by Mettey, Tim
Chase Letterby and Ester Theasing walked out of a door directly across from where we had entered. Ester came over to Cora and put an arm around her. Cora didn’t flinch; she actually welcomed it, which was completely the opposite of how I expected her to respond.
Chase walked over to me. “Hey, Nicholas, it’s good to see you. How’s that cracked vertebra?” He smiled and patted me on the back. My head was swimming.
“What’s going on, Cora?” I asked, hoping she would wake me up from whatever this was, but Ester spoke instead.
“Nicholas, this is going to be hard for you to understand at first, but please give me a chance to explain what this is all about. Then Chase will speak to you about your dreams and your newfound talents.”
Chase walked over to Cora, and he replaced Ester’s arm with his own. Again, Cora didn’t fight him. She leaned against his chest, using his arms like a crutch. She looked ragged and exhausted.
“Nicholas, I will start from the beginning, just like I did for Cora when she first came here. Roughly 2,000 years ago, the Thusians were created. There were a thousand original Thusians. Their sole purpose was to protect the human race from the evils of this world, no matter the cost—most of the time sacrificing their own lives in the process. They are like guardian angels.
“As time went on, the Thusians’ numbers began to dwindle. So the Keeper—the Thusians’ king—declared that, for the first time, Thusians would be allowed to marry non-Thusians in order to hopefully repopulate the Thusians’ numbers and continue to protect mankind. This plan was very successful, because the Thusians’ numbers grew into the hundreds of thousands in no time, but the Thusians’ ways were not passed on to everyone with Thusian blood.
“The Keeper also acted as a librarian for the Thusians. He knew all of the history and, more importantly, the bloodline of the Thusian families. The Thusians looked to him for guidance, but when the numbers grew too large, a group of Thusians decided that the Keeper was no longer able to do his job effectively. They formed a governing body, the Divine Council, to make decisions and manage the growing population. After the formation of the Council, the Keeper tradition was eliminated.
“The Council consisted of twelve individuals selected by the Governor of the Council.” She motioned to the twelve stone seats. “For years, the Council was successful and just, but it eventually became corrupt. They thought the Thusians’ numbers had grown too large to govern. So they gathered 100 of the brightest and strongest Thusians and created a secret group called the Seekers. Their sole purpose was to kill Thusians who did not know about their connections to the Thusian heritage. If they didn’t know their purpose, then they should not be allowed to live.
“The Seekers would create circumstances through which targeted Thusians would be most likely to sacrifice their lives. This was the way the Council thought they would purify the Thusians. People with any Thusian blood would be compelled to sacrifice themselves for others during certain events, even if they didn’t know about their Thusian heritage.
“Hundreds of years went by with the Council and Seekers working hand in hand. Then the Council became powerless to control the Seekers. The Seekers started to eliminate all Thusians, regardless of what the Council wanted, because they thought no one was pure enough to be a Thusian. Even the old Council was slowly killed off by the very Seekers they had created. It was Thusian genocide. But with the birth of America came the hope of a new Council. I am the Governor of the Divine Council now. Both of your parents were on the Council, and so was your grandmother.” She paused long enough for me to ask a question.
“So my whole purpose in life is to be a sacrificial lamb, to die for someone?”
Ester answered the question like I had asked her about the weather. “Yes, Nicholas, when your time comes, it may require that. Thusians are usually drawn to dangerous occupations where they risk their lives daily for others, such as being police officers, firemen, paramedics, or in the military. But at the end of the day, no matter what their occupation, all Thusians may have to give up their lives for a final sacrifice, just like your parents did.”
My heart raced. It felt like it was pounding in my throat. “What do you mean just like my parents? They died in the earthquake.”
“Nicholas, they died as a result of the quake happening and being Thusians, but not during the actual quake. Your father died while saving three small children from a collapsed house, and your mother died saving two co-workers at her office. Luckily, they managed to save everyone they were attempting to help.”
“Luckily? Luckily? Are you kidding? They died saving complete strangers, but what about me? Why didn’t they think of me?” I was seething with anger and the fire in my stomach was burning red-hot. Cora was now in front of me, trying to calm me down, but I didn’t want to be calmed.
“Nicholas, they didn’t have a choice,” Cora said calmly. “When a Thusian is called to make a final sacrifice, something inside takes over. We can’t control it. Like when I had to protect you and keep you safe from everything, I couldn’t fight it. It was my sacrifice. Neither could your parents.”
“But why was your sacrifice just protecting me, and why did they have to die?” I yelled at Cora.
Chase stepped forward, shielding Cora and Ester from me. Chase was a lot bigger than me, but I knew he would be no match for me right now.
“Nicholas, you need to calm down. I know it is a lot to take in all at once, but remember, we didn’t kill your parents.”
“You didn’t, but this crazy Thusian curse did. How do you expect me to be calm when one day I will probably have to sacrifice my life for a complete stranger, leaving my family behind?”
“Not everyone’s sacrifice is a death sentence. Not everyone’s sacrifice is for a stranger either. Maybe one day you might have to sacrifice your life for a friend or Cora or even your girlfriend, Elle.”
Hearing Elle’s name was like an instant tranquilizer for me. If I had to give my life for her, it would be the easiest decision I would ever have to make.
“Nicholas, now that you are calming down, I think that Ester and Cora would like for me to discuss with you some of the things you might be experiencing.” Chase didn’t wait for a confirmation. “First of all, the dreams when you feel like you’re suffocating, paralyzed, or being surrounded by something—this is normal for most Thusians. It should only last a couple of months and then it’s gone.”
A couple of months, was he kidding? I had been having those night terrors for the last five years, but I didn’t see the need to tell him that.
“The night terrors begin for Thusians around the time of realization. Realization is when we first get or realize our talents. Talents are usually broken into one of two different areas: either physical or mental. But just because there are two categories, doesn’t mean the talents in one category are all the same. For example, Cora, Ester, and I all have mental talents. Cora’s talents are in risk management, which is why she always knew how to keep you safe and hidden. My talents are in the area of medicine. When taking care of someone, I am always able to make the right decision about how to best treat them. Ester’s talents are in finance. She always knows how to make large sums of money.
“Your talents, on the other hand, are obviously physical in nature. You will not be able to use them on demand; it doesn’t work that way. Over time, you will know the limits of your talents. I know what you’re thinking: ‘Why do I have these talents?’ They are to aid you in your final sacrifice, which you will have to make one day.”
“Actually, Chase, I have a different question. Who was Cora keeping me safe from? I don’t think any of the media wanted to hurt me.”
Chase didn’t speak. Ester walked up to his side, and Cora stood on his other side. They were all facing me, forming a wall.
Ester spoke, “Remember the Seekers I mentioned? Well, they are still out there, and they are still trying to eliminate Thusians, trying to eliminate all of us. And from what Cora explained to us, it see
ms that you have already been attacked by two Seekers.”
I nodded.
“Ever since the Keepers were eliminated, there has been no real way for the Seekers to keep track of the family bloodlines. The members of the Council were the only ones who knew and tracked most of the bloodlines of the Thusians. So now the Seekers watch the media, along with other things, for any act of heroism or unusual luck. So after the earthquake when you got all of that media attention, we knew it was only a matter of time before they came looking for you.”
“So let me get this straight,” I said. “I am part of an ancient group of guardian angels called the Thusians, and I have super powers that will force me to eventually get killed or leave everything behind for some great final sacrifice that I have no control over? All the while, an ancient death squad formed by the Thusian Divine Council is out to kill me. Did I forget anything?”
Chase laughed. “Wow, Nicholas, you did a great job of summing it up. Maybe next time you should give the talk.”
“Chase, this is not a laughing matter,” Cora scolded him, walking up and putting her arms around me. “Nicholas, I am so sorry I didn’t tell you this earlier.”
“So this means I can’t tell anyone about this?” I asked, knowing the answer.
“Absolutely not,” Ester said. “Telling someone would put their life in terrible danger.”
I couldn’t believe it . . . more secrets.
Ester showed me around the rest of the place, explaining more of the history of the Thusians. She took me into the room where they had been waiting for us when we first came in. It was a large round room, but not as tall as the cathedral; its ceiling was only two stories high. It was filled with books and papers. Ester explained to me that this was all of the Thusian history that they had been able to recover from the old vault in Europe.
She had Chase and Cora come into the library with us, and she closed the door, which looked identical to the large metal one in the copper entrance room. When the door closed, the rumbling sound returned.
“Nicholas, can you hear that sound? That is part of our security here. You see, when both doors are closed, the main chamber is filled with rushing water. That’s why everything was wet. The vault was cut just below a river that runs through this mountain. So when the doors close, the ceiling opens and allows the river to fill the space, thus protecting our secrets. If someone tried to get in and didn’t know the right combination, the tube leading down to the vault would flood. If they came prepared for water and got through the door, the current would be too strong and would suck them into the underground river. And if somehow they got through the river and tried to enter into this chamber, it would flood, and the water would destroy all of the records, keeping our secrets safe.”
Ester picked up a book off of the nearest rack. “Nicholas, the paper on which we keep our records is formulated to instantly become pulp when water touches it.” She walked over to a bookcase and pulled on it. It opened up, revealing more wheels and letters like at the entrance. A couple turns of the wheels, and the water sound stopped. “So it’s always important, once you’re in the vault, to open the records room door so that the chamber won’t flood. Either the chamber door or the records room door needs to be open at all times while anyone is in here. It may seem like a big risk to take, but our secrets are more important than any one life. Maybe one day someone will have to sacrifice their life to protect the Thusians’ secrets. We can never be too careful.”
We all walked out of the records room. Chase went over to the door through which we had entered and opened it. Ester closed the door to the records room, and we walked out of the vault. Cora was very close to me.
“Nicholas, if you have more questions, please don’t be afraid to contact me. I will be happy to talk,” Ester said.
My head was spinning from spending a couple of hours down in the vault. “I do have a question. Why tell me and show me all of this right now?”
“Because you need to know the dangers that we face every day as Thusians,” Ester answered, and then started up the stairs.
Once we were at the top of the tube and outside, Cora spoke, “Chase, can we borrow your helicopter?”
“Of course,” he replied. “You and Nicholas can take it back to your house. I will be happy to drive your truck back. You don’t look like you’re in any condition to drive anyway.”
“Do you have a phone in there that I can use?” I asked.
“Of course,” Chase said. We boarded the luxury helicopter. I grabbed the phone and dialed Elle.
“Hello?” a faint voice said.
“Elle, thank goodness you picked up. Oliver is still challenging me to the rite of passage. He called me last night.”
The voice changed. “This isn’t Elle. She is away right now.” It didn’t sound like her dad or mom.
“Who is this?”
“Just someone who has been trying to kill you for some time now.”
“Who is this?” I demanded.
“You know who I am, and I bet you are still at the Thusians’ secret vault,” he laughed with a dry cough.
“You better not do anything to Elle, or I’ll kill you and your friend.”
“I love young Thusians,” he said sarcastically. “I haven’t done anything to her directly, youngster. Your little girlfriend was taken by Oliver a short while ago. I sure like him.”
“When I get there—”
He interrupted me, “What? Are you going to come after me? Ha! That’s not how this works. I come after you pathetic, weak Thusians. If I were you, I’d be more worried about your little girlfriend. Soon, she and Oliver will be headed to an icy, cold death at the bottom of that quarry lake. What a shame, really. I have been planning this death for you for such a long time. I’ll be seeing you soon,” he laughed, and then the phone went dead.
“Chase, get on the helicopter now,” I yelled.
THE RACE
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
“Chase, you and Cora go the quarry, and make sure you stop Oliver. I will go to Elle’s house to make sure she isn’t there.”
“It’s a trap; you know that. Let’s all check her house, and then we can go to the quarry,” Chase suggested.
“Chase is right. We should stick together,” agreed Cora.
“No, we have to split up. That is the only way we can make sure to cover all of the places. You will drop me off by her house and then fly to the quarry. That’s the only way we can be sure.” Both Chase and Cora nodded reluctantly.
We landed in the park right next to Elle’s subdivision. The cool breeze was refreshing, and the sun felt good on my skin once I was out of the helicopter. The sun began to set behind the park’s large trees, casting long, ominous shadows across the field. The sound of the helicopter was fading away. I was halfway through the park, near one of the picnic areas, when I felt a sharp, stinging pain radiate from my lower back. My knees buckled and the world began to spin. My head hit the ground and everything went black.
“Wake up, Alexander!” a frantic female voice shouted. “Alexander, you must wake up! Alexander Nicholas Taylor, open your eyes!”
My eyes felt like they had 100-pound weights holding them shut. The female voice stopped begging, seeing my eyes start to open. Everything was blurry. I had to blink several times to clear my vision. I was not in the field any longer. I was lying on a bench under one of the park’s shelters. My head was in the lap of the strange woman who was pleading for me to open my eyes. My body throbbed. I felt like I had been hit by a truck. The woman was looking at me with her compassionate green eyes. She was rubbing my head, comforting me, which helped to distract me from the pain radiating from my back. This woman’s skin was radiant and lightly tanned, but not by the sun; it must have been native to where her family was from. Her brown hair was in small braids on either side of her slender face, pulled back behind her head. Her light pink lips were together, making a shushing sound like you would do to a baby to get it to calm down.
&nbs
p; “Who are you?” I asked, trying to sit up, but she kept my head where it was with little force.
“My name is Genevieve, and his name is Riley,” she answered calmly.
I looked over and saw a tall, slender man standing a couple of feet away, looking around the park. He reminded me of a younger Coach Miller.
“You were attacked by a Seeker named Xavier and one of his friends,” Genevieve said. “Luckily, Riley and I have been watching you for some time, keeping you safe.”
I sat up, panicked. “You have been trying to kill me!” My head was spinning. I knew for certain that these were the two people who had been following me.
She spoke softly but firmly. “We haven’t been trying to kill you; we have been protecting you.”
“Each time I was almost killed this year, you were there, weren’t you?”
“Well, of course we were there,” Riley said, “but you didn’t need our help. Your Thusian talents saved you.”
“Are you bodyguards sent by Ester or Chase? Another line of defense that I didn’t know about?”
“We have nothing to do with Ester or Chase,” Riley replied. He had a thick Irish accent that sounded like it had been slightly Americanized. He went back to watching over the park.
“There is no time for talking, only time for you to listen,” Genevieve said. “Xavier would have killed you if we hadn’t shown up. We heard him telling you that you were too late and that you would never make it in time to help her. Who was he talking about? You have been mumbling something about Elle, a car, and a dock. What does that all mean? You have to tell us.”
I closed my eyes, focusing on the voice growing louder in my head. It was the same one that I had heard on the phone earlier. The harder I concentrated, the louder the obtrusive voice got. Then the voice was clear.
Oliver and Elle are on their way to the rock quarry, and there is no way you will be able to get to them in time before they die. I knew you would come here and check her house. How predictable. Sending the others away to the quarry is exactly the kind of thing that gets you Thusians killed so easily—always trying to be the hero. Just so you know, there is no way to save her, the voice said.