When Blackbirds Fly

Chapter Seven

I look from Zero to Audrey, then back to Zero. They both look really uncomfortable, as if they can't figure out what to say. Audrey fidgets with her hands.

"I-I'll start." she blurts before looking down at her feet. She hesitates.

"Uhm...we live in a world where there are two types of people. Humans and seers." she finally says. I nod at her.

"Right, I figured as much."

"There is a fine line between what is considered our world and what is considered the Midway; the world of the immortals."

I look at Audrey with a blank expression. "And the immortals are..."

"Surely you've noticed by now." Zero chimes in. "The creatures that walk the streets. Any monster, spirit, or creature you see that isn't human; that's an immortal. Sometimes that fine line that Audrey mentioned bleeds into our mortal world and a few immortals leak through."

"So that's why seers can see them." Audrey finishes.

"But humans can't." I pointed out.

"Well, that's because..." Audrey tails off, seemingly not wanting to explain the next part. She and Zero both share a glance. "Seers are actually part immortal."

Her words hang in the air for a moment. I can feel my brain break down and process each individual word. So this whole time one of my parents has been one of these creatures? Surely I would have noticed by now. Unless-

"What's a morphi?" I ask, afraid of the answer.

Zero studies my face. "An immortal that can shapeshift."

Bingo. I think. "So that means one of my parents is a morphi."

He nods, seeming thoughtful for a moment. "Most likely. If you haven't recognized them as an immortal before, then yeah, probably."

"So then why-" I'm cut off when I hear Ian shifting around. He sleepily blinks open his eyes before squinting them. "Too bright," he mumbles.

We all surround Ian. Audrey asks him how he feels. "Well, how would you feel if I said my whole body was sore, I had a major headache, and I felt like I was slammed through a wall? This is all hypothetical of course."

"You've been through a lot, Ian. Just lay there until you feel better I guess. Once you think you're able to stand, we need to get out of here." Zero tells him.

I stare at Zero with my mouth hanging open. "What!? You mean we're going to leave Long Island? I only just got here! And my parents will be worried as heck!"

"You saw how our 'teacher' (he did air quotes) reacted when she met us, didn't you? That's only going to keep happening until we find the Seer Master! Plus, your parents probably already knew this was going to happen." he responds.

"My- my parents already knew? Then why didn't they tell me?"

"They probably thought it was best for you. Ignorance is bliss when you're a seer. If you don't know you are one then immortals are less likely to attack you. But that's besides the point. We need to go now."

"What is the Seer Master? Why do we need to find them? And why is everyone going to be attacking us?" I demand. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's going on!"

Zero opens his mouth to say something but closes it shortly after. Putting his fingers to his temples he lets out a sigh. There is a moment of silence.

"The Seer Master." he points to a picture hanging in the room. It's an old man with lots of wrinkles. "He's the most powerful seer in the world. He can manipulate his powers to do things that normal seers can't. He can help us. Every 70 years there are four seers chosen who, at the age of fourteen, have to make the journey to meet the Seer Masters. According to fate, that's somehow us. Supposedly we each will receive their blessings to become the Seer Masters in turn. But something happened to the previous Masters. All of them but one, Altair, have disappeared. Which is not a good thing for us, or for any of the other seers in the world. We have to go to Altair so we can fix the balance. If we don't then I don't know what will happen."

Audrey looks up from her place beside Ian. "Zero's right, Merle. I can't just sit here and wait for someone else to do something. If we really are the ones chosen then we need to start the journey to the Mithril Towers."

"You need to trust us." Ian pleads. "I already have the feeling that we can trust you. Right?" he holds out his hand.

I'd be leaving everything behind. My family, my home. All this new knowledge that's been thrust upon me hurts my brain. It's almost like someone said, now take everything you've ever known or considered to be truthful or valid and throw it in a burning pile. But if I do go with them, would there actually be a chance that I could save people? Not just any people, but other seers, people like me? I have to try. Maybe I do belong somewhere; with these other teenagers surrounding me.

I slowly reach out my hand and grab onto Ian's. He smiles softly at me. It's not an I told you so smile or even a victory smile, but a smile that lets me know he understands.

Word count: 903

I won't lie, this chapter was a little bit hard to write; mostly because of all the lore and backstory behind it all. I hope that it makes sense. If I need to clarify anything, please let me know.

-RS <3