We came out of the black smoke in front of a suburban house.
"Where are we Cade?"
"A place to relax and sleep. We should be safe here."
I go into one of the bedrooms and sit down on the bed. Cade comes in and says goodnight then heads off to him room with a granola bar. I grab a granola bar from the backpack and then Zane comes in.
"So are you going to explain what happened earlier. I know it was you," I whisper to him.
'I'm sorry about that, I didn't mean to startle you. We just needed to get out of the underworld quick. The longer you stay there the harder it is to get out. Eventually you might as well be considered dead because you will never be able to leave.'
"Okay so what are you? How can you talk to me?"
'If I tell you, you can't tell anyone else alright. You have to promise, this is dangerous information.'
"I promise I won't tell anyone."
'Alright, I am a Chimera which is a supernatural being that can shape-shift into all kinds of animals, but my true form is much more intimidating. I can talk telepathically with gods and other telepaths.'
"So, what does that mean?"
'Chara, you are a god, a daughter of two gods actually. You are the one who is supposed to bring together all of the gods.'
"Wait you are telling me I am a god? What? Okay wait," I take a deep breath, "I am supposed to bring the gods together? Aluca said I was going to tear him down by helping the other gods, why would he say that?"
'I think he is scared to no longer be feared and to be accepted by the gods. I'm not really sure though. Do you want to know who your parents are?'
"I think so yes should I prepare myself, is it bad?"
'I wouldn't say bad but prepare yourself.'
I nod and take a deep breath.
'Your mother is the goddess of the elements which makes her one of the most powerful gods out there. Your father is a bit more...complicated. He is the banished god. He's the god of the night. The gods have always thought he would betray them and help Aluca take them over. He was banished before the gods thought he could do anything. Just before he was banished, he got to witness your birth. That necklace you wear says your name in Malan, your mom gave it to you before she had to leave you with John who isn't really your uncle.'
"Wow. That was a lot of information. I can't believe this; I am a god?"
'Yes.'
"Cade doesn't know any of this? He doesn't know what you are?"
'Nope.'
"Why?"
'I don't know if I can trust him. I was supposed to be with you; however, your uncle didn't want any animals in the house. I was relieved to find out your best friend was a Glara I took the opportunity.'
"Do you not trust Cade?"
'No, I only trust your parents and you, no one else.'
"What are my parents names?"
'Your mother's name is Shalhalla and your father's name is Noc.'
"Thank you for telling me all of this Zane. Goodnight."
'Goodnight Chara.'
The next morning, I walk downstairs to see that Cade has already made breakfast. We sit down at the table and eat out bacon and eggs. We eat silently which I found odd, usually Cade is a non-stop talker. Must be all of the commotion. I can't stop thinking about what Zane told me last night, I am a goddess. I wonder if I have any other abilities, not like I can practice without Cade finding out. After breakfast we pack up and hop into the car. Cade drives, but I'm not sure where we are going.
"Cade, where are we going now? I don't think we can go back to Kranel."
"We aren't going back there; I want you to grab the map from the backpack and wave your hand over it."
I do so and one of the lines lights up, I turn the map towards Cade considering I have no clue how to read it. He keeps looking at the road and back at the map.
"So where are we heading to?"
"A little while away I'm afraid. We are heading to New York. This will be a few days trip."
Great, maybe I will have some time to talk with Zane again. A few hours pass and we stop at a motel. We get a room and once settled I take Zane out for a walk alone.
"So, Zane, what should we do?"
'Well, we could work on your powers, help you get stronger.'
That would be so cool. Me being able to do things my parents could do. Maybe one day I will see them again. If they even want to see me after all they did leave me.
"What are we going to do first?"
'How about we start with some simple powers from your mom's side,' Zane says as we walk up to a playground. We sit in the sandbox.
"So, what now?"
'I want you to focus on the sand and try to make it change shape, maybe something simple like making a ball.'
I nod and concentrate on the sand, nothing was happening, so I closed my eyes and relaxed. Thinking of when I was little at the beach playing in the sand making sandcastles. I hear Zane gasp and I open my eyes.
"Woah," I say amazed at what I did. In front of me stands an amazing sandcastle, it was huge!
'I underestimated your strength Chara, let's try something a little more complex. Here,' we walk over to a drinking fountain, 'I want you to make the water dance.
I close my eyes focusing hard on the water inside the fountain. I hold my hand out to help control it and by the time I open my eyes there is a ball of water in the palm of my hand. I watch as I make the water move and assume the shape of Zane, I smile.
'Well done Chara, but I have to say you do make me look a little fat,' Zane chuckles.
I make some water drop onto the ground and Zane says that it looks better that way. We walk back to the motel since it is getting late and go to sleep. As I lie in the bed, I am reminded of everything Cade is doing for me, but that I am keeping who I really am away from him. It doesn't seem right. I should trust what Zane says though, right? On that note, I drift off into a deep sleep.
I am jerked awake in the middle of the night to the sound of scratching at the door. I look over at the other bed to see that Cade was gone and I couldn't see Zane anywhere. I am in a panic as I look back to the door. As I do so the scratching stops and I slowly get out of bed. I approach the door and look through the peephole to see nothing but darkness. The door creeks as I open it, I peek through the opening and step outside. There is a busy city square and one of the billboards reads 'New York News'. I don't understand how I could be here; we aren't supposed to arrive in New York for another couple days. I turn back to look at the motel to see it is now a coffee shop. What is going on?
I hear a voice in my head say, 'Chara focus, you have to get out of there. Try to find the right door.'
'Zane is that you? Where are you, where am I? What door am I looking for?'
'It's not Zane, now focus on finding the door. I have to go.'
'Wait! Who are you?'
There was no answer. I start looking around, but there are so many doors, it's Times Square! I just start walking and peak my head in a few doors along the way, I huff and begin to think it is hopeless until I looked down an alleyway and see a bright yellow door that catches my eye. I begin to walk towards the door when a chill runs down my spine and I feel like someone is watching me. I look around not seeing anyone except the ones hurrying through Times Square. I return my gaze to the yellow door. I approach the door and it has this symbol on it. It is a circle with a crescent moon inside and a diamond between the points of the moon.
I feel like I have seen it before, but I can't quite put my finger on it. I try the handle and it is unlocked so I open the door slowly as I hear the rusty hinges squeal. Inside there is a lone light on just a few steps away from the door. When I step into the hallway the door swings shut behind me and the light flickers until I am left alone as the darkness engulfs me into it's chilling embrace. I reach back for the door handle to find there is no longer a door, only a wall. I begin to walk forward one step at a time with my hand out in front. I feel a door handle at what I am guessing is the end of the hallway. I twist the dented doorknob and push the door open. A flame appears on a candle and then more candles light up all around the room. There is an old woman sitting inside of a circle of candles.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to come in unannounced. I should leave."
"Stay, you have found the door, now we must talk," the strange lady says.
"No, I should really go," I say as I move towards the door, but I realize that it is no longer there.
"Come, sit."
I reluctantly sit down inside the circle across from the old lady. We sit in silence for what seems like an eternity before she begins chanting something underneath her breath, but I do catch one word and that word is Chara. Then I hear the wind coming down the hallway and into the room where we sit. With the wind comes leaves and dust, all of the candles in the room blow out. It fills the room and I couldn't see anything. The last thing I hear is the old lady telling me to find this room if I wanted to survive then everything went black.