Destiny's Key

By Evelyn A. Martínez Burgos

The real Chosen have discovered that in order to search for the Key to the Goddess' prison, they must begin to search for it in another country. To do that, they must join forces with Kayta's brother and the Prime Minister's bodyguard, Jav. Along the way, two enemies must put aside their differences to join them as well: Davecon, Selud's prodigy, and Lafa, the country's most wanted thief. In their quest, loyalties will be put to the test, suspicions between them could destroy their alliance, and with Merry Beck, the one who has trusted the Chosen since the beginning, kidnapped, their urgency to kind the Key and the real Chosen of Power grows.
This week just keeps getting weirder and weirder.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evelyn A. Martínez Burgos
• Release date: Jun 27, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311921260

Evelyn A. Martínez Burgos

Evelyn was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. When she was five years old, her family moved to Florida and since then has been living there. Her love for art, reading, and writing was born there and endlessly spends her days daydreaming of everything. Her middle name is Alondra, and so, her nickname is Eve Alo, with an endless list of others. A bookworm, that's what you might call her, and she is. Alongside with this, Evelyn is an artist, writer, a serious video game player, and takes studying pretty seriously. You never know what you get with her when you know her for real. She prefers to listen to 80's music and spends most of her time daydreaming of different world, although it makes sense with an artist and writer.

Book preview

The night sky was its usual self: full of nebulae that formed many different shapes as the clouds did during the day, and the stars forming constellations. The only difference to others was that the one of the moons was a crescent white while the other was full and gold. The whistling of the leaves in the forest were hypnotizing and the sounds of night birds and insects making their natural sounds sounded like an entire band playing in perfect harmony, although it didn’t help settle the nerves. The queens and remaining king couldn’t seem to find any rest even after three years of war.

Gavin’s brother had wreaked havoc everywhere wherever Chas, Rissa, and Haley went. They refused to lead their army to battle themselves, leaving that job to their most trusted general and friend, Kye, alongside his wife, Gypt. But even so, the general and his wife always discussed battle tactics and complicated problems with the king and queens, but there were worse problems than the war itself. Haley, Chas, and Rissa refused to believe that Gavin was dead. Since before the war had started, they had been searching around all of Selud for their leader, their friend, their brother most importantly. The rumors were everywhere. The west seemed to think that Gavin was dead, giving all of his power to his brother, as if. The south seemed to believe that Gavin was alive and had given his brother all of his essence, but then turned into a coward and that’s why he was hiding, and then there’s the east, the land where everyone thought that Gavin was dead, but that half of his essence of Power was in his son and the other in his brother.

The sound of dry leaves breaking interrupted the thoughts of Haley and Chas, sitting on the ground side by side in front of a fire.

It’s Rissa, Chas said in the old language, three minutes before the fugitive queen appeared.

The queen was obviously tired, sunken in cheeks and darkness under her eyes, her silver chainmail and dress tattered in the hem and her white gleaming armor shining and new under the light of the fire and night sky.

We were worried, Haley hugged her friend. Aside from eyes and hair color, they could’ve passed as sisters by their armor and wan skin.

Do not worry my Sister, all is well, Rissa reassured her.

Do the Spirits and Souls have any idea of the whereabouts of Gavin? Chas asked.

Rissa nodded. I wish it were not real.

What has happened?

The rumors were true. Gavin is dead, Rissa cried.

It cannot be, Haley exclaimed.

And yes, half of his essence is within his wretched brother and the other with his son.

Haley sat back down and cried. The shock was too much: their friend was dead. For three years, they had been denying that possibility and now, their biggest fear had come true. Chas sat beside his beloved wife as he tried to comfort her, but he felt just as terrible.

What now? he asked.

I do not know, Rissa admitted, sitting down beside her friends.

We must keep going, Haley said.

Haley, Chas answered.

We must, she pressured. Gavin would have wanted to for us to try and defeat his brother and to protect our children, and his wife of course.

Of course, but we must take things step by step, Rissa argued.

Starting by waiting for Kye, Chas agreed. He’ll get here soon.

A few minutes later, Kye, a man with dark brown hair and silver hair roots appeared, dressed in white and scratched armor, his wife, Gypt, beside him, and dressed similar to the queens. After a few moments of welcoming the general and his wife and sitting down by the fire, everyone got ready for the news each were eager and not too eager to share.

Is Rewy alright? Rissa asked, worried for her husband.

Safe and well, Kye assured her.

Who has won the battle? Chas questioned.

This one goes to us. Everyone has started it calling the Battle of the Angered Mountain, Gypt answered.

Did the mountain explode? Haley gasped.

It was about to when we left. I can only assume it did after a while, Kye said. What about Gavin? Any luck?

The king and queens remained silent. Rissa whispered, Heaven has gained its Angel back.

With four fingers pressed to their lips and then pointing it to the sky, Kye and Gypt pray for an eternal and restful peace for the deceased King of Power.

What now? Kye asks.

We, ourselves, are still at loss, Haley answered.

Maybe with Izol’s help? Chas wondered.

We cannot count on him now, Kye argued.

Well, why not? He can be trusted, Rissa said.

He is too far away for us to reach at this very moment, Gypt explained, regretfully.

The others, save for the General and his wife, were puzzled, but it only took moments to understand the meaning of their message, at least for Chas, who stood, trying to deny the idea even though it was very real after Reading minds in a few moments. He started swearing as he continued to Read minds, trying to figure a way throughout the new problem they were all in.

Chas what is it? Haley asked.

Izol has been captured, he answered.

No, Haley denied.

What now? With Gavin… and Izol now captured, there isn’t much we can do ourselves, Rissa said.

You are the king and queens of Selud, there must be something, Kye argued.

Yes, but our powers are diminishing too quickly and our very children are too weak for that very reason, as far as we know, for we are not planning on letting them getting involved into this war.

Are you truly planning on letting the idea of the Chosen slip into your minds? You would be sending Selud to years of darkness!

Of course not! We will do everything within our reach to save Selud now and forever, but even the greatest leaders have to take the most extreme solutions to solve the most extreme problems, Haley says.

Please. Just thinking about all this does not help what hope there is for our world and our future generations, Gypt pleaded.

Let us not think of this, Chas interrupted. Let us rest tonight, for tomorrow; we will seek whatever allies we have to find our friend, for all is not lost.

PART I

ENEMIES

1

Now

Learn from the past, set vivid, detailed goals for the future and live only in the moment in time over which you have any control: now.

-Denis Waitely

Z

A

M

I ran out of the library, turning to my left and started walking as soon as I turned around a corner. I pulled down my hat over my jade green eyes to hide them better. My clothes had now changed to a brown corduroy jacket, purple shirt, jeans, and black leather shoes. Two security guards pass my side and it takes all my will to not laugh by how they had not even taken a second glance at me. I kept walking, blending in with the crowd of the people of Alzar, capital of both the state of Cerrulion and our country Selud.

That was close I thought.

Maybe next time I should let them catch you Linka answers bitterly.

I smirk, but keep walking. As I walk, I think how ridiculous it was to be caught in such an easy mission, but then again, they always are. After finally reaching the Eveanga Mountains, we stayed there. During our first few weeks of winter within the valley, our powers were going crazy and miraculously enough, we weren’t caught. I discovered that my second power was to protect our own powers from Rasna’s localizing powers. Linka honed her creating powers and eventually discovered her mirage powers, which weren’t still too trustworthy. As for Kayta, who also learned how to use her invisibility powers as I did with mind and protective powers, she learned of and how to teleport. With our powers, and with Beck’s help, we created a small town that would attract all those descendants of the First Four army, which reacted like flies to rotten fruit. There were some who stayed, and those who left who were still loyal but lived outside of the town. The people outside the town (now city,) called it the Hidden City. Asides from being appropriate, it was the only thing they could call it if they literally didn’t want to choke trying to say the real name of the city outside from the perimeter of the City, but inside, the people called it Pillowstone because although it was as comfortable as a city, we lived among the mountains.

Between building the City and scouring for information about both, the descendant of Gavin and the salvation of the Goddess, things have been like that for the last year and eight months. Today wouldn’t be different: enter another library, look for some useful, although most likely useless information and then meet at a rendezvous point, but as most missions, we were followed down. At least today, I got away in time. Without Reading the minds of Kayta and Linka or even Looking at what they were looking, I could only hope they had escaped safely and we would meet with Beck at the Empire State Building.

I stop walking after a couple of blocks, in front of a building that was being stared at by an ever-growing crowd of teens coming down from a school bus. They all were wearing that ridiculous white and green shirt of Selud K-12 School. I then remembered that every year, the sophomores had a field trip to Governor’s Hall, where they got to meet with the Prime Minister and his personal bodyguard, who also happened to be the boss of every other guard within the building. Moreover, the guard was the youngest in history, starting at the age of fifteen and was now going to be seventeen somewhere in the end of April.

All of a sudden, I felt someone cover my mouth and pull me away from the crowd. My hat fell and I was suddenly pushed against a wall. Curved white wall of stone and a glass window, definitely part of Government Hall but hidden well enough from everyone else. I looked down, avoiding to look around anywhere else and to avoid any recognition from the person who grabbed me.

Look what we’ve got here! The Prince of Courage in person! Rasna will be glad for that, the man said.

For the love of Naria! It had to be an APK guy. APK, as in, All-Powerful Knights. Something like the KGB, only ten times worse because it always had a way to find anyone loyal to Pillowstone, or if lucky, the Chosen. I looked up, knowing it was no use hiding the fact of who I was anymore.

Zam Thos Miller, the man said. There were two other men with him, all blonde and sharp, angular looking faces. Most likely brothers.

It may be written with a Z, but it’s pronounced with an S, and if any of you had any decency, you wouldn’t use my second name, it sounds like toes and it ticks me off, I pleaded.

Honestly, I couldn’t care less, Your Highness, the man sneered. Hey, come to think of it, Rasna said to take you and the girls in, if we found them, but he never did specify whether hurt or safe. Which do you prefer?

Obviously being where I don’t see any of your ugly faces, but since you asked politely, I answer simply.

I punch the man in the gut, quickly grabbing him by the shoulders and sending him sprawling to the ground. One of his brothers runs at me, but I punch him square in the jaw and push him towards his other brother, both falling to the ground.

I wonder if the cells here in Government Hall are still kept clean for anyone we catch before we call the cops, a voice says.

We turn and see a guy climbing off from the window with short red hair. White shirt and black pants with a holster to hold his gun, the guy was definitely a guard of the Minister. But I knew something else; he was Jav Burke, the Prime Minister’s personal bodyguard.

Linka I asked.

Done she reassured me.

I wasn’t sure how I looked now to anyone around me; I just hoped it had been in time that Jav hadn’t realized who I was and that it would be enough for me to escape.

Get out of here boy, one of the brothers said. Not your fight.

I think it is, Jav answers passively. I may be protecting the leader of our country, but I also have a duty to protect innocents such as him. Not to mention that my authority surpasses that of the APK.

You spoiled brat. Just because you have been working for the Minister since fifteen doesn’t mean you’re better than us, another brother said.

Never said that.

The brother who had grabbed me lunges at Jav, but he’s ready. He gets out of the way, grabbing the left arm and twisting it in a painful angle. He sends him to the floor after kicking the man in the back of the knees. One of the other brothers grabs me from behind and starts strangling me. I push him back against the wall, hitting him at least twice against it until he lets go. I elbow him, knocking him out while his other brother comes right at me. Halfway through his punch, I grab his fist, catching him by surprise, which I take the advantage by kicking him to the floor. He and his other brother hesitate once they stand up, but one more look to Jav and me, and they decide against it. They quickly pick up their unconscious brother and leave. The crowd of kids that had been earlier was gone and so were the buses, the occasional passerby walking away without a care of acknowledgement of what had happened.

Thanks, I nod at Jav.

No problem, Zam, he sneers.

I flinch and sigh. Never mind Linka.

Whatever power you were using just now, let me tell you, it worked, Jav acknowledges.

What you just saw wasn’t really my power, but thanks anyways.

So… is the City real?

What have you heard of it?

Just the occasional rumor.

Take a word of advice: don’t trust everything you hear.

Zam? Goddess, where have you… been, Kayta appears, wearing a black leather jacket with a brown hoodie covering her hair, a pair of dark sunglasses, jeans, and white sneakers. Even with the sunglasses, I could tell she was shocked, which surprised me as much as it freaked me out.

Yeah, you know, escaping trouble, just as we are about to do, again, I say, pulling her by her arm away, but she doesn’t budge and keeps standing, still as a statue.

Jav? she whispers.

Jav’s eyes widen in shock. Kayta?

Kayta takes her hoodie and sunglasses off. Jav takes a step backward, turning as pale as his shirt, looking like he had just seen a ghost. Wha- What are you doing here? he asks.

Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that question? Kayta demands.

I- I…

All this time and you were here?

I can explain.

There’s no time, I interrupt, Reading the minds of at least five other APK people coming our way. APK. We have to go, now.

Kayta seems to react and turns, but Jav reacts as well and grabs Kayta by her arm. Just then, Linka appears. She groans and her mirage comes off, her blonde curls cascading down her back and her neon orange eyes shining. Really Kayta? she complains.

Let go of me, Kayta hisses.

Kayta, please, Jav pleads.

"The more time I spend here, the more time we spend here, the more in danger we all are."

I can hide you.

What?! the rest of us exclaim.

I’m the Minister’s bodyguard and I know a few good places here in the Hall that can keep the three of you safe. I can promise that, please, Jav explains.

I was pretty sure Kayta and Jav had something between them, which made the situation all the more confusing what with him promising us, something we took very sacred, something Kayta had taught us something even Jav apparently took just as serious. Whether he was saying the truth was also hard, his mind rushing with different ideas and I could trust Kayta’s impeccable intuition. She wasn’t good whether someone was telling the truth, she was the best. We had less than a minute and we could only wait for Kayta’s hesitating response.

Alright, she finally says.

Jav nods and heads back to the window. He climbs back in, with me following. We both help Linka and Kayta climb in and once we’re sure we are all inside, Jav shuts the window close.

2

Past

A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.

-Marcus Garvey

L

I

N

K

A

Silently, Jav guides us through a series of confusing hallways until we reach a door that leads down a set of stairs. As we walk, I see that Jav keeps turning back to look at Kayta, who acts as if it were something we would do every day. I can’t say I’m surprised, Kayta always acted as if everything was normal.

How do you know Jav? Aside from the news I ask Zam.

Arual’s ex Zam answers.

Wait, she dated that Jav Burke? I exclaim.

One and only as far as I know.

Arual was one of Zam’s adoptive sisters and a friend of mine, at least before the Chosen Lottery. We hadn’t seen her since then. She had told me about Jav but I had never met him until now. Arual never told me why they had broken up, only that they had left of as friends.

We stopped in front of a steel door, where Jav takes out a key and unlocks it. Inside is a large room with cells divided by bars. They are all empty, save for some clean cots and polished floors and a small desk to our right. The light reflects from the floor from the florescent lights coming from the ceilings.

It’s the only place no one watches and if anyone does happen to come here it must be something really bad, Jav explains.

Such as harboring fugitives? I ask.

As of lately, he answers.

We remain standing, an awkward silence falling between us as Zam, Kayta, and I take in our surroundings.

What are you all doing here in Alzar? Jav wonders.

Looking for answers, Zam answers.

Wish I could find them from someone, Kayta mutters.

Kayta, Jav starts.

I don’t even want to hear it Jav, not now, Kayta snaps.

Jav sighs. How are the Twins?

Safe.

Windfall?

Worried sick.

At least that’s normal.

Static seems to fill the air, along with garbles sounds. Jav? Jav, are you there? Over. Jav brings his watch close to his mouth.

I’m here, he answers.

Merry Sherry is here. Over, the voice answers from his watch.

10-4. I’ll be there in a few minutes. Over and out, Jav answers.

Jav turns to look at us for a moment and then says, I’ll be gone for some time. Again, you’ll be safe here as long as you stay.

Thanks, Kayta says.

Jav nods and then leaves, closing the door behind him. Kayta groans and then leans against the bars of one of the cells and slides down to the floor, covering her face. Zam turns to look at me and I shrug. As if I had any idea what was going on between the two of them. Zam and I walk over to her, sitting down beside her in either side.

What was that? I asked.

Nothing, she answers, her voice muffled.

‘Nothing’? I exclaim. You don’t know anyone Zam and I know, and although I never met Jav, Zam did, and that’s enough to get me worried. Didn’t you say once you were never with anyone?

Of course I haven’t been with anyone! I was being honest about that back in the Fourth Temple as I am being now, Kayta argued.

Then you can trust us by telling us the truth about what’s going on between you and Jav, Zam says calmly.

Kayta doesn’t say anything right away, only looks to a wall with her scarlet red eyes, almost as if she were searching for an answer to our already more than complicated life. She sighs and looks down at her hands, picking at her already short nails.

Jav was-is… is my brother, she finally says.

She looks up to us, and I guess she notices the shock in our faces when she starts shaking her head.

Goddess, no, he’s not my brother by blood, she clarifies. Have you heard of the Anilorac? The ritual where two people, or more, magically bond to be siblings and makes us swear to protect each other? The one illegal everywhere except in Overseas State?

Zam and I nod.

Well, because Windfall Island is in Overseas State, not to mention the capital, Jav and I did it when we were six, Kayta explains.

So, wait, you’re Bonded with him? I ask.

Kayta nods and says, We met, at least to my memories, when we were five. We did the Anilorac a couple of days after my sixth birthday. My sisters didn’t agree at first, but Jav was quick to convince them. Asides from the people who were raising us, Jav and the Twins were the closest thing to family I was able to show to any stranger. But time changed that.

We can see that, Zam says.

It happened two years ago, on an April one, Kayta continued. Jav and the rest of the people of the island wanted for me to travel around the state, something I had always wanted. I wanted to go as long as Jav and the Twins came along with me, but the rest argued that someone had to stay to take care of the trade. Not to mention that the Twins had gotten in trouble, their staying served as their punishment. Thinking now, I should’ve said no as I had first thought. There was a moment of silence, and she said, I left a few days later and Jav wasn’t there to say goodbye. I spent three months at sea as you guys know and when I came back, he wasn’t there either. I panicked and searched the entire island and state for a week. No one had seen him. Thanks to that, I fell to a depression so bad that the people of Windfall Island thought it was best for me to be shipped to Alzar. Three weeks after landing in the city, I met the two of you and Rasna.

Before today, you hadn’t seen him since? Zam asks.

Kayta nods and sighs. I always knew he wasn’t dead and because of that, I tried to come with something plausible, but this?

How could you be sure he wasn’t dead? I wondered.

The thing about the Anilorac is that it lets you know whether we are hurt or dead. If Jav had died, I would’ve been paralyzed for an hour, and so would have Jav had I died in the Fourth Temple or in Sweet Swamp, Kayta explained.

None of us said anything else, letting it all sink in. Kayta had never mentioned a brother. It had always been Windfall Island or Twins, but never a brother, much less bonded by magic.

Don’t you think you should hear his side of the story? I suggested.

Yes. I know I should, I know it’s right, but it’s hard. Three days ago marked the second year I hadn’t seen him, and with all the Chosen business, it feels like decades, Kayta answered. What will I tell Anna and Denaline?

I’d guess they would want to know where their brother has been the past two years, Zam points out.

Kayta nods. I guess you’re right.

3

Future

If we open a quarrel between past and present, we shall find that we have lost the future.

-Winston Churchill

J

A

V

I knew she was angry, and being stubborn didn’t help the situation if you ever wanted to convince Kayta. At least, after two years, that hadn’t changed. But asides from that, questions drilled through my mind: What were they doing here? Was Merry Beck alive? Were they truly here for the wrong reasons as everyone thought? If not, were they all the Chosen?

After walking through hallways and climbing up the set of stairs back to the first floor of Government Hall, I walked towards the entrance. Standing in front of the double doors was Merry Sherry, wife of the dead Merry Beck (or so everyone thinks,) and two guards in their black and white uniforms. It seemed she was arguing with them by the way she pointed at the suitcases the guards were holding. I guess the guards were to have a long week with strict-Merry Sherry having them scolded like school kids.

Sherry, I called out as I jogged in her direction.

We hugged once I reached her and she smiled, one of the few she was able to give. She was still kind of pale, her brunette hair in her typical ponytail, an ocean blue blouse with its snake dragon, black trousers, her white fedora hat and black cape that marked her as a Merry.

Jav, it’s so good to see you. It’s been some time, how have you been? Sherry asks.

Hanging there. I can’t believe it’s been already two years, I answer.

I know. Did you hear? Another persecution, in Ardnola Library, Sherry says.

So that’s where they come from.

Wasn’t there a field trip for the sophomores today? Sherry wonders.

Yeah, I’ve still got about two hours before ending the trip, I tell her. Where’s Joan?

In the car. I was just about to go get her since the other guards keep scaring her.

I laugh and say, Don’t worry, I’ll go get her.

You sure?

Positive. You just get settle in and catch up to Chris; he may be still getting ready for the field trip.

Sherry nods and we part ways. I go outside through the double doors, the air of Alzar familiar: car exhaust, smoke of all kind, vendors on the corners of the block, and the shouts of different people and business.

At the bottom of a set of stairs is a white Divine, its cloud logo on the tires, the back door surrounded by two uniformed guards. With the window closed, I could see Joan with her disorganized red curls, pouting and fumbling with something.

Come on Joan, your mom said you had to come out, one of the guards says.

Let her be guys, I said.

The guys, looking relieved, walk away. I knock on the window and Joan looks up from her green stuffed dragon and Bratz doll. When I open the door, Joan throws her toys to a side and jumps into my arms as she shouts happily, Jav!

Hey there Medusa! I say back as I put her on the ground. Why didn’t you come in with Mom?

You weren’t here like you promised, Joan fumed.

I freeze at the last words. Such strong words could stick with someone for life. To me, it was basically the same as swearing, difference was that it didn’t feel like you were talking bad. Once you started using that word, there was no going back, and Sherry and Joan were stuck with it because of me. Goddess, even the Prime Minister now used it because I was stuck with it thanks to Kayta.

Sorry, I’ll try compensating you, I say.

What’s con… com, Joan tries to say.

I laugh as we climb up the stairs, her dolls back in her hands. ‘Compensate.’ It means making up for something I failed to do.

"Oh. Jav, can I ask you a question to compensate for what you did?"

Sure, I answer, afraid of what it might me by the way she asked.

Have you seen Dad? I haven’t found him yet, Joan asks.

Bile builds up in my throat. The first time Joan had asked me I had almost cried and I had seen others do it by the very same question. Sherry didn’t have the nerve to tell Joan the possibility of Beck’s death and with that, she thought her father had disappeared. The very question from a five-year-old was heartbreaking.

No, but I’ll keep an eye out, I answer, even though I know Joan will look down in disappointment. So, what were you playing? The dragon is saving Jade so that she can get to the Bratz Rock Angelz concert in time?

No, Joan laughs but doesn’t say what she really had been playing.

Mom bought a new movie, Joan announced.

Really? I say as we walk across the Ballroom that was at least twice as large as Cinderella’s ballroom had the scene existed in real life. The room also served as the main entrance of Government Hall. Which one?

"Delgo."

Haven’t heard of it. What’s it about?

Mom says it’s about magical creatures. It’s an Earthly movie. I’m going to see it once we reach the dorm.

I nod. We reach a door at the other end of the entrance of the Ballroom. Inside is a spiral staircase with rectangular and thin glass windows. We climb up until we reach the third floor. We entered into a hall of black and white carpet, sky blue wall, three burgundy doors to the left and three portraits on the right. I open the second there and inside is the living room, merging with the dining room as if they were one. No kitchen and there’s another couple of doors, one facing each other. In the living room is Sherry over an opened suitcase that lays open in one of the two couches, the TV behind her black but in pause. Joan runs towards her mother.

Mom, how long are we staying? she asks.

"Just for a couple of days. Delgo is already set up, you can go watch it," Sherry smiles.

Joan grins and presses a button on the DVD box that starts the movie, the story of two different races that are magical but end in war plays on. Sherry points at something in the dining table and I look at it. There are two papers on top the glass table, recently opened by the look of the creases of the papers. An empty and opened envelope sat beside it.

What are they? I ask as I see the writing when I pick them up.

Letters, Sherry answers as she sits.

From who?

Sherry hesitates and then says, Beck.

I stare at her. She hadn’t said his name since I had told her about my theory of Beck still being alive, or even when she was told he had died.

It’s dated from yesterday, although there’s no signature, but I’d recognize Beck’s handwriting from anywhere, Sherry explained.

But how? Have you told anyone else? I ask.

I don’t know how. I got it yesterday and you’re the first one to hear of this. I’m not sure if I should tell Chris though, he might think I’ve already lost it, Sherry sighs.

Doubtful, I argue.

You know; this may be the excuse I just need.

Excuse?

The Merry have been spreading rumors that there are some who are allies to the fugitives. They say that they’re the true Chosen and that Beck is their main supporter. I’ve gotten secret messages to attend to their meetings, but they’re never signed. I’m starting to think that maybe you’re right Jav, but maybe they are also the Chosen. What if this can also put to rest whether Beck is alive or not? Sherry offers.

Are you really considering talking to them? I ask, shocked.

Yes. If I were to go, would you come with me and Joan?

Why would you want me to come?

"If what I’m guessing is correct, the Chosen would be more than lucky to have you by their side and you’ll be able to explain the truth to your sister, Sherry sighs. It would be no wonder if you blamed me and the others, including Chris, to what happened to you and Kayta."

Sherry, I don’t blame you or Chris. You don’t form part of the 12th Circle and although Chris is the leader of the Circle, the choices I was given were offered behind his back. It is those people whom I blame. Their twisted ideas of the Chosen separated my family, no one else, I explain.

Since when did you become a politician? Sherry asks.

Hey, I’m not a thief, I answer, my synonym for a politician.

After that, I say byes to Sherry and Joan and climb down back to the Ballroom, where I see a ruckus in the main entrance, the guards shouting each other orders. I run towards them, my commando mode setting on immediately with months of training.

What’s going on? I ask.

Children of about eleven to seventeen are protesting outside sir, a guard with blonde, almost white hair, answers.

Children? I exclaim.

"Yeah, you know sir, like yourself since your sixteen almost seventeen. Shouldn’t you be with those kids, protesting for the damn fugitives, although I guess it would be more in favor for your sister, the fugitive whore," another guard with green spray painted hair and about in his mid-twenties named Kove joked.

Couldn’t agree more, Hylina, a girl with pink hair, laughed.

This two guards were of the few who didn’t approve of me as being there boss because I was years younger than any of them. It took all my strength not to answer back and strangle Kove for what he said about Kayta.

Knock it off both of you, Dylan calls out as he walks over to us. You better have more respect to higher authority.

The only higher authority I respect is the one of higher age, the one that makes one wise and more powerful, Kove snapped.

Watch your mouth!

Enough! I interrupt. Let’s deal with the riot outside, and then we talk of this.

The guards around me make way for me as I walk and return to their position once I pass. I cross the entrance and see the streets of Alzar once more, this time filled with teenagers screaming to enter the Hall. They were all wearing shirts with the colors of the First Four, holding orchids in their fists, the national flower.

Everyone, be quite! I called out.

They all silence once they heard my voice and I started saying, Everyone, go home. Whatever the problem is there is a protocol to follow to complain.

Everyone started shouting again and I continued, If you do not leave now I will have my guards surround you and call the Shields to take you away. Everyone, go now!

Jav! I heard a female voice say.

I scan the crowd and in front, struggling with the surrounding teens is a girl with curly black and white strands of hair. She wore a jade green shirt, white capri pants and golden colored flats. She held a white orchid in one hand and holding the arm of a younger kid, a boy with blonde hair wearing a neon orange shirt, jeans, and black boots.

Arual? Logan? I ask.

I climb down the stairs and greet them. What are you guys doing here?

What do you think? We want to come in, Logan snaps.

More respect to others won’t hurt, you know, Arual chides.

Arual, are you organizing this? I wonder.

Just this small group, she answers. Jav, you have to let us in, we have to see them.

I can’t let you in, I’m sorry, so please, call this off before I have to call in the Shields, I plead.

I can’t do that Jav, we’d rather be taken by the APK than not talk with the Chosen first, and we know you have Zam, Linka, and Kayta here.

What?

Jav, Logan starts. We are of the YSC, Young Service to the Chosen. We’re a group of kids under seventeen who think they are the Chosen; we haven’t been able to contact them because the Chosen Circle-

Whoa, whoa, hold on a second because this is some overload of information, I say. YSC? Chosen Circle? What the hell are you guys talking about?

We wish we could tell you everything Jav, but we really want to talk to them, Arual pleads.

Jav! Dylan calls out to me. Do we call the Shields?

Not yet, I answer.

Jav, please, Logan says.

I think for a moment. Shields (the official name for the APK,) was the logical choice, but with Arual here and the others hiding out in the Hall, things seem to get complicated. I wasn’t too sure what I had to do, but I did what I thought was right.

Have the smallest group you can get of your people and stand beside a window of the Hall, don’t call any attention and try to keep hidden from the passersby, I’ll come and get you once the guards have calmed down, I tell Arual and Logan.

They both nod and shout to the others to fall back. They argue, but they listen to them anyway. The rest of the guards and I stay in front of the Hall watching them leave, waiting for all of them disappear from our sight. Once that’s done, I turn to the rest of the guards, all waiting for me to give them orders.

Set up double guards on the entrance, I want look-out guards on very other floor and at least six on the roof. If another riot stars, let it be different or the same group, round them up and call the Shields, I order.

Yes sir, they answer.

They start running and giving orders to whoever wasn’t around to listen. Everyone is in a frenzy trying to fulfill the orders. Once everything has quite down, I walk back to the window where I had helped Kayta, Zam, and Linka enter the Hall. I see Arual, Logan, and a small group of others. I open the window and start helping them in.

First I harbor fugitives and then I start helping a group of protesters I’m supposed to kick out. I wonder what my breakfast had, I tell Arual once she’s in.

It’s not the food, it’s your heart, she says.

I don’t say anything about that and we keep helping the rest of the group. If I ever wanted to leave Government Hall, this was an easy way to do so. A ticket straight for prison that is.

4

Disaster

Every attempt to make war easy and safe will result in humiliation and disaster.

-William Tecumseh Sherman

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The Dulcians know how to throw a lavish party, it was a world known fact. There was only one problem with this particular party: there were three Seludians in it. Relations between Seludians and Dulcians have always been high, despite billions of years of peace. Two of the Seludians were my parents Ronnoc and Aniras Ruffino, both whom were Chancellors of the 12th Circle, not to mention the only people who were married and both of the Circle. I was the third Seludian. Me? I was mostly known not only to be their son, but for also being perfect. The best at this… the best at that, the list was never ending. But I never would’ve guessed how this party would ruin my perfect reputation. Then again, my life has always been far from perfect, despite my advantages.

It was somewhere around eleven and the Dulcians were celebrating their President’s birthday. The only reason my parents got invited was for an official peace treaty. Though not government related, groups of people still fought in the border up to this date, thanks to the Crystal Border Night. I only managed to come along because my parents didn’t want to leave me alone at Alzar during Spring Break. Thank the Goddess for Sun & Moon Academy, the elite, private military school for arrogant kids. It was the few good things of that prison-camouflaged-school. Public schools were still ongoing until the last day of school.

My parents and I were in a ballroom at least as large as that of Chris’, Selud’s Prime Minister, which was in Government Hall. Most drinks were with alcohol, but I was grateful for the ones that didn’t. Well, actually, I had to thank the kids who were younger than me, despite their criticizing about me for being a Seludian. Not that I asked to be one.

As my two stiff parents made conversation with different government officials that would get them near the President, I wandered around the room, trying to avoid physical and eye contact with any criticizing person. I doubted it had to do with my hair, now silver and the ends a light brown, barely touching my shoulders. I would have to get it cut tomorrow, just so that everything would be even, but once it started growing again, it would be brown and when it was too long, I’d get it cut and it would grow to silver again. I’d have to grow up use to that routine and mocking finger. Until I found a girl blocking my path now.

I analyzed her completely, a tactic learned from the academy. She was pretty enough, with blond curls tied high on her head, dark green eyes, light color make-up, and a tight peach colored dress that hugged her body, or a part of it at least since it resembled more of a shirt than a dress. She had high cheek bones and her eyes small. She was somewhere around my age.

Hi, the girl said in an accent that could only be defined as Dulcian.

Hello, I reply.

You’re Davecon, right?

I raise a questioning eyebrow, suspecting if this was some sort of joke to make me look like a fool. Yeah.

Yeah, it wasn’t too hard to guess what with your hair. Do all Seludians of our generation have it like that? the girl asked.

Behind her, not too far, was a group of teens of about our age as well. I couldn’t tell whether the looks they were giving us was curiosity or annoyed, although it was pretty obvious they were wondering what we were talking about. If I had to bet, they were friends with the girl.

Sure, I answer. Some are green and others violet, you name it.

The girl laughs at my sarcasm. Sorry, it was a silly question.

What’s your name? I wonder.

You can call me Dix, she offers her hand.

Nice to meet you Dix, we shake hands.

You seem lost, she observes.

Nope, just uncomfortable.

Want me to show you around? I know the place pretty well.

I don’t know; I think your friends might not want you abandoning them.

Oh, them? Dix gestures behind her. Nah, they’ll understand.

Comprehensive friends, huh? I say.

She laughs. You could say that.

They’re pretty scarce these days, I point out.

As are respectful boys, Dix replies.

I’m not so sure about the whole respectful thing.

She smiles mischievously and mumbles something I couldn’t decipher, until she says, Well, as to the question before…

I’ll accept, I answer. Better than circling this room like a ghost.

Dix jerks her head to a mahogany door to her right and I follow. Behind is a large and long hallway, the floor made of bone color marble with a midnight blue carpet, walls that curved to the ceiling of gold and red brown. Portraits of important Dulcian philosophers and presidents hung on the walls. Small tables with flowers on vases stood under some with velvet cloths laid on.

This is Eternal Hall, called so for the portraits, ‘to preserve history one artwork at a time,’ Dix explains.

Wow, great tour so far, not to mention the tour guide, I say.

You haven’t even seen the best part yet, Dix replies with a laugh.

I follow her through some similar halls, with her explaining how some of the furniture was even older than some paintings and some history of the people of the portraits. After a while, she points to an open door, I follow her through into a room resembling to a conference room. The floor was covered in a taupe carpet, a small coffee table and a red velvet couch sat on one end of the room, a fireplace without a fire, a window to Licany, the capital of Dulcis. It was somewhere around noon and it seemed like a pretty normal day what with the cars and people going up and down the visible streets, going all about on their business. I turn to see Dix close the door right behind her. She spreads her arms to make a wide gesture about the room around.

What do you think? she asks.

It’s great, I answer. What’s this place?

Just another one of those conference rooms of the president, Dix explains.

As if that would surprise me. The government likes to waste time to talking, I say.

That’s very true on any country and any world, she agrees. What do you think of Dulcis so far?

It’s a beautiful country.

You think so? Dix stands right in front me, close enough that I can smell her lavender perfume.

I understand her indirect, so I answer in a conspiratorial whisper, Absolutely.

How much? she asks with her face a mere few centimeters from my own.

Very much.

I guess that’ll do.

Suddenly, Dix is kissing me. It seemed desperate, as if her life depended on it. I don’t push her away and kiss her back just as desperately. It seemed as if she wanted almost to swallow me, but I didn’t care. Her hands were wrapped behind my neck, pulling me to her. My hands travel down from her shoulders to her hips and waist. I bring her closer as I touch the small of her exposed back, making her gasp quietly. She takes my jacket off and unbuttons the first few buttons of my shirt as I take off my choking bow tie off.

She shoves me to the couch and before I can react, she’s on me. Before I know it, she’s kissing me desperately again, trying to unbutton my shirt again.

How old are you? I manage to gasp.

Does it matter? she answers.

I don’t argue about it. I guess a few moments of this wouldn’t matter, not that my parents wouldn’t have cared about my personal life. Not to mention that this hadn’t been the first time that I had a few moments like this.

I slide my hands up to her shoulder and start slipping off her dress when we both listen to some sounds in the hallway. Dix and I both ignore it, but the sounds seem to come closer, laughter and then some more talking. It’s not when we hear the door click open and multiple gasps that we turn to look.

A group of people come in and stare at us. Dix and I separate immediately, as if that would hide the fact of what we were about to do. The President manages to squeeze through, my parents following, who look the most shocked and embarrassed. The Dulcian president stares at me with a deadly glare, and I could only imagine what he thought when he saw me: Silver and brown messed up hair, half open shirt, and a messed up teen. The President then turns to look at Dix, who is looking down embarrassed, the first thing I had seen since we started talking.

Dixie Welton, what in the name of the Goddess where you think you were doing? the President asks, almost shouting.

Dixie Welton? Great, that’s just what I needed. Dixie Welton is the President’s daughter. Why hadn’t I realized that Dix might have been her nickname? Not to mention the fact that I was really screwed this time. I could already see it in the headlines back home in Selud: Davecon Ruffino almost gets laid with Dixie Welton, daughter of Dulcis’ President Ger Welton. No peace treaty in the near future.

Daddy, I-

No, the President interrupts. "I don’t want to hear excuses.

Sir, I say. If I may-

Not a word from you either boy.

Daddy, please, Dixie pleads.

This party is over, the President announces.

Everyone starts murmuring and shuffling out the room. I sneak a small glance to my parents and I can see their embarrassed and disappointed looks. I look down and grab my coat and bow, leaving the room quickly and quietly, my parents following.

This isn’t fair! Why can’t I get what I want? I hear Dixie whine to her father.

I tune out everything, getting ready to hear the lecture my parents would give me once we left and we were alone. I knew it wouldn’t be good. It wouldn’t even be bad. It would be a nightmare. Not that the humiliation that awaited me once we were home would help.

5

Stolen

Ordinary riches can be stolen; real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you.

-Oscar Wilde

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I stared at the main entrance of Sogrub Bank. Located in average-city Anga, you wouldn’t think it was the most important and wealthiest bank in all of Selud. It was hard to contain my smile that demonstrated my excitement, but I managed. I mean, it wasn’t every day that you had the luck of finally coming to realize the plan of your dreams: stealing from the vault from the most important and wealthiest bank of your country.

This would be my greatest heist, not that I was proud of being the best and most wanted thief. I was glad those three fugitives took my place as the most wanted criminals, but remembering that Kayta was Jav’s bonded sister, it was the only thing that made me feel bad for feeling good about it, but hey, people needed to survive.

The bank was small enough and modest to hide the reality, at least to those who didn’t know about how rich and important it was. Small automatic door, two front windows, made out of grey stone. I turn to my left and walked, pretending that I was some other typical Seludian citizen, not Lafa Augustine, the famed thief, or aka, Stealth, Selud’s version of Robin Hood.

Everything was timed, so I couldn’t afford to lose any. I turn to an alley between the bank and a public library. I scanned the small alley, checking no one was there, not even a bum. I look to the grey wall of the bank, standing to my right. Neglected, the cracks were large enough for me to place my feet and hands and climb up, and close enough to reach the roof. I checked the alley once more and then at my clothes: brown flats, black trousers, a pink flower-printed shirt, and a large, dark grey messenger bag. Not the most proper outfit for climbing, but it will have to do.

I put my foot on the nearest ledge and my hands above me as I start climbing. As easy as riding a bike. I don’t look down, just up, paying attention to the next cracks that I’m planning to put my hands on. Nearby the roof, as I try to take my right foot off the crack, I end up stuck. I look down and see my foot wedged in. I try to shake it off, but it starts feeling like it’s getting worse. I start panicking as I hear some laughter nearby. Two people, I notice one woman and a man. They get nearer and nearer and I freeze, freaked that by one stupidity I will be caught. Never had something so simply cost me my limited freedom.

The woman and the man appear, laughing at something when they both start kissing and lean into the bank’s wall. They don’t notice me at all as they whisper to each other in between kisses. I breathe a sigh of relief, but I also gag silently at the scene. I believed in love, not on a one-time encounter. I wondered how some people were able to be that drunk even if it was the middle of the day.

Finally, I managed to unstick my foot and silently climbed the rest of the way without the couple looking back at me. When I reached the roof, I checked for anyone. I thanked the Lady for the tall railings shaped like triangles that stood on the perimeter of the roof, all made of the same stone as most of the building was. It was tall enough to cover my height. I placed my bag on the floor and started changing my clothes for black attire made of black cameo pants, black long-sleeve shirt, black combat boots, and a black knitted hat. I took off my long brunette wig to let free my long red hair with green highlights. I changed into my clothes and used the black hat to cover my entire hair. The clothes I had been wearing before I placed in the messenger bag and then put my bag back on. From the bag, I took out a screwdriver and walked over to the ventilation system that was blocked on one corner of the roof. I kneel down and unscrew the rail and take it off. I’m glad it’s large enough for me to get in, so before I jump in, I take my digital watch with me and my phone, placing a headset connected to my phone on my ears and the mouthpiece falling neatly in front of my mouth. I place my phone in my pocket and once I’m sure I’ve got everything; I jump into the vent silently.

I bend down until I’m flat on my stomach and I start inching my way to my right. I stop for a moment and take out a sheet of paper that I had hiding on the back of my watch. I pull out from underneath my shirt a small flashlight that hung on a leather cord and I turn it on to look at the paper. It was a small copy of the air vents, a complete maze but my only ticket to the vault. After a quick look, I place my flashlight in my mouth and I start moving again. Once in a while I stop and check on the map but most of the time I just move. Once I’m left with two tunnels to move through, I pocket the map and place the flashlight back underneath my phone. Just then, I feel my phone vibrate. I groan at the sudden movement, but I’m glad I don’t jump by that. I press the answer button on the right of my headset and say, Who’s this?

What do you mean ‘Who’s this?’ a familiar voice answers.

Lavin! I reply happily. I haven’t heard of you in weeks.

I’m glad you noticed it was me, Lavin laughs.

Sorry Vin, I was just in the middle of a, you know, I hint.

Uh-huh, he answers. Look, I was just calling for two reasons, and neither has to do with me trying to convince of dropping that ‘job’ of yours.

Good, ‘cause I won’t listen to that lecture again.

First, how are you?

Fine.

"‘Fine’ is pretty broad."

Fine in the sense that I am physically and emotionally well and fine that I’m about to accomplish my current goal.

Alright.

What’s the second reason you called Lavin? I asked.

If I were you, I’d hold on to myself, because what I’m about to tell you will leave you shocked, he recommends.

I’ve got nothing to hold on to, but please, do tell, I joke.

I finally see an opening closed up similar to a rail when I had been trying to get into the bank. I inch my way to see inside and the vault is empty, but I don’t immediately start unscrewing the rail. I pull down my left sleeve and look at the watch. It’s 11:47, so I’ve got three minutes ‘till the bank was closed until one, since it was lunchtime. Selud took naps after lunch, and it was a pretty serious deal. It was pretty obvious what with lunch before noon and taking a one-hour nap until one, nationwide. Even schools closed up for it. It was a complete shutdown. So now, I’m waiting.

If you say so, it deals with that peace treaty the Chancellors Ruffino and the President were planning-

Don’t tell me, I interrupt. Mrs. Ruffino has an affair with Welton and Mr. Ruffino caught them? Or was it that Mr. Ruffino was caught with the First Lady? Was it all? Maybe-

I hate very much when you’re trying to guess, so let me finish. By the way, you didn’t have to be melodramatic. Davecon Ruffino was near to getting laid with Dixie Welton.

There’s a moment of pause until I finally say, That’s a joke, right?

It’s real alright. It’s national news over here in Dulcis, but I heard the Chancellors and Davecon are going to keep it a secret to Selud to save them from any humiliation, Lavin explains.

I don’t know what to say. Davecon Ruffino was one of those few brilliant kids who were assigned to national and important cases and he was given the privilege to choose one, and he decided me. He just so happened to be fourteen the annoying brat when he decided that. I became a thief at the age of twelve. Two months after he chose my case, I was stealing from the bank that the Prime Minister just so happened to be in. I was acting as a typical citizen when I had exploded the vault (the bomb had been placed the night before.) During the frenzy, I had dashed off to the vault, that boy had noticed someone in the dust, and I’m quoting him from the news at the time. He actually tried to shoot me and managed to fight me. I was glad for the explosion that had still been covering us both, but as we fought, he had broken my leg. It was only a miracle I managed to escape. Since then, I held a grudge and hated him real badly.

You alright Lafa? Lavin asks.

Yeah, I answer in a stupor. Then, I burst out laughing.

What’s so funny? Lavin says.

What you just told me. The teenage hormones made him look bad. Oh Goddess, if only I could spread the word around, I laugh.

Revenge isn’t good for the soul, Lavin comments.

Spare me the crap Vin, besides, you just lightened up my mood, don’t ruin it as fast, I snap.

Fine, fine, Lavin remains silent for a few moments. Be careful, alright. You may be the best, but Dulcis still ain’t happy with you.

Thanks for the reminder Lavin. Call me soon again when you can, I miss you, I answer simply. It’d been two years, almost three, since I’d seen him physically. I worked as a Dulcian spy until I deserted when