Touched by Darkness (Young Creator Trilogy) (16 page)

I hate admitting it, but Nick is a cool dude. We get along pretty well and have a lot of things in
common. One of them being Trish; he actually admitted that he was interested and asked me
what our deal was.I guess he didn’t believe the whole boyfriend thing.

“Holy
crap, that’s some serious stuff. I tell you what, until you guys have everything
figured out I’ll back off.” We bump knuckles, which I’ve only ever done with the guys I grew up
with. I realize that Nick is the first guy I would consider friend outside of the usual group of
guys. He’s a lot like all of us, but at the same time different. Even though I put my stamp of
approval on the whole Nick and Trish thing,if things don’t work out between us, I don’t know
how I feel about the idea.
It doesn’t matter
, I tell myself.
She’s going to realize that we belong
together.

We head out the door to meet up for dinner; we
’re going to some bistro that Nick’s dad
recommended.Said it was a must. I don’t really know anything about that … food’s food. Nick
and I decide to find our own way versus meeting up in front of the hotel for a cab. Nick grabs a
city and Métro map from the hotel information desk, and we head out. France is nothing like the
United States; there is so much history everywhere you look. Everything is either really modern
or old. The architecture of the buildings is quite something, there isn’t one building that is plain.
Everything is very elaborate, like the cathedrals decorated with extravagant carved stone statues.

There is so much to take in, and if the landscape
wasn’t enough to keep the eyes busy, the
people definitely are. It seems like no one has any inhibitions. The things that are openly
accepted in the streets of Paris would be frowned upon in the U.S., which seems funny since we
consider ourselves free spirits. Getting on the Métro, we have to stand due to how crowded it is.

Nick knows.
“I probably know as much as you do, dude. I think we’re meeting up to talk about the
game plan and hopefully my dadwill fill in some blanks.”
“I would’ve thought he’d have filled you in by now.”
Nick lets out a laugh at my statement. “My dad is not the sharing kind. He likes being in
control and having all of the cards in his hand. Most likely he’ll tell us just the bare essentials.” I
watch Nick blow kisses to some girls that have been giggling and batting their eyelashes at him.
Laughing, I shake my head at him. For me, it’s never been easy to flirt with girls. The
first girl that I ever took a chance on was Trish. I remember the first time that I saw her. She was
walking down the hall at Dalton Academy, hoodie pulled up and hiding her face, but from what I
could see she looked pissed at the world. For some reason I wanted to take the hurt and anger
away. Too busy watching her, I ended up colliding with her. The shock of a lifetime happened
when we touched; it was an electric shock went through my body and I felt something for the
first time.It’s strange how much Trish’s presence in my life has changed me. Thinking back over
the last week, Ican’t believe the person that I am without her. I really don’t like the guy that I
was, and am so glad to have had my eyes opened to that fact.
We finally meet up with the rest of the gang. Luckily, the Métro ride only takes a few
minutes, becauseI’m anxious to find out the details. I want to know what the plan is. The bistro
is nice enough, but I really don’t think it’s anything special. It’s very simple in design, and
looking over the menu it seems like they mostly serve sandwiches. I don’t know what any of this
stuff is, so I look to Nick for help.
“You like breakfast?” When I nod, he says, “Get the Croque Madame, its freaking
amazing.”
Nick is something else. He has just as much weight on his shoulders as I do, but
somehow heseems to have a lightheartedness about him. As if he doesn’t have a worry in the
world. I can’t remember the last time … no,that’s a lie. I guess the only time that I let go and
enjoy myself is when I’m with Trish. I just don’t understand how someone that I’ve known for
such a short time can mean so much to me. I stare at her, and only realize what I’m doing when
she looks at me from under her lashes and raises her eyebrow in a questioning way.
When the waiter arrives—a very serious older man—I decide to go with Nick’s
suggestion and order the sandwich. I wonder if it has alligator in it;I’m up for anything.
“So what’s the plan?” I figure I might as well get this started.
“I was hoping to eat first, then talk,” Trish says.
“Me,too. I’m starving,” Riley pipes in.
I let out an annoyed growl,which gets me a slap on the back from Nick. “Chill, dude!
There is plenty of time for that. Let’s just enjoy the company and eat some great food.” He winks
at me and pushes my glass, which I haven’t touched, closer to me. Taking a gulp, I almost spit it
back out. What the…
Nick is cracking up. “Man, your face… frickin’ priceless. Enjoy, compliments of yours
truly.”
I don’t know what I’m drinking, but it’s definitely alcohol, and it’s strong. One rule that
we have as Guardians is no alcohol… ever. Just then the food arrives, and I have to say that I’m
really happy with my choice. It’s a breakfast sandwich, but instead of alligator it has ham,
cheese, and eggs. As I bite into the egg, the yoke explodes and runs down my face. Hearing
laughter, I look up and notice Trish with a warm smile on her face watching me. After that, I
enjoy the sandwich even more, and gulp it down with several large gulps of the drink. I mean,
why not? You never know what’s going to happen; I could always die again. I stillcan’t believe
that I died, that’s the other piece that snapped into place when Chris lifted the darkness.
Chris lets out a satisfied belch and wipes his mouth with his napkin. All of the talk and
laughter has slowly died down over the last few minutes; everyone wants to know what lays
ahead. Chris glances around the table with a satisfied smile, but notices all eyes on him, which
has him sitting up a little bit straighter with a serious look crosses his face.
“Oh, right. Sorry. I get few chances to just relax and enjoy myself. I let myself, for a
minute, forget why we have come to this place.” He glances around the room, and after a minute
of staring into nothingness, he continues,“I know that you probably expect me to lay out exactly
what we are going to face, but sadly I cannot. As Nick pointed out earlier, no one has ever been
able to relay tales of the Underworld because no one ever leaves. What I can share with you is of
the hardship that I underwent to gain my Sky.”
With those words, he lovingly strokes the sword that Ididn’t notice by his side until now.
“I was just a normal guy. I had a beautiful, loving wife, sweet boy and new baby girl. She was so
beautiful with her mother’s blue eyes and blonde curls. I had no idea that there was a hidden
world with immortal beings hiding in the shadows. To make a really long story short, one of
your kind, Trish, decided to have some fun in my town, which cost me my beautiful wife and
baby girl.” I’m used to hearing these sort of tales; they were our bedtime stories when I was
growing up. They were the reason that I told my dad I wanted to be a Guardian, but the look on
Trish’s face breaks my heart. Tears are glistening in her eyes and her lips are trembling.
“I’m sorry, Trish, I just want you to understand why I chose the path I did. I cried for
days, begging God to bring my family back. One night, while I was sitting in a bar getting
drunk—Nick, who was only four, was home all alone—an old women sat next to me. Ididn’t
pay her any attention and continued with my drunkenness. I must have blacked out, because
when I came to the old women was cleaning off the throw up that now covered me.” I have to
say that I’m getting bored with this story, I don’t understand what this women has to do with
anything.
I voiced my thoughts out loud, “What does this have to do with how you got your
sword?”
“The old lady was one of the Fates. She started muttering about how the balance had
greatly tipped into the court of darkness and that it needed to be balanced. She asked me if I
wanted revenge on the one that had killed my wife and daughter. It was the first time since that
night that I felt alive again. Told her that my life was hers and I would dedicate it to a life of
revenge against those that had hurt my family. The old women started cackling, and I thought it
had all been a joke played on a heartbroken man. I started raging, telling her I would kill her for
her sick sense of humor. The look that she gave me ended my outburst, and when she pointed a
bony finger toward a chair I followed her instruction without question. One second an old crone
was standing in front of me, and the next a beautiful women. Then, in the blink of an eye, a
younger version of the women.” Chris shakes his head with a smile, and I think that he is
marveling at the day that he found out about all of this. By this I mean Furies, Young Creators,
Fates, and all the other stuff that existsbut shouldn’t.
“The Fate explained that she was timeless. A being purely created to watch over the Earth
and all of its creatures, placed in charge of a magical tapestry that kept count over darkness and
light. The Fates made sure that one never overtook the other too far. They had to interfere on a
few occasions and this was one of them. A few of the Young Creators had come unhinged and
caused destruction all over, some by killing everything in sight by their own hand, others by
causing natural disasters to do so. She told me that I had been chosen to stop all of this, but
before I would be given the opportunity I first had to find myself and take care of my family. I
had wallowed so deep in my grief that I had abandoned my boy. You can’t imagine the fire that
those words caused inside of me. Since that day, I have dedicated my life to both my family and
serving the Fates.” He reaches across and ruffles Nick’s hair in an affectionate gesture.
“So … the sword?” I once again want to bring him back on track. I get that he feels like
he has to share his story, but I just want to know about the sword that is going to stop all of our
problems.
“Yeah, about that. I get that Ican’t use your sword to kill Haddie,but why don’t you try?
Why do I have to get myown weapon?” Trish asks from across the table.
“It is how the Fates are making sure that the balance is restored. You see, I can kill the
dark, but Ican’t make more light. However, if you bring Haddie to justice, dark will be beaten by
light,which will hopefully be enough to restore balance. I don’t know if you have noticed, but
when darkness overshadows light, things change in the world. Humanity is crueler and more
wars break out, people are at their worst.” Giving her a sad smile, he takes a gulp from his halffilled glass. He empties the remainder and nods in the direction of the waiter, letting him know
he would like another.
“So, Sky here.” Chris pulls the sword up and lays it flat on the table. I’m in awe of the
beautiful sword, a weapon that can slice through immortality. It’s not that the Young Creators
are immortal, it’s just that theycan’t be killed by normal means. Especially if they are in control
of their powers. No wonder the people in charge of Haven tried so hard to keep the Young
Creators docile. I look at Trish and remember how things where for her in Haven, and
immediately realize that it’s just not the place for anyone like her. I don’t know how Haven
hasn’t been destroyed by angry Young Creators that may have gotten away. I guess the plan that
Haven was founded on did actually work.
Chris’ words break into the spell that his sword has cast over me. “Each of the three
swords are connected to one of the three great gods that ruled the different realms of Earth. Sky
is bound to Zeus, Typhoon is bound to Poseidon, and Flame to Hades. The three gods created
these weapons as a fail-safe in case something happened and a weapon would be needed to bring
other gods to their knees. Somewhat surprising I know, since none of those three lacked
arrogance. I think Athena may have had something to do with it. Zeus always listened to his
daughter, especially when it came to her wisdom in strategizing in war. But that’s just the story I
heard. As far as getting my sword, I had to climb the tallest mountain. When I found the ancient
cave that the Fate told me about, I had to go through multiple tasks before reaching the sword. I
have a few scars that show how close I came to failure. Once I reached the sword, I tried picking
it up and failed. I sat in front of it for days, then weeks. My food and water ran out and I was
barely clinging on to the threads of life when finally I had a vision of Zeus asking why I was
willing to give my life to acquire the sword. I told him of my mission to destroy the evil that was
the Young Creators, and next thing I know I was at the bottom of the mountain, sword strapped
to my side.”
Everyone has gone quiet and is just staring at Chris, not really knowing what to say. I
honestly don’t know what to think. I know that we have to stop Haddie from what she is doing;
not only that, but Trish has to have a way to defend herself when Haddie comes for her. Which
apparently is only a matter of time.
“So now that you understand what is at risk, let’s take a day to get ourselves together and
hash out all of the details. Then, the day after tomorrow we will go to the Underworld,” Chris
says, breaking the silence. He gets up, throwing some money down and walking out the door. I
can’t believe that he left it like that. I seriously want to bang my head into a wall. I still have so
many questions and things that I need answered, but I let the opportunity slip. I look to Nick, and
when I catch his gaze I motion toward the door, letting him know that I want to leave… now. I
notice him whisper something into Trish’s ear, which has me gritting my teeth, and he gets up,
grabbing his black leather jacket and quickly slipping it on.

I watch Keagan head out the door with Nick. I’m glad to see that
he has a friend, and I know that
Nick is a good guy. Keagan needs someone, I know that, but right now itcan’t be me. He seems
so lost; I just hope that he can dig his way out of this and find his way.