Eagles Peak

Eagles Peak pt.5

I stood in my doorway, frozen to the spot as Shaoni walked past me, into my house.

"Weren't you going to invite me in?"

Shaoni cooed at me, somehow making the arbitrary question sound like a threat.

"I uh... what can I get you."

I stammered out, automatically reverting to subservient. I know it sounds bad but when you've seen what I've seen her do you listen first, ask questions later.

"Is water alright? It's all I've got since I only just moved here because... well I guess you know why already."

I said, wanting to keep the orange juice I was currently hiding behind me in the fridge for myself.

"The visions? Yes I do know about them. It's what drew all of you here, just like I wanted. Though you weren't supposed to see the stage yet, none of you were."

She said, narrowing her eyes at me, presumably because of my earlier expedition into the mine.

"Why do you keep saying "you" like there's more than one of me?"

I asked, finally working up the confidence to question her.

"Because there is, do you really think you're the only one I marked? Keith your a special case yes, but not that special."

"Special case? What do you.."

"If you let me finish I'm getting to that."

Shaoni cracked back at me, I could feel the pressure in the room rise with her temper.

"Sorry ma'am... it just slipped out."

She seemed to find my knee-jerk formal apology amusing and the pressure in the room returned to normal.

"I offered several people the same deal I offered you, most accepted. These are the others I refer to, all of which are here or on their way here now. That's what the dreams, visions, whatever you'd like to call them, were for."

"So you wanted us here, all together in this one specific town, why?"

"The trials of course, if you remember you agreed to take a burden from me. I guess I would describe it more accurately as a gift but it has become a burden for me."

"What is it?"

"Now where's the fun in telling you now? Besides your smart enough, I'm sure you'll figure it out on your own."

She answered, smiling devilishly at me and sending little pin pricks of ice down my spine. I let the conversation fall silent for a bit, watching Shaoni sip absentmindedly at the glass of water I'd given her before I asked another question.

"So what exactly are these trials for?"

"I want to use them as a selection process, it separates the wheat from the chaff as the saying goes. Only one of you will take on my burden and I want to make sure its the right one."

"Ok, that makes sense but I've still got one more thing. Why did you say I was special before?"

I inquired, as Shaoni got up and started to leave.

"Well, because this is all new to you, you have no idea of the forces really at play in the world, the "supernatural" is what you'd call it. You're at a particular disadvantage because you didn't know what you were getting into so I figured I'd help out of the kindness of my heart. In addition to that, many of those I've chosen came from my own followers. You are one of the few I found on my travels that accepted my deal. I believe in keeping things fair, and so I came to warn you of what's to come."