Book of Curses

Chapter 8.

“Guardians are the people who take on the legacy of others, they’re marked at birth, and that’s how we tell them from others. I’m sure you realize their births are rare. Two out of however many were born or reborn in each region. Talon was our first, reborn if you need to know specifically, then Nixon.

 The mark is an obvious one to everyone from the Gods, a scar that looks more like a tattoo. It can be anywhere, Nixon's is at the base of his throat, and Talon’s is under his right eye." Nickel explained.

“Guardians take on the duty of protecting the Chosen, only if they are of age. If they are not, the region picks the next strongest person, and they protect them instead. There is only ever as many Guardians as there are Chosen, in our case there are two of you, so two Guardians come from each region to help you.

 The two wolves with you would be the two who were marked and sent to stay with you; Nixon and Talon are marked as well and will go on with you. Though it was a hell of a debate over whether or not Nixon would go due to his age, your Guardians will be what decide whether or not you’ll live or die, you’re only as strong as your weakest member.” Layre finished for Nickel, looking at each of us. She set her own book down, and then folded her arms across her chest. 

“So you mean, these people are already Chosen to protect us against their own will, at birth?” I asked her, staring in horror. It wasn't something that sounded fair. What if they had families? What if they died because of us, and were damned at birth.

“Yes, though they go down in history as well respected people for it.” Nickel answered me, there was a hint of sadness in his voice that even I could hear. 

“Why hasn’t anyone just gotten rid of the Gods, and put everything in order?” Tom stood up straighter behind me; I could hear his fingers pressing into the couch as he asked that. 

“A few have, but they didn’t live to finish the ritual that freed the Gods again.” Nickel told him, his hand pressed against his forehead rubbing at it slowly.

“Ritual?” I felt both of my eyebrows shoot up, rituals never sound good. Someone always seems to die when they're involved, or get seriously hurt.

“The Chosen are supposed to take on an immortal life of choice: Fey, Lycan, or Vampire. They have to survive the process of the turning, and it seems humans of your world reject it a lot, not just one can be turned, both need to.” Layre explained to me, and then looked up at Tom.

“I, who, that’s just…” I was at a loss for words, and just stared ahead. 

“There's never been two of the Chosen that had ever survived being turned. In order to break this curse and to kill those Gods… Two had to be turned.” 

Layre nodded her head slowly and let out a sigh as they started to go on explaining more. I was so shocked I could hardly listen to any more of it; I nodded my head and acted like I did, so that no one would ask though.

Tom and I had a high chance of dying, even if we succeeded we would be immortal, as fun as that sounds I didn't want to lose my brother because of any of this. He was my only actual family that I loved, and I didn't want to lose him. I wouldn't be able to handle something like that. 

“Are there any questions?” Layre asked everyone who was in the room. That had caught my attention, and I looked at the others and then raised my own hand as if I were in school. 

“I have one.” I announced, looking at the two of them.

“Go on.” Nickel smiled towards me, he seemed eager to hear my question.

“The Gods, do any of them have special gifts? I’m curious what we’re up against.” I lied; I didn't want them to know about my dreams. All I really wanted to know about, was one God in particular. Arbael.

“Yes, well Sita is a prankster, he can take on anyone’s form just to toy with you, and you’d have to know the people you’re with very well to tell Sita from them. Arbael he’s a dream walker, he can visit anyone’s dreams at any time, regardless of anything going on at the time, and anything that goes on in that dream happens in reality.” Nickel took a second, thinking about each of them and going off of his own memory. I guessed he had been up against them before. 

“Maldre, he’s sinister in every way. He can plant images in your head, he knows everyone’s wants, and worst fears, and uses them to his advantage. He has powers over things even I don’t know about, as far as Amamai goes, she kills with beauty, literally. She turns into the most beautiful girl from each region, and lures in men then kills them.” He finished up and looked at me. “Anything else?” 

“No, thank you.” I smiled brightly at him, and let my mind start to process what I was told.

“That’s it for today then.” Layre said as she began to stretch her arms, and let out a slow yawn. 

I thought about what he said to me about Arbael. If he was able to do something like that, then that meant that the dream I had last night was real. That's when I felt my panic starting to take over my body.

I couldn't remember what he had said to me really, there were bits and pieces from the dream floating about in my mind. Something about no longer than two months, and needing to be fast. The rest of it though, it was there in my mind just buried deep in the back of it, where I couldn't remember it all. Two months and be fast were all I had to go on, I guess that's what I had to work with.