Chapter 10: The Eye of the Abyss
The rain at the border didn't wash away the sting of Kael's words; it only made the faint blue ring I'd seen in his eyes haunt me more. He didn't even ask how I'm feeling, knowing how painful first transformations can be coupled, with the unexpected pregnancy, i guess i have my answers today, my fears are confirmed.
But he could have attacked or ambushed us and he didn't and he still warned me about the looming danger of the the elders. Kael is a caring man, but can all that change in a short period of time? We were in love or was it all a lie just to get to me? All those promises, all lies!
I turned to Flynn, my breath hitching as I remembered Kael's parting shot about my mismatched eyes and their connection to the Chasm's gateway. We are being tracked, Kael told me he's been followed too. The elders put a spy on him and us, we have yo be careful to cover our tracks. I know you're an expert at that.
Have you heard of the "chasm of death"? Yes i have, father told me and I've heard rumours, What about it? Kael said it's what the elders are after and I've got the key to either unlocking or controlling it, what does that mean?
Your eyes Lyra have you never wondered why you are the only person ever to have two bright different eye colours? Your other eye is the key to the gateway of the chasm. There are a lot of things special about you and they make you a great asset or weapon depending on gets to you first. But there are still a lot of unanswered questions. But first let's try to get far away from here and put some distance between us.
He's lying to save his own skin, Lyra, Flynn hissed, though he wouldn't look directly at my brown eye—the one Kael claimed was a key to the underworld, but i could hear his heartbeat and saw the strain of concern on his face. We are in danger just as Kael has said. And as the rain poured down on us, while we walk through the marsh, the smell of leaves and sound of the rain droplets, the birds chirping and crickets, flies, bugs and every insect buzzing, I could see clearly every living thing in the marsh and the forest behind us, the blood flowing through their veins but everything looked a little blue, i stopped the feeling was overwhelming, can you hear that i asked him? Hear what? He replied.
Yes we have great sense of smell, speed and vision but this, this is like a superpower, this is something else. I looked at Flynn, he didn't notice i had stopped and has he did, he called out to me, Lyra, lyra, lyra!!!
At this point i am already falling, I've lost control and my footing, the sheer amount of information i processed at that brief moment drained me of all my energy or is this just another symptom of the pregnancy.
I fell into the marsh before Flynn could grab me and when i woke up, We were in a cave. It was morning and you could hear the beautiful birds singing and the fresh smell the blades of grass after a rain. Flynn was there by my side, welcome back. What happened? You passed out yesterday in the rain while we were passing through the marsh. You mentioned you were hearing and seeing things? Yes i said and i explained it to him. It's just like normal werewolf abilities but more heightened and extremely detailed but there was a very pale voice in the wind calling my name and then everything began to echo suddenly, What is it Flynn, what is happening to me, is my baby be safe?
I asked worryingly.
It's the chasm, it's calling out to you. We are far from the protection of our territory and it's magical barriers, now you'll be susceptible to the lures of the chasm. As from now you'll need to start training your mind and fortify it. And i know you're just as strong as B rank warriors but you've never actually being in a fight outside your training. Because aside from the chasm, we will be facing other enemies on our journey. Other clans will have been informed about your powers and abilities and i expect in a week's time, we will have to start defending ourselves against those that want to use you and take you. Hopefully we get to our destination before then.
Right now are you feeling better? Can you walk?
I touched the skin beneath my eye, feeling a strange, rhythmic pulsing that seemed to sync with the distant hum of the Great Chasm. Is this why we've been walking through marshes and wilderness for the past weeks and feeding on scrubs and rabbits? Why didn't you just tell me there was a target on our back? So aside the elders we have other things to worry about? I'm afraid so.
Kael had claimed that father wasn't just a tracker, but a seeker who had been hunting the "Gatekeeper's Eye" for decades, is this true? Yes he answered with a huge sigh of relief. Like an heavy burden had just been lifted off his chest. When father was the white wolf, he did many terrible things he wasn't proud of until he met your mother. This power you carry was a myth, a legend until he found it, it almost cost him his life and that was one of the turning points he realized all that power wasn't worth it.
He did ask me to tell you he's sorry that he couldn't protect you anymore and for you to forgive him for not telling you all this while. He wanted you to have anything as close to a normal life growing up and didn't want you to be on the run all your life. At this point I'm already crying and in doubt, if he really wanted this power and he's anything close to the legendary warrior they claim he is, he would have taken it from me long ago but he didn't, maybe he truly does care for me after all or is it just another long game the elders and Kael and general klaus played with me.
But all that doesn't matter, all that matters now is i am in grave danger and only Flynn and The white wolfs knowledge can keep me safe, I'll just have to trust them.
If Flynn was truly the son of a man obsessed with my heritage, then every kindness he'd shown me since the wedding was potentially a calculated move to keep the key close. Flynn where are we going exactly? Where is our destination? I have never been outside the ruins territory before, because i couldn't go on missions. But these past few weeks, I've come to realise why missions took months at times especially when you're trying to avoid some things. We are headed to a seer, father said she can help us but we should be careful, her name is Hester.
We can only trust each other for now.
I felt the first stirrings of the Spirit within the pendant, a cold, ancient presence that whispered that Kael's betrayal was only the beginning of a much larger game. A game set in motion long before my time, but i vow to end it! After eating, Flynn asked me if I've regained my strength so we can continue our journey? I said yes, i just needed a moment of rest, he came close and said act normal we're being watched. You see that tree just over the horizon? There's a raven on it, it's been following us for days, who sent it I asked? For all i know, it could kael, general klaus, the Order or someone from the elders or the other clans after us.
At this stage everyone is a suspect and our enemy. Keep your eyes open, i feel an attack coming and i need you at full strength, I can't fight and protect you at the same time... Let's keep moving.