All things, including dark secrets, must always come into the Light. The Downing family had many secrets, and keeping them hidden was becoming increasingly difficult. Aunty M had her own secrets,
too, but soon, even hers would be revealed. Unfortunately, it couldn't have happened at a worse time. Aunty M noticed Robert descending the ladder, which led to his special perch on top of the barn. Thisspot allowed him to see everything around him, like the Downing farm and the town of New Downing, within a few miles up the road but still allowed him to be wrapped in a cocoon of complete solitude, a place he had built to meditate. Like his mother, Martha Downing, Robert also had the gift of foresight. This gift enabled him to see things about to happen in the near future. He was only fifteen, but his gift had grown stronger, especially over the last few months.
Robert possessed a unique ability that his siblings didn't have-he could see things that were invisible to others, including the Fabric of Time and the outcomes of alternate realities. Unlike his brothers and sisters, who kept their abilities hidden, everyone in the family was aware of Robert's gift. His aunt Margaret also knew about his special talent. Although Robert's gift was both a blessing and a curse, he often struggled to cope with it. Lately, he had some visions that he couldn't share with anyone because revealing them could have disastrous consequences for his family and the world. However, today, he would reveal some of those dark secrets because he had no other choice, and the burden weighed heavily upon him.
Robert felt it was time to have an important conversation with Aunt Margaret, whom he trusted to help him with the situation or possibly make it worse. But he was unsure how to explain the recent disappearance of his older sister Julie and younger brother Will. They had left to travel off-world to explore their newly discovered gifts. Additionally, Robert knew that Anna would soon go on her journey once she received her invitation. According to the foresight he had gotten a few minutes ago, she was about to get it this very morning. He couldn't help but feel the weight of his burden on his shoulders.
Despite the potential risks, he decided to talk to his parents. However, he wanted to reach out to his aunt Margaret first. He hoped she could advise him on approaching his parents without causing a huge fight between his siblings and his parents, and she could also keep the secrets that still needed to be kept for now. All providing he had time to do so under the time restraints he was under.
Robert sighed deeply and started walking down from his secluded spot where he had spent some time alone. As he descended, he noticed Aunt Margaret hanging the family's laundry. With his mother expecting a baby next spring, Aunt Margaret had taken on most of the household chores, making their lives easier and more enjoyable. The entire family was grateful for her presence and support.
Robert knew that things could change at any moment, especially after he revealed some information, he had received about his brother Will and his older sister Julie and how he had obtained it. He held two letters in his hand containing this information and was waiting on the third one at this very moment, but he was told he would receive it by noon today. It was nearly that time looking at the sky, and according to his watch, it was 11:30 am. That meant he had about thirty or so minutes to reveal everything he needed to before that would add to their difficulties or, should he say, Aunt Margaret's problems for today.
Aunt Margaret also had a secret that she had kept hidden away, but eventually, it would come to Light, and they would have to deal with the burden and consequences that came with it. Her secret must remain in the dark, even from her. It was her test and burden to carry for herself and everyone in all the realms that existed here and lay hidden behind the looking glass.
Aunty M. noticed that Robert's face was troubled, and she could tell he was in deep trouble. She could see the weight he was carrying, a burden that her deceased husband Mike had also borne without anyone else's knowledge, not even hers. After Mike passed away, Aunty M. spent several days reading his journals, hoping to discover why he had kept his secret from her. The journals contained details about his life, including fantastical and mysterious stories that, at first glance, most people, including herself, would not believe were real.
In those journals, Mike claimed to be over five hundred years old and had led the Brotherhood on the Council of Light for almost three hundred of those years. He was born a powerful wizard, but most importantly, he had once lived in a world that was not his own. Mike was just a visitor hiding among us. Margaret wished that her late husband Mike had shared this knowledge with her before he died, but she wondered if she would have believed him or thought he had gone insane.
She had recently discovered that her husband wasn't insane at all, no, instead he was speaking the truth. The evil he was up against threatened everyone, not just in their world but across all realms, galaxies, and even the stars themselves. Despite her fear, she resolved not to show it, especially now that a boy like Robert could see the possible futures and outcomes. She promised to listen with an open mind and heart, and even if it seemed unbelievable, she would choose to believe it. After all, what was there to lose? Maybe total extinction if the Shadow of evil won, something she could not let happen.
Robert arrived at his destination, soft green grass ticking his bare feet as he walked towards her. Aunty M, her wrinkled face etched with worry, let out a heavy sigh that hung in the air, mingling with the scent of freshly cut grass. The sight of Robert standing there naked didn't faze her in the slightest. After all, everyone in their small community followed this tradition, including his Pa, who toiled away on the back porch, the sound of his hammer pounding against wood resonating through the stillness. He was completely nude while his sons Ted, Danny, and others played around him, wearing nothing but a smile. Letting the warm rays of a nice summer day tickle their skin.
The Downings, including Aunty M, had grown up in these rural parts, where they had integrated traditions like these into the fabric of their lives. Walking around in their un-kissed skin, clad in nothing but the warmth of the day, was a normal occurrence, especially during the sweltering summer months. Passing it down through generations, the community embraced it as a reflection of country living. Hillbilly Country Living.
Wayne was planning to add on to their new farmhouse. Ever since Martha, his wife had received a vision from the Gods of Light, that would turn their lives upside down. The news of five children three boys and two girls joining their family had left them all stunned, though Robert, their son, seemed strangely unfazed by the news. Then again, A strong gift in the "Sight" that allowed him to see the future of things to come and many alternate realities.
In Martha's vision from the Gods of Light, they had shown her the faces of their future children but did not reveal the details of their names or when and where they would be found, just they would find them and their basic location somewhere among the very stars themselves.
It was a revelation that had sent shockwaves through the family, yet they had kept it a secret, hushed whispers in the quiet corners of their home. Considering it a way of life. And on this day, the heat of the sun bore down upon them, casting a golden glow on the fields that stretched
out as far as the eye could see. She could see the look in his eyes, which held tears of great joy or sadness or even both. She knew that she had to listen to him with an open mind. Robert handed her two strange letters, and she immediately noticed that they were not made of paper but of some peculiar substance that resembled old scrolls she had seen in her husband's old library. The handwriting on the letters appeared to be from an unfamiliar pen.
However, the content of the letters held great significance, as it had the potential to change their lives forever. The question was whether Margaret was ready to face the change or, more importantly, whether the Downing family was prepared to confront it.
Margaret knew her oldest daughter, Julie, was sneaking out at night, but she didn't know why. She assumed Julie just wanted to meet up with one of the boys she had met over the summer during the Farmers Picnic, which in turn created the new town known as New Downing, not more than a mile from here. It was then that Julie who had met this boy known as Bill, Mrs. Collins's oldest boy, who was the same age as Julie. These thoughts brought back fond memories of Margaret and Mike's youth and the mischiefs they got into.
However, it turns out that Julie was sneaking out for a different reason. Margaret opened the first scroll with Julie's name written upon it; it told her that Julie had been hiding the very fact that she was dragon-born and had been called away to learn how to control her transformation into a dragon. This news was an incredible discovery that left Margaret in disbelief. What shocked her even more was that Julie had gone to a different realm altogether and would be gone for at least two weeks, although she didn't know what that meant.
Margaret's hands shook as she hesitated to read the second letter with Will's name on it. She knew that, like his brother Robert, Will had been spending a lot of time out in their family orchards, and she thought he needed time alone to think and meditate. But as it turned out, that wasn't the case. Will had also left on a journey and wouldn't return anytime soon. He had yet to indicate his return date, where he had gone, or how he could do so. In fact, he left home with nothing but a smile on sun-kissed skin. Margaret was anxious about how the children's parents would react when they discovered their children had disappeared. Robert, the only remaining sibling, hadn't said anything about their older sister, Anna. Margaret was worried about asking Robert since Anna had not returned home like the other siblings since morning. As Margaret was about to ask a question, they received another letter, delivered by Dragon Wing, just like the previous two. They knew their day would worsen when she and Robert saw Anna's letter. The dove of Light dropped the letter, flew into
the sky, and disappeared into the bright blue noonday sky.
Robert checked the time on his watch and confirmed it was noon, just as he had predicted. He knew that Anna's letter informing them of her departure would arrive at this time, which meant that he had only about fifteen to twenty minutes before they would come to collect him. He felt a slight pang of regret as he thought about leaving his Aunt Margaret to deal with his parents alone, but they all had to go. They needed to learn something that couldn't be taught where they were, and if they didn't, it could lead to a catastrophic event. Robert wished he could stay and witness his parent's reaction when they found out that all four of them had disappeared, but he knew they had to leave before it was too late.
Without hesitation, Robert picked up the letter, broke the seal, and read it. Margaret could tell from Robert's expression that it contained the same information as the previous two letters: Anna, like the others, had been taken and was now on a journey that would change all their lives. Robert nearly fell to the ground and started laughing as if he had gone insane and reached his breaking point. Things were not looking good, and they were in serious trouble with a capital T.
Margaret and Robert were facing a serious problem. It was more like
their Aunt Margaret was about to inherit the problem, giving Robert's time restraints. Margaret knew things had worsened when Derrick pulled Robert aside and handed him a scroll. Robert vanished in the blink of an eye, and the two strangers left Margaret alone with the scrolls. She was concerned about how to explain this to their parents, who would likely blame her for it.
Margaret was in a hurry to come up with a convincing story. She glanced at the scrolls in her hand and saw one still attached to a Dragon Wing bird. The scroll bore Robert's name, and as she watched, the bird dissolved into stardust, leaving the scroll behind. Just then, Wayne announced that lunch was ready for the whole family.
Margaret had no choice but to face the children's parents alone and explain everything as best as she could. Although she didn't believe in miracles, she was praying for guidance. At the moment, she could almost believe anything. She hurriedly picked up Robert's scroll, breaking the seal, and found the whole thing blank, besides a few parting words that gave her no comfort.
"Sorry, Aunty M, but tell them the truth: We will see them soon, and we love them and you very much. If we didn't do this now, Morgan would tear the very fabric of Time. We all know we must prevent this from happening."
They were leaving Margaret with no explanation. There was no time frame for when they would be back where each of the four children had gone or what they were doing. "Oh God in heaven, how will I explain this to their parents?" Yes, she could feel a terrible headache coming on, but she could do nothing but bear the burden alone. Maybe if she were lucky, someone would come and collect her. Not feeling lucky, she sighed and went to the house to face her doom.
Standing in the large dining room, she knew she wasn't alone. Even with her eyes closed, she sensed the presence of other beings from different realms. However, her lack of "Sight" prevented her from seeing what they could see. They were there to judge her, and the outcome of her test depended on her skills, knowledge, and heart. The result was uncertain and could go either way, like standing on the edge of a knife. If she lied, it could swing one way; if she told the truth, it could swing the other way. The test was a true measure of her character, whether she would choose to walk in the Shadow or the Light.
Margaret took several deep breaths before she approached the unexpected parents. She gripped the scrolls carefully, thinking of what words she could use that wouldn't stress them out. Yet, there were no words to comfort them, at least none she could think of.
It was particularly obvious that the four older children were missing,
considering none of them would miss a meal, especially the boys, seeing the empty places where they would normally sit. Plus, they would have told their parents they would not be here. Then again, they each had a very good excuse for why they had gone without informing them first.
She took a slow, controlled breath as the words seemed stuck in her throat. It soon became clear that something had happened. Seeing the looks on Martha and Wayne's faces, she knew she had bad news about why they couldn't find their four oldest children. The empty places around the table where they normally sit as a family confirmed this. Margaret quickly said."Martha, Wayne, the children are fine, I think." She paused, carefully and cautiously handed them the scrolls each child had left her and told them to tell the truth, not to make up some hair-brained story, as she had been instructed.
The question at hand was whether Margaret successfully navigated the situation without causing any damage, especially to the trust that her family had in her, as well as their four older children. She silently prayed, hoping that the scrolls from each of their children would be enough to save them from trouble. Although the contents of the scrolls didn't provide many details, other than the fact that all four children had gone off-world to learn more about their special abilities, they didn't explain the unique capabilities of Wills and their sister, Anna. The only one brave enough to write about it was Julie. However, it was hard to believe that dragons existed and that one's daughter could be dragon-born.
Margaret and everyone present knew about Robert's reputation for his ability to see the future, which made it easy for Margaret to understand the significance of his gift. However, Julie's gift would require a significant amount of faith to believe in. As for Will and Anna's gifts, nobody, including their parents, knew what they could do with their unique abilities in "The Gift of Sight." Margaret realized that she was in deep trouble and wished she had paid closer attention to the new abilities of Julie, Will, and Anna. But as the saying goes, "It's no use crying over spilled milk." This means that getting upset after something has gone wrong is pointless as it cannot be changed, so it should be accepted.
Margaret knew that most people, including their parents, would question Julie's newfound abilities. She had many questions herself, but at the moment, she didn't have any explanation to offer. As Martha and Wayne read the scrolls, Margaret noticed their blank expressions, indicating that things were not going well. Nevertheless, there was still hope, even if it was just a glimmer. Believing in the impossible was the first step in the right direction. Fortunately, Wayne and Martha shared such beliefs, which was the glimmer of hope Margaret had to cling to.
Margaret was waiting patiently as Wayne looked out of the window of their family farm. He said."So, it seems our children have been keeping secrets from us, except for Robert. Oh God! I can't believe that my oldest daughter is involved in this. What was it called again?"
Martha took several hard swallows and answered. "Dragon Born, according to the scroll." Her voice was shaking in disbelief. Martha got up from the table with the scrolls in her hand and joined her husband at the window. Her face was nearly pale, stricken with the news.
Wayne was standing by the window, gazing outside at the sky and the farm, hoping that the news he had read wasn't true. However, based on what he and his wife Martha had experienced over the past summer, Wayne could almost imagine Julie flying through the air like a dragon. He started pacing the floor while the meal on the table remained untouched. Even EJ and his younger brothers, Sam, Danny, and Ted, seemed uninterested in food. They watched their parents read the scrolls repeatedly, searching for clues to find their older siblings, Julie, Robert, Will, and Anna.
Eric J Shepherd
Most importantly, they wanted to understand how Julie had transformed into a dragon. The boys could scarcely believe the news.
Wayne let out a tired sigh as he struggled to process the news. He had many questions, but Margaret needed to provide the answers before he could understand how this was possible, except for maybe Roberts. According to her, Robert was on the farm and had recently left her standing not far from here, so it must have just happened. Although this information wouldn't have helped with the other three missing children, it was at least a start since Margaret didn't witness their departure. Their main concern was whether their explanation would be believable to others, including themselves.
The parents concerned and Aunt Margaret needed accurate information about the return time of the children, their destination, and the transportation mode they initially used. They were optimistic that they could come up with an explanation that was either magical or rational. However, it was clear that someone or something was behind the children's disappearance. It was a serious matter that needed immediate attention. The main questions were how and when the children vanished, which was a significant concern that needed prompt action.
Wayne, Martha, and their surviving children were still figuring out where to start looking for Robert, who had disappeared. They again turned to Aunt Margaret, who had witnessed his vanishing, hoping she could provide some answers. However, they needed to verify if they could rely on her account of what had happened. Thus, they waited for her to explain how Robert had vanished, putting the ball back in her court.
Margaret found herself in a difficult situation and was sweating profusely. She couldn't believe what had happened, but she felt everyone had the right to know the truth. The question was whether telling the truth about the great evil they were facing would be helpful or not. After thinking about it briefly, she decided to share all the information she had gathered about the danger they were facing.
Margaret gathered everyone in the room and recounted what they had witnessed during the summer. She also shared what she had learned from her late husband's journals, allowing them to form their own opinions on the authenticity of her claims. It was challenging for Margaret to convince others of the existence of magic and supernatural creatures like dragons.
Coming Of The Storm
However, she still shared her version of the truth and explained how their children might inherit different aspects of the "Sight" abilities based on the information she had gathered. Once she had provided a full account, it became easier for her to explain the disappearances of the four children
- Robert, Julie, Will, and Anna.
Even Aunt Margaret couldn't solve the mystery of when their children would return. Julie had mentioned that the kids would be gone for at least two weeks in this realm, but their stay might be longer depending on how time worked in the other realms they were visiting and how much knowledge they acquired would affect them. It was a Pandora's box of mysteries, a true paradox.
To learn more about the journey of the four Downing children and their quest. Look for the book Titled the Awakening in The Light coming soon.