Forged by Greed

by Angela Orlowski-Peart

  Jatred’s eyes narrowed. They have their mental shields on. What are they talking about? I bet it’s about my parents’ death. Why was that a secret for all these years? Were they afraid I couldn’t handle the truth and might have done something stupid? Like what? Accuse the Summer Goddess of plotting it all along and then getting myself killed too?

  “What?” Jatred looked back at his friend, only catching the last two words.

  Bogdan’s expression didn’t change as he repeated his invitation.

  “I’ll try. My skateboard needs new wheels though.” A tiny smile crossed Jatred’s face but it was gone as fast as it appeared. He looked away again.

  “Jatred,” Tyrrell called out, opening the gate. “Let’s go.”

  The boys looked at each other in silence. Jatred nodded to Bogdan and took a few heavy steps toward his uncle before turning around.

  “I’ll call you later. You know… yeah, the skateboard park.”

  ***

  “Why haven’t you ever told me about my parents?” Jatred struggled to keep the anger and disappointment out of his voice.

  “It’s only a suspicion. We don’t have proof.” Tyrrell shot him a quick glance from over the steering wheel. “Look… ” He rubbed his forehead, keeping his eyes on the road. “It’s not like we can do something. Even if it was true that Amber made that plane crash—”

  “And what about our Goddess?” Jatred interrupted, his face pained.

  Tyrrell took a deep breath, exhaling slowly through his nose. “Your parents were my best friends, we were like a family. I’ve never been that close to anyone, even to my own folks. I would give my own life to bring them back. But I can’t speculate on what our Goddess is planning. She’s very wise and never acts on a whim—”

  “On a whim?! My parents were killed! Mom was pregnant—”

  “I know, I know. And it was ten years ago. You would have thought Crystal had enough time to act. But remember—time for the Goddess is not the same as time for us. She’s ancient and our ten years are merely as a few hours for her.”

  They drove for a few moments in silence, each one deep in thoughts.

  “The Winter Goddess is most likely waiting for the ten-thousand-mark, which is coming soon though.” Tyrrell paused, meeting Jatred’s eyes. “It’s difficult to wait, I know.”

  “So we just sit and wait?” There was no humor in Jatred’s smile.

  “It’s hard for me too, but—yes.” Tyrrell stared hard at his adoptive son.

  Jatred clenched his teeth and closed his eyes. He slammed the back of his head onto the head-rest. He pressed a button on the passenger door. The window slid open a few inches. Cool air rushed inside, soothing his burning cheeks.

  Tyrrell kept stealing quick glances at Jatred who stubbornly avoided his uncle’s eyes. Tyrrell turned the car into a shopping center and parked in front of AT&T store.

  “Let’s see what they can do about your iPhone.”

  The store was filled with customers. Four people distinguished by their AT&T-issued shirts were busy, assisting the patrons.

  “I’ll be right with you, folks.” A slender, pretty teenage girl waved to Jatred and Tyrrell. After a couple of minutes she approached them with a friendly smile. “How can I help you today?” She looked at Jatred with interest.

  “Can you take a look at his iPhone? The battery won’t charge.” Tyrrell pointed to Jatred after a few seconds, when he realized Jatred was going to stay silent.

  “What happened to it?” she asked, looking intently at Jatred, a friendly smile never leaving her face.

  “Uhm… it got busted. Somehow. Dropped on the floor.” Jatred shrugged, glancing uncomfortably away.

  She took the phone and tossed her long blond hair. “Let’s go to my computer, so I can access your account. What’s your phone number?”

  Jatred squinted and glanced around the store, answering the question.

  She kept glancing at him from under her heavily-made black lashes as if she was assessing him.

  Jatred tugged at the sleeve of his jacket, put his hands in his pockets, then pulled them out, adjusted his hood, zipped the jacket, tugged at the other sleeve, and cleared his throat. Tyrrell looked at Jatred suspiciously but didn’t say anything.

  “What school do you go to?” she asked, taking the battery out of the phone.

  “Queen Anne Academy of the Arts and Sciences,” Jatred said, his voice flat.

  “Mhmm, that’s the private school just down the street from here?” She smiled. “I like the architecture of that building. Must be quite old.”

  “I guess.” He shrugged.

  Tyrrell raised one eyebrow at Jatred, but again, didn’t comment. He knew Jatred was fascinated with the school building, although it didn’t surprise him that Jatred decided not to elaborate. He was often shy when talking with the attractive girls.

  “I know a couple of people who go there,” she said a matter-of-factly. “Logan Donovan and Penelope Stephanopoulos. I bet you know them too. It’s such a small school after all.” Her eyes locked with Jatred’s.

  “Yeah, I know them. Both, actually.” Jatred glanced at the company-issued name tag on her blouse. Savannah. Cool name. Hope she doesn’t have a clue they’re Shifters. Why is she looking at me so strangely? She’s very pretty.

  “I put a new battery in. It should work just fine.” She cleared her throat. “But it needs to be recharged soon.”

  Tyrrell took a credit card from his wallet and slid it across the glass counter toward Savannah. She looked at him and then at Jatred and smiled. “There is no charge. I just had a spare battery in my desk.”

  Jatred stared at the phone, but his mind was wandering.

  Bogdan and Lusia know a couple of human families that work with our Historical Society. They have obviously learned who we are. I wonder if this girl… Savannah.

  “Thank you.” Tyrrell nodded with a smile. Jatred quickly chimed in, thanking Savannah for her help.

  “Uncle,” Jatred said with his mind, keeping his mental guard up. “Do you think she knows we are Shifters?”

  Tyrrell looked at Jatred in disbelief and answered him in the same way of mental communication, “You suspect that, just because she knows a couple of kids from your school?”

  “I’m not sure. Just have a strong feeling.”

  “Not very many humans have the slightest idea about us. And those who do are rather special and work very closely with us or the Summer Race. We can talk later,” Tyrrell commented. “Now let’s go.”

  “So,” Jatred said out loud. “Savannah… so where do you know Logan and Penelope from?”

  “Penelope lives on my street. Her house is the only one with a huge fence and all those thick old trees planted along it. Like a fortress.” She gave a small giggle but stopped short, looking from Jatred to Tyrrell.

  Jatred held her eyes, waiting for her to say more. Tyrrell listened intently, pretending to check the iPhone’s features.

  “A fortress, huh?” Jatred finally laughed, his shoulders relaxing. “Do you know her well?”

  “No, not really. She isn’t exactly a friendly kind. But I know Logan. He’s my ex-boyfriend,” she said, her smile fading. “I mean, we are still friends, you know. But we aren’t together anymore.”

  Jatred saw a flicker of doubt in her eyes and pressed on, “Logan is in my class. I’ve never seen you with him.”

  “He’s funny that way. Never really liked being in public with me.” Savannah gathered her long blond hair with both hands at the back of her head, as if pulling it into a ponytail.

  Tyrrell and Jatred exchanged a quick glance. “You still think she doesn’t know?” Jatred asked with his mind.

  Jatred contemplated an appropriate response to her comment. “Logan likes to keep to himself. In fact, I’ve never seen him with any girl.”

  Tyrrell cleared his throat and glared at Jatred, wanting him to end the conversation and leave the store.

  “Well, I guess I’ll see you around.
” Jatred’s lips curled slightly at the corners as he winked at her.

  Savannah opened a drawer under her computer and pulled out two business cards. Handing them out to Tyrrell and Jatred she said, “Feel free to call me if there is any more trouble with your phone.”

  “Thank you.” Tyrrell nodded at her and stole another quick glance at Jatred.

  “I might do that.” A playful smile brightened Jatred’s features.

  Tyrrell frowned, looking from Jatred to Savannah, but decided not to comment.

  “I’m telling you, she knows!” Jatred whispered severely when they left the store.

  “Use your mind to speak.” Tyrrell looked sharply at him. “And keep your guards up. You never know who’s listening. And don’t forget, the Goddess is going to summon you very soon to the Winter Realm again—”

  “What?” Jatred stopped in his tracks.

  “She can’t keep the Amulet longer than twenty four hours. Remember? She must return it to you before the time’s up.” Tyrrell looked at his watch. “Which should be within the next few hours. I’m keeping your cell phone until you return, so it won’t get busted in the Realm.” Tyrrell walked to the car, unlocked it with a push of the button on his car remote control, and tossed the keys to Jatred. The teen grabbed them midair with one hand. Tyrrell opened the passenger’s door and said out loud, “You drive. I’ll sleep.”

  The wind ruffled Jatred’s hair. He stopped and turned, looking back at the store entrance. Savannah casually strolled to the window. She folded her arms against her chest and cupped her elbows with her hands. She smiled and waved with her fingers at Jatred. Unhurriedly, as not completely sure, she raised left hand to her ear as if holding a phone, and mouthed to him, “Call me.”

  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Tyrrell’s voice sounded clearly in Jatred’s mind. “She’s a human after all. Don’t invite anymore trouble.”

  CHAPTER 29

  Winter Realm.

  Sitting in the lotus position, the Winter Goddess looked at her tightened fist. Light-blue threads of light escaped from between her fingers, outlining them in a soft pulsing glow. She slowly uncurled her fingers, revealing the Amulet lying on her palm. Half of the Amulet’s chain slid sluggishly off and swayed slowly in the rhythm of an imaginary lullaby. She touched the blue gemstone with her other hand, caressing its oval shape. The clasp in the form of a howling wolf shone in the morning sunlight.

  The Goddess blew a gentle breath, and tiny snowflakes started to fall from the cloudless sky, forming a shimmering curtain around Crystal. The snow parted over her head, as if there was an invisible dome.

  Crystal looked into the distance. Tall broad trees stood, surrounding the clearing where she sat on a snow-covered ground. She outstretched her arm and whispered a few words in an ancient form of Gaelic. Two large ravens flew from between the trees, croaking loud. They circled over the Goddess’s head twice and landed on her extended arm. The birds tilted their heads to one side. They looked at Crystal, and her image mirrored in the depths of their unblinking black eyes.

  “It’s time to return the Amulet to Prince Jatred before the twenty fourth human-time hour is up,” the Goddess said without moving her lips, her voice reverberating in the air.

  One of the ravens flew up and settled on her opposite shoulder.

  “The ten-thousand mark is coming soon. The Amulet’s color is lighter with each day approaching. Soon it will become crystal-clear,” she whispered. The long, wide sleeves of her tunic brushed the snow covered-ground. She stood up. The ravens stayed perched on her shoulders.

  With a fluid wave of her hand the Goddess made the snow on the ground part into a narrow path. It stretched all the way to the horizon. She inhaled and closed her eyes, her heart-shaped lips drooping at the corners in a sad expression. She stood motionless for a long time, until the ravens started to fidget and make gurgling noises in their throats.

  Her eyes snapped open. “Be nice. He must stay strong through this. There is a lot to expect from him now.”

  The birds shook and bristled their shiny blue-black feathers. The Goddess watched the horizon. Her body started to shimmer and dissolve, until she appeared merely as a silhouette constructed of countless glistening snowflakes. She flicked her wrist, and the snow stopped falling. A tiny dark dot appeared on the horizon. It grew bigger until it took on the shape of a huge running wolf. His black coat was thick and glossy and his eyes focused on the Goddess. As he came closer, he slowed down to a trot.

  The ravens extended their necks and beaks forward and cawed, as if in challenge. The Shifter stopped a few steps from Crystal, ignoring the birds. He bowed, keeping his eyes on the Amulet. His tail was low between his hind legs.

  “Prince Jatred,” the Goddess spoke, a hint of a smile on her face. The birds fell silent, suspiciously eyeing the wolf.

  “My Goddess. You summoned me,” the wolf spoke with his mind. His features hardened. His eyes were cold as he watched Crystal in silence.

  “You are the Amulet’s Protector, my Prince. After the latest occurrences, I decided to keep it in the Realm until your state of mind became stable again. I see you are well now.” A faint look of worry crossed her face. She lifted the Amulet on the palm of her hand toward the wolf. “Shift,” she ordered.

  The ravens made a series of low noises in their throats. Their wings unfurled half-way, almost as if the birds were getting ready to fly, but decided to stay put. Crystal touched one of them, whispering something in a language not used on Earth for a few thousand years. It turned its head toward her and fixed the black beady eyes on her face.

  “It’s time for me to tell you about the dangers ahead, my Prince.” She cut to the heart of the matter. “Walk with me.”

  Jatred stuck his hands into the pockets of his hoodie and followed the Goddess. Her barely visible silhouette shimmered next to his solid form. They walked on the snow-covered ground, without leaving footprints behind. The snow started to fall again. It parted over their heads and enveloped them in a thick white cocoon.

  “Do you remember Jasmira?” the Goddess asked without preamble.

  Jatred blinked. The question took him by surprise. He narrowed his eyes, calculating his answer. Finally, he simply said, “No.”

  The Goddess nodded. She looked straight ahead into the thick curtain of snow around them. “The Amulet gives us the supremacy to control the Universe. This comes with a lot of responsibilities. Our Race and the Summer Race are deeply affected by the powers trapped in the Amulet. We also have an obligation to defend humans. Every one thousand years the Amulet must pass between our two Races. That time is coming up very soon, which means, we will have to relinquish our Amulet protection rights to the Summer Race.”

  When Jatred didn’t comment, the Goddess continued, “Jasmira, the Summer Princess, will become the Amulet’s Guardian during the upcoming winter solstice. And the Summer Goddess will gain a lot of power because of it.” Crystal glanced at Jatred, noticing his clenched jaws and a deep furrow between his eyebrows.

  He shot her a quick look, but remained silent, waiting for her to carry on.

  “You will be turning seventeen next month, officially becoming an adult and the King of the Winter Race,” she continued. “It will be greatly celebrated among the members of our Race throughout the world. But you must be ready not merely for the gala, but for the responsibility of your new position. I have to relay some facts to you that might shock and disturb you. Just remember who you are and what’s expected of you, my Prince.”

  Jatred squared his shoulders. Crystal watched him.

  “At the beginning of the Races, I commissioned the creation of the Amulet,” the Goddess said. “A group of extremely powerful and skilled Magicians was able to capture the powers of the Universe and construct this amazing jewel. You already know this part of the story, so I’ll get straight to the point. They had one condition. In addition to passing the Amulet between the Races every one thousand years, the Magicians demanded that both
Races work together, not against each other. Sometimes this was a difficult requirement to meet. The Shifters were wild, blood-thirsty. They didn’t live by any rules, except to protect their own kind and hunt. And to obey their own Goddess, of course.”

  Jatred nodded and kicked at the snow with his thick-soled boot. A white clump flew out to the side, but the surface of the snow remained undisturbed. “I have read quite a lot about that in some of the old books that our Historical Society has.”

  “Both Winter and Summer Shifters have good records, but they’re still incomplete. Anyway, the Races have always had their differences. But after a while we started to manage and live side-by-side in peace. Over the centuries Amber grew hungry for power, yearning to control both Races and the humans.”

  Jatred shot her an alarmed look.

  She returned his gaze and said, “Every ten thousand years the powers of the Universe double. It happens during the winter solstice. We call it the ten-thousand-year mark. This is a very fragile time for both of our Races and the humans as well. Every time previously I have been able to outsmart Amber. But now she is ready for when the Amulet comes to her and fulfills her greed for power. ”

  “Is that why you had to erase my memories about Jasmira?” Jatred asked.

  “I see you’ve figured things out. Yes, I did that because this is the only way I can keep you away from her, at least until after the ten-thousand-year mark—”

  “You can’t just get inside my head and mess up my life—” Jatred interrupted.

  Crystal spoke over him, saying, “This, unfortunately, is bigger than you and Jasmira, Prince Jatred.” Her voice became cold and commanding. “The ten-thousand-year mark is the only time when one of the Races can gain complete power over the other Race and the humans, if one condition is fulfilled.”

  “Gain power? So the Summer Race can rule over us?”

  “Jatred.” The Goddess stopped walking and turned to look at him. Her body solidified. He saw a flicker of emotion in her eyes. “The condition, I am talking about, is that you, as the Winter Race’s future King, and Jasmira, who will soon become the Summer Queen, must be passionately involved during the upcoming winter solstice. If there is romance between you—a real love—the Universal powers trapped in the Amulet will give the female monarch, and her Goddess, complete supremacy over both Races and the humans.”