The Rebelero Brothers' Curse

Twenty-one

I staggered back with a groan. My hand reflexively went to my side to pull the arrow out, but I stopped. There was a note attached that I pulled off and angrily crumpled. I broke the arrow shaft in the middle for now to keep the flow of my blood under control. Strangely enough, I could already feel it healing and pushing the arrow out slowly. The Restorer's touch had changed something in me, but I couldn't think much on it because the warriors around me were drawing their weapons. They fell into a defensive stance, but I knew the note attached meant there would be no attack. At least not yet.

"Stand down Warriors." Many ignored me. "I said stand down!"

The air shook with the power of my voice. It startled the warriors and I could sense their fear. Relaxing, I calmly assured them there was no danger.

I carefully stepped down from the old tree stump and took a step forward. Jessamine caught my wrist, "Lucian, no...."

I looked back at her, my gaze softening at the worry written on her face. Her eyes darted to my steadily bleeding wound. "I am fine. It is healing on its own. Just stay here with Dale. It is time I handle this. We were bound to meet sooner or later. He escaped for a reason." I looked sternly at Dale who was by Jessamine in an instant. "Should another arrow fly, protect her. Her flesh will not close like mine will."

He nodded. I gently pried Jessamine's hand off my wrist and kissed her hand. She did not look happy, but obeyed my request which put me more at ease. I turned toward the direction the arrow came from. Centering myself, I drew upon the energy of the Spirit and projected my voice calmly, but powerfully to be heard by my assailant. I knew he was still standing where he shot the arrow. I could hear the strong beating of his heart.

"Show yourself coward. I will not read a pathetic note. Deliver your words face-to-face or not at all."

The soft laugh I heard was sinister. "I thought it'd be mysterious, poetic even." I heard him as if he were next to me. My blood ran cold as I realized his voice sounded like my own. There was a slight edge of cruelty to his words, but there was no mistaking it.

"Show yourself."

"I saw you in a dream when I was young. Perhaps it was not a dream, but my mentor at the time convinced me otherwise. We look so much alike..." his puzzled voice grew nearer. I could not hear his footsteps so when the trees in front of me rustled, I was surprised. He moved as silent as a ghost just as I often did.

"Let me see that you exist then." I challenged still feeling skeptical.

He was hidden in the shadows of the night. Very slowly he approached. The light from a fire warriors pitched before the sun had set was the only thing that would allow the normal human eye to see. My eyes however were not normal. I could make out his large frame as well as the muscles that rippled with strength long before he walked out of the darkest part of the entrance. His ink-black hair softly curls down to the nape of his neck. He has a strong jaw line, a straight nose, olive skin, and emerald eyes. He finally stepped from the shadows and I heard myself gasp. He looked exactly like me. It was surreal; almost dreamlike watching him move. Disbelief was written over both our faces. His eyes were tinging blue as I could guess mine were too. There was a magnetic force that seemed to be desperately trying to pull us together, but I dared not move a muscle. He stopped arm-distance away from me though so I did not have to.

"Amazing." We said in unison. The warriors were whispering behind me, but I did not bother to listen or silence to them. My eyes were glued onto the identical man in front of me. I wanted to reach out and touch his face hoping he was an illusion, but no. I could hear the steady pounding of his pulse. We slowly began to circle each other, warily taking in the strange sight of each other.