Harmonizer's Evolution (Balancer's Soul cycle) (69 page)

Soon he and
the
other Elders departed. All t
hat remained were the six
.

Michelle soon asked “So boss, what orders will we be having for a new assignment? When do we get started?”

Sarah made it to his side and waited for him
to give them an order.
Connor
figured it out. “While it is still dark I’ll show you who you are to work with. You four can figure out a shift system on your own. You are to stay close to the Sheriff
and if there is a disturbance you will accompany him and bring the instigators under control. And if they are
persistent
in there disturbances and won
’
t settle down, tell them that I’ll settle them down by force
if necessary
. If they need a fight to blow off some steam bring them here and
have them
wait for me. You four are not to kill anyone. Understood?”

They all nodded.

“Good, now unless there is a need for your services you can do anything you like to do
in your spare time
. Now I want the four of you to keep up with us
and remain casual
.” They understood.

Knowing exactly where Deputy Burrow’s home is
,
Connor
began running in that d
irection. Sarah easily ran by his
side. The fo
ur volunteers also ran behind them
, but
he
needed to slow
him
self so that they co
uld keep up. Soon they
left the clea
ring to enter the dark forest. He
knew Sarah, Cassie and Mar
ik couldn’t see in the dark so he
created an orb of fire as a light source so that they wouldn’t accidently run into a tree.
They
weren’t in a major hurry, but
they
didn’t slack off either.

Within ten minutes
they
had made it into town.
Connor
killed the light source because there was fair lighting for
the
continuing run.
They
didn’t
stick to streets. The six of them
silently ran between homes and over fences with childlike ease. Another two minutes later
they
made it to the back yard of the Burrow’s residence.

Everyone followed his lead as he
slowed to a human walk.
They
made
their
way over to a window tha
t
remained
dark. Through the window he
c
ould hear two distinct snores. He
stepped up to the window, reached up and knocked without shattering the glass. After five more knocks on
e of the snorers slowly awoke. He
was unable to see inside so
it was impossible to
tell who had awoken.

Then they
distinctly hear
d
a
click click
once the person exited the bed.

It was
the sound of a gun being checked.

He
turned around and calmly said “Guys, take a few steps back.”
and
they d
id and Connor
knew that they wouldn’t
be seen
with
in the shadows.

“Who’s out there?” a deep male voice asked.

“It’s just me Deputy Burrow
, Connor
. This was the only time that we could visit you. Can you please come outside and meet your new recruits?”

“Connor, it is almost twelve thirty.”
His
friend stated while turning on his bedroom light. He walked to the w
indow and opened the curtains. Connor
saw that he held his shotgun across his exposed chest. Mrs. Burrow was still dead to the world as she continued sleeping
soundly
on her belly. He then l
ifted the window to speak
through the screen. “What do you mean about my recruits?”
I
t took a few seconds for his sleep to wear off
and for him to understand
the meaning
. Once he did
,
he looked past me. “Where are they?”

He
then said “Put on a pair of pants and come out here. We can discuss this without your popgun too.”

“Oh sorry. I’ll be right out.”

Connor
returned to the silent group just as he shut the window. A minute later he arrived at the back door of his home. Once he understood why
they
met at this hour he fin
ally relaxed and met everyone. They
spoke together for close to an hour and sorted out some details.

Before
they
departed
,
Deputy Burrow’s told them to rest up and meet him at his home by seven in the morning for work. He would also get new uniforms for the four immortals so that they could work inconspicuously with the other officers of the law.
He’d also issue them guns for they couldn’t carry swords and daggers around.
He mainly wanted for Michelle to wear more clothing.

Once the four found the trail
they used
,
Sarah and Connor
flew home.

Once
they
arrived
there Mark and Kara were in the living room
,
watching a crackling fire to pass the time. They told
the parents
that the twins were fed and
went straight to sleep. They wanted
to know what went on inside the
meeting, but Sarah said that she would explain tomorrow. After
Connor’s
sister and best friend left
they
checked and both Darrel and Pearl were
still
fast asleep.

Before they
went to sleep around
four
in the morning
he showed Sarah that he
could last for
far
more than a minute and she couldn’t have been more thrilled.

Sarah woke
him
up after only
about
three hours of sleep.
They
took a quick shower and grabbed the kids before heading to the clearing. Sarah had told
him
to have a
good day. He
kissed her and made
his
way to the Elders cabins. Waiting on the side of the wall stood Head Elder Raphael as he watched the sparring matches that were already underway.

Silv
er eyes met Connor’s not long after
.
He
noticed that
t
he
Elder
wore a gray t-shirt and blue jeans
to blend in more effectively
.
His long
, straight
black hair
hung
down to his shoulder blades.
Connor had
never seen him wearing anything but his robes.
It was a remarkable change of wardrobe.
Raphael
recognized
him
with a
n
acknowledgeable
nod and Connor
returned the gesture. The very first question he asked was “How far away is
this establishment that we are going to?”

“About thirty minutes a
way by traveling in my truck.” Raphael
shook his head slowly while maintaining
constant
eye contact. “What does that mean? Don’t you want to get there?”

“That isn’t what I meant. What I meant was that we cannot travel
b
y a motorized vehicle.”

“Why
’s that
?” He looked
away in shame for a moment and Connor
realized what the
actual
problem was. “You aren’t afraid of traveling that way, but the real reason is that you
honestly
can’t.”

“That is correct.” T
he most obvious
is
question,
why
. “There has been only one mode of transportation that is capable of carrying me. That is a train. My weight is too much for just about every carriage and automobile.”
Raphael’s
silver eyes met
his
and
his
expression was asking
the old Elder
a question that didn’t need to be spoken aloud. “If you must know, I weigh
over
five thousand of your pounds.
”

f… five thousand!!! That means he’s two and a half tons. What…? How can he weigh so much and be smaller than me? His height is similar to Mark’s, but his musculature is barely above average…
Connor shook his
head in attempts to clear
the
thoug
hts that were running rampant. He
returned
his
sights on silver ones. “Since that is the case we can travel on foot. Your enormous transformation will be too easily seen.”

“Agreed. Please lead the way so we can get this over with.”

Connor
conceded and began leading the way. In
his
peripheral visio
n two Changer Guards
were
moving
in
,
to escort their elder, but Raphael waved them off.
It looks like it will just be the two of us on this trip
, huh
.

Raphael soon began walkin
g by
Connor’s
side with an ancient
pride
that
all of
the oldest immortals have in common
.
Before
he knew it they entered
the forest.

Once i
n the privacy of the
wooded area
Connor
started talking.
They
were walking
far
faster than a human, but it was a comparative stroll. “Raphael, would it be permissible if I asked you a question?”

His pace
didn’t change as he looked over
. “By all means.”

Connor’s
tone and voice was perfect to hold a pleasant conversation. “When you first arrived here
at my clearing,
I was astounded at
y
our transformation.”
Raphael
smiled while returning attention to walking. “You se
e, that is what I’ve always imagined
dragon’s to look like.
I
t was difficult for me to see that Keepers were dragons
, but you show up looking just like one
. All that I can say is wow!
…
Then Mark explained how you are the only one capable of creating such a form and that you are a Bone Changer as well. Then you tell me
of
your
extraordinary
weight and I hear you speaking about the other Changers as
Your Children
.

“Knowing this I’ve come to the realization that you were the first Changer, or at least one of the first
s
. What I would like to know is how you became the first Immortal that doesn’t have a single link to the Hallowed Mother. Keeper’s today are descendants of Afleen, Ragke
,
the third
or Sorono. Balancers were granted immortality from the Keepers and you already know about me. But I do not understand how your species came to be.
It isn’t anything like evolution, that much is certain.
Can you please enlighten me?”

Raphael didn’t glance at
him
once as
they continued
journ
eying
. He was unsurprised at
the
subject matter. Several seconds later he finally spoke.

“Everything you have said
i
s correct. I truly am the first Changer and am the father of our race
and no
,
my kind isn’t a product of evolution
. What I’m about to tell you
,
only a handful of people know. I have only told the other Elders and my direct children this story. I’m honestly surprised that Marcus hasn’t explained this
to you
already.” He finally glanc
ed at Connor
, but only for a moment before starting his story.
“Connor, keep in mind that I’ve had to hear this from someone who is no longer among us and also some guesswork on my part because at
the
time
all this occurred,
I was
still
within my mother’s womb.