Chosen Flame

1807 Belinda Durham was on her informal stroll through Cairo, her family was on an expedition to find the Temple of Lilithu. Her father and fiancé heard of it from the merchants who has been this from the natives of Egypt. As usual her father wanted to go in search of it and prove it's existence to his fellow archeologists. So he got funds from the British government to sponsor his foolish exploration and forced his family to tag along. Although she hated when her father goes on these hopeless treasure hunts, she loves to see him happy and he was the happiest when he gets to go on an adventure with his family, so that made her happy too. He wanted her to marry Frederick Douglass so, she said yes to his proposal even though she didn't t love him. So here she was walking the streets of Cairo and thinking of all she has done to make her father happy. It was time for her to get back to you the house rented for them in the city for while they do a little more research on the location of the Temple . When she got back, her mother was preparing dinner and father and fiancé were over map trying to pinpoint the location of the amulet. " Eureka! " my father yelled suddenly from across his study, " finally I have figured out where the amulet could be located, Martha, Linda pack the bags and load them in onto the wagon we will be leaving first thing tomorrow " at that he and Frederick went to the living room, pouring themselves a glass of whiskey and talking about manly things. Mr. Durham or as he liked to be called, Fernando went out that evening, told his guides along with his fellow colleagues, that they would be leaving tomorrow at dawn . They woke up early the next day and started their journey to where Mesopotamia was located so long ago. For weeks they traveled, setting up camp whenever it got dark or stopped at any towns so they can rest and buy more supplies. Four weeks and a day later they have reached their destination. They set up camp and rest so the could start the excavation tomorrow. One of the native guides decided to tell us the legend of the amulet, his name was Azime , " this is the story of the lost amulet of Lilithu, I do not know the exact time this was I only know what my grandmother told me. Years ago two twins were born to the High priestess of the Great Goddess , a boy and a girl, she named the boy Lithu and the girl Lilithu. They both grew into the kindest of people, both beautiful and graceful in their own right , but when their mother died ,their birthright was taken from them and given to Kert . For many years Kert used his stolen position to mix in the dark arts and soon he gained followers and formed a dark cult, raising him up as their god. Soon he turned his fellow Mesopotamians against the worship of the Great Goddess, all except Lithu and Lilithu. The king of that time was blinded of Kert betrayal , not knowing of his treachery, he believed the lies of the Twins being renegades , putting a death sentence on their heads . Lilithu and Lithu , faithful to the Great Goddess and her Consort, built a secret and sacred temple to them underground. For years they hid and worshipped their god and goddess in secret until a slave girl saw them going to their temple. The slave girl told Kert of this, but no matter how much she tried to find the entrance to the temple again, she could not and was thus killed for lying to a High Priest . Lilithu heard about this and grew afraid so she made an amulet , that was then blessed by the Great Goddess, her consort and their faithful messenger, to turn any curse into a blessing. Kert, who was still looking for the hidden temple and had finally found with it, unfortunately, Lithu,Lilithu and those not fooled by Kert's deception,were inside. Kert and his disciples brought Lithu and Lilithu to the king to await their punishment. The king decided to curse them, to forever crave the blood of the living. When they were cursed the amulet blessed them with immortality, strength, speed, stealth and agility along with magic and fast healing. For many years the roamed the earth and were called demons by the Hebrews and Babylonians, Kert finally found them and killed them, but little did he know that merely injured them, forcing them into a deep sleep and it is said that they are still asleep within the temple of their Great Goddess,awaiting the day to be awoken "with that he finished his tale. In the morning they woke up and began their work. For months they dug through the ground until the finally dug up the entrance to the hidden temple. They set up watch in shift to protect the relic from robbers, in the morning the packed the bags with their equipment along with food and water also torches, lanterns and kerosene oil. They went into temple and were impressed by the ancient walls that somehow isn't in ruins. The walls were filled with beautiful although faded coloured hieroglyphics and unlit torches ,the structure was that held up by tall pillars, having lily like pattern at the top, the ceiling were painted with different depictions of the virtues of the faithful, at right of the temple there was an alter made of black granite decorated with rubies, golden quartz and emerald, it was beautiful sight. As they went further into the temple they saw many beautiful chambers, some holding a huge number of gold and other precious material and gems that were sacrificed to the Great Goddess. They finally came to the end of the temple where a huge door stood, it was made of solid cedar wood, carved into the door were hieroglyphics that were cast in gold and decorated with many beautiful and precious gems and it was telling the life of Lithu and Lilithu, most likely drawn by those who were faithful to the Goddess . It showed how they suffered after their mother died and the many years of oppression after that, it showed how they then build their secret temple and when they were cursed, how they struggled after they were banished, how they made many followers who took upon themselves the curse and finally when they were put to rest. Everyone was amazed by the magnificent of the door but they also wanted to see what's on the inside. Belinda was leaning on the wall beside the door,one of the brick sunk inwards and the door then swung open. What was on the inside shocked them even more than the door itself or any of the other chambers. The walls in this chamber was casted in both gold and silver with rubies, diamonds, amethyst, quartz and emerald set into then in dazzling mosaic of the Great Goddess holding two twin babies, a boy and a girl who were sleeping peacefully in her arms. At the center of the chamber there laid two golden sarcophagus and there, on one of the sarcophagus, laid a necklaces, the amulet! It's pendant was gold shaped into a scarab beetle with an emerald set into the middle, held on a leather cord. There was a small passage between the two sarcophagus that could hold one person at a time. Belinda went first then her mother, her fiancé and then her father. Fernando took a good look at the amulet, brushed away the dust and then look again. He was about take the amulet when his wife, Isabel, screamed in pain, as he turned he saw a his son-in-law to be pulling a knife from his back wife. Frederick then shot him. Belinda could only watch in shock as her fiancé killed her parents. She came to her senses and rushed to the amulet grabbing just as her fiancé was turning to kill both her and Azime. He aimed his gun at her and Azime but before he could pull the trigger both sarcophagus exploded , as the dust cleared , you could see silhouettes of two person. Both were adorned in ragged clothing. They, along with Azime snarled at the Frederick, backing him into a corner. Belinda looked at them and noticed their inhumane beauty along with pearl white fangs and teeth. They tore through the his flesh and bone as it were paper. With all excitement Belinda never noticed the pain until then, she felt her clothes clinging to her stomach, she looked down and saw a huge splinter lodged in her abdomen, she could definitely feel it now, the pain. She felt dizzy, she fell to ground spun around, that's when creatures remembered her presence and as they approached she gave herself to darkness. She still had the amulet in her hands, when awoke. She was on one the many sandy hills surrounding the hidden temple and it was dark out. She looked down at the temple, as she placed the amulet around her neck and began to cry, her family has died and she didn't know what to do, killed by her fiance, no less . She felt a pair of strong, yet tender arms on her shoulders and she turned to see who it was only to see the most beautiful woman she has ever seen, Azime was there as well with another man who just as beautiful, they were talking in a language she could not understand. For the second time that night she fainted, but as she fell into blissful darkness she could hear the words whispered to her, both dreadful and soothing, “you are now one of us, daughter.” “Felix!” called my mom from downstairs, I was on the roof staring over at the huge festival being hosted by my soon to be school. I could see the number of people enjoying their last day of summer. The sun was setting casting the happy people in an orange glow. They were so happy and I couldn't guess why, was it because of the festival or was it the fact that another summer has gone by. I couldn't stand exciting, the overflow of joy was suffocating, even from the safety of my room, I could feel my skin squirming at the thought of me being down there, pretending to enjoy myself with my friends (what friends?) >creek> “Felix? ” my mom asked as she opened the door, I didn't answer. I've been avoiding her for most of the day, I had snuck away from the festival and the happy people, my mother being among them. She must have noticed my absence or she wouldn't have been here. “Felix, are you in here?” I stayed quiet, hoping she'd go away. A couple minutes later the sound of shuffling stopped, the sound of her footsteps getting farther away and the closing of the door assured me she had left, I sighed. Tomorrow would be my first day as a sophomore. I wasn't sure if I should be excited or worried after all I was year away from being a senior. At the beginning of summer my friends moved away, so I would have to face this year without them. I looked over to the festival again, they were having so much fun, but I couldn't go there, it would be too much. I crawled through my window into my room and laid on the bed. I wondered how my day would go, would I make new friends or would I always be the outcast of the school, I know that I was different and I always been picked on for it from preschool. My eyes they were unnatural, a ghastly shade of grey that resembled polished silver, people thought I was blind for half of my life until I proved them wrong. During Middle School I was reduced to wearing shades until fourth grade, when I met my friends Jonah and Crystal, they thought my eyes were cool. Paired with my jet black hair and ivory white skin , they loved to compare me to a fairy with how lean and tall I was. Now they're gone, Jonah for Great Britain and Crystal left for the Bahamas, they promised to stay in contact but I've been sending emails and they haven't replied since they left, I sighed, it seemed they forgot about me (It wouldn't be the first I've been forgotten ). “Felix , dinners ready ” I jolted awake, I guess I fell asleep. I got up and went downstairs to join my mother. “Hey bright eyes ” she said as she spotted me coming down the stairs, I looked over at her and forced on a smile. She could always tell when I faking, but she knew that I'd breakdown if she said anything. I helped her set up the and the sat for dinner. “I didn't see you at fair today,” she said, I looked up from my plate “I didn't feel like going,” I told her, she looked at me with her bright emerald eyes, I could tell by how her eyebrows creased in concern that she was analyzing my answer and my body language to figure out the why. I looked at away, I couldn't bring myself to make her worry anymore than she already has. With her and my being recently divorced, she deserves more than worrying about me, I want to make her proud. *I'll make you proud * that was the last thought I had that night as I fell asleep. “… Yeah, '… I'd love to, a brand new scenery could be good for the both of us;” that was the conversation I woke up to early the next morning. I could hear the excitement just oozing from my mother's voice, I didn't know what she was talking about or who she was talking to, all I knew was how happy she was about where this conversation was going. I silently made my way downstairs just barely entering the kitchen, she was already making breakfast, while the phone was clutched to ear between her head and shoulders. “Really, you could do that… 'I really don't want to impose… I really appreciate this Linda… I'll see you next week then.” I took that as my que and decided to enter the kitchen “Morning mom,” I said as I went over to the fridge, “Hey Felix,” she said, startled from her thoughts “Did you sleep well, ” I nodded at her. Breakfast was quiet, we didn't speak a word as we ate and as we prepared ourselves for the day, the silence between us becoming increasingly unbearable, “Felix?” mom asked as she was driving me to school “I want to talk you about something after school, ok” she said a little unsure “Ok,” I quietly said. She stopped the car at the entrance of the school and I got out “Later,” I said as I walked towards the front doors. My first class of the day was English, Mrs Fellowship was the teacher for that class, she was kind and bubbly lady, but was strict when needed. Her class was engaging and she always find a way for us to interact during her lessons, she also keeps an eye out for the bullies making sure no one gets bullied in her class. Then I had History with Lil Presence, that's what our history teacher told us to call him, before he became history teacher he wanted to be rapper, he even has an album out too, but he said that was in the past and had passion for teaching. So now he both teaches and rap history, it was fun and Lil Presence sure can spit rhymes. I was on lunch break, I was sitting at our usual table, that is the table where my friends and sat, only this time I was alone. CRASH! Pain, that was first thing I felt, then cold floor that I was now laying on. “Hey, there, Bright Eyes.” my attacker jeered, I stood up and stared defiantly into the eyes of Mike Rush. At 7ft 2in Mike was nothing but tall, he was also the school's star basketball player, that kind of popularity tends get to one's head. He wasn't always a bully in fact much like me he started as a shy , awkward freshman and one of the many who I used to be friends with, all that changed when he discovered his talent for basketball though and now I'm his #1 punching bag and I mean that with a lot of sarcasm. As he and pose sauntered towards their lunch table, I decided I wasn't hungry anymore and left the cafeteria. Mom was waiting for me in the parking lot as I was herded out of school along with the rest of the students. I greeted her as I closed the door of the van, buckling up as she pulled out of the driveway. Our drive home was silent only filled with sound of the radio, she looked nervous about something, and I knew it had something to do with the conversation she had the phone this morning. I decided to break the silence before we stepped out of the van, " Mom, you said you wanted to tell me something?" I questioned, she sighed "let's go inside first, " she said as we stepped out of the van. I stared at my mom from across the table, she staring at her nails that were gently tapping at the table. She looked distracted as if her mind was far away, I've seen this look once before and that was when she and dad were filing for divorce, was this similar situation? Was she seeing someone? I didn't know, and that's what was scaring me , if I didn't know the situation I wouldn't know what to do. I decided to wait for her, watching as she thought to herself. It seemed like hours but it was just a few minutes, when she got out her thought, she looked over at me, eyes searching mine. I guess she saw what she needed from me because jumped the gun “Felix, we're moving ,” she didn't say it quite like that but it was all I got from that conversation, I was shocked, and who wouldn't this so sudden I felt my whole being freeze up , how could she do this, I thought, I just started my junior year of High School and already a freak there. I already I have a hard time making friends out of people I know, the two only friends I got seemed to have abandoned me, and my mother is thinking of putting me in a new environment with bunch of strangers? Yeah let's how that pans out, “When?” that's all I could ask, I looked at her, waiting for her to reply “This weekend,” she answered, she knew I was upset, I could tell by how guilty she looked, but she had already made her decision and there was nothing I could do about it. The weekend was fast approaching, my transcript had already been sent to my new school, so we were just packing our stuff so they could be moved tomorrow. Mom had gotten a real estate agent to put up the house for rent and had already gotten a place to store our stuff as we would be boarding at her friend's place; I didn't know much about this friend, never met them, but this friend of hers was the one who got a job offer that she couldn't refuse and was the reason for the big move. We were having pizza that night, everything was boxed and packed, ready to move and to be placed within storage, my mom was picking at her crust, while I was taking another slice, we never said a word to each other, I wasn't as upset as the first she had told me, now thinking back on the conversation, she was doing it for me and understand, with dad leaving us, the bullying and the fact I have no friends here, why should I stay? My mom was also getting in a better job, with a better pay, and I might stand a chance of actually making new friends; this would be a fresh start for both of us. The next day our stuff was being loaded up in the moving, we weren't going to leave until this evening though, my would be leading the movers to the storage unit and then we'd be off to Baron Hill. I was at the library carrying in my borrowed books and to turn in my library card , I was also here to send a message to my friends, I wanted them to know about the move and how I missed them, but as usual no reply. I realized something from this, maybe this move was a good thing a fresh start could be exactly what I've needed; because if my old friends could forget about be maybe it was about time I did the same for them.