Carrie placed her face within her hands and cried.
Jerrek stepped forward. “We found her. We were following her but we didn’t reach her in time to stop her. She walked from the mountain side.”
“It is what she wanted.”
“What? How do you know this, Carrie?”
“She was with us briefly, Nyrobie. She told us of her intentions. She told us a great deal.”
“You could have stopped her, Carrie!”
“No…I couldn’t have. Her mind was set.”
Nyrobie and Jerrek walked past Carrie.
“My father has returned to Evrastill. The society knows of my secret. Councilman Aglet has perished at the hands of my father, and the Kingdom is in upheaval.”
“No!” Nyrobie’s hand slapped over her open mouth.
“Elisa promised an aerial guide in the early morning. If I return to Evrastill with Charlie, it is said Joseph, Clark, and Elinor will be escorted from the Kingdom.”
“He wouldn’t! The society would stop him! We have to get to them!”
“We will, Nyrobie. The guide will be here just as the snow ceases.”
“We must take Charlie. We can’t leave a human without previsions in such conditions. He’ll perish.”
“I know this. Charlie will be ever at my side. If my father attempts to harm the humans of Evrastill, I will end him myself.”
The hours passed slowly. The fire was started and the night had fallen. The morning hours were now upon them. Nyrobie, Jerrek and Carrie sat around the blaze, Charlie slept with his head in Carrie’s lap—she ran her fingers through his hair as they waited on the snow to cease.
“Carrie, his stomach talks. He needs to eat something.”
“Yes, Nyrobie. We should all seek nourishment.”
“Humans cannot maintain long without it. We must reach our destiny this morning.”
“Look!” Jerrek pointed toward the entrance. “The snow has stopped.”
As Nyrobie and Jerrek rushed to the entrance, Carrie woke Charlie. They all met at the cave’s entrance, looking skyward—so clear and crisp—yet no guide was present.
“Carrie, the dawn will be here soon.”
“She promised, Jerrek.”
With their gazes affixed to the star-filled night, the screech of barn owl captured their attention as the bird descended.
“See, there she is.” Carrie grinned happily.
“Let us run swiftly.” Jerrek patted Charlie’s shoulder. Charlie merely gave his friend a sleepy nod—he was then hoisted into Jerrek’s arms.
Chapter 10
The entrance of Evrastill was lit with the first rays of the morning’s sun. Boisterous voices could be heard as the four of them approached. With the job completed, their guide flew swiftly away.
“We enter confidently. This is our kingdom.” Carrie walked toward the entrance with her head high—only to look upon her father—Tarik, Danny, Irena, Brindle, and several other members surrounding the frightened humans of her society.
“Father!”
Instantly he was smiling and making his way slowly toward her. “Hello, Daughter.”
“Take the humans back beneath. This is madness.”
He chuckled. “You’ve yet to see madness, my child.”
“Father…please do not do this. This goes against everything—”
“Enough of that! If we are to preserve our own species and way of life, we cannot continue to commit to an existence within the shadows. We cannot continue to assume their existence is priority.”
“Father—”
“No…Carrie. Have you never wondered why your Kingdom is absent a king or queen, but rather has a lowly council of fickle and spineless ingrates?”
She looked to him, curious of what his shenanigans would produce.
“Evrastill had a queen, Carrie, an all-powerful queen of the ages. Her visions were pure and untainted with our self-destructive desire to aid mankind. She too processed the echo.”
“I don’t believe in fairytales.”
“You too shall be a fairytale if you do not hear my words and heed my warning, Daughter. She had the foresight, the power and the ability to advance our Society. If we would only see our own kind as the priority and embrace our splendor…what could we accomplish?”
“This queen, if she was so powerful, where is she now?”
“They killed her. So consumed with the ideas of old, the treacherous fools destroyed the one weapon that could have forever protected us.”
“Let’s say I do believe you—I don’t, but even if I did—there is nothing of your agenda that I find even mildly appealing. You have reduced yourself to a murderous criminal.”
“And you have followed well in my footsteps, disintegrating poor Brennus. Dear, dear. What a pitiful sight that must have been.”
“Aglet was kind, Father. What reason did you have to end him?”
“Aglet was a fool, Carrie. He would lead this Kingdom into an eternity of slavery. How is it natural to continue to protect these foul beings that only destroy their earth and wage war against their own kind? Why must we continue to lurk and—”
“What would you propose? That we wage war on them? Do you not hear yourself, father?”
“Do you not? You should sit high upon the throne of eternity—leading your people to greatness. The world of opportunity dances upon your fingertips yet you use them to caress a mortal.” His hand raised slightly, he motioned to his followers in the cave.
“Carrie, you have been blinded by a toxic idea that these creatures are equal. Look upon them now…they are not equal.”
Carrie looked past her father to see the three humans led by Danny from the entrance of Evrastill and into the morning’s light.
“Father, no!”
“Watch as the years of hiding away like common roaches comes back to them like a sea of vengeance. Watch as they age to dust in a matter of seconds!”
“They ain’t aging at all. You stupid idiot.” Charlie stepped forward, pointing toward the frightened humans.
“You see, Father…another fairytale. Get them back inside…where they belong, and then I will speak sensibly with you.”
Tarik stared, dumbfounded by the fact the humans were still young and vibrant. “Take these scavengers into Evrastill as my daughter has demanded. She is to be your queen.”
“The remainder of my party will enter as well, Charlie included.”
“Charlie may join the other humans within our prison, behind our stone and locked-tight for all eternity…yet, he will be granted eternity.”
“It is you who will be locked tight.”
“I haven’t time for theory, Carrie. Charlie may take refuge within our confinement. That is my only offer.”
Carrie turned to Charlie. “It would not be an eternity, my love. This is but a blink. You will have comfortable shelter, food, and warmth…and most importantly, you will cease to age another second the instant we enter.”
Charlie’s face was racked with concern. “What if he kills me, Carrie? I’d rather die in the snow and ice than let that bastard kill me.”
“I will not. If you scurry along promptly like a good little roach, you will be spared to live a meaningless existence with your fellow humans.” Tarik stepped aside, motioning Charlie to join the three humans being ushered in.
“Join them my love. I will be at your side tonight. My father is many things but he is not ignorant. He will not harm you while I breathe.”
Tears welled in her eyes as Charlie was ushered away with Clark, Joseph, and Elinor. “He has not eaten since we restored him. He needs nourishment. He’s very chilled from our journey and needs warmth—”
“Your precious pet will be fed, watered, and tended to. We have other business at hand.”
“Where shall we convene, Father? By the soft waters near your home? Perhaps you might lie to me once more.”
“Don’t be foolish, child. We speak only at Council Hall. There is much work to be done.”<
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Chapter 11
Walking through the darkness of some cave, Charlie could hear only the strange language he’d heard before and the soft tears of the female human just a few feet before him. It was nearly completely black. A soft glow ahead of them became brighter—soon the backs of the party-members’ heads were visible.
As the others descended, Charlie looked over the soft-blue lit, Evrastill. Clad with beautiful trees and lush grass, the community was breath-taking.
He was motioned from behind to descend the stone stairs, and so he did. The air was warm and inviting and the scents were pleasant—fresh and natural. The sound of soft-flowing water was abundant. Walking down the stairs, he gazed upon several homes—all modest in size, but beautifully crafted of mountain stone. It was the most beautiful scene he’d ever laid eyes on—even in dreams.
“Hold!” Jerrek turned to Irena and Brindle at the front of the party. “How could you? You despicable beings. How could you do this?”
Shaking his head, Brindle ran from the scene—retreating.
Irena smiled. “Move, coward.”
“I’d advise you to watch your words when speaking to him, Irena.” Nyrobie’s expressionless face came within inches of Irena’s. Irena’s hair was black, her face a pasty white, and her eyes a soft blue. She was gorgeous, but there was a distinctive danger to her.
“Irena…these humans are your friends. We’ve walked next to them for over a century.”
“They are human, Nyrobie. Councilman Tarik speaks the truth. The time of change is upon us.”
“Tarik is not of the Council and you are not of my Society. You disgust me.”
Nyrobie rushed to a crying Elinor, embracing her. “You are okay my friend. This will pass.”
“Nyrobie! I thought surely, I would perish. Why could they? I don’t understand?”
“We must keep moving!” Irena prompted the humans to continue. Charlie smiled hesitantly as he walked by Jerrek and Nyrobie.
Approaching the building—sturdy yet inviting, Charlie found himself taken aback. He was expecting something rugged, heavily guarded, and perhaps hostile-looking. The Evrastill prison was a modest-sized, stone building. They entered to find a singular room with several odd, crescent-shaped beds and open washrooms. The area smelled fresh and clean.
“Elinor!” A brown-haired man ran to Elinor, embracing her as the couple fell to the ground. It appeared as though two eighteen or nineteen-year-old kids were reuniting, but Charlie knew their combined age was more than likely staggering.
“Did they expose you to the outside world, my dear?”
“Yes! I was so fearful.”
“Yet it didn’t occur? You didn’t end in dust?”
“Silence! Or this day will end in your separation.” Irena smiled as she walked to Charlie. “You…you’re the one she craves? You are what she desires above all else?”
Her firm fingers grasped either side of his face as she examined his features. “You are aesthetically pleasing.”
Unsure of her intentions, Charlie felt his anxiety mounting.
“You’re fearful?”
Swallowing hard, he nodded. “Yes…yes, ma’am.”
“I will not harm you.” She released him. “You’re hungry…are you not?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Here there are nuts, berries, warm pita breads, honey, and eating leaves. Eat and rest. I imagine you will be here a while.” Irena left the building, the beautiful stone door locked behind her. There were no windows to peer from. There was only this large room and these people he’d never met.
“You must be the human, Charlie.” The brown haired man who’d been crying approached.
“How’d ya guess?”
“I didn’t guess, my friend. You possess hair upon your face and chest. You are human.”
Charlie buttoned the top of his oversized flannel. “Who are you?”
“I am Councilman Andre. This is my bride, the human Elinor. This is her brother, Joseph, and this is Clark.”
“I’m Charlie.”
“Charlie, you make the fourth human to join Evrastill. I’m displeased you must join us under such circumstances but I am certain all will end as it should. Please, come and quell your hunger. You are among friends here.”
Eying the delightful spread of assorted breads, berries, nuts, and honey, Charlie realized he hadn’t physically seen food since before his sight was taken. He walked to the table, gently grabbing what he believed to be a strawberry. He placed the plump morsel in his mouth. The taste was overwhelmingly delicious. He ravenously reached for the bread, shoving an entire piece in his mouth while his other hand dipped into a bowl of blueberries. “This is…delicious.” His words were muffled.
“Eat all you like.” Clark stood next to him. The man had light-brown hair and appeared poised and maintained like Carrie’s people, not like a human man. “And you…you’re human, like me?”
“Indeed. I have a few years on you I’m sure, but I’m human just the same.”
Andre stood near Charlie, smiling happily. “It warms my heart to see a hungry human eat. Please, forget your manners and fill your belly.”
Charlie did just as Andre asked. The array of food was nearly addictive and had him filling his cheeks and talking with his mouth full.
Andre cleared his throat. “As I suspected…you three were safe to venture from Evrastill. This further plays into my theory.”
Charlie, still chewing, wiped his mouth and walked to the others. Their gaze on him had him feeling foolish for devouring so much prior to proper introductions.
“I was horrified, my love.”
“As was I, Elinor. Yet I had the suspicion that you would return in one piece and unaged. There is no instance in the history of Evrastill of such an occurrence. I believe the tale of dust was merely a myth to establish parameters and keep you three corralled within these walls.”
“Why? Why would we ever want to leave here? This is our home.”
“I know that, Elinor. While lobbying for your freedom from prison many years ago, I entertained a radical idea…I planted a seed within certain Councilman’s ears. What if the Society, this magnificent and mythical population, were merely an evolution? What if we are merely the product of this glorious mountain’s vast greatness…and perhaps a group of lost humans? Is it not possible that with thousands of years within this mountain’s maintaining atmosphere that special abilities develop? Some of our members do not develop special skills until they are over two hundred. Who is to say that you as humans will not eventually develop some skill under the magic of the mountain? Furthermore…who is to say that we as members of the Society are anymore immortal than humans without the glory of the mountain? You returned today rather than diminished to nothing as they so strongly believed you would. Our kind age within this mountain to the beautiful and vibrant age of eighteen years old, we then stop aging all together. Joseph…Irena, you were both eighteen and nineteen years old when you were rescued from the tunnels. You haven’t aged a day since joining us…but Clark. Clark, you were but fifteen when you entered Evrastill, and you aged beautifully to an eighteen-year-old man, just as our kind do, and then you too stopped aging. This further fuels my belief. My people are not the god-like creatures we’ve so convinced ourselves we are. We are merely the product of an extremely special mountain, and an extremely lucky group of humans.”
“So…you think I might be as fast and strong and what not as your people someday.”
“No, Charlie. That is not what I am saying. I believe the Society’s people have evolved to what they are presently by the assistance of the mountain’s powers and several thousands of years. I do however believe that our population is in fact human in a much advanced form. Therefore, it would not be foul, unnatural, or anything other than a choice for a Society member to bond and unify with a, pardon my expression, common human.”
“What are they gonna do to us?” Charlie sat on the floor, removing his shoes.
&
nbsp; “Tarik has a sordid agenda…one that I do not understand. He foolishly demeans the beliefs that bond this society together. We have always looked after and cared for the human population from afar. As mankind’s technology and blood-lust grew…we diminished our role within their world, yet we have never struck out against them in any fashion. To harm a human is as unnatural as water falling to the sky. It should make no sense to the mind of a Society member. Yet…here we are. The four of you are imprisoned, and the three of you spent your morning believing you would be executed by the morning’s fresh air. This is poisonous and eviscerates what it means to be a member of this society. Tarik’s mind has twisted itself into something even he cannot recognize and I fear his infectious ideas have recruited a wretched following.”
“The Echo…what about Carrie?”
“Tell me, Charlie. What did you see while you were at Carrie’s side? Be truthful and lacking of exaggeration. I am skilled at detecting manipulation by your kind.”
“I wouldn’t lie to you. I’ll never lie to you.”
“Go on, Charlie. Tell me what you witnessed.”
Chapter 12
Within the Council Hall, Carrie found herself seated on the opposing side of the table she’d stood in front of when the Council granted her request. Completely alone, she maintained her composure—resolving to appear confident in her every action. Her fingernails clicking atop the immaculate table echoed throughout the broad room. Creaking slightly, Carrie’s gaze fell upon an opening door and an entering Danny. Danny was a creature of beauty, yet his eyes had always held a certain uneasy and distant darkness within them. It was of no surprise to Carrie to find him on the opposing side of the present situation.
“Carrie. You don still your clothing for travel. Might I fetch something more comfortable…something more becoming?”
“Danny, why do you linger? You are of little significance here. Your role is complete; you may excuse yourself.”
His gaze set upon her like a wolf—ready to pounce and craving the sweet rush of blood. Short, dark hair and darker eyes, he was cunning and agile—but Carrie was less than concerned with his presence.
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