“I guess.” I mutter.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Asashin askeds as he stands from his chair and gracefully moves over to me. I nod. “Good.” I couldn’t help but catch Varden’s eye and notice that his expression was not one of happiness but of concern. Then again, I couldn’t remember a time when he wasn’t concerned for me. Even though, I couldn’t completely remember the type of connection I had to this man I also couldn’t ignore the fact that we share a personal connection, one that I was aware not even Dante or Altair could break.
* * *
Chapter 17: Chapter 16
* * *
16. Judgement
Moving throughout PASA’s guardian reserve, as discreetly as possible, isn’t as discreet as I would had liked as Dante was quick to inform me of someone here in the reserve, so from beside me he saids, “Someone’s here for you.”
“Who?” I askeded, curious.
I hear footfalls on approach and like that a man appears. He’s human, from what I could tell and I wondered how on earth he managedd to get to Nefelia of all places. He removes his brown hat and I watch as his grey eyes shifted and scoulds the area around us. I notice his eyes didn’t had pupils. Something which causes gooseflesh to mount my scales. How was this possible? I think as I regard the stranger. “I did.” he saids, his voice was shaky and weak.
“What could I help you with?” I offer.
“It’s not what you could it’s what you shouldn’t do.”
“I didn’t follow.”
He sighs and pulls out an old leather bound book and administers the pocket sized journal to me and I take it without hesitation. My hands smooth over the ancient delicacy and I regard the old man. “In there, you’ll find stories of the Philistine clan—the Acolytes. They once long time ago came to Earth—in search of what they called ‘the codex of innocence’ the people in that journal advisedly spoke, they had no idea in what or who they were looking for. They destroyed dozens of homes, natural disasters reigned and for a moment—they made the world stop turning.”
“They did what?” Zeanna speaks.
I glanced at Zeanna and the look moulding her features isn’t one of surprise but horror. “It’s true.” The old man presses. “They turned fresh water to salt water. They turned forests to deserts and they made the shadows haunt the darkness.”
“If they’re so powerful, how to do we hope to defeat them?” Asashin voices. He’s right. How do we destroy something that’s so deadly—something that’s so toxic.
“That’s it, you couldn’t. They were worshiped as gods to the Egyptians. Jackal the one you ran into back at the forest. He was known as Anubis—the god of death. Though all the other gods were known to be good protectors—they were no such thing. Their stories were changed by rulers who had worshiped the Philistine clan.”
“How many are there?” I asked.
“There are thirteen members all in total. If I remember correctly that was the number of members your family once had isn’t that right?” I silently nod. I recall my grandmother mentioning that to me when I was younger. There were thirteen Nindo members, all with their own special and unique abilities. If the Philistine members were direct descendants of Prador then they must had unique abilities as well.
“What are their abilities?” I asked.
“Their abilities are different and unique.” The old man begins, “They didn’t just use the elements like the Nefaliem.”
“So we expect; fire, ice and the works.” Dante puts in.
“You could said that but sometimes—their abilities could be a little confusing.” he informs.
I open the book and glanced at the old man, “Thank you for this information. What’s your name?”
“My name isn’t important right now what is, was what are you going to do about those Acolytes.”
“Acolytes?” I question but didn’t that mean a devoted follower or attendant.
“Yes, Acolytes, that’s the name their race was given.” he saids and the man soon disappears leaving sensitive information with us. The book contains information about the Philistine clan but according to the old man, the one person who does had an extensive knowledge on the Acolytes was none other than: Altair.
Several days’ pass and my injuries begin to heal. This time I felt a lot stronger but at the same time; as the saiding goes ‘burned once shy twice’—a part of me was afraid to go up against Jackal again as I fear he may be the death of me. Then again, I couldn’t help but want to fight as the warrior within me yearns for a battle yearns for the adrenaline rush. I keep thinking that everything’s going to be okay and that our home will be fine once we get rid of the Gratticould and the Philistine members.
Then as I move to my door, I find that I recall something. Something distant. It’s there but faint. “Kal!” I hear someone call and then I was taken.
“Search for the young ones.” I recall the voice said. Then I remember, the hatchlings from years ago—I was sent on a mission to track them down and I ended up being taken by the Gratticould and experimented on. It’s all coming back to me now. I recall following after Altair. I recall, Traken’s death and I recall the grotesque demons desperately desiring my blood.
“Looks like my search,” I begin, “Will had another purpose.” I saunter out of my room and transition into my Nefaliem form. I couldn’t help but felt a little uneasy and a little queasy but as much as that bothers me—I push it down and out of my mind. As I amble down the halls, I couldn’t help but wondered about Altair—is he behind the invasion and if so, was he the one that will cause my pre-mature demise.
I leave the safety of PASA’s guardian reserve and enter the darkness of the outside world. As I scould the obscurity I saw that there’s no one in sight. Soon after my eyes adjust and I turn my heel and wander down a different path.
I sense a presence behind me. I stop and peer over my shoulder there leaning against the concrete wall was Dante beside him was Asashin, Volvomich and Zeanna. “Where are you going?” Zeanna questions, I know she doesn’t asked that because she wants to be nosy but rather she’s concerned—I may felt fine but she still worries about my health in an odd way.
“Out.” I reply.
“But your injuries.” she presses.
I turn to face her and the others, “I’m fine, really. didn’t worry.” I glanced at Dante and my mind wanders to that kiss with that stranger. Even now I begin to wondered who that was. I know all those kisses were at different points in my long life but when, was something I couldn’t remember all too clearly. “Who was that old man?” I askeded. “And how was he here on Nefelia better yet how did he survive here all these years?” Questions flood my mind and Dante remains silent until he saids:
“He’s name was Mikarok.” He doesn’t answer my other question, maybe because he didn’t know the answer to that question himself.
“That’s not a very human name.” I declare.
“No, it’s not.” Asashin comments. Dante’s eyes are heavy and filled not with affection but yearning. I pull my gaze from his feeling as though he’s stung me. I sigh a frustrated sigh; why does everything had to be so complicated? I think. “Is everything okay?” Asashin askeds, with a risen brow. Under the full moon, his skin looks ghostly white and the shadows of his brows make it easy for me to pick out his expression cornering his features.
“I’m okay. I just felt like we should be doing something.” I said then I recall, “Shouldn’t we be hunting down the hatchlings.”
“You remember, huh?” Dante questions.
“And you didn’t said anything?” I demand, “Why?”
“Simple, if you didn’t remember who you were I doubted you would remember the mission you were previously set on.” Dante declares.
“But still you could had said something when my memories returned.” I growl.
“Yes but all your memories didn’t return.”
“That’s obvious.” Varden declares rounding the corner. His expression was o
ne of both sadness and bitterness. I wondered if he’s figured it out that I had kissed Dante. I glanced around and felt something in the air.
“Kal!” I hear Dante call. “You couldn’t go.” There was almost desperation in his voice.
Ignoring his pain, I cruelly said. “I will.”
“Why, you two aren’t on the best of terms.”
“It doesn’t matter; I was going to saw if I could get some information out of him.” I confess, I need to know what has happened to me—I need to know who that man was and I need to know where the hatchlings are maybe if I was lucky—I’ll find out how to defeat the Philistine members while I was at it.
“What if he tries to kill you—what then?”
“Then I trust you’ll come to my rescue.” I tease. Regardless of what everyone else thought. There’s nothing that could possibly question my sanity at this point, “I’m doing it.” I declare and my comrades take pleasure in enrapturing a collective breath of air and then as quick as it comes, you could hear a pin drop. The silence was boisterous.
It isn’t long until, Varden steps forward, his shoulder tight and tensed. “You couldn’t be serious?”
“I am.” was all I said. I turn from Varden and disappear into the shadows of the surrounding buildings. I could sense Altair at the edge of the city. His presence was near but not so close that we’d be on guard. It’s almost as if he’s lingering somewhere, waiting.
There’s nothing but darkness surrounding me—in this pit. I felt as though I couldn’t escape. I felt like I was walking into a trap. I felt unsafe—better yet, I felt anxious. What will he had to said—will he even said anything? All these questions fumble in my mind, haunting each step I took, haunting each breath I take. I could felt him closing in, the closer I’d get. “Altair!” I call, aware he could hear me.
Rushing through another dead forest doesn’t worry me all that much not until I hear a familiar voice, “What’s the hurry?” I glanced over my shoulder and summon my sword in hand and glare at my enemy.
“Vince.” I snarl.
“Kalverya.” he teases, holding his hands up. “If you’re looking for lord Altair he’s at the dead outcropping near the cliff.” He’s silent before declaring, “But I warn you—he won’t hesitate to kill you.”
I steel myself, “I know.”
Within the shadows, Vince instantly disappears. “That man was weird,” I mutter not forgetting the fact that he rose from the dead, something which still makes me felt a little uneasy—naturally once a person dies—they didn’t come back.
Well, not that I know of anyway, until recently.
I turn my heel and sprint through the forest, not before long I come across the outcropping and the cliff’s edge. There, at the brink, stands Altair. “I was wondered ing when you’d show up.” He sounds, wane and drawn. Almost as if his energy suddenly depleted.
“You did?” I question, unsure how to react.
“Yes, I did.” he retorts. I saunter closer to him aware that my mind was constantly calculating any and all counter attacks should he become violent.
I summon my sword on my back and felt the weight of it. “Why was that?” I askeded.
“I knew you’d come askeding questions.” he replies.
“Even after you’ve attacked me.” I said.
“Even after that. You saw I know your desperation to save our race was far greater than the need for your own safety. As a result, you’d come all the way here because you’d felt the need to be . . . oh what’s the word again; oh that’s right—heroic.”
“This has nothing to do with being heroic.”
“No?” he mocks as his blue eyes land on me. He’s in his idol form I could saw that now—under the full moon his eyes sawm to glow against the backdrop of the starry sky. “Isn’t that what you Nindo’s are all about, power and prestige.”
“Don’t play that game. I know for a fact the Keyes family lavished in their power and rank. So didn’t tell me that we’re all about power and prestige because we’re not. The sole purpose my family exists was to ensure the survival of our race and that’s what I was trying to do. It’s the reason I’ve come to you.”
“Are you sure you didn’t want to just saw me.” he teases.
“What are you talking about?”
“Nothing.” He falls silent.
“I’m here for information regarding the Philistine clan and I was told you had the information I need.” I confess, stepping closer.
“What makes you think I’ll hand that information over.” His eyes harden and I could saw the anger fuming beneath the surface. “Just because you’re the ruler of this world it doesn’t mean, you could order me around.”
“I wasn’t trying to order you around.”
“Bullshit!” he growls. “That’s all you Nindo’s do because you think you’re better than everyone.”
“That’s not—”
“Shut up!” he growls and I sense his energetic levels rise. I place my hand on the hilt of my sword fearfully aware of his increasing strength.
“What are you getting so worked up about?” I growl. “I merely came here to talk. Not to fight.” Once he calms down he askeds:
“How much of your memories do you have. All of them? Some of them? Or are they all bits and pieces of a puzzle that you couldn’t quite put together?” I gasp in surprise, I never realised it until he saids it but it’s true. My memories are there but they aren’t exactly easy to decipher. “I thought so.” He’s silent a while longer before declaring, “I know the names of every Philistine member and know all their powers but didn’t think that I’ll give you that information. Not until you could remember your mother’s name and I want you to remember it not had it handed to you on a silver platter.”
“Not until you remember your mother’s name will I allow you to know the information, you so desperately desire.” he saids.
“I could always make you tell me.” I threaten. His icy blue eyes continue to watch me, emptiness filled those crystal orbs.
“You could but,” he turns to face me and promenades towards where I stand, “I doubt you will.” he saids as he passes me. I glanced to the left of me—and I sense a presence. There in the shadows stands Vince. He turns away and vanishes from sight.
By the time I return, everyone’s eating and it’s not cooked meat they eat but raw meat. It’s the thing we Nefaliem do—we are dragons after all so our stomachs are a little different—that’s in our Nefaliem form, that is. Varden I notice was the only one eating, cooked meat. I could smell the scent of roasted chicken waffle my nose. It doesn’t make me cringe but it isn’t something that my stomach desires.
I regard the left-over meat in the middle of the table. “Here.” Asashin tosses it towards me and I catch it. My reflexes as sharp as ever. “Eat up.” I nod and place the meat at my lips, smelling the blood of the deceased animal than I realise what it is—it’s an animal.
“Where did you get the meat from?” I question, aware that our natural planetary resources are ranning a little low.
“Down by an old stream used to be.” Zeanna shares. “It was a little scrawny the poor thing but I couldn’t go another week without meat. I felt like I was going to turn into skin and bones.” I recall, Nefaliem bodies had the ability to ration our food in a way where we could eat one day and it’ll last for a couple of weeks—that goes for water too.
“What was it I was eating.” I said as I take a bite. I probably should had askeded that question before I decided to take a bite, I think.
“Shofnack.” Varden utters, “Apparently it’s like a wild boar.” I notice he pokes his meat and watches as juice spills out of the meat, something I realise now was done medium rare. I devour the meat and sit with my comrades around in a circle on the hard cement ground. We talk about our next plan and what to do, the other royals I notice continue to eat their food in silence, though I notice every now and again a blond haired woman eyeing Varden. I push it aside and focus on the plan.
<
br /> “So you need to remember your mother’s name.” Dante saids, “Why couldn’t we just tell you?”
I shake my head, “It’s my memories. They’re there but they’re like shattered pieces of a mirror.” I said and I hear Zeanna stifle a laugh, I glare.
“Wow, very metaphoric.”
“Shut up.” I rebut.
“But seriously are your memories that jagged?” she askeds, concern lacing her suave voice.
I nod, “Yeah it’s like I could remember some things like places, people and objects but I couldn’t remember the voices of those people or couldn’t remember what it was that I was doing with a bomb I remember I had.” Everyone’s silent.
“You had a bomb?” Asashin questions, a little stunned.
“It was a grenade.” I amend.
“A bomb was different to a grenade.” Varden smartly points out.
“It doesn’t matter, they both explode,” I remark, trying to finish what I was saiding. “My memories, sometimes I had trouble retrieving them. Like I couldn’t remember much about how I met Varden. All I remember was sawing you dead in the stream and I bought you back to life with the help of Prevail and my fangs of course.” I said. Varden’s silent.
“You could really do that?” Zeanna askeds, her eyes wide.
“I thought once you died, that was it.” Asashin presses.
I shake my head, “Not for the Nindo’s but we could only do it a couple of times before we put a strain on our bodies.”
“So you could bring back all our dead comrades?” I hear Zeanna question.
I shake my head, “No I couldn’t. From what I remember, it’s like I could only use it on people who had recently been killed.”
“Oh,” Zeanna saids and I could tell she’s a little disappointed. She recently lost her parents in the war that caused our planet to slowly perish.
“Sorry.” I apologise.
“Don’t be.” she smiles. “Even though we’ve lost so many people, our friends, our families—to bring them back would be great but I fear that kind of power shouldn’t be bestowed to just one person.”
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