part0008

I slowly opened my eyes, blinking several times. Standing over me were Lucian and Dexter, with stunned looks on their faces.

“I have to say, kid, I did not believe it when Josiah said you were the chosen one, but I’m starting to come around,” Lucian said.

“Sit up, and take this,” Dexter said, handing me a cloth for the blood running down my face.

“My nose was bleeding in my dream, how is it bleeding in real life?”

“Your vision was real, Mark,” Dexter said. “You left your physical body and transported somewhere else. The deeper you got, the more of a toll it took on you. Being Cambion, you have certain abilities. With time, you will learn to control them.”

“What did you see, boy?”

“I was back in Rockport, in the tunnel system beneath Mermaid Cliff. There was a guy… he was piling up thousands of bodies into a room.”

“That must be where they hide the bodies after the rituals,” Lucian said.

“That’s not all. There was a ladder in the room, it took me up into another. This one was in my family’s basement.”

“The mass grave is beneath your house?” Lucian questioned.

“Are you certain?” Dexter pressed .

“She knew I was there, she said my name.”

“What is he talking about?” Lucian asked.

“Well, it’s a two-way thing you know. Cambions can sense other demons near them; who was it that sensed you?”

“My mother, I must have passed out just as she opened the door to the basement.”

“So, she knows we’re looking for Aurora then,” Dexter uttered. “Don’t worry, Mark, they can’t find you here, and even if they could, they can’t get in without the tattoo.”

“Can’t anyone get that tattoo?”

“No, it has to be done with ancient equipment that only we have here at the sanctuary,” he answered.

“So, I can find members of the Syreni using my mind?”

“It’s not that easy, it takes years, decades, to control,” he said.

“This is all too much,” I said, wiping the blood from my nose.

“Normally, we would train you your whole life for this, Mark, but if you are not ready for the fight, then we will all be in grave danger,” Dexter uttered.

“In other words, get up and keep fighting, boy.”

“Lucian, when you stopped me in the arena, was there a tiger?”

They looked at each other and laughed. I guessed I was going crazy.

“Yes, Mark, there was a tiger. You might want to stay sitting for this,” Lucian suggested. “Dexter, take it away.”

“Mark, here at Dracfort, we are all about channeling our inner spirit. Our spirit manifests itself as animals. We teach our students to harness the power within and use it only when in danger. ”

“You’re saying Lucian has a tiger spirit inside him and can summon it whenever he wants?”

“I’m saying, when faced with perilous danger, our true selves come out. In this moment, our spirit animal fights, defends, and heals us. Through vigorous training, we can learn to control this animal. Once you find out what animal spirit you have, you are given a mark that connects the spirit to the outside world.”

“What is up with you people and tattoos?”

“They are ancient marks, they are more than tattoos.”

“So, what is my spirit animal?”

“Only you will know; it will show itself when and only when you are ready.”

“Ok, so are you both Nephilim or what?”

“So, why have I never seen anyone with a spirit animal before?”

“Our main duty here in the Order is keeping humans and the world safe,” he answered. “The way we do that is to keep them oblivious to the real world.”

“This is all getting crazy. Are you guys human, Nephilim, or Cambion?”

They looked at each other and back at me and smiled.

“I am neither, just a regular human, with a tiger,” Lucian smirked. “Josiah taught me to find my inner self and grow from it. I owe him my life for what he’s done for me.”

“I knew you had a thing for tigers when I saw your sword with the tiger head on the handle,” I uttered. “What are you, Dexter?”

“Human,” Dexter uttered, turning for his desk.

“I should get going. Control yourself when you get angry Mark,” Lucian said, heading for the door. “Next time, that tiger might grab more than just your sword. ”

“When you feel yourself getting angry, I want you to think of your happiest memories,” Dexter said. “I know you’ve been through a lot of terror, but to control the evil within, you need good. Now get back to your cabin, there is more to learn another day.”

I nodded and left the creepy building. As I walked back through the woods, I thought of how I could make up for what I’d done. Everyone here would look at me like a monster for what I’d done. I wouldn’t last here if everyone was against me. I passed through the living area and everyone’s eyes were on me again.

“Don’t kill me, demon boy!” one of them shouted as I approached the cabin.

“There he is, how are you feeling?” Logan asked as I walked inside the cabin.

Sitting around the cabin were Logan, Devin, Callie, and another girl I had not met yet.

“Hey, Callie, right?” I asked. “I just wanted to say how sorry I am for what happened out there.”

“No problem, you knew you couldn’t beat me, so you had to cheat,” she laughed, “I can’t blame you for that.”

Everyone laughed as I followed, sitting down along the wall.

“Listen, Mark, we came here to tell you; we’re with you,” she said. “I know you came from a tough place, and you have a long way to go, but we see you are our leader. It will take a lot of work, but I can see you leading us one day.”

“Just know you have people here who will have your back out there,” the mystery girl said.

“Oh, and that’s Laila, just so you know,” Logan cut in.

“Thank you, guys, it means a lot. I’m just trying to understand this confusing world. Last month, I was playing video games and just trying to get through school unnoticed, and now I’m caught between demons and angels. ”

“Did Dexter drop the spirit animal on you yet?” Callie asked.

“Callie is the only trainee here that has one so far,” Logan said.

“Yeah because she’s a teacher’s pet,” Devin laughed.

“You found your spirit animal?” I asked her. “Can I see it?”

She sat there a few seconds, trying to compose herself. She closed her eyes, leaning her head back. Then her eyes shot open and were pure white. Suddenly a butterfly came in through the window. It was not just any butterfly, either; this one was beautiful. Mesmerizing, I couldn’t take my eyes off its glowing wings.

“Oh, so scary,” Devin laughed as the butterfly disappeared.

“At least I found my animal, Devin. You can’t even find a date for the dance,” she laughed.

“That was amazing, Callie, I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.”

“Woah, Mark settle down, Callie doesn’t date trainees,” Logan laughed.

“No, I wasn’t trying...”

“No need to get embarrassed,” Laila laughed.

I felt an anger trying to grow in me but thought about that butterfly. The anger subsided as the good thoughts took over.

“Don’t mind Laila, she likes to annoy people,” Devin added.

“Tell him how it happened,” Logan insisted.

“Ok, so one day a little while ago, I was walking through the forest when a seven-foot grizzly bear spotted me. I was stunned at first and thought about running, but I stood my ground. I can’t explain it, but a feeling inside came over me and a butterfly just appeared. It blinded the bear with its wings, forcing it to run away. I had this horrible burning feeling on my back for a few minutes. When I got back, I looked in the mirror and saw this. ”

She turned around, pulling her shirt down, exposing her back. Wings were tattooed on her back, just like a butterfly.

“A mark,” I gasped.

“Exactly,” she said, pulling her shirt back up.

“It’s getting late, we should get out of here,” Laila said, standing up.

“It was nice meeting you here, not on the battlefield,” Callie uttered, walking out of the door with Laila.

“I told you I would introduce you to better girls out here,” Devin laughed, punching me on the shoulder.

I sat there a while longer, soaking in everything I had learned today. Visions, spirit animals, angels, demons, Nephilims, and Cambions. This was all starting to consume my thoughts.

“You better get some rest, Mark; we have a big day tomorrow,” Logan uttered, turning the light off.

Of everything flowing through my mind, the one thing that I couldn’t stop thinking about was Autumn, the mysterious daughter of Josiah Lai. I couldn’t get over this weird feeling about her. I stared out the window and the full moon lit up the starry sky. The full moon meant there must have been a ritual in Rockport right now. Someone else would be sacrificed to the creature tonight.

I couldn’t help but still feel sorry for Charles. He’d been sucked into the Seven and born into the Syreni. I had left him there in that horrific town, all alone. My mother had sacrificed one son, so what was stopping her from attacking another?

Feeling tired, eyes heavy and trying to close, I looked over at the wall I was leaning on. There were two names carved into it, inside a heart: Matt and Amelia. I felt the exhaustion come over me. Before I drifted off, it hit me: Matt Richards and Amelia Taylor must have been lovers.