Telestic (The Transcendent File_002)

16. A world not my own

"Rule number twelve: Do not run away from your responsibilities. It's a relatively simple rule and if you break it – bad things will happen: death, exile, power-stripping ceremony, or people turned against you. The darkness has this hold over them, but Transcendents need to pan together and not allow it to win. Allowing them control leaves you without it. Control grounds people who need to be anchored down. Transcendents have responsibilities to uphold. Protect secrets. Find others like themselves. Only fall in love with your soulmate. Don't break the rules. It is easy – we wouldn't want power to slip out of a Transcendents hand. If Willoughby is overturned by the darkness...there is no hope for mankind or any other species out there."

- Transcendent Book of Life

I've lost everything.

My school.

My friends and family.

My ability to protect everyone; and Eddie. Nothing else matters.

Ducking under the mangrove tree, I open up the latch on the door and jump down to my secret hide-a-way down by the Cove. That's when someone forcibly covers my mouth making it impossible to breathe. Fighting my way out of this person's grip took effort until I bit a hand; and it jolted back. "Don't bite me!"

"Isaac? How do you know about this place?"

"The power of knowing?"

"What the hell is going on? Why is everyone turned on me?" I asked out of breath. He rubs his hand as he gives me an evil-eyed glare. "The Delphians have taken over Willoughby. With all of you vanishing..."

"That's out of our control. Not our fault." Clenching his jaw, Isaac returns with "As I was saying...Transcendents are vanishing. Without them to protect the town – people will start filling those voids; take on leadership roles meant for you. They want you out of the picture."

"Absurd. I'm not going anywhere." I say shaking my head in denial. Looking around, I realize that it might not be that way anymore. I'm hiding in a secret tavern under The Cove – hiding out from my so-called friends. They want me dead. Out of the way. Gone and surely forgotten. "Why do they want me out of the picture? I have no heir to the throne and if I die – Nikki becomes the leader. They'd have to take her out too. Why have the Delphians brainwashed the town of Willoughby? Why must the source of all evil destroy every bit of humanity he can?"

Shock rolled over his face. A quivering bottom lip. A rapid heartbeat. Buzzing in the ears. He didn't know positively that the person behind this was and is a guy. "He? As in the 'he' we're all afraid of? How the hell did you know that he was actually a he?"

"You mentioned a few times, but I had a vision. You were in it. Trying to force my hand before stabbing me in the back. Great way to die." I gasp as I inched backwards.

"Well we can't stay here. He probably has people headed here right now. Em, he knows just about every hiding place in Willoughby. There's no place to run to."

"Not every place." I growled through my teeth as I held out my hand. Pushing the door open, we take off towards the shore where the waves crashed against earth. "Emma. Are you insisting that we throw ourselves to the great blue ocean and die?"

"No. Not die. Can you find it in yourself to trust me?" He bites his bottom lip and looks upward at me. I look at him and utter "What?" We glance back up at the Cove and see black coats lining the rocks. They were here for me. Nikki and Eddie were amongst the shadowing figures gearing up to charge at me. Glancing down at my skin, it begins to shimmer blue and I shot a look in Eddie's direction first – before turning to Isaac. We may not be a couple. Hell we were never dating; but he hasn't left my side since we met. Gazing back at me with his blue-silver eyes, I crack a smile and hold my hand out. "It's now or never. They've seen you – it makes you an accomplice. We have got to go now."