Chapter 23. DARIUS

The blade went down. The khopesh recoiled back into a bracelet. The energy stopped. Ella stood up. She could barely keep her feet straight. Hilda said, "You can have your energy back." I felt as strong as before I entered this office. Ella said, "Thank you. Now what was that for?" She said, "You came into my house and threatened that you knew my identity. In the world of hybrids, the next thing is not a talk with the mouth but that with blades."

I defended, "You had no mystic scent." She retorted, "That is a long story. One that I would like to tell you if you are willing to listen to with tea." Ella nodded so I also agreed. Mrs. Hilda clapped as if giving a command. A girl came in. Hilda said, "Get us some tea and scorns plus maybe some chairs." The girl went out and came back minutes later with the items Hilda had requested.

We sat down on the new chairs. I grabbed a cup of black tea and sipped it. Ella said, "You were saying?" Hilda elaborated, "I used to be like you. A hybrid fighting for the enigma but I could go on with that life for reasons even you know." I said, "What do you mean?" She continued, "The death, the injury, the violence, the terror," Ella said, "But we're fighting for the right case." Hilda giggled, "In a war, there is no good and evil. There is only victory and defeat." She looked at me, "You should know that, warrith. Isn't it like your symbol?" The bracelet symbol. It is the symbol for the warriths. The fruits of war – one shines while the other dims.

Hilda said, "I decided to quit when I was about 18. I just couldn't stand it anymore so I left…ran away." Ella asked, "Wouldn't that leave you vulnerable against the mostri." She replied, "I guess it did but I was no ordinary hybrid. I could see the veil," She is a descendant of Stella, "It is energy green like an aurora that coats this world in a layer not many can see." I asked, "So you're a descendant." She replied, "I am but not a direct one. Only one child takes full power over the veil. The rest became collaterals to the bloodline." Ella asked, "Can all collaterals see it." She said, "Not all in fact it is rare."

She sipped her tea, "After I deserted, I became a wanderer. I slept in motels or on the streets. Each night, I dreamt of the horrors the enigma had pushed me through. I started to get scared of sleeping as I was off walking around. I prayed to Allah for a solution. Luck would have it, I found a mostri from whom I got a concealing potion. He told me it didn't last more than 2 days. I could finally rest from mostri attacks." I asked, "Didn't those 2 days already expire unless, of course, you're a time wizard." She said, "They did but Allah helped me through the veil. We all know the veil conceals things even its heart and sanctuaries from humans but who said it couldn't do the same to the enigma." Ella said, "That is why we can't find the sanctuary."

Hilda said, "The veil concealed my mystic scent. So I was finally free but the nightmares persisted. I wanted to get rid of them too. I had a dream that lead me to this place – the place with a light ascending from it. I followed it and settled in the area. I felt pity for all hybrids, especially orphans whose remaining parent found them too much to handle. I opened up this orphanage where I would protect them from mostri." I asked, "Don't the children grow up and need to go to the outside world?" She replied, "I send them into the islands at 18." Ella said, "So back on topic, the sanctuary."

Hilda froze and then replied, "It is at the cliff. I will send a location if you want." I said, "Thank you." She said, "But I must warn you. The guardians of that place are no joking matter. The only thing I can tell about them is that they hate and I mean hate salt." Ella said, "So that is why you put salt on the fence." I asked, "May we have some?" She said, "Yes you can. Better yet let's give you a pack of supplies." She clapped her hands and the same girl gave us a rope backpack. She asked, "Who will be carrying?" I raised my hand.

The backpack was dark shades of red with ropes as its straps. Inside was some money, scorns, some chichi, super glue, perfume, and a sachet of salt. I closed the bag and placed it on my back. Hilda suggested, "I could also give you some hiking shorts if you want?" I asked, "How did you get men's hiking shorts?" Ella elbowed me. Hilda laughed, "My son, Alfonso, used to wear them when he was about your age. By the way, have you had of him?" I said, "Alfonso Warsmith" She nodded, "I hope he is having fun." If you define fun as bullying young warrith hybrids into excess training then yes, he is having fun. I said, "I think so but I doubt I will need the shorts." Hilda insisted and I ended up agreeing.

She said, "To Ella, I give you my other bracelet. A girl can't just give out her most prize possession." She handed Ella a silver bracelet that had lightning bolts designed on it. She remarked, "It is also a khopesh." Ella said with a bright smile, "Thank you." She whispered something in Ella's ear that left her petrified for some minutes before she covered it up with a smile. What had Hilda said? I wanted to ask Ella but I could tell she didn't want to talk about it.

I went into the next room to change. The girl gave me a pair of dark green hiker nylon shorts. I wore them and returned to the office. Ella burst into laughter once I entered. She got her phone out, "Ha. I must take a photo of this and share it." I said while hoping she couldn't sense that I was flustered, "I prefer you don't." She got her phone ready to take a photo, "But you can't deny the world the hilarious site." I ran and blocked the camera, "Stop that. It isn't funny." And that is why I hate shorts. Hilda laughed at our behavior, "You can now leave. If you need any home when all has rejected you, I am an ocean away."

Ella went first as I followed. Hilda grabbed my arm. She warned, "You are a warrith leader. I expect you to lead both of you safely out of that sanctuary. Don't expect it to be easy. The tritheta are smart not like any riff-raff mostri you fight on the streets. Use both brains and brawn. That is the only way you'll defeat them." She released her grip. Ella said, "Are you coming?" I looked at Hilda who shot me a fierce look. I managed to mutter, "Coming"

I told Ella, "That old lady was scary on a whole other level. Are we sure she isn't the sanctuary guardian?" Ella said, "You know." We walked out the gates and followed the map until we reached a cliff. The sun was hitting the horizon leaving the sky in a bluish pinkish hue. The cliff was rocky. Its outer slopes were full of dangerously shaped rocks. Rocks that told a different story if you fell off the cliff.

I couldn't see the entrance to the sanctuary. Did Hilda not give us the correct location? I placed my glow on my ears. I could hear the churning of the sea, our rhythmic heartbeats, the breathes we took, and a third heartbeat. I looked around. Ella said, "Relax. We're here alone." I said, "No, I had a third heartbeat." Ella joined in the search, "Well I don't see anything." The third heartbeat was eurythmic and erratic. It was skipping some beats and racing haphazardly. It didn't sound at all like a human one. The Guardian.

I heard something parting the air heading for… I shouted, "ELLA" She turned to me. Something lifted her off the ground and swept her down the cliff. Instincts overcame me but I didn't resist. I ran and dived for her. Only after I dived did I realize I had just thrown myself off a cliff to a spiky grave. Could this get any worse?