by Steve Bevil
Argus cleared his throat again and then opened his mouth to speak.
“No,” said Roy, firmly. “Now isn’t the time….”
“Then when will be?” interrupted Argus. He turned to look at Nathan. “I’m sorry Roy, but now is the perfect time in my book — yes, your mother was a part of the Order.”
Roy’s eyes suddenly grew as big as saucers and his face turned so red that Nathan thought his head would explode.
“And there’s more,” said Argus, pausing to look at Roy and then swallowing hard. “See, your mother….”
“We’re related,” said Roy, bluntly, before Argus could continue.
“W–what? Related — to my mother?” blurted Nathan. Suddenly, his face was seriously contorted. “Are you saying my mother and father were related?”
“No, no,” said Roy, taking a pause. “We’re related.” He pointed to Argus, and Argus sighed. “I meant that Argus and I are related — Argus is my brother.”
“Oh,” said Nathan, sounding relieved. “B–but wait, your brother?”
“Yes, it’s true,” said Argus with a smile. “Roy here, is my little brother.”
Nathan looked down at his hands and then scanned over his grandfather. “So, does this mean…?” he said, hesitantly.
“That Roy has powers?” Argus chuckled, taking delight in the question. “No….”
“And neither did your father,” chimed in Roy.
Argus suddenly had a more serious look on his face. “Sometimes the ability to do Pneuma Novo skips a generation or two,” he said. “And in some cases — like us — it skips siblings.”
“So why all the secrecy?” asked Nathan. “Why didn’t you tell me that you guys were brothers — about my mom — about my heritage?” Soon, his hands were pressed against his sides and balled into fists. “Do you know what I’ve been through these last couple of months? All these secrets have put me through hell!”
“Hell?” asked Argus, mockingly.
“Yes!” exasperated Nathan. “Prophetic dreams, blue flames coming out of my hands — the Order — and the symbols in the caves. Not to mention the Fallen Ones!” His chest heaved rapidly, but he suddenly found himself choking back the tears in his eyes. “And tonight — with Jonas.”
“Sorry, Nathan,” said Roy. “But isn’t it obvious with everything you’ve just said that we wanted to keep you safe?” Gently, he placed a hand on Nathan’s shoulder and then turned to look at Argus. “It was always the plan to keep you guys safe as long as possible.”
“So, none of this comes as a shock to you,” said Nathan, staring down Argus and Roy. “All this time you’ve known about Jonas and the others — about our powers — about the Fallen Ones and the Order.” Slowly, Roy nodded and Nathan shook his head. “So, now that you see that your secrets aren’t working … when were you planning on telling us? After one of us was murdered?”
“I’m sorry,” said Roy, again. “If it was up to me, I would never expose you or anyone else to any of this.” His eyes pleaded helplessly with Nathan’s as Argus looked away, rolling his. “We wanted to keep you guys away from all of this as long as possible.”
Agitated, Nathan abruptly stepped back, causing Roy’s hand to drop to his side. “Who is ‘we’? My mother?” asked Nathan. “Is that the promise — is that what you promised her?”
“Well,” said Argus, self-assuredly. “Yes, but not exactly.”
“I know this is a lot. Argus and I understand your frustration,” said Roy quickly. He placed a hand on his shoulder again. “But it’s getting late and it’s been a trying evening for all of us. You should rest and give yourself a chance to digest it all.” Roy gestured his head toward the cottage. “Besides, you should check in on Jonas. We can discuss this more in the morning.”
“W–wait — in the morning?” shouted Argus, stepping in between them. “You think the Fallen Ones are resting till morning?”
Nathan turned to look toward the cottage and gladly tuned out Roy and Argus. He noticed that the small house seemed oddly dark and almost went unnoticed, nestled amongst the tall evergreens. “Is the house usually that dark?” asked Nathan, abruptly.
Roy and Argus stopped arguing and for a moment, there was a blank look on Roy’s face. “Uhh,” he stuttered, glancing toward the house. “It’s just that the lights are off. Jonas must have turned in for bed.”
Slowly, Nathan nodded, but twisted his mouth off to one side as he continued to stare at the house.
“And I guess with LaDonda gone, you’re expecting me to stay at the mansion tonight,” complained Argus.
Roy nodded. “You’re the one with all that fighting experience on the front lines, remember?” he said with a smile. “Besides, I can’t watch over the cottage and the main house by myself. Either you or I need to stay at the main house with the kids.”
Argus took a deep breath, nodded, and sighed. “Well, I guess we will find out if these old bones still got it,” he said. “Because you best believe Lauren and the others aren’t resting.”
“W–what, Lauren?” said Nathan, blinking his eyes and breaking his trance. He turned his focus to Argus. “You know about Lauren?”
There was a brief silence as Argus sought permission with his eyes from Roy to speak. “Let me tell you,” said Argus, firmly. “I am no stranger to that woman or Lucas.” He paused after his eyes connected with Roy’s again. “Let’s just say those are not fond memories that I wish to keep.”
There was silence again as Roy stared down Argus. “So,” said Roy, with a hint of frustration in his voice. He gestured with his head again. “Let’s all get inside.”
Argus smiled weakly before nodding his head. “Yeah,” he said, following Roy’s lead. “I don’t trust that Malick alone by himself.”
“So,” said Argus, walking slowly so that Nathan could walk beside him. “Prophetic dreams, huh?” He smiled. “Sounds like to me we have another Dream Walker on our hands.”
“Another Dream Walker?” asked Nathan.
Abruptly, Roy loudly cleared his throat. “Umm, Nathan,” he said. “Why don’t you go ahead and head over to the cottage.” Roy paused, frowning at Argus. He then nodded at Nathan to reassure him. “I’ll be over in a bit. I want to let the gang know that Argus will be staying for the night to avoid giving Lafonda a heart attack when she discovers him in the morning.”
“Okay,” said Nathan, solemnly. His mind was already going a mile a minute. “I’ll check on Jonas.”
Methodically, Nathan treaded across the sprawling green lawn. Although it was darker on this side of the house, he had walked it so many times before that he did it without thought. What exactly did Roy and Argus promise my mother — I’m sure she would want to keep me safe — but what else? He pondered. And who else is a Dream Walker?
“Wait!” blurted Nathan, spinning back around. “What about the Firewalker symbol on your arm?”
Roy and Argus both froze in their tracks; Roy still held the doorknob to the backdoor firmly in his hand. “I mean — I know that it’s the crest for the Order,” Nathan said, pointing at the barely visible tattoo. “But what about the legend? What about the Legend of the Firewalker?”
Argus looked wide-eyed at Roy, and Roy was speechless. “The Legend of the Firewalker?” he uttered, inquisitively.
“Yeah,” said Nathan, encouragingly, walking closer to them. “You know — the symbols in the cave — Jonathan’s research?”
Argus quickly threw up the palm of his hand to silence Roy from speaking. “Tell us … what do you know about the symbols?” said Argus, sternly.
There was a brief pause and a look of confusion crept upon Nathan’s face. “Dr. Helmsley and Jonathan discovered some new symbols in a secret chamber in one of the Cahokia Caves,” he said, slowly. “According to Jonathan it’s a story — a prophecy of someone to come. It’s a story told by the Cahokia people about the Firewalker.”
Suddenly, Argus’s eyebrows rose. “And what does this story say about the Firewalker?�
�� he said.
“Don’t you know?” blurted Nathan. “You are a member of the Order, right?” Several frown lines appeared on his forehead. “I think the bigger question is — who sent the Order to destroy the symbols and to attack us in the caves?”
“I knew it!” said Argus, enthusiastically, turning to look at Roy. “I knew something more was going on in those caves this summer … and with the Malick boy being here too?” Argus turned toward Nathan again. He had a pensive look on his face as he repeatedly stroked the bottom curvature of his mouth. “I told you Roy — I knew what happened at Lawrence Hall sounded more like the Shadow Guard than that lame story about some campus fraternity!”
“Was it you or not?” demanded Nathan. His hands clinched into fists at his sides. “Did you send the Order after us to destroy the symbols?”
“Hold on, son,” said Roy, apathetically. “How can you be so certain that it was the Order; it could have been some kids horsing around….”
“Because whoever attacked us left behind a little trinket in the shape of the Firewalker symbol!” said Nathan, annoyed.
Argus appeared unaffected by Nathan’s outburst. He continued to stroke the bottom curvature of his mouth, pensively. “No, I am not the one who tipped off the Order about Jonathan’s discovery — if that is what you are asking,” he said. “And no, I am not a member of the Order.” He caught a glimpse of Nathan staring at the tattoo on his arm. “Yes, I was a member of the Order, but that was a long time ago.”
The lines across Nathan’s brow deepened. “But if not you, then who then?” he asked.
“That is a very good question,” said Argus, through discerning eyes. “But I think you know the answer.”
“Argus,” said Roy, firmly.
Argus continued to appear distant, deep in thought. “And I assume that Jonathan thinks you’re the Firewalker,” he said, with a smile.
“Argus!” shouted Roy.
“Roy, don’t you see?” said Argus, grabbing him by the arm. “This is what LaDonda needed. This is the proof that we were looking for.” There was a glimmer of hope in his eyes. “Do you know what this means?”
Roy took a deep breath and then sighed, after looking into Nathan’s confused, but inquisitive face. “I know, I know,” said Argus, quickly, before Roy could get a word in. “In the morning, Nathan.” Gently, Argus placed his hands upon his shoulders and nodded. “Listen to your grandfather and have a good night.”
Roy nodded reassuringly and Nathan sighed heavily as he watched them enter the house. “Are you kidding me?” he said. Nathan stood there motionless, staring at the kitchen back door for a while before stampeding across the lawn. “Who can sleep after this?”
Frustrated, Nathan headed toward the small house. He could hear the lush grass crumpling beneath his feet. The small cottage that sat behind the Devaro Mansion with the little garden to the side of it continued to sit quietly in the night. Occasionally, a small gust of wind would rush through the grounds, causing Nathan to shiver. “I wish Jonas wouldn’t have turned the outside light off,” he grumbled. “Tonight was scary enough without having to be creeped out by my own house.”
Nathan was almost to the cottage and could see the U-shaped driveway to the Devaro Mansion. Off in the distance he heard a faint owl call over the wind and he could hear the sound of the wooden garden trellis as it rattled against the house. “This place never felt spooky until now,” he thought, as he picked up his pace to the front door. “I can’t go anywhere without feeling like a pair of red beady eyes is lurking in a bush or something.”
The single bulb located above the white door to the cottage was dark and Nathan fumbled endlessly with his keys. “Ugh!” he moaned, occasionally brushing his arms and hands. With every gust of wind, the long creeping vines would sway against his arms and neck. “I wish Roy would cut these back already. I feel like bugs are crawling on me.”
“But I like the vines,” said a soft voice behind him. Nathan jumped.
“Why on Earth would you sneak up behind someone like that!” he bellowed. Nathan’s heart felt as if it was beating a mile a minute as he struggled to catch his breath. “I thought you left a long time ago.” He paused, trying to see past the thin rows of trees and at the cars parked in the Devaro driveway. “Is your car even here?”
“Yes, it’s over there,” Malick chuckled. He had a mischievous look on his face. “But yours isn’t. I think after you left I heard Lafonda say something about you leaving Roy’s truck out at Lynn’s Field tonight.”
“Crap!” cried Nathan, tossing his hands up in the air. “Roy’s going to kill me. With everything that happened, I totally forgot about the truck.”
“Well,” said Malick, with a huge grin. “I’m sure Chief Rosales or his men will take care of it for you.” He laughed. “I’m sure they probably towed it somewhere.”
“Ha-ha, very funny,” said Nathan, his lips curled at the ends. “Why are you even still here?”
“Hmmm,” said Malick, adjusting his leather jacket over his shoulders. “I figured since my backseats are still covered in Jonas’s blood that I was welcome.”
“You think that just because you’ve done one good deed that you’re welcome,” smirked Nathan, his arms folded across his chest. He paused to look in the direction of the Devaro Mansion. “Ha, don’t hold your breath — you’re going to have to do a lot more than that to impress Lafonda.”
Malick suddenly frowned. “Who said anything about impressing Lafonda?”
“You’re still here aren’t you?” huffed Nathan, his left eyebrow raised.
Malick’s ears started to burn a bright red and Nathan continued to smirk, shaking his head. “What?” protested Malick. “I mean — it is nice to finally see where she lives, but that’s beside the point. I needed to talk to you.”
“About what?” asked Nathan, with a discerning glare. “And why haven’t you found a shirt already?” He quickly rolled his eyes and headed back toward the cottage front door. “Just do us all a favor and keep that jacket zipped up.”
“Look,” said Malick, following closely behind him. “I know you have the market covered being known as the brooding one — and believe me you have the Mr. Fun-Snatcher title, hands down — but this is serious.”
“Okay, I’m listening,” said Nathan, fumbling with the keys to the front door again.
Malick stood over him and then took a deep breath. “Did you get a chance to talk to Argus?” he said. Nathan paused to look up at him. “You know? About the Order, and his involvement?”
Slowly, Nathan stood straight up and stopped playing Russian roulette with his keys. “As a matter of fact, I did,” he said. “I learned that the so-called adults aren’t doing much better than us and are keeping secrets to keep us safe.” He frowned. “And we know how well that works out. And oh, I found out that Argus knows all about the Order and that he’s not just some hippy-looking guy out at the lake … he’s my uncle.”
“Your uncle?” said Malick.
“Yup, my uncle,” said Nathan. “Roy’s older brother.”
Malick quickly sighed and rolled his eyes. “And why were they keeping that from you?”
Nathan paused, taking a moment to look at his keys. “Oh, it probably has to do with something they promised my mother — you know, just another secret, no biggie,” he said, sarcastically. He paused, shrugging nonchalantly. “Oh, and did I mention that they told me my mom was also a part of the Order?”
Malick suddenly became more interested again. “What about your father — and Roy?”
“No powers,” said Nathan.
“Okay, well, now at least you know a little bit more about your bloodline — about your Pneuma Novo heritage,” said Malick. “Bloodlines — where you come from — are pretty big in our world.” He paused; he had a solemn look on his face. “Families have seats of power because of it.”
“Well, it doesn’t sound too different from this world,” said Nathan. “I have plenty of experience with that j
ust around this town and, let me tell you, not a lot of clout is given to the brown kid that lives behind the Devaro Mansion.”
Malick suddenly had a cynical look on his face. “Look at the bright side,” he said with a smile. “Now you are the brown kid that lives behind the Devaro Mansion with fire hands.”
Reluctantly, Nathan cracked a smile. “Ha-ha-ha,” he said, through a stifled grin. “Funny.”
“At least now everything is starting to make sense about why you never knew about the Order or your powers,” smiled Malick. “You are finally getting answers.”
A brief moment passed and Nathan drew silent. Slowly, he began to speak. “It’s just that — after all this time I barely hear anything about her — from Roy, LaDonda, anybody,” he said. “And then poof, out of nowhere, my mother’s a part of the Order?”
“I understand,” said Malick, reluctantly. He paused and there was sadness in his eyes. “I don’t know anything about my mother — all I know is that she left us when I was very young.” He smiled. “I have some memory of her — what she looked like — but I don’t even know her name.”
Nathan had a puzzled look on his face. “How can you not….”
“Know your own mothers name?” interrupted Malick, fervently. There was agitation in his voice. “It’s simple. When you have a father like mine that forbids any talk of her….”
Malick fell silent and Nathan could see the pain in his face as he looked away. “It’s complicated,” he said, finally. “All that I have left of her is this.”
“The charm?” said Nathan, as Malick held out the silver chain from around his neck.
Malick nodded. “The arrowhead belonged to my mother,” he said. Carefully, he tucked the silver chain underneath his leather jacket again and the arrowhead laid snuggly against the crease in his chest. “Any-who, like my grandmother always says, no sense in crying over spilled milk.”