CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The City of Jacarepaguá
(37.0 kilometers southwest of Rio de Janeiro)
Ten years later…
The bright summer sunlight shined down through the canopy of trees, filtering through the branches like golden dust. A tropical breeze haunted the air, sweeping through the interior of a small grotto which served as the nesting ground to the few creatures who happened to stumble across it. By jungle rules which had been set in place after the Great War, all property belonged to those who came across it, with no questions asked. As the afternoon continued to set in, the warm tropical climate grew even more beautiful drawing a lone Spix Macaw from his dwelling. His bright cerulean feathers appeared different than any other member of his species. The dark undersides appeared black, almost as if he took on the characteristics of a hawk. His beak appeared curved though slender like a combination between a hawk and the beautiful blue jewels of the jungle. As he flew through the sky, he peered down at a large rock formation… a grave marker… to the five members of the Devil's Band… The Dark Robed Society, whose reign of terror had been silenced forever by the courageous animals of the jungle. He could not believe the sight as he fluttered down to the ground and stood before the large mass of rock. Five names had been carved upon the stone, each one of them a demonic figure within the face of history. The Macaw placed his wing upon the stone and read the words aloud.
"Roger the Scarlet Macaw, Amber the Spix Macaw, Jose the Marmoset, Jollo the Spix Macaw, and Marco the Hawk, five figures who will be remembered for their cruelty, bloodlust, and sadistic killing spree. May their nine hundred victims forever rest in peace knowing that these monsters eventually got what they deserved, this monument has been erected to bury the remains of the evilest creatures the world has ever known and to remember the courageous acts which solidified peace throughout the Amazon Rainforest."
The Macaw cocked his head to one side a little confused as to the meaning of the epitaph. He could not deny that these creatures were indeed evil, that much seemed quite evident from their kill count. His eyes narrowed as he placed a paw upon the number engraved within the stone… Nine hundred victims… Nine hundred lives… all cut short by these foul creatures however he could feel a dark foreboding and ominous energy creeping through his spine. It filled him with a lingering regret. It caused his heart to shudder and his stomach feeling queasy. As he fell to his knees trembling as the sharp pain coursed through his entire body, he could see images flashing within his mind. He could see every battle, every single death, every single act of violence caused by these cruel and horrendous creatures. Every vision burned its way into his memory, and he could recall it all by heart.
"What… is… happening?" he gasped, overcome by an intense pain surging through his very soul. The pain continued to course through his veins forming upon his wing in a bright purple glowing light. His eyes widened in terror as the veins surrounding the glowing mark boiled and gurgled. He could not keep himself from screaming. "It hurts… someone, please help me… it hurts!"
"Hello, Rico,"
The Macaw's eyes shot open as he heard the voice whispering within his ears. He did not recognize it, though it somehow seemed so familiar. His eyes widened as he remembered the sound of the voice from the visions within his mind. This figure who had guided the Dark Robes into uniting, guided them into killing, used their own wants and desires against them, and all of it just so she could further her own power. He looked up to see himself peering into the eyes of a dark-robed female hawk with a hood covering her face. Her eyes cut through the darkness glowing from behind her hood. Her voice lowered as she continued.
"Relax and listen to my voice. I am Sabrina, your sister, yes, I am your sister, you remember me? We have grown together, played together, I am your sister."
Rico's eyes glazed over as he nodded his head and fell under her spell. He could not deny that she was his sister. His beak trembled as he acknowledged the fact.
"Yes, you are my sister, I know you. We have so many good memories together. I've missed you since you have gone to live in Rio. I have eagerly awaited your return and have watched over the grave of the fallen ones, just as you have asked."
Sabrina's voice continued to ring out in a calm hypnotic tone. "Yes, you have done a good job in doing what I have asked. Now, I want you to remember all those names written upon this stone marker. All of them will play an important role in your future, dear brother. However, remember Marco most of all, he is your brother, he will return to you, and you are to welcome him. Treat him as family and let him grow close to you as family. He only wants what's best for you, let him guide you."
Rico nodded his head once more, visions of Marco flooded through his mind. The three of them playing as children, growing up alongside each other. He lowered his head wishing how he could see him once more.
"I miss him," Rico acknowledged, "Things have not been the same since you and Marco have left for Rio, I hope he returns soon so we can be a family once more. Dad has been hoping for his safe return for quite a while now, it will be so good to have him back."
"I know," Sabrina soothed wrapping her wings around him. "Things will be better soon. Marco will soon be here; he wants to see you and dad again."
"He wants to see me and dad again," Rico acknowledged in a hypnotized tone. He forced a smile. "That is a good thing. I've missed him."
Sabrina nodded her head and placed her wing upon his. A bright purple light enveloped his wing. Her voice continued to drone onwards.
"When you see father, give him a hug for me. He will soon know this his son will come home."
"Yes," Rico nodded his head, "He will soon know that Marco is coming home."
Sabrina let her smile widen as she watched Rico fly off towards the nest. She cut the picture of perfect innocence, the greatest and nicest friend upon the planet. Once she was alone she wandered to the grave marker and placed a wing upon the stone. "It is time for the Dark Robed Society to rise again. I hope you've had a good rest, dear brother, because your work is far from over."
Sabrina's cold cruel laughter rang through the air, breaking the silence and tranquility of the summer afternoon.
#
The darkness of the grave was cold and deep, never-ending, and never fading to the light. Sabrina lowered herself down into the depths of the pits of death and placed a paw upon the skull of her brother. The bones trembled beneath her touch, forming together, reforming the skin and muscles until Marco stood complete once more. Her voice lowered to a droning whisper as she spoke to him.
"Awaken, Marco, awaken… Awaken, Marco, awaken. I grant you life once more."
The hawk's eyelids shuttered as they opened, and he found himself rising up from off his back. He peered around for a moment, staring at a complete loss for what had just happened.
"Where… where am I?" he found himself asking, raising a wing to his beak as he found himself genuinely surprised to hear his own voice as if he had not heard it in years. He blinked a few times before shifting his focus upon Sabrina who stood over him. "Sabrina? What… what's going on? Where am I? The last thing I remember was we were ambushed by thousands of creatures and after being captured the five of us were beheaded. How am I still alive?"
Sabrina cut a wicked smile and lifted her wing to reveal her mark. The bright purple inverted pentagram shined with its bright mystical light. Her eyes burned into his as she explained herself.
"You are quite right, you and your comrades were killed in that battle, however my shadow mark grants me some unique abilities, I can revive people from death however I can only do it once. Should you be killed again I cannot save you. But listen to my words, ten years have passed since the day you and your comrades were killed, but you all still have work to do. I want you to serve me once again. Do this and the life I have granted you will be everlasting. I have linked your life to your shadow mark. As long as I let those marks burn then your life will be yours. I want you to leave here with your comrades, have them go to my stronghold within the jungle, you, however, have a job here. Your father is still alive and now has another son."
Marco's eyes widened in shock as Sabrina lifted her wings and pointed through the darkness. A Spix Macaw with darker feathers emerged from the darkness. "This is a bird named Rico, he is your brother, I want you to bide your time, get close to your father, and gain his trust…then when he expects nothing, I want you to kill him but savor your victory and enjoy every moment of your revenge. As for Rico, I want you to send him to the Ruins of São Miguel das Missões where he will live a life of slavery. Do you understand?"
Marco nodded his head.
"Good," Sabrina smiled, "Once that is done, meet us at the waterfall three hundred kilometers south of the Rio grande. When that day comes, the time will come for you to strike back against the Spix Macaws. The day of reckoning will soon be upon us, now go forth with your five comrades, carry out my orders, and destroy our enemies."