The Gift

Prologue Noah

The smoke turned the blue sky grey, I couldn't remember the last I saw a clear sky. War was still going on for the last 6 years with the Deratailians and my people the Airelolian. Not sure what for I was born in a royal family and the closest I've been out of the palace is when I would sit on my balcony and stare at the soot that caked on the walls of the castle. All I knew about this war was that it has affected my people and all this had to do because of my brother-in-law.  

"Noah, my son. Come here please," My Father was the smartest man I knew. I always had faith that he would found the answer to this war. My footsteps echoed down the now bare wall's only leaving the stains of memories. 

"Yes father," I stood tall and still as he looked me in the eyes. 

"Son, do you know what we're fighting for?" He started to shuffle some papers around on his desk.

"No father," I sat in the plump leather chair in front of his desk as he placed some books in a white case. 

"Well the planet of Deratailia is growing and with their explanation comes exploration and when they found out about your brother-in-law Damon, well they were intrigued with his special ability. He's the last Enlightenlie. Do you know who they are?" He asks me once again another question that I can't completely answer.

I stood up from the chair to answer my father, " No father, I'm only 8."

"Hasn't your tutor taught you anything. This is the third one this month," He scolded

"May I add Father that it doesn't help that the war keeps killing them off," I stared him straight in the eye and that's when I saw raised his hand so high he blocked the little bit of sunshine that tried to beam into his office. The slap was branded into my mind replaying with all the other time he's hurt me.

"DON'T YOU EVER TALK BACK TO ME, GOT IT," He gave me a few books," It's not going to matter anyway. Your mother and I saw that our world can't take this much longer with all the damage and pollution. We may have to raise it all just to keep the knowledge of the universe out of there hands. We are going to send you somewhere safe until things are safer here."

I perked up when he said somewhere safer, somewhere farther from him, "Where am I going?"

"You remember Sargent Rowe and his boy came to visit last week, Well they're going to take you in until it's time to come back home." Father poured himself a drink. Ever since this war he's been an avid drinker, Sister told me that he was never like this he was calmer before this all happened now he takes his anger out on Mother and me. I can remember how happy I was to hear that I could finally wake up to the sunrise, be allowed to touch the grass, Make a friend. The only friend I had so far was Hunter who came over with Sargent Rowe once a month. Hunter told me about his home on Earth and traveling around solar systems visiting planets.

A week past and mother hadn't moved from the chair which pointed out the window towards the cities left in ruins, just staring blankly like the life was drained out of her. It hurt me to see her in such pain.

"Mother?" No response

"Mother please say something," I cried, She started to rub her arm where a healing cut was left. Tears started to fall down her pale face. I wrapped my arms around her giving her a big hug, which was the only thing that kept me from trying to kill the man who I've called my father for years. Later once he got back from the meeting I stormed into his office Sargent Rowe sat across from him and Hunter stood in the far corner. I was so blinded by the anger that I didn't see them at first. Placing my wrists together and a large gust slammed him into the wall then to the floor. Gravel covered my hand, the sharp ends pointing straight out at his face. Hunter held back elbow. My tight grip on his collar was able to set his shirt on fire. Fear was shown on his face where my anger was replaced with a river of tears. Sargent Rowe picked me up off of him.

"How could I call you my father if you treat your people better than you treat your family. If you dare to lay a finger on my mother again I will kill you, I rather you hurt me then the people who love me." I was shaking at the face that I never knew I could do that nor have no fear saying that to him.

"What are you talking about?" He laughed as he felt the blood rushing from the back of his head

"You know what I'm talking about, you filthy drunk. You think you can drink all the pain away. Well the only thing it's driving away is your family," I was still shaking. Hunter placed his hand on my shoulder.

"I think it's time that Noah comes with us," Sargent Rowe opened the door as Hunter took my hand walking me into my room. Sargent Rowe left me alone with Hunter so I can cool off and pack.

"So what did he do to you?" Hunter asked

"Well the bastard beat my mother and the cut to her arm are new, so he could have been the reason. The depression just progressively had gotten worse over the years. Because of him, that's why my sister stopped coming to visit us and stayed in hiding with her husband. How is it with your family?" I sat at my desk and started to write my mother a note.

"Well, It's been ok since my mother died, to take my mind off of the pain my dad enrolled me into the SDIF university." He started to go through the books on my bookshelf, "Do you mind if I take a few books?"

"Go ahead be my guest, never liked reading anyway," I shrugged. He took a few of my history books and poetry novels written by my people.

"Is it because no had taught you, is that why you lack the want of a good book?" he asked me in my stomach was in knots when I came down with the realization of the lack of education I haven't endured during the war. I've always felt so stupid when I was around him.

"Are you ready son?" Sargent Rowe walked in grabbing the rest of my things Hunter and I followed him out. Passing all the empty rooms down the West wing hall, I saw her in the same spot she's been in rotting her hopes and dreams of ever having the same country back again. I stopped and walked into her room and placed the note on her lap. I gave her my last kiss and hugged her head her tears stained my shirt. We both know what was really going to happen but no one wanted to tell the truth.

"I did the best I could," I released my grip from my hug she wiped my river away and kissed my head.

"I know you will grow up to be someone incredible. Promise me that you will treat the girls like their queen, Never to hurt without a reason to, and protect the ones you love. That's how I'll know you'll do well, my son," She held the note up to her chest and stared at me. Sargent Rowe and Hunter were outside and the large ship out front. Steam disappeared out the back door, onboard I saw a few of his crew members some with tentacles and some who looked human but in their own way. I sat in the front next to Hunter. He started to read some of the books I gave in. The ship reached out of the sky that's when I saw the dividing line of the dark clouds that blocked the blue sky. I was left in awe at the sight of other colors instead of gray sky blue, gray soggy green grass that mingles in the muddy battlefields, or the pure sight of blood-red of the innocent.

A tall blue man tapped my shoulder and the swig of the smoke from his pip drifted out as he spoke, "Hey, kid buckle up. Lightspeed is no joke," He then pulled the steering wheel to his chest and yelped, "YEE HAW! how are you doing space cowboy?" My face felt the stress of a thousand pounds was pried back.

"Just fine," I hollered. I looked at the rearview camera a small ship was speeding north with the large explosion following past it. No home,  No Family, No Kingdom to rule. Just memories chained to me that I can rule. With my new power, I will be the one to represent my people and my mother, Goodbye Mother