Rise of the Death Walkers (The Circle of Heritage Saga)

by Lawrence Nason Jr.

  "The ancient gods are pleased with this union and have not only approved of your union but in sending the white wolf have also opened up the way for you to one day lead this tribe." I sat there with my jaw slack at his announcement and my grandfather chuckled.

  "The legends we know are coming true." He reached forward and a wisp of smoke detached from the fire and lazily drifted toward the sky. The form of a wolf next to a man could clearly be seen as the smoke shifted and reformed.

  The elders nodded and chanted in low tones. The white wolf drifted back into the forest. Each of the elders then placed one black feather in front of me. It was then I noticed that the elders where not the elders of my own tribe but the elected Chiefs from each tribe in the six nations.

  If I recalled correctly the black feather was given to swear alliance bonds between each tribe. By placing it in front of me they acknowledged I would one day sit amongst them as an equal. My attention was drawn back to my grandfather as he began to speak again.

  "Pasche, hear now the true history of our tribe. Thousands of years ago our tribes lived peacefully here on Earth. We were at peace with each other and there was no bickering over territories or food. Then a darkness fell upon our people and we were thrown into disarray. A dark and evil presence fell among our people and decimated many clans before we understood what was going on. They were called the Soul Extractors. They fed upon the very souls of men and woman of our tribes. Terror ruled amongst our people and we prayed for guidance from the ancient gods.”

  “The Soul Extractors fed well among our people leaving just the soulless bodies behind to die, for without a soul, a man is nothing. Just an empty husk. He is without direction and has no good in his heart. We were forced to kill these soulless bodies in the defense of our tribes for they were like a beacon to other Soul Extractors."

  "After many years of fighting and prayer to the ancient gods, our calling was answered in the form of men-like creatures. They understood the danger of the Soul Extractors and had traveled the stars to find allies to fight against these evil apparitions." I was captivated by the story my grandfather was telling. "These men like creatures learned our tongue then explained their wishes to us. They wished to ensure the survival of our people so they took five out of every ten of our people to the stars with them The destination for these people was to be a new planet called The Origan.”

  “Once in the new world they began to train the men and women. They taught them how to truly use their minds to defend against the Soul Extractors. They discovered we had great potential and trained our people during through many generations. We learned how to gain the assistance of the animals of the forest. We learned control of the four elements needed to sustain life.”

  “After several thousand years with them they said we were ready to return to our home world. Twelve hundred years ago we returned here. Your ancestors were among the ones to return. We found that our brothers and sisters left behind had reverted into savages with no trace of civilization remaining. We gathered our brothers and sisters and taught them to live in a civilized way. We taught them to use nature as a friend. We only took from nature what was required to survive."

  My grandfather paused and stepped back out of the circle. I was surprised to see my grandmother take his place.

  She stood there, tiny compared to my grandfather but when she spoke it was with a voice laced with authority.

  "It is my task to explain The Plan to you. For the next twelve hundred years we fought the Soul Extractors and protected the rest of humanity from them. The Plan was designed to create the perfect weapon against this force. This would, in time, eventually lead to the goal of driving the Soul Extractors away from this planet. Families with strong talents were encourages to form unions with others who were strong. The sons and daughters of the past are our legacy for the future. It was told to us when The Plan had reached each of the goals set forth there would be a son or a daughter born with the Mark of Goltar."

  She held up an old carving I had not ever seen before. The design on the carving looked familiar to me.

  Katie's voice drew my attention. "Jason that looks like the birthmark you have on your hand."

  Mimi smiled and said, "Katie you are very quick. Yes my grandson bares the mark. This is the first time the mark has been displayed among our people. Jason has yet to learn his abilities but we know he has them for they have been displayed in small accomplishments he has made throughout his life. His training will now begin. You will be key to this training Katie because you have already shown the love and dedication needed to train. Sam will act as your guide but you will be the driving force.”

  “This is the first time where an outsider has been chosen to train a member of the bloodline. You are now one with the tribe and thus able to hear the tale of the Ancients as it has been spoken here tonight. Your responsibilities are grave and we must warn you that these tales cannot be spoken outside of the tribe."

  Katie looked frightened. I reached over to pat her hand in reassurance. "I am not sure I understand what I am required to do."

  "In time that will be clear granddaughter." Mimi smiled at both of us. "Today has been long and we have a celebration ahead of us. Let us depart to the hall and take part in the celebrations there. Later the tasks will be explained to both you and to Jason."

  She stood up and indicated that everyone should follow her. As Katie pushed me behind my grandfather and grandmother my head was swimming. I still was unsure of myself and what had been told to me and I would definitely need to talk to my grandfather to get some clarity.

  While we were headed toward the hall where the celebration was to take place I took notice of several occurrences of a color I could not identify. "Grandfather? What is that?" I pointed to the forest floor where a splotch of color lay.

  "That Grandson, is what remains of a Soul Extractor, once he has been destroyed by us. It will fade in a day or two and become one with the forest." He turned away and kept walking.

  "What are you talking about Jason?" Katie asked me. "I don't see anything but the woods."

  "Those things at the base of the trees love." I pointed.

  Mimi faced us now and said, "She will not be able to see them Pasche. You can see them now because the ceremony awoke the ability within you. No one outside of the Six Nations is able to see them. They can only see the mentally unstable shell left behind. Most of the poor victims are stuck in some metal facility by the white men. The don't see them for what they truly are. We deal with the ones we can relieve of their misery but the white man's laws forbids us to do what we are meant to do, so we have to do what we can do in stealth."

  Suddenly my future did not look as rosy as it had before and there was confusion that tumbled through my mind. What did I have to look forward to? A world full of darkness and evil and the constant fight to ensure that this evil did not take over the future. A warm and slender hand slipped into mine and reminded me I would not have to face the future alone.

  Chapter 11 - The Awakening

  The beginning of April I experienced the success of walking for the first time since my accident. Katie and I had just returned from the school. We were out in back of my room talking with my grandparents.

  My grandmother asked for me to hand her the bag of charcoal that was leaning up against the back of the house. I was so distracted by the conversation between Katie and Grandfather Sam that I acted on impulse. I got up out of my chair and started walking toward the charcoal.

  The silence that ensued was deafening.

  “Jason,” Katie exclaimed, “You are on your feet walking!”

  I took another step and what she said registered in my mind. I looked down and moved my foot forward in another tentative step. Once I was consciously thinking about walking my knees buckled and I dropped to the ground.

  Everyone rushed over to me to help me up from the ground. I waved them away and used the house to lean against and get back on my feet. Sweat formed on my forehead and began
dripping into my eyes. I wiped it away and took a tentative step toward the bag of charcoal.

  “Careful Jason.” Mimi warned.

  “I am fine Mimi. I know I can do this.” I reached down and picked up the charcoal. Turning around I saw my family. Their eyes were glowing in excitement. I had reached an important milestone in my recovery and I suddenly wanted to do this on my own. I waved them away again and started walking to where Mimi was standing. When I reached her I handed her the bag and said, “Here is the bag you wanted Mimi.”

  Silence still commanded the situation as I turned and walked back to my chair. Once I was seated the situation turned from silence into calamity. Everyone was talking at once in excited tones.

  “Jason that was beautiful. Seeing you back on your feet was something I had hoped for since you first got out of the hospital.” Katie hugged me and started placing kisses all over my face.

  “Well done Jason.” Grandfather Sam said proudly. “It won’t be long and you will be roaming the woods with me. You will be one with nature and at peace with yourself.”

  My own mind was still jumbled and I could hardly believe myself what I had done. After so many months of trying to force myself to walk I just get up without a thought and do it. “I don’t understand how I could do what I just did.”

  Mimi smiled at me and said. “Sometimes, Grandson, the mind just needs to be free. It needs to handle things in its own way. Forcing conscious actions can, at times, be detrimental to your recovery. Your mind and body will know when it is time for you to do things.”

  “Now,” my grandfather poured apple cider into glasses. “We can celebrate with a proper feast.” He handed out the plastic cups to everyone and held up the glass. “To the first step into the future. You will succeed in many things in life Jason. Always remember in the good times and in the bad. We are there with you, if not in body then in spirit”

  We had good reason to celebrate that night. Katie sat near me holding my hand. She reminded me, by being there, just how much I had to be thankful for in life.

  June had come and passed and I was no further to tapping into the secret powers my grandfather claimed was buried deep within me. The other aspects of my life were progressing much faster. I had regained use of both of my legs and I could generally walk medium length distances if I was very careful and there was nothing bigger than a dime in my path. My relationship with Katie had deepened to such proportions that I astonished myself with what I was capable of. I was finding it more difficult to keep my promise to her father and my grandfather because she was forever finding ways to test my willpower. For instance right now it was three in the morning and she walked into the bedroom her parents had been letting me use on my frequent visits to stay over the weekend. She was wearing something that would have broken the willpower of a monk who had abstained from sexual encounters and had held that vow for sixty years.

  She pushed the door open and distracted me from my thoughts. I turned my head to the door and stiffened. The negligee she was wearing must have come right off the hooks of a closet in the Playboy mansion and although it blurred the areas of extreme desire very well if let nothing for the imagination.

  She moved to the bed and sat down. "Good morning Jason, how do you like it?" Her breath was sweet on my face. "I got it for myself for my birthday. She was celebrating her birthday today, one day after the birthday of our nation. She was now seventeen and was like a demon from my own personal underworld when she made attempts like this.

  I broke out in a cold sweat at the sight of her. "You father is really itching to use that shotgun he keeps under his bed, you know." I gulped as she leaned forward.

  She giggled at me and then shot back out the door in a fleet graceful movement. She was as graceful and agile as I was lumbering with my two left feet. A moment later she was back wearing her robes and she sat down and smile at me.

  "Ok I will be good." She fluttered her eyelashes at me. "You know what day this is?"

  I rolled my eyes ate her and snorted. "It's kind of hard to miss what day this is. You have been taping flyers to the inside window of the car every day for a week now." I was still using the van because the coordination of my two left feet was still a bit out of sync. I would want to move my left foot and my right foot would react. The doctors claimed this was not uncommon for people who had suffered the type of injury I had.

  She giggled again and bounced on the bed. “What did you get me?" She was like an excited five year old on Christmas morning. I sighed and reached out for the sports bag I had brought with me. Again I had worked in the stillness of my new room getting only the basic materials I had needed from the craft store and the precious gems from a jeweler on the reservation who specialized in handmade jewelry. I had fashioned a pair of earrings that would match her promise ring. I held out the wrapped box to her and she eyed it for a short moment before she took the box. "What is it?" she asked

  Laughing I shook my head and said, "To find that out my love you are actually going to have to open it."

  She opened the box slowly and when she lifted the top her eyes glowed for a moment. "Oh Jason, these are so beautiful."

  "Not half as beautiful as the person opening them," I admitted honestly. "Happy seventeenth birthday you old woman." I flashed a grin and ducked under the slap she delivered.

  "You are getting pretty good at avoiding her swings son." I heard her father's voice from the open doorway of my room.

  "Daddy, What are you doing up at this hour?" Katie asked in surprise.

  "Trying to figure out if I need to go get my shotgun or not." He said eyeing the front of her partially opened robe.

  She clutched the robe closed and said mournfully. "No Daddy, Jason is too much of a gentleman to take advantage of me, unfortunately."

  Her father smiled at me and nodded his head. "I see one of you is keeping the promise made to me." He jerked his thumb over his shoulder and said. "Out, young lady. I wish to speak to my future son-in-law in private."

  "Oh Daddy, you are always ruining things." She said with a pout on her lip before she ran out of the room.

  Dr. Grant came over to my bedside and said. "Legs." I knew what he wanted so I flipped the cover back. He had taken a personal interest in my recovery and had done all of the examinations after I had been released from the hospital. His warm fingers felt the various muscle groups in each leg and nodded in satisfaction.

  "Very good muscle development son. Are you still having problem with coordination?"

  I nodded to him and said, "Some days are better than others but I can still trip over a rug if I am not careful."

  "That's to be expected Jason. Keep using the canes I lent you until you have better control." he flipped back the covers and sat down on the edge of the bed.

  "Your grandfather wants us to hold Katie's birthday celebration on the reservation and Eleanor and I have agreed."

  "I hadn't realized that my grandfather was aware that Katie had a birthday today." I said

  "Well, I guess you can't put some things over on Sam. He seems to catch things quicker than others and has the uncanny knack of knowing things about people." Dr. Grant chuckled, "He even called me on my own birthday and sent me best wishes. I have known Sam for thirty years now so nothing he does surprises me anymore."

  "That sounds very much like my grandfather." I smiled and continued. "He is like the wily old fox when it comes to other people."

  Dr. Grant stood back up. "Get some sleep Jason and if the evil temptress wanders back in remind her about the shotgun."

  I laughed. "I remind her every time she tries something new, sir. This time it was one of her bolder moves."

  "I know Jason. Shelly from the mall called me and warned me what Katie had purchased and I figured she would try something the first night you stayed here so I was prepared. I am just happy that her future husband has more control and honor than she appears to have." He paused at the door.

  "Maybe I have better control over my hormones th
an she does." I said seriously.

  "I doubt that Jason, But then again she has never been threatened about being pulled into the woods by her grandfather and knocked around with loose landscaping items like you have." He chuckled.

  "With my grandfather those landscaping items you refer to would not necessarily have to be loose. I can picture him ripping up a tree to bash me over the head with it." I laughed

  Dr. Grant joined me in laughter. "That defiantly sounds like Sam White. Get some sleep son and see you at breakfast."

  "Thanks, Dad" I said as he closed the door.

  I often wondered why life had fated me to have a father that was so different from Dr. Grant. Why had the spirits seen fit to place me in a situation where my days were so full of terror at the possible beatings I would get for no reason at all. I liked Katie's father a lot and envied her at times.

  My mind returned to thoughts about my siblings. My brothers were at my Aunt Susan's and they were having a much better time than they used to. They still went to the same school as they did before. The friends they made were the same. My Uncle Ned treated the boys as if they were his own and the other children there treated them as family.

  My sister was still in the sanatorium. She had not spoken a word since the day she killed Roger. She had already been cleared by the authorities of any blame. It had been a clear case of self defense and she was only thirteen at the time. I had gone there several times and spent hours trying to get her to draw out of the protective shell she was in. It tore the heart out of my chest every time I saw her and I would get such a feeling of guilt that several times my grandfather had to knock me over the head to get me to come out of the mood.

  When I had finally been released from the hospital, Dr. Grant and his wife had insisted I spend the first couple of weeks at their place and my grandfather had agreed. I think he had wanted more time to complete my room.