The Chief’S Revenge

By Gift Ruremesha

abhla feels trapped. All that she wants is freedom, but they, her brother and her adopted mother, wont let her have it. That is, until one day, she escapes! Shes free! She can have the adventure she dreamed of!

Oh, so she thought.

It turns out that in the real world and in her world, nothing is as it seems, no one is as they seem, not even her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Mar 27, 2017
• ISBN: 9781524677466

Gift Ruremesha

Hello, I am Gift and welcome to my second book! Here’s a little about myself: I love to write and I love to read. On the days when I’m not strapped to my computer or lost in a book I am doing some kind of sport (these days it’s swimming and the gym), dreaming about travel and learning new languages. As I have enjoyed falling into worlds created by my favourite authors I hope you will enjoy falling into the world I created.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Éabhla

M aloire, I called. Mal!

Mal was my mom. Not by birth but by right. I loved her enough so it didn’t matter to me that she wasn’t my real mother. Our life was simple and easy. I lived in Liverpool, the city of culture, with her and my brother Sté. We lived in a bookshop called ‘Little Cresants’ that sold all types of books and the occasional film. It was heaven. I loved books.

Yes, Éabhla? she replied.

I can’t find my book! I shouted. The one that had the lady holding a pink rose and was by-

Sté appeared out of nowhere, shoving my book into my hands. You shouldn’t leave your books lying around. Especially the kind you read.

I blushed. All my efforts at hiding my romance novels had been in vain. Sté always found them. It was so embarrassing knowing he knew I read them. It was OK when Maloire knew, but Sté ... Pure embarrassment.

Anyway, I’m going to buy some milk, he said, turning to go down the stairs.

Can I go out too?

No, he said without turning around. What did I expect? For him to say, ‘Yes, dearest Éabhla, you may leave this prison we call home without an escort dogging your every step’?

Please, they’d never let me out until I was fifty at this rate. They still hadn’t told me why I was not allowed to go outside.

I had a right to know. I didn’t want to die in this bookshop. I didn’t love it that much. I wanted to see the world!

Maybe it was because I watched so many action movies or because I read all the time, but I wanted to have an adventure, to meet some dashing-, no, some hot guy-and to have the time of my life! But I didn’t think that was ever going to happen. I’d been sixteen for five months and it was almost the summer holidays but I still hadn’t lived yet.

I sighed and sloped off to my room on the third floor. I had this floor all to myself. On the first floor were Sté’s room and the living room. On the second floor were Maloire’s room and the bathroom, and on the third floor was me. The ground floor was for the kitchen, the chilling area, and the bookshop of course. I don’t know how Maloire could afford a place like this, but apparently my parents were very rich so maybe that helped.

Anyway, I climbed up the ladder that led to my room that was in essence a loft but much bigger. Like I said, I had the whole floor to myself. I even had my own bathroom. My room made me feel like a princess, a trapped princess.

*     *     *

Éabhla, come down and eat your dinner! Maloire called, slicing through my sub consciousness. It sounded like she was on the second floor landing. I forced myself to put down my latest book and said,

I’m not hungry.

I heard her pull down the ladder and start to climb up the stairs. It was now officially the summer holidays.

I hadn’t been outside.

I didn’t have to wait very long to see Maloire standing in my room. For the hundredth time, I was struck by how beautiful she was. She had silvery blonde hair with grass-green eyes that shone. She was tall and slender and very pale. She was so different from me in the looks department. The only thing we had in common was that we were both pale.

What is wrong with you? she asked, We haven’t seen you in days.

I come down to eat, I argued.

That’s true, but you haven’t helped out in the shop for weeks. You don’t talk to me unless I talk to you. And I haven’t heard you talk to Sté since summer began. What’s happened?

Nothing has happened. I’m just not in the mood anymore, I muttered.

But this is your summer. You love summer.

Look, would you just lay off me? I’m tired, and I wanted some time to myself without you two hovering over me. I’m supposed to be on holiday. Can’t I do what I want?

Yes, you’re on holiday, but you don’t have to isolate yourself.

I’m isolated anyway. I’m never allowed out, and if you do let me out, both you and Sté have to come with me and we only ever go down our street! I have no friends and no life outside this shop. I’m going to live and die a lonely woman. In fact I bet I’ll still be here by the time I’m fifty with a zillion cats for company!

Maloire looked a little taken aback by my outburst. What did she think? That I was happy with the arrangement?

She said, I know but-

‘It’s for my own good. One day you’ll understand why we did this. It won’t be like this forever.’ Do me a favour and cut the crap and say the truth: I’m a prisoner in my own home!

Mal looked really down-hearted, and I immediately felt guilty. I’m sorry. Look- just tell me what you are so afraid of. People go out every day, and nothing happens to them. It’s perfectly safe. In fact, I’ll prove it to you right now.

I got up and headed for the chute, but she blocked my path.

No, don’t do this, she pleaded.

I wish you would just trust me. I know parents can be overprotective sometimes but don’t you think this is going over-board? I paused. Then I put on my best charming face and said, Please, please trust me and let me go.

A strange thing happened then. Mal’s eyes went wide and she stared at me in shock. Did I have something on my face?

OK, Éabhla. I trust you, she said. Her voice had a really monotone quality, but I didn’t care right then. I was so happy. I got to finally go out. I could go outside into the real world without my super-cautious body-guards haunting my every step, scaring people away.

This is freedom! I thought. I am free! At least I am until Sté gets home. I’d better go before he comes and before Maloire changes her mind. I kissed her on the cheek and dashed down the chute.

Maloire, come and witness the fact that nothing will happen to me! I called up the chute.

I dashed down to the ground floor, grabbing my coat as I went.

This is it. I am going to go outside. Could my summer have started in a better way?

I hesitated when I reached the door. Am I really doing this? It’s really happening? Am I sure I want to do this?

Why was I hesitating? This was what I wanted, right? I was going to see this through. So with that in mind, I took a deep breath and stepped outside.

It was weird being outside without someone there (i.e., Mal or Sté) to hold my hand. No one to make sure I didn’t talk to anyone, to make sure that I was safe.

I think I might be a little scared.

No, I shouldn’t be scared. This is my moment. I am not scared. If I repeat this enough, I will believe it.

I will believe it.

Then the thoughts cleared out of my mind as I looked up at the clear sky. It was so beautiful. It was so blue, and the air was so crisp, clean, and soothing. Sté had taken me to the seaside once in my life. I was seven and it was still the best day of my life. I had had so much fun that day. And I would have fun today.

I’m outside, I whispered.

I’m outside! I shouted.

Alright, love, we get the picture. There’s no need for you to be shouting it from the top of your lungs, a passer-by commented, laughing. I cheerfully smiled at him. Friendliness was the key to everyone’s heart. At least this was what I’d learnt from watching television. The nice people always won.

I began to walk up my street. I’d only walked on it a handful of times. I looked around to see what it was like to walk down my neighbourhood, to get the feel of things. I would have skipped, but even I knew that was weird.

What a traditional English neighbourhood it was. I kind of liked it. The shops around me were so colourful and cool.

As I was walking, I noticed something delightful: a fish and chip shop. I am hungry I thought. And I haven’t even been in a fish and chip shop before. Sté always went in them for me, but I’d always wanted to go in them by myself.

I went to enter the shop when I heard Mal’s trembling voice behind me say, Éabhla that’s enough.

Let me buy something, please? I pleaded.

You don’t have any money, and it’s getting late. She seemed kind of edgy.

I do. I have one pound fifty. I won’t be long, I said, trying my winning smile on her for good measure.

OK, but come straight back.

Fine. And don’t worry. Go home. I’ll be back in a bit.

Mal nodded with that glazed look in her eyes again as she walked off.

This time, I actually made it through the door without any interruptions. The scent of fresh chips and chicken filled the air around me, and I breathed it in hungrily. It smelled so good, and damn it, I was hungry! I scanned the menu for my favourite: a chicken fillet burger meal.

And there it was, for only one pound twenty. This must really be my lucky day.

Can I help you? asked the man behind the counter. At least I thought he was. His hat was pulled down way low and was covering his eyes. He did look a bit young to own his own chip shop.

I would like the chicken fillet burger meal, please, I said.

Anything for you, he replied. That sounded oddly personal or maybe he was just being friendly. But I’d always thought chip shop owners were mean. I mean take a look at Ian Bill off EastEnders, he was horrible.

I guess not everything is exactly like what happens on TV.

But this guy, his vibe wasn’t right. I realised this as I watched him working. He was a little too out of place for my peace of mind.

Then I got a prickly sensation on the back of my neck. I slowly turned around to see Sté standing across the street. The look on his face was a cross between being panicked and horrified.

Like an idiot I mouthed: It’s OK, I’m fine. I stuck my thumbs up for good measure.

Your chips are ready, the weird chip owner told me. As I took my meal off him I finally caught a glimpse of his eyes. They were orange, like fire. Enjoy.

Puzzled by the sight of his eyes I turned away. I had never seen such weird eyes; none of our customers had such weird eyes. The only people that had eyes that strange were the fae, but they didn’t exist… did they?

I stopped short on the path. Where was Sté? He must have gone back home after he saw how safe I was. I should go back myself. I’d had enough for one day; I didn’t want to push Sté and Mal too hard.

So it was left from the chip shop and I’d be home free, right? Yeah, it was. I turned left and started walking. I guess I was wrong, I’ll find adventure another day.

Be careful what you wish for.

Everyone quotes that line: the people on the TV, the radio, in books and even Sté.

Are you lost? a man asked. The same man who’d walked past me earlier. What had happened to his accent? Why had it changed?

No, I’m not but are you? I asked. Maybe he’d forgotten his way home like I almost did. It would help if I could see his face once but no, he had to be wearing a black cloak, like he was a wizard or something.

No, I’m not lost anymore, he said. I looked at him puzzled. The way he’d said anymore, it was like he’d looked at me. I couldn’t see his eyes but I know he’d looked at me. I felt it.

Oh right, are you visiting someone or shopping? I asked. That’s what the customers always said they were doing or going to do.

You could call it that; it’s shopping of a special kind, he said, again with the weird replies.

Your accent has seriously changed, I said. I had to say it out loud. And it wasn’t just his accent that had changed but his persona as well, he had seemed friendly when he had passed me on the street earlier but now he just seemed creepy.

Casually, he brushed back his hood. What a beautiful face he had. Why did he hide it? He had silver hair the same colour as Mal’s but his ran in a single plait down his back. His eyes shone like dark steel and he was so elegant. He looked at me straight in the eyes again, only this time I saw it. I felt like I’d been punched in the stomach. That was when I realised I was in trouble, in big trouble.

"Any last words Princess?" he asked. I decided to play dumb. That always worked.

What do you mean? I don’t understand, I stuttered. Also this really wasn’t the time for him to be using endearments.

Let me break it down for you. I’m shopping for something really special and I’ve been looking for it for a really long time. Now that I’ve found you, you’re mine.

My head started to spin at his words. I really wanted to go home. The irony of that statement almost made me want to laugh.

Just my luck, the first person I ever talked to was a psycho! As I stood on the pavement I began to wish hard that he would just disappear.

Ah! he screamed, clutching his head as he fell to the ground. I hurried back in alarm. You witch, don’t use your stupid daygmera tricks on me. They won’t work!

He began to get up and I saw my chance and I tried to run past him. But because I lived in a bookshop I was not really that fit or that fast, he caught up with me in no time. I felt an arm curve around my waist, lift me into the air and crush me to his body. I let out a scream but his strong hand clamped over my mouth.

We were directly opposite a shop and I watched his reflection as he stood behind me. I gazed in horror as he changed, as he grew older, darker and wider. Until all that was left was a tall, mixed-race guy with bulging muscles. There was no way I’d be able to fight him off. From the looks of those scars I’d say he has had way more experience.

Everything about him was different, except his eyes but what did that matter? I was going to die! I was only sixteen for crying out loud!

I guess the jig is up, I’m not Talieas. I can shape shift and deceive stupid little girls like you. But changing shape is not enough. You can fix that.

As he spoke he raised a knife out of nowhere. He was actually going to kill me!

I’m actually going to die, I thought. Before even eating my chips! Oh crap. Why is this happening to me? Why can’t I have a normal life?

As thoughts of dying filled my head hot, wet tears streamed down my face.

They said it would be hard and I’d never do it… but they were wrong. This was easy, He gloated.

I flinched as I felt the cold, hard steel gently press against my neck.

A little too easy don’t you think? a voice asked from behind us. It sounded like the chippy guy. Oh no, go away! I desperately thought. I don’t want you to get hurt too.

Who are you… my attacker started to say but his words ended and his grip loosened and the knife fell away from my body. As soon as I was released I scurried as far away from the attacker as I could on that narrow pavement. But when I turned around, my attacker wasn’t exactly conscious. The chippy guy was there, knife in hand, standing over my attacker.

He had saved me, but had he also killed?

Chapter 2

W ho are you? I asked him.

Go home, he ordered me. His voice was so hard and unyielding that it made me pause for a few moments.

Can’t you just tell me who you are? I asked.

Your brother is injured and I need to bring him round. Go home and we’ll join you in a few moments, then we can talk, He replied. His tone was a little softer but he still sounded determined.

His accent had changed too; it was now Irish, like mine. Then I caught on to what he was saying.

Sté is hurt? I exclaimed. Oh no this was my entire fault.

He’ll be fine, don’t worry. He’s just knocked out; he’ll come round in a few minutes. Now will you please go before someone else tries to attack you? he said.

I shivered at the thought of someone else lurking out there, waiting for the opportunity to strike. I still had one question, why me? But I wasn’t going to sit around outside and wait to find out. I ran as fast as I could to the bookshop and closed the door behind me once I’d entered.

Maloire! I called out. She came out at once looking furious.

Éabhla! What did I tell you? she fumed.

Nothing, you’ve told me nothing! How dare you stand there looking self-righteous when you have never told me a damn thing? You have never warned me. You have never even given me a hint. I could have died today and I have no idea why! I screamed at her. How dare you be furious at me when this is your fault?

Éabhla, I’m sorry. There is a lot you need to know. We were wrong to keep you in the dark.

You were, I fumed. I walked past her and up the stairs to the first floor living room. Exhausted I immediately flopped on the nearest sofa. I curled myself into a ball, wishing I could fall asleep and forget everything that had happened. But a few minutes later I heard the bell go as someone entered the shop. It wasn’t long before Sté joined me in the living room along with his strange chip shop friend and Mal.

Éabhla! he exclaimed. He looked a little unsteady on his feet but that didn’t stop him from scooping me up into his arms and sitting with me cradled to his chest. I felt a warm tear drop from his cheek to mine. I reached up to wipe it away but he caught my hand and held it.

I nearly lost you today, he whispered. I have never been so scared in my life. I am sorry I didn’t save you. I’m so sorry.

It’s OK Sté, I said. I’m fine now, that’s what matters.

No, it’s all my fault. I should have prepared you better for this moment. I shouldn’t have kept you in the dark the way I did. I’m sorry. He cradled me closer. I loved the way he smelt, like summer. I’d always loved summer.

I won’t hide anything from you anymore. I’ll tell you everything.

Just tell me what’s going on, I said.

Shall I start from the beginning? It’s pretty long and hard to wrap your brain around, he asked. I nodded. Well, we are descended from druids. Yeah I know crazy right but totally true. Anyway, these druids perfected this concoction that they thought would cure an epidemic that was hitting their people and the concoction did heal them but it also had some permanent side effects that just didn’t go away. No matter how much they tried it just stayed. It would affect people differently depending on their skill as a druid or their character. They’d get a different level of power. As the side effects were powers in a way. And it also turned out that it was genetic, it would get passed down from father to son, from mother to daughter. Even if an effected druid and a normal human got together and had a kid, that kid would still inherit the side effects of the potion. So others found out about it, other druids and other people, and they wanted it. They wanted the concoction and the side effects/the powers that it gave but our ancestors refused as they didn’t want it themselves and that led to a big confrontation. Envy and hate was directed at our ancestors so they did the only thing they could do peacefully, they ran. They eventually came to Liverpool and one way or another they discovered the portal, they were druids after all, and we have been in Xemera since. Xemera was the name of the potion and is now the name of our dimension. Anyway, when the population grew they divided Xemera into four regions, two of which are twin regions. Each region developed its own rules and individuality. They weren’t really druids anymore; because of the changes they went under they became something else. Xemeran I guess. They occasionally came back to Earth, some marrying normal women or men in Earth and bringing them back to Xemera. They developed a code which we all live by but these days’ things have gone a little downhill. In the region of Dera there has been a little opposition. They have this leader they call The Chief who hates the other regions and anyone who’s powerful in the other regions. So they’ve started to collect the powerful people. That’s why you are hunted. You’re really powerful; a level five and that’s the highest level you can get to become. That’s why we’ve kept you away from the world the way we have, we were afraid that the moment you stepped out of those doors you’d be hunted and killed.

I didn’t realise when he said the beginning he really meant the beginning. Sté was losing it, there was no way this was true. I mean druids, potions and side effects? This wasn’t Merlin! But he looked serious and so did everyone else…

So what you’re telling me is that I’m some weirdo from another dimension? I asked. Sté nodded. Does that mean that our parents are alive but living in the dimension?

No, we didn’t lie about that. They really are dead. They were powerful too, our mom was a level five and our dad was a level four. They were killed when you were too young to remember. We escaped our home and came here to Liverpool and Maloire came as our guardian.

I see, so they really are dead- what about you? I asked the chippy boy.

I don’t actually work in that chip shop, he commented. Tell her about the powers.

We have names for the types of powers people have. There’s sencerya, momegno, shanger, encantea and daygmera. Sencerya, momegno, shanger and encantea are individual powers and belong to levels one to three. Level fours can have a combination of two individual powers, but that’s rare. A daygmera however has all the individual powers and then some, that power belongs to a level five which is what you are, Sté explained.

Oh and what are you all? I asked.

I’m a momegno and Maloire is a shanger like that man you’ve just met but don’t worry she’s not evil, He said.

Right, I said.

And I’m Aodan Zira Topea. I’m seventeen and I’m both an encantea and a sencerya. Pleased to meet you, he smiled at me. He was back to his nice guy vibe.

Likewise … Sté you’re not joking are you? Because if you are this isn’t very funny. I said.

I’m afraid I’m not joking. This is all very real; you might need to sleep on it.

Could you at least tell me what exactly you can do?

I’m sure you’ve guessed what Shangers can do; they can copy the appearance of anyone else or anything, they’re shape shifters really. Encantea’s specialise in enchantments, hypnosis etc.; momegno’s are all about speed, strength and agility and sencerya’s are all about the senses. Aodan explained this time.

What would he have done after he’d killed me? I asked.

He would have made a potion using your blood to absorb your powers. It’s the only way it can be done, Maloire said. Disgusting I know.

So everything you’ve told me about our family, about me, has been a lie? I’m not really Irish then?

Technically no, we just adopted the accent, Sté said. But all the stuff I told you about Mom and Dad is true. Can you ever forgive me? he asked looking a little anxious.

Yeah, you are my brother after all but I’m … this is all too much to take in right now ... you wouldn’t mind me taking an early night right?

They all shook their heads. So I left the room feeling ten times older because of all the stress and the information overload. This was a big thing to tell a sixteen year old girl.

Man, now I know how Clark Kent must have felt when he found out he was an alien in Smallville. I just hope I’m not allergic to a green rock like he is, that would suck even more than this summer does.

*     *     *

It was Wednesday and it had been three days since the attack and I was feeling less and less paranoid each day. Aodan had been staying with us but I hadn’t actually seen him since that first night. I guess it was kind of my fault as I’d hidden myself in my room for the most part of those three days. I think I’d gotten over the shock of it all but it was still a lot to take in. But I couldn’t hide in my room forever could I? I had to face them. So with those thoughts in mind I descended the many stairs to join them for dinner.

Éabhla, I was beginning to think that you were avoiding us. Aodan said when I entered the kitchen.

I was just collecting my thoughts. I mumbled. For some reason I suddenly felt shy. Maybe it was because Aodan was so hot. I didn’t notice before because someone was trying to kill me and they were telling me nonsense about dimensions, but now that I was calm and everything I could clearly see that this guy was very good looking. Compared to my brother Aodan was quite tan. Standing next to each other they were like chalk and cheese. Sté was long and lean with jet black hair and pale grey eyes (that were very piercing) and he also had that mysterious grin of his. However Aodan had long sunshine hair that was thick and semi-curled as it ran down the length of his back with a few odd plaits here and there that were loaded with strange, carved and colourful beads. He had a masculine face with firm lips. He was a little shorter than Sté but he was just as lean. And, of course, there was those fire coloured eyes. What a hot guy. I wondered if all the potion people were this hot.

How many more potion people are there? I asked. Sté smirked at the phrase ‘potion people’.

More than enough, they can be so troublesome. I swear that potion must have had super rebellious qualities, Mal answered.

Tell me about it. There are so many people you have to meet! I can’t wait until we can show you your real home, Sté stated.

Will I ever have a normal life? I asked hopeful that they might nod and say yes but it looked like I wasn’t going to get my desired answer.

I’m afraid not, it’s most likely you’ll have a double life until you choose between the two, Aodan said.

I hate choosing, life is so much simpler on TV, I sighed. I did all that people watching and for nothing! I was watching the wrong kind of people. It’s so frustrating, and I’m not even sure if I believe you.

We can give you proof, Aodan offered.

No thanks, I think I’ll just watch you and see if you do anything superhuman, and if you do then I guess I’m screwed.

No you’re not; it’s really not as bad as you’re thinking. It’s just going to take a while to get used to it. Sté said gently.

I’m a freak. Not only have I never been outside, I’m a potion person! I’ll never get any friends, I moaned.

You can’t really tell anyone about being Xemeran or they really will think you’re a freak- Sté muttered.

-you’re too beautiful to be called a freak, Aodan interrupted. Hmm, wait, was he talking about me?

Yes, I was. You’re beautiful, Aodan repeated. As if he could read my thoughts. Aodan smiled suddenly, what was up with him?

After I’d finished eating the room fell silent and they all looked at me as if they wanted to say something.

What?

We need you to recount what happened three days ago, Mal said.

Oh no, I really don’t want to relive it. I wish none of that had happened so, please.

Éabhla, trust me, it’ll make you feel better in the end, like you’ve gotten something off your chest, Aodan advised.

I stared into his fire eyes for a moment then I thought, maybe he’s right.

Of course I am.

That was weird. Anyway what happened? Oh yeah, now I remember…

I had come out of the chip shop and he had asked me if I was lost or not and I said no because I’m not totally stupid. Then I asked him what he was doing and he said shopping, so far sort of normal. But then I noticed the fact that his accent had changed from when I had seen him earlier and I mentioned this to him then he pulled his hood back like he was the Dark Lord of the Sith or something … things became weird after that. His eyes were pretty scary so I was like ‘uh oh’ then for some reason he fell to the floor and cursed me saying that it wouldn’t work on him, like he thought I was a Jedi knight or something.

You really do watch too much TV and Star Wars, Aodan interrupted.

Ssh, Éabhla’s talking. I joked. Anyway, sorry for the rude interruption- (Aodan snorted) -when he went weird I tried to run away but it totally didn’t work because I’m so out of shape. I glared at Sté who looked down ashamed.

You’re not out of shape, trust me. Aodan said.

Flirt much? Sté asked.

Not really, my guardian never lets me out; he doesn’t trust me you see.

I wonder why, Sté said in mock sarcasm.

Let the girl finish her story boys, Mal said.

Sorry, they said.

"Thank you, I was running not very well so he caught up