Bart stood there dumbfounded by the news. As he stared at the young girl standing across from him, he noticed that she was just as surprised as he was to learn that they were siblings. Bart had always been a single child and there was never a mention of another kid ever. Yet the longer Bart stayed in this place, this world, the more secrets started to unfold.
“Is this a joke?” Bart asked, finally breaking the awkward silence.
“I’m afraid not,” said Anna Nelson, opening her eyes slowly. Bart rushed to her bedside, as did Emilia, which irritated Bart.
“Mom,” he said feeling overjoyed that she had opened her eyes again. She smiled and placed her hand to his cheek catching the tears of happiness that were starting to slowly flow. “I thought you would never wake up,” Bart continued.
“Ah come on,” she said with a slight cough. “Your mom’s a lot tougher than she looks.” Then she looked up to Demetrius who just stuck his hand up to stop her from speaking. It was clear that she intended to thank him, but he didn’t need to hear it to know how grateful she was.
“I will give you three some time to talk,” he said as he stepped outside the door.
“Mom what’s going on?” Bart asked trying to still get a hold on the fact that he had a sister. Emilia just kept staring at Anna with tears filling her eyes.
“It’s a long story, but what Demetrius said is true,” she started. “You two are brother and sister.” Bart looked at Emilia who immediately returned his unfavorable glance.
“But mom,” Bart started. “How is this even possible?”
“It was during the time where you had just been born, sweetie. I believe it was one year to be exact,” said Anna. Bart thought back to how, for nearly fifteen years he thought that the moment he was born was when his dad left, but he remembered how he found out not too long ago that all of that was a lie. He thought about getting mad again but realized it wasn’t worth it. “When we had you, Emilia, it was an even tougher decision to leave and separate. Yet I knew it had to be done. I would’ve taken you with me, too but since I already had your brother, Alexander felt it would be unfair if he didn’t get to have one of his children.” Emilia was crying now and Bart could imagine how she felt. This was the first time she was seeing her mother, something Bart would never get to share with their father. It must’ve been tough for her to handle. “You have his eyes,” Anna said to her daughter. Emilia looked at her mother and then at Bart who didn’t know what to say, but he was less angry at Emilia than he was at their parents.
“Nice to meet you,” Bart said extending his hand, trying to defuse the tension. Emilia looked at him and then down at his hand before she wiped her face clean of the tears and stood up.
“You are no family of mine,” she said as she ran towards the door. As soon as the door opened Demetrius was standing there and a man was standing in front of him with a worried look on his face. They looked like they had been talking about something very serious.
“She was just engulfed in a bright white light and when it died out she was back asleep,” said the man. Bart stood up, still holding his mom’s hand trying to get a better listen.
“Find Victoria now,” Demetrius said firmly. He turned towards the room and looked directly at Bart. “Bart, you are going to want to come with me,” he said. Bart looked at his mom and then back at Demetrius.
“My mom just woke up,” Bart said.
“I understand but trust me Bart. You are going to want to come with me.” Bart didn’t understand why Demetrius was acting this way, but it was unnerving. His mom squeezed his hand tight.
“Go Bart, I will be fine here,” she said softly. “Besides, I want to speak to Emilia alone.” Emilia looked up and met Bart’s eyes. Bart knew she didn’t like him but maybe their mom could talk her into a more sensible way to handle things. He knelt down and gave his mom a kiss on the forehead and then slowly walked out. He stopped in front of Emilia and glared at her before following Demetrius out the door.
“So what’s going on?” Bart questioned as he followed Demetrius down the hall.
“It’s Charlotte,” he said. “She has been chosen.” Bart didn’t know what Demetrius was talking about, but he knew another secret was about to be unraveled. They made it to Charlotte’s room much faster taking a different route of back passages that Bart shouldn’t have been surprised existed. Once inside Bart saw Victoria at her side holding her hand and Mr. Cole on the other side looking worried. Jester was by the window. Jonah was sitting in a chair in the corner and there was a man standing at the foot of the bed. Bart had never seen this man before in his life but he was very intimidating. He had a hood up at first but when Demetrius entered the room, he removed it and greeted him. Bart noticed the pointy ears first, which threw Bart off completely. He instantly knew this man was an elf. He had medium length white hair that came to his shoulders and his face looked very young. When his eyes met Bart’s, Bart saw that he had silver eyes. He was wearing what looked like a hunter’s robe with two swords on his back with arrows as well. He was as tall as Demetrius, which, if Bart guessed correctly, was at least six feet tall.
“It is a pleasure to meet you Mr. Nelson,” he said without smiling. Bart nodded but was still intimidated by his presence. “My name is Nyan,” he continued. Then he turned towards Demetrius. “I assume you already know why I am here,” he said.
“Yes I do,” Demetrius said in response. Nyan nodded and then looked at Victoria.
“You are to be her guardian and trainer when we arrive, Victoria,” Nyan said demandingly. Victoria nodded as she stroked Charlotte’s hand.
“Um, excuse me,” Bart said, tired of feeling left out of the conversation. Nyan turned and looked at him. “Can someone explain what exactly Charlotte has been chosen for?” Nyan looked at Demetrius who in turn, looked at Bart.
“Bart,” Demetrius started. “She has been chosen by Camathlion to become a wielder of the light.” Bart didn’t know what that meant, but he knew Camathlion was some kind of higher being called a Majestic and that Demetrius had told him Victoria was one of the wielders of the light.
“Wait what?” Bart asked confused. “There has to be a mistake,” he continued.
“My father does not make mistakes,” Nyan said without looking at Bart. Bart was confused even more now. He knew Camathlion was the Majestic who created Zathya, but the guy in front of him looked like an elf. How was he Camathlion’s son? “The girl just turned fifteen, she is pure of heart, and she is a prime candidate. She will be trained.” Bart wanted to object. It was unfair that he would once again be losing his best friend, regardless of the reasons.
“I know this will be hard to deal with,” Demetrius began but Bart didn’t want to hear it.
“No you don’t!” he screamed. “None of you know what it’s been like for us. We have been taken out of a world that we thought to be the only world and thrown into a world that neither of us knew existed. Have any of you gone through this?” Everyone except for Nyan looked sympathetic to Bart’s rant, which only made Bart hate Nyan even more. “Mr. Cole what about you? Are you going to let them take her?” Bart asked.
“With all due respect, her father has no say in the matter,” Nyan said before Mr. Cole could respond. “Your human emotions are a weakness,” Nyan said without turning towards Bart. “It is something I have told many generations of your people to rid themselves of. Yet nobody seems to heed my words. It is the reason my father had to escape from his father. His pathetic forbidden love for an elf cost him his birthright. A grave fault of his that I do not wish to repeat.” Bart didn’t care at all about this man or his non-human emotions. He only cared about not losing his best friend. He had just gotten his mom back and Charlotte had just been saved. He felt like things were looking up again and now this Nyan character came in and started ruining everything.
“Thought you said your dad didn’t make mistakes,” Bart said angrily, hoping to get a rise out of the man. Nyan still didn’t budge instead he ignored Bart and looked at Demetrius again.
“We shall take our leave in a couple of hours,” he said and Demetrius nodded. He started to walk out but stopped by Bart and looked at him in the eyes. Without a word, he turned and left. Just then Charlotte opened her eyes to the surprise of everyone.
“What’s going on?” she said, looking a little sick but nonetheless, better now that she was awake. Mr. Cole hugged his daughter so tight that Charlotte almost couldn’t breathe. “Dad, what’s wrong?” she asked as he eased up.
“I’m just happy that you’re okay,” Mr. Cole said. Bart walked over and everyone else left the room to let them talk. “Why is everyone acting like someone died?” she asked.
“Well your injuries were more severe than they thought,” her dad said. They were only curable by herbs not wielding so we just had to wait and see if you woke up.” She turned to look at Bart. Her eyes were filled with skepticism and Bart knew it was because he had been crying.
“My mom’s awake,” he said trying to cover it up which seemed to work because Charlotte’s skepticism vanished and was replaced by happiness and surprise.
“That’s great,” she said giving Bart a hug. Bart realized that he didn’t want to be the one to tell her what was going on.
“Charlotte, we have to tell you something,” her father said softly. She looked up at him and then at Bart, but before anyone could say anything, the door flung open and Jonah rushed in.
“Charlotte,” he said. “Can you walk?” Bart and Charlotte looked at each other and then back at Jonah.
“Yeah, pretty sure I can,” she said.
“Good,” he said with a smile. “Your mom is back.” Bart looked at Charlotte whose eyes looked like they were about to come out of her head. Mr. Cole’s face drained of all its color. Bart helped Charlotte to her feet and all three of them followed Jonah to the throne room.
When they got there, everyone was crowded around. There were tons of people standing and whispering to each other. Bart heard someone whisper ‘I heard they found him’ as he walked by. Another said ’If it’s really him, he’ll be a goner for sure’. Bart was confused but he was intrigued. Who were they talking about? He made his way to the front of the crowd and saw four people kneeling and one woman standing facing away from Bart and towards the throne. The queen was standing on the throne platform about five steps higher and by her side were Demetrius and Nyan. Bart saw his Uncle Caleb standing amongst the crowd. He flashed a smile at Bart, which Bart returned half-heartedly. Bart and Charlotte made their way to the crowd on the right side of the woman standing in front of the throne. When they got in front of the woman the queen invited them both along with Jonah to stand with her on the elevated platform. Bart couldn’t believe his eyes. The woman standing in front of the throne looked just like Charlotte. She had beautiful eyes and she clearly was much older, but if Bart had to ever guess what Charlotte would look like when she got older this would be it. Bart looked at Charlotte whose face was pale as her mother stood only feet away from her. The woman hadn’t noticed Charlotte yet. Mr. Cole looked as if he was about to have a heart attack. Before anyone could say anything to anyone, Charlotte’s mom spoke.
“Your majesty, the queen, we have found him,” she said loud enough for the entire throne room to hear. The queen quieted everyone down and then gestured for some people to move forward. Out of the back of the crowd came two huge men escorting a man bound in ropes. Once they approached the throne they paused next to Charlotte’s mother. They forced the man to his knees and his head was down.
“Well done Gloriana,” said the queen. Gloriana and her men bowed and then took some steps back. The man lifted his head and immediately Charlotte gasped. Bart couldn’t understand why he knew the man in the ropes. He couldn’t understand why a good man such as this one would be bound and carried in like a villain. He stepped forward a little but Victoria grabbed his arm.
“Jason?” Bart said obviously confused. Jason’s eyes met Bart’s and Bart could see the sadness and resentment in them.
“Jason?” said the queen. “This man’s name is not Jason, Bartholomew.” Bart looked at the queen and then back at Jason. Victoria was still holding on to his arms as he semi-struggled to free himself.
“Bart what’s going on?” whispered Victoria. Bart didn’t know how to respond.
“Bartholomew, you can stop struggling,” said the queen. “Whatever you think you know about this Jason, I assure you this is not him.”
“Yes he is,” Bart said still looking at Jason.
“Bart,” Demetrius said softly.
“Then who is he!” Bart yelled. He knew this man and he knew his name was Jason. Bart owed him his life, as did Charlotte. The queen looked at him, bewildered. Bart stared into her eyes and couldn’t understand why she looked just as confused as he did. Then she spoke and the words cut through Bart like a sharpened blade.
“His name is Angelo Yessiah.”
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