The Rebelero Brothers' Curse

Twenty

"Welcome Lucian," The eldest looking woman, who was Jessamine's grandmother, said to me. I bowed before her in respect. We were deep in the forest in a secluded grove. The grass was lush and the trees wound around us tightly, built like a cave with an open top. The last rays of sun filtered in between the trees casting hundreds of shadows all around us. The whole clan had gathered. Warriors wore black while guardians and elders wore white. Jessamine had warned me the bulk of her people would gather just to meet me and she was sure right.

I waited patiently as I sensed her walk around me a few times assessing me. She spoke in the same language the Restorer often spoke to me in. "Rise Great Spirit. We wish to seek your guidance. Let your will be known, let your will be done."

She spoke it as a prayer and the audience around us repeated the prayer, but there was no enthusiasm. I spoke it myself for I wanted the Restorer to truly hear me.

I looked up to see the woman who spoke, two other women and two other men crossed legged on a colossal tree stump no nore than ten feet away from me. Dale guided me to sit crossed legged where I was. He sat next to me after bowing in respect. He quickly whispered to me that Jessamine was running late and would be here soon. I nodded once and brought my attention back to the elders.

"I am Kali Santeri. Eldest of the clan of the Santeri Guardians. Behind me are Kaja Santeri, Kehlik Santeri, Jahi Roman, and Mariana Crawford."

I kept silent and bowed my head. "Ladies and gentlemen I present you to the Vessel of our Great Spirit," she said pridefully as she offered me her hand and pulled me to my feet.

She faced me with a large smile on her face. "It is an honor Lucian."

"Likewise to you. Jessamine has told me great things about you."

"Oh I'm sure she has." She laughs softly. "You do not know much about all this but this meeting tonight is to welcome you into our world. We have long awaited for Jessamine to tell you so we may begin your training, but we'll save that for another day. Today we welcome you!"

Many warriors applauded while others whooped with joy. I stood beside Kali a bit uncomfortable until the noise died down.

That's when I saw Jessamine run into the grove with Amelia, another woman I didn't recognize, and a few warriors.

"He's gone!" She yelled breathlessly. I saw there was blood trickling down her forehead and I quickly rushed to her. I began assessing her wound. "Who did this to you?" she ignored me and tried talking over the outburst of many warriors and guardians

"Silence! Let Jessamine speak!" Kali shouted hushing them.

"I arrived to the cottage where he had Layla subdued and Amelia tied down. He rushed me as I called for the warriors. They fought to restrain him, but Adrian killed Joseph and escaped the cottage." Many gasped and others cried out for Joseph's death.

"We must clear the grove! We must hide and get Lucian to safety!" Kali said.

Dale spoke up. "To cower in fear? We are warriors! We can protect the Vessel!" Many other warriors agreed with him and suddenly every one was bickering. It was chaos.

I looked over at Jessamine. She tried to calm the warriors down, but it wasn't working. No one was listening now. I didn't know what to do, but suddenly I heard the voice.

'Trust me'

Suddenly I felt a surge of energy and I laughed. I was seeing a brilliant light. Everything was crisp and magnified in my sight. My hearing was enhanced so that I could hear the munching of a deer nearby over the chaos. I could smell the earth beneath me and see the leaves up above in detail.