Energy - Awakening

by MJ Schutte

  ‘And how are you going to orchestrate this?’ Lilian asked.

  ‘I will do exactly what Richard wants. I will go into the city and make contact with the resistance,’ Brighton answered.

  ‘That will get you and a lot of innocent people killed. It’s not really a good solution,’ Lilian argued.

  ‘Not necessarily. We have someone Richard is not aware of,’ Brighton smiled.

  ‘I see,’ Lilian said in understanding.

  Claire looked from face to face.

  She didn’t understand what they were talking about.

  ‘What do you have that Richard doesn’t know about?’ she asked.

  ‘Me,’ a voice came from a bush less than two paces behind her.

  Claire screamed and grabbed onto Lilian burying her face in the white dress.

  ‘Brac!’ Lilian shouted. ‘That was not funny!’

  Brac stepped out from behind the bush.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘But it was a little funny.’

  Brighton also thought so but the look on Lilian’s face made him decide not to admit it.

  Brac went down on one knee and held out his arms to Claire.

  ‘I am really sorry,’ he said sincerely. ‘Give me a hug and forgive me please.’

  Claire looked at him with big round eyes.

  ‘I forgive you,’ she said softly but made no move towards him.

  ‘But I don’t,’ Lilian said in mock anger. ‘Not until you cook Claire a nice meal.’

  Brac got up.

  ‘Very well, I will make young Miss Claire the best meal in the whole world,’ he agreed with a smile.

  He disappeared into the woods again.

  Still trying to hide his smile Brighton called, ‘Adri, you can come out of the bushes too!’

  He knew Liam and Nelson were very close as well but didn’t call them.

  Adri stepped into the clearing.

  ‘Hello, I’m Adri,’ she said to Claire.

  Claire just gave a small wave in Adri’s direction.

  ‘This is Claire,’ Lilian introduced her.

  Adri came over and took Claire’s hand.

  ‘Will you please help me gather wood for a fire?’ she asked.

  The younger girl nodded and they set off.

  Lilian came over to Brighton.

  ‘I saw you smiling at Brac’s little trick,’ she said as she punched his rock hard shoulder.

  ‘It was funny,’ Brighton defended.

  ‘No it wasn’t. The poor girl is already scared out of her wits and then Brac made it worse. All we need now is for Mischief to put in an appearance. The poor girl will probably die!’ Lilian complained.

  ‘Mischief isn’t anywhere near them right now,’ Brighton answered as he used his sense to find the big cat.

  ‘That’s good. We can introduce Claire to him later,’ Lilian replied.

  ‘No, we won’t,’ Brighton said quickly.

  ‘Why not? He’s a part of our little group,’ Lilian argued.

  ‘But she isn’t,’ Brighton said flatly.

  ‘Bri, we can’t send her back to Avarya. We don’t know what Richard will do to her,’ Lilian pleaded.

  ‘I know, but she’s not staying with us either,’ Brighton replied.

  Lilian knew why Brighton was being stubborn. The memory of Michaela and Joshua was still very fresh.

  ‘Then what do you suggest?’ she asked gently.

  ‘I don’t know yet,’ Brighton admitted.

  The two girls returned with their arms full of wood. Adri quickly arranged it on the ground and asked Brighton to light it. Claire clapped her hands when the tiny bolt of white energy jumped from Brighton’s hand onto the wood.

  ‘That’s pretty!’ she exclaimed.

  ‘And I still think it’s the best use for his talent,’ Lilian joked.

  Brac reappeared carrying a small deer.

  ‘Your food will be ready shortly, milady,’ he said to Claire while bowing deeply.

  She giggled behind her hand.

  Brac turned to Brighton and said, ‘I know it’s too much for us but maybe that cat of yours will finish the rest.’

  ‘He will. I don’t think he’s hunted in days. We’re always feeding him. He is getting lazy and fat,’ Brighton replied with a smile.

  Adri helped with the food as usual. She was getting extremely good at preparing very tasty meals with little to work with.

  Chapter 20

  JUST BEFORE SUNSET Brighton called Brac, Liam and Nelson together.

  ‘I’m going to have a quick talk with Claire and then we leave. I want to slip into the city tonight,’ he told them.

  He went over to where the women were sitting next to the river.

  ‘Claire, where would I find the group that wants Richard out of Avarya?’ he asked.

  Claire explained to Brighton where her house was.

  ‘My mother’s brother also lives there. He will know who to contact,’ she told him.

  Lilian saw the three hunters waiting.

  ‘You’re going now, aren’t you,’ she said to Brighton.

  ‘Yes, darkness will be our best ally,’ Brighton replied.

  ‘Are you taking Mischief?’ she asked.

  The cat still hadn’t shown himself since Claire got there.

  ‘If a fight breaks out it would be useful to have him near but I would much rather he stay here and protect you and the girls,’ Brighton said.

  Lilian didn’t ask to go with them. She knew Brighton would never agree. He was determined not to put her in any more danger.

  ‘Be careful please,’ she said.

  They hugged tightly before Brighton turned and disappeared into the woods followed by the three hunters.

  ‘I love you,’ Lilian whispered with tears in her eyes.

  Brighton and Brac sat with their backs against the wall of a house. Things were going well. They managed to enter Avarya unseen. Earlier he touched the other three men with a small amount of healing energy to hide them from the Dark Ones.

  Liam and Nelson were truly like ghosts, even in the city. Brighton only had to point towards a roof or hiding place where he felt a presence and they silently took care of it. So far nobody was killed, simply knocked unconscious and bound. Brighton knew the men wouldn’t hesitate to kill the defenders if they had to, he just hoped it didn’t get that far.

  According to Claire’s directions they were very close to her house.

  Brac tapped his arm. That was the signal that everything was clear. Brighton snuck around the corner, Brac following.

  They passed Claire’s house. Brighton sensed four people inside, three of them talented. At the next corner they hid again and waited for Liam and Nelson. The two hunters caught up with them quickly. Brighton pointed to a rooftop just down the road and held up three fingers. The hunters nodded and disappeared into the night.

  After a while a very faint whistle reached their ears. Brac tapped his arm again. The men continued moving through the city like this until they were almost at the house where Brighton sensed Richard.

  ‘Stay here,’ he whispered the Brac.

  ‘Will you be alright?’ Brac whispered back.

  ‘Yes, there are only four of them and Richard in the house,’ Brighton replied.

  He weaved an energy barrier around himself and stepped out in the street. The hunters already took care of the archers on the roof so there was no immediate danger.

  He walked up to the house where Richard was hiding, opened the door, and simply walked in. The four Dark Ones were sitting around a table talking. It took a moment for them to realize who had just walked in. Before any of them could move four tiny bolts of pure energy shot from Brighton’s body. All four were dead before they knew what hit them, each of them with a neat hole straight through their heads.

  Brighton walked to the bedroom where he sensed Richard. Again, he simply entered. Richard shot up from the bed he was lying on.

  ‘Hello Richard,’ Brighton said as he shot a bolt
of healing energy at the man.

  It entered Richard through the chest. Richard lifted his hand but nothing happened. He shouted for the Dark Ones he believed were still in the kitchen.

  ‘They are dead,’ Brighton said. ‘Sit down before you join them.’

  Richard tried again to summon his black energy link but nothing happened.

  ‘What have you done to me?’ Richard blurted out.

  Brac, Liam and Nelson stormed through the door. They heard Richard’s scream and thought something must have gone wrong.

  ‘Go get Claire’s uncle,’ Brighton told them.

  Brac gestured for the other two to do as Brighton asked but he stayed behind. Brighton knew the Dark Ones would use their sense to detect intruders but Liam and Nelson were still invisible to their talent. The three holding Claire’s uncle hostage had no chance against two men who were like ghosts.

  Brac retreated to the kitchen to guard the door.

  ‘So, Richard, I believe you wanted to talk to me,’ Brighton said mockingly.

  Richard was still looking for a way to get out. He decided that the only way was past Brighton. Putting his shoulder down, he stormed. Brighton absorbed the blow easily.

  Richard was a small man and not very strong, he hardly moved Brighton’s large muscular body. He stepped back and tried again but this time Brighton’s fist found his face.

  Richard went down hard.

  ‘It looks like you don’t want to talk,’ Brighton mocked.

  He lifted his fist again.

  ‘Wait, I do want to talk,’ Richard quickly blurted out.

  Brighton put his arm down.

  ‘Talk, I’m listening,’ Brighton replied.

  Richard got up from the floor and sat down on the bed.

  ‘Why do you hunt me?’ he asked.

  ‘Why did you try to kill me at the palace?’ Brighton countered.

  ‘That was Seth, I had nothing to do with it,’ Richard defended.

  ‘That’s not true. You used your energy link on me the same as your brothers and sisters. All of you tried to kill me,’ Brighton said.

  ‘I’m sorry, that was a mistake. But you must understand why we did that. You are a threat to the order we’ve created and upheld for the last three thousand years,’ Richard said quickly.

  ‘Order? You ruled through fear and intimidation. You forced your will down on the people. That’s wrong! The people should decide their own fate. Who gave you the right to decide? Were you chosen? No, you simply took control because you could,’ Brighton shouted at him.

  ‘You don’t understand what you’re doing,’ Richard argued. ‘People need leaders. If you take the leaders away, there will be chaos. There has been no war or unrest as long as anyone can remember. We keep the peace and uphold the law.’

  Slowly he slid his hand under the blanket.

  Brighton laughed sarcastically.

  ‘You uphold your own law and make slaves out of people who cannot defend themselves. You’ve ruled long enough, it’s time for a change.’

  ‘Can’t we strike a bargain? You and I will rule together,’ Richard tried.

  Brighton leaned a little closer and said softly, ‘I promised your mother I would send all her children to her. You’re the last one alive. I never break my promises.’

  ‘Please don’t kill me,’ Richard pleaded.

  Suddenly he pulled a large knife from under the blanket and lunged forward. Brighton easily deflected the onslaught downward and to his left, but Richard turned the blade up and cut Brighton deep on his left forearm.

  Richard stepped back quickly and tried using his energy link again but still it did not respond. Before he could lunge again a heavy blow landed just under his right arm. Ribs broke with a sickening sound.

  Brighton looked at his arm.

  ‘Still trying to kill me,’ he said. ‘Now you will give me the energy I need to heal this.’

  A white energy link slammed into Richard’s head. Brighton slowly stole Richard’s energy and let it flow to his injured arm. Before Richard’s eyes the cut stopped bleeding and then closed.

  ‘What are you?’ Richard asked through the pain.

  Brighton answered by bringing his fist down on Richard’s face.

  Liam jogged up to Lilian just after sunrise.

  ‘Brighton asks that you join him in Avarya,’ he said.

  Lilian, Adri and Claire immediately jumped up and followed Liam back to the city.

  Mischief was sleeping at Lilian’s feet.

  He also got up and followed Liam.

  Strangely, Claire was not afraid of him at all.

  The young hunter stopped and said to Lilian, ‘I’m not sure if Brighton wanted the panther to come.’

  Lilian put her hands on her hips and said, ‘You tell him to stay then.’

  Liam looked at Mischief and decided he would rather not.

  He set off towards Avarya at an easy pace since he didn’t know how fast the women could run.

  ‘Is Brighton all right?’ Lilian asked while they jogged.

  ‘Yes, we’ve established a safe zone with the help of Charles, Claire’s uncle. I’m taking you there,’ Liam answered.

  Lilian tried asking more questions but Liam didn’t answer. His task was to get the women safely into the city and he concentrated only on that. They stayed off the main road and instead entered the city using a narrow pathway between the houses. After a few turns Liam stopped and knocked on a door.

  Brac opened, knife ready. He quickly ushered them in and closed the door. Mischief flopped down on the floor and fell asleep instantly. Brighton rushed over and put his arms around Lilian.

  ‘I’m glad you’re safe,’ he whispered.

  ‘And I’m glad you’re safe,’ she whispered back.

  Her eyes took a moment to get used to the dim light. Richard was sitting on a chair, hands and legs bound. His nose was obviously broken and his left eye was swollen shut.

  Claire rushed into Charles’ arms.

  ‘I thought I would never see you again, little one,’ he said, tears rolling down his cheeks.

  Claire couldn’t speak, she just cried against his chest.

  Charles looked at Brighton and said, ‘I can never thank you enough.’

  ‘Actually, we have to thank Claire,’ Brighton replied. ‘Without her none of this would have been possible.’

  Claire smiled at him through her tears.

  Lilian was still looking at Richard with loathing in her eyes.

  ‘What is the plan now?’ she asked.

  ‘We take him to the market and let the people decide his fate,’ Brighton said.

  ‘And the Dark Ones?’ Lilian asked.

  ‘We’ve taken care of fifteen already. I will handle the rest,’ Brighton replied.

  He didn’t tell her that there was at least another thirty-five Dark Ones in the city.

  Brac put his hand on Brighton’s shoulder.

  ‘We should go now before too many people are out of their houses,’ he said.

  Brighton agreed. He touched everyone with a small amount of healing energy to hide them from the Dark Ones.

  He did the same with Richard, not enough to heal his wounds but enough to hide him.

  ‘Stay here,’ he said to Lilian, Adri and Claire.

  ‘No, I’m coming with. I can help,’ Lilian said defiantly.

  Brighton smiled at her.

  ‘Stay close to me then,’ he said.

  As he walked past Mischief he scratched the cat’s head.

  Mischief opened his white eyes.

  ‘Look after Adri and Claire,’ Brighton told the cat.

  Mischief let out a deep growl and returned to his nap.

  Brac cut the rope around Richard’s leg and yanked him up. Everybody except Mischief, Adri and Claire left the house.

  Brighton took the lead. Every so often Brighton would stop and point to a house or an alley. Liam or Nelson neutralized the threat every time with ease. They reached the market without any in
cident and hid in a narrow alley between two buildings.

  There were already many people in the market.

  Brighton let a bit more healing energy flow into Richard to make sure he didn’t regain the use of his talent anytime soon.

  ‘Wait here,’ Brighton said to the group.

  He scanned the area for Dark Ones. When he was sure there were none close by, he pushed Richard in front of him into the open. They walked to the centre of the market where hawkers used some tables to display their goods.

  Some people were staring at them. Brighton climbed on top of a table dragging Richard with him.

  ‘People of Avarya,’ he shouted.

  More people turned and looked.

  ‘People of Avarya,’ Brighton shouted again. ‘Today you will decide your own fate.’

  People started running everywhere, they recognized Richard. Most were scurrying to fetch friends and relatives.

  Brighton waited until there was no more room for anybody in the market.

  ‘People of Avarya,’ he shouted again. ‘Today you will decide whether you want to live under the oppression of the Supremes or be free forever.’

  Shouts of “The White Demon” and “The Saviour” came from the crowd.

  One man in front shouted, ‘But the Supremes are powerful. How can we oppose them?’

  Brighton pointed to Richard.

  ‘This is Richard, last of the Supremes. If he had any power don’t you think he would have used it by now?’

  He held out his hand. A ball of pure white energy as big as his fist jumped from his palm and danced above his hand.

  The crowd gasped and stepped back.

  ‘I have real power but I don’t force my will down on the people like the Supremes have done for three thousand years,’ he shouted.

  Brighton converted the energy into fire and shot it up in the air.

  The crowd was stunned. They watched the fireball disappear in the clouds.

  Another voice shouted, ‘Are you the one who killed the Supremes?’

  ‘Yes, I am,’ Brighton answered. ‘But only after they tried to kill me. I wanted to be rid of this gift so that I can marry the woman I love and live in peace.’

  He explained that a People’s Council was being formed in Zedonia and that no talented person will be allowed to serve on the Council.