Legacy 211: Burning Memories
Xxx
The old wooden floor cracked as fifteen-year-old Lincoln snuck through the dark hallway. He knew he wasn't supposed to be here, his parents had warned him to stay put. He wasn't sure what was going on, but he had never seen them this worried before. Something was wrong, so he had decided to follow them regardless of their warnings. He knew he wasn't the only one in the old, decrepit house, as he heard footsteps and voices. He wondered if it were those same strangers in dark robes he had seen lurking about outside. Although scared, there was something driving him to find out what was going on. If his parents were in danger, he needed to protect them.
As Lincoln moved closer to the door at the end of the hall, the voices became clearer. There was an argument, as well as creepy chanting in a language he couldn't understand. Then there was a horrifying scream that chilled him to his core. He knew that voice, it was his mom. He ran to the door and opened it, calling out for her. Before he could see anything, he was blasted back by a bright explosion and everything went dark.
Xxx
Lincoln awoke with a gasp and realized he was sweating. He wanted to scream, but he stayed quiet. The nightmare always ended the same, he woke up before he could learn anything new. He knew it was more than just a nightmare; it was a piece of a memory he couldn't recollect. A memory of the night his parents were killed. He knew the official story, that they were killed by a demon that Billie and her agents were chasing, but he also knew that Billie kept certain things from him. He asked her about it many times, but her answer had always been the same. The details won't change anything or bring them back. He had accepted it as he grew older, but that didn't stop the nightmares.
Lincoln sighed as he sat up. Wyatt was still sleeping next to him, as they had spent the night in the manor after dinner and a movie. The blond Whitelighter-witch was the first person he had actual feelings for, but Lincoln still kept much of his past hidden from him. He couldn't talk about it, since he didn't even know the full story, and the parts he did remember only hurt.
"Good morning." Wyatt said as he rolled around to face him. "Why are you up already?"
"Just wanted to get a glass of water." Lincoln lied. "It's early, you should get back to sleep."
"Not without you." Wyatt replied with a smile. "No need to get dressed, I can get you that water."
As he spoke the last word of that sentence, a bottle of water appeared in his hand through a swirl of orbs. Lincoln smiled as he accepted it and took a few sips before lying back down. Wyatt placed his hand on his bare chest and ran his fingers through his chest hair. As they locked eyes, he could see a hint of concern in his eyes.
"You look like you just saw a ghost." Wyatt noted. "Which around here, could happen."
"Just a bad dream." Lincoln replied. "Nothing to worry about."
"Not the first time, though." Wyatt said. "We haven't spent that many nights together yet, but it happened before."
"What did you see?" Lincoln asked.
"Not much, just that you were stirring and sweating a lot." Wyatt said. "You looked scared, which is so unlike you. I didn't think you were afraid of anything."
"Everyone is scared of something." Lincoln replied. "I just learned to hide it very well."
"Well, you don't have to." Wyatt said. "Not with me."
"I'm not ready to talk about it yet." Lincoln admitted. "But I appreciate the offer."
"I understand, take your time." Wyatt replied. "In the meantime, I can distract you at least, if you want."
"I'll never say no to that." Lincoln noted.
Wyatt leaned closer and kissed him as his hand moved down his chest and slid under the covers. Lincoln smiled as he allowed his boyfriend to work his magic. He closed his eyes and tried to forget about his nightmare. It was the past and nothing could change it. Learning more about it would only tear open old wounds that he had spent years trying to close. It was better to focus on the present, which was very pleasing at the moment. Wyatt kissed him again and smiled flirtingly before disappearing under the covers entirely.
Once he started, Lincoln groaned with pleasure and the nightmare disappeared from his mind entirely. Just as things were reaching their climax, however, his phone started to ring. Based on the ringtone, he knew it was important, so he nudged Wyatt to stop and sat up. Wyatt appeared from under the covers with an annoyed frown.
"Billie." Lincoln said as he answered the phone. "What's going on?"
"I know you're in San Francisco, but something important came up." Billie said.
"Tell me." Lincoln replied.
"No, not over the phone." Billie said. "This conversation needs to happen in person."
"Now you're really starting to worry me." Lincoln said as he got up to pick up his pants off the floor and started putting them on.
"I'm sorry, but I can't do this over the phone." Billie replied. "When can you get here?"
"I could be there in twenty minutes if I can hitch a ride on some orbs." Lincoln said as he turned around and looked at Wyatt on the bed.
"I see." Billie replied hesitantly. "You're with Wyatt… Maybe you should bring him."
"Why?" Lincoln asked.
"What I'm going to tell you isn't easy, Lincoln." Billie admitted. "You might want someone here that's important to you."
"Enough with the secrecy, Billie." Lincoln said impatiently. "Just tell me what this is about."
"Alright, I guess there is no easy way to say this." Bullie replied. "The past is coming back to haunt us. It's about the night your parents died."
Lincoln froze as his nightmare flashed before his eyes again and he heard the screams of his mother. He could remember the creepy old house and the strange people in robes. He had lost everything that night and became an orphan. Fortunately for him, Billie was there and she had taken him in, making him part of her family. However, he had never really stopped feeling alone. In an instant, he felt like that scared and lonely fifteen-year-old again.
"Lincoln." Billie said to break the silence. "I wanted to tell you in person. You and Wyatt should get here so we can talk."
"I never told him." Lincoln replied.
"I know." Billie said. "You've never let anyone close enough to talk about it, but maybe now is the right time to change that."
"I don't know if I can." Lincoln admitted.
"Try." Billie replied. "I have to go; I need to get things ready. We'll talk when you get here."
Billie ended the call and Lincoln put his phone away to gather the rest of his clothes. He pushed his feelings down and focused on the task at hand, getting dressed and getting to the office. He finally had a chance to learn the truth about his parents, but he had no idea if he was ready for it. He was searching for his shoes when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and saw Wyatt had also gotten dressed while he was on the phone.
"Lincoln, talk to me." Wyatt said. "What's going on?"
"I can't talk about it." Lincoln replied quickly. "Not now."
"Well, I'm not letting you go without knowing you're alright." Wyatt said. "Whatever Billie had to say clearly upset you."
"I never told you everything about my past." Reed replied.
"And you don't have to if you don't want to." Wyatt noted. "But I want to help. Please, sit down."
Lincoln nodded and they both sat down on the edge of the bed. Wyatt held his hand as they sat in silence for a moment. Lincoln looked him in the eyes and started to feel more like himself again, instead of an orphaned kid. It was strange that Wyatt had that effect on him, as he had never experienced such a feeling before. He knew he could trust him.
"My parents died when I was fifteen." Reed finally said. "I never really learned what happened exactly, but now Billie has new information. She was there that night."
"I'm so sorry." Wyatt replied. "That must be a huge shock."
"The nightmare is about that night." Reed continued. "It's always the same. Old house, people in strange robes, creepy chanting and then a scream. I can't remember anything else."
"You were fifteen and experienced something traumatic." Wyatt noted. "It makes sense that you suppressed some of those memories."
"I just buried those feelings and focused on becoming the best agent I could." Lincoln said. "I wanted to make sure something like that never happened to another kid."
"So that's how you ended up with MIND." Wyatt said. "After Billie took you in."
"She did her best." Reed replied. "But I always felt like I was on my own."
"Not anymore." Wyatt said. "Whatever her news is, we'll face it together."
"Thank you." Lincoln replied.
"Of course." Wyatt said. "You should freshen up. I'll use the other bathroom and then we'll orb over there."
Wyatt hugged him before leaving the bedroom to get ready. Lincoln got up and headed to the bathroom to splash water on his face and brush his teeth. He thought about what Billie had said, that the past was coming back to haunt them both. Billie was there that night; she had always known more and she had kept it hidden. Was it just to protect him or was she hiding something all along? Either way, she couldn't keep his past for him any longer.
Xxx
In Washington DC, Billie trembled as she ended the call and felt tears forming in her eyes. After learning that the Cult of Eternal Night was back, she knew she could no longer keep the past hidden. The truth about that night needed to come out. She still carried a lot of guilt about what happened, as her mistakes had led to people being killed. She was worried that Lincoln might never forgive her once he learned everything, but that was a risk she would have to take. The cult was back and needed to be stopped before they hurt anyone else. She picked up her phone again and called a different number.
"Billie, what a nice surprise." A familiar voice said.
"Hi Violet." Billie replied. "It's good to hear your voice."
"What's wrong?" Violet asked in a worried tone. "You sound upset. Is it about the kids?"
"No, they're fine." Billie quickly said. "That's not what's troubling me. Something happened, Vi. Something we were always worried about."
"I think I already know." Violet replied. "I've been having bad dreams all week. It's him, isn't it?"
"Yeah, he's back." Billie noted.
"Are you sure?" Violet asked.
"I heard from Taylor that the cult has been spotted in New York." Billie said.
"I should have connected the dots." Violet replied. "Something happened here as well."
"What?" Billie asked.
"Quinn is missing." Violet said with concern in her voice. "We searched her apartment after she showed up in one of my dreams and we found evidence she might have joined his cult."
"How long has it been?" Billie asked.
"About three days." Violet replied. "She spends just as much time in the mortal world as Atlantis, so he might have gotten to her while she was away."
"Why didn't you contact me sooner?" Billie asked.
"You know Atlantis politics." Violet replied. "But the situation is different now."
"You can say that again." Billie noted. "I need you and Arthur here. I'm going to tell Lincoln everything and I could use the support."
"Of course." Violet said. "How are you holding up?"
"I never wanted to relive that night." Billie admitted. "But I'm holding on."
"Remember, you did everything you could, Billie." Violet said. "It wasn't your fault."
"Not everyone agrees with that." Billie replied.
"Not everyone was there." Violet countered. "We'll be there as soon as we can."
"Thank you." Billie said. "I'll see you soon."
Billie put the phone away and took a deep breath. In the back of her mind, she had always known this day would come. She had taken Lincoln in and made him part of her family, even though she was part of the reason his parents got killed that night. She had failed to protect them and made Lincoln an orphan in the process. She had felt connected to him, as both had lost their family at a young age, but perhaps it was also a way to ease her guilt.
Xxx
In a luxurious apartment in Manhattan, a handsome middle-aged man was staring out the window overlooking the park. He had dark hair that was starting to grey and wore a dark suit. Evening was starting to fall and a light rain poured from the skies. Below him, mortals were scurrying their way across the streets, living their average, ignorant lives. They were like ants. None of them knew that their world was about to change forever. Soon they would welcome the eternal night, finally restoring balance to this broken world.
"Ronan." A soothing, warm voice said.
The man turned around and saw a woman with beautiful dark skin and a shaven head walking his way. She was dressed to perfection as always, wearing a salmon-colored dress and a jeweled necklace in her tasteful cleavage. Her name was Tula, the love of this life. She embraced him and kissed him gently on the lips.
"My love, you're back." Ronan said. "Did you succeed?"
"Of course." Tula replied. "It was no trouble at all, especially not with the last addition to our little family helping out."
"I knew she had potential." Ronan said proudly. "I could sense it the moment we met. She has the same strength and determination as I do."
"Well, she is your half sister." Tula noted.
"I have many siblings." Ronan replied. "None of them even come close to our strength of character. They are nothing like our father, they lack vision and the willingness to take action."
"We'll show them who was right all along." Tula said.
"Perhaps a few will see reason." Ronan replied. "Otherwise, they will be lost in the dark."
"We're getting close." Tula said. "It won't be long now until we're ready."
"We can't let anything get in the way again." Ronan said determined. "It took eleven years to get back to this point."
"Things are different this time." Tula replied.
"How so?" Ronan asked.
"Last time, you didn't have me by your side." Tula noted. "I might not be a wizard, but I believe in you and our cause."
"The Eternal Night doesn't care what you are or where you come from." Ronan said. "We all share the same belief and the same purpose."
"And soon the entire world will believe as well." Tula said. "And once the eternal night is here, we will achieve the immortality and power we seek."
Ronan smiled and kissed her beautiful lips. As they embraced, Ronan looked at their reflection in the window and his smile disappeared. He noticed the grey hair at his temples and the small wrinkles that formed around his eyes. It was unfair, his kind was supposed to be immortal. His mortal half meant he was cursed to age and wither away eventually. His father had tried to reclaim immortality for his children once, though he vanquished for his efforts by witches and his half-brother.
Ronan had never met his father, but he had been invited to Atlantis to be with his family and other wizards. However, he could never let go of the injustice of it all. The ancient wizards possessed the immorality that he craved and could never have. Was he just supposed to accept that fact? No, he couldn't. He started researching everything he could about his kind. That research had led him to the Eternal Night, hidden away deep in the history of the wizard race. There he found the answer he needed and where he found his true purpose.
There was a knock on the door and a young woman with red hair and cherry red lipstick entered. His younger sister Quinn. Like Ronan, she had discovered the hidden history of wizards and it had brought them together.
"Everyone is ready for you." Quinn said.
"We'll be there in a moment, Quinn." Tula replied. "Thank you."
"Of course." Quinn said. "I'm just a little unsure of what my role will be. Should I just join the others?"
"No, of course not." Ronan replied. "You're a part of our family now, Quinn. You should stand beside us and serve as an inspiration for others."
"Can I really be an inspiration?" Quinn asked.
"Of course, you are the first wizard since me to recognize the hypocrisy of Atlantis." Ronan said. "Once others see your example, they will follow."
"I guess." Quinn replied nervously. "I'm just not sure that…"
"Quinn, stop." Tula replied as her eyes started glowing in a bright purple. "Don't doubt yourself or your choices. You believe in the cause, remember?"
"I… Yes, of course." Quinn said while in a trance. "I believe."
"Go on." Tula ordered as her eyes stopped glowing. "We'll be there in a minute."
Quinn nodded and excused herself. Ronan looked at his love and smiled. Her power to read and manipulate the minds of others was truly a gift. It helped their cult grow beyond his wildest dreams by removing any doubts or hesitation. With Tula by his side, there was nothing that could go wrong this time. She look him by the hand as they left the apartment and headed to a large conference room on a lower floor, where they were greeted by a crowd of cloaked cultists.
xxx