by Lynn McCain
Once inside, we found Maleke and the others waiting on us. Calev raced to his brother’s side and wrapped his arms around him. The ladies that Maleke and the boys followed had been spies working for Levona. They had tortured them yet without answers. Maleke would never break. His allegiance to Calev was stronger than any pain exerted upon him.
Without leaving time for a reunion, Tizipporah walked out of the kitchen. She had seen all that had happened and was waiting for our return.
Glancing toward Calev she spoke,
“I have called for the fairies to prepare the people for battle. This is what we have been waiting for,” she motioned for him to bring her my satchel.
“Lily, I need you to open the book.”
As my fingers gripped its smooth surface, the emblem on the cover came to life for me just like it had for Levon Amlachi. The letters too, moved across the pages like tiny ants until they formed words that I could read. No one else appeared to understand the language. I alone, the sole reader, the chosen one, held the power. A shot ran through me.
Each page had a picture on it with words along the bottom. The pictures came to life before me, each one telling a story of its own. It started with the beginning of time, the creation of all things. As the pages progressed, it read as a history book and then I saw it. It was Mother holding a baby in her arms. The words on the bottom read, Yasha, or deliverer. It was me. As I continued on, I finally made it to the last few pages of the book. The words at the bottom floated off of the paper before me. My grasp weakened, and the book crashed toward the floor. Every eye in the room was upon me. I felt the color drain from my face, leaving me transparent to all the others. Tizipporah raced to my side and demanded to know what it said. I could feel the words forming on my lips yet was unable at first to articulate. Each letter raced through my body until one by one they found their way out into the space around me.
I whispered, “Hattat Korbin.”
Tizipporah’s hand covered her mouth. I could tell Calev did not understand. His eyes looking for answers, as they made their way from mine to Tizipporah’s. She then offered the translation,
“Decontamination offering.”
I was to be sacrificed.
Calev wrapped his arms around me. His embrace, although comforting, could not ease the pain that was now filling up my insides.
Tizipporah removed the book from the floor and thrust it at me. Very sternly she spoke.
“Finish the book.”
My eyes, not wanting to see anymore, reluctantly peered at the next page. It stated that the sacrifice was necessary, then and only then would the Great Spirit be released upon the people, giving them the strength to defeat Reficul. It required a pure heart in order to except the wrong that had been done throughout Arcadia. My death would somehow cleanse the people and allow Reficul’s death to be insured. The picture showed a dragon in a pit of burning fire, though not engulfed, only in great suffering.
I continued on, “It is only by the hands of love that the sacrifice will be accepted.”
I was to be killed by someone who shared my heart. Once my eyes met with the words, I dropped the book, unwilling to read another word.
I immediately thought of Grandfather’s words, Neither light nor dark, sun nor rain, could ever keep your destiny away, nor my love, my little Lily flower. My destiny, I thought. Death is what he spoke so fondly of to me! I could not understand. The room began to spin around until I fell back on the sofa. I could no longer stand beneath the weight of it all. There was no arguing with the book. Every other promise had been exactly as the book stated; this would be no different. Not even Maleke said a word. He just sat with his face buried in his hands, not wanting to look at me, I’m sure.
Now, I understood why this had all been kept a secret. If I had known my entire life that this is what lay ahead of me, I might not have ever come here. Then what would have happened to Arcadia, to Calev? Grandfather loved his people and was willing to give, even his best gift, me, for the end result, for the lives of so many others. I thought I should at least be willing to do the same. After all, these were my people too. My family deserved to be avenged and surprisingly, even to myself, I was willing to avenge them.
I could feel the same heaviness come upon me as it did when I was chained to the truck, yet I felt somewhat empowered at the same time. The book had a picture of my birthmark much like the one in Shim’s book. It was a map of Arcadia. The place of sacrifice was called Lebanatha. It was just beyond the borders of Sector 3, high in the caves of Mt. Karbanot. There was an image of the caves at the bottom of the page. The largest one looked much like a skull.
At this point, Calev jumped to his feet ranting that there had to be another way. I felt something drop into me and just like that I was on my feet. I was ready. I finally knew what I was supposed to do.
Turning to him I whispered, “I love you so much that I am willing to do this, for you, for all of you.”
As we debated, the people had already begun to overtake the Assemblies. The war had started just outside the door. We could hear screams so loud they pierced through the air like sharp daggers. Grabbing me in his arms, Calev kissed me just before turning to Shim. One glance; that was all it took. He was back. The brave leader I had grown to love was back. He gave a great speech of victory and laid out a plan to get me to the caves safely. My only stipulation was that they help me to rescue Mother and Father before I was taken. I had to know they were safe before I died.
As I said those words, my insides twisted. I had never really imagined dying before. It was easy now to think of why I was doing it, why I was dying. To be a sacrifice somehow seemed unrelated to the actual act of dying. Like when it was all over, I would wake up, but that was not the case at all. I had to come to terms with the fact that I would never again look upon Calev’s face, never again feel the rain on my skin, and that day might be my last day ever to live. I was, in fact, truly dying. The thought shook me to the core.
Calev was the first to open the door. Shim had a hidden stash of weapons that he handed out to all of us.
As he placed mine in my hand, he said, “Just point and shoot.”
I felt empowered as we left the house. Being in Sector 5 meant we had to head east toward Reficul’s domain. I felt like a spy in some of the books I had read, as we weaved in and out of the building until we made our way to the edge of the Sector. Maleke and the others got held up a few streets back fighting off the Armies, so Calev, Shim, and I could keep moving on. We were right in the middle of a battle zone. Gun shots were heard all around, and people lie dead in the streets. Searching for a way in, we scoped the area surrounding the tall stone wall that hid Reficul from the rest of the world. Maleke and the boys reached us just as we found a section of it that had been blown out by some type of explosive.
As we snuck through, six of Reficul’s men lie dead on the ground in puddles of their own blood. The sight sickened me so that I vomited. Before I could even wipe off my face, two more guards approached, holding guns toward our heads. Maleke and Eitan swiftly fired two shots causing the men to fall dead right before us. Blood splattered across my face, causing me to tremble uncontrollably, and for a brief moment I wished I had never found that key, but before I could dwell on the thought, Shim was pushing me on toward the castle like building before us. Maleke and the boys headed in the opposite direction, thinking it best if we split up.
The home used to be Grandfather’s. It was the place I was born. Large pillars graced the front, framing the beautiful doors that led inside. I could tell it must have been the most beautiful place in Arcadia at one time. But now evil had made its home there, an evil so dark that the walls themselves had turned black.
I was surprised to see how easily we made it to the doors, and I was not the only one. Calev knew something was wrong. We had only seen the two guards on the lawn. Reficul knew the Sectors were at war and that we were coming to kill him, yet he left himself unprotected. It made no sense. It was too calm
within his walls, as if he was luring us in; the hunter and his prey.
Regardless of how we got there, we were still there and about to enter when Tizipporah appeared before us. She had been flying around looking in the windows and had seen Mother in the third room on the east side of the second story chained to the walls and in great distress. She also said many others were imprisoned as well, with no sign of Reficul. Without a thought Calev started toward Mother. The entire castle was empty, no guards, not a soul to be seen. Poor Shim fluttered about. The slightest noise brought a squeal out of his lips. I thought for a moment how I would miss him.
Once we reached the second floor where the prisoners were kept, the smell exuded out of the walls, one so bitter we could almost taste it. I had to place my shirt over my nose just to breathe in. In a moment, we stood at Mother’s door. Placing my hand upon its surface, I recounted every warm memory of her as they raced through my mind; long night’s playing cards by the fire, her infectious smile, and the way she scrunched her nose when she was fibbing. Shim had to pull me away so Calev could unlock the door with the keys he had found. Still in Shim’s arms, a sharp pain gripped my side, causing me to let out a blustering scream.
“Something’s wrong!” I cried.
By then Calev had the door open.
Still in immense pain, I crawled through the opening and over to Mother who lie with her head against the wall; her arms chained above her with one eye swollen completely shut and bruises across her chest. She glared up at me just as I reached her feet. Tears began to form yet stay within her lids. As I tried to hug her, she faced the wall. Chills infiltrated every inch of my skin. She was cold, absent, not at all excited, nor surprised to see me. Behind us, we heard the sound of many soldiers as their feet beat against the ground.
Shim squealed in terror, “Let’s get her out of here!”
It was too late. Wind began to blow in the room causing a great stirring of dust and the like. And in what seemed like an instant, it all stopped. Standing in the door was Mr. Emsworth, as dashing as ever only much darker. He let out a laugh so chilling that even today I still shutter at the thought of it. Slowly and meticulously, he walked toward us. Shim and Calev stood firm before Mother and me. As Mr. Emsworth approached, he flattened out his hand and faced his palm up toward his lips, gently blowing, as if removing dust from his hand. A great wind filled the air knocking both Shim and Calev to the other side of the room leaving them unresponsive on the floor. I watched helplessly as they lie motionless on the cold stone beneath my feet.
Never even acknowledging what happened, he continued toward us. I stood up in front of Mother, shoulders back, feeling terribly small, yet what else could I do? My heroes had fallen. I heard Mother let out a snicker, but before I could turn around she was on her feet and walking toward Humphrey. Confusion paralyzed me. I could not utter a word. Only noises that resemble gurgling could be formed. My mother was the first to speak. As she removed the wounds on her face like some type of mask, she tossed them to the ground. Her words, if only I had never heard them, came from a place very dark within her soul.
“Welcome to our home, dear.”
I still could not speak. I watched as Humphrey placed his arm around her shoulder.
Many soldiers entered the room and drug Shim and Calev over to the wall, placing chains around their wrists. My feet, placed firmly against the stone floor beneath them, were unmovable. I screamed out on the inside, but no noise left my tongue. Grabbing me by the elbow, Mother led me out of the room and just as the door was closing behind me, Calev’s eyes opened. I was taken to another part of the castle. It was exquisite, each room more beautiful than the last. We finally stopped in an extremely large room with ceilings that reached up into the heavens. There were large beams spanning all the way across, from one side to the other. A stone fireplace sat on the center of the south wall. The stone extended all the way to the top. Its massive presence in the room was somewhat inviting. Everything was perfect. It was as if I were in a great lodge somewhere in the mountains on holiday. Mother led me to a sofa near the fire. I still had not uttered a sound. I did not know what to say. Excusing herself, she left to clean up a bit but promised to explain everything when she returned.
Moments after her exit, Henry entered the room with Levona. Our eyes met; I then realized the hardness had not left me. Warmth filled my veins as hate took over. A familiar and welcomed friend returned, rage, in all its glory. Levona was eating something as she came and sat down right beside me, placing her arm around me, causing my skin to crawl. Henry stood glaring at me from across the massive table that sat in front of the sofa; his black eyes never leaving mine. I returned his gaze with much contempt, yet was met with sadness, a deep and aching void filling the air between us.
Breaking our gaze, Mother entered the room. She was clean and wearing a red gown that reached all the way to the floor. A simple shawl lay across her bare shoulders. Her long, black hair fell in large curls against her back. She was breathtaking. I had never seen her so beautiful. Gliding toward me rather ghostly, her feet did not seem to touch the floor. Her lips, shaded in the same red as her dress, formed a smile as she caught my eye. Henry rose to his feet, kissing her hand as he led her to the sofa beside me.
Gracefully adjusting her gown as she sat, Mother grabbed both of my hands and held them in between hers.
“Lily,” she started, “I know you’re confused but you must understand dear, it had to be this way.”
“Calev,” I pleaded.
It felt good to finally speak although I could only make out the one word. I noticed Henry turn and glance at me just as it rolled off my tongue.
“Oh your friend, he’s fine dear. We don’t want to hurt him, and you can help us. As a matter of fact, you can make sure all of your friends are not hurt, if you will just make a simple decision,” she continued.
It started off slowly, but soon I could not contain the little drummer that had taken over my heart. I could feel my pulse getting stronger and stronger. What was happening? I thought. I felt like I was in a bad dream, a nightmare so horrible I could not wake up. My own mother had deceived me. She had tricked me in to believing that she was the most wonderful mother ever, a kind and loving person that was normal, not some insane evil villain out to ruin my life. Even after all the strange things I had experienced in Arcadia, the talking animals, the Dark Winds, the fairies, none of it was as hard to believe as this. My own mother, I just could not process it. I mean if you can’t trust your own mother, who else is there? Thoughts of my entire childhood raced through my mind. Thoughts of Grandfather, I wondered if he had known. Should I trust the things he told me? I was so confused.
Mother continued, “I need you to trust me.”
It was like she had read my mind.
“Your friends have been lying to you. They are using you. Reficul is a good man, and your friends are trying to lead a revolt to overpower him. Calev is their leader. He believes he should rule Arcadia and has devised a plan to kill you when he’s done with you. I want to protect you, Love. You have to decide which team you want to be on, ours or theirs. Reficul can offer you your greatest desires, anything you can imagine. You just have to give your allegiance to him. Would you like to meet him?”
What was I supposed to say? I honestly did not know what to believe. Before I could answer, Mother motioned to Henry, who quickly ran to the other room. It was a little unnerving how obedient he was to her. Within moments, an old man entered the room walking beside Henry. He had white hair and a stern yet likable face. He used a cane and had to stop and rest after only a few steps. Mother stood to greet him and made a place for him on the sofa between us.
“Lily, I would like you to meet Reficul,” she announced.
What? This was the guy that everyone feared? He was like Grandfather, just a nice, old man. How could he hurt anyone? Now, I was really confused.
I cautiously held out my hand to him.
“My lady,” he offered. “Lovely
to meet you, I’ve heard so much about you, but I must say you are much prettier than I was told, so fair, why you’re almost angelic.”
As he spoke the last few words, he glanced at Henry and his eyes sparkled bright red. Promptly pulling my hand out of his, I placed it firmly in my lap. Something wasn’t right. Before I could dwell on it, Mother walked him to the door, calling me to follow. I reluctantly obeyed because that is what you do, right? You obey your mother.
We walked silently down a beautiful corridor with ceilings that appeared to be made out of pure gold. Half way down she stopped at a stately door with gargoyle like creatures engraved in its wood. Opening it, she revealed an exquisite suite with its own fireplace and a large comfy bed like the one I had at Grandfather’s. A giant marble bathtub sat in the corner of the room with a waterfall pouring into it. Music filled the air and fairies fluttered against the tall, majestic ceilings, giving me my own star lit sky.
“Clean up and get some rest, dear. I’ll be back in the morning, and you can give me your answer,” she delivered with little regard to the seriousness of the matter. It was as if she spoke of the weather.
As the door shut behind her, fear gripped me. I felt trapped and confused, and I wanted to wake up from the horrible dream that was now my life. I was angry that I hadn’t asked Mother more questions, but she was not the same mother from Eden, or was she? Should I trust her and not Calev? The thought of him brought tears to my eyes. I also burned with indignation at the thought of Henry. I wanted him to suffer. How dare he be so perfect and make me fall in love with him. The idea that he and Mother worked together was even harder to grasp. In Eden, they pretended not to know one another. I was humiliated, distraught, and angry. Exhaustion finally overcame me, and I drifted off to sleep.