Energy - Awakening

by MJ Schutte

  Brighton concentrated for a moment.

  Slowly he said, ‘Yes. It’s as if I’m here but my body is somewhere else.’

  ‘That’s because your body is somewhere else. It’s still in the world of the living,’ Evangeline answered.

  ‘How can that be?’ Brighton asked with a frown.

  ‘The talent is very strong in you. The strongest I’ve ever seen. You’re using it right now to keep your body alive,’ Evangeline replied.

  Before Brighton could speak she shook her head and said, ‘No, that’s not accurate. Your body is technically dead but your spirit is still keeping a link to it.’

  Brighton didn’t really understand this explanation but decided not to ask questions.

  ‘Have you seen many talented people?’ Brighton asked.

  ‘Yes, every person that dies comes here. I’ve seen them all,’ she replied.

  ‘And I’m the strongest?’ Brighton asked.

  ‘Yes, by far,’ Evangeline confirmed.

  ‘If my body is elsewhere, what is this?’ Brighton said gesturing to himself.

  ‘Your soul, your essence, your life force. Again, different people call it by different names.’

  Brighton looked around.

  ‘Why does it look like the place where I grew up?’ he asked next.

  ‘That’s a function of your mind. There is in fact nothing here, but to me it looks like the caves where I was born,’ she answered.

  ‘What did Thomas mean when he said “she would betray you”? Was he talking about Lily?’ he asked carefully.

  ‘That is for you to decide,’ Evangeline answered.

  ‘She put the bracelet on me. She must have known of its real power. It certainly looks like she betrayed me,’ Brighton frowned.

  Before Brighton could ask another question, she spoke again.

  ‘We have little time. Your talent is strong, but there is also a limit to how long you can keep the link to your body. Do you wish to know how your talent works?’ she asked.

  ‘Well, I think I can give, take and manipulate energy and it only works on instinct. I have no control,’ Brighton answered.

  ‘Not entirely correct. You’re right about giving, taking and manipulating energy but wrong on the instinct part. You can control it,’ Evangeline answered.

  ‘How?’ Brighton asked.

  Without warning Evangeline touched his head. Understanding flooded into his mind. Brighton instantly knew exactly what his talent was capable of and how to control it. He also understood the limits and boundaries.

  ‘I understand now,’ he said. ‘How did you do that?’ he asked in amazement.

  ‘In this place I am very powerful. This is just one of the things I can do,’ she replied.

  ‘How do I get back to my body?’ Brighton asked.

  ‘Do you remember that little black panther cub you helped more than six years ago?’ Evangeline asked.

  Brighton nodded.

  ‘When animals die they also come here. That little cub was with me already but you pulled him back. It has never happened before. It’s the reason I know it’s possible to rejoin the living. Think of how you did that,’ she replied.

  Brighton thought of that day so many years ago.

  Understanding came to him again.

  ‘I know how to do it,’ he said.

  Evangeline just smiled.

  ‘Do you know where Mischief is now?’ Brighton asked, suddenly concerned for his friend.

  ‘Closer than you think. That is one very special animal. When you pulled him back to the living, a part of your talent stayed in him. The talent protects him as it protects you. A Dark One cannot harm him or you unless you let them.’

  Brighton’s eyes went wide.

  ‘Seth couldn’t get the bracelet on me. That’s why Lily put it on. They knew that it would take someone I trusted to do that. Lily did betray me!’ he said with great sadness.

  ‘Don’t be too hasty in your decisions. Perhaps it was all planned but it’s also possible that she didn’t know and Seth deceived you both,’ Evangeline warned.

  ‘I will go and find out,’ Brighton said heatedly.

  ‘Before you go, may I ask a favour of you please?’ Evangeline asked.

  ‘Yes, anything,’ Brighton replied.

  ‘Send Seth and his siblings to me. It’s time their mother had a serious talk with them,’ Evangeline said, struggling to keep the disgust out of her voice.

  ‘I think it will be more than just a talk. I promise you will have all your children with you soon,’ Brighton said.

  ‘Will you be alright?’ he asked, ‘Seth and the other Supremes are powerful.’

  ‘I told you, in this place I’m very powerful. No need to worry about me,’ she replied with a smile.

  Brighton concentrated. He could feel himself slipping back into his body. Evangeline said something as he was almost gone.

  Something about her husband.

  Brighton opened his eyes. He didn’t have to look where he was; he knew he was back in the palace dining hall.

  Slowly he got up. People were sitting at the table eating what looked like breakfast.

  How long was I gone? he wondered.

  The room went silent. The only sound came from the little silver bracelet hitting the floor. Everybody was staring at him just standing there.

  Seth got up slowly, confusion on his face.

  ‘How is this possible? Why aren’t you dead?’ he screamed.

  Lilian was seated next to Seth. Her eyes were red and swollen. Brighton noticed that her plate of food was untouched. She tried to get up but Seth put a hand on her shoulder pushing her back into her seat.

  He lifted his other hand.

  The energy link raced towards Brighton. As it touched his head, it recoiled. Seth howled in pain.

  ‘How?’ he said softly.

  Lilian struggled to get out from under his grip but he held firm.

  ‘Brighton, run!’ she shouted.

  Brighton stood looking from face to face. He wasn’t going to run. He was going to destroy them all.

  Everybody was suddenly talking at the same time. Seth was in urgent conversation with Amber standing next to him. Lauryn joined the conversation.

  Brighton caught a few words.

  ‘…work together…can’t resist us all…must be killed…’

  He watched the hand on Lily’s shoulder carefully. Seth gestured wildly with his free hand. He kept his other hand firmly on Lilian’s shoulder.

  Still Brighton watched.

  Finally, Seth got too distracted and lifted his hand. Brighton snapped an energy link to Lilian. It was a thin white line between his head and hers.

  Nobody noticed.

  Lilian could not believe it. Brighton was standing in the middle of the room. He was not dead. Seth’s hand lifted from her shoulder

  She didn’t move. If he wanted to, he could kill her instantly. She needed to stay calm and wait for the right opportunity.

  Lilian.

  She looked around. Her head was spinning. Who was calling her name?

  Lily.

  It was a voice in her head. Her eyes snapped to Brighton. He was looking straight at her.

  Lily, don’t react, the voice said.

  Bri? she thought.

  Yes, it is me.

  Bri, I’m so sorry…

  Shh, I know you didn’t betray me. I know you love me.

  Lilian started to stand up.

  No, don’t!

  Seth noticed. He looked at Lilian and then at Brighton. He saw the white energy link. In a flash his hand was back on Lilian’s shoulder.

  ‘Now you die,’ he snarled at her.

  He used his talent but nothing happened.

  Bri, what’s happening?

  He’s trying to kill you but I’m preventing it with my talent. I’m protecting you, Brighton’s voice came into her head.

  His face was a mask of concentration. It was draining his energy to protect himself and Lilian.
Seth realized his talent wasn’t working on Lilian. He grabbed a knife. Cutting her throat would have the same result.

  A bolt of pure white light slammed into his head knocking him all the way to the wall. It came from Brighton.

  The room fell silent.

  Lily, come to me, quickly!

  Lilian jumped over the table and ran to Brighton. She grabbed on to his arm. The energy link disappeared.

  ‘As long as you touch me it’s easier for me to protect you,’ Brighton whispered.

  Seth got up slowly. There was a round burn mark on his forehead.

  ‘A neat little trick,’ he said to Brighton. ‘But it won’t save you.’

  He lifted his hand again. All the other Supremes did the same. Seven energy links raced towards Brighton’s head.

  Brighton blocked all of them.

  Confused, the Supremes looked at each other.

  ‘AGAIN!’ Seth shouted.

  The seven links shot towards Brighton again and as before, they could not enter his head. Over and over they kept trying. It was all Brighton could do to keep blocking them.

  His energy was fading fast. There were no other life forms around that he could get energy from. He was worried about letting in one of the links and then reversing it. It might just be more than he could handle right now.

  ‘Wait,’ Seth shouted. ‘Kill the girl first!’

  The seven energy links went for Lilian’s head. She shrieked and closed her eyes.

  ‘Don’t be afraid, they can’t touch you.’

  Some of the Supremes’ children joined in.

  They were eager to please their parents. Six more energy links tried to get through Brighton’s defences. For just a moment, he faltered. Seth’s link touched Lilian.

  Her lifeless body dropped to the ground.

  ‘NO!’ Brighton shouted.

  He was searching desperately for some form of energy to steal. The mountain itself answered his call. Brighton felt the power flowing through him. He dropped his defences.

  Thirteen energy links slammed into his head.

  He welcomed them.

  The power that flowed through him was incredible. The more energy the Dark Ones took from him, the more he got from the mountain. They could not kill him.

  Suddenly he sent a huge burst of power down Amber’s link. The amount of energy flowing into her body was so much she burst into flames.

  He attacked Theresa in the same way. She too burst into flames. Six white bolts of lightning shot from Brighton’s body. It passed straight through the six Dark Ones that were trying to help the Supremes. They all dropped instantly to the floor, neat round holes where their hearts used to be.

  ‘Stop!’ Seth shouted.

  Brighton sank down next to Lilian’s body.

  He put his face on her head.

  ‘No, no, no, no,’ he whispered into her blond curls.

  Seth stepped closer.

  ‘Impressive. Nobody has ever been able to kill even one of us.’

  Brighton looked up.

  ‘Stay back or you’re next,’ he snarled.

  Seth smiled.

  ‘We both know you have nothing left. You’re done. I’m going to kill you slowly.’

  Brighton knew his limits. He had done everything he could. The link to the mountain was gone, he had nowhere else to get energy from, and even if he could, it would kill him. Too much energy had already passed through him.

  Slowly he got up.

  ‘Then do it,’ he said slowly.

  Seth lifted his hand. The energy link slammed into Brighton’s head.

  A big black form raced over the smooth floor. Mischief’s jaw closed around Seth arm. Instantly his arm was separated from his body. The cat’s claw flashed.

  Seth grabbed his slashed throat with his other hand.

  Slowly he sank to the ground, confusion on his face.

  People were running everywhere trying to get out of the dining hall.

  Brighton was lying next to Lilian. He looked at her one last time. His eyes closed. Mischief stood over Brighton and Lilian growling at the remaining people in the room.

  Lauryn came forward, hand raised.

  Her energy link shot across the room to Mischief.

  Seth opened his eyes. He was in a cave. Evangeline was standing over him.

  ‘Time to pay for your sins,’ she told him.

  Seth jumped up and raised his hand.

  Nothing happened.

  ‘That cursed talent won’t work here,’ Evangeline said slowly.

  She reached out and touched his head. Excruciating pain shot through his head. When it stopped, he was on his knees in front of his mother.

  ‘Come, your sisters are waiting.’

  When Seth didn’t come immediately, Evangeline touched his head again. The pain was unbearable and it lasted longer this time. When it eventually stopped, he was on the ground.

  He couldn’t remember how he got there.

  ‘Come.’

  He scrambled to his feet. Amber and Theresa were standing behind Evangeline.

  ‘Kill her!’ he shouted at his sisters.

  They both looked at him with fear in their eyes. Evangeline touched his head again. The last thing he heard was ‘slow learner’ before he passed out.

  He woke up hoping it was all a dream.

  Evangeline stood over him.

  ‘Come,’ she said.

  Seth obeyed immediately. They walked out of the cave. A multitude of people was standing in the clearing in front of the cave.

  Evangeline addressed her three children.

  ‘These are the people you killed; now they can do with the three of you as they please.’

  Amber and Theresa started protesting that they didn’t have anything to do with it.

  Evangeline held up her hand for silence.

  ‘You knew it was happening and did nothing to stop it. You’re as guilty as Seth.’

  She started walking away but stopped.

  ‘Remember, this is the afterlife. There is nothing more. If you are killed here you will cease to exist.’

  She turned around again and strolled back into the cave.

  Frightened, Amber and Theresa clung to each other.

  Seth shouted at Evangeline, ‘At least I killed Brighton!’

  Softly she said, ‘Don’t be so sure.’

  Thousands of people stormed the three Supremes with sticks and stones in their hands.

  ‘Brighton,’ a soft voice said.

  Evangeline? Brighton thought.

  He slowly opened his eyes.

  White satin sheets.

  Funny, he thought. Last time I was back in Four Mountains.

  ‘Brighton,’ the soft voice came again.

  It didn’t sound like Evangeline. He turned his head slightly.

  ‘Lily?’ he whispered. ‘Are you dead too?’

  Lilian started crying. She tried to speak but the words wouldn’t come. She was sitting next to him clinging on to his hand. A rough tongue licked Brighton’s other hand.

  He tried to sit up but couldn’t. His body wouldn’t respond.

  ‘Is that Mischief?’ he asked.

  Lilian nodded, tears streaming down her face. Brighton tried sitting up again. He managed to press himself up on one elbow.

  ‘Why are we still in the palace? If we’re dead we should be in Four Mountains,’ he said.

  Lilian was still crying so much she couldn’t speak.

  ‘What happened?’ Brighton asked.

  ‘I saw,’ a small voice said.

  Brighton turned his head and saw Adri standing not far off. There were bodies all over the floor. It seemed that he, Lilian and Adri were the only living people left.

  ‘Would you like some water?’ she asked.

  ‘Please,’ Brighton said.

  He sat up, his body protesting. Adri ran to the table. She brought a glass of water for Brighton. He took big mouthfuls. It made him feel slightly better.

  ‘So, what happen
ed?’ he asked again.

  Adri spoke in a trembling voice, ‘That black demon killed almost everyone.’

  Mischief pushed his wet nose into Brighton’s hand.

  ‘Hello boy. Where did you come from?’ he asked.

  ‘He came in with an old lady,’ Adri answered.

  ‘Carmen,’ Lilian sobbed.

  ‘Carmen is here?’ Brighton asked excitedly.

  ‘Was here,’ Adri corrected.

  ‘Where did she go?’ Brighton asked.

  ‘She’s also dead,’ Adri responded.

  ‘NO! Mischief would never harm her,’ Brighton tried to shout.

  It came out more like a croak. He had some more water. Adri stood with her hands clasped together in front her.

  ‘He didn’t.’

  ‘Who did?’ Brighton prodded.

  ‘I don’t know,’ Adri replied fearfully.

  ‘Just tell me what happened, please?’ he asked softly.

  ‘That black demon came charging in here with the old lady right behind him. He started ripping through everybody. They all ran for their lives. I hid behind the table over there.’

  She pointed to the far end of the half moon table.

  ‘When there was nobody left but you and Miss Lilian the demon went to sit next to you. The old lady ran to you. She screamed and pounded on your chest but it looked like you were dead. She put her hands on your chest and said something about taking her energy. A white light started shining from your body. The light touched Miss Lilian and she started breathing again. You also started breathing again after a while. The old lady fell over your chest. I crept closer to look. Luckily, that demon just ignored me. I pulled the old lady off you. There she is.’

  Brighton looked where Adri was pointing.

  ‘Carmen,’ he said past the lump in his throat.

  ‘What then?’ he asked Adri.

  ‘Miss Lilian woke up. She’s been sitting with you since then.’

  ‘How long has it been?’ Brighton asked.

  ‘Two days. I brought Miss Lilian food and water. She didn’t want to leave your side and you were too big for us to move. Besides, that demon got angry when I touched you.’

  Brighton looked at Lilian.

  ‘My love?’

  She threw her arms around him. He barely had the strength to hold himself up but he didn’t say anything. He hugged her back passionately.