Chapter Nine
1335 Words
Birsha took in his surroundings cautiously, trying to figure out where he was. The man he had met was walking quickly for someone with a limp.
"Excuse me, sir, where are we going?"Birsha asked politely, he knew he had to keep his manners. Where ever he was, he was sure that it would get back to his mother if she ever found out he was rude.
The man turned to him and smiled, some of his teeth were missing, lending to his creepy appearance. "To see my master." He turned back to the way they were walking, his hair falling down his back in tangled, oily clumps. The back of his head seemed to be balding as well.
At the phrase, Birsha swallowed. He had never met anyone with a master before. How did that happen to anyone? It was the twentieth century! As the thought crossed his mind, he realized the eerie quiet that was over them. He didn't hear the cars or see any planes overhead. Birsha was about to ask the strange man where he was when the man stopped suddenly in front of him.
Birsha shut his mouth and watched in silence as the man began to shake with fear at the imposing figure in front of them.
"Master, I have found him. He appeared out of nowhere. He is younger than you said, but he is here."
The man in front of Birsha exuded power, the kind of power Birsha wanted. He wanted people to tremble in his presence. How could he get this man to teach him? While Birsha's mind was racing at how to achieve this level of greatness, the man in front of him was sizing him up.
"Birsha, I have been expecting you," the man said.
Birsha suppressed his reaction to the man knowing his name and quipped, "I hope am not too late." He gave him a half-smile.
The man stroked his chin, "No, actually, you are earlier than I anticipated. I see you have met my minion." He pointed his head in the direction of the man cowering beside him.
Birsha simply nodded, he was curious about how he could get someone to do everything for him as well. He would love to have that for his parents. They have worked hard their whole life and he wanted the best for them.
"I can see you are thinking, " the man said. "You can ask me questions once we reach my cottage."
Birsha began to protest, "But I can't be gone long." He was worried about what his teacher was thinking.
The man smirked, "You have nothing to fear."
Birsha couldn't help but think, you haven't met this teacher, but remained silent. He didn't want to be rude to the man, that has apparently, been waiting for him for some time now. He inhaled and began to step forward when the man chuckled.
"We are walking there, boy." the man snapped his fingers and the three of them were suddenly transported into a small cottage. It didn't look to be much larger than his own house back on coven lands. Birsha could hear the waves of the ocean, and seagulls crying in the distance. His heart sang at the sounds, it was as if they were calling him home.
Birsha tilted his head, "So, sir, if I may be so bold as to ask. You know my name, it is only fair that I ask you yours."
The man smiled, the action did nothing to warm Birsha's heart. In fact, it did the opposite, making him shudder slightly with worry. "All in good time."
"Is Master, hungry?" a small voice asked timidly.
Birsha looked to see a small feminine creature walking in, carrying a tray laden with fruits and tea. The man scowled, "You know that when I returned today I would have a guest. WHY IS THERE ONLY ONE GLASS?"
The woman shook with fear, "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I can fix this." She laid the tray down on the table and rushed from the room, not before the man's hand whipped out and came across her cheek hard. The action left a scorching red mark just beneath her eye. The woman didn't so much as whimper but scurried from the room to retrieve another glass.
The man shook his head in anger, "It's so hard to train them."
Birsha was confused but remained silent. He felt sorry for the creature that had rushed from the room. "It's okay, I just ate anyway."
The man gave him a wry smile, "Well, she doesn't need to know that." He pointed to a seat across from himself at the table. Birsha did as he was requested and sat himself down. He had so many questions.
"So, young man," he said as put his glass to his lips. "What would you like to know?"
"Where am I?"
"You are on Daemonium Isle."
A glass appeared beside Birsha who turned to thank the timid creature. Before he could, the man stopped him. "You do not thank them. This is what they signed up for, this is what they will do."
Birsha nodded, it seemed odd to not thank someone for their kindness, but he did as he was instructed.
"Now, you have some powerful gifts, and I will help you achieve your greatest desires. I will teach you everything you need to know. " The man was very confident in his actions and words, making Birsha want to get to know him more. He chose his next words carefully because he was still befuddled by the man.
Birsha was confused by the man's words, he had just met this man and he already knew what he wanted. "How do you know?"
The man smiled, "Because I have seen it. The first thing you must know is that no matter how many times it is asked of you. Do not reject her."
Birsha looked at the man, "What are you talking about? Am I to be paired with a wolf or some other shifter?"
The man shrugged his shoulders, he could only see that he was destined to be with someone and that she was powerful enough to change everything. He knew that he wouldn't live to see that changes, that they weren't coming in his lifetime, but they would be great. And that the man in front of him, would be able to bring him back from the shadowlands when the time was right. Until then, he would have to settle for making this boy into the most powerful man in the world.
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The Fates were dumbstruck, and that doesn't happen often. Lachesis was shaking her head as she spun her threads. Atropos was silently snipping her threads, she knew that if she said something it wouldn't be good. Clotho was attempting to change the tapestry as fast as it was unraveling in front of them. How could this have happened?
"How are we going to change this?" Clotho asked, she could no longer stay quiet. This turn was too much.
Atropos lifted her scissors, snipping the air. "By letting me snip his damn thread. It won't matter if he drops dead over there."
Lachesis was nodding her head in agreement and was about to encourage her sister to do it when Chronos walked in.
"You will allow this to play out," the old man said, his strong voice betraying his frail frame.
"But," Lachesis and Atropos protested at the same time.
Chronos shook his head, "No, this will have to play out. We can not change anything else." He turned to Lachesis, "Except for this," he blew the dust that was in his hands towards his middle daughter who caught it easily. She smiled at what her father had given her.
"I think this will be perfect. It's a pity what they have to go through themselves."
Chronos gave his daughter's a half-hearted shrug, "Sometimes you have to experience the sour to love the sweet."
- Writer
