws deep into his chest. The worker struggles under the weight of the invisible demon, not sure why he suddenly feels ill.
Maeling follows silently behind the men loading the ship. All excitement is gone as she walks down the boarding plank and drops down onto the main deck before stopping. She begins to count the shadows creeping along, attaching themselves to the group of workers carrying wooden barrels. They struggle as the demons leech the essence from their spirits. The men hand their loads to the workers below deck, then hurry away to bring more. Maeling stays observing the scene until she hears her name called. Her father is looking for her.
“Maeling, what are you doing? It is not safe here, if you want to watch do it from the Captain’s deck with me,” he orders. When he turns to walk away, she sees that he carries a small wooden tea crate.
“Yes, Baba.�
� She replies following him up the wooden steps to the deck above. She wishes she could tell him about the demons, but she remembers the last time she told them about Elina and the pyramids. Sometimes grownups don’t like to hear the truth. If she told her father, he would tell her grandfather and her lessons would get longer. Maybe she will tell them after dinner.
“What’s in the box?” she asks.
“It is a tea service, which I must find a place for. Maybe you could help me with that?” he states with a weary smile. His smile grows as he watches her jump up and down again.
A sudden crash on the deck draws his attention, he places the tea box down and rushes down the steps. Maeling watches him go and picks up the box. A smile curves her lips, I know just where to put this box.
There are two hatches which lead down into the holds of the ship. The largest hatch is in the center of the boat and it is busy being loaded. A smaller hatch is toward the back of the boat and it leads to the sleeping quarters.
Maeling skips along, carrying the small box and heads down into the belly of the ship. She rushes along, heading down the passageway searching for the small door which leads into the galley. The perfect spot for a tea set, she thinks. She looks around the sparse kitchen and finds that it is crammed full of crates and barrels, still needing to be unloaded. In the corner sits a shelf, above a table. Too short to reach the shelf, she climbs up on a chair and pushes the tea box onto the shelf and smiles. Now we can go to the market.
Alex smiles in his sleep at the innocence of the child, he releases the dream and drifts away. In the basement Elina dream walks with Alex. She watches his dream and she is shocked to see Maeling! Of course. She smiles when she feels Alex slip away, but she is not finished.
Maeling jumps down and runs towards the door, when a crash from behind has her spinning around. The shelf must have collapsed, sending the crate crashing onto the table below and cracking open. The tea box itself is still nailed shut, but the bottom of it has broken open and a bunch of straw has fallen out, revealing the hidden treasure within. It is a small wooden ink quill and ink well. Maeling looks closely at the wooden pen and sees an intricately carved design. The moment she touches the pen a vision takes her.
