They wanted me. Why? I was not exactly sure. The Wise Ones told me it was because of the “Ancient Power” that I supposedly possessed. That I was foretold in some ancient prophecy that had come to pass. And they wanted me.

I still remember how that day started, like any other day. I could hear the small creatures buzzing to life under the cool Kwaylian sun. My surrogate mother, Rhala, was preparing the morning meal and humming softly to herself. I woke up, stretching out my limbs in a lazy manner.

“Why does it have to be morning already?” I mumbled to myself. Picking up my feet, I slowly got dressed. After dressing in the traditional Kwaylian attire: a simple white robe tied at the waist with a decorative golden rope. My raven-colored hair flowed unbound to the middle of my back.

“The Wise Ones beckon you,” Rhala said to me when I entered.

“What for?” I frowned. The Wise Ones usually are never concerned with the womenfolk of the village. It must have been important.

“I do not know, Kay,” she answered. “Go to them after you eat. Whatever it is, it can wait.”

I nodded and sat down to eat my meal which consisted of herbs and spring water. It did not satisfy me like it would a normal Kwaylian, but I was not like them. I was different. The people of Kwaylia had found me when I was little and had given me the name Kay-Lea, meaning the Unknown One. The Wise Ones had different theories of how I had come to be here. Some reasoned that I must be a gift from the gods, while others thought I was dropped off as an unwanted child.

My difference was noticeable too. The Kwaylians possessed a lavender skin tone, pointy features, yellow eyes and were extremely tall beings. They were of weak constitution, while I was considered robust next to them. My complexion however was pale with gray eyes and dark hair. I had curves in places the Kwaylian women had flat plains or points. Needless to say, I felt like a freak. An unwanted, alone freak.

“Finished, Kay?” Rhala’s voice broke me out of my reverie.

I nodded as she took away my platter, humming softly to herself once more.

“What do you think the Wise Ones want?” I asked suddenly.

Rhala looked up. “Why would I know?”

I shrugged, “I was just wondering about your thoughts, that’s all.”

“Oh,” She responded, somewhat unsettled, in my opinion. Something told me that she knew more then she was letting on.

I nodded dumbly once more, while I got to my feet. “Well, I’m off.” I told Rhala.

She hugged me, catching me off guard. The Kwaylians were rarely touchy-feely. “My heart embraces you,” she murmured to me.

“Love you too,” I told my surrogate mother before extricating myself from her grasp. I gave her a quick smile before darting for the door.

“Kay-Lea?” She called out to me once more. I raised my brows in question. “The gods have a plan for us all.”

My smile widened slightly. She always went with the ‘I was a gift from the gods’ theory. Hugging her once more to show her how much her words and care actually meant to me, I left the little cottage.

As I made my way to the meeting house where the Wise Ones met, I kicked up little rocks. I wondered what they could possibly want to see me for. The Wise Ones did not involve themselves with trivial issues such as disputes between neighbors and the like; that is what the Council was for. Perhaps they had a new theory on my origin? Although I did not see why it mattered now. I was here now, so what did the past matter?

During my musing, it took quicker then I expected before I arrived at the meeting house. I went to pull the door open, but it opened on its own. “Kay-Lea, it is so nice to see you.” One of the Wise Ones said. He sat at the head of the table.

I had never seen the Wise Ones up close before. They were the older generation, whom had lived for at least three centuries and knew all of the secrets of the universe. Some children joked calling them the “Decrepit Ones.” It was certainly true. The Wise Ones looked weak and feeble, with dark purple spots adorning their skin. Their eyes carried a certain tiredness in them, and there was something else in them now. Fear? Dread?

I bowed slightly, “Wise Ones.”

“Do you know why we call you?” The head of the rest asked.

“No, Wisest of them all.”

The old man cracked a smile. “No need to be so formal, dear. If anything, it should be us calling you by your rightful title.”

“Excuse me?” I asked confused. Did he just say what I think he said?

He nodded. “That is why we have called you here. There are some things that you need to be aware of. Things that will greatly influence you.” I nodded indicating that he should go on. “There is an old legend greatly known among the universe. It starts off with the story of a very powerful being thousands of years ago. This powerful being was destined to rule the universe, but the being’s power generated fear among many. Her power is not fully understood by us today, the same as it was not understood by the people then. The people who feared her sought to kill her, which they did accomplish. However, before they killed her, she preserved her power by sending her power into the future to a descendent. That descendent is you.”

I would have laughed if he did not look so serious. He was wrong, though. He had the wrong girl; I was just a freak. “You’re wrong,” I stated bluntly.

He did not seem surprised. “Kay-Lea, we know that it is you. You have the Ancient Power—”

“How do you know it’s me?” I demanded, cutting him off.

“The scar, Kay-Lea, the scar.” I paled. I knew what he was talking about, but it couldn’t be. It just couldn’t. “It is,” he affirmed my thoughts, “You bear the mark of the Ancient Power.”

“It’s just a regular scar!” I denied.

He shook his head vehemently. “It glows. And when other people touch it, they are burned, causing the poison to enter their system. That is not a regular scar, and you know it as well as I.” He was right. But that did not mean that I had to accept it.

“You have the wrong girl,” I stated again. I turned to leave, when the big doors shut. “You can’t force me to accept it.”

He nodded sadly. “You are right, dear one. However, it is best that you do for there are things to come.”

“What things?” I asked, fearing the answer.

“Your presence has been felt. We knew it was you all along, since you came to us. However, your coming of age has enabled your power. The others have felt it too. It is only a matter of time before they come.”

“The others? What others? And if my power is active, how come I don’t feel any different?” There were so many questions to ask.

The Wise One let out a sigh. “The others that want to harvest your power for their own sake. There are also the ones that want to see your demise. It is only a matter of time before they find you.”

I took a deep breath trying to take this all in. One minute, I was just a freak and the next I had some “Ancient Power,” with many people after me. “So, what can I do?”

“I do not know. The legend is not accurate. You must explore your powers on your own, and learn to control them.” He saw my refusal and quickly spoke up, “You cannot deny it, Kay-Lea. The Ancient Power runs through your veins. It is a part of you; you cannot deny a part of you.”

“I can try!” I yelled at him. This was overwhelming. It was too much pressure. Wasn’t I separated from them enough as it is? Now, I had this mysterious power and an ancient legend keeping me from truly belonging as well. I do not even know how it happened. Yet, when I turned around to leave the second time, I really wanted the door to open despite the Wise Ones holding it back. And it did. As simple as that, the door flew open with a great force, and the Wise Ones were only left to stare at me as I ran through it. I kept running, with no specific destination. I could hear the Wise Ones’ voices in my head willing me to come back, but I blocked them out. I was too far gone now.

I came across a small little cave when I stopped running. Catching my breath, I walked into the dark cave. I remembered playing here as a little child with the others. How long ago that seemed now.

“What am I doing?” I asked myself. Being foolish, was the silent reply. I was definitely foolish. After awhile I lost track of time. I must have fallen asleep while being in that chilly cave for when I woke up, it was passed light. I tried to shake off the disturbing dream that I had had. So many voices were screaming in my head; I could practically feel their fear. Standing up and stretching, I looked into the horizon. Something was different. Something in the air was different then before. For some reason, I got the distinct feeling that there were others here. But that was absurd, right? Of course.

Kay-Lea, I heard my name softly. However, I did not hear it with my ears. My dear, do not be alarmed. The others are here. They come for you. Please, go far from here and do not look back. Do not worry for us, for if you are captured, then we are all doomed. Please, hurry… The voice started to fade now. Hurry, dear one, the Ancient Power will guide you. We will guide you. Then, the voice stopped. I could no longer hear it or feel its presence. The Wise Ones were no more. They were gone.

I could not stop the tear that rolled from eyes down my cheek. Wiping it away quickly, I had to think of something. I had to get out of here. How did I manage that? If these people could feel the Power, then wouldn’t they find me again? I was just prolonging the inevitable. Yet, maybe that is what I needed, more time. Time to figure out exactly what I could do and formulate some kind of strategy.

However, my thoughts on any kind of a strategy were halted when I realized something. I gasped. By the gods, Rhala! Was she…? No, I tried to stifle a sob, they couldn’t have. But, it was entirely possible. These murderers cared for nothing but finding me and if they had to kill innocent Kwaylians in the process, so be it.

My blood boiled at the cold-bloodedness of these people—no monsters. Rhala might be dead right now and what’s worse is that it is my fault. I mean, wasn’t the reason they had come here was to find me? I had led them to the Kwaylians, these peaceful folk who would never hurt anyone. Because of me, innocents were dead.

Yet, maybe I could help them some way. The Wise Ones had said these monsters could feel my presence, feel the Ancient Power. Thus, if I could somehow suppress the Ancient Power’s signal, perhaps I could throw these intruders off my path. A part of me hoped that it could work. It had to work for if I could not save the Kwaylians, at least I could delay my capture.

I shrunk back into the cave, trying to focus my energy to the simple task of blocking my power. Closing my eyes and clearing my mind, I concentrated on trying to close myself off from them. When the feeling I had of others being there had disappeared, I was not even sure of how I had done it. I had just visualized myself behind an impenetrable barrier. But, whatever the reason, they were gone. For the moment. Smiling with triumph, I ran back to the village. I had a purpose now. Maybe, I was different. Maybe, I did not really belong or fit in, but I had my own special destiny.

That was the day I began my journey. The journey that even the Wise Ones would not have been able to foresee. I may have still been a ‘freak’ and even more so alone, but I was not unwanted anymore. That little fact made me smile a bit.

*~*

Author’s Note: This was an experiment. Actually, a story I will be submitting for this writing program. Feedback is greatly appreciated!

~Ashlita