The Secret of Aerythyka

Prologue - Tex

"She needs protection, please, I'm begging you." I heard my Uncle say as I eavesdropped at my mother's kitchen door.

"I don't understand, Owen. Where is the child's mother? You're gone for years on some 'research' expedition and then suddenly come back with a child and tell us you're in danger. In danger of what, exactly?" My mother questioned.

"My wife, her mother, is dead. I'm all she's got; we're her all she's got." Stammered my Uncle Owen. "And there is something a little different about her that you should know and keep secret. Her eyes are violet..." Begins Uncle Owen before my mother interrupts.

"How lovely..."

"...and they glow in the dark." He finished

"Okay, that is different." My mother admitted.

"Let me see if I follow," said Uncle Brox, "You and the girl are in danger. The mother is dead. And the child glows. You brought us the human night-light. Awesome. And for how long?"

"A few weeks, a month at the most. I need to try and fix this. I'm leaving my work journal here. Only I can access the data but it'd be best if we hide it before I leave. I've started a rumor the child is dead and I will do what needs to be done to make sure no one comes looking for us." My Uncle Owen was a dynamic man, but in my mother's kitchen he sounded tired and defeated.

"Who, Owen? Who will come looking for you? What did you do?" My mother whispered. "And what, besides this child, are you asking us to hide?"

"It's just my research and I didn't do anything." Uncle Owen replied, as if he was being cross-examined. "Nothing bad. I teamed up with this group of people, a small group of scientists dedicate to the same cause as me. We traveled all over Eorthria – every corner of this planet. It was amazing, the work we were doing. What we were accomplishing was astounding ..."

"Enough with the sales-pitch. Get on with it." Broke in Uncle Brox.

Uncle Owen gave a sigh and continued.

"But information fell in the wrong hands. And in those hands, it became dangerous. I have to stop him before anyone else gets hurt. It's my responsibility."

"Let's say you manage to 'stop him,' or what have you, what then? Couldn't he just redo whatever it is you undo? Or any of the others? And why do we have to hide the flashlight child?" Uncle Brox asked.

"He is a mercenary not a scientist. Everyone else is gone. He made sure of that. I am the only one left. She is the only thing I have left of her mother. My daughter is very special in many ways. She has to be kept hidden for as long as this man is alive."

"Fantastic, you've made me a nanny so you can go kill a super villain? What were you thinking?! Why couldn't you have just stayed in Troyant working at the club? Oh right, the family business wasn't good enough for you. Well great, look where it got you –where it got us. For someone who spent their life trying to help people you sure suck at it." I had never heard Uncle Brox raise his voice until that time, at least not in anger.

"It's always the same fight with you, Brox. I didn't want to spend my life in a dying city serving drunks. Life is not one big party so grow up!" Uncle Owen shouted back. I tensed when I heard quick, heavy foot-steps, anticipating a physical attack.

"Like you? Yeah, if only I had a murdered wife and psychopath trying to kill my daughter..." Retorts Uncle Brox bitterly sarcastic. I waited for the sounds of violence but I only heard my mother's soothing voice.

"Calm down, both of you. Owen, you are being extremely vague," I quickly peaked my head around the corner to see my mother hold up her hand to stop Uncle Owen from interrupting. "And I understand why. You feel it's in our best interest that we don't know the details. And to be quite frank, I don't want to know. However, that being said, your danger has become our danger. Thoughtless as that was of you, we – yes, Brox, we," She looked sternly at Uncle Brox, "will help you. But I need to know, does this man know where you are from? Will he know to look here?"

"Atterick is a well-known name that carries a certain reputation. I needed to live outside that reputation to be taken seriously. Although it's a good name," He stammered before Uncle Brox could lose his temper again, "I wanted to make my own reputation so I used an assumed name. I will not be easily traced. But Atterick is my name and I am not ashamed of it, so I passed it on to my baby girl. But I don't think anyone in my travels knows my surname or any part of her name." 

"So, it's possible this dangerous person knows who you are and where you live? How is it you're considered the genius of the family?" Uncle Brox's tone had become less hostile but I could tell he was still agitated. Stress was a new feeling for Brox and, giving the situation, he handled it well.

"I think if this stranger does come looking it would be best if the child and your journals stay with Brox."

"What would I do with the child? I don't know the first thing about children, let alone a radioactive one." protested Brox.

"Not to mention he lives above the bar!" Added a stunned Uncle Owen

"I don't believe either of you really knows what best for this child." Retorted my mother. "Brox's place is better equipped to keep secrets and is the last place anyone would look for a child. If anyone comes around, we will tell them we haven't seen you in years and believed you to be dead."

"That is not a terrible idea." Uncle Owen concedes. "But she is so young..."

"I, of course, will be there very frequently." Added my mother to ease his mind. "So, how old is she and what do we call her?"

"Her name is Asher and she is three years old." Uncle Owen replied affectionately.

I looked down at the little girl squeezing my hand tightly. She looked back at me with her big purple eyes and smiled timidly. She had been crying when I found her hiding behind our sofa. I didn't know who she was or why she was in my house. I was only ten years old at the time and the only question that had occurred to me was, 'why are you crying?' but she didn't respond. She just sniffled and wrapped her tiny arms around me.

"Hi Asher." I whispered. "My name is Tex."