Emmy, dad, mom, and I are in the gardens walking. My mom has befriended a wounded raccoon that she named Rollo. She made Rollo her animal companion which makes me think about what Lynden told me about my own animal companion.
Mine is supposedly a giant ass mythical bird. Somehow, I think there is some hidden meaning I’m missing in what Lynden told me. I trust Lynden, we’ve become close in the last few months. I really enjoy spending time with her. I thought there was something between us, but now I realize it was because she is supposed to help me and the team with defeating the Enchantress and her army. Lynden is my guidance counselor.
Rollo curls up on mom's shoulders as Luna barks at a squirrel in the trees. Emmy hushes Luna. My dad shakes his head. I think my dad is jealous of Rollo which is kind of funny to watch him be jealous of a raccoon.
Emmy starts to throw sticks for Luna to fetch. I watch Emmy play with Luna while dad sets up a blanket with some food. Mom is teaching Rollo to do some tricks. I help dad set up the blanket and food for our lunch.
“You okay son?” Dad asks, laying out the cheese spread.
“I don’t know. I used to be jealous of Emmy because she has this prophecy about her that made her valuable, and I felt like I was just living in her shadow. Emmy is the Chosen Child, and everyone looks up to her. I guess I felt like I got pushed back into the shadows after I came home. It sounds stupid now that I think about it.”
“I never knew my siblings, but from what I gather from your mother, being jealous of Emmy is totally natural. It’s not stupid to feel like you aren’t special, but you are special.”
“Yeah, I know. After that bomb Lynden dropped on me about the fact that I have my own prophecy. I wish I could go back to being in the shadows.”
My dad laughs. “Emmy said the same thing. She wanted to be special, and when she she realized it wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. I think if Emmy could go back to being a nobody she would. Your sister hates having a prophecy about her.”
Emmy and our mom come over.
“What are my boys talking about?” Mom asks as she sits down on the blanket and gives Rollo a cracker.
“Just about the prophecy that Lynden told me about,” I state, taking a seat next to mom.
“I’m glad I’m not the only Caine kid that has a prophecy about them,” Emmy jokes.
I crack a smile. Emmy is trying to lighten the mood, but I’m just not feeling it. Emmy must sense that I’m feeling off.
“Hey Calder, it's okay. I know what it’s like. It takes a bit to wrap your head around,” Emmy says as she offers me a smile.
“Emmy is right. I never really wrapped my head around my own prophecy. You aren’t alone son,” my mom smiles at me and pats my shoulder.
“I know,” I reply.
I spend the rest of the day with my family. Emmy and I try to spend as much time as we can with our parents since we both have missed quality time with them over the years. Everyday mom is getting better. I’m glad to see her moving around on her own without so much help from dad, even though I’m pretty sure dad loves helping mom with everything.
My parents have been through a lot with their relationship, and I sometimes wonder how they made it through it all. I hope to find my soulmate one day. It’s hard not to think about it when I’m surrounded by couples. Everyone on the team is dating someone. Emmy and Carter already know they are soulmates, and that also goes for Bex and Avery. Ryan and Brie are most likely soulmates, and Alice and Ivy, well no one knows for sure what their deal is. They are a couple I know that much, but as far as anything else they tend to keep their relationship on the down low. I think they are afraid of being judged because they are gay, or because Ivy is one of our instructors.
I hoped that maybe there was something between Lynden and I, but clearly, I was very wrong. Maybe I’m forcing something that isn’t there with her because I feel lonely being surrounded by couples. I’m literally the only single person on the team, so it gets hard to be around all the loving couples. They don’t mean to shove it in my face, but sometimes it feels like they are. I can’t lie it was nice when Ryan was still single, but even Ryan has somewhat turned into a mushy boyfriend.
I push thoughts of soulmates, couples, and romance out of my head. I have too much to worry about at the moment to be concerned with finding my soulmate. I have to focus on this prophecy and what they hell it could mean. I’m also second in command on the team, so I have them to focus on as well and making sure that Emmy doesn’t lose her mind trying to lead us.
Now the team and I have a mission that involves meeting the Three and finding the phoenix. Not to mention we still have to take out the Enchantress and her army. Life is too crazy to think about anything else.
It’s been a few days and it’s time for the team to go meet with the big three. It should be interesting to meet these immortal god-like beings. I think we are all curious to meet them, I know I am. It’s not every day you get to meet the beings that control your destiny.
We all meet outside of the manor. Lynden is going to be taking us to the Three. Lynden hands us each a dark grey stone with the triangle symbol we each now have tattooed on our right forearms. Lyden instructs us to hold the rock in our right hands.
“Repeat this incantation into your stones.” Lynden looks at us to make sure we understand. We all nod our heads to her. “Life, death, fate, the three who watch overall, guide us to your home, and allow us to enter.”
We all repeat the words into our stones. One moment we are outside of the manor and the next we are standing in front of a golden door. It is like teleporting except with no plastic wrap feeling, or feeling like you can’t breathe, we just simply moved from point A to point B with just a blink of our eyes. Plus, with teleportation you need to know where you're going, or else you end up in a weird dimension.
Lynden smiles at us as she opens the door. We all follow her into a huge main room that has roman columns lining the balcony. Sunlight and a light breeze into the room. It’s breathtakingly beautiful.
The room is huge and open. There is a piano off to the left. There is a woman playing on it. I can only see the back of her long wavy white-blonde hair. In the center of the room there are plush white couches and a chaise with a beautiful intricate golden leaf design on it. The couches have fluffy golden pillows, and in the center is a golden coffee table which has a clear glass top. To the right there is a bar with mirrors, behind it there are shelves with what I assume is liquor. The floor is tan and cream-colored marble with flecks of gold in it. The soft piano music comes to a halt. The woman turns and smiles at us as she gets up to greet us.
“They are here!” The woman shouts in a soft sweet voice.
The woman wears a floor length white Roman inspired gown. She has gold gladiator sandals and gold bangle bracelets up her left arm. Her hair comes down to her waist. She has crystal clear blue eyes that are soft and kind. Her skin is a light olive tone with a soft complexion. The woman looks like a goddess.
Two men walk into the room and join the woman. The first man to her left is tall and muscular. He is bald with deep grey eyes, and an ivory skin tone. He is wearing black pants, a black floor length robe that is open to reveal his muscular chest which has black tribal tattoos that depict death and the underworld, and black boots. I notice he has his right ear pierced with a silver hoop. The man reminds me of a pirate. All he needs is the eye patch and the parrot.
The other man is on the woman’s right. He is also on the tall side, but not as tall as the other man. This man has a buzz cut. His hair looks like a dark brown color, he has pale green eyes that see everything, his skin is a combination of the other man and the woman. He is wearing tan dress pants with a white button shirt that is untucked and he has on a chocolate vest which has a pocket watch hanging on it. He has chocolate brown boots and looks like he is ready to talk business.
“Team this is Life, Death and Fate,” Lynden says with a beaming smile. Lynden hugs the woman, and then takes a step back, and points to her. “This is Life, but she goes by Eva.”
“Hello. It’s such a pleasure to meet you.” Eva has a perfectly white smile, like the ones you see in toothpaste commercials.
Lynden then points to the bald man. “This is Death, but he goes by Thanos.”
Thanos nods his head at us. Okay so not much of a talker it would seem.
Lynden then points to the other man. “And this is Fate, but he goes by Destine.”
“It’s good to finally meet all of you. Please come and have a seat. We have much to discuss,” Destine says as he gestures to the couches in the center of the room.
Well, at least Destine is straight to the point. Even if I could punch him for the hell he has put my family through.
The team and I move to sit on the couches. I’m at the end sitting next to Emmy and of course Carter is next to her where else would he be? Alice is on the other end. Bex, Brie, Ryan, and Avery are on the couch across from us. Lynden sits on the chaise. Eva, Destin, and Thanos stand facing us with their backs to the roman columns.
Destine is clearly the leader of the Three since the other two are slightly behind him. All three of them look like gods and a goddess, good looking and powerful. Destine is waiting for us to settle down and get comfortable.
Eva offers us drinks and food. None of us are hungry. Personally, I don’t think I could eat even if I wanted to because my stomach is in knots over what Destine is going to say. In fact, I haven’t had much of an appetite since Lynden told us about the marks, and the prophecy about me. I do however take some sparking water. Emmy, Brie, Avery, and Alice all take wine to help ease their nerves. Ryan and Bex take a beer while Carter, like me, sticks to a non-alcoholic drink. Once we have our drinks and Eva is satisfied that we are taken care of, Destine is ready to get down to business.
“I know you all must have questions, so before you ask away let me explain a few things to you. You all were chosen because you are special. Eva, Thanos, and I have special reasons to make sure you all live. See, some members of your team will have our soulmates. Emmy and Carter, your first-born daughter will be the soulmate of Thanos. Bexton and Avery, your first-born son will be the soulmate of Eva. Ryan and Brie, their first-born daughter will be my soulmate. We are immortal until we give our immortality to our children, then we live out the rest of our days with our soulmates. This is how it has always been.” Destine pauses to allow us a moment to process his words before he quickly moves on to the next manor of business.
“The Enchantress has been causing problems for centuries which you all know. She has to be stopped. Her army must be stopped. Emmy, you will defeat her, you are the weapon that will save us all. Calder you must find the phoenix. She will help you defeat the Enchantress’s army. Without the phoenix you will not be able to defeat the Enchantress’s army,” Destine informs us.
“Great so how do we find the phoenix? Lynden said the Enchantress captured the bird and put it under a sleeping curse or spell.”
“Yes, she did. The Sleeping Death Curse to be exact,” Destine adds.
“Seriously I hate that curse!” Avery says in disgust.
I can’t blame her. I'm not a fan of it either, but maybe that’s because we both have been under it. I look over at Emmy who also doesn’t look pleased with this new information. Bex takes Avery’s hand. Avery is very sensitive when it comes to the Sleeping Death Curse.
“I swear if you tell me that the damn phoenix is in the Death Forest I’m going to be pissed,” I state.
Destine frowns.
“Unfortunately, the phoenix is in the Death Forest. You are the key because the Enchantress made you the key. She is counting on you to never find out about the phoenix, and if you do, she won’t plan on you going back to the Death Forest to claim what is yours.”
“I’m not going back to that hell,” I firmly state as I cross my arms like a pissed off child who just got told they wouldn’t get their desert if they didn’t eat their broccoli.
“Well, you don’t have a choice,” Emmy counters. “I don’t want to go back to that place either, but we can’t let the Enchantress win, so guess what big bro we are headed back to hell.”
“Fine. How do we go there and remain undetected from the Enchantress?” I ask knowing I’m not going to like the answer.
“I'll help you with that,” Thanos comments. “The Enchantress thinks she is all powerful, but not even she can counter my magic.” Thanos grins.
Yeah, I’m not going to like this one bit.
“I have a special potion made from my blood that will make it seem like you are dead. The Enchantress can only track the dead that sell their soul to her. She will never know you are there while you have the potion in your system. Also, this potion will allow you to take your physical bodies to the Death Forest, so you will have your full strength which you will need. The phoenix is heavily guarded by a Draugr, a nasty creature that has the ability to use mind control, super strength, superior fighting skills, and can change its size. This is just a few of the main things the Draugr can do. This creature is particularly evil because it used to be human. It is Lucian.”
“Wait, Lucian as in the guy who betrayed Leoria all those centuries ago?” Emmy asks in disbelief.
“The one and only. The Enchantress turned him into a Draugr,” Thanos states.
“She killed him. I saw it in the memory my mom showed me,” Emmy counters.
“Yes, she did kill him and then brought him back to life to make him the Draugr. The Draugr isn’t the only thing you need to worry about. The Draugr has a nasty pet. Mortem is a giant fire breathing beast. It has the body of a buffalo, but the head of a deformed moose, claws like a tiger, and a long spiky tail. It is deadly, not only does it spew fire, but it’s antlers and tail are poisonous. It won’t be easy to get around these two.”
“Great, so what kills them?” I ask.
“Well, the mortem is a fire beast, so the best way to fight it is with ice. You can only kill it if you chop off its head, but don’t let the body reunite with the body, because it will come back stronger than before. You have to find a way to keep the head and body from rejoining. As for the Draugr you have to find a way to get to his black heart. If you get his heart, you can control him, or kill him. If you can’t get his heart, then you have to use dark fire to kill him.”
“Dark fire?” Emmy asks.
“Dark fire can only be created by someone with dark magic. Regular fire purifies a soul, while dark fire kills the soul. If someone dies by dark fire, they simply stop existing. Dark fire isn’t easy to make. In fact, it’s almost impossible. Dark fire is created with hate, anger, vengeance, or anything along those lines. So, when you go to create it, you have to channel a negative energy into it which is hard to keep up, and it will drain you of your power,” Bex informs us all.
Bex is grinning and I know he loves being a know it all.
“So only Emmy or I could make this dark fire,” I state.
“No, only I can do it, you will have to save your strength to rescue the phoenix, you are the key, and the only one who can get to her. We can’t have you drained of your strength,” Emmy counters.
“Emmy is correct. The phoenix is kept in a castle in the Death Forest. Only Calder can open the doors to the castle,” Destine informs us.
“I know that castle, and it’s not going to be easy to get into. It's surrounded by a marsh that if you come in contact with, well let’s just say you will die. The marshes water is like acid, and you will die a very painful death. There is only one path you can take through the marsh that won’t get you killed, and it constantly moves, so finding it is hard,” I add.
“Calder, you have a connection to the phoenix. She will find you in her spirit form and lead you to her physical form. The phoenix’s name is Kyndle, and she will know when you are near her. Kyndle will help you find the path. She will be weak because she is under the Sleeping Death Curse, but she will help guide you,” Destine replies to me.
“Okay. One more question. How come I’ve never seen Kyndle flying around the Death Forest in her spirit form? I spent most of my life in that place, I found the castle, but I never dared go near it. Why have I never known about Kyndle till now?” I ask, confused.
I would remember if I saw a big ass bird flying in the sky. I didn’t know about Mortem or Draugr, but that’s because I never dared go near the castle. I knew to stay the hell away from it.
“You didn’t know about the phoenix because the Enchantress never told you. It’s really that simple. If you had ventured into the castle, you would have run into the Draugr and Mortem, they probably would have killed you, but if you managed to beat them you would have found out about the phoenix. Kyndle didn’t reveal herself to you because it wasn’t the right time. If she did reveal herself to you, who knows what the Enchantress would have done. She might have killed Kyndle, or you, or both of you, so it was for the best that Kyndle didn’t seek you out while you were a prisoner.” Destine tells me this in a slightly concerned voice.
I hate to admit it, but he has a point. The Enchantress would have lost her shit if I found out about Kyndle too early. The Enchantress takes insane to a whole new level. I don’t even want to think about what she would have done to me or Kyndle if we found each other too early. In this case time was on our side.
“So, when do we get to the Death Forest?” Emmy asks. I can tell she is losing her patience.
“I didn’t think you would be so eager to go back to the Death Forest,” Alice comments.
“I’m not. I just want to get this done and over with because that place is fucking scary and creepy,” Emmy tells Alice in an annoyed tone.
“You have the stones Lynden gave you?” Destine’s questions.
The team nods their heads yes.
“You will use those to get to the Death Forest. Thanos will give you his potion. Eva has prepared care bags for you all that have food, water, and supplies you may need. Brie I suggest you get some ingredients together for potions you might need. Avery, you also might want to pick up medical supplies. Avery and Brie are going to be the one responsible for any injuries that come to the team. Bex since you’re the knowledgeable one, I suggest you read this book.” Destine hands Bex a book which Bex takes.
“Carter, Ryan, and Alice you three should come up with strategies for the team to take out Mortem and the Draugr. Emmy starts practicing dark fire, and Calder you should help her since you have a bit more experience with using your dark magic.”
“Yeah, about that. Why did my magic awaken early in me?” I ask.
My dad and I have been trying to come up with reasons as to why we both were younger than seventeen when our magic awoke in us. So far, we have come up with nothing. It remains a mystery, and one that I’d like solved for my own sake. My dad doesn’t really care, he’s better at just accepting things for what they are, me not so much.
Eva gives me a sad smile.
“Because you weren’t meant to die as a baby, it wasn’t your time. I had a hand in making sure you came back whole, so that no part of you would be missing, but in doing that I messed with your magic’s time clock. The same thing happened to your father when I brought him back to life. Your father doesn’t remember drowning as a child and it’s better that he doesn't. He has enough painful memories.” Eva’s voice is gentle and kind. “Now you really should get going. We have set up a place for you all to rest, and to do what you must to prepare for the mission.”
“We can just go back to the manor,” Emmy states.
“No, Emmy you can’t. Not right now. It’s better that the team prepares on their own for this mission. The place we have for you is very nice. Lynden will take you to it, she knows where it is. Lynden will help you with anything you need, she won’t be able to go into the Death Forest, but she will help you before and after the mission.” Eva speaks in soft tones much like a mother would do in order to sooth her child.
We all stand up ready to go. We each take a care bag from Eva. Each bag has items in it that we all will need, but also some items for that particular member of the team will need. Eva, Thanos, and Destine wish us luck, and watch as we disappear.
Lynden takes us to a private beach house. It’s warm, beautiful, peaceful, and relaxing. It's a great environment for us to be in before we go to the Death Forest. Everyone sets out to do their tasks. We waste no time getting started.
Avery and Brie head to get supplies. Bex parks his ass on the swing on the porch of the beach house and starts to read the book Destine gave him. Carter, Alice, and Ryan all gather at the kitchen table to go over ideas. Lynden heads to the store to get us food and other supplies we might need while we stay at the beach house. Emmy and I make our way down to the beach. The sound of the ocean is soothing.
Emmy and I work tirelessly trying to make dark fire, but it’s proving to be more difficult than we both thought it would be. Emmy is having trouble focusing her anger. I know Emmy has anger towards the Enchantress, hell so do I, but right now I’m not the one who has to make dark fire.
I’m pissed at the Enchantress for a hundred different reasons. She took my life away, killed me, took me from my family, tortured me, depraved me from a normal childhood, she hurt my mom, dad, and sister. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. I have a million different reasons to hate her.
Emmy has her own reasons for being angry at the Enchantress, but for some reason she isn’t able to focus that anger to make dark fire. Even with all my anger and hate I only manage to make a little spark of dark fire which is more than Emmy can say.
After hours of trying to make dark fire Emmy and I join the rest of the team. Lynden has made us bake ziti with salad and garlic bread. We need a break, and it would seem everyone else did too. Hopefully, some food will help us all out.
While sitting and talking with everyone it would seem Emmy and I aren’t the only ones who had trouble working on our tasks. Brie and Avery are the only ones to have accomplished something by getting the supplies they need. Ryan, Alice, and Carter didn’t get very far with figuring out how we could take down the Draugr and Mortem. Bex tells us that the book he is reading is confusing, and full of hidden meanings.
By the end of the night half the team has retired to their rooms for some much-needed sleep. Everyone is frustrated which isn’t going to make this mission easy. The last thing we need is to be stressed and frustrated. It leads to tension, and we don’t need that either. We need to get our shit together.
I plop my body on my bed and let the fan above me blow cool air on me. I’m hot, tired, and in a shit mood. I have too much on my mind. I feel like we aren’t going to be able to save Kyndle. I hate that I didn’t know about her sooner. Kyndle is my phoenix, I’m connected to her, I feel like I should have known she was in the Dark Forest. How many times did I venture to the edge of the marsh to stare at the castle? Did I perhaps sense there was something in the castle that belonged to me? My thoughts swirl around my head. Finally, I have Brie make me a sleeping potion. Sleep finally comes to me and I’m able to let my mind rest.