The awakener (bxb)✔

TA 37

Casey's POV

"...When neither sorcerer could defeat the other, they made peace. Their peace treaty included hibernation for Darkeners until darkness triumphed over light. They decided to put their weapons in one being and have them choose their path. Every Awakener is the descendant of darkness and light, Allric and Cairo. If the Awakener chooses the darkness inside them, that breaks the curse. The rule was to let each Awakener choose their path, but the Darkeners found a way to manipulate things by having the Awakener live in Lands of Azuria. From birth, the Awakener was indoctrinated into the ways of the Darkeners. Their "purpose" was drilled into them every day until the ability to choose was lost. When the time came, the Awakener did what was instilled in them since birth and accepted darkness, thus triumphing over light and waking the Darkeners' dormant powers. Once the task is complete, they become a fully-fledged Darkener. From then on only darkness exists in them".

"So the Awakener can still choose?"

Andrew nodded. "But like I said, Awakeners who live in Lands of Azuria don't have a choice. It's like the story of Adam and Eve. They didn't know the existence of good and evil. Awakeners born in Lands of Azuria don't know Light. To them only darkness exists. The light in them never shines enough to be significant".

I brought my knees together and put my arms around them.

"Are you cold?" Andrew asked, worry seeping into his voice.

"No, just unsettled by everything; that's all", I replied.

There was a bit of silence.

After his showdown with Karen and David in my room, Andrew had taken me with him to the safest place he could find; his cabin in the woods. We'd driven for a significant amount of time before leaving the car on the side of the road and proceeding by foot into a thick jungle. We walked for a long distance. Andrew said it was necessary that we do so in order to throw off anyone who might be looking for me.

When we came upon his cabin I breathed a sigh of relief. I was tired and just about ready to demand that we stop so I could sit – preferably lie down for 20 days. The cabin was so secluded I couldn't even make out city lights, let alone village lights. It looked like we were very far from civilization.

Going with Andrew was a conscious decision I took. The man had just saved my life; and not only that, he knew about Darkeners. He knew much more than I did about the danger I was in. I'd weighed my options as I stood facing him in my room. If I waited to tell dad and Calvin about Karen and David being Darkeners, they were going to think I was crazy. No one would truly understand the danger I was in. Andrew offered me refuge for the moment and I took it.

At that moment we were sitting in the living area of his cabin, drinking coffee he made.

"Do Lighteners have their own world like Darkeners? Like under the ocean or something?"

He shook his head. "Lighteners are not a distinct race. We are human really, chosen to be keepers of Cairo's curse. We bear the mother of the Awakener".

"So if Darkness represents evil, then light represents good. So, I take it then you are the good team?"

"You could say that. Our job is to fight the darkness, ensure the Darkeners remain in hibernation. That wasn't necessarily our job until the Darkeners decided to play dirty".

"How many of you are there?"

"I have no idea. Because we are humans, it's hard to figure out who's a Lightener until the Awakener claims the chosen one. At the moment we are a group of 3. You'll meet the others when they come back. We had planned on finding Riley before the Darkeners did, but now that that's failed, our mission is to protect you".