(Disclaimer: I'm 100% human. Which means I couldn't possibly be Pittacus Lore, who owns the Lorien Legacies series and all these characters… Why can't I be a super-cool alien with super-powers who can write a kick-ass story? Damn it.)
4
Four
We stand in a long hallway, stretching all the way down to the observatory doors. Several side passageways branch off into the other areas of the Temple, accented by sweeping arches mad of cold, gray stone. The ceiling is round, like half of a cylinder, gives the place a majestic feel, like we're standing in the court of some king of old. Several Loric carvings and mosaics are plastered into the walls, depicting our planet's history. But the hallway is really dominated by the massive statues of the ten Elders, each guarding an entrance. They're so lifelike, managing to capture each Elder's personality so perfectly, that I almost expect them to step down from their pedestals and walk with us the rest of the way. I'm particularly captivated by the statue of Pittacus Lore, and I swear I could feel his eyes on me as we walked down the hall, our steps making loud thumps as they pounded against the silent stone.
Nine and I pause before the double doors that tower up to the ceiling, guarding the entrance to the observatory, flanked by the statues of the first man and woman, Adan and Vakars. We look at each other, and I see my own experiences reflected in Nine's eyes. This trip has been hard as hell, but I've never felt so in touch with the nature of Lorien. In a weird way, I feel like I've finally seen the other side of my home, as if it had been split into two separate entities long ago: the raw, untamed wilderness that I've just experienced, and the home I know so well. I take a deep breath, then push open the large, bronzed doors.
The room is dark, devoid of any sunlight. It's only lamination comes from the glow of a modular galaxy floating around us, millions of stars cluster about in mid-air. The model fills the entire structure, reaching far beyond my head to the ceiling above. Miniature planets and constellations float lazily by, passing through our bodies as if we weren't even there. Below us, a two dimensional image of Lorien glows a faint green against the dark, barely outlining the dark stone around it. And in the center of the room, in the Void, the uncharted field of energy that holds the universe together, sits Lupa.
Her posture is rigid, and yet she gives every sense of ease, though her eyes tell you that she could be at your throat in an instant. She lets her auburn hair flow loosely down her back, and wears a simple, yet elegant robe, giving her a majestic look about her. With her high cheekbones and regal pose, she appears ageless, like Lorien itself. She's beautiful, yet her most striking feature is her eyes: dark gray and stormy, they seem to stare right through me, analyzing my every move, every weakness. Her mouth is slightly turned in half-smile, as if she already knows what my next move will be.
I have heard many things about this woman, while I had once doubted some of them, I know that every single one of them must be true. Everyone knows of this Elder, the one who had remained on Earth even after all the others left Greece. She had stayed, and raised two men that would eventually raise humanity's greatest empire: Rome. I'm told that even now they speak of her in their myths. I've heard all about her power, and know that she holds some of the strongest Legacies among us. Teleportation, shape-shifting, and many others - the tools of a warrior. I involuntarily shudder, her very presence affecting me. Before me stands an Elder, a leader of our race since the dawn of the Loric. Every single instinct in my body is screaming at me to bend down and bow before her, but I struggle forward, refusing to submit to her aura. Nine, after a conflicted moment of hesitation, mutely follows my lead.
She tilts her head and gazes at me, studying me, "So. You do have some fight in you."
It's a compliment, but I can't help feel as if it's more of a threat. For the first time, it occurs to me that I'm very glad that we're on the same side.
She stands and sweeps her hand out, letting her fingers drift slowly through the rotating stars, "Welcome. It is unusual for the Elders to send some as young as you. You must have been strong to escape my pack."
She shifts her gaze into my eyes, and I'm struck by how much power even her stare holds, "Or clever."
"So it was you." Nine says slowly. It's not an accusation, but more as if he's asking for confirmation.
"Of course," she answers without hesitation, "I must first test my pups before they become wolves. Only the strong may survive. I can only set you on your path, you must forge your own way. But you have proven your strength, and even now stand before me without cowering. That is a rare trait."
"Thank you." I say stiffly, not sure how to respond.
She slowly walks toward us, her every movement graceful and coordinated. As she circles us, studying us again, I'm once more struck by how beautiful she is. By the way Nine's eyes are wide open, drinking in every sight of her, I can tell he's just as captivated as me, perhaps more so. She comes back around, and gently lifts a hand to trace my cheek, her eyes calculating me coldly. I unconsciously move away, and her eyes flash dangerously. Then her posture is rigid once more, and she's sweeping back to the center of the observatory.
Nine turns to me, his eyes wide, "Why'd you piss her off?" he whispers.
I don't bother responding, and instead watch Lupa. She's standing still, her fingers silently grazing a model of Lorien as it tumbles along. Though her face is turned from me, I can detect a certain tenderness about her, as though a mother comforting her child. But when she spins around, there is no trace of it.
She stands still and elegantly reaches her hands out to us, "Come. It is time to return."
Nine steps forward hesitantly, "You want us to take your hands?"
She narrows her eyes, as if she's reevaluating her opinion of him, "Obviously."
I step forward cautiously, and then grab her ice cold hand. She cups her palm lightly in mine, and then smiles just as everything starts to fade to black. For just an instant the observatory swims in and out of focus, and then, after a strong sense of vertigo, I feel as if I'm being pushed forward. Suddenly, dazzling sunlight hits my eyes, and I lift a hand to cover my face. After the dim glow of the observatory it's blinding, forcing me to squint. The hard stone is replaced with grass under my feet, and my bare back glows with warmth from the sun. London's skyline appears nearby, and I realize we're standing right next to the base of the forest. We're home.
I hear voices, and turn to see Brandon and my grandparents rushing towards us, shouting and pointing. Sandor and Nine's grandparents follow them, their faces awash in a happy glow. And there's Six. She's beaming at me, coming forward with the others, and I smile stupidly back at her.
My attention shifts when Lupa releases our hands and steps back. She bows her head and looks deep into our eyes once more, "This is where I take my leave. May Lorien light your paths, and luck be with you."
I can tell Nine's about to protest, but he freezes, his mouth hanging wide open, when she steps forward and hugs him. She then steps back and does the same to me.
As we embrace, her lips brush my ear, and I can her silently murmur, "Prove me wrong."
And then she takes another step back and disappears, gone before I can even ask what she meant.
Nine lets out a sigh and low whistle, gazing longingly at where she disappeared, "I'm gonna miss her."
"Dude," I say, disgusted, though I understand the appeal, "She's like, ten thousand years older than you."
"So?"
Whatever reply I might I have made is crushed by Brandon's massive hug. He's laughing as he reaches me, and I smile into his shoulder, dropping my Chest to the ground. My grandparents are beside me, chattering excitedly, wanting to know everything that's happened in the week I've been away. Nine's grandparents are doing the same, Sandor literally having to push them away so he can hug his Garde. My grandfather pats me on the back, and I hug my grandmother. Then I turn to Six.
She's striking, beautiful without even trying. Tanned skin and hazel eyes, with a wide mouth and strong nose. Her dark hair is flowing loosely over her shoulders, and her eyes sparkle at me with joy. Looking at her, I'm reminded how much I missed her, which leads me to remembering Nine's teasing, and a small heat floods into my cheeks. My breath constricts in my throat, and I smile weakly.
"Hey."
She smiles at me, shaking her head, "Really? You're gone for a week, the first thing you think to say is, hey? Get over here, you big idiot."
I laugh and pull her into my arms, her head resting against my bare chest. I drink in every sensation, marveling at how small her frame is, yet how powerful she is in the field. I focus on how warm her body is against mine, and stare at the smooth, silky, raven hair on top of her head. I decide with certainty that Lupa has nothing on her. She pulls back, her arms still around me, and wrinkles her nose.
"You smell."
"Seriously?" I ask, somewhat surprised.
She rolls her eyes, "Four, you're a shirtless, teenaged guy who's spent a week in the woods. You smell. You probably didn't even take a shower, did you?"
"Nine and I had to cross a river at one point." I mumble, but she just smiles patronizingly at me.
Brandon puts a hand on my shoulder, causing Six to pull away, and smiles. He's shaved since I've last seen him, getting rid of the short beard he used to wear. I decide I like him better without it; it makes him look younger.
"So how was it?" he asks.
"Good." I reply.
He tilts his head mockingly, "I was hoping for a few more details than just 'good.'"
I laugh, "Okay. Well, uh…it was really different. You had to do everything yourself. There's was no easy way out. You either did it the hard way, or it didn't get done at all. But it was beautiful out there. I mean, it's beautiful here, but deep out there, in the real wilderness, not just these borders, it's really something else. It's so…open. Free."
Brandon smiles, "I understand completely."
My grandmother tugs at my shoulder, pulling me in for another hug, "Was the food any good?"
I smile at her, with her warm eyes and curved mouth. Since the average Loric lifespan is around two hundred years, her brown hair is just starting to gray. She has it pulled up in a bun, with a pin sticking halfway out. My grandfather stands beside her, strong and sturdy with his cropped blond hair and muscular arms.
"It had nothing on your cooking, Grandma."
Brandon snorts, and Six calls me a kiss-up, but everyone's smiling. I smile too, relieved to at last be among the people I love and belong with. Nine comes over and I turn to give him a high five, but Six gasps and points at my now exposed back with fearful eyes.
"Four! What happened?" Her voice is almost a wail, grinding against my ears.
My grandmother rushes forward, tutting and checking me over and gasping again when she sees the bite on my forearm. Six walks up to me and puts a hand on my shoulder, demanding answers, while Brandon and my grandfather watch on worriedly. I shrug, trying to blow it off.
"Nine thought I'd make a good doggie treat."
Six shoots an accusatory glance at him where he stands guiltily, and I hurriedly try to defuse the situation. We just got back, and I have no interest in starting a fight. And above all, Nine is like my brother, perhaps my closest friend. I'm not angry at him, and I don't want the others to be either. I know he wouldn't have tripped me if he'd known that I'd get hurt, and I'm already past this issue. What's done is done.
"It's fine, really. He saved my ass, like a million times, on the trip anyways."
"But you caught me when I fell off that bridge." He says, uncomfortable with being praised after his actions.
"Hey," I say, looking deep into his eyes so he knows that I'm not mad, "We're even, bro."
He smiles, and Six and my grandmother reluctantly back off.
"You should at least have Seven heal that up for you." Six mumbles.
"Marina now." I say, reminding her.
Two, who's totally obsessed with Earth and books of any kind, had recently gotten the idea to give herself a human name, and had persuaded Seven and Three to go along with her. She had become Maggie, while Seven and Three became Marina and Hannu. She even got Ten to change her name to Ella. I like that one, though. It seems to capture her sweet personality. She'd been pestering me and Nine all day before we left to join in, but we, along with the rest of us, had politely refused. We were happy with our names, proud to be recognized as the Ten prophesized to save Lorien in its darkest hour.
I look up at Brandon, "So what's next?"
He smiles and exchanges a look with Sandor, "You've both done well. I think we can give you a week off till the Games start up."
Nine and I express our thanks, and Sandor winks at Six, "Don't worry, hon. Katarina may not have told you yet, but the rest of you will get the week off as well, starting day after tomorrow. We just though these two deserved a bit more rest."
Six smiles, "Oh, no, it's fine. I'll take as much free time as I can get. I won't waste it like these two will," she pokes me in the stomach, "You'll probably spend the entire extra day sleeping."
"I'm tired!" I protest, but everyone just laughs at me and Nine.
We slowly start to walk back to the city, everyone still chattering excitedly, but I'm kind of out of it. I've just remembered my dream last night, and it's now that I realize that this is what I could lose. My home, friends, family…and Six. I frown, and wish that I could simply make sense of what he had said, not double guess everything.
Six takes my hand, "You okay? You don't seem very happy to be home all of a sudden."
"It's just so different here. I realize that now." I lie quickly.
"You have a new perspective now. It's not weird at all."
I smile at her cheekily, "I like it here better though."
She laughs and shoves me at Brandon. I smile for real as Brandon puts his arm around me. These people are my family. And I won't let anything hurt them, no matter what the dream might have said or meant. Besides, what could be strong enough to destroy Lorien?
A/N I bet you all know what I'm gonna say…yep, you guessed it: Please Review! Also, I'm starting a little "game" so to speak. I'm gonna be hiding little references to the main series. Some will just be little differences, some will be really obvious. (Like the fact Lorien hasn't been turned into a giant ashtray) Anyways, if you're the first to spot them and post it on a review, you'll earn a point. Person with the most points at the end will win a chance to read the last chapter early or read the first of the 2nd ahead of time, or something like that. Anyways, just try it out.
