“Of course you can. If you brought me here, then you can bring me back.” I said marching over to where he sat on the couch. I bent toward him, grabbed his hand, and placed it on my forehead as he had when we had left this room only to return to this room. “Please… just please… take me back.”
I said, begging with no shame. The tears came again and ran down my face. I wasn’t even embarrassed, just desperate.
“Cordelia, there is no going back. This is where you belong.” Evan removed his hand and stood up. I straightened up and took a couple steps back from him. Then it was his turn to seek assistance. He turned to Bethany, who in turn stood up.
My head began to spin and I was on the verge of hurling all over the fancy rug. The large room seemed to be getting smaller as the dizziness numbed me. Evan’s face was pained. He was quiet for a long moment as he observed me. His words still lingered in the air. The silence around us was interrupted by the constant sounds of the quick trot of what couldn’t be confused with anything other than horses pulling carriages. Evan was wrong I didn’t belong here now. I didn’t belong in this town ever.
I looked around the room at the portraits and photographs of people I didn't recognize who seemed to be staring at me. I took a deep breath before peering through the heavy drapes and fancy lace curtains again. I could see from the reflection in the window that someone was standing behind me. I wanted to ignore them; wish them away. Better yet, wish myself away.
“Cordelia, there is so much that you need to know about yourself. Evan’s unsure voice proved that wishes didn’t come true. He was still there and worst of all, I was too. “Please sit down so that I can explain,” Evan said, leading me back to the couch.
“What do I need to know about myself that I don't already know? I know that I’m stuck in the year 1891. Right?” I said, raising a challenging eyebrow in his direction. “I’m also aware that you have the power to take me back to the future, but won’t. So what else is there?” I said sarcastically to both Evan and his deceiving sister. I was angry and didn’t care whose feelings got hurt.
Ignoring my nasty attitude, Evan’s tone was firm although, he seemed a little apprehensive at the idea of actually telling me what it was that I supposedly needed to know. “It’s imperative that you know as much as possible in order to adjust, and in order to… survive.”
“Survive?” My voice was heavy and I had to gulp just to get the question out. I glanced over at Bethany, who all the while, kept her silence. She was letting Evan do all the driving.
“You are an Ischero, one of the Powerful and direct descendants of the Greek gods.” Evan said, with his eyes locked on mine as if he were gaging how well I was absorbing this ludicrous notion. I was numb, but listening intently.
“When I say powerful, I'm not speaking of our wealth. I mean powerful in strength of the mind, the spirit, and of the physical.
“Ish – e – roe? What is that?” I wasn’t sure if I had even pronounced the foreign sounding word correctly.
“Ischero. You pronounced it correctly. We are the ancient bloodline, an empire of families, all descending from the gods.” Evan said, proudly. “You are the first daughter of the Tieron family, the first family of our kind. You’re the empress of our Empire; well you will be in a few days when you are crowned the Empress of Ischera.”
I tried to process what he was saying. My last name wasn’t Tetherson anymore. My identity was ripped out from under me. I didn't want to be the first daughter of anything and especially had no desire to be an empress of any kind. I just wanted the life I had back. I decided to say nothing and just listen. Bethany’s eyes danced between my reaction and how Evan pieced my life together.
“So I’m an empress or soon to be one. Who or what are you?” I asked curiously.
“I’m the first son of the Capius family, the second family of the Ischeros Empire.” He said. “Bethany is my younger sister. “
“Only younger by a year.” Bethany scolded with a chuckle.
“Beth was sent to the future to protect you. She made sure that you were never in any danger.” Evan revealed.
Bethany spoke sincerely. “I didn’t do my job, my visions failed me, and you ended up getting killed. I’m deeply sorry Delia.” Bethany apologized with tears in her eyes.
I held her gaze and tears flowed from my eyes again – not out of sadness but from love…love of a friend. I believed our friendship could sustain anything. Even murder.
“It's alright.” I choked up in a whisper as Bethany walked over to me and hugged me.
Evan smiled, nodded, and began again. “Our kind is persecuted by entities with limitations to their power, those who thirst for more, for the ultimate, for your power, Cordelia. This is why you were sent far into the future. It was primarily a safety precaution.”
“Unfortunately that couldn’t be helped.” Bethany added.
“By entities, do you mean Victor? He’s the gargoyle, right?” I asked as my voice quivered as if the gargoyle boy was in the room with us.
The name and its weight hung in the air.
“Yes, but unfortunately he is one in many.” I didn't like the sound of that. That sounded like no possible escape.
“Victor is pure evil!” Bethany said with conviction. “And why hasn't Nikolas returned yet?” She asked changing the subject.
“Bethany, please.” Evan pleaded. “You’re scaring her.”
“I’m ok, I don’t scare that easily.” I tried to sound brave but I was shaken.
“I'm sorry, Cordelia, but Nikolas should have returned by now.” Bethany apologized minus the conviction. I had forgotten that Nikolas had stayed behind to guard our departure.
“Nikolas is both wise and incredibly strong. He can handle himself. Have faith.” Evan tried reassuring Bethany who still had a worried look painted on her face.
Evan continued with a sigh. “Bethany is correct. Victor is of the purest evil. He is the strongest of a small army of devoted disciples. Victor has steadily built his army and controls them for the sole purpose of garnishing your power, and possibly destroying the earth in order to stake his claim on it. He wants to be the Emperor of the Ischeros.”
“He’s an Ischeros too?” I asked, shocked.
“No, but he used to be. I’ll tell you more about that later.” Evan promised.
I tried to calm my nerves before I asked Evan the question that I was afraid to hear the answer too. I felt moisture suddenly form on my forehead. I went from ice cold to hot in a matter of seconds. “Did Victor kill me in the future?”
Evan stared at me for a brief moment. I wasn't sure if he was going to answer the question. He looked perplexed. Didn't I have a right to know?
“Yes, he drove the car that killed you. He wanted and needed your soul but he only had twenty – four hours to abduct you.”
“But why me?”
“You because you are the strongest that has ever been of our kind. Without your soul the gateway to your powers, he can never do the damage that he desires to do.” He explained. “We are immortal and can never truly die. We can always be revived.”
“And that’s what you did to me? But when?” I asked.
“I revived you through the passage of time.”
“This is incredible.” I mumbled to myself.
“Is it?” Evan asked.
“Of course it is. You’re speaking of mythological beings and immortality. No one could grasp such absurdity.”
“Absurd?” Bethany cut me off. “And you? Do you think immortality is absurd or that we’re absurd?” Bethany asked, with a detectible edge to her tone.
“I don’t know what to think. I mean come on Bethany; it’s all too…much.” I said. Bethany stood with her icy blue eyes fixed on my face for a second. She didn’t appear angry, just frustrated with me.
Evan interrupted Bethany’s stare down. “Victor wasn’t able to obtain your soul in time because he lost track of you.” Evan said clearing his throat.
He watched
me and took my silence as a sign to continue. “We are Ischeros. It will take a lot more than a jeep to end your life. You’ll remember in time, once your memory is restored.” He promised, as he rubbed my hand gently then let it go.
I was too dazed to even nod. No one said a word for a moment. Something else was troubling me. “Ok, so I was born in 1875, and I’m still seventeen, right.”
“Yes. We, the Ischeros physically age yearly through our early teens.” Evan explained. “Then we begin aging gradually by the decade for the remaining years of our lives. This dilatory process begins at eighteen.” He appeared to detect the expression of shock in my face. I contemplated what he said. I chewed and chewed on the information, but couldn’t swallow. I cleared my throat. I needed some clarity on the whole aging issue.
“So, you’re saying that I’m seventeen now and once I turn eighteen, I’ll slowly age for an entire decade before turning nineteen. Is that right?” I asked.
“And so on with every coming decade.” Evan explained, while he squeezed my hand. I pulled my hand away, and he recovered quickly and nodded.
“So, I’ll be eighteen for ten whole years?” My voice was a surprisingly high shriek as I faced this boy who held all the secrets of my existence.
“Yes, it’s a gift, Cordelia. Those who don’t possess our gift, age the way they consider to be normal, physically aging older every year of their lives,” Evan explained. “I understand how this may be difficult to comprehend and accept although you already know this.”
It was the gift that would keep giving. I guess I should be happy not to age. Isn’t that what every person wanted, perpetual youth, yet I was scared to death of the possibility.
“You’re unlike anyone in the world and no other as divine. You’re very... special. You, and only you, possess unique and extraordinary attributes, capabilities that no other being could possibly manage. Not I, not any other Ischeros.” Evan said, practically in one breath.
“Um…ok…but… what does that mean? What kind of unique and extraordinary capabilities do I have?” I said getting up and walking over to the fireplace. For some reason I was antsy and couldn’t stop moving around. I’m sure by now Evan and Bethany noticed how hyper I was. I didn’t fully get what Evan was trying to explain but I had to admit that I was intrigued. I wondered if I could turn myself into water and spin like a whirlpool too.
“Let me explain.” Evan said, clearing his throat. “You have the strength of all the Ischeros combined, the speed of light, the wisdom and insight to guide, the power to read everyone’s thoughts – with your mind left unread. There is so much more to you that only you will know and may choose to grace us with.”
“I have the power to read minds?” I asked, baffled. I almost chortled. Almost because I didn’t think it was funny to have my leg pulled, especially since I was standing up. “Can I read your mind now?”
“Your powers will surface once your memory is restored.” Evan said. I sat next to him again and stared off in disbelief as to what he was so adamantly trying to get me to understand and accept. He continued as I wondered just how plausible this all could be.
“You are a part of something that is greater than this earth, and older. As the Empress of the Ischeros, your sole purpose, your ultimate objective is to protect and defend your empire, the members of your family.” Evan said, almost in a whisper. His voice was soft and crisp at the same time as he continued.
“These special gifts are envied and desired by the world's most evil entities. These beings will stop at nothing until they possess your soul, which is the door to your power and ultimate control of the elements of the world.” Evan spoke evenly, watching me cautiously. I wanted him to stop talking. The information was daunting and I couldn’t be the person he spoke of. This had to be a case of mistaken identity.
“Let me get this straight. I need to regain my memory of my so called life in this time period so that I will have powers that evil entities will eventually come after me for. Why me? I... I don't understand. I’m better off not remembering.” Whatever memories I was expected to remember felt lost forever and I’d be in less danger not recalling a thing.
“You, because you are. It is not something we can question but only what we must accept, you must assume, as our leader.” Evan said proudly, and then taking a moment to pause.
“When will my memory return?” I asked, anxiously. Evan seemed to be contemplating if he should answer. I expected that he knew the answer.
“It's only a matter of time. I expect soon. I would like to tell you a little more about yourself. If that's alright?” He asked, and paused, waiting for clearance.
“Ok.” I said knowing that I really didn't have much of a choice.
Evan was about to continue when suddenly iridescent like sand materialized in the center of the room like a tornado funnel. The twister of sand spun rapidly in the air taking the shape of a very tall half man half horse. The sand was becoming more and more human until we were all looking at Nikolas.
Why had we seen a horse man? He still wore his dark jeans and tshirt. He smiled then began talking – breathless and fast.
“Victor was in the house… I barely escaped.” Nikolas panted. “I need a drink.”
Bethany rushed to his side but then stopped abruptly almost as if she was cautious of him. She then asked Nikolas a strange question that sounded more like a riddle.
“A cloak is for debris if?” She asked.
“Armor shields the heart.” Nikolas answered, and she threw her arms around him, squeezing him fiercely as if she expected him to disappear in sparkling sand as he had appeared. He welcomed her tiny body, in comparison to his own, in a warm embrace then began talking again. He walked over to the bar and fixed himself a glass of wine and gulped the full contents of his glass. Then, to my surprise, but to no one else’s, he poured another than another.
“The dragon boy is unable to transport without great concentration or he would be here now,” Nikolas said, sipping the fourth glass of wine, but who’s counting. “He is hell bent on Cordelia's whereabouts and killing her. The heinous one even claimed to be able to smell her.” Nikolas directed all of his words to Evan, who listened carefully.
“You took a while. What happened?” Bethany said, now calm. She was no longer anxious now that Nikolas had returned.
“I knew I wouldn't have time to teleport, and I didn't want to risk it, and be intercepted. Therefore, I chose to stay and wait. I knew better than to expect one of his devotees. Cordelia is too crucial to Victor. I figured he would rather handle her abduction himself than to leave it to his spineless subjects.”
Nikolas chuckled. “See for yourself.”
Nikolas raised his very long muscular arm and pointed to the wall with the least framed pictures and paintings. A spark suddenly streamed from the tip of Nikolas’ index finger, of his right hand. It was magic. A mirage appeared on the wall, and I thought an old movie projector had been placed not too far behind us. But there was no projector. We were watching a movie that looked like it was playing on a wall made of water that faded into the patterned wall paper.
It was crazy. I saw myself submerged in water, in the same living room, but before we landed back here. I floated in the whirlpool along with some sort of liquid hologram of Evan and Bethany. They were the water and were standing as I was floating outward perpendicular to them. Evan had his watery hand planted on my forehead. Then we evaporated, along with the deafening sucking and slurping sound, into a tiny crystal drop of water that vanished into the air.
My mouth practically dropped to the wood floor.
Nikolas was left alone in the sparsely furnished living room. Not a second had passed since disappearing when the walls began to buckle from the blazing temperature in the room. Out of nowhere appeared the gorgeous boy who had killed me. My body began to tremble as I had another opportunity to look him in those malicious eyes. Selfassured, he stood tall and muscular with a menacing look in his eyes that clearly stated why h
e was there; obviously to kill again. He snarled and paused at the entrance of the living room opposite where Nikolas waited. Nikolas was the taller and larger of the two.
He wasted no time in letting Nikolas know why he was there. “I know she is here, I can smell her.” He said as fire spewed from his mouth. “IT ENDS
HERE! IT ENDS NOW!” He seethed with deadly intent.
I watched in complete horror. This boy wanted to kill me. I understood more now than ever just how badly.
“Hello Victor. You're late.” Nikolas taunted with a chuckle. “Tardiness is never rewarded.”
Victor's eyes were furious with pure rage. He moved at an accelerated speed and lunged at Nikolas. Within a second his face morphed into a gargoyle.
With one crushing blow to Nikolas' chest, Victor sent him flying backward. Nikolas slammed into the oversized gilt framed mirror that hung on the far left wall. It shattered into a thousand jagged pieces. Victor roared thunderously as fire spilled from his twisted lips. He was hideous and prepared to trounce Nikolas.
Nikolas shook of the impact and stood up unfazed by Victors blow. Suddenly Nikolas’ form began to change as he stood up. His shirt disappeared into his skin revealing an incredibly muscled torso like that of a body builder. Below his torso, the body of a stallion, minus the head, emerged. I gasped in shock.
Nikolas was half man and half horse a centaur. I couldn’t contain my amazement and almost missed what happened next as I turned and stared at Nikolas who stood next to Bethany now. I stared at his two human legs. He saw me watching him and winked then, with his head, motioned for me to keep watching.
Once Nikolas had transformed, which took a fraction of a second, he looked Victor dead in the eyes. “Is that all you’ve got?” Nikolas said as he trotted slowly trying to anticipate Victor’s next move.
“A stampede of steeds couldn’t defeat me, junior centaur!” Victor said, as massive ivory horns emerged from his head and his clothes dissolved into his body which was now the shape of a huge black monstrous bull.
Nikolas instantly kicked up a large part of the broken mirror that lay on the floor with one of his front hooves. The mirror flipped into the air as Nikolas reached out with one arm and grabbed it. He used it as a shield to block the flames that Victor, the bull, spit at him. Nikolas cracked the mirror against a hoof, and clenched the large shard of the broken mirror concealed in his hand.
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