REDEMPTION

32. HOW COME?

The mood in the room suddenly shifted. A moment ago Achlysa looked like the world weighed heavily on her shoulders, but now, she looked different. More confident. More enthusiastic. More positive. And there was this indescribable aura around her that no one could put a finger on. The moment she opened the book, something within her changed. She looked like a different person.

Her words held authority and profound knowledge. A cold chill filled the room. All the men around her shivered. Whether it was her eyes or her voice that chilled them, no one could tell. All they could do, was watch. A proud feeling stirred within Bendra, but, his face did not show it. Achlysa let out a sigh and sincerely wished he would pick one already.

As she said this, the words she had been able to mysteriously read in the book rang inside her mind. They informed her of her locked powers. And added that half of it was split and sealed in different objects which would be found in the homelands of the races that had ever existed. To get them back, she had to travel to these homelands to retrieve what was hers.

However, it also stated that getting to them would be difficult since she was neither of the races that her parents belonged to. She was a trigger. And triggers were treated with much contempt. In addition to this, they would also be killed on a whim or declared wanted fugitives. That is, if they survived that long.

So she had to keep this part of her mysterious. She would first let people around her trust her before ever revealing who she was. He perfect mate would also have to wait. Achlysa was sure he would still have no choice but to choose her, however, their relationship would be damaged. Or things would just get awkward.

Achlysa stood up, the book in her right hand. White flames covered the book before it disappeared to nothingness. She turned a’d her white eyes landed on the two figures before her. She was waiting for an answer. When she figured it would not come, she decided to do what she had to.

“Please rise.” She requested. Her voice was calm and motherly. Hearing her almost broke Shawn. He stood and made sure Ralph had too. His head faced the ground. He knew of how scruffy he and his brother looked but he did not care. They had just crawled from the pits of hell and were lucky to be alive. They knew that their mother was no more. And they did not bother to find him. He had to find Audrey first. He just hoped she was alive.

“I’ll ask again. Are you sure that is all that you seek.”

“Yes.” He answered without hesitation.

Achlysa was disappointed. She thought of one question that could save him some time but she had to stick with her act. She made a mental note to protect him. It hurt her that she could not tell them that she was here and that she was alive. He could also not tell them of who they were because they would not believe her.

All she could do was journey with them, hoping she could guide them to the truth. One that they would accept before they were found. But even she knew that things could never run that smoothly. What she could do now was just hope all would be well.

Achlysa turned to face Bendra. A tight smile appeared on her face. Bendra immediately figured out what she wanted to say and decided to play along.

“My Lord, if you would please. Mind informing them of what has occurred these past few days?” she paused. “But before that, I’ll be leaving with them as soon as they have enough rest and time to recover. That is all.” She finished and left the room.

The villager that had brought the two youngsters stood there gawking. No one had ever spoken to their Lord in such a manner. Before she was able to go through the door, he held her hand. He wanted to reprimand her. An angry growl was heard from the room. He let go of her hand as he searched where it had come from. His eyes landed on his Lord’s cold ones. The man instantly bowed without a word. Yet, his gaze did not leave her

He was sure to make her pay for her disrespect. And it would be one she would never forget in her lifetime.

“Thank you for your help, clan leader Shaman. I’ll take it from here.” His voice rang. Shaman left and closed the door behind him.

“It’s been far too long, Brother.”

At the mention of this word. Shawn’s head shot up at alarming speed that could accidentally snap his neck. He was so concerned with the message his mother had left them that when he saw a lazy with white hair, the rest in the room were snuffed out. He had not taken notice of his brother in arms, who was seated. His voice did not ring a bell when he spoke. What was wrong with him?

“It’s been far too long, Brother. Am sorry for our appearance.”

“Wait, we have another brother?” Ralph asked excited. He went on to mention that their sister had only mentioned one and wondered if there were more. Bendra looked at him confused. Shawn signaled that it was a long story so he dropped it.

“I’ll explain later. First take a seat.” He told him. As soon as he sat, Shawn hit Ralph’s neck rendering him unconscious. He turned to Bendra.

Shawn explained why Ralph acted strange and waited for Bendra to take lead on what he was to tell him. Bendra offered him a seat but he was already impatient. He wanted to head out now and look for his little sister. He was restless. He could not believe he almost forgot her. He hated himself for it and he knew if anyone found out what she really was, she would be killed.

Nevertheless, Bendra informed him that he would not tell a single word until he took a seat. Shawn took it reluctantly. Bendra told home everything without leaving a single word. He made sure to pick up slight changes in Shawn’s expression. He wanted to be there for him like he was for him. He told about how his father wanted his sister dead and accused of murdering her mother. He also mentioned that they never found Audrey but instead found Achlysa. He also made sure to mention that their parents were no more.

At this point, Shawn could not take it anymore. He had already bottled up more than he could handle. Bendra left out the part where he fond out that Achlysa was his perfect mate. He was not sure how Shawn would take it. A’d this did not seem like the right time to tell him either. He stopped when he saw that his friend could no longer take anymore. He waited until his emotions had cooled.

But the more he waited, the more he got worse. Bendra also left out the part where he found the book that was addressed to her. He now figured that their parents had left Shawn and Ralph in her care. And he was willing to do anything for her now that they were involved. He would only go as far as support her for now.

Bendra asked Holmen to prepare a room for the two. Holmen nodded and left after carrying Ralph out with him.

“Take all the time you need. I’ll ask her to wait for you.” He said while placing his hand on his shoulder. Shawn had never had such certainty from his best friend. He also had never seen him interested in someone or anything before. Shawn was sure that the growl had come from him even though he had not really seen his expression. He was now staring surprised at this new side of his best friend.

“How sure are you that she will wait.”

Silence.

“Brother?”

“Trust me she will.”

“I do… but, how. Sure. Are. You?”

Bendra now stood at the doorpost. His shoulders fell in defeat. He turned around and liked at his friend and decided not to hide it from him.

“She’s my perfect mate.”

Trigger – this was a child born from any of the races and they were all male. Identifying them was not easy though. Some could be known right away at birth if their abilities were too much for their tiny bodies to handle while others had to wait till the proclamation ceremony to know whether they were one or not. They possessed not two but three or four abilities and these abilities would trigger something. Either a calamity or a disaster. The effects could last a few days or years. Hence all triggers were killed once they were found out. But some mother’s could not allow this and they hid their children. Those that matured to adulthood, which was the age of thirteen before the proclamation ceremony, would help them and take care of these kids. And that’s how the triggers survived.