33 Master This Power

'Your…stepbrother? Dad is your brother, but this makes you my uncle, doesn't it?'

Darius let out a pleased chuckle, completely oblivious to Cyan's apprehensive stare. 'Why are you so surprised, my boy? Your grandfather had a lover before he got all rich and famous. She was the daughter of the car shop owner where he worked. They had me when he was twenty-five, but then my mother died from blood cancer a few years later.'

Cyan grew quiet, stunned into disbelief at the myriad of information before him. Part of him wanted to tell the man he was talking nonsense, but his other half was convinced, ready to believe Darius as the old man's eyes twinkled with affection at him.

'Bu…but, that makes no sense. My father would have told me that.'

When Darius smiled at him, his eyes were kind and understanding. 'He should've, but he didn't. He wanted to keep you safe.'

'How is associating with you a danger to me? You're family.'

'It isn't? Look where you are now, it is all because I gave Dill the stone to pass it on to you. My boy, you are the perfect man to become the heir to this power.'

'What is the stone? Autumn, I mean, Aurelia also went on and on about coming to see you because of the package.'

Cyan felt confused and disoriented, what with his supposed uncle explaining to him about powers and family relations. Deep down, he knew he only cared about getting out of here.

'Where is the stone now?' Darius said.

Cyan shook his head, he had promised himself he would never reveal the location. 'I can't tell you.'

'Correct answer.' Darius smiled with pride. 'You keep proving my intuition, son. What was in the package?'

'I suppose I can tell you that. They left me a ring with a note, which is highly unlike of my father. Probably, my mother's idea. It said "Master this power", which means they knew.'

A hollow feeling settled in his gut, a loss of trust for his parents. If they had known about the stone, they should've told him everything, rather than being cryptic and risking valuable information.

'Don't be mad, dear boy. My brother is dead, you can't be angry at the dead.' Darius said and Cyan jumped. He had forgotten the old man was still observing him closely like a laboratory specimen.

'I am not mad. I am just … disappointed.' He sighed, moving away. So his parents had hidden the stone in a ring. He supposed that was smart of them, but the empty feeling remained, even as his conscience told him they were doing the right thing.

'Dill and I were very close too, but we both wanted the safety of our children the most. That is why I didn't tell my son and granddaughter of their half-uncle.' Darius said.

'I have a cousin.' Cyan spoke in a dreamlike state. 'I have another family, this is unbelievable.'

Darius grinned happily. 'Aurelia is the sweetest girl you will meet, but she's a bit…reckless. Alexander and Scarlet try their best to stop her from risking her life, but she just has too much energy.'

'Yeah, I know. At least they are not in trouble.'

'They?'

'Your granddaughter and a friend we made. His name is Jason, and I know they are doing whatever they can to find us.' Or I hope so, he prayed inwardly.

'Oh, they will find us, I'm sure. But, when? There is an even bigger danger now.'

'That does not sound good.' Cyan muttered. 'But what IS the power of the stone and why do you think I should own it?'

'I have known you since you were a baby. You even spent a summer at Lapis Valley when you could barely walk. Oh, how you made friends with Alaska when she was just a pup.' Darius smiled fondly. 'I knew by looking at you that you were going to be a strong kind man, it's the instincts in me. And you didn't fail me. I have been keeping tabs on you and not once have I ever doubted my decision.'

'Well....thanks.' Cyan shrugged his shoulders awkwardly. 'Is this where we are now? Lapis Valley? The town of those diamonds?'

'Yes.' Darius sighed. 'My home.'

The man leaned back against the wall and let out a long nostalgic sigh. Cyan feared he would get lost in his sorrow and spoke hurriedly. 'Mr. Renatus, what's the stone's power?'

Darius startled, before turning to him and looking him directly in the eyes. His gaze showed the man was completely serious and Cyan fell dead silent, even controlling his breathing to not miss a word.

'Cyan, I am going to tell you the secret to the stone, which is in your possession. You have to promise to use it wisely and in the right way. I trust you because you have a pure heart and no greed.'

'I don't know, Sir. What if I waver?'

'Of course, you will waver. But this doesn't mean you will surrender to it, now, does it?'

'I hope not.' He said. 'I promise. My parents trusted me enough to give me that ring and I cannot fail them.'

Something akin to intense pride flickered on Darius's face and he gave a wide affectionate smile. The man's pale face had regained some color and he was beginning to look a little alive. Cyan found his happiness uplifting, it was easier to believe this man's promise to protect him, now that he looked like he could stand on his feet.

'Demonica, my child.' Darius began after a deep breath. 'Evil powers that escaped from the demon realm into the human world and caused destruction. These creatures have fallen under the control of humans, hence they will do as the heir commands.' Darius stopped and took a sip from his bowl, then he delivered the biggest blow. 'Cyan, these monsters are invisible.'

Cyan wasn't sure whether the man was joking or not, he looked as serious as his history professor had looked while giving a lecture on the World Wars. Cyan stared at Darius for a long time, waiting for him to burst into a cackle and clap his shoulders, saying 'I got you'. But the man didn't move a muscle, instead stared at him intently, as if to see how he was taking the information.

'The...they are...invisible....?' Cyan said.

Darius nodded solemnly, remaining silent to let the information sink in. Cyan let out a shaky breath and decided to believe the man.

'Okay, that was not at all ominous.' He said.

The old man let out a dry chuckle. 'I admire your courage, dear boy. Though, it may be due to unawareness, but enjoy your negligence while you can.'

Cyan debated if he should correct the man, that he wasn't trying to be brave, rather unable to believe what he had told him, but decided against it. Darius would think he was incompetent and he didn't want that. There was also a burning question pressing against his mind.

'Sir, who controls these monsters now?'

'The heir, of course. But soon, you will, as soon as you perform the ritual.'

'Ritual? What ritual?'

'I don't think you are ready to know that yet, boy.' Darius leaned back with a groan, his shaky hands finding support in the bare stone. 'What you do need to know is the threat facing us all right now.'

'You mean apart from these monsters?'

Darius shook his head lightly before nodding it. Cyan didn't know what to make of the dubious response so he waited with bated breath as Darius spoke again.

'The creatures are getting stronger, Cyan. Mankind doesn't realize this, but they are getting a mind of their own. So the next person who releases them will soon lose control over them, and you can imagine how dreadful it would be for the rest of us.'

Cyan stomach did a somersault in his gut. Then a cartwheel, and finally landed with a thump that sent a rush of dizziness up to his head. 'No.' He whispered. 'That just can't happen.'

'And that's not even the worst part.' Darius raised his hands as if to say 'It is what it is'.

'There's a worst part?'

Before Darius could reply the door thundered open and a tall man strode in. He had to stoop to get in and Cyan was hit by a sweet scent which he couldn't quite place. The man had covered his face with a black cloth and a bandanna. Cyan glanced at Darius to see his face had turned into a stony mask and he looked insanely angry and hurt. And regretful.

'It's you.' He said.

There was a blade swinging from a belt around his waist. As the man came closer Cyan realized it was indeed a giant dog leash, bright red in color and coated with saliva. Cyan knew he was looking at his captor, the danger that was radiating off him in waves making him sick to the gut.

An ominous feeling had gripped him and Cyan knew something really bad was about to happen. He just wished it was to happen to him and not to Darius. My uncle, he realized with a start. I must protect my uncle.

'Shut up, old man. You know nothing.' The man spoke, his voice gruff like he was trying to disguise it. Cyan knew Darius had seen right through him and knew who he was. It made him wonder how long Darius had been held here against his will, and if this man had given him anything other than the bowl of water which was now lying empty.

His eyes found Cyan's and a shiver ran down Cyan's spine. It was too dark to see the color of his eyes, the yellow light making the bright pupils flicker like a feline. The man was looking at Cyan like a predator, ready to pounce and grab his prey in his sharp claws.

The man approached him slowly, as if stalking him and Cyan involuntarily backed up, only realizing it when his body hit the far wall of the cell. He heard Darius breathing heavily and glanced at him, only to see absolute terror on his face, his eyes wide and fearful.

Cyan's stomach plummeted. If Darius was afraid, then things were really, really bad.

The tall man grabbed Cyan by the collar and lifted him like a rag doll. 'Come on, you idiot.'

'Why are you taking him away?' Darius scrambled towards him with his weak body, reaching out a hand to wrap around the man's ankle.

The man raised his foot to kick Darius away but Cyan exclaimed. 'Please, Sir.' He spoke directly to Darius, looking him in the eye pathetically. 'I will be okay.'

'You won't.' The man shook him hard. 'Your friends have made a mistake. They tried to bait me and now you will be punished.'