CURSED: The Last of Five Kingdoms.

Episode13- The revelation

"The things you've experienced today are all a revelation to your true nature. What I am about to tell you might be a lot for you to take in but you must pay close attention because it is serious. We might not be able to protect you any longer as your powers coming out might make that hard to do, but you are more than capable of protecting us all. For this, your parents were killed."

That came off like a bomb. From the expression on Mael's face, you could tell that he is beyond perplexed at what his mom just said. It will take him a long time to comprehend but eventually, he will come around.

"Killed? You say, mom?" Mael barely says.

"Yes, killed."

"You knew them?"

"Everyone knows them. Mael, you are our holy hope. The first and last bloodline of Hercules. Reincarnate of Omiri. Soon to be King of Antigon. Your real name is Antigo and sometimes Omiri."

"Mom, hold up. Hold up. Wait, back up a bit. Everything you are saying makes absolutely no sense to me. I am still that scared little kid from Mr. and Mrs. Wales, foster home. I am Mael, the weirdo. The outcast, the nerd and the loner. I am..."

"Antigon, pay attention. You are none of that. That birthmark that you despise so much is caused by the protection spell that your parents used in saving you and me when your Aunty and sister to Queen Antigona, Princess Evalon tried to wipe your family. That mark is also a mantle of leadership, signifying the unity of the four kingdoms with you as the fifth. You are the binding key to all of them." Pausing for few seconds, " you will need time to readjust to all this information."

"You talked about a prophecy," Mael gups.

"Ah, yes, the prophecy. Long before you were born, our oracle revealed your destiny. This did not go well with your aunty, out of anger and vengeance, she sorted out for dark powers and returned. One by one, she began to kill everyone who was in the line of succession, including your parents who were the king and queen at that time."

Laughing, "today has been too much for me to swallow down. I cannot even process this. You make everything sound like a five thousand years old myth.'

"Well, it is not five thousand years old but it is old enough." Tucking a strand of hair behind Mael's ear, "Evalon knew she would never get your mom on her side...probably knew that she would be making a big mistake so she had to team up with the originals. Your mother was the oldest, string est and fastest. While your father wasn't well, that good but great."

"Oldest, strongest and fastest what? Warriors?"

"No. Ever wondered why you never get sick? Not even for once have you gotten a cold, flu, chickenpox and all that. Unlike Harry who gets sick."

"I thought that my immune system was stronger than that of Harry's."

"Very funny, Mael. That is not the case. You are an Airan, Antigona, Firan, Kiran and Eastend. That is the reason you never get sick. But amongst all that, your most dominant trait is Vampire."

Mael's jaws are almost dropping to the floor from shock. "Mom, a what now? Nothing you said got into my head. Everything sounds like a scary movie."

"I'll break it down to you. You being an Airan means that you can control air, make it becomes your slave and use it to forge whatever you like. Firan and Antigonian, meaning that you are a vampire and have the power of fire. Vampires and Firan aren't the best of friends that is why both of them fight within you. One most subdue the other. What you did in the field on your Birthday is called turning. You were turning. The few times it has happened to you was when all your powers were trying to communicate with you. Eastend because you are a wizard. But, you need a teacher to unlock that path for you. Kiran because you were forged out of the water, so you can turn water into unimaginable weapons, tools, equipment. Anything at all that can be forged, you can do that with water."

"Interesting. Can everyone like us do that? I mean have all those qualities?"

"No, they can't. You are the only one with the five powers because you are the King. And even great kings and kings after them and the one before them, have never had such powers. You were chosen. Omiri chose to be reborn in you."

"Is Dad and Harry one of us?" Mael whispers.

"No, Harry and your father are pretty much humans."

"How is that possible?"

"Before I tell you about them, let me tell you about your father King Hercules. In Antigon, the city of Vampires, there are a few who are know as Antigonian warriors, your father King Hercules was the last bloodline of originals before you. Making you an original because your mother and father were the true and pure bloodlines of originals."

"What does it mean to be an original?"

"It means that as long as you are not killed by a special sword known as the bad of Omiri which was hidden from everyone for a long time until it fell into the possession of your Aunty, you will live for along time. And that sword with the help of Nimshi, the original which, that was how your Aunty was able to kill your parents. Now to you, it means, no sickness, nothing except the sword can kill you. You can only be banished, locked out and confused which will cause you to forget about a place, but that can only be done by a witch. And since you are a wizard, when you learn your powers, you can equally undo that." Exhaling, "I hope you are listening and getting all this. For your sake and that of ours, I really hope you are. Back to Harry and Lucas. Your dad is an ordinary human being. We call them commoners. Those without powers."

"Is it safe for them?"

"For the better part of the years, your father's hard work and ideas have been keeping us safe. Initially, when I met him I was in a place where I couldn't trust anyone but he proved otherwise. That I could trust him. Out of love and truthfulness, we got married and had Lucas. Carrying out all our tests, he is ordinary. He might get some traits from me but he got more from his father. Don't worry, you will learn more about our heritage in your new school."

"Why did you chose a school for me?"

"Believe me, if I had a choice I would let you leave your life the way you want. But, that can't happen. You are no ordinary person and our fate lies in your hands. Ray in Academy is where The Rebels are. These are some of the people from our world who disagrees with the throne as Princess Evalon self-crowned herself, Queen. To avoid being killed, they sorted for refuge and built a place that is bonded by strong magic, keeping Evalon and all her subordinates away from there. The Academy only takes in outcasts. But in your case, Evalon has been able to find you here on earth so that is why you are going there. One, to learn about your heritage and two, to keep you safe until the time is right. You might not like it but you need it."

"Mum, all this is a lot to take in all at once. I wish I had more time to process this and not just have it shoved down my throat."

"I am sorry. But, hey, I have great news that will make you feel better."

"What is that?"

"Harry is going too."

"How is that possible? I thought you said that the Academy is meant for people like us."

"Apparently, they said that you are one side of the coin and Harry is the other. I still don't know what they mean but they said that he gets to come too."

"Oh, okay."

"Have you forgiven me?"

'You didn't do anything wrong. You were just protecting us that is all."

"Come here for a hug." Amara outstretched her arms which Mael lands into, embracing her tightly.

"You will get through this. I know."

"I hope so." Mael disentangles himself from the hug, "now, mum, if you don't mind, I've got a lot of packing to do." Mael begins to fold his clothes, separating them into two different layers. His face isn't all that excited but he manages to wear a smile until his mom leaves the room.

"Later, son."

"Yeah, mum."

As Amara leaves the room, Mael slumps back onto his bed, suspending the packing he was doing. He did not want Amara to feel bad that is why he acted all cool with everything she said. Amara had looked at Mael with warmth and respect blazing in her eyes, but Mael, instead of feeling pleased and proud, feels quite sure there has been a horrible mistake. A wizard? Him? King? For, Ice, Air and Vampire? How could he possibly be any of those? He’d spent his life being an outcast, and bullied by kids. if he was really any of that, why didn't he deal with them? For a wizard, why hadn’t they been turned into warty toads every time they’d tried to beat him up? If he is the reincarnate of the greatest vampires, one of the originals, blah blah, how come Henry had always been able to kick him around like a football?

“Mun,” he mumbles to himself, “I think you must have made a mistake. I don’t think I can be any of that.” He practices how he is going to respond to his mother because he knows that by tomorrow, she would wake up and realise that she had either been drinking or was confused.

To his surprise, he begins to recount and traceback his life. Seeing the truth that he is what his mum says he is. He just turned in the field on prom night. And his nightmares, was it an insight to the bits and pieces of his last? A REVELATION of the future? It meant something, only that he couldn't understand.

He spends the rest of the night packing and nothing else. He gets his boxes ready and falls back into bed. Not going down for dinner or anything else, he sleeps off. Hoping that by morning, all this would be a terrible dream that he had.

Mael wakes up e early the next morning. Although he could tell it is daylight, he keeps his eyes shut tight.

“It was a dream,” he tells himself firmly. “I dreamed about mum telling me all these confusing things about my biological parents, Antigon and that I was going to somewhere called Rayvin Academy, for people like us. When I open my eyes it will all go away and I'll have acceptance for Harvard, mum, dad, Harry and I will be happy. Everything will go back to normal."

There is suddenly a loud tapping noise, "Mael, come down for recitation." His mum's soft voice speaks.

"Sorry, mum, but I've come down with a fever. Can I do mine here in my room?"

For the first time, Mael is asking to stay away from their family tradition. He isn't down with any fever but he couldn't face reality, yet. That is understandable. Passing all that information to an 18 years old boy all at once, naturally, he wouldn't take it too well. He needs time to process them and time is what he does not have.

"Okay, take your time," his mum's voice says, having sadness in her tone. Mael gets up and dies his recitation. He did it faster than usual and with a lack of concentration. If he had his way, he would have skipped this morning's recitation altogether.

He had a habit of writing when he is scared, sad, happy or alone. So Mael picks up a book and begins to write. He stops writing. He stares at the last line he had written and then shook his head, pen hovering over the small book with the black cover. Then, with a sudden gesture, he lifts her head and throws the pen and book at his window, where they bounce off harmlessly and lands on the floor. His concentration is just off this morning.

It is all so completely ridiculous. Fate making a joke of him or in this case, his mum. Yes, he sorted all his life to find out about his parents and who he is. But, it is supposed to be a normal story or family, where maybe they died in a car accident and he was the only one that survived. He has hoped for an ordinary past but, here he is with something he still can't make anything out of.

He isn't going to let this ruin his entire day. He has been through worse. Since when had he, been thus scared about anything? Since when had he given up a fight easily? He stands up and angrily put his hand on his face, screaming into them. He didn't even bother to glance at his full-length body mirror above the cherrywood dresser; he knows that it would be his face back at him, confused. With a scowl, he goes to the bathroom, takes a quick hot bath and dresses up. He wears a blue knitted sweater and black jeans with white sneakers.

Finally looking into the mirror, he looks more alive and ready with a smile. His earlier fears have melted away, forgotten.“Mael! Where are you? Come down this moment!” The voice drifts faintly up from below.

Mael knows who that thunderous and annoying voice belongs to, Harry. Shaking his head in disbelief of how he has been able to put up with Harry, he goes downstairs.

In the kitchen, Harry is eating cereal at the kitchen table, and mum Is burning something on the stove.

"Good morning mum. Harry!" I scream into his ear from behind.

Harry jolts from his seat, mistakenly pouring the cereal on himself.

"Hahaha," mum laughs, "morning Mael." She blows him kisses from the stove. "I can never get tired of this prank," laughing.

Smiling, "where is dad? Haven'tt seen him around"

"He's off already. He left without breakfast. Kids, you know how I am always against not having breakfast and ...."

Mael silently walks to the front door. He closed it behind him, cutting off his mum's distant protests, and steps out onto the front porch. And stops. All the bad feelings of the morning rush over him again. The anxiety, the fear. And the certainty that something terrible will happen. He feels drawn to that front door.

21 Rocks Street looks deserted. The tall mansions are strange and silent, as if they are all empty inside, like the houses on an abandoned movie set. They look as if they were empty of people, but full of strange watching things. That is it; something is watching him. The sky overhead is not blue but has turned dark and opaque.

The air is suffocating, when Mael looks ahead, he felt eyes on him. Someone is watching him. He caught sight of something dark in the branches of the old Apple tree in front of the house. It is a crow, sitting as still as the dead leaves around it. And it is the thing watching him, he shakes it off and it feels as if he just got out of a trance. That crow looks scary but he has to tell himself that it is ridiculous to be afraid of a crow, but somehow he knows it isn't. It feels more than just a crow. It looks like the biggest crow he has ever seen, plump and sleek, with lots and lots of black feathers. He can see every detail of it clearly: the greedy dark claws, the sharp beak, the single glittering black eye. It is so motionless that it looks like a wax model of a bird sitting there. But as he stares at it, Mael felt himself grabbing onto the bread knife he is holding, right. He is losing his senses and it feels that the crow is communicating with him, somehow. The funny thing is, he flushes slowly, heat coming in waves up his throat and cheeks. Because it is… looking at him. Looking the way girls looks at a boy when they like him. Undressing him with its eyes. He shakes his head and that wave of enchantment is gone, feeling uncomfortable because now he knew that it is more than just an ordinary crow, he takes the bread knife. “Get out of here,” he says, and there's this shaking anger and anxiety in his voice.

“Go on! Get lost!” With the last word and might, he throws the bread knife to the tree. It barely makes it there before landing with a thud to the floor.

Mael's face falls in sadness, "yeah, so much for a King. I can't even shoo an ordinary crow away. How would I be able to fight anyone?"Suddenly, there is an explosion of leaves, but the crow soars up unharmed. Its wings are huge, and they make enough racket for a whole flock of crows.

Mael winces, suddenly panicking as it flaps directly over his head, the wind of its wings ruffling his hair.

But it swoops up again and circles, a black silhouette against the dark sky. Then, with one harsh croak, it disappears. It feels like it was warning Mael but whatever it just did, it doesn't matter anymore. What matters is that it is gone.

Mael stood and straightened out, then glances around, self-conscious. He couldn’t believe what had just happened. But now that the bird is gone, the sky felt ordinary again. Going back to the neat blue early morning sky. A little wind makes the leaves flutter, and Mael takes a deep breath. Down the street, a door opens and a couple comes out, laughing. They look unaware of what had happened. Of course, they aren't aware. He smiles to himself, feeling happy because somehow he just saved the day. Taking another breath, relief sweeping through him like the waves of the ocean."I better not let mum's talks full my imagination. I mean maybe I've started seeing things. Or, I am going crazy. It is a beautiful day and nothing bad is going to happen." He mumbles to himself, going back inside.

After breakfast, Mael and Harry decide to go shopping in other to restock the house and save their parents the stress of doing that for at least another two days.

"Mum, make a list of the things you will need," Harry yells as he fastens his belt on his jeans.

Mael is looking lost and out of this down. His thought is bothered by his experience with that crow. Was it the crow that made the sky turn dark? Would it be a wise decision to tell mum or he just confirms all her fears? He thinks long and hard and thought it better to keep quiet. From now henceforth, he is going to be taking care of his issues and not wait on people.

"You know kids, I would still manage even if you both don't do this. You need to rest." Their mum protests.

"Mum, we want to do this." Taking her by the shoulder, "sit on the road, relax and watch whatever makes you happy."

"If you insist." Letting out a depressing sigh, she does as Harry has instructed.

"Later, mum." Both Harry and Mael peck's her on the cheek and leaves, walking to their car.

They settle down in the car, Mael still staring at the Apple tree where he had the strange experience, trying to imagine and recount everything that happened. Everywhere looks normal like nothing has happened.

"Hey, you okay," bumping his shoulder, "you've quite and occasionally drifting off today." Harry looks at him with concern, " I get the problem. You are thinking of how we will leave them behind. I've been thinking of it too but we have to. Don't worry, they'll be fine."

"Yeah." Nonchalantly, Mael responds. He has not even thought about that yet but now it dawns on him that he will be away from the two persons who genuinely loves him. That too makes him sad.

******************

Mael and Harry went out of their ways and shopped. The house is overflowing with groceries and their mum wouldn't be thinking about that for a little while. They also helped her clean the house, mow the lawn and set the garden. After the entire day's activity, they were exhausted.

They spent the rest of the evening, telling funny stories, eating, occasionally crying and hugging each other. They had their recitation too.

"Good night, mum," Mael peck's his mother on the cheek and goes to bed.

Getting to his bed, he kicks off his shoes and lies on them, falling asleep immediately.

'Mael is in what looks like a famous place, it's very dark and shabby, more like a school. A few old women are sitting in a corner, drinking tiny glasses of sherry. One of them is smoking along the pipe. A little man in a top hat is talking to what seems like a student, who is quite bald and looks like a pig. The whole place is buzzing. When they see Mael everyone keeps quiet, looking at Mael with respect and love as he walks through them. They wave and smile at him. A man with a lot of beards calls his name but this time it is an unfamiliar name. "Antigon Hercules," he hails. Mael knows it is his name from the letter that was sent to him which was addressed to Mr. A. Hercules. When the man sees that Mael is drawing closer, he slightly bows and extends his hand which Mael takes.

"Bless my soul," one of the old women say.

"Is that Antigon? Reincarnate of Omiri? Another one whispers.

" It seems so," one confirms. "

what an honor.” the man with beards say.

He hurries, walking towards Mael and reaching for his hand. Taking him as a little child and then he crashes into him, in an overwhelming hug. "You have grown into a man." With tears in his eyes. Mael didn’t know what to say. Everyone is looking at him. The old woman with the pipe is puffing on it without realizing it has gone out.

Is this the moment that he is supposed to make a speech or say something that would make them cheer him because he has no idea what to do? He stands motionless like the crow he had encountered. Was he waiting for a bread knife to be thrown at him so that he can make a move and prove that he isn't waxed?

The man is beaming and then, the crowds him and Mael, everyone shaking Mael like some kind of national hero. Mael shook hands again and again — some of the people keep coming back for more.

He grins at Mael’s amazement. They step through the flower-filled path. It looks so beautiful, soothing and relaxing. Mael looks quickly over his shoulder and saw the pathway disappear instantly back into a form of a book.

The sun shone brightly on the sky outside the tallest and biggest buildings Mael has ever seen. He is amazed sighting such buildings and it is for the first time in his life.

"Where is this?" Mael finally questions

" You will find out soon enough, Omiri," the man says.

Mael who has never been anywhere really had the liberty of touring anywhere is amazed. Wishing he could move around and see the whole place to his satisfaction. He turns his head in every direction as they walked up the stone pathway, trying to look at everything at once: the buildings, the things outside them, the people doing in uniforms. Uniforms? It hit him that they were in a school.