Prologue
I use to think that dreams were fledging like the leaves you gaze upon in fall. Beautiful, unique, and colorful things that when you think about you can't help but smile and disappear into a world far from your own. To me though they were my escape. My way of living a life far from my own, however, they never seem to last long enough just like the leaves. I never thought of others that they could be messages to the future or secrets to a past that is trying not to repeat itself. I don't remember when my dream crossed the line of reality and became something new. Maybe if I was not too busy thinking about myself I could have been of more help when they came first.
Rain poured and flooded the streets of a town I knew not the name of. Lightning flashed and thunder roared like a lion ready to attack with fierce claws at its prey .The dream brought me to a small cottage on the off roads. I was in a small room where a lady screaming was all I could hear besides the rain. Her screaming stopped when the cries of a baby started.
"It is a girl mommy look," two little boys said as the gathered around the table in awe
"Is she like us, dad?" The older of the two little boys asked looking straight into his father emerald colored eyes hoping the answer was no. He picked up the baby girl in his arms and her crying stopped immediately. He looked at her arm an intricate Celtic knot came into view flashing like a flare then fading away into her skin.
"I am afraid ..she is my son"
The dream flashed forward this time to a tower that was covered in vine down to the single path that led to it. The tower stood in the middle of a lake. A hooded figure approached it cautiously at first. He looked around to see if he was being followed I could tell from my view he was in a great state of distress. I followed behind closely the place gave me the chills and the fog that magical surrounded it did not help.
The dreamed brought me inside. Candles lit the inside dimly.
" You will have to bring the children to me soon Anthony you can't shield them from their destiny" I hear a woman voice say. I looked around for the body of the voice, but all I could see in this lighting was the glow of her eyes.
"Do not worry they will save this world, our world do you wish to keep on having Alla fade away into the dust." The man didn't speak. Her eyes began to glow blue and she spoke again this time in a voice that was not her own .It sounded like the voices of thousands of people speaking at once in perfect unison.
Gifted by the gods there shall be three. Born to a mother who with this her only plea.
One will be strong, brave and quite talented, as he will possess a gift that will start the shift. The second will be strong, loyal and calm but his gift will be something you cannot even lift. The third is the one you need to watch though, a girl she will be free-spirited and hard to tame and one day she will replace my name. Finding the stones that are lost shall be their undertaking to save a world that is close to breaking.
The man cringed at her words, but all the woman did was laugh and disappear deep into the tower and a chilling wind blew out the candles.
One
It was blinding, at first, then it focused into view like a camera stabilizing and adjusting to let me take in its full beauty. The kingdoms name was Alla. I have dreamed of it many of nights before this one. It seemed like the only place that I could truly feel at ease lately. A golden bridge stood shining in the sun above the massive waterfall that split the capital into two sections, the east, and the west. I found myself looking down from off the bridge. Hearing the water rush into the riverbed always calmed me. Looking down I could see the buildings that were built straight into the land. Erosion scaling up the side of the old stone. The capital had some of the oldest architecture including temples that were built by the Aries a group that started this place millennium ago before the current inhabits. The temples stood on the highest point on the west side. Towers reaching the tip of the clouds and onward just thinking about how the could have made these structure amazed me.
"Look brother" I heard a girl say next to me. Her long brown hair bouncing as she pointed in excitement at an incoming airship. The wings were the first thing that called to my eye's attention; they were a tremendous size that made it no doubt easy to haul the wooden vessel into the welkin. The smell and the feeling of water hit me as the gale of the wings blew a light mist as it passed. I brought my attention back to the girl .She did not see me I know this is the downside to my imagination, But I knew her well from past dreams. I watched her as she talked to her brother her skin medium beige and lips a soft pink. Her hair a light brown that gave off a certain glow. In addition to her angel like features, she was petite and small like a model the world would dream to be.
"Elestra we must move forward father does not want us to be tardy for lunch"
"Relax we will not be late," she said turning to her brother and smiling
"You should loosen up Allandor, life is too short "
"Life is filled with danger Elestra these times are not well," he said his wrist glowing, but I couldn't make out what he was showing her as my dream faded and my ceiling in my bedroom returned to me.
"Life is filled with danger," I whisper out loud before uncovering myself from my silk blankets.
I slipped out of bed and into my house shoes and walked toward the window. It was far too early in the morning to be awake I said to myself as I watched the sun begin to rise into the sky. After watching only just for a couple of moments I made myself leave my room and get ready for the day. The first day of senior year .The last day of my childhood my mother has been saying all summer. I say as I put a morsel of shampoo into my short brown and scrubbed it in well. The warm water washing away the suds and sliding down my back and into the drain. It almost made me forget about the state of acrimony I was in .I finished my shower quickly and wrapped my towel around tight, but for some reason, I could not move myself from the reflection of the mirror. Of course, all the was staring back was my blue eyes that needed a good rest, but in them, I could tell they just wanted the day to be over already.
"Christopher breakfast is ready," Alberto said from downstairs snapping me out of my trance and making me hurry down. Alberto is my butler who has lived with me my whole life. He has been around more than my infamous parent. I guess they're not infamous just never around because of their jobs. When I finally arrived downstairs in my light grey Hollister shirt and blue jeans Alberto gave me an odd stare before setting my plate down.
"Thanks, Albert"
"No problem Master Raine," He said before attending to the needs of my little sister Sapphire and my little brother Cody. Although Alberto was a master chef and baker in his youth I could barely touch the plate before me. I pushed around the mangos slices that decorated the plate of stacked pancakes before me. It made my mouth water, but I could not force myself to eat it.
"A bit nervous? "Alberto said to me as he saw me playing with the food he worked so hard to make.
"Yes, just a bit," I said trying not to make eye contact.
"It will be fine it is the last year and only a half day it will be over as soon as you know it, " he said with a grin. That's the problem I whispered to myself.
Glenbrook North only the richest and brightest kids could go here I remember My mother and father saying almost in unison when they dropped me off here the first day. The building before me never did look much like a school to me. It stuck out amongst its surroundings. Grey thin shingles and endless rows of windows made it seem like an office building rather than a school. Alberto let me out in front of the main building that landscape seemed to have no scarcity of bright tulips. Red, yellow, purple and pink all arranged with each other and helping out displaying our school fountain that stood in the center of the main path. I looked back to wave to Alberto, however, he was already gone.
I pushed myself through the doors of the school already crowded with new kids struggling to open their locker or trying to figure out this maze of a building. I recall being there only just three short years ago. I made my way to my locker up on the second floor .Next to me was a freshman hitting his fist against his in frustration. I offered him my help, but the bell rang and he sped off to class.
Albert was wrong about the day moving on quickly .It inched by like a snail moving across a large field. I looked at the clock pleading for it to move forward and end my misery for the day. Knowing that it could not answer my prayers though. I moved on to daydreaming until my teacher Mr.Lin caught me. He was a bald old man that had a sort of hobble to his walk. I got to meet him last year in Advance Placement Calculus. He was a tough grader, but he sure was a good teacher .I was glad this year he was teaching AP Calculus 2.
"Mr. Raine!" he yelled waking up anybody who had been nodding off like me.
"Yes Mr. Lin," I said answering him quickly
"Could you please find the convergent of this sequence?" He said handing me the black expo marker. The class glared at me as I walked up to the board. Here at Glenbrook North everyone was the enemy you had to be smarter than the other kids your parents reputation depends on it.At least that's what the kids here though. Of course, there were few who did not care like my friends Ian and Kari who smiled when they saw me walk up to the front of the class. I solved the problem quickly and returned to my seat.
After Calculus was history and after that was orchestra. At this school it is required that you have been playing instrument for at least five years there was even a placement test! Most of the kids here have been playing since they were four years old and brag like they will be the next big thing. Not to say that my parents have not forced me to do the same with my cello, but I have never really found much passion in music.
The final bell rang and released me from this dreaded school. Everyone rushed out the school like a stampede almost knocking each other over. I waited for the crowd to thin before searching for Alberto, however, A woman with long brown hair in a silver Lexus motioned for me,my mother. I was confused and a bit happy that my mother had picked me up from school it had been the first time in years, but as soon as she began to talk I regretted stepping into the car door. Its like she had no true interest in my day all she did was make small talk and then talk about herself. She could tell I grew tired of her speaking so she quickly stopped.
After the Conceded assault I found my way to my room dinner was always promptly at 6:30 ,but I didn't join them .instead I stayed in my room and let my bed take me to my escape.
"Cole, Allandor come quickly"
"What is it Elestra" The boy with blond hair Cole answered quickly.
"Over there its a lake!" she said excited and ready to move forward, but her brother Allandor stopped her.
"We shouldn't be playing in this forest , father told us not too many times"
"Don't be a baby Al, come on who can stop us let's check it out" Cole said following his sister and approaching the lake.
I agreed with Allandor the lake gave me a cold feeling even though I was only viewing.
A thick fog started to rise as the moved ...ignoring it though they kept going.
"Guys I really think we shouldn't be doing this" Al spoke again
"Shhh look there is a tower" Elestra said eagerly. Making it to the lake they walked down the stone path. Allandor checking over his shoulder as nervously as Cole and Elestra approached without fear towards the tower. It was hard to see with all the fog. I saw a faint glow coming from Elestra as the reached the tower door I guess they didn't notice. It was dark inside the tower. only lit by candles. Somehow I felt as if I had been here before it sent chills down my body. They looked around it seemed to be nothing had been in here for years, that was until Cole bumped into something, a jewel that shattered as it hit the floor.
'WHO DARES ENTER MY TOWER" I heard a female voice say and the candles went ablaze.
"We're sorry " Elestra screamed out in fear the glowing on her arm as bright as the candles now. I looked around to see that also Cole and Allandor's were as well.
"Do you know of who I am?!" The voice said with rage
"We do not know of who you are, but we do not fear you show yourself! "Cole said fearlessly before Elestra nudged him in the stomach
"Speak for yourself" she whispered.
"Such bold words for, ... Children of Anthony!" She said letting out a laugh. Not any laugh through a laugh that I could tell sent fear to even the fearless Cole. It shook the tower violently and the dream began to get fuzzy.
"The time has finally come" the woman voice now said sounding a mix of delighted and relieved. That's when Cole fell to his knee screaming as his mark begin to glow brighter than the others.
"Cole " She said as I saw a hand reach out of the darkness
"Let him go or I will bring this tower down in heartbeat," Allandor now said trying to be brave
"And Allandor" she said lifting her other hand and bringing him to his knees.
"Stop it" Elestra demanded the woman
"And oh and who could forget the beautiful Elestra"
"You have the eyes of your father my dearest servant" she said as her body appeared out of the darkness.
She was young despite her voice that sounded ancient and powerful. She looked no older than twenty and had jet-black hair. From her neck she wore a moon and sun necklace that intertwined with each other. She reached for Elestra now that she had planted the fear in her brothers.
"Do you wish to know why you are gifted young one?"
"What are you talking about I have no gifts like my brothers." Elestra said trying to ignore the woman words.
"Ahh but you do" she said as she touched Elestra mark on her wrist.
"And it is now time for you all to reach your full power and begin your quest for the stones" she said
"What stones" Cole said
"You will know soon ......anima vigilantis!!" she screamed before them.
It was too bright to see what was happening, but the screams that came from them were something that I could not erase even as I woke up. I woke up sweating and with a painful pit in my stomach that worsened as I pull my blankets that were covering my half bare body. I turned on my light next to my dresser and looked into the mirror. My short brown hair was a mess and a slit dripped blood from under my eye. I examined it closely than was interrupted by my brother Cody holding his blanket and teddy bear closely as he opened the door.
"Brother are you ok? You were screaming really loud" he said his big brown eyes looking worried
"It's fine Cody now go back to bed" I said smiling as he retreated behind the door and I heard his small feet walk away.
For me sleep didn't come back so easy. I watched as the clock flashed 12, 1 and 3 am before I realized it was clear that it would not return to me. I found myself thinking of the screams of Elestra, al, and Cole. Death shirking screams that made me cringe. What was going on with me I thought as I wrote down my dream for today in my journal. Yeah I know what your thinking a journal really, but it made me feel like my escape was real. As I wrote fear settle in a bit whatever had happened tonight I had a feeling it was just the beginning.
August seem to fade as quickly as it had come before I knew it was October and everyone was getting excited about homecoming and our school fall musical. I couldn't focus enough on those things though I was truly starting to lose my cool at this point. It had been two months since the nightmares begin and the continued to get worse by the day.
"Cole come back you can't run from this as much as we can!" Elestra screamed as Cole pushed through the crowd before him and ran away from the square of town. The crowd was screaming and throwing rocks at him as he run away, he dropped to the ground. Anger and pain was what I saw in the eyes of the boy before he transformed into a beast that I had never seen before. The people backed away in fear of the beast. It stood on four muscular legs with teeth like a saber tooth tiger and fur black as coal. His blue eyes had faded into the red eyes of the beast and he growled and sent the crowd running away in fear. He then turned to his sister Elestra and brother Allandor his monstrous eyes showing now some sadness as he took off. The scene flash-forward to the home of Elestra and Allandor they opened the wooden door in hope in seeing their brother had returned but he had not.
The dreamed played on like a movie before me as I watch them search for him desperately I could feel their pain grow and their hopes diminish. It was right before they were about to give up hope that he showed himself to them once again . Elestra ran to him embracing him in a hug when she saw Cole again for the first time in several months. If I had known better at first I would have never expect the boy before me to be him .His dirty blond hair cut short, newly morphed body and scars on his face made him seem like a new person. Physically was not the only thing that was different about Cole though. I could sense in his glare his feelings had changed. Anger and pain was all he felt when Elestra touch him I could tell in his reactions that the feelings he had once held for his family has disappeared. He stood there as she hugged, but then quickly threw her to the side Allandor quickly coming to his sister aid.
"Where is he" he said trying to compress his rage
"Who are you talking about Cole" Allandor said as he assisted Elestra
"Our father" he said before heard the door opened behind him. He turned slowly and smiled demonically before he leaped at his father unsheathing a dagger.
" No Allandor screamed" as he threw his hand up and a invisible force pushed him away
"Allandor let go, you don't know what he did to us you don't know what he has done !" Cole screamed
"Then tell me brother" Allandor said however Cole didn't hear him as he transformed.
He transformed into that beast I saw before at the town square and broke free of the invisible force that kept him from clawing at his father.
"Nooo" screamed Elestra as the fight between the beast and his father began. It was quick, as Cole showed no mercy to his father. His father stabbed him repeatedly with the dagger that had dropped on the floor. The beast bled all over but the beast ignored the blood that was coming from him. Allandor tried with all his might to get his brother off. jumping on his back however he slapped him into the wall hard.
"tempus mori patrem meum The beast spoke and the claw went down on his father head and Elestra turned away and stared straight into my eyes with fear.
"Help us"
