07-Unanswered Questions

Who were they?

The thought reverberated around my head like an angry squirrel that had lost its nuts. The bed I lay on was hard and uncomfortable the room it was in was dark and smelt like mould, but anything was better than sleeping on the ground. I got in last night after being bombarded by Accalia, after she told me about everyone except Aldis being afraid of me she asked me what I’d done before we got to the building we were on,

“I don’t remember much of what happened, I was just really angry one second and then the next…I just wanted to go to sleep,” I’d told her She looked like she wanted to know more but before she could ask I said goodnight to her and left to the room I was in. I’d walked up the stairs to the room taken one sniff and collapsed on the bed not even bothering to get undressed. I couldn’t sleep. The question kept repeating and I couldn’t answer it at all so I lay awake and barely got any sleep.

I sat up slowly and it finally hit me that Hammond was my brother, I slammed back down on the bed with a quiet laugh, it was the only thing that seemed right. I thought about everything I could remember him telling me picking up second meanings in everything. Slowly my mind drifted towards magic, the old woman who said she was my grandmother had been able to control fire, or something along those lines. An image of the blue flames flickered inside my head warming me,  

“If I can figure out how to do that I can stop what’s happening at the camps!” I thought amazed the flames brightened in my mind, dancing almost as if they were alive, I focused on them thinking of how the fire warmed me in the house, the flames grew taller and I imagined the wooden floor of the room, and then drew the two together. A blue flickering light appeared on the ceiling, and I head a slight crackle my heart started to race the image of the flames burned brighter in my mind and the light grew stronger, I slowly sat up. Blue flames were crackling on the wooden floor, I gasped and shot out of the bed and grabbed the blankets in one smooth motion, a thought ran through my head,

“Put the fire out,” and just as quick as the fire appeared it disappeared. Suddenly I was really tired my knees sagged and I drew in ragged breaths like I’d just gone for a long run. I fell backwards onto the bed unable to keep standing; the blanket lay on top of me, and I drifted off to sleep.

***

When I woke a pink glow came in through the window, I felt tired but I could stand,

“I’m not going to do that again,” I promised myself silently then got out of the bed, I tried to look for burn marks in the wood where the fire was and couldn’t find any. Shaking my head I quietly went down the hall to the stairway. I padded down the stairs quietly, a small flickering light came from one room lighting up the wall gently, I went into the room, a lone candle lit up a dusty breakfast bar and a shadowed figure sat on a stool by it, ignoring them I took in the rest of the room lit by the light, a small stove stood in one corner next to a tall white plastic cupboard, the breakfast bar carried on into the darkness,

“Morning,” I said quietly,

“Morning,” came the reply, the speaker was proud and female.

“We need to the get the trucks,” I chuckled,

“Always down to business right Ally?” it took her a moment to reply,

“You know me,” I smiled,

“I think I know how to get them,” the smile faded off my face just as fast as it appeared, we were down to business, Aldis motioned with her hand for me to carry on,

“I’ll need Guido, Akantha, and preferably one other. Guido to guide us, Akantha so I can keep an eye on her and one other so the other truck can be taken.”

“Sounds good to me, we’ll set up here, grab firewood and such.  Take Accalia I know you two loath to part and I won’t need her here. Wake everyone you need then leave.” I nodded and stared at the candle flame, thinking about the blue ones that were in my room the night before, the candle slowly started to change colour to blue and grew brighter, I gasped and turned away from the flame,

“You okay Desmond?” Aldis asked me, concern radiating from her tone,

“Yeah,” I said and retreated up the stairs to wake everyone we needed up.

***

I opened the door quietly. In the middle of the room sat a four poster bed, I closed the door, a body lay under the covers,

“Accalia” I breathed softly, her body usually strong and athletic looked small and venerable under the many covers bundled over the top of her, and her soft breathing only helped the theory. I smiled as I studied her tanned face, her long black hair splayed out on her pillow behind her head. I slowly went up to the bed and lay down beside her, shaking her gently I whispered her name trying to wake her slowly so I didn’t cause her too much alarm when she woke, she rolled over mumbling something about vegetables trying to eat her; I tried to stifle a laugh. I shook her again with a little more force; she woke with a start and started yelling. Quick as a flash I stuck my hand over her mouth and whispered softly,

“It’s me, Desmond,” she relaxed, looking at me, wide awake yet still tired. I took my hand away from her mouth and smiled apologetically. She patted the covers beside her,

“Join me?” she whispered, I got off the bed as Accalia lifted up the covers, I slid under them. She cuddled into my shoulder and I put my arm around her noticing that she was naked. I took a breath to steady myself,

“Accalia, we have to leave and get the trucks,” I said trying to sound firm and commanding, instead it just came out as a sigh,

“Just stay a little while,” She murmured and draped one of her legs over mine.

“We need to leave now before the others wake,” I argued wishing that we didn’t.

“Five minutes,” Accalia pleaded,

“No,” I said firmly “Get dressed and I’ll wake the others. Meet me outside,”

“Aw come on Des,” she complained, I wanted to just stay there with her, and she knew it,

“I’ll stay with you tonight then if it will make you happy, but now we have to go.” I pulled out of the embrace and got out of the bed,

“See you soon.” She didn’t reply as I left the room. Aldis was leaning against the wall next to the door with a smile on her face in the brightening light.

“You’re stronger than most men I know,” she paused “knew.” I gave her a questioning look which she ignored,

“I’ve woken Akantha and Guido. They’re in the kitchen,” I nodded,

“Send them outside,” I told her, “And Aldis,”

“Yes?”

“Keep them quiet.”

06-Family Reunion

The flame’s warmth spread up my body and renovated my strength. I gasped again I’d never felt this good in my life, everything was wonderful, I felt happy all my worries had been taken away, and a huge grin broke out on my face. I walked up the steps with my new found vigour and when I got to the top almost opened the door but then I stopped some kind of feeling over came me, I guessed I had to do something or the door wouldn’t open….either that or something would blast me into a million pieces I was feeling good but I don’t think that it would have helped me in the slightest. I racked my brains trying to figure out what to do. The warmth started to fade away and the fire started to dim, tiredness set back in again. I sensed my time was running out. Frantically I searched again, there was nothing on the door that told me what to do, the doormat said “open” I saw that and something took hold of me. As if I wasn’t controlling my own mouth I spoke,

“Anoiktí̱,” which I somehow understood to mean “Open” but I couldn’t place the language. The fire grew to an inferno and my strength returned; I felt well rested again. The door opened silently of its own accord surprising me; the blue flames were inside too lending the place more warmth. In front of me a hallway stretched out to a door where I could see a lounge on one side there was a wooden table a few bits of paper were spread across it. I didn’t stop to take any notice of anything that was on the paper if there was. I walked slowly into the lounge it was a large square shape with a couch on one wall facing the big glass sliding door. I walked over to the glass curious to see the view. On the other side of the door was a balcony that looked over a whole mess of plants, bits of an old wooden fence showed through some of the foliage,

 “Why do you come here boy!?” a gruff woman’s voice made me jump I reached for my sword and drew it half out of the sheath with a hiss.

“There is no need to draw any weapon in my house!” The woman spoke again sounding angry. The fire below me started to get hot for the first time and a small inkling of fear started to nibble at me. I looked around for the speaker but I couldn’t see anyone.

“Well put it away!” I spun towards the sound, on the couch was an old wrinkled woman, she was a little chubby around the gut and seemed so old that if it did end up being a fight I could take her on, the heat from the fire reminded me otherwise. I slid my sword back into its sheath,

“Wise move,” she commented and the fire went back to its original warmth,

“What’s your name?” she asked again,

“Desmond ma’am,” I said standing straight, she laughed,

“No need to be so formal Desmond, relax,” her tone lost some of its gruffness, I stayed how I was and didn’t say anything,

“Okay then don’t. How did you know the word to open the door?”

“I…I’m not sure,” I answered truthfully, if she was part of the Regiments I figured she would have killed me by now so what was the point in lying,

“So boy, can you see the flames?” she asked gruff once more

“You mean the blue ones?” I asked,

“A simpleton too, do you see any other flames here?” she sighed gesturing around with wrinkled hands,

“Yes I see them,” she started muttering to herself and I couldn’t quite understand what she was saying, I just caught snippets and they confused me even more,

“…has the necklace…can see the flames…doesn’t speak…no training…” I fingered Hammond’s necklace wondering what she was talking about,

“You’ll have to do I guess,” she sighed, “What happened to Hammond?” the question caught me off guard,

“Hammond?” I asked getting suspicious of the old woman, “What do you know of Hammond?”

“I know he is my grandson,” she said simply,

“How?” I asked in disbelief,

“I’m not going to go into his mother’s conception boy!” she growled, I blushed and tried again,

“What happened to his mother?” I asked, knowing after I said it that I didn’t want to know,

“She died, not long after Hammonds brother was born,” I looked down,

“I’m sorry,” then her words totally sunk in,

“Hammond had a brother?” I blurted, she laughed, and started coughing, I watched with concern,

“Yes Hammond does indeed have a brother,”

“Where?” I demanded she laughed again although this time with less enthusiasm,

“He’s in this room with me,” I looked around shocked and confused,

“I can’t see anyone…” She stayed silent and it started to dawn on me that she’d meant me,

“If you’re telling the truth…Did he know I was his brother?” I asked not believing her,

“Of coarse foolish child,” She laughed,

“Then why didn’t he tell me?” I asked bluntly, not believing a word she said anymore,

“I don’t know, maybe because he wanted to protect you,”

“From what?”

“The guards,” that stopped me, I looked out the window thinking about the siblings that had been found out to be related in our dorms, both were taken away and never seen again,

“Do you want to know who you are?” I looked at her and nodded slowly,

“I assume you don’t know much about the ancient Greek Gods?” she asked, I thought back to the camp, Hammond had told me about reading a book once that said the ancient Greeks one of the first human civilizations in the old world and the Gods they worshipped,

“The twelve Olympians; Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Athena, Dionysus, Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Aphrodite, Hephaestus and Hermes,” I said, the woman nodded,

“You know the basic story though right?” I nodded

“There were the original Titans who ruled and the Gods overthrew them right?”

“Yes you have the basic theory, but there were in reality thirteen Olympians, the last was Hades, oh and they weren’t Gods, they were human rulers who used sorcery, and the titans where the same,” I looked at her and started to ask a question but before I could she butted in,

“No questions we don’t have time, you are a descendant of the thirteen, well all of their blood runs in your veins,”

“What!?” I exclaimed,

“Just listen, you have some of their powers, or at least I’m guessing you do because you can see the fire and you’re wearing Hammond’s necklace,” I think then it finally dawned on her that Hammond had died,

“He lived a good life,” I whispered, as she wiped away tears,

“Never mind that, it’s bloody horrible he died but I must tell you something, I don’t have long left,” I nodded.

“If you make anything strange happen, stop doing it immediately. You could die if you misuse magic,”

“How do I stop?”

“Just cut the flow,”

“How?” I asked confused,

“You’ll know when it happens,” her voice grew quiet,

“Now you know Desmond, and now I shall be at peace,” She sighed,

“Desmond you are powerful and you will choose the fate of the world and everyone on it,”

“How can I be that powerful? I don’t want to be able to do that,”

“And that is why you will make the good decision, just make sure good is also right, and remember there are more like you,” I nodded having no idea what she was talking about,

“It is done,” she sighed and the flames suddenly went out, instantly everything cooled down, I stood there for a while taking in the still form of my grandmother. My mind still reeling from the revelations of what I had just been told I turned around slowly and walked back through the kitchen and into the hallway moving slowly towards the front door. I left closing the door behind me, before I had even taken it in I was at the house that we were staying in, I turned back to look at the silhouetted house I just left,

“Thank you,” I whispered the door of the house we were all staying in opened behind me and out ran Accalia with her accompanying squeal that made me wince,

“Desmond!” she wrapped her arms around me and gave me a tight hug,

“I was so worried about you!” she exclaimed pulling out of the hug so she could punch me in the arm as hard as she could, which was really hard, I shot her a questioning look,

“That’s for leaving,” she then wrapped her arms around me again, standing on her tip toes she kissed me,

“And that’s for coming back,” I laughed,

“How are all the others?”

“They're scared of you after what happened with Akantha,” she said serious all of a sudden, it took me a moment to remember what she meant; I pulled Accalia in closer to me.

“They’ll have to get used to what happened to Akantha,” I said simply remembering what my grandmother had said,

“…and remember there are more like you,”

Who were they?