Prophecy

“Bloody Jove!” hissed Marc beside me.

I could understand the shock that he and everyone else around him were experiencing. We continued to watch the onslaught of violence that had erupted on and above the stage, between the members of the Guard. This disturbance seemed to be a carefully planned coup.

“We better leave now before the guards stop fighting among themselves and turn on us. We remembered what happened the last time something like this occurred.” said dad.

“That’s a bloody good idea. I don’t want to get mixed up in all this blarney,” replied Marc. We all started for the forest. Compared to all the events unfolding around us, our escape would go unnoticed.

We wove our way through the forest, at speeds that would hardly leave a footprint in the snow.

“It’s best we fly up to the alcove, as other methods could attract attention.” stated dad. Nick and I nodded in agreement.

“Yes, but didn’t I see you with bags when you arrived. You can’t leave them behind, wouldn’t it enable them to track you down?” asked Marc.

“I wouldn’t worry about the bags, we’ve made prior arrangements,” stated Naeht pointing to the waterfall.

“Enough talk, we don’t want to be caught.” said dad before his form melted into a huge eagle and flew off. Marc followed soon as an owl, Nick also changed into an eagle and I followed as a hawk.

As soon as we dove through the falls, we all returned to our human-like forms. Nick ran behind a huge boulder, behind which we’d hidden our things. He threw our bags to us one by one. As soon as we caught our belongings, we fled, one behind the other through the narrow fissure, and didn’t stop until we came upon the huge stone wall.

Marc opened the lock. It was easier to get out than in, as all he hid was push a cylindrical slab close to where the opening would be. Before the stone had even been fully opened, we were all through. We didn’t wait for it to be closed before we hurled our way through the brushes surrounding the cliff and towards the shoreline.

“By Jove,” cussed Marc silently, as we’d spotted a Guard member roaming close to where the boat was stationed. “That devil spawn really planned everything down to a T.” he spat vehemently.

“What do we do now?” whispered Nick to my father, as we’d ducked behind some snowy shrubbery.

“Not sure,” he said as if in deep thought.

“There are four of us and only one him, so maybe we could take him on.” suggested Marc.

Others hiding….not alone….pretend…..

“No, that would be too risky. We don’t know if there are others hiding around here. I have a better idea.” The three of them looked at me curiously.

“Well spill it young one,” said Marc.

“Just follow me,’’ I said getting up. “Well, aren’t you coming?” I asked quietly, as no one except dad had budged.

“This better work, or you are going to be so dead,” muttered Naeht as he moved to stand beside me.

“If it doesn’t, I won’t be the only one dead,” I replied blankly and walked off. The others followed nervously.

“You there, halt. Where do you think you are going?” said the sneering figure that walked up to us.

“Hail in the name of Grand Lune Omayra.” I said holding out my fist like I’d seen everyone else do earlier.

“What are you doing out here? No one is allowed to leave until morning,” he replied in the same harsh tone and drew his sword.

Lie…..

I walked up to him boldly. “No need for hostility, besides we are on the same side.” I partially opened one of my bags and allowed him to see the white robe that Nafad had given to me. “Look, those three are supposed to lead me to you-know-who, and you are getting in my way.” I hissed into his ear and zipped my bag close.

He sheathed his sword and stepped back. “How do you I know that you are telling the truth?” he asked impertinently.

Bluff…Nafad absent ….they seek Nafad…..be seeker ….threaten…disobey they won’t…..

“Do you want to go back and ask? It will be your hide if you don’t let me do my job. Why do you think the winner of most of the competitions had refused an offer to join the Guard?” I said staring him directly in the eyes.

His eyes dropped and he stepped back further. “Fine, go and make sure that you don’t screw up your first assignment.”

“I’m sure that I will not.” I smiled cheekily. “Come along, fellows,” I said turning to the small group I’d left further behind. I trudged over to the small vessel docked nearby and hopped in. Dad and Nick did the same, while Marc untied the boat and pushed it further out.

Danger has gone…..for now…..danger is gone…

He hopped in and then started the engine. I looked back and held up my hand out to the Guard member onshore. He only nodded once, before turning away.

I settled at the stern of the boat and looked back as the island of Tir na n-Óg became nothing more than a speck of sand on the horizon.

“I am curious,” started Marc. “But what did you tell that guard and how did you three know to leave your belongings behind the waterfall?”

“I simply told the guard what I thought he needed to hear.” I started.

“And I’ve lived long enough to know to expect anything when there is such a large gathering of our kind.” ended my father.

Marc smiled and nodded. “You three are not from around these parts are you?”

“When did you realize that, was it between the diminishing accents or changing faces?” Nick jibed.

“Sort of both,” said Marc letting out a soft chortle. “But whoever you are, you might have just saved my life. I owe you all,” he said as he pulled the boat up to the rocky shore.

“That goes two ways.” replied my father as he jumped out of the boat and Nick followed suit.

Advise change….change will be good…..

“You will be needing a new boat.” I said tapping the steering wheel.

“Looks that way,” he chortled. “And it was time for a new vessel anyways.”

“Well, it is goodbye then.” I said taking up my bags.

“Bye my young friend.” he paused. “I didn’t get the name.”

“Oisin,” I said simply.

“I mean your real name.”

“Trust me, it would be better for you not to know. It is for your own safety.” I smiled grimly before jumping off. “Marc,” I waved. He smiled and waved back. I then walked speedily to catch up with the rest of my family.

We changed out of robes and back to the winter coats that we were wearing before. We’d caught a train back to Dublin, and from there, we took the next flight out to London. We had to wait several hours before our flight back to Jamaica was cleared.

While we traveled, we’d hardly exchanged words, and I’d been dodging curious glances from both my father and brother. I knew that I had some explaining to do. As they were probably listening in on the conversation that I was having with the Guard member. I had to be very careful with what I would say to them. I didn’t want to lie, but I would probably tell them just enough information, so that I wouldn’t have to explain the full length of the conversation that I had with Nafad, during my stay.

Finally, after almost two days of travel, we were home. I dropped my bags on the kitchen floor and turned to the rest of my family.

“Ok, I knew that you were listening in to the exchange I had with the guard, so fire away. What do you want to know?” I said leaning casually against the counter.

“Who were they looking for, and how do you know so much about it? And what did you show him in your bag, for him to believe you?” fired Naeht.

“Do you remember the American guard we met the first night coming in?”

“Yes, the one you always seemed to be talking to.” he started impatiently.

“The day before Ay’s address, we’d met in the pine forests. He was inviting me to reconsider my decision about not joining the Guard. I still refused his offer, but he still gave me this,” I said pulling out the long white guard robe. Nick took it from me and examined the garment. “He said that I might need it, if I decided to change my mind. After that he left, but he didn’t return to boarding houses. He went in the opposite direction, as if he was leaving.

“So the night before, I made a huge leap of faith when facing the guard. I assumed that they were sent there to look for him, since I noted that he wasn’t at Ay’s address. It turned out that I was right.”

The both of them also joined me in leaning on the counter, dad stroking his chin, while Nick wore a deep scowl.

“Was that all Nafad told you during your meeting?” said my father breaking the extended period of silence that had enveloped the room.

“How did you know that that was his name. I didn’t ever remember mentioning it to you?” I asked curiously.

“I’ve been around a lot longer than you, besides who doesn’t know the name of Ay’s right-hand man,” he replied casually. “So what else did he tell you?”

“Nothing else, he just extended an invitation to the Guard.” I said ushering him away from the drawer where I’d placed my cell phone and Galusion gem. I closed the drawer and then tied the gem back around my neck.

I checked my phone but the battery was dead.

“I have some calls to make, excuse me.” I said grabbing my bags from the floor, taking up the robe, which Nick had thrown down on the counter.

“It’s the middle of school, she won’t be able to respond,” said Naeht from the kitchen. I turned to face him. He was still staring blindly ahead. “You will have to wait until later.” he turned to me.

“Right,” I responded and then continued to walk up to my room.

“Rain, Naeht, and I will be going out. So you’ll be alone for a few hours.” said my father from the base of the stairs. He wasn’t shouting but I could hear him just fine.

“I’ll be heading out as well,” I said opening my room door. It was good to finally be home and in familiar surroundings. I dropped my bags on the bed and threw the robe over the headboard.

The aura emanating from the walls was tranquil, but I knew that it was just a façade and wouldn’t last very long. A major war had begun in our world. Omayra was now the new leader of the Lunes; she knew who we were and where we lived. We could expect her to come seeking revenge any day now. That was probably where dad was heading. He was going to inform Sonya of the new changes in the leadership of the Lunes, as this news would affect her family, just as much as it would ours.

I hooked my phone up to the charger and turned it back on. Seventy-one missed calls up to the day my battery died. I recognised the first two as being Summer’s from the night that we were supposed to go out, but the others, I didn’t know.

I dialled the unknown number and waited.

“Hello, I can’t talk now. I’m in class.” said the person on the other line. It was Summer. When did she get a new number? I wondered what happened to her old phone.

It was good to hear her voice again after ten days of not being around her. I looked at the time. Two o’clock. School will be over in the next hour. If I wanted to beat traffic, it would be best if I left now. I hit the showers and changed into something more climate-appropriate. I wasn’t able to feel cold, but the heat in Kingston was sweltering.

I drove slowly into the school parking lot, which was already crammed with parents picking up their children. I moved into a parking space after a huge green van, which was blocking my way had moved.

I checked the rearview mirror. The green eyes I’d been sporting, faded to the usual grey. I got out of the Integra and locked the door behind me.

I walked over to the sixth form building. I received a few curious glances as I passed, but I ignored them as usual. I swung up the stairs and as I entered the reading room, the final bell rang. I leaned casually against the wall facing the corridor.

Crowds of students poured out of the classroom. I felt a slight tap on my shoulder and I turned to see who it was.

“I see you’ve decided to return after going AWOL.” he smiled.

“Caleb, how are you?” I smiled.

“I’m fine, but I’m not sure that you will be once Summer gets a hold of you.” he guffawed.

“Really,” I said more sombrely.

“Yeah, the girl went partially cuckoo, over the last few days. She even wrecked her phone.” he choked. “Well there she is coming with Ms McLeod.” he said tilting his chin in down the corridor. “I’d love to stick around to see the drama unfold, but I have few unexplained late marks that I don’t want to have to explain to Ms McLeod. I assume that you will be taking Summer home.” I nodded. “So I’ll see you around later . . . Maybe.” he chortled as he ducked off into the other reading room.

I watched as both ladies walked towards me. I tried to keep my expression under control as Summer had closed the huge biology book she had open in front of Ms McLeod and then she spotted me. Her expression was unreadable. I inhaled deeply. If Caleb were right, I would be getting the full length of her tongue. Not that I minded that. My mind wandered. Damn it, focus Rose.

“Mr. Rose,” said Ms McLeod. “You’ve been absent for quite some time now.” she said raising an eyebrow and perching her glasses precariously on top of her head.

Family…Ay dead…Omayra alive….unsafe…..

“I know. I had to leave the island as I had a family emergency. I just got back today. I will bring an absent note from my father tomorrow morning.”

“Well, I hope you do that.” she paused. “Everything is alright now?” she said in a tone of genuine concern.

“Yes, everything has been sorted out.” I smiled.

“Good, I’ll be expecting the note first thing in the morning.” she smiled and then walked off.

My eyes reverted to Summer. She was wearing the same impassive expression as she stared outside the building. In her downcast eyes, I saw nothing. I looked closer and listened to the voices as they saw more than I did.

Angry…hurt…happy…sad…..happy….angry….ask….

I stepped closer. “Summer, how are you?” I started shakily. I could face a thousand armed men without the slightest anxiety, but to face summer’s anger unnerved me greatly. So much of my happiness depended on hers and whatever unhappiness or hurt I had caused, was like inflicting the wound on myself.

Her eyes reverted from the outside, and settled on my face.