Book of Curses (The Renning Chronicles) (17 page)

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“So, you’re one of the chosen?” A
man’s
voice echoed, asking the question which I assumed was aimed at me.

I spun around quickly, staring at the new, but strange, figure. I swear he looked like a centaur, but he was made entirely of light, the brightest bits of light. I blinked a few times to see if I needed to clear my vision, but of course it didn't help me one bit.

This was a dream then, of course. I seemed to be having enough of these crazy, off the wall, dreams; so it wouldn't have surprised me. The centaur bowed, or made a motion that seemed to mimic bowing, in front of me. I blinked my eyes again staring at him, trying to figure out what I was supposed to do or say.

“I’m sorry for intruding in your dreams; I am Arbael Corbes, one of the four gods.” He told me straightening up slowly. I looked at him, seeming more confused than ever. If this was one of my dreams, then I needed to stop eating before I went to sleep, because they were starting to become some really crazy dreams.

“You don’t seem like much, but I hope you can do as said. My sister and brothers are causing too much destruction, and too many people are blaming others for it, instead of us. Along with foolishly listening to the gods, and thinking that if they do what they’re told they’re going to be granted immortality, it needs to end.”

“What, aren’t you supposed to be like the rest?" I shook my head, holding my hands up in front of my chest in a stop motion. I narrowed my eyes a bit as I looked at him. That was how it was supposed to be, right? All four Gods were killers, no mercy shown from any of them.

“My child, I hate war, and I hate
bloodshed
.” He told me, shaking his head slowly, but it was more what you'd imagine a swarm of fireflies dispersing would look like.

I was so fascinated by what he looked like, that I was hardly paying
attention
like I should've been. He was so strangely beautiful, and I just couldn't help it. “I am not like them, in any way.” I heard what sounded like amusement flickering about in his voice.

“How are we supposed to fight gods, we’re humans, mortals!” I yelled at him, it was the most random burst of anger I've had in ages. But, if this was all real, I wanted answers. I didn't want to be here in confusion forever, and then be killed one day because of it. I wanted help.

“For now you are, from what other oracles have seen and said, you and your brother won't be mortals for long.” He slowly stepped
forward;
I had to squint to see him until he was fully formed once more. It was awkward, but I couldn't help how he appeared. That was up to him, not me.

“Learn what you can in each region, hone your fighting skills, and make bonds that will last. Make sure they’re with the right people, but be warned, you are in fact running ou
t
of time. I suggest no longer than two months at each, that’ll give you ten months to do what you need to do. In the end, you’ll only have weeks before an attack, don’t dawdle girl.”

“Ten months? That sounds like a long time in my opinion.” I frowned a little, looking at him. How could you not get a lot done in ten months? That was almost a year, I could get so much done in that amount of time, that I didn't get what the rush was for.

“But two months in each realm cuts out more than half the time you truly need, make sure you use every spare moment.” He began to back up, I watched him intently, and then realized that he was going to leave. “I must leave now, use my advice and you may survive. I pray you will.” He bowed to me once more, and then began to disperse everywhere. Literally his body turned into tiny light practical's that floated in the air, before they disappeared completely.

“Wait!” I yelled at where he'd been, a little too late. I didn't want him to go yet. I had so much to ask, and so much I needed to know. It wasn't fair that he was already leaving.

“Until next time child.” His voice echoed around me in the eerie way voices do in movies.
Or in your dreams, when you're in the process of waking up or moving from one dream into another.
It was creepy, and frightening, because if I didn't ask him and get answers, chances were, I was a goner.

I woke up almost instantly. My head was throbbing, and I was covered in a thick film of sweat. I threw my head back onto the mountains of pillows behind me, and tried to fall back asleep.

I just wanted to fall into a dreamless sleep this time. I mean, what kind of dream was that?
It wasn't real was it? I'd have to ask if Arbael had a specific form, or if he often visited dreams. Then I could clear this all up for myself, so that I didn't worry any longer.

It was the smart way to go, and it was what I planned on doing tomorrow, when we started our training. Joy, you'd think we could escape school here? But no, we end up in a paranormal version of it, made sense.

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Sleep didn't last as long as I wanted it to. I woke up to a loud rapping on the wooden door to my bedroom. Groaning I opened my eyes and stared up at the ceiling. Then, I heard Nixon's voice flow into my room. "Raine, time to get up, your training begins in less than a hour." I groaned again, rolled onto my stomach and pressed a pillow over my head trying to keep from screaming into it.

After a few minutes, I pulled myself up, even though to be truthful I didn't want to do anything but curl up into the fetal position and sleep more. I didn't want to see anyone, I didn't want to train, I wanted sleep. I needed sleep, badly.

I had managed to find some clothes in my dresser this time. Apparently someone had come into my room at some point and stocked the drawers for me. I pulled out a pair of pants that fit my body nearly perfectly, and was frightened by that fact.

They looked like a strange mix between jeans, and the leather pants that I had worn here originally. Pulling off my shirt and setting it down, I hunted through my dresser until I found a light blue shirt made of a thin soft fabric. It was better than wearing nothing.

When I pulled it on, I realized it was a tunic. It was longer than I thought it was, just going a few inches past my thighs. It was cut down the front of it, deeply, and then was pulled back together by a few strings.

The sleeves ended at my wrists, but hung loosely around them. I shrugged and pulled on a pair of boots, lacing them as fast as my small fingers would let me. I was really starting to miss my own
clothes;
they were simpler, and easier to put on than half this stuff was.

“Ready Raine? Talon’s already there.” Nixon called into my room from out in the hallway. I tilted my head towards the door and let out a sigh, frowning a bit I walked to the door.

“Yeah.” I walked to the door, opening it, and walked out into the hallway smiling towards him. I smoothed down my shirt, and then pulled my hair back into a ponytail. Nodding my head at him, I was ready. “Let’s go.”

We walked down the hall, until we ended up making a sudden turn. He went towards an area that was lit up brightly, there was so much space it felt empty, and yet it was full of plants. I looked around slowly, and then saw Tom sitting in the center of the room.

I walked over to him and noticed he seemed zombie like, he was just sitting there, staring at something. Fang and Talon were
nowhere
to be seen.

“What are you looking at Tom?” I asked him as I walked up to him, blinking in confusion.

He looked over at me, and then beckoned for me to come closer with his fingers. I stared at him until he actually spoke, so I knew he wasn't spacing out on me completely, and actually understood me. “Them.”

When I got closer to him, I looked where he was pointing and saw it. Towards the back of the room, you could barely see through the many plants. There were two men, who I presumed were Fang and Talon, fighting. It was a strange sight to see.

I watched as Talon swung his sword, watching Fang and waiting for him to make a move. When he finally made one it was swift and graceful, Fang lunged forward, arching his sword slightly,
and it
came down at him from the side. His own leg flew out at Talon.

Talon turned to the side, dodging his foot and raising his arm with his sword in it, both of the swords clanged off one another. Without any hesitation he spun and aimed at Fang, metal clashed again and then again. I didn't understand how Tom could watch them, and be so bored with it.

They looked like they were in a strange dance. Gliding around on the floor
,
countering each other. I saw something then that shocked me, and chilled me to the very bone.

Talon was smiling. Not a fake smile, but a very real, happy, smile while they fought. It made him look lethal, and at the same time made him that much more attractive. I was enjoying watching them
fight;
I realized Fang seemed to be enjoying it too.

The normally cruel and rude guy seemed relaxed. He was smiling too, and moving around so fluidly that it almost seemed unreal. He dodged each blow, then turned and attacked him again. It was a constant repeating of movements that were so beautiful, that they were scary.

“You guys going to do that all day, or help train these two? I’ll do it on my own if I have too.” Nixon cupped his hands around his mouth, calling out to the two men that had been fighting.

I saw Talon glance back for a brief second. Then he slid forward in a quick movement that I could barely keep track of, knocked Fang onto the floor, and pointed his sword at him. There was a huge grin on his face as he stared down at Fang.

“Fine, next time.” Fang spat as he got up and shook his head. His dark hair moved a bit with the motion. He started back towards us with Talon, and I could see the strands of sweat that were running down his face.

“If you say so, Half
-
blood.” Talon replied to him, moving closer to us. His smile was now gone, and replaced by his blank face. It made me sad to see the two of them back to this, but at the same time I knew what they loved now. They enjoyed fighting… The competition, the battle.

It was something both of them had a common love for, even if they tried to act like they didn't. The way they moved out there when we were all watching, was enough to tell anyone how much they loved what they were doing.

“So, what about Fang and you show them the basics?” Nixon tilted his head, asking Talon and Fang both. He rolled his neck and I heard a loud pop. He looked relaxed after that.

“What are you going to do, Dhampire?” Fang snarled at him, I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing at him. He was so attractive looking, but if you knew him even for a minute, you'd regret thinking that.

He was your classic tall dark and handsome. Dark hair, slight stubble on his face, gold eyes, pale skin. He was
at least
six foot five, maybe six foot six. Talon was maybe an inch taller than he was.

“Sit back, and wait till they get the basics down enough that I can teach them how to put Demon’s like you on their asses.” Nixon simply shrugged towards him. I could already see it, these guys probably all wanted to kill each other most of them time.