My parents headed over to the table carrying various plates of food. When I looked at the assorted plates on the table I noticed my mom had made my favorite dinner, corned beef hash. Eva once told me this was a favorite meal amongst Texans, but I guess I wouldn't know. I had never left the great state of Texas, I only left the small town of Clover a few times. It was the town where everyone knew everyone. The kids here were dying to leave, with not much here and all. College was one of the few ways out, but I guess I never had the need to flee like everyone else. Again, my mind rambled.
My mom interrupted my thoughts, “Happy Birthday Cole.”
I could tell she was trying to sound cheerful when she said this. I had completely forgotten today was my birthday. Usually turning eighteen is all teens could think about. I guess the whole being sent back to wherever I came from on this day, to protect something I didn’t know, took away the happy excitement I should have felt. I finally looked up at my mom and mumble a thank you. I could tell she wanted to say more, but stayed quiet, gesturing for me to eat. I started to eat, not tasting anything. I was sure it all tasted wonderful like it always did. My mom was one of the best cooks I knew. But then I wondered if my real mom knew how to cook? I guess I would find out soon.
Once I cleared my plate, my mom brought out an apple pie, again one of my favorites. I knew it was my birthday and she just wanted to make me happy, but it was getting to be too much. It made me think of all the things I was going to miss.
“I don’t want to go!” I blurted out.
My parents looked at me with a look of regret, maybe pity. All these emotions in the last few days overwhelmed me. My dad came around the table and kneeled next to me. “We know son, and we don't want you to go either, but it's what has to happen.” He took my hand and pulled me up, “Come on, let's go watch some of that horrible reality TV you like so much, we have a little bit of time before your parents arrive.” His voice seemed caught on the word parents, but he continued to pull me to the living room as though nothing he just said hurt him at all.
Thanks for the reminder Dad. I knew he just wanted to get my mind off everything. Maybe he was right, mindless TV sounded okay. I started to walk with him. I made it about two steps before I began to feel strange. It was like my whole body was pulsating with some kind of energy. I tried to look to my dad for some kind of confirmation that he was feeling it too, but he looked blurry, like I was looking at him through a film. The vibration started to intensify, I wasn’t sure how much more I could take. I attempted to say something, but all I could manage was some kind of whimper. I thought my parents were speaking to me, but I couldn’t be sure, nothing made sense, my legs gave out, and a crazy energy started to devour me. Suddenly, everything went silent.
Chapter Two
A loud bang echoed through my head. All I wanted to do was cover my ears, but my arms weren't cooperating. My parents were next to me, I could feel them as they grabbed at my arms. Were they moving me? I could hear a shriek of sorts, but everything was foggy, so I couldn't make out exactly what was being yelled, or who was yelling it.
Without warning, the energy that pulsed through me stopped. It caught me off guard, I couldn’t catch my breath for a moment. Everything that had just happened came back to me. I looked up to find my mom staring down at me, I thought my dad was here, but I couldn’t see him. Somehow I had managed to find myself on the old green couch in the living room. “Mom…” I squeaked out.
She looked at me with concern; she was just as confused as me about what had happened. “Just stay still Cole, I’m sure everything is going to be okay.”
She looked over the couch at something behind me, maybe my dad? I looked closer at her face, she looked pale. I guess the last few days had been rough on everyone, not just me.
My mom took a deep breath and looked back down at me. With a look of astonishment, she whispered, “Your parents are here, your dad is in the other room with them. I’m not sure how long he is going to be able to keep them out.”
How long had I been out of it? It had felt like mere minutes. We still had a good half hour until my parents were supposed to arrive. I tried to sit up but was unsuccessful, so my mom helped me. She sat next to me with her arm around me, neither of us said a thing. I was glad she was there, without her support, I would’ve gone completely crazy.
The door that separates the living room and foyer banged open, I twisted on the couch to look behind me. In walked a massive man who looked to be about thirty-five. He crouched his neck and shoulders as he entered through the door, he was well over six feet tall. I’m not sure I had ever seen a man of this size, I became instantly alert. Behind him was a woman about the same age, she was beautiful. She had long golden hair and a perfect complexion. She wasn’t much shorter than the massive man standing in front of her. My dad stood behind them. He looked so small, and seemed a little intimidated by our visitors.
The man was the first to speak. “My son, how are you feeling? I did not expect our power to affect you in the manner it did.” He walked closer to us as he spoke. He regarded me in a predatory manner, it took everything I had not to get up and run out of the room. He stopped in front of my dad’s recliner and looked down at me, waiting for a response.
I couldn’t get my mouth to work, thankfully my mom saved me. “Rylan, Sila please come in and have a seat.” She pointed to the recliner across from us. “The two of you haven't changed at all since the last time we saw each other, hard to believe it’s been eighteen years already.”
There was no way these two could be my parents. They looked way too young, and the more I observed, nothing like me. The man’s hair was a dark shade of red, which I knew only a few people could get away with; on him, dark red looked strong and powerful. The woman had an impressive head of golden blonde locks, which I found odd because I had a dull shade of brown for hair. Not to mention their eyes, they both had the same shade of jade green. I was completely mesmerized, the color had a calming effect as they shined like emeralds. My eyes were a wonderful shade of mud. How was any of this even possible? I did pay attention a little in biology class.
Rylan, my father, looked from my mom to me, nodded his head and advanced towards my dad’s favorite recliner. He plunked down on it and the predictable creaks and groans ensued. I held my breath as I waited for the chair to crumble to the ground under the behemoth sitting in it. Sila, my mother joined him, she stood behind the recliner and faced my mom and me. I was thankful when my dad joined us on the couch, he sandwiched me between them. I sent a silent prayer up for the support they had continued to give me.
All the attention was now on me, I hadn’t uttered a single word throughout the whole exchange, and I had nothing to add, even now. I sat nestled between my parents while I stared at the two people who wanted to take me from my home.
“What's the plan from here?” My dad’s voice rang through the silent air. It seemed extremely loud after the intense silence. My Dad cleared his throat and looked around, “I mean, Cole just found out that the two of you existed. He has a lot of questions we haven't been able to answer.”
“There will be time later to answer all your questions,” Rylan looked only at me as he spoke. “We must be going, we only have the cover of night for so many hours, and we have quite some distance to cover. Do not worry Michael,” he finally turned away from me and focused on my dad. “You will be compensated for taking care of our son. Our people will forever be grateful for you and Ella. ”
Well that news got my adrenaline to spike. This guy was crazy if he thought I was just going to get up and walk out, without so much of an introduction from him or the woman standing behind him. Especially after the mention of “our people.” What people?
In true Cole fashion I blurted out the first thing that came to my brain. “No way, I don't want to go anywhere with you.” This could go well, after all, I spoke only the truth.
This time, the woman, Sila answered, “Son, we know you don't understand what is going on,
but everything will make sense once we get you home,” she assured me. “We will have all the time in the world to answer your questions. But, like your father said, we don't have the luxury to sit here and discuss this further.” Just like her eyes, Sila’s voice seemed to soothe my nerves, too. I started to stand without a thought. I got all the way to the door before my brain started to kick in again. What had just happened?
I turned and looked at everyone in the room, Rylan had already stood from the recliner. I was so confused. I mean there was no way I was going with them! Why did I just leave the comfort of my parents? I wanted nothing more than to run back over and jump between them and stay there forever. But now that I was up, I needed to play this just right, maybe I could make a run for the front door? Or run up to my room and lock the door? I was beyond frightened, something told me it wouldn’t make much of a difference what I tried to do. I would still be leaving with these two strangers tonight.
Rylan interrupted my internal debate, “Very good my son, you are stronger than you know. By your reaction earlier to us, I thought there was something special within you, now I know for sure.” Rylan started to walk towards me, but I was completely rooted to the spot near the living room door. I wasn’t sure what to think of what he had just said to me. I knew one thing for sure, strong and special were two words I wouldn’t use to describe myself. He stopped right in front of me, I had to tilt my head completely back just to look at him.
“Get your things son. Bring only what you can carry. We can send someone later to gather the rest of your belongings.” His voice sent a vibration through me that frightened me to my core. No way could I say no to this man, not when he stared at me with such intensity. Visions of being sacrificed, or worse, flashed through my mind, but my body betrayed me, and it did as he instructed.
I turned to walk up the stairs. As I hit the top step, I heard my mom behind me, offering to help me pack my things. I’m sure my dad was thrilled to be left behind with my biological parents, or so they claimed.
As soon as we turned into my room, my mom shut the door and looked at me. I had a feeling of déjà vu; not too long ago, my dad stood in exactly the same spot, for what I was sure a similar conversation.
“I love you, no matter what.” She paused as she walked towards me, she grabbed and held my hands between us. “You can always come home, you can always call us. No matter what we are here for you, for the rest of our lives.” She whispered.
I could tell she was doing all she could to hold herself together and keep her tears from streaming down her face. Unfortunately, I wasn’t as strong, no matter what Rylan said, my tears ran down my cheeks. I didn’t even have the strength to pull my hands from my mom’s and wipe them away. I was still angry, furious, in fact. But that took second place to the reality that this was goodbye.
We pulled apart and stared at each other for a bit. Only then was I finally able to get something rational out, “Thank you mom, I love you and dad too, I’ll visit I promise, I already miss you both.” I choked out my words, but I was glad I got them out before I had to leave. I realized that I didn’t have a choice. I’d be leaving my home soon with two people who have done nothing but intimidate me.
I mustered up the strength to remove my hands from my mom’s and grab my stuff. I pocketed my dead cell phone that hadn't left my dresser in the last two days, as well as my wallet. I turn to grab my red backpack off my bed, but my mom had already grabbed it and walked to my door. I took one last look around, I had packed most of my stuff into boxes, and my fingers were crossed that I would be able to get them sent to me soon. I’d left a few belongings behind in hopes that I would be able to come home and visit soon, you know, like tomorrow.
I left my room and shut the door behind me. I took a deep breath and wiped my face roughly to get rid of the wetness. I needed to find as much courage as I could gather to walk down the stairs. I needed to be strong, just as Rylan suggested I was. I needed everything I could to get through this, I stood straight and looked square ahead as I headed back down to the living room. While I walked, I made a promise to myself. I promised I would make my mom and dad proud. They had given away the last eighteen years of their lives to take care of me, to love and support me. And no matter what biology said, they were my real parents and I wouldn’t let them down!
When I made it to the bottom of the stairs I noticed everyone stood in silence as they waited for me, they looked uncomfortable. Maybe my pep talk took longer than I thought. I took my backpack from my mom and gave both my mom and dad a hug, I held each of them longer than I normally would have. I turned and looked at Rylan and Sila as they stood by the front door, it was clear they were in a hurry. I wasn’t sure what to say, maybe there was nothing left to say. So I kept it simple as I turned back to my parents
“I’ll call you when I get there.” I thought about how I needed to charge my phone on the way. They both nodded and grinned through teary eyes.
I reached to open the door handle, turned it, pulled open the door and gestured for Rylan and Sila to walk out ahead of me. They nodded to my parents and walked out. I took what felt like my millionth deep breath in the last few days. I stole one last look at my parents and walked out the door into the night.
Chapter Three
Crickets were chirping outside as I shuffled out behind my new parents. The crickets didn’t seem to care that the world as I knew it had come to an end. I followed behind Rylan and Sila to the driveway, which was on the side of the house, it was an old farmhouse that my dad and I had spent the better half of my life fixing up. It still needed quite a bit of work, but it was home nonetheless. I wasn’t sure what kind of vehicle I expected to find in the driveway, but no vehicle was not something I had considered. Did they take a taxi here? Maybe that means they lived close- except I knew pretty much everyone in this tiny country town. Neither of them stopped when we arrived at the driveway. Without so much as a pause they continued to walk towards the road. Where were they going? They couldn't live that close. As we approached the end of the driveway, I stopped and looked both ways down the road in search of a car, but nope, nothing for as far as I could see.
I broke the silence, “Where are we going? No one has told me.” I asked.
They both stopped to turned and looked at me. “We’re taking you home, and everyone is excited to meet you.” Sila turned back around and continued to walk down the street.
We lived in the middle of nowhere, like literally in the middle of nowhere. The closest house was Eva’s grandparents’, and that was almost a mile away. Did they really plan to just walk, in the pitch black dead of night, to wherever we were going? I thought. “Umm, where exactly is home? Do you plan to walk there?” I started to have visions of being led to some remote location, where “their people” would tie me up and torture me or something. I began to wonder, again, who these two strangers were, and what propelled me to follow them into the night.
This time they both stopped and turned completely around to face me. They looked confused, like I should have known the answer to both of those questions. Rylan’s voice boomed in the silent night as he answered, “We’re taking you to Ochana, where you were born. I’m sure Michael and Ella have told you all about Ochana.” Rylan stated. “Ahh, and of course we don’t plan to walk, there's only one way to get there and it is way too far from here to walk.” He shook his head at me and smirked, as if I had made a joke.
I was more confused now than before, my parents had never mentioned this place called Ochana, it didn’t even sound familiar to me. I had no idea where it was, and if it was that far away, and we weren’t going to walk, how were we getting there? I couldn’t take it anymore, I needed them to answer my questions.
I planted my feet on the dirt road and refused to move. It took them a few seconds to realize I was no longer behind them. Rylan turned back around again and looked at me like I was a rebellious teenager. “What is it now? We are in a hurry,” he huffed.
I gave him the best gla
re I could under the circumstances, as I stood in the dark, in the middle of nowhere, with two people I had no idea about and were bigger than any other person I had met before. Yea, I’m sure it looked more like a grimace than a glare, but I went with it. “I’ve never heard of Ochana, I have no idea where it is, and I have no idea how we are getting there. Now, can someone give me honest answers to my questions?” Because, let’s face it I was starting to freak out again, but luckily I was smart enough to leave that part out.
Rylan and Sila looked from me then to each other, and an expression I couldn't decipher floated across their faces. “What exactly do you know?” Sila’s voice had a cautious tone to it.
Dumbfounded, I just glared at her. I knew nothing; I felt like I was being kidnapped or something. Again, I was being stared at while they waited for an answer from me. What did I know? I began to summarize my understanding. “Well, you gave me up as a baby. My mom and dad adopted me, which I am still having a hard time grasping. They just told me this a few days ago. Oh and you guys are some kind of protectors and I am expected to be one as well.” What else was there? The two of them had been so cryptic with me when I ask them questions. I was under the impression they weren't allowed to tell me anything, but here I was, stuck with two strangers who thought I knew everything that was going on.
Neither of them said a thing for a long while. I guess they wanted to choose their words with care. “We are protectors and you will be too.” Rylan stated with confidence. “As for the rest, maybe we should show you. We were under the impression that Michael and Ella had already told you everything. Well, what they knew anyways.” Rylan had tacked that last bit on a bit smug. “Now, I understand your confusion with how you reacted to our power,” he added. Again, with the lack of answers, I guess they were worried about scaring me. Little did they know, I was way past scared.
The Keeper of Dragons: The Prince Returns Page 2