I watched Evan’s mouth moving as he spoke, and I swayed as a flash back from the dream, of when Evan kissed me, consumed my thoughts momentarily. I caught only some of what he said.
“…dream not a dream…dream is a memory...”
Breathe, breathe, I told myself. I took a deep breath, gulped, and tried my damnedest to allow all of this to sink in. As I still stood with my back to the windows and facing Evan, I spotted an antique styled telephone sitting on one of the tables. I walked over to it, and touched the ornate stem and handle which were made of polished brass. The weird mouth piece looked like an upside down trumpet. Tragically, I missed my cell phone.
I looked at the porcelain based oil lamps and tried to remember if electricity existed in 1891. It did, yet I wasn’t sure if it was being utilized in this house. The nausea in my belly was mounting. I wanted to scream my head off and tear all of this ancient furniture apart.
“Well, if this is the year 1891 as you say it is, then I demand that you take me back to the future. Now. ” I said, challenging both Evan and Bethany, who looked away from me and stared at her brother. Obviously he was running this charade. At this moment I expected more from Bethany.
She was my best friend. Evan looked at me for a long moment before he said a word. I couldn’t read his expression. His face was void of any emotion.
His eyes led me to believe that there wasn’t a chance in hell that I would escape this house or this time period.
“I can’t do that.” Evan said, gravely. Not what I wanted to hear, but what I had expected.
“Of course you can. If you brought me here, then you can bring me back.” I said marching over to where he sat on the couch. I bent toward him, grabbed his hand, and placed it on my forehead as he had when we had left this room only to return to this room. “Please… just please… take me back.”
I said, begging with no shame. The tears came again and ran down my face. I wasn’t even embarrassed, just desperate.
“Cordelia, there is no going
back
. This is where you
belong
.” Evan removed his hand and stood up. I straightened up and took a couple steps back from him. Then it was his turn to seek assistance. He turned to Bethany, who in turn stood up.
My head began to spin and I was on the verge of hurling all over the fancy rug. The large room seemed to be getting smaller as the dizziness numbed me. Evan’s face was pained. He was quiet for a long moment as he observed me. His words still lingered in the air. The silence around us was interrupted by the constant sounds of the quick trot of what couldn’t be confused with anything other than horses pulling carriages. Evan was wrong I didn’t belong here
now.
I didn’t belong in this town ever.
I looked around the room at the portraits and photographs of people I didn't recognize who seemed to be staring at me. I took a deep breath before peering through the heavy drapes and fancy lace curtains again. I could see from the reflection in the window that someone was standing behind me. I wanted to ignore them; wish them away. Better yet, wish myself away.
“Cordelia, there is so much that you need to know about yourself. Evan’s unsure voice proved that wishes didn’t come true. He was still there and worst of all, I was too. “Please sit down so that I can explain,” Evan said, leading me back to the couch.
“What do I need to know about myself that I don't already know? I know that I’m stuck in the year 1891. Right?” I said, raising a challenging eyebrow in his direction. “I’m also aware that you have the power to take me back to the future, but won’t. So what else is there?” I said sarcastically to both Evan and his deceiving sister. I was angry and didn’t care whose feelings got hurt.
Ignoring my nasty attitude, Evan’s tone was firm although, he seemed a little apprehensive at the idea of actually telling me what it was that I supposedly needed to know. “It’s imperative that you know as much as possible in order to adjust, and in order to… survive.”
“Survive?” My voice was heavy and I had to gulp just to get the question out. I glanced over at Bethany, who all the while, kept her silence. She was letting Evan do all the driving.
“You are an Ischero, one of the Powerful and direct descendants of the Greek gods.” Evan said, with his eyes locked on mine as if he were gaging how well I was absorbing this ludicrous notion. I was numb, but listening intently.
“When I say powerful, I'm not speaking of our wealth. I mean powerful in strength of the mind, the spirit, and of the physical.
“Ish – e – roe? What is that?” I wasn’t sure if I had even pronounced the foreign sounding word correctly.
“Ischero. You pronounced it correctly. We are the ancient bloodline, an empire of families, all descending from the gods.” Evan said, proudly. “You are the first daughter of the Tieron family, the first family of our kind. You’re the empress of our Empire; well you will be in a few days when you are crowned the Empress of Ischera.”
I tried to process what he was saying. My last name wasn’t Tetherson anymore. My identity was ripped out from under me. I didn't want to be the first daughter of anything and especially had no desire to be an empress of any kind. I just wanted the life I had back. I decided to say nothing and just listen. Bethany’s eyes danced between my reaction and how Evan pieced my life together.
“So I’m an empress or soon to be one. Who or what are you?” I asked curiously.
“I’m the first son of the Capius family, the second family of the Ischeros Empire.” He said. “Bethany is my younger sister. “
“Only younger by a year.” Bethany scolded with a chuckle.
“Beth was sent to the future to protect you. She made sure that you were never in any danger.” Evan revealed.
Bethany spoke sincerely. “I didn’t do my job, my visions failed me, and you ended up getting killed. I’m deeply sorry Delia.” Bethany apologized with tears in her eyes.
I held her gaze and tears flowed from my eyes again – not out of sadness but from love…love of a friend. I believed our friendship could sustain anything. Even murder.
“It's alright.” I choked up in a whisper as Bethany walked over to me and hugged me.
Evan smiled, nodded, and began again. “Our kind is persecuted by entities with limitations to their power, those who thirst for more, for the ultimate, for your power, Cordelia. This is why you were sent far into the future. It was primarily a safety precaution.”
“Unfortunately that couldn’t be helped.” Bethany added.
“By entities, do you mean Victor? He’s the gargoyle, right?” I asked as my voice quivered as if the gargoyle boy was in the room with us.
The name and its weight hung in the air.
“Yes, but unfortunately he is one in many.” I didn't like the sound of that. That sounded like no possible escape.
“Victor is pure evil!” Bethany said with conviction. “And why hasn't Nikolas returned yet?” She asked changing the subject.
“Bethany, please.” Evan pleaded. “You’re scaring her.”
“I’m ok, I don’t scare that easily.” I tried to sound brave but I was shaken.
“I'm sorry, Cordelia, but Nikolas should have returned by now.” Bethany apologized minus the conviction. I had forgotten that Nikolas had stayed behind to guard our departure.
“Nikolas is both wise and incredibly strong. He can handle himself. Have faith.” Evan tried reassuring Bethany who still had a worried look painted on her face.
Evan continued with a sigh. “Bethany is correct. Victor is of the purest evil. He is the strongest of a small army of devoted disciples. Victor has steadily built his army and controls them for the sole purpose of garnishing your power, and possibly destroying the earth in order to stake his claim on it. He wants to be the Emperor of the Ischeros.”
“He’s an Ischeros too?” I asked, shocked.
“No, but he used to be. I’ll tell you more about that later.” Evan promised.
I tried to calm my nerves before I asked Evan the question that I was afraid to hear the answer too. I felt moisture suddenly form on my forehead. I went from ice cold to hot in a matter of seconds. “Did Victor kill me in the future?”
Evan stared at me for a brief moment. I wasn't sure if he was going to answer the question. He looked perplexed. Didn't I have a right to know?
“Yes, he drove the car that killed you. He wanted and needed your soul but he only had twenty – four hours to abduct you.”
“But why me?”
“You because you are the strongest that has ever been of our kind. Without your soul the gateway to your powers, he can never do the damage that he desires to do.” He explained. “We are immortal and can never truly die. We can always be revived.”
“And that’s what you did to me? But when?” I asked.
“I revived you through the passage of time.”
“This is incredible.” I mumbled to myself.
“Is it?” Evan asked.
“Of course it is. You’re speaking of mythological beings and immortality. No one could grasp such absurdity.”
“Absurd?” Bethany cut me off. “And you? Do you think immortality is absurd or that we’re absurd?” Bethany asked, with a detectible edge to her tone.
“I don’t know what to think. I mean come on Bethany; it’s all too…much.” I said. Bethany stood with her icy blue eyes fixed on my face for a second. She didn’t appear angry, just frustrated with me.
Evan interrupted Bethany’s stare down. “Victor wasn’t able to obtain your soul in time because he lost track of you.” Evan said clearing his throat.
He watched me and took my silence as a sign to continue. “We are Ischeros. It will take a lot more than a jeep to end your life. You’ll remember in time, once your memory is restored.” He promised, as he rubbed my hand gently then let it go.
I was too dazed to even nod. No one said a word for a moment. Something else was troubling me. “Ok, so I was born in 1875, and I’m still seventeen, right.”
“Yes. We, the Ischeros physically age yearly through our early teens.” Evan explained. “Then we begin aging gradually by the decade for the remaining years of our lives. This dilatory process begins at eighteen.” He appeared to detect the expression of shock in my face. I contemplated what he said. I chewed and chewed on the information, but couldn’t swallow. I cleared my throat. I needed some clarity on the whole aging issue.
“So, you’re saying that I’m seventeen now and once I turn eighteen, I’ll slowly age for an entire decade before turning nineteen. Is that right?” I asked.
“And so on with every coming decade.” Evan explained, while he squeezed my hand. I pulled my hand away, and he recovered quickly and nodded.
“So, I’ll be eighteen for ten whole years?” My voice was a surprisingly high shriek as I faced this boy who held all the secrets of my existence.
“Yes, it’s a gift, Cordelia. Those who don’t possess our gift, age the way they consider to be normal,
physically
aging older
every
year of their lives,” Evan explained. “I understand how this may be difficult to comprehend and accept although you already know this.”
It was the gift that would keep giving. I guess I should be happy not to age. Isn’t that what every person wanted, perpetual youth, yet I was scared to death of the possibility.
“You’re unlike anyone in the world and no other as divine. You’re very... special. You, and only you, possess unique and extraordinary attributes, capabilities that no other being could possibly manage. Not I, not any other Ischeros.” Evan said, practically in one breath.
“Um…ok…but… what does that mean? What kind of unique and extraordinary capabilities do I have?” I said getting up and walking over to the fireplace. For some reason I was antsy and couldn’t stop moving around. I’m sure by now Evan and Bethany noticed how hyper I was. I didn’t fully get what Evan was trying to explain but I had to admit that I was intrigued. I wondered if I could turn myself into water and spin like a whirlpool too.
“Let me explain.” Evan said, clearing his throat. “You have the strength of all the Ischeros combined, the speed of light, the wisdom and insight to guide, the power to read everyone’s thoughts – with your mind left unread. There is so much more to you that only you will know and may choose to grace us with.”
“I have the power to read minds?” I asked, baffled. I almost chortled. Almost because I didn’t think it was funny to have my leg pulled, especially since I was standing up. “Can I read your mind now?”
“Your powers will surface once your memory is restored.” Evan said. I sat next to him again and stared off in disbelief as to what he was so adamantly trying to get me to understand and accept. He continued as I wondered just how plausible this all could be.
“You are a part of something that is greater than this earth, and older. As the Empress of the Ischeros, your sole purpose, your ultimate objective is to protect and defend your empire, the members of your family.” Evan said, almost in a whisper. His voice was soft and crisp at the same time as he continued.
“These special gifts are envied and desired by the world's most evil entities. These beings will stop at nothing until they possess your soul, which is the door to your power and ultimate control of the elements of the world.” Evan spoke evenly, watching me cautiously. I wanted him to stop talking. The information was daunting and I couldn’t be the person he spoke of. This had to be a case of mistaken identity.
“Let me get this straight. I need to regain my memory of my so called life in this time period so that I will have powers that evil entities will eventually come after me for. Why me? I... I don't understand. I’m better off not remembering.” Whatever memories I was expected to remember felt lost forever and I’d be in less danger not recalling a thing.
“You, because you are. It is not something we can question but only what we must accept, you must assume, as our leader.” Evan said proudly, and then taking a moment to pause.
“When will my memory return?” I asked, anxiously. Evan seemed to be contemplating if he should answer. I expected that he knew the answer.
“It's only a matter of time. I expect soon. I would like to tell you a little more about yourself. If that's alright?” He asked, and paused, waiting for clearance.