Elder (25 page)

“What’s different about us?” she asked.

“We’re part of the eight.”

Derian and Harold approached, followed by hosts of Mercesti and Waresti. They looked around the group. Derian heard what Ini-herit said and repeated, “The eight?”

“The eight beings needed to activate the Elder Scroll,” Ini-herit clarified.

He walked over to Eirik and reached inside his furred vest. After a moment of searching, he pulled out the two pieces of parchment that had caused all of them such pain and trouble.

Holding them up and scanning the growing audience, he said, “I don’t know how much Eirik shared with all of you, but he was seeking the Elder Scroll in hopes that he would ascend to the position of the Mercesti elder. He sought power, not caring who he hurt to acquire it. What he didn’t understand was that we created the scroll with the loophole that only the elders can select the being to whom it will be applied.”

His gaze moved to Zachariah. Clara Kate’s breath caught. That was why all of the elders—in whatever form they were in at the moment—now stood behind him.

Frowning, Zachariah glanced over his shoulder as though expecting to find that Ini-herit was looking at someone else. Then his head lifted and he took two steps back. She realized that he could now see the other elders. His stunned reaction made her smile.

Stepping forward, she produced the third scroll piece. “So…what do you say, Zachariah?” she asked.

“Bloody hell,” he replied.

Chapter 41

Zachariah caught the steady gazes of the elders. Somehow, he could read their expressions even though their faces were still and unsmiling. What he saw confirmed Ini-herit’s comments.

Running a hand through his hair, he turned and looked at Tate. He felt her awe as she processed what her cousin had just offered on behalf of the elders. A wide smile spread across her face as she held his gaze. Her thoughts told him that she believed this was the most amazing offer ever made and they were absolutely making the right choice. Of course, her opinion was rather skewed.

His attention shifted to Derian. The male who had served as the leader over the Mercesti allies for many years seemed a more logical choice to be an elder, in Zachariah’s opinion. He had created and overseen a thriving community, a shelter for Mercesti who had been forced to convert like he had been. He had stepped in to aid the elders in their cause without hesitation, wanting only to do what was right for all Estilorians. Yes, Derian was worthy of the role.

Then, as he looked him in the eye, Derian crossed his right arm over his chest and went to one knee. The deeply respectful gesture was reserved for elders. He was offering his support of the elders’ choice. His support of Zachariah.

One by one, the rest of the Mercesti in the area followed suit, all the way out as far as Zachariah could see. He couldn’t process it at first. Less than three months ago, he was living on the run with Nyx, hiding from what he had done and who he had become. Now he was being offered the role of the Mercesti elder.

You are worthy
.

The cacophony of voices whispered through his mind, addressing his unvoiced doubt. He sensed both his family and the elders offering their support. Their confidence in him was humbling and unexpected.

Then Nyx nudged him. He looked into her mysterious eyes and sensed her approval. For the first time, he didn’t flinch when he saw his reflection in her faceted gaze.

He was a Mercesti.

“How does this work?” he asked at last.

A flurry of excitement resulted from the simple question. Ini-herit and Clara Kate set the pieces of the scroll on the sand, then held out their hands so the eight of them could create a circle around it. Zachariah took Tate’s hand on one side and Clara Kate’s on the other.

The moment the eight of them connected, the wind picked up. The scroll pieces lit with brilliant energy along every edge, each piece lifting from the ground. Ini-herit conveyed the contents of the last piece so that the words were in everyone’s minds. Then he silently gave the order for them to recite the scroll.

“Should time and Fate both dictate

That nine Elders become eight

Let not their power and sway

Fade like the light of the day.

~ - ~

By this scroll may power flow

So another’s skill may grow

And from eight will one become

Mightier than anyone.”

As they spoke the last word of the first piece, it flared so bright that they all had to close their eyes. Zachariah felt a surge of energy unlike anything he’d ever experienced. It centered in his chest and pulsed through his body. Opening his eyes, he realized the first piece had vanished.

After exchanging glances with his family, he nodded. The wind whipped around them as they spoke the next words.

“To unfurl the force herein

Eight journeys must now begin;

Once separate and undefined

Different paths somehow align.

~ - ~

One most pure in blood and soul,

One with too much self-control,

One conceived of age and might,

One who dwells ‘tween dark and light.”

This time, they knew to close their eyes. Beyond his eyelids, Zachariah sensed the second piece light up and disappear, sending its power to him. He felt as though the energy cycling through him was going to burst from his chest. He didn’t know how he’d ever contain it.

Once again, he sensed the presence of the elders in his mind. They told him that they understood, and everything would be okay. By doing this, he was making all of them stronger.

After taking a moment to center himself, he opened his eyes and nodded again. They spoke the words of the final scroll piece.

“One of two knows truth from lies,

One of two the truth defies,

One who finds what once was lost,

One whose form with nature crossed.

~ - ~

Should these eight ever unite,

From this scroll shall strength ignite,

Revealing the Elder new

By whose actions they imbue.”

Zachariah braced himself for the last surge of power, hoping he had the strength to contain it. This time, however, the sensation that rushed through him didn’t feel overwhelming or uncontrollable. In fact, it seemed to steady him. Now, the power coursing through him felt stable. More natural.

“That’s because it is natural now,” Jabari said.

Looking to his right, Zachariah watched the elders approach. He realized they were back in their normal forms and Gabriel was no longer among them.

“Gabriel will congratulate you when we return to his homeland and complete the elder bonding ritual with both you and Clara Kate,” Jabari said. “He wishes he could be here.”

Zachariah nodded. He started to reply, but Tate grabbed him and kissed him. He couldn’t help but respond to her. Only after a minute did he register the cheering. He pulled away from her as the noise died down. She grinned up at him.

“So…this is what you look like with red eyes and markings,” she said, trailing a finger along his bicep. “It’s sexy.” When his eyebrows lifted, she added, “I’m so proud of you, Sparky.”

Her conveyed emotion had a corner of his mouth lifting. Then Derian echoed, “Sparky?”

Zachariah’s gaze narrowed. He opened his mouth to respond, only to hear seven voices chime, “Don’t
ever
call him that.”

Blinking in surprise, he looked again at his family. They all gazed at Derian with serious expressions. Tiege even shook his head to punctuate the statement.

Zachariah couldn’t help himself. He threw back his head and laughed.

Clara Kate slept during most of the trip back to her homeland. Due to the distance they had traveled to recover the last scroll piece, the trip took two days. She didn’t remember most of it.

She spent time with her family and the other elders on the evening after they defeated Eirik and Metis. They all needed to discuss what they’d been through. Talking about it would help them work through it…eventually.

Grief still held her in its grip. There had been many more casualties than they’d anticipated thanks to Eirik’s volatile weapons, but Alexius’ death hit her most keenly. She would always bear the weight of guilt because Metis had garnered the idea of the weapon from her mind.

The elders revealed that Metis had been captured. They didn’t go into detail about what they intended to do with her, but Clara Kate imagined she’d find out soon enough. Once she was joined in thought with the other elders, she’d have access to all of the information they retained.

“It wasn’t long after we stopped Metis that we were called by the Elder Scroll,” Malukali explained as they all ate a meal together. “Once you all acquired the final scroll piece, we were summoned.”

Jabari said, “We had decided to offer Zachariah the role of Mercesti elder prior to today, but we didn’t anticipate that decision rendering us powerless until the scroll was imbued.”

“We have never created anything as powerful as that scroll,” Knorbis added, “or we would have prepared you. We’re sorry that you were left without our aid while confronting Eirik.”

Clara Kate didn’t blame the elders for what had happened. She believed enough in the power of fate to believe that all of this had been outside of their control. In the end, Eirik had been defeated. It was just a shame it had come at such a price.

Ariana didn’t speak much as they traveled. Tiege offered her comfort whenever she needed it, taking her away from the others when her emotions got the best of her. During those times, Clara Kate sensed Zachariah’s sadness. The Mercesti elder felt responsible for the blood on Ariana’s hands, though he couldn’t have prevented that any more than she could have stopped Metis from invading her mind.

She hoped he found some solace while rebuilding his class in the coming years. Judging by his in-depth conversations with Derian, Melanthe and Verryl, he was well on his way to naming his core leaders. They would have quite the task ahead of them, rooting out potential dissention within the class like they had encountered with the traitorous Oria. Clara Kate was confident they could do it, though.

When she reached her homeland at last, she expected to be relieved. She wanted to feel safe and welcome, the feelings she always experienced when at home. Instead, anxiety continued to swirl like a cesspool in her heart.

Then she saw her parents. Her dad held her gaze as she neared. She couldn’t read anything in his blue-gray eyes, but he opened his arms to her.

She threw herself against him and cried as though her life was ending. It took him and her mother several hours to calm her down. Outside of commenting that he was too young to be a grandfather—and finally making her laugh—her dad didn’t discuss what had happened between her and Ini-herit on the human plane. She was eternally grateful for that.

She got to see how big her baby brother, Jack, had gotten even in the short amount of time she was gone. She talked to her mom about her wedding, which her mom said was ready whenever Clara Kate was. She seemed genuinely happy about her coming grandbaby. Clara Kate knew she’d be relying a lot on her mother’s strength in the months to come.

As the sun set that evening, she walked with Ini-herit along the cliffs beside her parents’ home. He held her hand and rubbed the ring on her finger.

“How are you feeling?” he asked after they had walked a while in silence.

Although he could easily sense her thoughts and emotions, she appreciated him asking. “I’m a little better,” she said. “My parents are so supportive. I’m really lucky.”

“I’m glad. But that’s not what I meant.”

She sighed. Coming to a stop, she gazed out over the vast moonlit ocean. “I know, Harry. In all honesty, I’m sad. I’ll never forget what Alexius sacrificed for me…for all of us.”

He pulled her against him, absorbing some of the chill that blew in from the water. “You shouldn’t forget him, Angel. Alexius was a good guy. He loved you, and I can’t fault him for that. I’ll miss him.”

A tear escaped and she wiped at her cheek. “Thanks for understanding, Harry.”

“Of course.” Tipping her face up so he could look into her eyes, he said, “I was thinking that you might even want to name our son after him.”

“Our…” Her eyes widened. “You can tell?”

“Yep. Our baby’s a boy.”

Sorrow lifted from her heart as she absorbed the news. His smile reflected such happiness that she couldn’t help but respond to it. She knew then that there would be no more room for grief with all of the love he had just generated.

Pulling him close, she kissed him, taking the moment to just appreciate what she had in him. They had suffered loss, yes. But life and love also awaited them. They had overcome so much to get where they were now. She had faith that whatever came in the future, they would get through it together.

Epilogue

Clara Burke had lived a full life, but she knew her time was near. She had been in the hospital for almost two weeks, hooked up to every manner of machine.

And she was tired. So tired.

When she wasn’t having another test done, she enjoyed visits from her friends and loved ones. Her neighbors dropped by every time they were able, bringing her things that she enjoyed to make her days more comfortable and as filled with love as possible.

She especially enjoyed visits from the children she had fostered over the years. She wasn’t sure how word got around, exactly, but she had seen young people that she never expected to see again. A few of them even traveled all the way to Newnan from across the country just to tell her goodbye. It made her happy to see how much they had all accomplished.

Now, she lay in her hospital bed and tried to sleep as the night darkened her room. The pain kept her awake. Although she disliked taking medication, she just might have to ask the night nurse for something to help.

A soft knock on her door had her turning her head. She saw the nice young doctor who had just introduced himself to her earlier that day. What did he say his name was? Dr. Quinn? No, that was a female doctor she had seen in television reruns. Her brow furrowed in confusion.

“Good evening, Mrs. Burke,” he said as he walked into her room. She certainly remembered his Australian accent and lovely gray eyes. “Do you remember me? I’m Dr. Quincy.”

“Of course,” she said, offering him a smile. “Such a polite young man.”

He returned the smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I haven’t been called young in many years, but thank you.” He lifted her chart from its place at the foot of her bed and gave it a quick scan. His gaze moved to the beeping machines, assessing them with a knowledgeable eye. “How are you feeling tonight?”

“I’m tired,” she said. “But I can’t sleep.”

“I see. Any pain?”

“Yes.” She met his gaze. She was comforted by the true empathy she saw there. “I’m dying, aren’t I?”

He started to speak, but he must have read something in her expression. He replied, “Yes, ma’am. I’m afraid so.”

For some reason, hearing someone say it eased her fear. She nodded in acceptance. The relief she felt seemed out of place. She believed in living life to the fullest. But the time was right.

“I know this is a little unusual,” he said, reaching out and touching her hand, “but there are a few people here to see you.”

“Now?”

“Yes.”

“All right.”

He didn’t even look to the door or call out, but the room was soon full of people. She looked at the first two and smiled.

“Harry…Clara Kate.” She accepted their hugs, delighted to see them. “Thank you for coming to say goodbye.”

“Oh, they’re not here to say goodbye, Mrs. B.”

Her eyes widened at the sound of a voice she hadn’t heard in almost twenty years. Harry and Clara Kate stepped away and revealed the next two people who had entered the room. For a moment, she wondered if she was in the grip of a pain-induced hallucination.

“Gabriel? Amber?”

“It’s us, Mrs. B,” Gabriel said, stepping closer and bringing Amber with him. “We’re sorry we didn’t get a chance to tell you goodbye all of those years ago.”

Tears threatened her. “I know you had your reasons. But…you still look so young.”

“Well, where we’re from, aging works very differently.”

“I see,” she said. And she did.

“We’d like to tell you more about it,” Amber said. “We’re hoping you’ll want to come back with us.”

Dr. Quincy took her hand. A sense of peace and rightfulness settled over her. Looking around and meeting the gazes of those she had nurtured into adulthood, she knew she didn’t need convincing.

“I’m ready,” she said. “Bring me home.”