portal prophecies 01 - keepers destiny

by c a king

  Shelby left her perch and circled around in the air. It must feel good to be free again Willow thought, watching her soar high above then dive down and land on Ashlyn's shoulder disappearing. Could it be? She ran over to her friend and asked to see the shoulder where the bird had just been. There was a picture of a black bird looking happy and content with her new home.

  “You're a keeper!” Willow said.

  “Me?” Ashlyn said in disbelief “Why me? How?”

  'I knew in the dream we were compatible, that you would be the one to carry me forward until I find my keeper and mate again. There will be other guardians who have lost their keepers and will need you. I can help you develop your gifts in dreams if you let me,' Shelby's voice said to Ashlyn alone.

  She looked at Willow with excitement, “I can hear her in my head. Is that what it's like for you too? All this time you never told us.”

  “Voices in my head wasn't something I wanted to share, especially since I didn't know where they were coming from until recently,” Willow replied.

  Looking down she noticed two of Aslo and Kiera's children were rubbing against her legs and purring. It had a pattern to it, a rhythm. She could hear a message in it, like a song almost. They were telling her they loved her. They needed to help another, but they could reunite again later. They would always be a part of her. She smiled knowing there was another new keeper to be born tonight and she thought she knew who.

  The two cats left Willow and walked over to her friend Clairity, rubbing against her bare ankles a few times before appearing as pictures on her lower legs.

  The three girls hugged they had something new to share now. Willow realized how much she had missed their together time in the forest. Now they had a reason to go off on their own and discuss keeper matters.

  Looking up she caught a glance of Diana walking away. She hadn't been chosen to join the ranks of guards. It wasn't because she wasn't worthy Willow thought, no Diana Waddington had always been an outstanding person. Like a light bulb clicking on inside her head, she understood. It was because Diana was Lance's aunt. She was the one King Cornelius was looking for, the one their enemies considered imprisoned somewhere, stolen from them.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Willow, was already joined with Aslo and Kiera when she caught up with Diana entering the main cabin. The command centre was empty. All of its usual inhabitants were still outside buzzing with excitement. Mike and William walked in behind her before she had a chance to say a word. The look on the storyteller's face was solemn. It was clear she didn't understand why she had not been chosen to join the ranks of portal guards and felt it was some shortcoming of her own doing. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The guardians agreed with her.

  “Don't be upset,” Willow said, unsure how to start the conversation. How do you tell someone their brother is an evil maniac bent on the destruction of everything.

  “What's wrong?” William asked.

  “I wasn't chosen,” Diana said. “I am not as worthy as all of you. Perhaps I do not belong here.”

  “There must be some mistake,” Mike said.

  “No, I don't think so,” Willow replied turning her attention to Diana, “But, it isn't what you think.”

  “Then why?”

  “To protect you,” she answered. “Your brother, his name is Cornelius, a king?”

  Diana nodded with a look of curiosity in her eyes. “How did you know that?”

  “In my dreams I met his son, your nephew...they are the ones who attacked us and they are searching for you.”

  “What?” the storyteller said letting out a gasp. “Why?”

  “I was hoping you could provide some details to fill in the blanks of what I know,” Willow said.

  Mike and William looked at each other then back.

  “I have a feeling there is a story here we need to hear,” William said.

  “It begins somewhere in the time of the blood wars,” Willow started. “That part of the story I have little detail about, but something happened and according to them it was the three races, snakes, spiders and sea creatures, that remained guardians, and the cats, wolves and birds that split from them. In other words, they believe we are the bad guys. Skip forward to the time of the portals and the splitting of worlds becomes an evil plot to control all creatures and enforce our vision of what the world should be...It's all very backwards, but very real to them. In this version of reality, you were...stolen from them, against your will. In fact, they believe all those chosen were taken as hostages to stop possible uprisings.”

  “That's insane!” William said.

  “Insane or not, they truly believe they are righting a wrong. That they are justified in their actions and saving worlds from us. They mean to destroy every guard and keeper.”

  “I chose this life,” Diana said, tears falling down her face.

  “I know, but when the time comes, when you meet your brother face to face, I believe it is important you do not show the mark of the portal guard. Can you tell us what you remember?”

  Diana sighed. “I was young...a teen of your age. It was the end of the blood wars. Our kingdom had managed to stay clear of the conflict, but it came close to our lands and one day my parents, the King and Queen, were out visiting a border town. They were killed...No one invaded us. It was a spill off of a fight from the neighbouring kingdom...not planned. They were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is possible we would have been a target next.”

  “My brother took his rightful spot as King the next day. He was full of grief and anger. I begged him not to act on emotion, but he ordered that his guards obtain magical blood and drink it in case an invasion occurred...only as a precaution. He never intended to use it as a weapon. I tried so hard to change his mind. We had been so close to each other. He wasn't a bad person.” She paused for a moment and wept.

  “Against my advice he and others drank the blood...It was never necessary. The portals were created almost immediately after, but the damage was done. When the guardians came and asked me to go with them, I agreed. My brother offered to help as well, but he was denied. I believe it was because he slayed those creatures and drank their blood. It had tainted him...he was no longer pure and innocent. He was angry, so very angry. They didn't want him, a king...I left, but I was given extended life. This was a very, very long time ago. How is he still alive?”

  “The serpents must have felt his anger. They gave him venom to drink. It runs through the veins of all his family giving them gifts, including extended life. In exchange he raises armies, seeks out other worlds, destroys or imprisons our kind and if he finds them he will release the other ancients from the worlds they are now contained in. They plan to remove the barriers between worlds and rule all in the end. Nowhere is safe,” Willow said.

  “Well, now we know who the enemy is and why, just the where left to figure out,” William said breaking a few minutes of silence. “Anything either of you two remember and want to add would be helpful. The prophecy deciphering team will need to know these details. Maybe something in that book will lead us in the right direction.” He placed his hand on Diana's shoulder. “There is nothing you could have done. Many men went mad after drinking the blood, power hungry, believing they were better than others. Once he tasted it, his fate was sealed. Willow is right. There may come a time when you will be face to face with him again and you have a better chance of survival without the mark.”

  “I do not wish to survive and live a lie. I am one of you!” she yelled.

  “It's not just you. There may be others whose fate rests in your hands at the time. There is a reason for everything. You must trust Acacia has one,” Willow said.

  Diana looked at her surprised. She obviously had never considered there could me more at stake than her own life. It made more sense now. There were possibilities for what her role in the future might be. She nodded indicating she understood and took a seat quietly reflecting on everything that had been said this e
vening.

  “Nathan,” she said after a few minutes. “Can we tell him first before the others? It is his family we are talking about after all.”

  “Of course,” William said. “I am asking him to come here now.” Having a telepathic link to almost everyone would definitely have its advantages. It would also mean a lot more people talking about things he didn't necessarily need or want to hear and at all hours. He would have to have a lesson or two on when it is appropriate to use the link.

  “Gran!” Nathan said moments later running in. “Isn't it great! Did you see? They called me and without saying anything. Not even leaving the room. Just think, I can call them when I find something or when I need help or if I want a cookie.”

  “No!” Mike said sternly causing the boy to turn and look at him.

  “I think there are some things you need to do for yourself still. Imagine if you were working hard and heard twenty people all ask for soap in the shower or a drink outside. It would ruin your line of thought,” Diana said.

  “Soooo...no cookie?” he asked scrunching up his nose.

  “No, cookie,” Mike said smiling this time.

  “We will have a class or two to go over what is appropriate to ask and not, as well as to teach you all how to communicate with just one person at a time rather than all of us at once,” William added.

  “Phew,” the boy said motioning as if he was wiping sweat from his brow. “I was worried there I might always be in trouble.”

  Diana laughed.

  William had already turned his attention to Willow. She wasn't moving and was staring at the picture on her arm. The picture was fading in and out.

  “Surely that doesn't mean that you are being reconsidered as a guard,” he said. The others turned their attention to her as well.

  Willow looked up. The two black cats appeared. She wasn't sure what it meant, but Aslo would answer for her.

  “No...Willow has a unique talent. She must have developed it during all those years we were together. She was a child and no matter how much we drilled into her no one was to see the pictures on her skin, a slip up most certainly should have occurred. We always thought it was dumb luck, but now it appears she can hide marks on her skin on command. We never noticed because we were the pictures. No one else did because they never knew we were there.”

  “The picture hiding doesn't mean it's gone?” Mike asked.

  “No, it is still there and still has the same effect as it does on anyone else, just it's invisible and she can choose to show it again when she wants to. A talent that may come in handy for her one day,” Aslo responded.

  “I don't suppose you are tired?” Mike said smiling at Willow.

  “No, definitely not. I think I have had more than enough sleep for today,” Willow answered.

  “How about I show you some sights of this world? Promise you'll love it,” he said.

  The invitation caught Willow off guard. She hadn't ever expected Mike to be nice to her. Things really had changed while she was sleeping. “Sure, I would like that,” she answered. It was the truth. She was excited to finally see some of what she had read in books and it still bothered her she didn't know exactly where she was.

  “Make sure you two are back for the meeting tomorrow morning,” William said smiling. “Oh and Mike, you might want to remember you still don't know how to keep all your thoughts private yet.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Mike went to get a vehicle and a few minutes later pulled round in what he called a Jeep. It had no top or doors, but other than it looked pretty much like a small truck. She hopped in. Mike leaned over, pulling a belt from beside her around her waist.

  “It's for safety,” he said, connecting it to a metal-piece by the edge of her seat. A click sounded.

  For the first time, she noticed he had a musky smell to him, manly and strong. She liked it. When he sat back in his seat, she had an urge to lean towards him, close her eyes and let the aroma fill her senses.

  Probably not a good idea she thought blushing, then hoping no one else heard her thoughts, causing her to blush a little more. She also realized she was grateful Aslo and Kiera decided to stay behind and help Clairity and Ashlyn adjust. Last thing she wanted was for anyone to think she had gone boy crazy.

  “Everything alright?” he asked noticing the flush colour on her skin.

  “Yeah great, I was...just thinking how odd it is having to worry about what everyone else hears. I mean, am I safe having thoughts to myself? I am used to guardians hearing everything but not everyone.”

  “I know what you mean, but I don't think they can hear everything. It has a trigger, emotions I think control it. William can request the mental connection with other guards on and off. May take us some time to get used to it all,” he answered with a big smile on his face.

  The drive itself was fairly uneventful. No top on the jeep meant a lot of wind. Hearing wasn't going well. She tried to yell for him to hear her. The results were inconclusive. He would nod and agree mostly, probably trying to be nice. She quickly decided not to speak until they stopped, settling on taking in the surroundings instead. They past fields and farms, animals and forests. Occasionally, they drove through a town, with lights and store fronts. Signs captured her attention and imagination. This was all so much more than she had been used to and nothing she had read even began to describe what she was seeing.

  When they finally stopped, they were on top of a hill of some sort. Looking down, she could see a city below all lit up. It was spectacular. Her eyes widened taking in as much detail as possible. There must have been thousands of lights. She imagined herself down there. There was no chance it could look like night at all. In the distance she could see a lake. She hadn't yet gotten used to big areas of water, especially ones that were deeper than her height. The thought terrified her. Nathan had read a few books on boats and swimming, but it wasn't something she felt the need to experience anytime soon. Past the water there were more lights, another town perhaps. She couldn't help but wonder how many this world held.

  “How many towns are there?” she asked.

  Mike laughed. “To many to count,” he replied.

  “Really? I mean, I had an idea it was big from the maps, but this goes way past anything I could ever imagine. How do you keep track?”

  “We don't really,” he answered. “Generally people live in one area. They get to know their area of the world pretty good. If they go outside that area, they use a map or if they go long distances they hire someone to show them around.”

  “Can we go down there? See what a town that big looks like up close?” Willow asked.

  “Sure, hop back in. If you are hungry we could stop for some food somewhere. I am sure we could find something open,” he answered.

  “I thought we passed all the farms on the way here. You mean there is land to grow things down there too?” she asked.

  “No, it's complicated to explain in full, but food is sent to places where they prepare it and serve it to other people for money,” he said.

  “Money?” That word was something she hadn't learnt about in any book yet.

  Mike let out a big breath of air, “I can see this isn't going to be easy.” He couldn't help but smile at her. She was staring at him with such interest. “In your world everyone had a job, correct?”

  “Yes,” she answered.

  “Here it's the same. Because there are so many people, we assign values to jobs they do and a system to exchange services. You do a job, you get money for it, then you use the money to get things from other people.”

  “I don't have any money,” she said with a frown.

  “I do. I will get you something,” he promised.

  By the time he started driving again, she was thoroughly confused by it all. Everything was so big here. There were so many people, so many things. As they approached the town, more and more vehicles appeared on the road. People were out walking about, even at night. Some had strings attached to animals
. She made a mental note to ask someone about that later. The lights made everything bright just as she had thought they would. They stopped at a building.

  “This is a fast food restaurant,” he said. “They can make your food in a few minutes. What do you like to eat?”

  “Apples, berries, tomatoes, oh and I very much like peaches,” she answered.

  “They have burgers and fries that are pretty good,” he said.

  “What are burgers and fries?”

  “Hamburgers, ground beef cooked and served on a bun?” he said trying to explain.

  “Ground beef?” she asked

  “Meat, from a cow,” Mike answered.

  “How do you get it from the cow?” she asked with a look of worry on her face.

  Mike must have missed her concern. “Well it is dead first.”

  “Dead?” she screeched. “You eat dead creatures?”

  “Yessss...” he said unsure if that was the right answer.

  “Oh I would like to go back now I think. I am sorry. I was taught the only thing worse than eating something that has died is killing it to eat.” Thinking of all the discussions about wars they had been having lately, she added, “Or drinking its blood.”

  “Okay. Well, I didn't realize you were a vegetarian. They do have salads, fries are fried potatoes. There are other options.”

  “Vegetarian? Maybe I should have read a few more books before experiencing your world in person,” she answered.

  “A vegetarian is someone who doesn't eat meat, just vegetables, fruits, some eat cheeses and drink milk as well, breads and grains,” he said.