Rise of the fallen

Chapter Six

Familiar arms wrap around my waist as He lifts me high above the buildings. I cant see who is carrying me, but I can smell him. He reeks of ax cologne.

“I thought you were gonna stop wearing that awful stuff..” scrunching my nose in disgust.

“Can you ever focus on the task at hand?” Aaron moans with a slight chuckle.

“It’s just. You’re choking me with your stench.”

“I can still drop you, you know.” I can hear the snicker in his voice.

“Ok. Ok. I’ll stop.” I shout as he loosens his grip. “But you have some splaining to do, Lucy.”

His answer is vague and mysterious. Yet simple. “You will know soon.”

“That’s not cryptic,” I mutter as he adjusts his hold around my stomach.

We soon land deep in the woods. A small log cabin sits beneath the trees, perfectly cloaked between bushes and ivy crawling up the sides, perfectly hidden in nature.

“There’s smoke in the chimney. Are you expecting someone?” I ask, questioning the authenticity of our hideout.

“Stay here,”

Aaron stretches his massive wings, a bright golden energy of swirling light. They disappear as fast as they appear between his shoulder blades. His steps are silent as he slithers toward the door. His massive muscles rippling with each graceful step. Aaron opens the door gently, examining the cottage.

“It’s ok! It’s just your dad and RJ,” he calls out.

Walking into the cabin felt as though I was in a dream. It smells of fresh firewood burning, old wool blankets, with just a hint of cheap cigars and whiskey. Dad, RJ, and Lucky are cuddled under a blanket by the crackling fire. A week ago, this would have been the perfect family getaway.

“First,” I exclaim, “What in the actual ---”

“Words,” my father nags.

“Sorry, not sorry! You lied to me! You kept this a secret..” I begin pacing around the room. “Aaron can fly! I can. Run super-fast? I don’t know,” I shake my head in confusion, “I can do something. And dad?! Don’t even get me start-“

“You can run fast and eventually will get your wings and more,” Lucky sluggishly replies as he rolls over, exposing his C yet again, stretching his long legs by the warmth of the fire.

“Oh, and Lucky!” I roar, “My dog can talk! Well. That one’s not so bad. But that’s not the point! What is going on?!”

“Calm down,” Aaron reasons, situating me on the couch. “We will explain everything. Who would you like to go first?”

“Aaron. Who are you?”

“I’m Aaron.”

“Let me clarify… Why do you have wings? And how did you learn to fight like that?!” I hiss; his audacity to make jokes is genuinely astounding.

“Sorry, not sorry,” he mocks me as he crosses his arms with the stupidest smirk yet.

“Aaron! Please... Just tell me...” I plea.

Rummaging through the cottage at this point, I can’t help but have the overwhelming urge to find the whiskey I knew was here somewhere. Seeing the brown gold I'm so desperately needed, I pour myself a stiff glass. The burn of the whiskey makes me gag, but it's needed right now. I down the rest as I look back at Aaron, expecting an answer.

“Well, keep in mind I didn’t know until I was 15. I am a gladiator. A protector like Lucky except... Well... Gladiators are meant to care for their warriors in more... Ways... Than one... We are oathed

to eternal servitude. In every way.” Running his hand through his hair, he clears his throat, clearly embarrassed by what he says.

“Why are you talking like that?” I reply, pouring myself another drink.

With a sudden awareness of my tongue, it finally clicks. “You’re not... wait. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Nooo, no, no, no..” Holding my hands up, I can’t help but feel as though I’m being suffocated all over again.

“It’s tradition... I didn’t have a choice. After being chased from our homeland, most of the Mahamin tribe hid underground for years. As time went on, it was easier to blend in. But we still meet and practice the old ways. Once a child is born. By their second birthday, their parents must pick a gladiator. Your mom chose me...” Glancing over at dad, he gives him a soft smile. “I’ve been extensively trained since we were old enough to walk. Every moment in my life has led to protecting you. Remember how I went away each

summer? They were training camps.”

“What do you mean my mom chose you? How many of the tribe are left? What if I don’t want to be a princess.. and no one has explained s**t about the powers Aaron and I both have?! And yes, I remember summer camp! I begged you every year to come to camp with me instead… You said it was for

college credits...” I can barely breathe from all of the questions swirling around my mind. This time, it’s not the words of others but my own that drown me.

“After the Chikwa attacked, our numbers dwindled. Over the years, we’ve managed to rebuild. But someone’s been picking us off, one at a time. Those girls from the murders? None of them are natural blondes. Each girl had dyed their hair in hopes of hiding their true identity. We believe the killer is looking for you… Until you get your wings, you are in danger. They will stop at nothing to keep from fulfilling the prophecy.” Aaron lifts his hands menacingly and cackles like a witch.

“Bum, bum, bum!” Lucky bellows

“I’m over the both of you.” I sneer, clenching my teeth. “What prophecy?”

It’s Lucky who speaks up, “We aren’t permitted to tell you the prophecy. You will find that one out on your own. It would be best if you traveled to the temple tower deep in Panama's forest. The quest won't be easy, but it’s one for only you to choose to make. You must complete your ceremony to become the acting princess of the Mahamin.”

“And If I chose not to?” I ask, exasperated.

Being as ominous as possible, Lucky says, “then this will be the last of the Mahamin.”

“Wait, what?” My voice gets higher with each confusing sentence coming from their mouths “What about RJ? Isn’t she part of the tribe as well?”

“Well…” my dad begins to confess, “I’m not your father, and Rainey jay isn’t your sister.”

“What do you mean? How is that possible?” I’m holding my head in my hands at this point. It’s just too much for me to handle all at once.

“I didn’t meet your mom until you were two, and over the years, your mom and I had problems. We’d break up and get back together. You don’t remember this because we would sneak me into the house in the morning before you got up. We went like this for many years. Until I got a woman pregnant with RJ. The woman wanted nothing to do with RJ, and your mother and I agreed to raise her as your blood sister. Hoping to deter the Chikwa from you or your mother’s scent. Eventually, they found your mother, but you were at school. Until recently, when the other women of the tribe started dying, we thought you were safe.” My father’s voice cracks as he looks back at the fire. “It was your mother’s idea to keep this secret from you. She made me promise that if something ever happened to her, I wouldn’t tell you until your 25th birthday.”

I glance at RJ, and she shrugs like it's no big deal.

We sit in silence while my gaping mouth refuses to shut in complete shock from the utter betrayal I feel from my family right now. I assume they stop talking to let me soak all of this up, but I cant take this silence any longer, “So what do I do?” It’s all I can muster from my spinning head.

“Well,” Aaron finally utters, “That part is up to you. You can either come with Lucky and me to Panama, or you can go back to your apartment and test your luck with the Chikwa. We think we have a mole in the tribe, so it shouldn’t take long for them to find you.”

“So basically,” I sigh. “I have no choice.”

“Nope,” Lucky exclaims excitedly, “Without a crowned princess, Mahamin are not permitted to further each generation. Every marriage and birth must be blessed by the princess or each member of the tribe will be cursed to die horrible deaths.”

“So there hasn’t been a new baby in 10 years?” I question.

Confirming what I already know, Aaron whispers, almost embarrassed,

“No. And no new marriages either.”

Eyeing him, I finally ask. “so where do I start?”