The Genesis Project Prophecy of the Seven (16 page)
Read The Genesis Project Prophecy of the Seven Online
Authors: C.L. De Leon
We exited the portal to chaos, but not like we had found in the hills.
Some families had been reunited, while others were still missing. Some people were screaming for their loved ones while others searched, which is exactly what I did.
I searched for Blaine, my heart breaking for his loss. He and I had been best friends for as long as I could remember. We practically grew up at each other’s houses, we were family.
I looked over to Garrett who stood on the opposite side of McKenna. Our eyes met and I could see he was going through the same emotions I just had.
“We should take McKenna to see my Dad, and Lilly first
,” Garrett said.
“Good idea
,” I said, turning to McKenna. “McKenna Don’t worry I promise you no one here will harm you. What I can’t promise is that they may or may not have a closed mind. Just seeing you may bring forth feelings of rage with in them, they may not be able to help themselves or their nasty attitudes, but no physical harm will come to you. You have already made many friends in those you’ve freed; keep positive and everyone will come around. I promise.”
McKenna smiled at me, knowing what I said to be true. “Off to see the wizard
,” I called out as we walked into the caves, linked arm in arm.
Every person who entered the caves spent the majority of the next two weeks with Ulric, Lilly and Ben Except for those who were too wounded to.
They went over what they remembered, while Lilly followed them through their memories.
McKenna and Jessa spent their day with Ben and Lilly. They had been with Cora the longest out the entire group, and they bared the mark of the Seven.
We were now a complete unit. McKenna was still young and she knew so much more than she had realized coming to understand that her sister must have thought her a simpleton and really believed that McKenna would never go against her.
She was wrong, so very wrong.
Ben had even showed he trusted her by allowing her to train with us; she would be a part of something that wasn’t perverse like her sister and the Militia cause.
She was excited, and she worked hard. Josilyn worked with McKenna daily teaching her how to concentrate, for a shape shifter she was an amazing coach.
Josilyn was a special person. She was a hard nut to crack. Always on the defensive but once you spent time with her she was caring, and kind so much so, most people would believe it was a fault.
The Seven were brought together through fate and Chance; their wills had been tested in one way or another. Now the time to stand together would show the true character of each and every one of them, in
dividually, as well as a group.
Ben stood in front of the commons room addressing all of those who resided there.
We were nearly 500 strong now.
Every available space had been taken up in the cave system. Even having to double up where we could.
“Ladies and Gentlemen,” he addressed the compound as a whole. “The prophecy of the Seven has begun. The Seven have been brought together as had been foretold. Reighlyn, Jasper, Garrett, Blaine, Luke, Jessa, and McKenna.”
Ben paused looking around to the faces before him, the weight of his seriousness sinking into the crowd. “This is far from over…We’ve been working diligently to gather the correct information for the Seven. I am ecstatic to announce we now have what we need--we have a location--but more importantly we are currently putting together a plan.” Ben called to the crowd as I stepped up beside him front and center.
“None of us asked for this, but each of us is willing to lay down our lives...not just for those that we love but for everyone, for our freedom as a whole. These past few months have changed me…they have changed us all, I hope for the better. As we continue forward in the coming month’s things will get harder before they get better, but I have faith in the prophecy…I have faith in us all.”
I nodded to the crowd and stepped back in line with the others as they cheered us all. Garrett grabbed my hand squeezing it, giving me his approval.
I stood at the head of the long table while the others sat at a long table that had been set up in my rooms. Staring at the blueprints or shuffling through piles of papers.
McKenna had given them a lot of useful information. Between McKenna, Jessa and Josilyn they had confirmation of who the major players were.
A self-proclaimed King-- Rolland Deutermont-- and his court of misfits.
We knew where Cora was, or had been, and now with the help of Lilly, Ulric and Siddehlee we had an idea of where he was. I walked over to my room closing the curtain as I went in.
I sat down in my chair; I could hear everyone offering ideas and opinions. I was scared; I didn’t know what I was supposed to do.
I was more or less going with what felt right, or trying to at least. I sighed, leaning my head back, closing my eyes meditating, listening to the waterfall and voices melding together.
Garrett came over sitting in the other chair, taking my hand. “Jasper is getting cozy with Josilyn, looks like we won’t have to worry about him anymore.”
I attempted a smile, of course I wanted Jasper to be happy but I wasn’t sure how I felt about him and the sultry tropical blonde, but I wouldn’t tell Garrett that.
“I’m relieved. I would rather have him as a friend than nothing.”
“What would you rather have me as?” I looked at him, wondering where he was going with this. “What do you mean? I would rather you be where you are now…by my side,” Garrett smiled at me, dropping to his knees.
“Reighlyn, we haven’t known each other for long, yet my heart and soul feel as if they’ve known you for all of eternity. I know we’re about to face down the devil himself…but more importantly I know that I can’t go on not knowing if we may or may not die…I would much rather know if you would marry me more than anything Reighlyn, I would like to know if you would be my wife.”
Garrett pulled out a huge diamond ring. It was gorgeous; the biggest princess cut diamond I had ever seen--bigger than the ones I had seen on commercials--surrounded by alternating begets of white and pink lining the band.
I must have stared to long because someone cleared their throat. I looked up at Garrett, tears shimmering in my eyes as I searched his face.
He smiled expectantly, and patiently. Garrett looked like he wanted to say something else; he opened up his mouth to speak when I crushed him in a fierce kiss, wrapping my arms around him as he lifted me out of my chair crushing me to his chest.
I heard cheering behind me, I turned to look to see the people I loved the most standing there, the people I had begun to think of as my family.
Garrett put me down, dropping back onto his knee, He took my left hand smiling at his parents and mine, placing the ring on my finger.
My mom ran over to me crushing me in a hug, my Dad wrapped his long arms around the both of us. Telling me how proud he was, how grateful he was to be here to see this moment.
Blaine squeezed me, followed by Luke, Ben, Bethany, Lilly, Willy, Ulric, Jess, Josilyn, McKenna, Siddehlee and lastly Jasper.
Coming to a complete circle where I ended up back in Garrett’s arms. I smiled at him, as everyone broke out cake, and punch. I laughed; they had hid all of this in my room without me noticing.
I must be distracted. “Thank you all so much for doing this,” I said.
“After the party Garrett I’d like to see if we can all take a short field trip.” Garrett seen the serious look on my face and nodded.
For now I was going to enjoy this ‘normal’ moment with my ‘normal’ family.
CHAPTER
46
I stretched as I woke up, I could smell breakfast coming from the commons.
It had been a month since Garrett asked me to marry him. We hadn’t made any plans yet as far as an actual wedding date which is fine by me, we had enough planning and conspiring going on as it was.
I rolled out of bed, pulling on clothes. Smiling to myself as I looked around my room my home…never in a million years would I have imagined myself begin happy in a place like this, living in a cave next to a waterfall and a river with no cell phones or electricity.
I think I liked it better this way.
I pulled my brush through my tangled curls trying to pull them into a pony tail at the crown of my head, we had been attempting to infiltrate
Deutermont’s establishment for the past month, counting, plotting, planning, and looking for weaknesses.
Last night we found one.
The sewer system. This entire month we had been looking above when we should have looking below. I didn’t want to literally walk or crawl through fecal matter to get to this guy, but what choice did I have, what choice did any of us have?
So far it was the only way we could figure to get in. The only way we could end this crazed man’s reign of terror.
I walked into the kitchen, feeling extraordinarily perky today. Grabbing my plate of biscuits and gravy and a glass of milk, I sat down next to my Dad.
“Where’s mom at?” I asked taking a bite of food.
“She had something planned for this morning, I’m sure you’ll see her around some time soon
,” he said.
“So, I was thinking that we could go tonight. We’ve been watching for a month now and reports we’ve collected from people who’ve come in recently aren’t good. It’s getting worse out there, this guy is taking non-gifted people Dad and using them as slaves and forcing them to basically be fodder in his army and god knows what else
,” I said watching my dad set down his fork as his brow furrowed.
“Reighlyn, don’t be hasty. We have to take all caution. Deutermont isn’t an easy target. I know the reports have given us a better look at the man, but caution is key here.”
“I understand that, and we are being overly cautious, but I really think that if we can take him out then the whole Militia would fall apart. Honestly I get that the war won’t be over. I know that there will be others who still think and feel like Deutermont does, but I think now is the time to strike,” Dillon smiled at Reighlyn.
“How did my daughter get so wise?” He laughed. “We’ll go over your plan with the others before lunch. We’ll see what everyone thinks and I have a few ideas I’d like everyone to hear also.”
“Sounds good, I’m going outside for some practice. Could I interest you in a few rounds?” Reighlyn asked mischievously knowing her dad couldn’t pass up a good spar.
Dillon laughed. “I would, I defiantly would love to…but I can’t today. I promised your mom I would help her with a few things.” He stood to leave.
“Next time then,” Reighlyn shot her dad a comforting smile as he moved to leave.
Listening to the wind howl blowing off the last few leaves that hung onto the trees, she methodically moved through a rhythmic dance in the crisp cool air. The snow would be falling soon.
I allowed myself to get lost in the movements, blocking out all thought relaxing and relying on pure impulse and instinct alone.
The crunching of leaves under boots alerted me to someone approaching me from behind, I stayed in my warrior dance not wanting to alert whoever it was that I knew they were there.
The sounds grew louder--they were almost directly behind me--I launched myself in the air spinning and flipping coming to hover above and away from the would be assailant.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I shouted at Jasper as soon as my eyes locked onto him.
“Do you know what I could have done to you?” I yelled at him as I lowered myself to the ground.
“You’re getting good
,” he said flashing that cocky smirk of his. I couldn’t help but smile myself.
“Thanks, what are you doing? Come to get your butt kicked?” I asked playfully.
“No I just wanted to see you.” he said taking a step toward me.
“Jasper if you’re thinking of doing anything you’re sorely mistaken.” I eyed him taking a step away from him.
“Reighlyn, I care about you, I’m just worried you’re rushing things…the last thing I want to do is attempt to offer some relationship advice, but I’m just suspicious.”
I laughed at Jasper, a full belly shaking laugh. “Seriously you make it sound like I’m about to marry Garrett tomorrow…don’t get me wrong I would, but that isn’t going to happen. We have so much going on right now, we’re going to wait until things calm down…honestly we haven’t made any plans or anything.”
“I’m sorry; this is me trying to be a good friend. I told you I would stand beside you no matter what you choose and I meant it.” I almost see the sadness dripping off of Jasper and it made my heart sick knowing I was the one who made him feel like this.
“I liked you, and I do care about you Jasper. Had I not met Garrett do I think I could have felt more for you? Yes… a thousand times yes…but it didn’t work that way. I’m so sorry I’ve made you feel like you do. The last thing in the world I wanted to do was hurt you.” I looked at Jasper, hoping that what I said eased his pain, even if it was just a little.
Jasper gave me a nod, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans as he turned to walk back to the caves.
I watched him go, knowing that we needed this war over soon, for all our sakes.