Chapter 1
We are one
A pain was shooting through my side; it singed me like a hot iron rod. I rolled over feeling the softness of the cushions underneath me as I came back into consciousness. I opened my eyes; they burned into my skull as my vision went from blurred to clear. My head killed, I wanted to just sleep and just never wake up, but I knew that could never happen, not for me anyway. I was lying on a bed with the covers pulled up to my waist, exposing my upper half. The deep red markings over my torso and back were glowing, like rubies in the sun. I noticed that my lace top was still covering my fragile structure.
My surroundings were very unfamiliar. I was in a room with little furniture, just a rocking chair, a small table and a couch. It was very simple and that’s why I liked it. In the rocking chair was a young man, about twenty or so, sleeping contently. He must have been the one who found me. I didn’t want to wake him, I just watched him sleep and found his steady breathing as his chest went in and out, in and out so mesmerising that I nearly nodded off, back to sleep again. I wanted to know his name, his voice and everything about him it was like love at first sight. His sandy blonde hair wisped across his face as a breeze came in from the window and blew his blanket off. He stirred in his sleep and turned sideways in his creaky chair. His torso was bare and well toned, and his muscular arms were stretched out behind his head, where his hands were held together. The markings all over my body had disappeared as I was relaxed and calm. I sat up slowly and put my feet onto the cold wooden floor. It felt soothing and refreshing on my sore blistered toes. I straightened myself up so my hips where not twisted when “Arrgghh!” I screamed and fell to the floor crumpled up into a ball, clasping my right side as the pain filtered up and down my whole body. I rolled about in agony screaming in my torture.
The boy woke with a fright, scanning the room until he saw me on the floor. He came running over and knelt next to me “shush, shush. You’ll be okay” his silky voice echoed in my head making me feel comforted and slightly calmer. He stroked my hair, “just tell me where it hurts.” I couldn’t talk; I just groaned and rolled over onto my left side, showing him my waist. I wrapped my hands around myself, squeezing into my frail structure, hoping that if I squeezed hard enough that the pain might go away. He lifted my shirt slightly, revealing my markings that where glowing more vigorous than ever before. He didn’t seem that taken aback, and that’s what surprised me more than anything. He simply placed his hands on my flank and closed his eyes. When he opened them, they were red, like my markings. I looked down to where his hands lay, he had markings all up and down his arms and they were glowing, getting brighter and brighter. The colour started to die down after about thirty seconds or so and disappeared back into his tanned skin, as did mine. I knew at once he was one of my kind. I knew at once he was a Keiako.
As his hands lifted away from my waist the pain left with them. I knew what he had done, and how much strength that he must have summoned to heal such a pain. He must be more skilled then any of my kind I knew; I exhaled in relief that the excruciating pain was gone. I looked up at my heroes now opal green eyes that glistened in the sun blazing through the window. He was clearly exhausted and drained from all of his power use, saving me from my torture. He laid next to me sprawled across the floor, eyes closed and breathing heavy, he opened his eyes and gazed straight into mine, I felt my cheeks go hot as they blushed. He smiled, flashing his impeccable pearl white teeth causing my stomach to do a somersault. “Akima” he whispered. “We are one”. I didn’t understand how he knew my name, but I felt comforted with him near me like I had known him for years, it was unreal. As he moved his hand across the floor toward me I did the same, our fingers touched and my heart skipped a beat. My eyes tingled; I saw his turn purple so I guessed that’s what was happening to mine. Our markings reappeared, starting from our fingertips and travelling up our arms and running through and over our bodies in unison. The connection was electric and a blue flame rose from our fingers as we held each other’s hands. I closed my eyes and all I could hear was his sweet voice repeating “We are one”. My mind suddenly felt bigger and I could think so much more clearly. Wow this is amazing I thought to myself, then this voice came out of nowhere .I know, I didn’t know whether it was real or not. I replied any way. Who is this and what are you doing in my head?
I am Bardolph, it means ‘bright wolf’. Our minds have connected through our powers, we are unique and two of the last ones of our kind. I need your help. Our race is dying out to an unknown cause that is making our kind drop like flies. You are a skilled warrior inside for that is your name ‘Akima’ but you do not know the full extent to your abilities. It is your destiny to help us, and that is why i am here to help you, to help me. If you will help us, that is?
I had no idea what to say, I was baffled. I wanted to help our kind and race. But I wasn’t sure if I was able to fulfil my destiny without getting hurt or disappointing anyone and least of all Bardolph. However I had to make a quick decision. Yes, just tell me what to do.
Okay, your first lesson is pairing or minds.
