by Willa Alders
My mom walked up to me as she took her hand placing it in mine. I watched her blink as a bench appeared out of nowhere. We sat down on it. I watched her smile a sad smile when she touched my face. I didn’t know what she was thinking.
“Archer do you know what your name means my dear boy?” She said.
“No but what does that have to do with any of this? How is this going to help me?” I asked back starting to worry about what was going to happen exactly tonight.
“It has a lot to do with it actually. You see names are very important in the immortal world. Names say a lot about that particular immortal. Usually when an immortal parent finds out that they are having an immortal child they try to find a suitable name. A name that links the child to the abilities they will possess. Sometimes we know the abilities before hands and sometimes we don’t. So the Kintana will give us hints about our childs’ abilities through premonitions or dreams. With you; you were different I had no idea what to name you or what abilities you would have. Every name I chose didn’t seem right, it just didn’t fit. One night when I was sleeping and having one of those vivid dreams I had your name just come to me—Archer. I knew from that point on that was your name.” She smiled.
I shrugged my shoulders at her; I didn’t understand what she was getting at. I didn’t see the point as to what my name could mean other than it sounded cool because you hardly ever heard it. I knew my name was an older name but that was it. I didn’t think it had an actual meaning behind it. I didn’t understand why there was importance to my name.
“Archer son, your name is special and the meaning to it is even more special because of the ability that comes along with that name is very rare. The ability hasn’t been around for thousands of years, everyone thought the ability was extinct, but when I became pregnant with you the name came to me in a dream from one of the oldest Kintana’s. He gave me this name; he said you were destined for great things and that you would possess this rare ability. The name he said was the best name I could give to one as powerful as you would be with so many abilities and the greatest one was the meaning of the name.” she paused. “My dear boy, Archer is English, and it means bowman.” She finished.
“Bow man, that’s nice mom. Again what does that have to do about abilities?” I asked looking at her like she’d lost it. Which in a way she had she was dead, and not to mention she wasn’t making much sense right now.
“Archer son, it means bowman. Your ability is sort of like that. So whether you realize it or not you are actually good with a bow and arrow. Not only is it good that you are good with a bow and arrow but there’s something even more special about your ability. You don’t need to carry around a bow and arrow because you can actually conjure one. It’s a great asset really.” She said.
“Uh ok mom. Not sure how to do that but um ok. Doubt that I will master that by tonight.” I said sarcastically.
“That’s what I’m here for.” A man’s voice said coming up behind me.
I turned around and what sounded like a normal human wasn’t. He was massive at least eight feet tall. He had no shirt but a pair of pants and shoes. His wings were folded behind me. I gulped he was huge. I felt short –shorter than I actually was –which was short but he actually made feel even shorter.
“Really who are you?” I asked standing up to greet the huge bird man.
“Orion and I’m not a bird.” He answered as if he read my mind. “I’m an angel of sorts and Lona’s mate. You are skeptical young Archer. You shouldn’t be though; I am training your mate, Aralynn. I know she can handle her own and so can you. However I need to show you how to use and handle your ability of the bow and arrow. At least some so you know how to control it before tonight. This is what I’m here for now come on please.” He said in a calm voice.
“Ok but how am I supposed to know how to conjure it?” I asked looking at him like he was crazy too. I was beginning to think I was the only sane one right now.
“It’s quite simple really. All you need to do is just think of it. The power of thinking does wonders really simple. Just think of a bow and arrow and there you go.” Orion said.
I looked at him like he was nuts as I stood there. I tried to think of a bow and arrow. Nothing appeared. I looked at him again and shook my head. This was ridiculous. Did he really expect a bow and arrow just appear out of nowhere in my hands? He nodded and I tried again. I thought of the bow and arrow. Nothing still after a few more tries.
“Clearly this isn’t working now what?” I asked all of the them.
“Maybe you’re approach of just plain thought is wrong Orion. Love maybe, he should think of Aralynn too think of her in danger. It seems from what Vida and I have talked about his abilities are better and stronger when it's tied to his emotions. If he is thinking of his love for Aralynn or pain they are heightened. Archer try this –think of Aralynn and the bears attacking her.” Lona smiled taking her place beside Orion.
I nodded, and thought of the bears coming out of nowhere tonight and the thought of her. Out of nowhere a bow came down and appeared in my hand and disappeared. That was crazy but it didn’t stay I thought that wasn’t good. It wasn’t good at all to have an ability that I couldn’t control.
“Again please, but Archer put more thought into it, think more about the pain it would cause if she got hurt.” My mom said quietly. “You can do it son.”
I nodded again and this time thought of the bears coming out of nowhere. I thought of them lunging at Aralynn the terror she saw for the moment. Then I thought of the anger and her being upset for not telling her sooner. Then I took it one step further and thought of the final battle and us winning and defeating my sister. I thought of what she saw, last night. I thought of our future together. Then like that the bow came out of nowhere again and appeared in my hand. This time the arrow shot out of my hand and another one appeared instantly loaded into the bow. I stood there shaking my head in disbelief.
“What the?” I started to say then Orion and Lona cut me off.
“Good, good now again.” They said as Orion smiled and whisked the bow away.
That pissed me off because it took so long to get it there and just like that he got rid of it. I instantly had my temper flare and I thought of the bow again and it appeared this time two arrows appeared out of my hand. They auto loaded themselves into the bow. Lona smiled and Orion smiled and whisked them away. DAMMIT! I thought not again. This was not funny. I thought again and the bow appeared again. The arrows shot out of my hands into the bow. This time the bow held three arrows.
“Good.” Orion clapped. “Now shoot it unless you’re scared.” He stood there smiling at me.
He was challenging me. Now I knew he was just trying to push my buttons it was working. I wasn’t going to let him win. My competitiveness was coming out in me. I smiled and nodded welcoming his invitation. I looked at him as he took off running off the cliff. I released the string and the arrows shot at him one hitting his arm, the other his stomach, and the other his leg. All three of them should have hurt him I thought.
“Good shot, thank god arrows do nothing to me. You are a good shot I would bleed out if I could bleed at all or I would be seriously hurt. Do it one more time.” Orion said waving his hands, welcoming the invitation again.
I smiled at him and nodded. I held the bow still as I thought and just like that, the bow went from having three open spots to five open spaces for five arrows. Just like that five arrows appeared out of nowhere loading into the bow. I pulled the string back and released all five. They all five hit him again. He blinked and they disappeared, and he whisked his hand causing the bow to disappear as well.
“This time go after Lona and me both. Concentrate!” Orion smiled devilishly at me. I nodded.
I thought of the bow, and arrow and nothing. I then thought of Aralynn and our future again. Again the bow appeared and the five arrows shot from my hand. I released them from the bow. Two hit Lona and she dropped then stood back up and three hit Orion
. They both came up and clapped afterwards.
“Vida he is wonderful just absolutely wonderful if I do say so myself. He and Aralynn will do great things. Both of them catch on rather quickly training each of them is simple and so easy. The both of them together are going to be great powerful leaders. When we train them together they will be strongest we’ve ever seen in history and it won’t take hardly any training. For now he will be fine for the night he’s done picked up so much in such little time.” Lona said then turned towards me. “As long as you think about whatever you thought about today I know you will be just fine. You two will stand up against the bears, and it will be magnificent. You’ll do beautifully.” Lona smiled at me touching my hand.
“What about the rest?” I asked. I wanted to know what Aralynn would do once I told her about me. I wanted to know what her reaction would be.
“What about you telling her?” Lona asked and I nodded,
“Well she will be accepting. Trust me her feelings for you won’t be dismissed. Nothing will change that. She will forgive you.” Orion smiled at me. “Don’t worry. It was nice training with you. Next time I see you it will be with the two of you together. Until next time continue practicing young Archer.” Orion smiled taking Vida’s hand has they flew off the cliff.
I walked over to my mom, and looked at her blankly. She smiled as she touched my hand. I knew she could read in my head that I was worried about tonight. She just shook her head at me and smiled again. I knew she had faith nothing bad would happen and was trying to reassure me. I needed that and she seemed to know that all I needed was my mom.
“My dear son you haven’t anything to worry about. She will forgive you. She loves you. No worries your love will overcome anything. Aralynn’s aura proves that. She is just as crazy for you as you are for her. On a different note you did wonderful, I’ll see you soon. Have fun tonight and protect her ok.” She paused. “I love you, I'm just a call away. I’ll see you soon my son.” She said kissing my cheek and shimmering away.
I stood there blinked and thought of Aralynn and I and the bow. It appeared and the arrows loaded automatically. I shot them and went to conjure up another one when I got a text form Aralynn. She was just about ready and was waiting for me. She still was at Sam’s. I blinked and the bow and arrow disappeared. I looked at the clock it was five. I texted her back that I would be there shortly, I looked down, there was no way I could get there by car quick enough so I blinked and flew into the sky.
I flew back to the condo. I hurried up and blinked and my black dress pants and black shirt with the pink and black tie appeared. I got in the shower and got cleaned up. I brushed my teeth, and got dressed. I tied the tie and looked at myself. I looked fairly good; I grabbed my leather coat and flew out the door back to my car. I hurried up and got in and drove to Sam’s. My gut was in knots as I was waiting for her, as Sam let me in.
“Bro she looks good.” He smiled opening up a beer, and tossing me a pop. I looked at him wishing he had handed me a beer.
“I bet she does.” I said as she came down the hall.
My mouth hit the floor as she walked out in a jaw dropping outfit. She had on a tight pink top on dark black leather pants that were tight around her butt. She had on black heeled boots as well. Her hair was pinned up which was something new. She looked extremely hot standing in front of me. I didn’t care if we didn’t leave here and just stayed inside doing things. At least then I wouldn’t have to worry about the bears attacking us. “What?” She asked kissing me.
“Nothing you look beautiful are you ready? We’re going to Marions’ is that ok?” I asked her kissing her cheek back.
“Yes I’m ready. Thank you, you look good too. Marion’s is fine.” She smiled kissing me.
“Ok let’s go. It’s chilly here.” I said helping her put her coat on.
Sam and Avery hugged her. Sam shook his head at me and Avery glared at me. We headed outside and I opened her door for her. We got in and headed to the little upscale restaurant that I had made reservations for. We got in and made our order. We ate and made small talk the whole time I was consumed about when the bears were going to attack. It made me sick. I was off thinking about it when she broke in thinking about the check.
“Archer are you ok?” She asked me quickly.
“Yes beautiful I’m fine. Are you ready?” I asked her again as we paid and I tipped our waiter. We headed back out to the car to go back to the masquerade party at Sam’s. She handed me a mask as we got there.
When we got there we danced a lot on in the driveway and talked with some of the college people. I tried desperately to ignore the fact that Kilyn was there. I wanted to keep Aralynn as far away from Kilyn and Carter as I could. I tried it didn’t work. Kilyn came up and told us hi and tried to steal Aralynn away from me but she declined. She smiled and hugged Aralynn sneering at me. This meant that the attack was coming soon. I just knew it. I had to be ready to go.
“What are you thinking about? You seem to be off tonight are you sure you’re ok?” Aralynn said again as we were dancing.
“I’m fine beautiful just thinking that’s all.” I smiled at her twirling her around.
“Oh yeah, about what?” She asked leaning into me.
I smiled at her. “About how stunningly beautiful you look tonight and how happy I am with you.” I said leaning down and pulling her closer to me.
I kissed her lips gently and softly. I allowed my hands to pull her in even closer to me than what she already was and we moved back and forth. Our kiss got deeper as it always did. I was getting lost in it when she stopped.
“Thank you I love you.” She smiled at me kissing me again. “Want to get out of here?” She said grabbing my hand.
“Sure beautiful I would.” I said kissing her once more as we headed out of the driveway.
We went to the car. I wanted to get her as far away from Sams’ as I could. The further away we were from here the better off we would be. But that plan was out the window because she wanted to go on a walk first and I wasn’t about to turn her down not with how she looked tonight. but we didn’t. The whole time I was thinking that I hoped the bears didn’t show up here. We reached the trail walking up to the top of the hill toward the bluffs.
She turned to me and smiled then her smile faded. I knew what was coming. She wanted to tell me who she was even though I already knew who she was. What made it worse was the fact that when she told me I knew I would have to tell her mine. Then to top it off the bears were going to come in the middle of this I knew in my gut.
“Archer I love you but I have to tell you something. I’ve been trying to tell you for forever. It’s getting too hard to keep it a secret; I can’t keep it in anymore. No kissing me to stop me ok.” She said and I nodded. “I love you but I’m not ……well here…” She said blinking and twisting her hands.
She had a pop appear in my hand. Then she blinked again blowing a kiss and a fireball appeared. She twirled disappearing. I looked around for her and she tapped my shoulder. When I turned around she wasn’t there. I heard her so I looked up and she was in the sky. I smiled back at her as she swooped back down to me.
“You see I’m not human. I should have never agreed to date you. I know better than to date a human. I know better but I fell in love with you and you see you’ll die and leave me one or grow tired of me. I can’t bear that I love you…….. I can’t bare to lose you….” She said as tears fell down her face. “I’m not human; I am who I am. We are all enchanted like that Avery, Caleb, Carmina and even Sam was one time. We all have gifts, and I jeopardized that when I fell for you. I couldn’t help it. But I can’t change who I am and I understand if you don’t want me anymore.” She said as the tears fell hysterically down her face.
I touched her face gently and wiped away her tears. “Beautiful that’s what I’ve been trying to tell you too. I’m not who I seem to be. I’m not human either, beautiful I am like you. I can I see what you see when you see the movie reel, I feel what y
ou feel, I worry like you do. I have abilities too. I can hurdle things watch.” I said to her.
I turned around throwing my hands towards a tree. It uprooted with a hard jolt. I moved my hands throwing the tree off the cliff. It shattered into splinters in midair. Then I lifted my arms flying off the cliff and came back to her landing perfectly.
“You see beautiful it’s ok. I’m like you. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I love you. I don’t want to lose you. Please tell me you’ll be ok and you’ll want to be with me still. I’m so sorry I kept this from you.” I said to her touching her arm.
“You’re not human? You’re Immortal too?” She asked me.
I waited for the slap to come or shun to come or to say she didn’t want to be with me anymore. I waited a few minutes nothing came. Nothing came not even two minutes after that, she stood there with a blank expression. I looked at her again.
“Aralynn?” I asked puzzled.
She threw her arms around me and kissed me so passionately that I thought I was going to lose my mind. I thought I was going to lay her on the ground and we were going to go at it outside in the freezing cold. I thought for sure this was going to end when the bears came, that wasn’t what I wanted to be too vulnerable and not ready. I had to get her ready quickly.
“Archer, I’m so happy that you’re immortal and we’re together. I know now that I can have you forever. Thank god for that. I just wish you would have told me sooner that’s all. I still want to be with you of course, I love you.” She said then began kissing me again. She stopped me again. “Who’s your sister?” She asked me again ruining a perfect moment.
“It’s….” I stopped. “There’s something else I have to tell you though, my sister is trying to send an ……” I was stopped.