The Reverence of One: Book Three of the Shadow Series (40 page)

They all stood there for what seemed forever, holding one another; each of them a new member of a family that was not related by blood, but by the path they had chosen
to follow
. One by one they broke away from Test, allowing him the ability to move. As he turned, he could see the bodies of the children lying on the floor. His heart sank.

Seeing the distress on his face, Alyssa, with her arms around his waist, gently ran a hand in a circular motion on
his
back. “You did what you could,” she spoke softly. He turned to her with a smile and her head snapped back, startled by the pleasant look that had suddenly appeared on his face.

“They’re not dead,” he stated plainly as he looked upon the children.

Overhearing the conversation, Lauren and Prim appeared at Test’s side.

“What do you mean?” asked Alyssa.

“Wouldn’t their spirits be with us if they had passed?” Test replied.

“Yes, you’re right,” answered Prim. “So why do they remain lifeless?”

A sudde
n flash appeared on their right
,
and as the group turned, Ikuhabe approached. He walked to Test, and without looking him in the eye, an intentional show of submission, Iku spoke
as he took a knee
.

“
I have lived my life in a less than honorable manner, and beg that you show me the mercy that my former master would not.”

Initially feeling a spike of rage towards the man, Test was suddenly overwhelmed with a sense of pity towards him. Laying a hand on Iku’s shoulder, Test spoke.

“All of us have done things that should not have been done, myself included. Each of us has regrettably taken the life of another, and that is something that we will have to live with for the rest of our long lives. The only thing that can be done now is to move forward and be better than we were yesterday.”

Iku raised his head, but refused to make eye contact with Test. “Thank you for your forgiveness. I don’t know where I’ll go, but I will no longer be counted among the Reapers.”

Ikuhabe’s words sparked a thought in Test.
“
Where are
Ca
sper
and Ashley?”

Seeing Test searching the room, Iku stood and spoke cautiously. “They are gone.”

Test’s eyes snapped to Iku’s who quickly looked away. “How did you know what I was doing? Are you a mind reader?”

Iku chuckled. “No. I’m observant,” he replied. “The
twins
fled the moment that Isaac fell.”

“Where did they go?” asked Test.

“I do not know,” answered Iku solemnly. “Their souls are as scorched as Isaac’s, and their conscience disappeared long ago.”

Stepping forward, Lauren spoke. “I didn’t know them well, they are young in terms of a Shadow’s life, but Ikuhabe is right. They are a wicked pair.”

Turning his head to Lauren, Test asked. “Is there reason to worry?”

Iku responded. “Your power far exceeds theirs; I don’t see them posing a threat to you.”

“
It’s not me I’m worried about
, Iku
habe
,” spoke Test commandingly.
“I’m worried about those who are in danger because of me; because of who I am and what I’ve done
.”

Bowing his head once again, the Native American replied. “They will be in hiding for some time. Though they have no conscience, your defeat of Isaac will have no doubt placed a fear in their hearts.”

As Test g
lanc
ed
over Iku’s shoulder, the bodies of the children
cemented his previous statement. Even those of whom he’
d
never met were in danger because of him. He felt an increasingly large lump develop in his throat as he
forced himself to examine each child’s face
.

Following Test’s line of sight,
Iku looked
back
over his shoulder and, without saying a word, turned and walked to the
children
. In a bright flash he disappeared from the spirit world and instantaneously reappeared on the other side. A warm blue glow filled his fingertips. One by one he touched each of the children
,
and within a matter of a minute, each of them had sat up groggily as if waking up from a long nap. Many of them began to cry, feeling their injuries that had been inflicted upon them while unconscious
, while others looked around in a daze searching for a parent or a teacher
.

Test quickly phased to the other side to join Iku, followed by Prim and Lauren.
Maggie was the first of the spirits to appear, and stepped to her son to ask a question.

“These children are frightened. Would the three of you,” she looked to both Prim and Lauren as well, and continued as she cast a watchful eye on Ikuhabe. “Would the three of you please help the others come through so that we can comfort the kids?”

Without a word, the three Shadows began to emit moderate pulses of energy. Test watched as Iku did the same.

“How did you do that?”
asked Test of Ikuhabe
, pointing to the children as the spirits took them into their arms.

Iku turned, and for the first time looked Test in the eyes. “Each of us have our own set of gifts,” he replied with a sideways grin. “Though you might not think it possible, I do have a conscience. My heart ached for these children as they were being tortured by Isaac. They are innocents in the truest form
,
not yet corrupted by others. As I approached Isaac, before I…
.
”

“Attacked Prim?” interrupted Test
.

In shame, Iku averted his gaze again. “Yes, before I attacked the male, I touched one of them as I passed. Their bodies were held together so tightly that I was able to
g
rant
them peace
with the touch of only one.”

Suddenly realizing the significance of the Native American’s gift, Test folded his arms across his chest and asked, “Not that I’m disappointed, but why haven’t you used this gift before? Why not use it on me the moment I walked through the door?” Test trembling voice revealed a glimpse of the emotion that he was forcing himself to keep contained.

“Because he can’t,” said Lauren as she stepped to Test’s side. “It only works on humans.” Lauren’s eyes met Iku’s and each of them bowed their head in recognition of the other.

Prim stepped forward and glared cautiously at Iku. “Is that what you did to the girl—to Nicole?” he asked.

Again, with a quick glance solely to acknowledge his presence, Iku spoke to Prim. “I am very sorry for the loss of your friends. I am ashamed that I allowed it to happen.
Unfortunately I was not able to comfort your friend—Nicole.
Ca
sper
was the first to find her, and the girl arrived in that state.”

Alyssa, with a young Asian American girl in her arms, approached the group. “I have a question?” she stated. “If Nicole and Jenz...,” she paused, barely able to say the word, “died, why aren’t they here with us. Wouldn’t they return as a spirit like me?”

Lauren reached out and wiped a tear from the child’s cheek as she rested her head on Alyssa’s shoulder. “I’m afraid not,” she replied, her chin dimpling as her bottom lip quivered. “When a Reaper takes a life in the manner that yours was taken, you
r
energy still exists. When…
.
” A rush of emotion came over her as she struggled to continue. “The way that Isaac to
ok
their lives, everything is destroyed.”

As she fell into his arms, Prim held Lauren tightly and finished the explanation. “Everything is shattered at the molecular level. That is why it was so fitting for you to say that Test shattered
when we ended Isaac’s life.”

“Then how is Test still
…?
”

“I don’t know,” replied Prim as he gave Test a curious look. “It appears that Isaac’s fear
s
were well founded.”
He looked to Iku who immediately looked away. Without thinking
and in a snap of emotion
, he gripped Iku’s cheeks and forced him to look him in the eye. “Jenz was my friend,” he said with a cracked voice. “She was my mother. She didn’t birth me, but she took me in when I was
a
new Shadow. She taught me right from wrong; the proper use of power.”

Test raised his hand and gently removed Prims grip from Iku’s face.

“I know that words cannot mend the pain brought upon you,” replied Ikuhabe, “but you have my sincerest sympathies.”

Prim watched through tear blurred vision as Iku offered him his hand. He stared at it for a moment, and was startled as Lauren’s hand reached out to take it.

Iku stared at Lauren with a stone chiseled face, but his eyes showed the pain that he felt inside.

“I forgive you, Iku,” said Lauren, her head leaning on Prim’s chest. “These people gave me a second chance. It would be wrong of me not to offer you the same.”

Hearing Lauren’s words and knowing she was right didn’t make things easier for Prim. He slowly lifted his arm and, hesitati
ng
for a brief moment, rested his hand on top of Lauren’s as it still held Iku’s.

Ikuhabe released a forceful sigh, signaling the
relief that
their forgiveness
provided him.

Their hands hung in the air for a moment before Test placed his on top of Prim’s. “What do we do now?” he asked.

“We go home,” answered Prim, pulling his hand from the pile. He looked to Iku, and in a moment of trust offered him refuge. “You are welcome to come with us.”

Iku’s eyes widened with surprise. “Thank you, but no. I would not want to
.
…”

“You should come,” interrupted Lauren with a stern look. “The world can be a lonely place, and loneliness can cause a person to do things that they wouldn’t ordinarily do.”

“We shall see,” he replied. “I will taste the world on my own terms for a while. The time will come when our paths will cross again.” He looked to Prim. “Peacefully,” he added.

An electrical sound suddenly caught the attention of the group. Craning their head
s
to the left, they noticed, for the first time, a camera perched atop of the center archway on the front wall.

“Looks like we’re all going to be the main story on the ten o’clock news,” blurted Cliff sarcastically, suddenly appearing at Test’s side.

Test looked down at the old man and draped an arm over his small frame, squeezing him tightly with a side hug.

“I expect we best get goin’,” said the old man. “Thought I saw your old friend Dawson out there when we came in. I’m sure he’s foamin’ at the mouth right now to come bustin’ through the walls.”

Test scoffed at the mention of Agent Dawson. “I’m sure your right. I think we’ve all dealt with enough confrontation today.” He turned to Iku. “You sure you won’t come with us?”

Ikuhabe nodded
with
his response. “As I said, I’m sure our paths will cross again. Thank you for your forgiveness.”

Iku lowered his head to Test once more and then phased from sight.

With his arm still around Cliff, Test saw his father standing amongst the spirits while holding a little boy in his arms. “Will you come?” he shouted.

“I don’t think so,” answered Colby as he walked slowly towards his son. “You have a life,” he looked around to the others surrounding Test. “You have a family. Today has given me a peace that will allow me to move on.” He rested a hand on his son’s shoulder. “I’m very proud of you.”

Removing his arm from Cliff, Test hugged his father for the first time in his life. It was something that he’d never imagined being possible. “Thank you,” said Test as he pulled away. “It was good to finally—meet you.”

Colby turned to Cliff. “Thank you for taking care of my son. I am in your debt.”

Shaking Colby’s hand, Cliff replied. “It’s been my pleasure. He’s a good boy.”

“I can see that,” answered Colby
as he glanced to Test with a proud grin
.

Setting the little boy in his arms down on the floor, Colby said goodbye and simply walked away, fading into the background of the room.

With a small sense of fulfillment, Test looked to Prim and Lauren. Addressing Prim, he spoke sincerely. “I’m
very
sorry about Jenz.”

“Me too,” replied Prim. “Sorry about Nicole as well.”

His
eyes suddenly beginning to well up, he opened his mouth to speak but couldn’t find the words. There was nothing that would make her death alright. He couldn’t even say that she was in a better place. Unable to formulate a response, he simply nodded as he bit his bottom lip.

“Let’s go home,” said Prim as he patted him gently on the back.

Maggie, Cliff, and Alyssa by their side, the three Shadows looked over the remaining spirits who continued to comfort the children.