Prometheus' Orb (Legends of the Dark Creatures Book 1)
Chapter Eleven: Awakening

“Hey Sam, I am glad we are talking again,” said Ashley, in a low apologetic voice.

A radiant smile curved its way across Samantha’s face.

“And I am sorry for being the way I was these past few days,” she said, extending her right hand toward Ashley.

Gently holding her friend’s soft hand, Ashley said, “Best friends once again?”

“Best friends for all eternity,” Samantha joyfully said.

“Hmm, but that’s such a long time.” Placing a finger against her lower lip, Ashley curved her lips, slightly narrowed her eyes— making an expression of being lost in thought— and said, “Are you sure I’d survive your constant nagging for that long?”

Ashley burst into soft laughter when Samantha let go of her hand and delivered a mild punch on her shoulder. The two girls laughed as they sat on the swing mounted on the veranda of Samantha’s place. The lights had been adjusted a cast a dim glow allowing the moon to show off its brilliant light that shined caressingly on the flowers that grew by the veranda; kissing them all with a unison bright color.

The cold of the night hit Ashley like rough ocean waves against a rock. She was fine though— actually, Ashley had never really been bothered by cold weather— but Samantha on the other hand was shivering to her bones. Ashley took off her jumper and offered it to Sam. With a proud smile across her face and her eyes closed, Samantha stretched out her hands, lifted her chin, and said, “Would you mind doing the honors?”

Chuckling silently, Ashley began to slide Samantha’s arms into the jumper.

“Definitely wouldn’t survive an eternity with you, Sam,” Ashley frowned.

Ashley threw her gaze to the stars. ‘Little shining silver chandeliers hanging in the great dark void’; that is how Coley described them.

“Hey, Sam. Remember what Coley once said about the stars?”

Samantha let out a relaxed sigh and replied, “Girl, Coley has said a lot of things about stars, and about just about everything in this world. But I am sure you are talking about the thing she said about how when two people who share the gift of true love for each other look at the same star… it shines even brighter.” A soft laugh came out of Samantha’s mouth and she appeared thoughtful for a while.

“So, do you believe it would happen?” Ashley asked.

“I believe is a lot of things Ash but that… I would have to see for myself.” Samantha rocked the swing a bit and it began to sway forward and back. “Though I must say if it were true, then love is definitely not in the air today… Or is the sky now? Hold on a minute.” Moving closer to Ashley, Samantha gave her a hard stare and asked, “You are the one who is dating, have you tried staring at the same star with Adrian.”

Ashley’s heart jumped. She remembered how happy she was when Adrian had called her earlier. When she found his missed call she wasted no time calling him back. But to answer the question Samantha had just asked, Ashley said, “No, we haven’t.”

“You guys haven’t… Or… You are the one who has been hesitant to try it,” Samantha stated. “Afraid that you prince charming isn’t the prince charming?”

Ashley laughed and sighed, “I think we are getting carried away by a simple superstition.”

“Hey, you are the one who brought it up,” said Samantha, raising her hands with her palms open. She then suddenly gave a look that told Ashley that she was up to something mischievous.

“Why don’t we try it?”

Ashley’s mind went completely blank and by the time she had gotten her bearings straight, Samantha had already wrapped her arm around her and had held her in a way that her face was directed to the sky.

“Come on, looking at the one!” Samantha joyously exclaimed. “No, not that one silly… That one…”

Ashley was trying to get out of Samantha’s grip but when the girl wanted something she wouldn’t stop for anything until she got it.

“Look, look, look! It glowed!” Samantha shouted.

“Sa… Sam,” Ashley said.

“Oh look, it’s moving Ash!” Samantha’s voice rose even higher.

“Sam, that…. that’s a plane,” Ashley said, not easily though since she literally being choked to death by her over-enthusiastic friend.

Ashley took in a deep breath when Samantha let go of her.

“Oh, man,” Samantha said, folding her arms and frowning. “And here I thought I would be your true love.”

Ashley smiled and rested her head on Samantha’s shoulder. “You will always be. I don’t need a star to tell me that.”

“Do you remember the day we first met?” Samantha asked.

“Sam... Of course, I do,” Ashley replied. “It was two days after we had moved here I was playing outside the house...”

“Right?” Samantha interrupted. “Well, I guess trying to literally dive into a storybook can be considered playing.”

Ashley laughed.

“Hey I was five... and I remember you coming out of nowhere and telling me that I was doing it all wrong. You said if I may quote, ‘You need a magic spell to open a portal into the book realm’ and we even created a spell for it...”

The two friends spoke loudly in unison.

“We call on the powers... super and grand...

We call upon them... take us... to Wonderland.”

“Well... Wonderland was quite tempting,” Samantha said.

The girls laughed so hard that Ashley actually felt her stomach muscles tighten.

She then felt Samantha’s head lean slightly against hers.

“You know, there was a time when I truly believed magic was real.”

Samantha’s voice was low. Ashley knew where this conversation was headed but this time she didn’t try to stop Samantha. Instead, she said, “Me too Sam… more than you know.”

“And you’re sure what happened that day was all in our imagination?”

“I don’t know Samantha,” Ashley said.

Five years ago, an ocean wave almost hurt Ashley and Samantha but Ashley had stopped it. She remembered it clearly. The rush of power she felt, the wave obeying every hand gesture she made. She never told Samantha or anyone this but that wasn’t the only time something like that happened.

There were other times.

Why was she thinking about that!? Like Samantha said; it was all in her head. After over two months of therapy, Ashley had come to accept that she was just like everybody else; a normal human being.

Ashley’s head automatically turned to her left and her hand reached for the back of her left shoulder. Ashley wore a blue sleeveless shirt and could feel part of the tattoo that was engraved on her shoulder.

“Still no memory of how you got the tattoo huh,” Samantha stated.

“Nope,” Ashley replied, releasing a sigh of defeat.

Ever since the accident last year, Ashley had this tattoo; a lion, with the head of a goat protruding from its back, two large wings, and a tail ending with a snake’s head; a lion, dragon, and a fox with two horns— a tattoo of a Chimera. Most of what happened last year was still a mystery to Ashley. The cliff. The same cliff where she met Richard. She almost lost her life on that cliff and yet she was still drawn to it. No one could figure out how she survived that fall, how she missed the rocks below, how the giant waves didn’t drown her.

“Anyway I am sure it will come back at the moment you least expect it to,” Samantha said, trying to cheer Ashley.

“Well, I better get going,” Ashley said.

Samantha sighed and made a funny frown, “And just when I was getting to the bottom of the mysterious Ashley Morgan.”

Ashley chuckled and rose to her feet. She yawned carelessly, stretched her body, and said, “Oh I can’t wait for tomorrow—”

“You, me, the guys— just like old times,” Samantha finished.

“And Luke called saying he might come,” Ashley added. With everything going on with his father, Luke needs this day.

And His friends are going to be there for him, Ashley resolved.

“See you girl,” Samantha said, waving as she unlocked the door. “Ashley…”

Ashley stopped walking.

“Yeah?”

“About the stars…”

“Yes?”

“Why don’t you try it with Richard? Might work”

Ashley really wished there was a rock or an object nearby. She felt her face flush as Samantha strode like a child into the house.

“Good night, Sam,” she said in a low voice, shaking ahead with a smile on her face.

As she walked along the road, she realized that she had left her jumper with Samantha. Sighing happily, she continued walking home; which was only a few houses away. Ashley pulled out her phone from her pocket and turned it on.

Oh, a text from Sara.

But before Ashley could read the text, a large hand grabbed her by her waist, and everything around her blurred. The houses disappeared in the distance and Ashley could almost see the blurry images of what looked like trees. She had no time to even scream and in what felt like— and could have been seconds— Ashley found herself struggling to stand on a clearing near the beach. Her vision was coming to focus but she still felt dizzy and everything around her was moving in circles.

The crashing sound of the ocean echoed throughout the area. Whoever or whatever had held her let her go. Ashley’s body lay face down on the ground. Her body was stiff— shaking— and she couldn’t move.

Darkness was near her; true darkness. She felt cold but it wasn’t because of the weather; it was because she was in danger.

Ashley saw two boots come in front of her. She wanted to get up but her body wouldn’t let her. The dark aura that was around her… It was so overwhelming that it felt as though someone was pressing her down by her neck.

“I mean you no harm.”

Given the situation, it was a miracle that Ashley’s mind still had enough clarity to recognize that voice. She used her hands to lift her upper body. She was kneeling when she faced him. Black coat, black trousers, a dark grey T-shirt. He had a bearded face, silky short dark hair, and a huge build. It was the man Ashley had met at Coley’s Diner two days ago.

The man stretched out his hand as if to help Ashley but something he clearly didn’t expect happened.

Ashley's eyes must have been deceiving her. She watched the man— if he even was human— move at a speed impossible for Ashley to follow and dodged an arrow that had flowed at him.

“I have no business with you people,” he said, staring past Ashley.

Ashley turned her head and looked back. She couldn’t fully see but a figure wearing black leather was approaching her fast.

The figure unsheathed a Japanese sword from their back; a sword with a blade as midnight. He swung it at the man who had grabbed Ashley. The man in a black coat dodged the sword effortlessly and leaped into the air; jumping at a distance as high as a tall tree. He landed some meters away from Ashley and the person in black; who for the moment appeared to be protecting Ashley.

“I thought Hunters were supposed to be smart,” the man said. “You clearly have no idea what you're up against.”

Hunters

Ashley stared at her savior. She could only see their face and those sharp eyes were fixed on the man in front of them. The person helped Ashley stand. Even their hands were covered in leather gloves. Apart from a sword, this person also carried a knife sheathed across their thigh and what Ashley could have sworn was a wooden stake was sheathed on their arm.

The masked figure ran towards the man. Ashley stared in awe as the two fought. The man’s movements were unnaturally graceful and he dodged and blocked many of the masked person’s attacks with ease. The masked figure, however, was also a great fighter. They launched a kick at the man, who caught it but suddenly, the man pushed the figure’s leg to his right; just enough time for him to dodge the object that had shot out of the masked person’s boots. The bearded man then attacked with a kick that connected with the masked person’s abdomen— sending them flying some meters away.

Without thinking twice, Ashley ran in the direction of the masked person. They already stood up by the time Ashley reached them.

“Are you alright?” Ashley asked, keeping an eye on the bearded man as well. As confused as she was about all this, Ashley was certain about who to trust for me.

The masked person grabbed her by her shoulder and gestured her head towards the woods; beckoning Ashley to run.

“I am not leaving you here alone,” Ashley protested.

The person narrowed her eyes and titled her head.

“Yes, I may not be able to fight but there is no universe where I’d leave someone that’s saved my life to fight on her own and—“

Wait. What was she saying? Her? How did Ashley know that the person next to her was a girl? And how in the world did Ashley get what the person was trying to say when she had just tilted her head?

Ashley looked carefully at the person. Her eyes had filled with tears, pleading with Ashley to leave. Only one person that Ashley knew of could display such clear and sincere emotions with only a few gestures.

“Sara,” Ashley whispered.

A cold chill runs through Ashley’s back and she involuntarily grabbed Sara and pulled her towards her; in time to save her from the sharp rock that shot out of the ground on which she had stood.

Ashley turned to the direction the rock had come from. A watery chill ran down her spine and her heart leaped and began to beat wildly when she saw the man. His eyes were glowing, his canines had extended— resembling those of an animal-- and his nails were now claws.

Three large rocks floating in the air; controlled by man.

“All I need is the girl, Hunter,” the man said.

Sara took picked up her sword and stood in a defensive stance in front of Ashley. She walked a few steps forward, turned at Ashley, and nodded; telling Ashley to stay where was. Facing the man, Sara pointed her sword at him.

“Have it your way.”

The man projected all three rocks at Sara. Incredible would have been an understatement if the word was used to describe Sara at that moment. The girl dodged the first two rocks by throwing herself in the air, defecting the smaller one with a kick and somersaulting above the larger one. The third would have passed below Sara too but Ashley saw the man smirk and close his arm into a fist.

And that’s when it happened

Everything around Ashley— the cool gentle wind, the dancing wave of the ocean, the swaying grass— were all slowing down. It took a while for Ashley to realize that it wasn’t the things around her that had slowed down; she was moving faster than she’d ever thought possible. When the man had clenched his fist, Ashley saw the rock underneath Sara explode; firing sharp shards in her direction. Ashley’s body automatically reacted; running towards Sara. She grabbed Sara in mid-air and immediately her feet touched the ground, she dashed away from the incoming shards of rock.

Sara’s eyes widened when she looked at Ashley.

Something within Ashley changed; rather, something she had suppressed for so long— a part she had denied for so long— had finally been awoken. Though it was night, the things around her were highlighted by radiant colors as her eyes began to catch even the smallest amount of light. She could hear Sara’s heartbeat rising, her muscles tightening, and the quiet sobs that she tried to withhold. Ashley could even sense her friend’s aura. ‘Auras never betray’. Ashley was unsure where she had heard those words but she believed them, for Sara’s aura told Ashley that her friend knew of her true identity; what she truly was.

An exhilarating rush of power came upon Ashley. It was a feeling she had forgotten but now she couldn’t deny it.

“Sara, stand back, “Ashley said. As she talked, Ashley realized that her canines had lengthened. She looked at her hands; her fingers had extended into sharp claws. They were also a few scales that had formed on the skin of her arms.

For a long time, Ashley had convinced herself that this part of her never existed. It took seeing someone in danger— a dear friend she loved and care for— in order to awaken this side of her and now, she was going to use this power to protect her friend.

“Impossible,” the man said.

Ashley dashed at him. She took him by surprise and landed a well-executed punch on his right cheek. The man flew a few meters away. He landed near the water and a sudden urge came upon Ashley.

Raising her hand, Ashley controlled a pool of water, the size, and weight of a large rock; pulling it out of the ocean. She concentrated, curled her fingers, and molded the water into the shape of a sharp icicle. She flung her arm forward and fired the icicle toward the man. The man punched his fist through the ground and a boulder came out, blocking him from the water. The water crashed and pierced through the rock causing the man to quickly dive to his right.

Ashley moved back when a rocky spike came at her from the ground.

“Now I understand,” the man said.

Even with her newly gained abilities, Ashley couldn’t have matched the man’s speed. He was so fast that it was like he had disappeared, and in less than a second he had his huge hands around Sara’s neck.

“One wrong move and your friend loses her head.”

She breathed in slowly. Her claws and teeth retracted and her vision normalized. Ashley stood and watched as the man’s grip on Sara tightened.

“Wait!” Ashley shouted. “What do you want?”

“What I seek is not for myself,” the man said. “And you may be the key to it.”

“Whatever it is you want from me... I will only give it to you if you let my friend go.”

The man smiled.

“Seems like you are in luck little one,” he said.

The man let go of Sara, ran into the woods, and disappeared.

That’s when Ashley saw him. He was a blur, running past her without even staring at her. He stopped some distance behind her and stared intensely into the woods; probably searching for the man that had fled.

Richard

That word was upon her lips but it just couldn’t come out. Richard stood right in front of her; his eyes closed, concentrating hard and Ashley supposed that he was trying to sense the man’s aura. A sigh escaped Richard’s mouth and when he opened his eyes, Ashley’s opened even wider. His irises glowed orange and his teeth were even sharper than those the man had, and they began to retract to their normal size.

She could sense it from him as well; darkness— Ancient darkness...

Sara drew out her sword but Ashley ran in front of Richard and said, “No...”

She looked at Richard and continued, “He is with us.”

Richard patted Ashley’s shoulder and with a smile, he said, “She knows. She’s just making sure I am in the right state of mind.”

Like her, Richard’s animalistic face also reverted to that of a normal human. His eyes looked at Ashley curiously and held his chin.

“Water Element huh?” he said. “It’s been some time since I witnessed an Awakening.”

“And what are you again?” she said, smiling.

Sara walked to them and took off her mask.

“And what do we have here,” Ashley said. She was surprised but she wasn’t afraid. For a long time, she had always believed that she wasn’t normal and she had always tried her best to suppress this part of her.

Sara made some hand signs.

“Yes Sara,” Richard was the one who answered. “That indeed was Sebastian.”

“Um, remind me again how you guys know enough,” Ashley asked, feeling a bit out of the loop.

Richard smiled at Ashley.

“It’s a long story,” he said. “But I am more interested in knowing about you, Ashley?”

“Well, it has been a long night... For all of us,” Ashley said. “So why don’t we talk tomorrow?”

Sara’s hands moved again.

“I don’t think Sebastian will be bothering Ashley or any of us tonight,” Richard replied.

Ashley smiled. Fear lingered within her, yes but she wasn’t surprised when her power awakened. All along she knew that she was different and for a long time, she always felt like she was alone. But now, she knew that wasn’t the case. Even though an earth-merman was after her, even if she had just discovered that one of her friends was something called a Hunter and even if Richard wasn’t human Ashley still managed to smile because for the first time in a long time...

I am not alone.

But in the midst of it all, Sara looked at Ashley, her face red and eyes were overflowing with tears; tears of both joy and sorrow.

“Sara, what’s wrong?”

Ashley saw Sara lose her strength and she sat on the ground, crying. Her hand was cupped against her mouth.

“Sara, please... tell me,” Ashley pleaded, kneeling down to Sara and holding her by her shoulder.

Sara looked at Ashley and her hand trembled as she waved some hand signs.

Alex

That was all the hand signs said and it was enough to convey what Sara was trying to say. Ashley gently hugged her friend. Her eyes began to burn hot as tears streamed down her cheek. She bit down hard on her lower lip and held in a scream. The person Ashley looked up to. The one she wanted to become. The one who inspired her to become who she was. The light that had shone upon her in her time of darkness.

At that moment and on that day Ashley was faced with a truth she refused to accept...

Alex was gone.

***

We are now halfway to the end

Thank you so many guys for all your support!!!