Beckoning Light (19 page)

“That’s not defense, Calvin,” I interrupted.

“Charlotte, we can talk about this. I think this can all be forgotten if you calm down, go upstairs, and get changed,” Calvin said in a businesslike tone. I could hardly believe how fast our relationship was spiraling out of control.

I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Blake had returned and was standing inside the door.

“I am begging you. Please just do what is asked of you,” Calvin pleaded, and I realized that I hadn’t noticed that he was playing with a strand of hair that had fallen out of my ponytail. I had worked myself up, but that gentle action was breaking my resolve. It would be so much easier to just be with him.

He must have noticed a change in my expression and a softening in my stance. “There, there, Charlotte. I am here to take care of you now. Please let me,” he whispered.

That was enough to get me back on track. That was all I needed, another overprotective male figure in my life.

“Calvin, I am a prisoner here and nothing more. I am not going to go all Stockholm syndrome on you,” I practically screamed.

“Stockholm syndrome?” Calvin asked confused.

I heard someone laugh from the doorway; I hadn’t noticed that James had come in. “Wow, such anger. Calvin, can you not keep your girl in line?” James asked coolly.

“You jerk!” I had tears streaming down my face. “You’re the one who brought me here, brought me to the people who killed my mother! How could you?”

“I did promise you answers. At least I was honest.” He didn’t even try to hide his distaste for me.

“What are you talking about?” I asked, even though I was pretty sure I knew what was coming.

“Watching you last night, I got the sense that you two lovebirds had met before,” James said, taking a few steps into the room.

Calvin nodded, and Blake looked surprised.

“But you didn’t think it was important to tell me? You thought it was fine to come away with me without mentioning you had already been inside the gate?” James continued, moving closer.

“You didn’t ask.”

“Somehow, I think you realize that is hardly an excuse.”

Calvin broke in, “Do not talk to her that way, James. You have no right.”

“No right?” James asked coldly. “You do realize you should be thanking me for delivering her here, right? Without me, we would still have no Essence.”

“James, your role is of course appreciated, but it was your duty,” Blake said slowly.

“Appreciated?” James asked angrily. “As soon as you found out I was not the Gerard, you pushed me aside. But you know what? Who cares? At least I’m not expected to actually be with her.”

I felt like someone had slapped me. The tone of his voice implied that being with me would be the worst possible fate.

“You do not mean that, James, and you know it. You could only dream of having a girl like Charlotte, because she is mine now.” Calvin looked ready to lunge at James.

I snapped out of my hurt and spit out “Yours? I’m yours? I am nobody’s possession. Maybe in this crazy world you still treat women like the Middle Ages, but where I come from, women are encouraged to be independent and strong. We’re not owned like property.”

“Property? Charlotte, you know I did not mean it that way. I just meant that you are meant to be with me,” Calvin said sadly.

I knew that if I was going to make my move, now was the time. I let the words out. “If I am going to be treated like a prisoner, then why not chain me up and throw me in a dungeon?”

For some reason, those words did the trick. Calvin stopped arguing.

Blake took advantage of his silence. “Clearly, Charlotte is not to be reasoned with right now. She wants to be treated like a prisoner; we will give her that. Of course, that is only if you agree, Calvin.”

“You think we should put her in the dungeon?” Calvin asked tentatively.

“A few hours down there and she will realize how silly she is being. See how she behaves when she is actually a prisoner.” Blake looked at Calvin for approval.

Calvin tried one last time to hold my hand, but I pulled it back. He nodded to Blake. Trying to avoid looking at Calvin, I noticed a look of shock crossing James’s face. Calvin gestured to the armed Bravado at the door and told them to escort me down to the dungeon. 

As I was led out of the room, Calvin called out to me using almost the exact words Blake had used the night before, “Charlotte, Bellgard is your home now, and the sooner you accept that, the easier it will be for all of us.” When I didn’t respond, he continued, “As soon as you are ready to return to me, you will be released immediately.”

I couldn’t even look at him. As much as my heart ached, I tried to reassure myself that my mission was accomplished. My reassurances did nothing; I was led down to the dungeon with tears streaming down my face.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Kevin

It was hard to believe that it had only been a few days since we had arrived at the caves, because it felt like weeks. I was physically and mentally exhausted, and I could barely remember what it felt like to do anything but practice. It helped to focus on the training because it kept me from worrying about Charlotte. Thinking about Charlotte was destructive because I could only imagine how terrified she must be all alone so far from home. Life seemed out of control, but at least I had Monty and Liam by my side.

Monty must have sensed my fear because he tried to reassure me. “They won’t hurt her, Kevin. They need her. They’ll try to keep her at all costs, but they won’t touch her.”

“I hope you’re right,” I replied, but there was something so forced about his words that they offered little comfort. Monty sometimes seemed so fragile now, like if I pushed him just a little too far, he would crumble. Monty was a force to be reckoned with. It was as though a side of him had been reawakened when Charlotte went missing, but emotionally, he was skating on thin ice.

We sat by the fire listening to Percy compliment us. He was clearly impressed by how much Liam and I had learned in such a short period of time. He seemed especially impressed with Liam, because for someone with no connection to Energo, he was doing very well. I didn’t really get it, though. Just because my mom was from Energo didn’t mean I should have some special fighting skills either, but I didn’t press the issue. Monty had been right when he told me how important patience would be; it was the only thing keeping me standing.

Percy announced that it was time to give us weapons. Liam and I looked at each other excitedly.  This would bring the training to a whole new level. I didn’t know what kind of weapons I expected, but I was shocked when Monty took off his sword and handed it to me.

“Uncle Monty, you can’t give me your sword,” I said, as soon as I realized what he was doing. It was obvious that the sword was important. Why was he giving it away so easily?

“This was only meant to be mine as long as Emma was the Essence. Whether Charlotte has officially become one or not, it is for you to hold,” Monty said solemnly.

I accepted the sword, admiring it as I turned it in my hand, and at first, it seemed heavy. The metal hilt was engraved with images of plants and animals almost too intertwined with one another to differentiate. When I unsheathed it, everyone in the circle gasped because the sword glowed bright green before ultimately fading into a lighter shade. The sword felt warm to the touch and was now almost featherweight in my hands. The blade appeared to be made of a fine crystal, just like the key Monty had shown us earlier.

Percy had an awed look on his face. “So it is true. Emma’s girl is the Essence. This is incredible.”

“I thought we had already assumed as much,” Liam said.

“Still… to see it. An Essence born of an Essence; it has been over six hundred years. Kevin, we had assumed you would be a Guardian, but I must say it is still a surprise to see.  Never before have the bonds of Essence and Guardian proved so strong as to touch individuals who have never entered Energo. Maybe it is all related.  Her power must be strong,” Percy said with more enthusiasm than he had shown since we arrived.

“So, would this sword glow like this if anyone held it?” I asked.

“No, if you hand it to me, you will see it is just a normal sword, but in the hands of an active guardian, it becomes something else.” Monty eyed the sword with reverence.

“The blade of this and every Guardian sword, once activated by the new Essence, is much stronger than any normal sword in a Guardian’s hands. It is also the most dangerous; a wound from a Guardian sword is lethal to most. Only the strongest can survive it, and only if it’s shallow,” Percy explained.

I stood and experimented with the sword. It was the lightest thing imaginable; it really felt like an extension of my hand. Monty looked up at me with a half-smile, which was the most optimistic expression I had seen on his face since we had arrived.

“Now the rest of us must be armed,” Percy continued. “Liam, I sense you are a crossbow man. Monty, you and I will use swords as we were trained.”

Percy was right; Liam was an animal with a crossbow. He seemed as surprised as I was at first. Maybe it was all the years of experience he had with his slingshot as a kid, but I could not believe his aim. Even though Percy was the one who had suggested he try the crossbow, he looked impressed by Liam.

Spirits were high that evening as we sat around after dinner. Both Liam and I decided to ask more questions after Samantha excused herself.

“So obviously some things are different here, but is everything different?” I asked.

Monty raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“Is there school, or dating?” I expanded. I hoped that no one guessed why I was asking about dating. 

“There is school, but not like there is in your world. It is not compulsory, and it differs greatly depending on your background.” I found it interesting how Monty referred to it as
my
world instead of as ours, even though he had left Energo over twenty years ago.

  “By dating, I assume you are referring to courting, interaction between young men and women?” Percy broke in.

“Yes.”

“There is little physical contact between men and women before adulthood, but since our people partner young, it is not such a problem. Certain families are even stricter about it. I am sure Monty can attest to that,” Percy added, looking over at Monty.

Monty half smiled again. “When you are from a family that frequently produces Guardians, or ours, which always produces the Essence, things are a little strict, especially growing up when everyone expected the next Essence.”

“Strict?” Liam prompted.

“Yes, I spent most of my childhood with just Emma and Theodore. Any additional interaction was just with other boys. They tried to limit our time around the opposite gender.”

“Why?” I questioned. 

“It is just tradition, really. Although it appears antiquated, sometimes when I see you kids struggling with your feelings so much, it seems easier. I think that a lot of things here are like that,” Monty said, noticeably deep in thought.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Things are simpler here in some ways. I am honestly afraid that it might be too appealing for Charlotte. She has such a hard time socially, dealing with her emotions and her feelings, trying to fit in. It would be all too easy for her here.” Monty looked off into the distance.

“Wait, are you trying to say she might actually want to stay here?” I asked, shocked by his suggestion. 

“By the look of your sword, Kevin, Charlotte has become the Essence, which means she has a Gerard. Leaving him behind will not be easy.” Monty looked over at me with a pained expression.

Liam and I looked at each other, neither of us even remotely prepared for any resistance on Charlotte’s part.

“What you must remember is that Charlotte will likely be very different from the last time you saw her.” Percy looked at me intently.

“Different how?” Liam asked.

“For one, her eyes will be brighter and more focused. She will be more confident and will be stronger in many ways. An Essence changes fundamentally, just as the Gerard changes.”

“The Gerard changes, too?” I asked, genuinely curious.

“He usually grows, signifying his acceptance of the position. Internally, he changes, too, tied to his Essence in many ways,” Percy explained.

“How do you know all of this, Percy?” I asked hesitantly.

“Because I used to be a Gerard,” Percy responded with a wry smile.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Charlotte

I was taken down a long, dark staircase and then down an equally long corridor lined with cells. The light was dim, and I had to strain my eyes just to see. The guard leading me suddenly stopped and opened a heavy wooden door. “I am sure Calvin wants you in your own cell, but all the cells are occupied, so I assume he will accept your placement with an old woman,” the guard said, before locking the door and disappearing into the darkness.

No empty cell? But this place was huge. How many prisoners did they have here? I slunk down onto the dank and dirty floor. I was instantly grateful to be wearing jeans; it was always good to appreciate the small things in life.

As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, created only by the small amount of sunlight coming in from the windows high above, I took in my surroundings. I was in a small cell, at most eight feet square. There was absolutely nothing in the cell aside from me and a very old lady.  There was no furniture in the room, not even a cot; things didn’t looking promising.

I studied the old woman. She had to be at least ninety. With a face worn with wrinkles, a pair of almost translucent blue eyes was the only thing that stood out on her face. Dressed in rags, she had apparently been in the dungeon a long time, and I couldn’t imagine why she was even down there. There was something vaguely familiar about her, yet I couldn’t place it no matter how hard I tried.  

The woman looked at me with what may have been a slight smile. Extremely slowly, she raised a finger, gesturing for me to come closer. Just as I had with Naomi, I understood that this woman meant me no harm, so I moved toward her.