Feeling someone’s eyes upon me, I looked up to find Kennan’s gaze locked upon me. He raised a brow in my direction as if to ask me what the heck was going on. I had no idea what the Council members wanted, but I would find out.
“So, you have questions?” I ventured, to end the oppressive silence.
“We want to know how it came to be that Isadora was so carelessly taken. Why were we not called in immediately following her disappearance? We should have been informed.” Damali leveled me with her gaze, making me feel like a petulant child.
“Honestly, we were so busy trying to figure out how to put an end to the insanity, we didn’t have time to organize our thoughts. I was thrown into this position, and I’ve been playing catch up ever since. I assure you, it isn’t a mistake that will happen again.” I wouldn’t succumb to bullying. I’d been through far too much, and knew that I had far more to come. I wasn’t going to add a spoiled Council member to my list of woes.
“In the future, we would appreciate being apprised of anything that so wholly affects Seers," Brutus shouted. Seriously, I needed ear plugs around the man. It was intolerable.
“In the future, I would appreciate your support. I understand that things are tense right now. None of us expected Isadora to die. Well, none of us except for, perhaps, her. Now, we are left with a much larger problem. So, if we can put our differences behind us for the moment and deal with the problems at hand, that would be fantastic.”
“What problems? We thought that Elaine had been dealt with.” Francesca’s soft voice broke me out of my staring contest with Brutus. I really needed to figure out what his real name was.
“I was given a warning. It is part of the reason I requested that you join us. Something is coming. The darkness shall descend and we must be prepared to fight it.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Francesca murmured. “The darkness is a myth. A terrible story we tell our children to keep them in line. You are young still. Someday you will understand how things really are.” She looked up momentarily, her empty eyes focusing on nothing, before she turned her attention back to the circles she was tracing with her toe.
“You may find it ridiculous, heck you may not even believe me. I get that. I’m young, I’m new at all of this, and most of all I don’t know the history of our people. That doesn’t mean that it isn’t the truth. Ren gave me the warning, straight from the heavens themselves. When God talks, I listen.” I tried my best to keep my temper in check. There was no telling what new powers might manifest if I got too upset.
“It isn’t that we don’t believe you, dear,” Damali placated. “We just need proof.”
I stared at all of them for a breath before rolling up the sleeve of my shirt. I’d kept the runes well hidden since they’d appeared, so they weren’t common knowledge. As I held my arm out for closer inspection a strange look crossed their faces. It was half awe, half revolt. I couldn’t make sense of it. All I did know was that I wished they’d gone away when the other Seers were freed like I thought they would.
“Is this proof enough?” I wanted to see their honest reactions. I needed to know whether I could trust them to be on my side. I wanted to believe that they would be able to help me with whatever was coming.
“When did those runes begin?” shouted Brutus.
“Around the time the Seers started disappearing. We believed the runes to be somehow connected to their deaths. Unfortunately, we were wrong," Kennan chimed in.
“Do any of you have any knowledge of what this darkness is supposed to be, or further information about the prophecy?” I needed something from them.
“Don’t tell me you think you are the Seer to Come?” Eric’s voice dripped with contempt.
“All signs point to yes," I deadpanned. I really hated that guy. He was such an asshat. I had my own issues to deal with. I didn’t need him being all, “You aren’t allowed at the cool kid’s table,” with me.
“What evidence do you have to support this?” Francesca asked slowly.
“My oath," Aberto chimed in, once again appearing out of thin air.
That was another fun thing that had developed. He could sense whenever I was becoming upset and would appear randomly to check on the situation. This stupid, seemingly irreversible connection between us was becoming a nuisance. It was unnerving and something that I’d been meaning to discuss with him. And from the look on Kennan’s face at Aberto’s sudden appearance that talk needed to happen soon.
“Old One, you have no place in this Council meeting," Eric chimed in.
“Don’t forget your place, Guardian.” Aberto’s eyes lit up with a cold fire. “My place is anywhere the Council leader needs me. You doubt her word, you doubt her actions, and you seem to think she is friendless in our world. Do not underestimate her, or you will be found wanting.”
“My apologies," Eric mumbled.
“I don’t want this to turn into an argument. I’m not trying to debate whether or not I’m the Seer from the prophecy. Honestly, it would be super awesome if it weren’t me. What I need from y’all is information. I need to know everything I can about the darkness, about the prophecy, about what is coming our way. The only way we are going to be able to survive this is to prepare. Do any of you have anything at all that might help?”
“All of our resources are back at our homes. Obviously, our presence here is unnecessary. We can assist you from there," Damali answered snidely.
“If you think returning to your homes is the best move, then by all means, don’t let me stop you. But I’m holding you to your word. You say you can assist me from there, and there better be some assistance coming my way. If not, I can easily find a new Council. There was nothing left in Isadora’s notes about retention of Council members.” I raised an eyebrow, waiting for any of them to respond.
“We shall help you in any way we can, Milady.” Damali’s tone seemed sincere, but I didn’t have the best track record in judging people’s character.
“If that is all you can give me, then you are dismissed," I said, turning toward my desk. I wanted them gone. I was tired of wearing the contacts, I was tired of worrying about what new talent may develop in their presence, and most of all, I was tired of trying to fill the role of Council Leader. I was exhausted beyond belief.
“May the gods shine favorably upon you," Brutus shouted as they made their exit.
Chapter Three
I waited until I heard the door shut to look up. When I did, I found Kennan and Aberto both staring at me. I decided it was time for some answers; answers I’d been waiting on for weeks. I needed to understand what Aberto was. I’d been struggling, trying to understand what I was becoming, and I knew, without a doubt, that his secret held some of the answers I sought.
“Kennan, I need to speak with Aberto alone for a moment.” I pleaded with my eyes. I knew that my request would just add to the tension brewing between us, but I could only deal with one problem at a time.
“If that is your wish.” Kennan’s voice came out strained through gritted teeth.
“I need answers.” That was all I could give Kennan. Any more explanation, and he would once again begin to fret over my well-being. Lately, he had been either distant or smothering, never just the Kennan I was used to.
“I will wait right outside the door. Please come and get me when you are finished.” Kennan left without sparing me another glance. It hurt deep in my chest that things were so off with us. I just didn’t know how to make him believe that my changes didn’t change how I felt about him.
“I need to know the truth," I choked out. I knew that Aberto had been keeping a lot of secrets from me, and I also knew that he said I would regret knowing the truth.
“Can we sit?” Aberto’s gruff voice sounded from behind me.
“Sure.” I swallowed deeply, not wanting to address the other issues at hand.
“What would you like to know?” he asked, after we had arranged ourselves in the two wingback chairs close to the fireplace.
“What are you? I only ask, because I want to understand what is happening to me. In order for me to do that, I think I need to know all that I can about you.”
“Are you sure that you want the truth. It is not a pretty tale, Izzy. This is a tale of shame, of a curse that I carry with me through the rest of time. Modern Seers and Guardians have forgotten the truth. The Guardians revere Old Ones as the beginnings of their lineage. They have painted us as their guides, their source of wisdom. Which is what we have made them believe over thousands of years. The truth is far uglier. No one, aside from those cursed, knows the truth. Are you sure this a burden you wish to bear? It is a secret that I would ask not be shared with anyone, not even your Guardian.”
“I need to know, Aberto. If that means I have to keep a secret, so be it. It isn’t like I’m not already keeping stuff from him.” I closed my eyes and pulled in a deep breath, trying to chase away my sadness. I opened my eyes slowly, trying to convey in mere seconds what could take an eternity to say. “Please, I need the truth.”
“The truth.” Aberto paused. “The truth may be easier to show you than to tell you. Will you come with me?” He reached his hand out to me, pleading with his eyes.
“Where?” I asked.
“I want to take you back to the beginning, the dawn of the Guardians. If you wish to know me, to truly understand what it is that I am, then you must see it for yourself.”
“Okay.” I reached my hand out and entwined my fingers with his. Immediately, I was ripped into the dreaming, or vision, or whatever it was. I really missed the days when I just had one or the other.
“Where are we?” I whispered, afraid my voice may draw unwanted attention.
“We are in the place where it all changed, the moment I became what you see before you now.” Aberto said, pointing towards a much younger, less troubled visage of himself. “This is the culmination of my fall. This, Izzy, is the man I used to be. The man I would still be if it weren’t for the wisdom of the gods. We are on the island of Santorini.”
“Why are we here, and maybe more importantly, when are we here?” I questioned Aberto. Nothing looked remotely familiar. The beautiful buildings I associated with Santorini were nowhere to be seen.
“The year is 1645 BC, and we are here because I did not heed the warnings whispered by the gods. If I had, these people would still be alive.” I turned to look at Aberto only to find a darkness staring back. “I was arrogant, and in that arrogance, I failed them.”
“What do you mean?”
“I will show you.” Aberto led me closer to his younger self. As soon as we were within earshot, he pulled me to a stop. “Listen.”
I did as he asked. I stood rooted to the ground, my attention rapt as the scene played out before my eyes. Aberto stood talking to several men that appeared to be similar in age. Scanning the group, I counted seven, all listening intently to the words coming from Aberto.
“We must not interfere, that is the role of the Seers. If they have not given us the direction, we cannot move," Aberto declared. His voice resounded throughout the group, carrying with it a confidence that would not be refuted.
“If we do nothing, they will die. We were given the vision Aberto, are we not meant to use it?” A man asked, timidly questioning Aberto’s guidance.
“If the gods wanted us to act, do you not believe they would have given us a firm resolve? Yet, here we stand, unable to decide. The gods would have guided us firmly had this been their purpose.” Aberto seemed determined to sway the men away from action.
“It’s as he says. Aberto’s wisdom has guided us without fault thus far, we should put our faith in him that he will not lead us astray.” With that the men all seemed to come to some sort of agreement. All but the one that had questioned him earlier. He seemed to doubt the wisdom in Aberto’s words.
“I don’t understand, you were just doing what you thought was right.” I turned toward my Aberto, trying to make sense of what I had seen.
“No, I was doing what was easy. I was so confident that the gods would lay everything right at my feet. My arrogance and naivety led me to believe all of the answers would be easy. Yet, the gods had given me everything I needed to fulfill my calling. They had shown all of us the truth, and instead of trusting the gods, they put their faith in me. I led us all to destruction.”
“But what happened? Are all seven of you still alive? What does it mean that this was the beginning of your fall?”
“This wasn’t the only time I made such a foolish decision. The men looked to me for guidance and I led them astray more times than I can count. In my belief that I knew exactly what my purpose was, I misdirected the men who trusted me. Now, we are all cursed.”
“Aberto, you’re still talking in riddles. I’m not closer to understanding any of this than I was before.”
“We should return, your Guardian may grow worried," Aberto said, taking my hand in his and pulling us back from the vision.
“Oh, you are so not out of the doghouse, mister. I want answers. Not riddles. Answers.” I was doing my best not to toss my cookies all over the office rug.
“It is not an easy thing for me to tell, Izzy. It has been thousands of years since these events took place. The memories have been somewhat dissolved. I will do my best to explain everything.”
“Okay, so this is what I understand so far. You and these seven dudes were Guardians and you screwed up?” I wasn’t even sure they were Guardians to be honest.
“No, we were more than Guardians. We were the original Guardians. The first of our kind. We were sent from the heavens as ambassadors to protect this world from the darkness that prowls just outside of this realm. We were sent with seven Seers to help one another balance the outcome of the world. We were thrown into this world like some sort of divine experiment.” Aberto gritted his teeth together in anger. “The Seers went mad before failing completely. The gods had not predicted the overwhelming affect the visions, combined with other abilities, might have on a human brain. Ultimately, through years of experimentation, the gods formed a group of Seers that could resist the madness and fulfill their duty. That is a story for another time. I told you, the memories get a bit muddled. When the Seers fell, the seven of us were asked to fulfill their duties as well. We failed.”
“How so?”
“We were unable to see clearly what the Seers might see. In my arrogance, I thought I understood what the gods were saying and acted as though I had all of the answers. Sadly, I was mistaken. I led my brothers straight to their destruction. We failed more times than I can count to protect innocents from events that were never meant to be. Finally, the gods grew angry with us. With me. They cursed us to roam this realm until we pay penance for our misdeeds. I am cursed to wander here until the gods feel I have restored the balance.”
“But what is the curse? Is it that you can never die? Am I going to be immortal now?” I started to hyperventilate. I’d thought three hundred years was a long time. It was nothing compared to an eternity.
“The curse is simple. We are to guide Seers and Guardians. We must help them to fulfill their purpose, yet we are never to interfere. We must guide others to maintain the balance that we so miserably failed to control. So we walk between planes, never truly belonging to either. We spend years in the fog sometimes, not even realizing the time has passed. I have lost track of most of my brothers. I know not if they have passed on; if they have been able to fulfill their calling and restore balance enough to garner the gods’ forgiveness. I can only speak for myself. I was lost in my own misery, lost in the fog for centuries. You changed everything.”
“And then you changed me.” I sat heavily in the chair, unsure if I wanted to hear more.
“Yes, and then I changed you. I changed you, and I may very well have cursed you to an existence like my own. You may wish me to regret my choice to save you, to interfere when I was not meant to. I saw your future; you weren’t supposed to die that day, Izzy. I will not now, nor sha
ll I ever, regret the choices that I’ve made where you are concerned.” Aberto’s gaze rested on my face as though he expected some sort of thanks for what he had done.
“So, are all of you still around? I mean, the Old Ones. Are y’all just drifting around in the fog waiting for some metaphysical bell to ring and bring you back to this plane? More importantly, you never answered the immortal question.”
“I don’t know about my brothers, where their fates have led them. All I know is of my own existence. I am as eternal as the gods will me to be. I have no way of knowing if this curse, this existence, will be your fate as well.” His face fell as he looked upon me. I knew that my chances weren’t looking all that great.
“There is something else I want to know.” I hesitated, unsure I was really ready to hear the answer. I breathed out just as he pulled a classic Aberto.
“Our time is up for now, Izzy. I shall return when you need me.” And just like that he was gone. The son of a biscuit eating, question avoiding, pain in my arse.
Chapter Four
I got up from the chair and stretched out my tense muscles. The stress of the past months weighed heavy on me as I made my way toward the door and another talk that couldn’t wait any longer. It was time that Kennan and I got to the root of our problems. There was absolutely no way I could face whatever was coming if I was constantly worried about where we stood. I needed him to be normal again, or at least treat me the way he used to.
As I rested my hand on the door knob, I inhaled slowly. This was something I couldn’t avoid. I opened the door and stared out at my Guardian. He was sitting against the wall staring down at his folded hands. His brow creased with worry or anger, I wasn’t sure which.
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