by Ciana Stone
Stumbling and staggering, Chance and Tsa’li supported John between them. For what seemed an eternity they fought their way toward the door. “What’s happening?” Chance screamed as the roof started to give way.
“The crystal calls to its owner,” Tsa’li said. “We must hurry.”
Chance saw Iris make it to the door and disappear outside with Walker on her heels. By the time she and Tsa’li carried John outside she could see Iris a few yards away, fighting to stay on her feet as the earth rolled and churned.
“Here.” Tsa’li indicated an old oak that stood near the barn. Chance helped him settle John so that his back rested against the massive trunk. She looked at Tsa’li. “What do we do?”
“It is time for the Uluhsati to be returned to its world,” Tsa’li told her. “You must give it to the original Keeper when he appears.”
“The original Keeper?” she shouted, trying to be heard over the sound of sudden rolling thunder and explosions as lightning streaked from the cloudless sky. “Who is the Keeper?”
“You will know,” Tsa’li said.
“I will? Why me? I’m not Cherokee, I can’t—”
“It must be you.”
“Why?”
“Because of the life you carry inside you.” He put his hand over her belly.
Chance stared at him in shock. “What?”
“You carry a child within you. A son.”
Her heart jumped at his words. “How do you know?”
“I know.”
Chance didn’t think to argue with him. If Tsa’li said it, it must be so. But that didn’t do anything to ease her fear. “What must I do?”
“First you must take the crystal from those who seek to pervert its power.”
Chance looked over to where Iris was backing away from Walker as he steadily advanced on her. She turned back to Tsa’li. “What about Wyatt?”
“Protect the Uluhsati,” was his reply.
Chance had no idea how she was supposed to do that, but something in Tsa’li’s eyes and voice told her that everything depended on it. “I will,” she promised, hoping that her words were not empty. Then turning, she ran toward Iris.
Due to the wind that howled and the storm that raged around them, Walker didn’t hear her approach. She ran past him and dove at Iris. The woman went down with Chance on top of her but she didn’t give up. Chance’s head whipped back as Iris bashed her in the temple with the crystal. She felt warm blood rush down her face as her eye swam but held on to Iris with every ounce of strength she had.
“You can’t have it!” Iris shouted. “It’s mine!”
Chance punched Iris in the face then grabbed her hand as Iris’ head rocked from the blow. Just as she got her hand on the crystal to pull it away, Walker grabbed her by the hair and hauled her up. Chance would not let go of Iris or the crystal and Iris ended up being pulled along with her.
Walker used his free hand to wrap around Iris’ throat. She gagged and wheezed as his fingers tightened but refused to release the crystal that Chance was trying to pry from her hand. Suddenly all three of them were sent sailing through the air as a bolt of light hit the ground at their feet. Iris lost her grip on the crystal and it landed several yards away, between her and Chance.
They both spotted it at the same time. Iris started scrambling on all fours toward it. Walker grabbed her leg and yanked her back. She kicked at him like an enraged bull and slowed him from making his own move for the crystal as he had to deal with her. That gave Chance the advantage. As Walker was shoving Iris out of his way she made a mad dash for it. They both dove at the same time but Chance was closer. Just as her hand closed around it Walker landed on top of her.
“No!” she screamed as he reached for the crystal in her hand. “Wyatt, no!”
For a split second he froze. Their eyes locked and Chance didn’t understand what she saw. She thought she saw the perpetual hate within his eyes disappear. It was almost as if she were seeing a side of Walker that had been buried for a long time. But she could not take the time to think about it. Using the opportunity the moment provided she squirmed and kicked free. Turning so that she faced him, she moved back in a crablike fashion, watching him warily.
“Give it to me,” he shouted over the sounds of nature that buffeted them from all directions.
Chance shook her head. “It doesn’t belong to you.”
“Give it to me!”
She backed up as he started toward her on hands and knees. Movement behind him diverted her attention for a moment. Lightning danced like a ballet of erratic puppets just off the ground as leaves swirled and dived in the wild wind. Chance’s eyes widened as the lights began to coalesce. Her body froze as the form came to life.
Walker stopped, looking at her strangely. When she didn’t seem to notice him he turned and looked behind him.
The scene was something from a nightmare. Swirling lights danced through the air, seeming to draw a sinuous outline in the darkness. As the lights merged, the outline took on form and substance.
Chance stood up as the Uktena came to life. It looked like a cross between a giant serpent and a dragon, almost like the dragons from Chinese mythology. Its body was long and sinuous, with glistening scales that danced with every color of the spectrum. Its neck was long and its chest narrow. Two short legs with three front toes and one rear pawed the air. Two longer legs were positioned at the rear of its body, similar to the front legs, but thicker and with longer claws on the toes. Its tail seemed to be miles long. It whipped through the air and beat against the ground as the creature turned its head to look at the humans who stared at it in disbelief.
Chance had never imagined anything that looked like the creature. Its head wasn’t like a serpent. It had an elongated snout similar to an alligator with rows of razor-sharp teeth, yet it gave the appearance of being almost equine in nature. Its eyes were alive with color, changing from one to the next almost too quickly to see. Two twisting, curved horns protruded from its bony head.
Chance looked around and saw that Tsa’li and John had not moved from their position at the oak tree. Both men were watching the Uktena with an expression of awe on their faces. Iris had managed to get to her feet and was inching her way around toward Chance and the crystal. Walker seemed to be mesmerized by the creature.
The Uktena turned its eyes to Chance and she felt her heart jump in her chest. She knew now what Tsa’li meant by returning the crystal to its Keeper. She could see the slight indention between the horns on the creature’s head where the crystal should be. The question was, did she have the courage to put it there?
As if reading her thoughts, Walker turned and looked at her and held out his hand. “Give it to me.”
“No.” She shook her head and pushed herself up. “It doesn’t belong to you. It doesn’t belong to any of us.”
Walker made a move toward her and she reacted without thinking, running straight toward the creature. It roared as she drew near and she stopped, looking up at it. “I only want to give it back to you,” she whispered.
“No!” Walker raced at her.
The creature snapped its tail sharply as Walker came up behind her, hitting him from one side and sending him flying through the air like he had been shot from a cannon. He crashed into Iris who was trying to inch her way closer and both of them rolled over and over until at last they stopped in a tangle on the ground.
Chance looked back at the Uktena and raised her hand. “Please,” she whispered, offering the crystal. “We know it doesn’t belong here. Take it home where it will be safe.”
“No!” she heard Iris scream behind her. The Uktena roared as Iris climbed to her feet and leveled her gun at Walker. “I’ll kill him!” she threatened Chance. “Throw it to me or he dies!”
Chance looked from her to Walker who was eyeing Iris warily. Then she looked at the creature that seemed to be waiting to see what she would do. Finally she looked back at Walker. “Wyatt, please, if you can hear me, please help me.
I have to return it. Please, I need your help.”
Walker started to rise. As soon as he did Iris pulled the trigger. Chance screamed as she saw him fall back and the creature roared again. Iris screamed as the Uktena suddenly lunged for her with its wide mouth opened. The end of her scream brought the end of the storm.
Chance looked around. Iris was nowhere to be seen. She could see the rapid rise and fall of Walker’s chest and knew that at least for the moment he was alive. Then she looked up at the Uktena as it turned its head to her. “It isn’t his fault,” she said as the massive head lowered close to her. “He couldn’t help what happened to him. He doesn’t mean to be evil, he’s just confused. Please, if you have the power, please help him be whole again. Help him to overcome the darkness that threatens him. He doesn’t deserve to suffer. He doesn’t deserve to die.”
The Uktena’s breath was hot against her as it regarded her. Chance didn’t know what to expect but she knew on some instinctive level that it did not mean her any harm. “Are you sure that is what you wish?” she heard a soft rasping voice in her mind.
“Yes,” she answered. “More than anything.”
“Then it shall be.” It curled its tail around in front her. She climbed up on it and it raised her between the enormous horns. She laid the crystal in the circular depression and saw the glistening scales tighten around it. The creature lowered its tail and she climbed off and backed away.
The Uktena looked around at everyone then back at her. She smiled at it and it raised its head to the heavens. A brilliant shaft of light split the night from above surrounding the Uktena. A moment later the light seemed to spring upward, disappearing like a shooting star into the heavens.
Chapter Thirteen
The night seemed strangely still. No night creatures sang in the trees, no breeze moved the bare branches. No one moved. Tsa’li and John still sat beneath the spreading branches of the old oak, staring silently at the spot where the Uktena had been. Chance looked like she was in shock. Her eyes were wide and unblinking as she stood rooted in place like a statue.
Wyatt lay on the ground, fighting the fury of the other inside him at failing to claim the crystal. He could feel the wound in his chest. The pain was white-hot. His blood was warm against his cold skin. The thought entered his mind that he was dying.
Strange as it was, that brought no fear, only regret—regret that he would never have the opportunity to tell the people he loved how much they meant to him, that he would never have the chance to have a family of his own, and regret that he would never be able to make up for what had happened to his brother.
A sensation like being whirled around on a carnival ride made him grimace and close his eyes. The sensation ceased as suddenly as it had started and he opened his eyes. Immediately they grew round.
All around his was a thick white mist. It was like standing in the clouds. He started to try and sit, knowing that the movement would cause the pain to intensify. To his surprise there was no pain. He looked down and saw his blood-drenched clothes, then put his hand to his chest. He could feel no wound.
“What’s going on?” His voice sounded hollow and hoarse.
“You tell me,” a voice answered from within the mist.
Wyatt gasped as the figure came into view. His brother stopped in front of him and stared into his eyes for a long time. “What do you want?” Wyatt asked when his brother didn’t speak. “My life, is that it? Well, maybe you’ve already got it. I’m dead, aren’t I?”
His brother didn’t answer and Wyatt took a step closer. “I didn’t mean to do it. I really didn’t. I just didn’t want you to—”
“It’s time you remembered things the way they really happened,” his brother interrupted and held out his hand.
Wyatt looked down at the offered hand then into his brother’s eyes. “Come on,” his brother urged. “It’s time, brother—for both of us.”
As soon as their hands clasped, a whirlwind seized them and sent them spinning through time and space. When at last it stopped, they were standing atop the small hill overlooking the pond where Walker had died.
Wyatt shook his head and looked away but his brother nudged him and nodded in the direction of the pond. “Come on, it’s time you faced it.”
“No.” Wyatt shook his head. “I don’t want to see. I know what happened. I remembered. I-I killed you.”
His brother nudged him again. “Come on, surely you aren’t afraid? Or are you?”
The jibe had the anticipated result. Wyatt frowned and started down the hill toward the water. By the time he reached the muddy bank, his brother was beside him. They had no more than come to a halt when both of them were transformed. In the blink of an eye they were boys again. Walker was holding Winny Holling under the water and Wyatt was screaming at him.
“Walker, stop! You’re gonna kill him!”
Walker laughed and pushed Winny down harder. Wyatt tried again to dislodge his brother but once again Walker lashed out. Wyatt felt like he was in a bad dream. Winny was flailing around a lot slower. If he didn’t do something he would drown.
“Walker, stop it!” he shouted. “I mean it. Let him go!”
Walker smiled and pulled an old knife from his pocket. “Or what?”
“Put that down!”
“Put it down!” Walker laughed. “Well, okay.”
Wyatt screamed as he saw the knife flash down. A moment later a red stain blossomed in the water. Winny’s arms quit waving and Wyatt knew he had to save him. Without thinking he dived at his brother, knocking him off the drowning boy. Walker grunted as Wyatt knocked him into the water. They both went under and came up sputtering. Walker made a swipe at him with the knife. The tip caught on his right jawbone, slicing the skin. Wyatt cried out in pain and moved back but Walker just laughed and came after him.
Seeing his brother coming for him with the knife made anger rise inside him. He stopped retreating and faced his brother. “Stop, Walker. I mean it. Stop.”
But Walker would not stop. He kept coming. Wyatt screamed as he felt the knife cut into his arm and he jumped on Walker. They both went under, kicking and hitting as they fought for the knife. Wyatt grew dizzy, desperate for air. But Walker would not let him rise to the surface. Black spots danced in front of his eyes and he felt like his lungs were going to explode.
Just as the dark spots began to coalesce into a solid shroud, Wyatt felt a burst of energy. Using every ounce of strength he had he pushed Walker down under him and put his feet on Walker’s back. Pushing hard, he propelled himself up.
Air rushed into his lungs and he gulped greedily. After a moment it occurred to him that Walker had not come up. Thinking that Walker was trying to scare him into thinking he was hurt, he kicked at him under the water. Walker still didn’t surface so Wyatt ducked back under the water and grabbed him by the jacket and pulled him up.
Walker’s face broke the surface of the water and Wyatt screamed. He scrambled back up on the muddy bank, trying to get away from the sight of his brother’s wide eyes and gaping mouth. His foot slid and he fell. Twice he tried to get up and twice he slipped in the mud. His heart was pounding so fast it felt like it was going to explode. He started to push himself up when he felt a touch on his shoulder.
Flopping over on his back he looked up. His brother stood over him with his hands extended. “But…but…” Wyatt looked from his brother to the pond. His body was still floating face up in the shallow water. Fear made him scream and start to scurry back, crab-like.
“You don’t have to be afraid.” His brother came toward him. “Walker, it’s okay.”
Like the shattering of glass from a high-pitched tone, Wyatt’s memories cracked. The walls fell, revealing the real memories that had been so long hidden. The past vanished and the two grown men once more faced one another.
The man who thought he was Wyatt looked into the eyes of his brother. “I didn’t mean to do it, Wyatt. I was angry because it felt like you were against me and-and…”
“Protect me? By making me angry and full of hate and—”
“No, by giving you a place to hide from it.”
Walker stared at him for a long time. “Then it wasn’t you! It’s been me all along. I’m the one who’s responsible for all the deaths. It was always me.”
Wyatt shook his head. “No, it was the Other.”
“The Other?”
Wyatt nodded and looked off to one side. Walker’s eyes turned in the same direction and after a moment he saw it. A ghostly form moved toward them. It stopped and Walker’s heart jumped in his chest. A warrior from the past stood proudly before them. Wyatt looked over at his brother then at the Warrior. “You can’t have either one of us. It’s over. It’s time for you to leave this plane. The time for bloodshed has past. This is a new age. It’s no longer your time. We’ll fight the battle our own way.”
The Warrior looked from him to Walker then back again. “You cannot drive me away. Not so long as there is room for another within him.”
Wyatt put his arm around Walker’s shoulder. “But there isn’t. Not anymore.”
Walker turned and looked into his brother’s eyes. For the first time in his life a feeling of peace and completeness filled him. He smiled and nodded, then looked at the Warrior. “My brother’s right. There isn’t any room for you. Leave. Your time here is ended.”
The Warrior stared at him for a moment then turned and started walking away. Walker watched as the form became as thin as air and finally vanished. He turned to Wyatt. “And what about you? Where will you be?”
“Where I’ve always been. Where I was meant to be. It’s over, Walker. Now we can look to the future. Now we both can start to live.”
Walker opened his mouth to tell his brother thank you, to tell him how much he loved him, but before he could get the words out Wyatt was gone and he was once more lying on the ground outside Winston Holling’s barn.
