Eden's Mark

by D. M. Sears

  Say what! I understood why they wanted to wait to tell me.

  “You think my parents are the couple from the prophecy?”

  “At the time we weren’t sure. Now, it seems it’s true.”

  “They fit the profile; we never received a definitive yes or no. Amend left us to believe what we wanted. Even so, we all thought they were the ones spoke about. Who would have thought my sister would fulfill a prophecy? It did seem only natural since she was so special. Both of them exceptional, their mist of light gave us the reassurance we craved. No one could sleep, as to be expected, so we sat up making a plan. We would have to keep them from touching in public, and maybe, if people didn’t see the light they wouldn’t think about the prophecy.”

  I contemplated for a second, “What I don’t understand is why it was bad if people knew they were that couple? Wasn’t it a good thing, I mean to have all the races united together?” They looked at me as if I was so young and naive.

  In my mind, if a world of people being repressed and downtrodden knew they were going to be free from oppression, you’d think they’d be happy.

  “Their lives would be at stake, Eden. Every race would love to get their hands on their child. Unlimited power would be in their grasp.” Val stood up and crossed the kitchen and looked out the window.

  “What do you mean, unlimited power? I am confused.” My voice, tinged with an eagerness to know more, echoed in the room.

  Lex looked me in the eye, “This child would be extremely gifted. Possessing powers none can even begin to grasp, not to mention a great bartering item, whether for the side of good or evil. What about the many people who did not want a united world? They would want to kill the child and stop the prophecy.”

  I guess I didn’t think about it that way. It was hard to wrap my head around people wanting to harm a child over something one man said might happen.

  “Can’t prophecies change? I mean, just because one person said it may come to pass, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will…right?”

  “That’s true, but most people don’t reason these things out. It was just better if it stayed concealed. After all, people would be upset that a mage and a fey married.”

  “Oh, I see.”

  “Your mother and father did very well about their contact in public. After we announced the marriage, the council went into an uproar, Lander and Circenn refused to talk to your father. Most people seemed happy; some fanatics were upset but that is to be expected. Their union overjoyed the few council members that were more free thinkers. One-step closer to peace in our lands, or that was the hope, anyways.” She sounded far away then.

  “A few months later, we found out your mother was expecting a child, Eve had an amazing glow about her. Your mom and dad were the picture of euphoria. We all knew Eve and Marcus would have to go away soon, at least until you were born, we hoped she could stay for a few more months. Eve was about eight months along when she started to have some labor pains. One day, when they were in the market, she had one of her spells and leaned on Marcus for support. The mist of light reeled around them and everyone in the market place saw.” Her voice was shaky.

  “Are you saying that at eight months pregnant my mom didn’t show? Most women I see would look like a beach ball was under their clothes.”

  “Her glamor hid that. Only those of us she let see her real self saw you growing inside her.”

  Turning from the window, I saw Val take on a very somber look as she walked to her chair beside Lex. “Marcus rushed her out of the stall and came straight to us. It was time to get them to a secluded place for the birthing. The night before we were to leave, the Gelseys came to our door, asking to see Marcus. They wanted him and Eve to come to their house to have you. If we would have known he told his parents about the child, we would have moved them sooner. As it was, we didn’t know and it put them at risk.” Val was letting silent tears flow down her cheeks. I watched Lex take her hand and give it a slight squeeze, reassuring her to continue.

  “Your father told them that they had a place to go and that they had no business being at our home. Circenn was unaccustomed to not getting her way, she did not like her son’s answer. Despite Marcus refusing to accept their help, they still offered to supply anything they needed. Something was off; we all knew it. For almost a year, they wanted nothing to do with them, and now, now, they knew their grandchild would be special. After several refusals from Marcus, they finally left. They had to leave that night; all we could do was pray that we could get them to the safe haven in time. A friend of ours, a vampire named Skyler, was helping us with a place to stay. It wasn’t very luxurious, but it was clean, safe, and Skyler was the best mid-wife in all of Ellethny.”

  Chapter Five

  I sat at the table staring at the both of them, a look of sheer confusion plastered across my face. “Vampires need blood to live. You trusted her around them?” What were the two of them thinking? Maybe it was my lack of the paranormal education, but in my tiny world, a vampire would be the last person I would want around a birth.

  “You are right, Eden, for the most part.” His eyes crinkled at the corners from amusement at my naivety. “They do need blood, but like most of them, they feed off only those who give their blessing to do so, people and animals alike. Vampires are a peaceful race, content to do the hunt for the villages. They have the majority of the stalls in the market. In addition, they make up the vast portion of guards due to their strength, speed, and natural heightened senses.”

  This whole world, the people in it, reminded me of a movie. Regardless, I listened closely.

  “Skyler, as her family before her, have always been friends of ours. We traded items, helped each other with various things, and because of this, we had a strong bond with them. I owe Skyler a great debt. I doubt Eve would have survived without her gentle hands and her speediness. Your mother had a long hard birth and she lost a lot of blood. Skyler gave her the blood she needed to replace what she lost; you came out healthy and crying. I have never seen two people so happy in all my life. Your mom and dad loved you from the first moment they knew they were having you, but when they got to see you, the mist of light swirled around you all like vines winding around a tree.” Tears dropped on the table from Val’s chin.

  “At the time, we didn’t know we had been followed to the haven. On the third night of your birth, a month after leaving our home, Skyler heard noises coming from the woods. My mom cast a hearing charm and it amplified the noise allowing us to hear everything. Shades had been sent to take you.”

  “What’s a shade?” So much to process, my head hurt.

  “Shades are evil beings who crave destruction, carnage. They are made by a very powerful dark magick. Whomever wields such magick gives up their life to the darkness.”

  “Why would someone want to do that? Did you know anyone who had that happen to them?” His expression told me he had.

  “We set up wards around the house the first night we arrived, we thought we were safe. We couldn’t have been more wrong. Deep in the woods, we could see shades surrounding us. Their skin had a sickening pallor that looked like death had touched them. Their eyes were more disturbing, completely white and glowed as if on fire.”

  Shivers went down my arm. A quick picture of my dream popped into my head. I felt my heart quicken at the thought of pale eyes. The birthmark, which had been relatively dormant, began to heat, adrenaline feeding my anxiety. I listened closer to the difficult words.

  “We knew a master was there somewhere, he had a mage trying to take the wards down as we reinforced them. Marcus wanted to go out and fight, but we couldn’t risk him. We had to get you and your parents out, but there was no escape.”

  My family was going to die. An orphan was what I was.

  “Your father and grandfather took guard at the front door. Your grandmother, Skyler, and I tried to usher your frantic mother towards the back of the house. Your room was the most heavily warded, if the other wards were breach
ed, this would be our only chance to get you two out. As we shut ourselves into the room, we heard the front door kicked in. Marcus shouted at us, telling us to get you out now.” Val stopped to take a deep breath, trying to hold back the heavy sobs she choked on. She seemed to shrink in Lex’s arms as he held her tightly, helping her to keep control.

  “They broke through the wards and entered the house. All we could do was try and get you out before the next set of wards went down. Your grandmother and Eve were chanting and weaving their hands into patterns, rebuilding wards. Skyler wrapped you up, gathered items we would need, and secured the window for our escape. Eve kissed the top of your head and told me to take you, run as far away as possible, and to keep you safe. I didn’t know what to say. Since she was the strongest mage, she thought she should stay and try to protect everyone else.”

  I silently cried. My family fought to keep me alive. Lex reached across the table and squeezed my hand. The righteous indignation I had once felt over this whole situation melted into guilt, remorse, and sorrow.

  “I hugged Eve, not knowing if I would ever see her again. She pushed me towards the open window. Skyler handed me a bag and whispered something in my ear. Hesitantly, I looked back one last time at the family I was leaving behind. With tears running down my face, I cast a cloaking spell over us and slid out into the night. I ran as fast as I could into Morlan Forest. Skyler told me her family lived there and would know what to do if we showed up. Several hours later, I came upon a small house built into a Bobe tree. The trunk of the tree was 60 ft. tall with brilliant orange flowers the size of melons. I hoped this was the place. I was exhausted and I knew you would need to feed. I knocked on the door and the faces of two youthful vampires greeted us. I quickly told them what happened and they let me in. Dirk and Raven said they would help us get to a portal, and we landed here.” I watched Val get up from her chair and fill the kettle with water. I heard her muffled crying. Lex rose and went to her side. He kissed her cheek, then turned towards me.

  “I happened to be in my library when your aunt appeared on the floor. I had seen her borrow books now and then from my uncle, but I had no idea who she was or why she was here. This beautiful creature, covered in blood and dirt, lay unconscious on my floor with a bundle wrapped tightly in her arms. She stirred and immediately went on the defense. I told her I wasn’t going to hurt her and that she was safe. Valora sat on my floor and wept. I walked to her and placed my hand on her arm, that’s when I knew she was mine. I felt a strong pull in my soul connecting us. I knew then that there was nothing I wouldn’t do for this woman on my floor.” He looked at Val and I saw such love in his eyes.

  “Valora told me what had happened in Ellethny and I shared my own history with her. We kept watch over you for days, weeks, looking for any sign of a mark. We never saw one and became content that maybe the prophecy was wrong. I made contact through scrying to Amend. He said that Val’s parents were lost and that Marcus and Eve had escaped. No one knew where the two had gone. Your father’s parents had convinced the council that the couple was evil and trying to take over the rule of Ellethny. The council decided that if they were to come back, or anyone connected to them were to be found, they would be killed on sight.”

  The water pouring into Val’s cup was loud as she spoke. “We wanted to contact them using the same method, however, you have to know where a person might be, and they could’ve been anywhere. Now that we knew that the Gelseys were pretty much in charge, we could never take you there to find your parents.”

  I sat in my chair for a long time, silent, trying to get a grip on things. “You said I didn’t have a mark when I was a baby, well, it is very faint, unless I am scared or nervous. Then it is pink and sometimes red.”

  Lex took a deep breath, “How long have you noticed the mark on your wrist?”

  “I don’t know, a long time. I never said anything because I thought it was just a regular birthmark. I mean, it has never burned or anything until recently. My dreams make it worse.”

  “This must be hard for you, but we never thought this day would actually come.” Val whispered. It was hard to make out her words.

  “I didn’t want to risk the chance of you being kidnapped, or worse, killed over one family’s power-hungry tirade. You are the most important thing in our lives, Eden. This is why we never mentioned it before, we didn’t want to have to.” Her eyes were large and full of tears.

  “All these years I have felt like my life had a big hole in it, I didn’t have a real family or belong anywhere. Maybe if you had told me sooner I would have felt better about myself. It wasn’t your choice to deny me what I had a right to know from the beginning.” I wasn’t trying to be mean, but my frustration won out.

  My parents may or may not be alive, I was a long-lost child of a prophecy, and I came from another world. If I was a machine, smoke would be coming out of my ears.

  “I love you both for everything you have done for me, but I should have been told about this a long time ago. These dreams that have kept me awake, you awake might have stopped if I had known all this.” The birthmark on my wrist pulsed, sending an electrical-type current through my body.

  “I know, sweetheart. I am ashamed for keeping these things from you. Honestly, I felt I was doing the right thing. I was asked to keep you safe. This was the only way to do that. Had you known earlier, you might have done something foolish. My only sister’s child was left in my care. What would you have done?”

  She was right; I would have done the same thing. I saw the pain she felt over this whole situation, for her mom and dad, sister and brother. How could I condemn her for doing what was asked?

  Lex crouched in front of me, “I believe that your mark is the same one spoken in the prophecy. If I’m right, then you should have unlimited power.” He seemed so sure.

  “If I am what you say I am, then I think it is time to go find my parents. Dead or alive, I have a right to know what has become of them. I need to sort out this whole prophecy thing and see where I come from. You can help me or I will do it alone, either way, I am going. Although I have no idea what to do or where to go.”

  With those last words, I walked out of the kitchen. Confusion was my new name. I needed time to think on my own. I went from an ordinary seventeen-year-old to a child of a prophecy whose parents could be alive or dead in a world that was full of fairy-tale creatures that I was meant to rule and unite. I had some soul-searching to do.

  Chapter Six

  I climbed the stairs to my room and fell into my bed. The sun was glowing through my window, painting it in yellows of every shade. My head hurt like it had been hit with a ball bat and I couldn’t get my mark to stop burning. I let the lull of afternoon take me into its abyss. The emotions from the last two conversations crashed against me like a wave, weakening me with exhaustion.

  “How are you feeling tonight?” My ears perked at the smooth male voice that filled my room. Was I dreaming? That voice sounded so familiar.

  “Now you choose not to speak?” Again, I lay on my bed too afraid to look around for the man I knew belonged to the irresistible voice. Slowly, I sat up and focus my eyes in the dim light. There he was, the man from the woods, super hotty himself, standing in the tree by my window watching me.

  My voice was raspy, I stuttered a little, “I…I am better, thank you. How did you know where I lived last night? That’s a bit on the stalker side, don’t you think?” I was feeling a little bit braver.

  His chuckled was light and flawless, “I am sure it seems that way.”

  “What are you doing here?” Not that I minded, like…at all. His scent filled my nose, causing my heart to skip a few beats and my skin to overheat…sigh.

  “I came by only to check on you. I will leave you now.”

  “Wait! I didn’t mean it in a bad way!” I was too late. The mystery man was gone in a second. I was left sitting in my empty room bewildered.

  My bedside clock read 6:15, the sunset filtered into the room s
howering the floor and walls with the lilacs and baby pinks of the evening sky. I could hear the clanking of dishes and soft voices downstairs. I had forgotten that we were having a guest for dinner. This was definitely not a good time to have a friend over to eat. I grabbed one of my pillows and placed it over my face. My life was upside down. The strange visit I just had was enough to set my thoughts going in a whirlwind. How would I be at dinner?

  There was a knock on my door. I opened my eyes to Val standing in my doorway.

  “Dinner is ready, Eden. Come down and meet Gregor.” Val had cleaned her face and changed into a strappy cotton dress with a shrug, she even did her hair. This must be some guest.

  “I’ll be down in a minute.”

  As my door shut, I went to my dresser and found a pair of white capris, black tank, and a tan overshirt. This spring was staying cooler longer and the nights were still freezing. I set about making myself look presentable. My hair was determined to be uncooperative. I sprayed it with water and pulled it back in a knot. I dabbed my lips with my favorite cherry-flavored gloss and walked out of my room, trying to pull my Chuck’s on.

  I was three steps from the landing, fidgeting with my converse, when I noticed clear grey eyes gazing inquisitively at me. My foot missed the next step and I fell on my bottom down to the landing. All the mixed emotions I had felt walking down the steps dissipated. They were replaced by mortification at my clumsiness.

  His amused expression didn’t help the situation any, and I blushed apple-red. I saw him as strong, angelic, and fearsome in the woods, calm and concerned just a second ago in my tree. Now…now he seemed professional yet relaxed. I wonder how many faces this man has?

  He bowed at the waist in his old-world style and a small grin played on his lips as he offered his hand. My wounded pride wouldn’t have it. I rose on my own as he tilted his head in response to my refusal. Lex came around the corner and embraced him in a half hug, half handshake.