Eli Fletcher: Mark of the King: Book 1
A New Start

As I begin to stir in my sleep, I can barely remember what happened earlier, but then memories of my dad’s face come flooding back to me. He’d smiled at me, knowing I’d failed. The look on his face is all I can see as I struggle to keep my eyes closed. I don’t want to let go of the sight of him or my mother, but something is fighting with me, trying to wake me up. The proud look on my father’s face fades as my eyelids slowly open.

“Eli!” Abby squeals. She climbs up on the bed and sits on my legs.

“Abby, that hurts,” I moan.

“Abby, get down,” Fiona’s voice says with a hint of laughter.

Looking around the room, I notice that I’m in a bed I don’t recognize, in a room I’ve never seen before.

Noticing the confused look on my face, Fiona says, “This is Miss O’s new apartment on campus.”

I make some kind of a grunting sound, giving what I think is my approval. The room looks very boyish. Movie posters hang on the walls, a stack of comic books sit on the night stand to my left. The bed sheets are dark green. If I ever have my own room, this is exactly how I’d want it to look.

“Why does she have a room like this in her apartment? She doesn’t have any kids, does she?”

“I do now,” Miss O says, entering the room.

“How did that happen? You never looked-” then it hits me, even before she tells me.

“I’ve adopted you. Well, I’m in the process anyway, for now I’m technically your new foster parent,” she says.

My chin drops; Abby pushes it back up with a giggle. It’s so nice to hear her voice again. I look at the little girl sitting on my lap, beaming at me; her wide toothy grin ready to break into hysterical laughter at any moment.

Returning my attention to Miss O again, I stammer, “You…what?”

“Back in the cave, your mother asked me to take care of you as my own. I’ll be the first member of the Custodes Avis to have done something like this, but it was upon her request.”

“But, why did she ask you to adopt me? They’re alive. We’ll get them back. They’ll be my parents again!”

Miss O looks hurt for a second but then she smiles at me. “Of course, Eli. If we are able to rescue your parents, we will reverse everything and you will go to be with them,” she assures me.

“Oh,” I say, unsure of what to say. Then I realize that I’ve been unintentionally mean and hurt her feelings as it starts to hit me what she’s done. How could I have said what I did? As she starts to leave, I hand Abby off to Fiona and get out of bed. I quickly learn what a mistake that is. I immediately feel dizzy and stumble towards Miss O. She catches me before I hit the ground, though.

“You’ve gotten faster,” I say impressed.

“Eli, what are you doing?” she asks, hardly able to hold back her laughter after what I said, struggling to hold me up. She manages to get me back to my bed and sit me down.

“I’m sorry,” I say to her. “I didn’t mean to say what I did. I…”

Miss O smiles at me, understanding what I’m trying to say.

“It’s okay, Eli. I guess I should have asked you first if you wanted me to adopt you, even if it may be temporary.”

“No, I’m glad it’s you. Who else would be better?”

She smiles, hugs me and then kisses me on the cheek.

“Get some rest, Eli. You need it after everything you’ve been through.”

I smile and watch her leave. After a minute of staring at the now closed door, I remember that Fiona and Abby are with me. When I look at them, they’re both watching me, also smiling. I grin sheepishly, feeling a little embarrassed. Then a knock at the door makes me jump a little.

“Come in,” I say, my heart racing slightly.

Billy walks into the room and I’m surprised to see Allaryce and Marco with him. They look a little uncomfortable, but I can also tell that they aren’t in my new room ready to pick a fight.

“Hey, Eli. How’re you feeling?” Billy asks, taking a seat at the foot of my bed as I scoot back up to the headboard weakly; Fiona helps prop up pillows for me.

“Thanks,” I whisper quietly.

She winks and then walks around the bed to sit next to me.

“Um, I’m a little weak and dizzy, but I’m good. How are the other kids?” I ask, concerned.

“They seem okay, still a little scared, but I think they’ll come around.”

“Are they playing with the rest of the kids?”

Billy sighs. “No, they just sit quietly together in a corner of the room.”

“Hmm,” I think out loud. “Maybe we’ll have to have another outing like yesterday.”

Billy laughs. “I don’t think we’ll be having an outing like that for a long time. Not until we’ve taken care of these demons anyway.”

Allaryce and Marco shift awkwardly behind Billy. He notices me looking at them.

“They, uh, have something they want to say to you,” Billy says with a grin.

Marco shoves his fists into his pockets and drops his gaze to the floor. Allaryce suddenly becomes interested in her fingernails and bites at them nervously.

“Don’t worry about it, guys,” I say. I know they’re apologizing for picking on me, and after everything Billy has done to help me the past few days there’s no need for an apology from him.

Allaryce gives me a half-hearted grin, whether because she still doesn’t like me yet or because she’s so awkward, I don’t know, nor do I care. Marco looks a little more sincere, but is much more subtle with a slight nod. Maybe he just doesn’t smile much.

“Well, see ya later,” Allaryce says then starts to walk away. Marco grunts at me and follows her. They stop at the doorway, waiting for Billy.

“I’ll catch up with you later,” he says. They look at each other confused, as if they hadn’t expected this to be for real. “Really, guys, there’s something I need to talk to Eli about, I’ll catch up later.”

Allaryce storms off, stomping out of Miss O’s apartment. Marco glances back at me over his shoulder as he walks away. I smile and wave at him kindly as he disappears around the corner.

“So, what’s up, Billy?” I ask once the other two are gone.

“Um,” he says, looking at Abby.

“It’s okay, she’s seen enough to understand,” I tell him.

He nods nervously. “Right, so, what’s the plan now?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you know your parents are alive; you need to find the other pieces of the sword and the shield; and there’s that whole issue of closing the hell mount,” he rattles off the shopping list of things to do.

“Right,” I say, unsure of how to answer. “If the clues to finding the remaining pieces are anywhere, it’ll be on that shield.”

“Any idea where it might be?” Fiona asks. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ ꜰindNʘvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“Well, I have one, but I think Mr. Reese and Miss O will have to get us there.”

“Where?” They both ask in unison. They look at each other and giggle from having spoken at the same time.

I grin at the bond we have before answering. “Pikes Peak.”

They look at me a little confused.

“It’s the tallest peak in the area; you can see a lot from up there, I’m sure. I bet the last Sicarius figured you could just about see everywhere you need to go from there.”

They nod in agreement. I can’t believe all that has happened over the past few weeks. I’d been moved to another state…again; turned an enemy into a friend; a new friend becomes my enemy. Then there’s Fiona. The first friend my age I’ve ever made, but there’s definitely more to our friendship than that. And that’s something we both have to figure out together. Just like this hell mount thing. But, one thing’s for sure; things will be different in the group home now. Especially seeing as I’m no longer an orphan…

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