They are the Helwyr

Chapter 6

Elise is sat in the foyer of the hotel and stands when we approach. I'm carrying Mystica in my arms and Elise squeals in delight when she spots her.

"Oh my, what a beautiful cat." Mystica purrs, happy to receive more attention. "He lives several blocks from here, do you have a car?"

We all climb into the car, I'm glad Damari got the 4x4 Porche, we'd have never all fit in a sports car. The drive seems to take forever, maybe because I'm so nervous. There has to be a bad reason saying his name gets you killed around here. Then I remember why, he betrayed the Dewin like Cinder did. All too soon we are parked outside a massive apartment building and my heart pounding.

"Thorne lives in the penthouse apartment. Good luck with everything." Elise smiles as we get out of the car. I give Mystica a quick scratch under the chin and then leave her in the car. It's cool inside and I'd rather her shred the car than more pillows. 

Elise slips Damari a slip of paper. As soon as she turns the corner, Radley pounces on him and begins rubbing his head.

"Shall we get this over with?" Their clowning around quickly ends and we walk in.

We take the lift to the top floor and ring the doorbell. A man dressed in black robes answers the door. Gold jewellery shimmers from every finger.

"Who are you? What do you want? Why are you here?" He is staring at us with his eerie yellow eyes.

"We are friends of Cinder. She said you could help us find our families that were taken by the Helwyr. Our names our Radley, Damari and Aerona." Radley smiles and speaks curtiously.

"I haven't seen Cinder in weeks. I didn't see you arrive with her. Is she in town?" I find it creepy he watched us arrive and how on earth do we tell him what happened?

"The Helwyr attacked our home. She died fighting alongside many other Dewin, including my father." Radley replies quickly.

"Pity, she was a unique woman. Wait. Wait. You said she was Aerona? The Aerona? As  in Luca's Aerona?"

"Yes, Luca was my father." I step forward towards him.

"Then you have come of age. Come. Come, dear prodigal child." He beckons us forward into his ridiculously large living room. We sit on the leather sofa and he sits in an armchair. "Do you know the prophecy about you?"

"Yes, I will become the Gwaredwr and save everyone."

"Thats not complete." Thorne scratched his bearded cheek with a black manicured nail, as if having to recall the information because its not like we haven't been talking about it for ages. He slowly looks at each of the boys, before turning to me with his yellow eyes burning into mine.

"I don't remember all of it..." He trails off with another scratch of his beard. If he does it again, I'm cutting his fingers off.

"The prophecy tells of the Gwaredwr, the most powerful Dewin of all. She shall lead them into battle with the Helwyr but at a great price. The Gwaredwr has to choose between two lovers, with one she will be unstoppable where as the other will destroy them all." His attempt at making this nonsense sound mystical fails, leaving me rather dissapointed. "If you want the proper version, sulky Dewin, you will have to ask the Proffwyd."

"I am not sulking, I just want to know answers. For example, what or who the Proffwyd is."

He leans back in the arm chair, clawing at another part of his hairy face. I find it so off putting. Does he have lice in there?

"She is the prophet, the one who predicted this in the first place."

"Where is she?" He leans forward, placing his hands on my knees.

"Last time I saw her was when you locked her in your car."

I don't even bother waiting for the lift, instead I run down the stairs as fast as I can. Mystica is looking out the window as if to say "what took you so long?"

Gently, I pick her up, not sure how to hold her now, knowing she is a Dewin. It makes my skin crawl thinking I've been sleeping next to someone who is probably a traitor too.

We take the lift up to Thorne's apartment because I cannot be bothered to do anymore running. I carry her into the living room and place her in the centre of the floor.

"What happens now?" I ask, sitting down between the between Radley and Damari.

"Her mission is complete. She found you and you are here. She can return to her normal form now." Thorne says as he walks over to her, placing a hand on her back and another on her head. "Someone pass me a blanket please. She won't be very happy otherwise."

Damari passes him a blanket that was draped over the back over the sofa and he covers her with it. She begins to grow quickly until a human shape is lying on the floor.

"Do excuse me, I will return when I am decent." She has her back to us as she leaves the room, her black hair spilling over the top of the blanket.

We sit in silence, waiting for her return, none of us sure what to say or do. A door slams shut and she swears colourfully before walking into the room.

Her hair falls to just below her waist in perfect ebony curls which makes her look very pale and her green eyes massive. Her dress is tight and also black, it makes her look very thin. I suppose a diet of tinned cat food isn't great for a human.

She slowly looks at each of us in turn, as if in some kind of disbelief before throwing her arms around Radley and kisses his forehead. Then she does the same to Damari and I. She returns to standing by Thorne's side, her eyes lingering on Radley a little too long.

"What is your name? Mystica doesn't seem appropriate anymore." I ask coldly, not liking the way she is gazing at Radley. She starts laughing, as does Thorne.

"How bloody rude of you. Do none of you recognise me?" We all shake our heads. "Puberty does wonders I suppose but I'm still offended, so I suppose we should all do proper introductions. Hello, my name is Xaria."