The 7th relic, p.6
The 7th Relic, page 6
“So, we need this guy because why exactly?” I’m finding it hard to believe someone cold best Konè.
Reiko sits back. “Because if you don’t have the relic, then he does.”
I’m still not convinced. “But how can you be sure?”
Andrew rubs his hands in front of the fire. “My father and uncle spoke of Vilzen often. Reiko and I know of him because of the stories they told us of how he helped them in the past. Outside of the Ranch, unless he spoke of home, Vilzen is the only person Konè trusted. Maybe, just maybe, Konè sent the relic to him.”
“Not only that,” adds Haro, “but he has to open the gate to get us home.” He studies my face. “You have known throughout the years that Andrew and Reiko would leave for ‘home.’ Home is Kolarii, a place in another realm. We’re not from here, Grace.”
I stare at their faces, each staring back at me expectantly. But what do they expect? Do they expect me to laugh hysterically at a bad joke? To say, “okay, let’s fight on, my brothers!” or what? It feels surreal sitting here listening to grown men talk of mages, of a man who sounds like an assassin, and of realms and relics. But I’ve heard all of it before, both Lana and I have. So I say the only sane thing I can think of: “Okay.”
Reiko smiles at me, and I can’t help feeling I did the right thing. Against my will, I glance at Andrew, who stares at me with an arched look. I ignore him. He’s just as annoying now as he was back before he left for home…I mean this Kolarii place.
“So, now what?” I’m surprised at how normal I sound. How can he and everyone else know so much more than me? Have I been left in the dark all this time? And Lana…did she know the whole story, too? And they’re not fooling me about this Vilzen guy; he has a bigger role in all this. They’re just not sharing it with me. All of a sudden I feel alone, an outsider looking in on a secret. If not for the current circumstances I wonder if I will ever know the whole story. It takes everything I have not to get up and leave…for good. But where would I go? And to who?
I steal a glance at Reiko and know I can’t leave. At least not until I have a chance to find the courage to tell him how I feel about him. If I’m never going to see him again, I at least want him to know.
“You’re coming with us,” says Andrew.
I turn to him. “What? Why wouldn’t I?”
“That’s probably a bad idea,” says Reiko. That only stung a little.
“We can’t leave her here. She goes with us.” Andrew’s face leaves no room for argument, and the look on Reiko’s face is one of defiance. In the end he nods, giving in. I feel a little let down even though I know he’s trying to protect me. I turn to Andrew to show my gratitude, but his attention is back on the old man. “Do you know how to get a hold of Vilzen’s nephew?”
“Yes, but he may not know who I am.” Creases of concern appear on Haro’s forehead. “Our best bet is to rest here tonight, then take an early flight to Vegas in the morning. I’ll make all the arrangements.” Haro pulls out a cell phone as he gets up, moving toward the garage work area.
Still disappointed in Reiko’s attitude about me coming along, I keep my eyes on the fire. He stands up but doesn’t move away. “I’m sorry, Grace. It’s not that I don’t want you to come along; I just don’t want you getting hurt. And where we’re going, just getting there is dangerous.”
“Then what do you expect me to do, Reiko?” I finally look up at him. “Where would I go? Who will help me? Did you expect me to head back to the Ranch? From what it sounds like, it’s no longer there. So, tell me, where and who were you going to leave me with? I mean, don’t you think the Blue Demon will think I have the relic?”
Reiko doesn’t say anything. I get up and make my way back to the office. “Grace,” he calls after me. “Grace, wait…”
I close the door behind me, engulfed by the darkness and feeling weirdly safe in it. I move to the couch, finally feeling exhausted, and wait. Wait for Reiko to open the door, to come in and apologize to me. I want him to come after me, to finally see me and tell me that he cares for me like I care for him.
The doorknob turns and I quickly lie down on the couch, my back to the door. I hear it open and he comes in quietly but he doesn’t come to me right away. Instead he moves toward the desk area. I hear him fumbling around and then a soft light fills the room. I keep my eyes closed, listening to him place a chair next to the couch. I hold my breath, tensing now that we’re finally alone.
“Grace?”
Disappointed, I sit up. “Yes, Andrew?”
“You okay?”
I lean against the armrest, drawing my legs to my chest. “Yeah.”
“It’s like he said, he doesn’t want you getting hurt, that’s all. We would’ve left you with friends in Chinatown and, yes, we would have come back for you after it was safe to do so.”
“I get he’s concerned. Maybe being away a year has made you two forget who I am. I was the protector to a bearer of the relics, trained under Konè. I’m not the little girl you both seem to think I still am. Get over it.”
“Trust me, Grace, we notice you’re not a little girl anymore.”
The implication in his voice causes me to look up at him. I raise a brow at Andrew and in return he gives me that crooked smile of his, the one that usually makes the students giggle like high-school twits—guys and girls alike.
“Why do you want me to go with you? It seems like I’m not really needed.”
“Because you’re family, and I won’t leave family behind. Besides, you’re needed more than you think, and Reiko knows it.”
I rise and move to stand before him. “Thank you, Andrew. I mean it.” He stands, staring down at me. I can’t believe how much bigger he’s gotten in a year’s time. “I’ve missed my big brother and I’m so happy you’re here.” He shifts his eyes from mine, giving me a tight smile. “Hey, did I say something wrong?”
“No, we’re good.”
I move back to the couch. “Why were you two fighting?”
“It’s nothing. Old business between us.”
“Tell me—I want to know. I’ve never seen you guys like that before.”
He hesitates then reluctantly tells me. “We were fighting over Seelah.”
My stomach drops. By the way he’s not looking at me I know I won’t like what I’m about to hear. Yet, I find myself compelled to ask. “You…you guys were fighting over a girl?”
He throws his head to the side, looking put-upon by the whole thing. “Yeah, you know, it’s one of those where he loves her and he loves her, too, but she can’t decide who she wants to love and be with and blah, blah, blah…”
“Wait, are you telling me that Reiko’s in love? And she loves him?”
“Yeah…no, she doesn’t know who she loves.” His eyes are anywhere but on me.
“And, what about you? Do you love her?”
He nods, but I get the impression it’s a thought that just dawned on him. “With all my heart.”
Andrew is in love, too?
He takes a seat on the couch next to me, taking my hand and rubbing it softly. “And so is Reiko. Sorry, I know how you felt about him. How you still feel about him.” I slip my hand from his, letting what he’s telling me sink in.
“Wait, let me get this straight. You’re both in love with her?”
Why can’t he look at me?
“Are you lying to me?”
He gets up and walks to the desk. “Come on…what do you think? You once told me I was the most unimaginative person you know, with not a creative bone in my body, remember?”
“Oh my god.” I’m off the couch facing him. “That’s why you’ve been pushing me at Reiko all this time? I knew he didn’t feel the same way I did, but you kept pushing it. It’s so you can have her. You scum.”
“Yes, you’re right; I am scum.” He walks over to stand in front of me. “But it’s no use. She’s leaning toward him.”
Before today I didn’t even know they wanted to get serious with anyone. Sure, they’ve had their share of girls falling for them, but when I think about it I’ve never seen either with one girl for more than a week. Obviously they have another life I know nothing about.
“Who is she?”
“A friend of the family.”
“Tell me.” He starts to protest until I grab his shoulder. He grimaces, pulling away from me. “Tell me.”
“Fine. What’s more to say? The guy’s in love.” He pauses. “Unless…unless you remind him about the two of you?”
I drop back onto the couch. “Remind him of what? There’s nothing between us. And you’re still scum for still trying to use me to get to her.”
“Maybe, but you still want him, right?”
“Yes.” My head hurts. Reiko is in love. And so is Andrew…with a girl name Seelah. I shake off thoughts of this Seelah person and her effect on my guys. I change the subject. “What’s the deal with this Vilzen?”
His shoulders relax, happy to move onto another subject. “First, how much about the relics did Konè tell you and Lana?”
“Not much. Last year he told us about the Aeyan Moon rising and that Lana would be able to give the relic to the…” I stop. The image of Lana under the tree hits me. I’m unable to say more, so I just shake my head at him.
“It’s okay. So you don’t know much about the relics. You knew Lana had two of them, the last being the most important one.” He pushes back his sleeves to show me his two wristbands again: one with moons, the other with suns engraved into it. I don’t know if it’s because there’s not much light, but they look like they are embedded into his skin.
“There are also bands on each ankle,” he continues. “There’s also one in the middle of my chest, and another at the center of my back. The seventh relic is a necklace. It’s believed the last relic will unite with the relics I’m carrying, to merge into an instrument that will awaken Karas. Aeyan will do the summoning, and Karas will rise to take his place in the heavens and bring daylight back to our realm.”
I remain quiet, caught up in the story Andrew is telling. Sun Gods, Moon Goddesses, relic bearers, raising the sun…stories I grew up listening to. The only thing is, it’s more than a story…it’s his reality, his world. It all seems unbelievably fantastic to me.
And yet, again I nod. “And then what?”
“And that’s it. The realm is saved and life goes on.” He looks at me then sits down on the armrest, facing the door. “My father and uncle are from a long line of rulers. It’s our bloodline that has been responsible for the relics since the downfall of Karas. And I’m the last heir.”
“And…how long ago was it? I mean, since Karas died?”
“Before dinosaurs walked this realm. And, he’s not dead. You can say he’s been asleep all this time.”
“That’s it, I can’t take anymore. I’m exhausted.” I scoot down until my head settles on the other armrest and close my eyes. They pop back open when I feel him sit next to me, his eyes intent, silent and searching. “What?”
“It’s good to see you again, Grace.”
I stare back at him, noting the changes in his face: it’s harder, more closed off and weary. I reach up to place a hand on his cheek, seeing how tired he seems, much more than I remember. “What has happened to my Andrew?” I am saddened that the boy I once knew is gone.
He takes my hand and lightly kisses my palm. “I’m still here, Grace. I’ve always been right here.”
I feel myself drifting off, the exhaustion finally taking me under. The last thing I remember is Andrew still holding my hand. My last thought is: why is Andrew sitting here and not Reiko?
~ * ~
Chapter Ten
~ Andrew ~
I continue to sit with Grace, watching her sleep; it’s not the first time. I let my thoughts of childhood memories continue even as I hear the door open quietly.
“What is it, Reiko?”
“Haro senses something coming this way. Skytes, their master—he can’t tell just yet. He doesn’t want to wait for whatever it is to get close enough for him to find out. We need to leave.”
“I don’t want to wake her; she’s only been asleep for twenty minutes.”
“You can have Haro give her something to keep her under, just until we get to the safe house.”
“No. If we’re attacked before reaching the safe house I can’t fight if I’m carrying her. And we might need her help if things get hairy. We’ll wake her when we’re ready to go.”
I stand to leave only to have Reiko block my way.
“Not here, Reiko. I won’t fight you, not with Grace here.”
“Tell me why, first.” When I don’t answer, he goes on. “Why are you taking Grace along? You know how dangerous the road is to the gate. Why would you put her through that? She’ll be safe with the Chows. June and Mike may have been out of the Ranch for decades, but they’re still considered the best in the business.”
“She’ll be safe with us. She’ll be fine; she just needs some rest.”
“Are you serious? She’s never been on an assignment, and if Konè was alive today he would see to it that she never does.”
Reiko’s real concern is that Grace is human. Everyone…teachers, staff, maintenance…all of us are from Kalorii, every one of us but her. Grace’s only real assignment was to protect Lana; the granddaughter of the most dangerous master in the art of killing and with skills that far exceeded Grace’s.
“Konè kept within the Ranch not because she wasn’t ready. He had his reason, what they were he didn’t share with me. And for that alone she goes with us. Besides, he wouldn’t want her left behind for any reason.” I push past him and head out the door.
Haro is sitting back at the fire, a makeshift table set before him, pulling his pouch closed. The pouch is filled with black sand, sand that helps him see what is coming, going and already here. He looks up at me, shaking his head. “It’s not good. We need to leave now.”
“Have the Skytes found us?”
“Yes, but Jleroh is also coming.”
I think about that for a moment, then meet Haro’s eyes. The old man sits quietly, waiting for me to catch up.
“He’s coming for Grace? But she doesn’t have the relic. Why come for her?”
“She being the only survivor, it’s only natural he would think she has it.”
I nod in agreement. “Chinatown is no longer safe. If they found the Ranch, we have to assume the safe house is also compromised.”
He thinks for a moment. “There’s a place nearby we can use for the night. It’s not much, but it’s better than this and there are wards and spells placed on it. We should be hidden there.”
“Where?”
“At the Coit Tower.” The Cumro gets up, latching the pouch to his belt.
“Good. Take care of Grace while Reiko and I remove any evidence that we were here.”
It stopped raining on our way here, but there is a light drizzle. Despite the cold and it being only minutes shy of midnight there are people, mostly couples, still at the base of Coit Tower looking out at the lighted bay. The Golden Gate Bridge is the main focus on this cold, misty night.
Reiko is at the railing, staring out into the darkness, a young couple making out only a few feet from him. He turns to them, ready to say something but changes his mind at the last minute. Instead, he walks further up toward the tower to stare out into the distance.
Haro disappeared the moment we arrived, taking off to the backside of the tower, asking that we wait for his return. Grace huddles against the railing near a stone bench where I have planted myself. I lean back against the railing, legs stretched out in front of me. I watch her with hooded eyes while she watches Reiko from under her hood.
“Is she nice to him?” Her eyes remain on him. “No, wait…forget it, I don’t want to know.”
“You’ll meet her soon. She’s waiting for our return in Kalorii.”
She turns and leans against the railing. “Maybe Reiko’s right. Maybe I should stay here and wait until you’re done with the whole relic business. I’ve heard of the Chows; maybe they can help me until I figure out what to do with my life.”
“Huh.”
She gives me a sideway glance. “Huh, what?”
“I never thought of you as someone who would run away. You usually face challenges head on.”
“That’s true, but I also lived in a safe and protected environment. ‘Challenges’ there I could handle; out here…I don’t know. I literally don’t know anything except what I learned at the Ranch.”
“So learn about things outside of the Ranch. What? Did you think you would be there forever? Eventually you and Lana would’ve left and gone your on own.”
“I never really gave it much thought, and I don’t think Lana did either. Sure, we were both excited and looked forward to our first assignments, but we didn’t feel like we had to leave. It’s just that…”
“What?”
“It’s just that we sat in classes after classes, listened to lectures, watched documentaries, films on world history and trained and studied and trained again…for years. But being in the city for only three days I can’t help but think all the hours of studying and training were a waste of time; how they don’t apply to the real thing. The real thing being…this.” She lifts her hands indicating our surrounding. She drops them as if disappointed by the “real thing.”
“It’s only a small bit of life that you’ve witnessed, Gracie. Don’t be jaded by what three days of running has done to you. If you close yourself off now before you see what real life is about, then you died with the others back at the Ranch.” When she remains quiet, I continue. “Remember, what you learned in the past will save you in the future. The lessons, the training, the studying—all of it—prepared you for what’s happening now. The Ranch is a part of you, Grace…it always will be.”
After a moment of silence, she shrugs. “Yeah, what am I going to do here anyways? Besides, if I stay I’ll miss all the fun.” She turns to meet my gaze and smiles. If she decided not to go, I would have found a reason for her not to stay. Konè kept her and Lana from going out on assignments for a reason, and I can’t help but feel it has something to do with our current situation.
