by T. E. Joshua
Natalie said nothing.
“Answer me!” I yelled.
“When I dreamed about you my God ordered me to befriend the boy from the dark tribal occult. He said you were redeemable and that he had been searching for you your entire life,” Natalie answered as her voice softened. Then she faced me.
The fog materialized around us and enshrouded us. The white mist crept up behind her, covering the creek of smooth water floating freely away from the stone-walled bridge.
“Maybe you shouldn’t have listened to your god,” I suggested.
“But then I wouldn’t have gotten to know you,” Natalie confessed and added, “Your eyes look demonic, like a snake’s. They are turning into a reddish, bloody color.” She released her hands from the silver cross necklace. My dema must have risen 10 percent without me knowing. Hopefully what had happened last night wouldn’t happen again.
“Follow me into the mist,” I ordered as I walked toward the middle to the old pond. If Natalie truly wanted to be my friend, then I had to show her what I could do with fire in the palms of my hands.
“Where are we going?” Natalie asked as she trailed behind me, deeper into the mist. I couldn’t sense her, but I smelt the irresistible fragrance of the Reborn spirit, the sweet and spicy scent. It began to surround me.
“I have to show you something,” I said as I walked toward the stone wall bridge.
It was the ugliest bridge I had laid my eyes upon. The stones were rocky and dull, a dark, grayish color in certain spots. Each block carried a strain of greenish leaves. Tiny beetles lived in the hidden caverns underneath the repulsive shadows of the bridge. I noticed a few beetles flying about the area.
“Watch,” I uttered and picked up a small branch. I held it in my right hand. I then took the lighter, the same one she had given me as a gift, and lit a spark of fire. The orange, consuming light waved violently as it moved from the Zippo and onto the branch. The two instantly connected, and the fire incinerated the small branch in an instant. Natalie immediately leapt backward in fear. “Oh my God, I was right. Oh my God, this isn’t real.”
“You were right about what?” I asked. The branch burned to ashes that fell onto the grass. Some even scattered into the pond, flowing out of our sight.
“This kind of power is witchcraft—demon idol worship.”
I snickered and walked toward Natalie. I had to defend my people’s honor. “Call it what you want. My people believe this kind of practice to be true. It is who I am. It is the Covenant.”
“The Covenant, the same covenant my God told me about?” Natalie asked, breathing heavily.
“Yes. The Covenant is a divine promise between Lucian and my people. He gifts us with supernatural dark energy to hunt and kill Reborns like you—and, in some cases, more powerful ones called Awakened Reborns. I am his Promised Child, his child of light.”
“You’re the Promised Child … of the devil?” Natalie questioned.
“No, he’s a dark angelic entity, a being that has been looking after our people since the dawn of time.”
“These dark spirits you speak of are demons, disguised to be angelic,” Natalie asserted—as if I cared.
“The dark spirits hate Reborns more than we do; they feed off of our innate lust to kill. They are the ones who grant us our paranormal powers.”
Next I moved away from Natalie, walking along the soggy creek and pressing my feet into the mud with my black sneakers. She slowly followed and said, “Just imagine all of the good you could do with that kind of power.”
Again I snickered and replied, “It wouldn’t work. The dark spirits only answer to us, not anyone who isn’t under the Covenant.”
“If I didn’t know any better, I would think of it as a beautiful, unique culture.”
“Beautiful? This is the power of a murder,” I corrected in anger.
“No, you’re a good person. I have seen it,” Natalie said firmly as I continued to walk along the riverbank. “You could have killed me but you didn’t.”
I had to correct her ignorance again. “You believe a lie about me. I can’t be good. I am what I am. I was born this way—born to kill you,” I said demonically.
“But you didn’t.”
“Look at me. I am damned to an eternal darkness with no escape. I have gone too far. I have killed more people than you will ever know,” I uttered sinisterly.
“No, there is still hope for you,” Natalie insisted. Her angelic demeanor lit up as I looked upon her.
“Hope?” Again I laughed in an ugly fashion. I sped around Natalie faster than she could have blinked; to her it would have seemed like I had disappeared into vapor. The Awakened Reborn leapt away in fear and asked, “How can you move that fast?” There was terror in her pretty eyes; my movement was flawless.
“The dark spirits allow us to use dark energy. It’s a basic form of energy that heightens physical strength, speed, durability, regeneration, limited shape-shifting, and the ability to detect other warriors by feeling out their dema.” I moved in closer; the horror in my eyes made her legs shake. I leaned against her chest. I felt my dema developing—my natural urge to kill feed off of Natalie’s phobia of me. The scent was very potent.
“No, you won’t hurt me,” Natalie said quietly. I stared into her eyes, hoping she would regard my warning. Part of me wanted to rip her head off and toss it in the old pond. I imagined that the horror of Natalie’s death would have satisfied my flesh. It would certainly have made things a lot easier, but my supposed good side held me back—the same feelings I had when I had dropped my sword in exchange for her life.
“I won’t, but understand that I am holding myself back from murdering you. Every particle of you drives me crazy for bloodshed. Your pale face, dirty blonde hair, Reborn presence, and even your innocent cheerfulness—I can’t help myself when I am around you. It is something that I haven’t ever experienced before. I don’t want to become overwhelmed with dema again like last night,” I hissed fervently.
“Please don’t,” Natalie responded.
“I was born to kill you.”
Then the desire to kill began to set in as I tried desperately to restrain it. I could feel my flesh craving to squeeze the life out of her. My skin burned lightly as sweat came to the surface. I imagined I was nearing 30 percent. I fought my natural tendency to harm her by holding my breath and moving away. I shielded my wrathful eyes and fell to the muddy ground. The white mist masked my physical presence. I fell to my knees, my fists balled, hoping that she would vanish from existence. My heartbeat began to pick up. She watched me struggle.
“You’re too sweet to hurt me,” Natalie voiced. She moved in closer to comfort me; I wished she would back away. I forcefully withdrew in fear of wanting to hurt her precious body.
“That is a part of the problem. When I am around you the desire rages out. But then again, your presence, touch, and selfless love opens up a new door to the unknown. Your scent triggers my demonic nature. It’s hard to explain,” I uttered solemnly. I continued to look downward, shutting my vision to her. Natalie’s fragrance traveled up my nose and only fueled my wrath. I squeezed my fists tighter. Tears of stress erupted as I gnashed my teeth, grinding my upper and lower jaw together.
I remained on the ground. The soggy dirt seeped through my blue jeans. I put pressure upon myself to think about the moment we shared, the common bond of fire.
Then I felt a dark spirit next to me, trying to use my body as a host. I heard it hissing at me, “Allow me, my lord. Allow me.” It was Ravinski, the red-eyed demon of fire.
“No! Go away!” I ordered, but Ravinski didn’t leave.
Suddenly, my teeth sharpened and my skin boiled even more. The skin on my face tightened. Involuntarily, my dema had risen above 50 percent. I couldn’t decrease the energy I was being fed.
The shadow manifested itself out of the white, smoky mist. The black figure laid its hand on my back and pressed inward. It forced itself inside as I laid my head down and groa
ned. The possession of the dark spirit had started; I could feel my body changing form. The pain increased. It felt as if Ravinski had opened the flesh on my back, cutting my skin outwardly and entering into my innermost being. That was when I released. I had hit a dangerous level of awakening—possibly 90 percent or over, nearing the fifth pillar of awakening. There was no turning back.
“Oh no, it’s happening,” I said gruesomely.
“I think I know what is wrong,” Natalie said.
“No—get away from me,” I urged hoarsely. She ignored my command. I felt like I was dying, slipping away into utter oblivion. Soon my human mind would cease and the demon would have total control over me.
“Remain calm,” she whispered and laid her hands on my burning forehead.
I tried to remain still while I resisted the transformation into a demonic entity. The moment her hands touched my skin, I began to calm down, and Ravinski stalled from entering me. Natalie prayed in tongues, the sounds of gibberish spitting from her mouth. Words in a language that was foreign to me echoed throughout the old pond. An unknown force from her body transferred over to me. The dark spirit exited my body before it could completely take me over. It seemed that her words had commanded the dark spirit to leave me. I was shocked; Ravinski obeyed and vanished from me.
I was calm. My dema was suppressed, down to 0 percent.
“You’re free now,” Natalie said with confidence.
“I am,” I gushed out in disbelief.
Natalie Schultz, the Awakened Reborn, possessed a power that far surpassed my understanding. Not only could she have destroyed me during our first encounter, but she also had the power to heal me and even to command the dark spirits to leave me alone. It was evident that the Spirit of the Reborns ruled and reigned inside of her. The question is to what measure? I had no idea. Regardless of her power with her god, I honored it. She was wonderful.
“The power you possess—I am becoming fatally attracted to it.” A long pause followed, and the next words flowed from my heart, as I thought I had found someone who could handle me—a worthy friend. “Natalie Grace Schultz, my friend.”
Natalie smiled a heavenly smile. The Reborn’s pale face blushed and said, “Tristan Bodaway Lakota, my friend.”
“I have killed before, and I will kill again,” I said predatorily.
“I don’t care. I can help you, and you won’t kill me.”
She rubbed her pale hands along the side of my warm face.
“Will you help me?” I questioned, backing away into one of the trees.
“Yes, I want to help you. The Reborn God wants you. You’re my friend.”
“If you’re smart … then you must flee from me,” I warned, believing that she wouldn’t.
Suddenly, I moved out of her line of vision and paced my steps.
“Wait—where are you going?” Natalie asked. I ignored her question as she chased me to the stone wall bridge.
The smell of rotten fish and an unusual odor of death rested within the black tunnel. The white mist covered the area, preventing me from seeing anything beyond fifteen feet. I took two steps along the rocky stones that rested above the surface of the river. It was slippery and wet; I managed to stand still as I faced the wall. Natalie stepped into the waters. The splashing echoed as I stared aimlessly at the walls of discolored stones smeared with layers of mud.
“Look, I am afraid if you get too close to me then I will hurt you—not just emotionally, but physically,” I warned.
“I told you, I am willing to take that risk.”
“If I don’t kill you, then one of my family members will. They—hate—you,” I hissed.
The brave and stubborn Awakened Reborn responded, “So let them hate me.”
“They will kill us both and slaughter the rest of your family. Don’t you care about them?”
“I do, but they won’t harm us. My God protects me, and he will protect you if you trust Him.”
“Can he?”
“Trust me, Tristan. I have a hedge of protection—a shield of faith, the armor of light, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. I am an Awakened One.”
“Your scent—it’s captivating and ancient.”
“It’s the sweet aroma of the Spirit of the Lord. I carry the scent. He blessed me with it. He told me that he would use the scent to lure you to me. It worked.” Natalie drew closer to me as I backed up against the stone wall.
“But I’m not part of his kingdom.”
“Don’t fear him. He will protect you. He has been yearning to be intimate with you,” she uttered.
“I—am—afraid—of—you.”
“It’s because I am an Awakened Reborn.”
13
The Explanation of the Five Elements
HOLY COMPASSION! I BELIEVED THAT was the first emotion I felt radiating from Natalie’s body. For someone to have holy compassion, that person would have to possess holy powers from a divine source. Natalie did.
“You talk to God?”
“Yes, he told me that the Spirit in me has awakened. The power of God lives inside of me,” she muttered and glared into my eyes. “He told me you, a killer of my faith, would come into my life. I had to prepare for your arrival.”
Me? I was predetermined to enter Natalie’s life? This was all too weird. What sort of path would come of this? I had betrayed my clan for the friendship of the enemy. No one would understand; I didn’t even necessarily understand my impulse decision to defend her against James. I risked her safety so that I may come to know her more. Regardless of what I thought, this was wrong in the eyes of my ancestors. The Awakened Reborn girl would surely find a dark and lonely death if we continued to hold onto one another. Maybe I should put an end to our immature emotions.
“No, this is wrong!” I exclaimed, slowly pushing her away.
Natalie held her place and touched my cheeks. She whispered in my left ear, “Try not to think about it.”
“I still could harm you,” I warned. If the entity returned, then my dema would involuntarily increase. Possession might occur. I could enter the fifth pillar and awaken.
“Harm me? You won’t. Your dark energy is useless against me. Your powers are inferior to the Spirit of the Lord’s.”
“Don’t count on it. I can be very dangerous.”
“You tried to kill me before but failed. When you had the chance you declined the moment and spared my life, didn’t you?”
“Yes, but my dark energy can still kill you.”
“Then show me,” she insisted.
“No, I—I can’t. It’s too dangerous. What if I lose control and Ravinski returns?”
“I’ll stop him. I am an Awakened Reborn.”
I grabbed her arm and walked out from underneath the stone wall bridge. I breathed calmly, trying not to think of morbid thoughts like spilling her blood and dismembering her.
“Wait, where are we going?” Natalie asked.
“I need to show what I can do besides manipulate the fires of the earth.”
Then, just some distance past a foothill, there was an open field about an acre away from the old pond. No one was present but a few cows that roamed the open fields. Here was a place where I could easily display my dark energy usage to Natalie without harming anyone. The area was perfect. I used just a small dose of energy, which could potentially attract my clan to finding us. James wouldn’t be looking for us this soon.
The ground was sandy and rocky. Itty-bitty rocks covered the area, often making a crackling sound as I stepped onto them. There was a black wooden fence covered by a horde of flies and beetles—large beetles with massive wings that made a low humming noise as they flew by my ears. The insects didn’t bother me.
“Hop over the fence,” I ordered.
Natalie refrained from carrying my command. “Ugh.” The flies continued to annoyingly buzz. The beetles hovered above the fence. To my dismay, there was a large portion of manure below them.
Then I quickly picked
Natalie up and hopped over the fence. She slightly screamed. Maybe I should have warned her.
“What are you going to show me?” she asked.
I continued to pace myself into the open fields. Natalie seemed skeptical and started to ask questions, “Do you have the ability to transform into something more? Like a creature of some sort?”
“No!”
“You’re not a monster, are you?” Natalie asked in fear.
“No, I’m not physically a monster.”
“Then what is it?”
She followed closely behind me. I kept quiet as I walked deeper into the field. “Tristan, tell me. What are you going to become?”
Then I saw it: a dirty gray boulder about a hundred feet away. It was the size of a small car, like a Volkswagen Beetle. I had my eyes set on it. I could easily blow it up into hundreds of smaller rocks.
“It is not what I become you should be concerned about,” I insisted viciously. She listened as I held out my hand toward the boulder. I spread my fingers and stared at the large rock as I imagined the object exploding into hundreds of smaller rocks. “It is what I am capable of doing!”
Within a second, I had summoned enough energy. The beam of blue light streamed toward the boulder. The blast hit the object, and its shockwave knocked Natalie over. She landed on the ground and watched as the light from the wave left my hand and collided with the boulder, which exploded.
Natalie lay there in disbelief as I turned around and helped her back up. She couldn’t take her eyes off of the grayish cloud of dust. Pieces of the rock lay scattered across the field. The cattle scurried away from us.
Natalie kept saying to herself, “Your energy. I felt it. It’s dark. It’s demonic.”
“Whatever you may call it; I grew up with the power. It’s like second nature to me.”
Natalie then looked at me asked, “How did you do that?”
“I just used the energy from my body and brought it into the physical world. Once I manipulate the energy, kind of like the element of fire, I can do what I will with it. In this case, I shot the energy from my hand and into the boulder. The explanation is simple enough to understand once it is witnessed with the human eye. I bet the Awakened Reborns can’t display energy like we can.”
