Scars of the Earth (26 page)

“Go back in time, erase the eight centuries that you have tarnished with your evil.” Shiphra said. “I know that what I ask even you aren’t powerful enough to accomplish. I’m sorry Elijah; you made this decision for me long ago.”

“Please Shiphra, Please…” His voice cut out as a bright beam of light shot out of his open mouth. The light was overpowering and Amanda had to shield her eyes. The earth beneath her feet trembled violently.

“Armaan grab him and go!” Shiphra said quickly.

“What? I’m not leaving Amanda!” Cole said defiantly. The ground shifted and cracked almost knocking her off of her feet.

“Get out of here Cole, now!” Amanda demanded. But he ignored her words, moving close and wrapping his arms around her protectively.

“I’m not going anywhere.” He said as the ground shuddered again.

“If you stay you’ll need to put up a shield!” Shiphra said in a rush.

“I already have one around her.” Cole said.

“Not around her, around you!” Shiphra huffed. Cole didn’t say anything in response, just continued to hold her tightly. “Amanda, protect him. Where we stand will be a crater shortly.” She whispered.

Amanda continued to lend her energy to the small woman and wrapped a shield around Cole. She sensed an evil seeping out of Elijah so sick and concentrated it made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Darkness, death, and hatred. She hadn’t felt such a presence since her encounter with the demon in Kaedin’s scar.

How can that be coming from him? She wondered.

She had definitely concluded that the Ancients were evil, but somehow feeling his true nature frightened her. An ear splitting crack rang out as a fissure ran up his torso making her scream. The jagged crevice broke his tattooed skin like the rumbling had broken the earth. Seeing him being split apart wasn’t as gruesome as she would have thought. There was no blood or tissue flying everywhere.

Maybe all that was human dried up centuries ago. She thought. Her thoughts were drowned out by an explosion of sound and light. Shiphra seized pulling energy and she knew it was over, they had killed Elijah. Amanda couldn’t see anything, chunks of earth hurdled at them at terrible speeds. She held her shield over Cole with everything she had. Never being in any type of explosion she was surprised by the sonic wave that ripped through her chest leaving her feeling a bit dizzy. Cole’s shield over her had been destroyed by the eruption, but luckily hers held through the worst. After a few moments of silence she opened her eyes.

She was still wrapped tightly in Cole’s arms, and he didn’t seem to be loosening his grip so she turned to face him. Smoke and dirt still hung in the air around them and his handsome face was all she could see. The familiar contours of his face were caked in a layer of blood and dirt. She lifted her hand to the slash Elijah had put on his cheek and gently caressed it with her thumb until it was healed. He raised his hand to hers squeezing it tightly. His shoulders heaved out a muffled sob and he dropped his head before pulling her hand into his chest.

He didn’t say anything, he just held her small hand like he would never let go of it again, like if he held it tightly enough she would become a part of him. And in that moment she wanted to be, she wanted to wrap her arms around his shoulders and melt into him. But their moment, and the ringing in her ears, was interrupted.

“Ah, young love. Nothing can keep it down-not even almost being blown to bits apparently.” Shiphra said in a musical voice. She stood in front of them gazing at them with her large kind eyes; her Uleery was perched on her shoulder gazing at them with the same intensity.

“Sorry.” Amanda said blushing; hoping Shiphra hadn’t seen the many things flashing through her mind while in Cole’s arms.

“No worries, no worries child. I remember being young, no not really…” She barked out a hearty laugh and with a wave of her hand the smoke and dirt cleared away revealing the deep crater gouged into the earth. The soil had been stained black, as if an oil well had been dug there.

“All that’s left of Elijah.” Shiphra said in a sigh. “I really tried to channel his energy back into the earth, but I guess it didn’t want him. Ha!” She laughed. “Well I’m not leaving this place looking the way it does, and it takes more energy to build than to destroy; so why don’t you come over here and help me.” Amanda joined her immediately, unsure of what she wanted her to do.

“Um…What are we building?” She asked.

“A McDonald’s, I could use a Big Mac about now.” Amanda looked at her in surprise. “We aren’t in the business of construction my dear. We are simply letting our energy into the Earth. Allowing the plants to heal themselves and grow. It’s not polite to burn down a mile of forest and run.” Shiphra said with a smile as she picked up her hand.

“Now just lend your energy to the earth let it flow out of your feet into the soil, just like you gave me the energy I needed.” She said closing her eyes. Amanda closed hers too and tried to drain her energy out through the souls of her shoes. She was surprised to feel the eagerness in the ground’s acceptance of what she had to give. Her knees buckled underneath her, but she stayed on her feet.

“There that should do it.” Shiphra said. “There is so much life in that soil it would take all of your energy if you let it.”

No kidding. Amanda thought feeling weak. She opened her eyes and her jaw fell open. The burnt, destroyed clearing was green and beautiful. Even the enormous crater was covered in luscious red peony blossoms; hiding the black mark Elijah had left. Oriental Cyprus saplings happily stretched toward the sun and small shoots of bamboo grew out of the cracks created by the shifting ground.

“Well we should get out of here, your friend Madgie still needs some medical attention. And the rest of the Guard, and maybe even the rest of the Ancients, will likely be here shortly.” Shiphra said as she turned.

“Madgie! Oh my gosh.” Amanda exclaimed before spinning to Cole. “Where is Madgie?” She asked pointedly.

“Don’t worry; I stashed her in a thicket. She is hidden and perfectly safe.” Cole assured.

Chapter 22

He had to get out of there, he knew that he could be killed for running in the line of duty, but what else was he suppose to do? Choke and suffocate in that horrible burning smoke? His feet were flying over the terrain taking him in the opposite direction of the clearing. But the farther away from the immediate danger he got the more frightened he became of his future.

They will find me and kill me for running, probably not a quick death either. He worried.

Where could he go now, he couldn’t go back to the Hovel. When Elijah returned he would surely feel his fury. He stopped running, thinking seriously about going back to the clearing and dying in the smoke, when someone burst out of the thicket to his right. He crouched down, quickly concealing himself. The person passed without a glance in his direction.

He turned to look at the wake of destruction left by the runner, it looked like a bear had just torn through the forest leaving branches and saplings broken and dangling. The path led out of a thick bush that had a frail unmoving hand peaking out.

He moved cautiously towards the curious sight, and upon further inspection felt a weight lift off of his chest. His masters would be thrilled to see him return with this special delivery. His laps in judgment would be forgiven. Maybe he could even spin it so that it seemed like getting her was the reason he had fled.

Yes, that could work nicely. He thought. He crouched down, picking up the unconscious woman and pointed himself towards home, but stopped short in surprise.

“Sorry, not today.” Armaan said with a smile before planting his fist square between the run away guard’s eyes. He plucked Madgie from his arms before allowing the man to tumble over. Armaan strolled slowly over and gently laid her back into the thicket.

“Don’t worry old bird; I’ll be more thorough than Cole.” He said laying a concealment spell over her before tearing off after his friend.

Chapter 23

On their way out they stopped and got Madgie out of her hiding place. A flood of relief hit her. She felt guilty for not immediately wondering where she was when the boys showed up without her. But with all that was happening at the time she tried not to feel too bad. Shiphra told her that Madgie’s body just needed some time to rest and lots of fluids to make more blood. Amanda had expected Shiphra to wave her hand and make Madgie conscious, but there were some things that even an Ancient can’t do.

“Are you ready to see your new home?” Shiphra asked her.

“Who cares if she’s ready, I’m hungry lets go home already!” Armaan interjected. Amanda would have been annoyed at him but couldn’t bring herself to be while he cradled Madgie so sweetly in his arms.

“Before we do anything can I please ask you just one question?” She asked Shiphra.

“Ask away, I’m sure you’ll be doing nothing but asking questions for the rest of your life-if you’re smart.” Shiphra said turning towards her.

“Can you help me find Kaedin’s scar?” She asked hoping that Shiphra knew who Kaedin was. She didn’t wait long to answer but to Amanda it felt like a lifetime.

“Yes.”

Epilogue

Frey Stood at the edge of a crater, bubbling with rage.

“Ahhh!” He screamed and sent a dark orb ripping through a Guard member’s chest. The poor young boy of fourteen toppled over. Frey’s eyes took in the other members of the Guard, challenging them to say something. None did.

They’re scared. He thought happily. And more than usual. He had been angrier since his brother had gone missing. He tried to play it off as nothing but Armaan clever and careful as he was couldn’t completely hide his distaste for the Ancients, or the Guard. And he knew that if his brother was gone it was because he had wanted to run off and join his old friend Cole and the rest of the dissenters.

He looked back into the pit and jumped in. Kicking the flowers aside, he uncovered the black tar that was the remains of Elijah.

Did my brother help them do this? He wondered full of embarrassment. The Ancients wouldn’t look too happily at the brother of a dissenter. God damn it Armaan! He thought viscously. He took a knee trying to compose himself and studied the dark earth. He reached down and slowly ran the tips of his fingers across the thick tar. He turned the blackened finger tips towards him, inspecting the strange dark matter. It was then that he noticed it.

He was frozen in place gazing at his hand before movement at the lip of the hole caught his eye.

“Everything okay boss?” Chet asked nervously. Frey smiled and picked a large vibrant peony. The rich crimson of the flower reflected off of his exposed teeth staining them an eerie red. He brought it to his nose and inhaled deeply.

“Oh everything is more than okay.” He said triumphantly. He stood up letting the flower fall from his palm, which bore a strange but familiar mark.