The Four Points: Book 1 (The Four Points Saga)

by J. J. Melvin

  “Wait, what is that grey diamond? And look, two black diamonds!” Jayson was about to let go of Sofia’s hand to point before Sofia squeezed his hand, making him yell out in pain.

  “The black diamonds must be the Collectors,” Liam said, ignoring the bickering that began between Sofia and Jayson.

  “That’s amazing. It’s just what we need. It shows us where they are, but what’s the grey one?” Jayson looked at each of us. The others shrugged.

  I panicked releasing the hands I held, making the map disappear. “Let’s wake up Mr. Blithe,” I said, trying to cover my tracks and hoping the others would not see through my ruse.

  “I wonder what the grey diamond means,” Sofia said to herself.

  I acted as if I had no clue what it meant just like the others, but I did. The grey diamond was me.

  We showed Mr. Blithe our map. The others asked about the grey diamond, but Mr. Blithe guarded my secret. He really believed in me, believed there was no way I would betray them.

  Mr. Blithe immediately got on the phone and called the other Watchers, dispatching them to gather the remaining Diamonds.

  “So now can we attack?” Jayson said. “Mr. Blithe, we know where they are! We have the advantage.”

  “Hold on, Jayson, we have to think about this first. I believe it is much better to lure them into familiar territory here at the castle than to fight on their chosen battlefield.”

  Mr. Blithe had a good point. Luring the Collectors to us made the most sense.

  “Okay then, let’s get ready for battle!” Jayson and the others seemed ready, but I definitely was not.

  “First let’s all go to sleep. We’ll plan tomorrow… but with the Collectors so close, I do think we should all sleep out here in the living room together to be safe.”

  “Kinky, kinky, Mr. Blithe.”

  “Jaaaayson!” Mr. Blithe said in a reprimanding tone.

  “Jeez, can’t anyone take a joke?”

  We took out sleeping bags and settled in for the night. I laid next to Liam, but I was distant and I knew he was confused.

  Chapter 25

  SABOTAGE

  The next day, a Watcher named Mr. Smith came to the castle with news on the Collectors and the army they had assembled. He stood before all of us in the library to report his findings.

  “We believe the Collectors have assembled an army of about seventy mostly pagan worshippers, black Diamond believers, and cult enthusiasts.”

  “Why do they need an army if they are only coming for the four of us?” I asked.

  “The army is there for us, the Watchers. The Collectors know we will fight to protect you. The army is to keep us busy while the Collectors go for you.”

  I knew the Watchers— our teachers, our friends— would give their lives for us, but Mr. Blithe’s words made me realize the gravity of the situation. Those men and women I had grown to care about were willing to die to save me, to save the four of us.

  “How many Watchers do we have?” I asked.

  “There are about thirty of us,” Mr. Smith replied.

  “Then you are outnumbered by more than two to one,” Liam added uneasily.

  “Yes, that is why we must lure them here. We will set up the castle as our battleground.” Mr. Blithe stood tall pointing to the ground.

  “How do we get them to come here?” I asked.

  “Bring all the Diamonds into the castle and throw another party, but this time let the Collectors know about it,” he replied.

  “That doesn’t seem like a smart idea. What if they just burn the castle down?” I said.

  “They won’t do that, they need to collect the souls of the Diamonds.” Mr. Blithe grabbed a book from a shelf and showed me the title: Soul Sucking Spirits.

  “They will know it’s a trap.”

  “Yes Erika, they will, but how can they resist? Every Diamond in one place, as well as the Four Points— everything they need for eternal life here? They will come. They will just be prepared.”

  “Mr. Blithe, can’t we train the other Diamonds to fight?”

  “No Erika, the other Diamonds must not know what is happening.”

  “Wait Mr. Blithe, so we are supposed to have some sort of epic battle outside while keeping the Diamonds inside clueless?” Jayson chuckled.

  “Yes, precisely my dear boy, precisely,” Mr. Blithe said seriously.

  “Is that even possible?” Sofia had been quiet until then, but she was asking the question we were all thinking.

  “We have to make it possible; the secret of the Diamonds must be guarded. It is imperative to keep the secret of you four. The world must never know.”

  “Well that makes things a little harder.” Liam raked his hand through his hair, exasperated at the task that lay before us.

  “Sofia will make it easier to keep everyone inside.” Looking directly at Sofia, Mr. Blithe continued, “Sofia, you will make it rain. That way the Diamonds won’t even think of going outside. We can contain the party inside.”

  “When should we plan this party, Mr. Blithe?” Sofia had come to grips with the plan and was now ready to set it in motion.

  “This Saturday. We can’t wait too long, or they will attack when we are not ready.”

  “Okay, so that gives us four days to prepare.”

  “Who’s to say they won’t attack before then?” asked Jayson.

  “No one,” Mr. Smith said. “We have to pray they don’t, but be prepared if they do.”

  “Mr. Smith, call an emergency meeting! Gather all the Watchers here tonight at 8pm sharp,” Mr. Blithe ordered.

  “Yes sir, immediately.” Mr. Smith turned to leave and go about his given task.

  I walked out of the library, leaving the others to continue their planning.

  “Erika, wait up!” Liam shouted after me.

  I paused to let him catch up. “Yes?”

  “Where are you going?”

  “I’m going up to my room.”

  “What’s wrong with you? Why aren’t you speaking to me?”

  “I am, I’m talking to you now.”

  “I don’t get it… what’s changed? A couple days ago you were madly in love with me, and today you barely know me.”

  I hesitated, gathering up the courage to say what needed to be said.

  “Liam, I’ve been thinking. I don’t think this is going to work. I— I really just don’t want a boyfriend.”

  “Look, Erika,” Liam said as he took my hand, “I’m scared too, but I don’t think we should not love each other because we are afraid of losing each other. We can’t let the Collectors do this to us.”

  “Liam, it has nothing to do with the Collectors. I just don’t think I’m into you anymore. I’m sorry. I think it was more of a first crush than anything else.”

  Liam’s blue eyes looked devastated, his face stunned. “Erika, is this really what you want?”

  “We can still be friends.” I turned around leaving Liam and walked up the stairs. I knew I’d sounded like a complete bitch. I had just destroyed my first love because I knew Liam would break my heart, and I couldn’t risk becoming evil. I went up to my room, laid on the bed, and cried in my solitude.

  Liam was missing from dinner that night, and Sofia looked pissed.

  “Erika, what is wrong with you? Why did you break up with Liam?”

  “Sofia, I don’t think that is any of our business,” Jayson interjected.

  “Yes, it is our business. I warned you, if you broke his heart…”

  “If I broke his heart what, Sofia? What are you going to do? And Jayson’s right, it is none of your business.”

  “Okay everyone, let’s calm down!” Mr. Blithe stood up, slamming his hands on the table. The room quieted. He continued, “You all have to stay united, this is not good for anyone.” Turning to me, he asked, “Erika, can I see you in the study?”

  I followed Mr. Blithe.

  “Erika, is it true you ended your relationship with Liam?”

  “Ye
s, isn’t that what you wanted?”

  “No, Erika! I want you to be happy.”

  “But you’re worried if he broke my heart I would turn… evil.”

  “I did worry about that at first, but after seeing your love evolve I didn’t worry about it anymore. Liam makes you happy. I was actually excited to see how his love would help strengthen your powers and I think they did.”

  “But if he hurts me, Mr. Blithe, I don’t know what I will do. I can’t take that chance.”

  “Erika, love is scary. But you can’t just push it away because you’re scared, or you will never be happy. And a sad, broken heart is bound to let in darkness— more so than an open, unguarded one.”

  I thought about Mr. Blithe’s words. I was miserable without Liam, I was angry… Mr. Blithe was right. I’d never felt more dark than I did after I broke up with Liam.

  “But what if Liam knew about me, or if Jayson or Sofia knew about me? You obviously didn’t tell them who I was because you are worried that they wouldn’t accept me. They would turn against me.”

  “No Erika, I didn’t tell them because it is not my place, it’s yours. I think you should tell the others, starting with Liam. You have to learn to trust people.”

  “I don’t know what to do, Mr. Blithe. Help me.”

  “I cannot make this decision for you. It is yours and yours alone.” Mr. Blithe left the room, leaving me alone in the study.

  I sat there among the books, not knowing what to do. I was always good at shutting my feelings down. I had convinced myself this was the best decision for everyone. After all, I couldn’t just think of my happiness; the world was at stake. I sat there thinking of the first time I met Liam— his blue eyes, his crooked smile. I thought about the first time he’d kissed my lips, the first time he’d told me he loved me, the look on his face when I’d told him I no longer wanted to be with him. He truly did love me. I knew it, but for some reason it was hard to accept. What did I do?

  I ran up to Liam’s room, but he was gone. I ran downstairs to tell the others he was missing. Together we ran to the garage and found that his Tesla was still there.

  “Nicholas,” I called frantically, “Nicholas!”

  “Yes, miss?”

  “Liam, where’s Liam?” I asked in a panic.

  “I don’t know, miss, he left about an hour ago. Is everything okay?”

  “No, everything’s not okay,” Sofia said. “Erika, what did you do?”

  “You don’t think he’d go after the Collectors alone, do you?” Jayson questioned apprehensively.

  “No, no he wouldn’t. The Watchers will be here any second, we will find him.” Mr. Blithe was on the phone, calling anyone who would know where Liam could be.

  “Let’s try joining hands, let’s see if we can find him on the map,” I suggested.

  We joined hands, but it didn’t work. “It only works with all of us. We need Liam for it to work.” Jayson chewed on his nails nervously as he spoke.

  Oh my god, Sofia was right. What did I do?

  The Watchers all arrived at the castle and we quickly set up search teams. Mr. Blithe kept Sofia, Jayson, and I together, which Sofia was not pleased about. We searched the castle grounds, then we searched Audrey’s.

  “Wait, I think I know where he is! We have to go to the stables and take the horses.” I hoped I was right.

  Liam’s horse was missing. I knew I was on the right track. I lead the others to the place where Liam and I first kissed, his secret place. Laying there under the stars was Liam.

  “Hey guys.”

  “Hey guys? Hey guys, that’s all you can say?” Sofia screamed.

  Liam got up, brushing the dirt from his jeans.

  I ran to him crying, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it, I didn’t mean it.” I hugged him placing my head on his chest, never wanting to let go.

  “It’s okay, Erika.” Liam wiped the tears from my face. “It’s okay, Erika, stop crying, I’m okay.”

  “Jayson, Sofia, come on, let’s head back. I think Liam and Erika will be fine. But you guys only have ten minutes or we are coming back for you, understood?” Mr. Blithe warned.

  “Yes, understood,” Liam replied. I buried my face in Liam’s chest, unable to answer.

  Liam placed his hand under my chin and lifted my head. “Erika, do you love me?”

  “Yes, I love you with all my heart.”

  “Then why do you push me away? Sometimes you act like you love me, and other times you act like you hate me.”

  I explained to Liam who I was, that I was a ‘diamond in the rough’, and what that meant. I told him I was scared that I would betray everyone if he broke my heart, which I believed was inevitable. I knew I should have also told Liam about Erebus and my dreams, but I couldn’t. I was in love with Liam, and the Queen was in love with Erebus. I knew Adhira and her love for Erebus was a part of me, I could feel it. The only thing I didn’t know was whose love would be stronger in the end— mine for Liam, or hers for Erebus.

  “Erika, I know you’re a diamond in the rough,” Liam said. “That’s what makes you extra special.”

  “No Liam, you don’t understand what that means.”

  “Yes Erika, I do. After you saved the little boy and his father at the river, I knew something was different. Your powers have always come so easy for you. I wanted to know why, so I did some research. I’ve read all the books about Adhira and her possible reincarnation. I do know what it means. I knew when I kissed you, and I knew when I saw the grey diamond. I know when I look into your eyes now, and you know what else I know?”

  I didn’t answer.

  “I know I love you and that you will never betray us, you will never betray me, and that you don’t have an ounce of evil in you. Will you do me a favor, Erika?”

  I still stayed silent.

  “Trust me with your heart. I promise I will never hurt you. I promise to love you till the day I die. I promise to never betray you, to never leave you and to always be yours. You have my heart, Erika. Will you give me yours?”

  “Yes,” I whispered back.

  Chapter 26

  STRATEGY

  When we got back to the house, the others were busy strategizing.

  “I’d like to tell you guys something,” I interrupted, holding Liam’s hand for support.

  Mr. Blithe smiled, knowing what I was going to announce.

  “I know most of you Watchers in this room know the true meaning of a ‘diamond in the rough’, but Jayson and Sofia, you may not.” I went on to explain what it meant, and what it meant for us. I assured everyone in the room that I would not betray them.

  “The Queen had a choice, and she chose wrong. I will not choose wrong,” I finished my statement with certainty. “I promise you, I will remain Erika.” I looked around at my new friends hoping they would still accept me.

  Mrs. Kwan was the first to break the silence my news had caused. “We have to guard Erika. Erebus will come for her.”

  “Well, they are coming for us all anyways, what’s the big deal? We know Erika will never betray us.” Jayson smiled at me reassuringly.

  “You all have to understand Erebus will try to make Erika his Queen. With her he will not need the rest of you. He will not need any of your powers if he has Erika. She will tip the scales of good and evil.” Mrs. Kwan’s warning was ominous but true and I was glad she was being so forthright with the others. They needed to know the truth.

  “I will be here to make sure that does not happen,” Liam spoke with authority while squeezing my hand reassuringly.

  “But if I don’t choose to go, how will he keep me without killing me?” I posed the question to Mrs. Kwan, but Mr. Schwartz answered. “Erebus will control your mind, Erika. Remember he does have a piece of your heart— Adhira’s heart. A part of the Queen lies within you. He wants to make sure her soul takes over yours. He will try to make you remember the love you once shared.”

  Now it all made sense, why Mr. Schwartz was so adamant about m
e practicing mind control, why he seemed so desperate for me to learn so much. He was trying to teach me how to use my powers to block out Erebus. I couldn’t fathom loving anyone except Liam, but the connection between Erebus and I was undeniable. It was different than the love I felt for Liam, it felt more like lust. My body yearned for Erebus, even though my heart was Liam’s.

  “Well, at least we know what we are dealing with.” Sofia smiled.

  “Sofia, Jayson, I promise I will never betray our friendship.”

  “Oh lord,” Sofia said. “Of course you won’t, you’re too much of a goody-two-shoes.”

  Everyone was silent until Sofia and I started laughing, and then they all chimed in.

  We stayed up for hours that night creating the battle plan. After we finished, Liam let us know that they would accept our trap. They wouldn’t be able to resist. Since the future is always changing, Liam could not tell us who would be the victor, but at least we knew the day of the battle. Our strategy was set. A plan was in place, now we just had to prepare.

  We all slept in sleeping bags in the living room again.

  “Erika,” Sofia whispered.

  “Yes?”

  “I’m sorry I was so hard on you earlier; I know you only broke up with Liam to protect us.”

  “It’s okay, you were only trying to stick up for Liam, I understand.”

  “Thanks for being a big sis, Sofia,” Liam piped in.

  “Ugghh, I thought you guys were sleeping.” Sofia sat up.

  “Nope,” Jayson buzzed in.

  “Can’t we have a girl’s moment?” Sofia laid back down, sighing.

  “Probably not in a room full of guys,” Jayson laughed.

  “Good night Jayson, Sofia.” I grabbed Liam’s arm and wrapped myself in his embrace.

  That night, as Liam held me tight, I dreamed of Erebus again. I could smell his scent all over my body, I could feel his kiss on my lips.

  “Erika, Erika!” Liam said, shaking me. “You’re having a dream.”

  I was embarrassed as I started remembering my dream. I looked around to see if the others were asleep. “Did I say anything?”