Chapter Two: Tales Of War
As the fire around them fell out of sight, Taylor's head began to spin and he felt a surge of nausea ripple up his throat before he vomited again, this time on a pristine marble floor. He was surprised he even had anything left to throw up after eating so little that day. Taylor looked up and found himself right in front of even more marble in the form of a grand staircase. There were paintings possibly decades old or more judging by how the people in them dressed, hung from the walls encased in ornate frames of gold.
“What on earth is going on? More importantly where the hell are we?” Thought Taylor, continuing to marvel at the sight before him. He looked around to see his friend only just rising to his feet and was glad that he hadn't fared any worse than that.. There was vomit on the floor in front of him as well. The smell was god-awful, and one of the twins stood by him looking a little amused.
"Taylor, are you alright?" asked the question wrapped up in a thick South African accent. He realized it was the twin who had brought him here. His eyes were white like Tobias; he also had light brown hair.
"Uh. yeah, I'm fine, just queasy. What was your name again?" asked Taylor as he shook his head to try and stop the room from spinning.
"My name is Michal and that's my brother Farn." he replied, who smiled at him in response to the introduction.
He noticed Taylor looking at Jamie and laughed a little. "The transportation we use takes some getting used to even for us at first." said Michal grinning ear to ear at Taylor.
Taylor felt himself grinning back despite the strange situation he and Jamie were in.
“Where are we?" asked Jamie, his eyes finally looking as if they’d come back into focus as he took in his surroundings.
"We’re in a nice little patch of countryside on the outskirts of London. So nice and private. Replied Farn with a smile and a wink.
"Second question. Is there any chance someone could tell us why our college just got bombed by three fire wielding psychopaths?" asked Taylor with as much bluntness as he could muster.
"Probably best we wait until Tobias gets back before we tell you anything," said Michal. Just as he said that, a whoosh erupted from behind them and Tobias materialized out from the dazzling white flames.
"Everything alright?" asked Farn, seeing the look of anger and frustration across Tobias’ face as he ran his hand through his hair. Taylor wondered how old he was, . Maybe mid-twenties but he couldn't help think otherwise, it was something about the look in the man's eyes. Almost as if he was wiser beyond his years.
"No, but by Arturios, I swear they are getting far stronger recruits all the time. One of them almost caught me off guard from behind. If he hadn't stumbled he would've had me!" exclaimed Tobias looking absolutely drained.
"Tobias you need rest. You haven't stopped these last few days." said Farn eyeing him warily as if he expected him to keel over any second.
"Sleep can wait there are more important matters to be addressed, such as owing our new guests an explanation." Tobias smiled toward Taylor and Jamie. Finally relaxing letting warmth and comfort ebb their way into his soft young features, almost as if not having a care in the world.
"If you'll follow me, we'll go somewhere more out of the way so we are able to talk.” he gestured to a door just by the grand stair case off to the left.
They followed Tobias to the room as the twins trailed behind chatting away in hushed tones, which started to put Taylor on edge. Jamie had clearly picked up on the conversation as well and had started to look jumpy himself. The two exchanged a worried look. Looking up to the grand staircase, metal bunk beds lined the hallway that ran above it, right in front of the stairs, themselves using all the space available.
Tobias grasped the brass handle of the door, the brass was worn and faded in appearance and had likely been in use for many years. He swung the door open to reveal a large room with a giant oval shaped table in the middle. It looked to be made from the same wood as the door as did the chairs around it. At the very back of the room was a multitude of monitors with CCTV images in black and white showing various parts of the mansion including outside. Also there were three people on each side of the room typing away on laptops. The right side had a spectacularly good view of the countryside outside, the windows also framed in the same type of wood as the table and door.
The walls were decorated with an aged brown wallpaper with intricate gold woven into various shapes which were unknown to either Taylor or Jamie, reflecting the age of the building altogether.
"Holy shit! Who are you people MI5?" asked Jamie looking at the monitors and computers in absolute awe.
"Ha, no my boy. Far more secretive than that." said Tobias with a wink. Then strode into the room and gestured for the two of them to sit on a pair of the ornate chairs in the middle of the table.
They sat and Taylor felt very comfortable with his back resting on the cushion of the chair. Tobias and the twins settled on the other side of the table, one on each side
"So Jamie, Taylor, I believe you are owed an explanation. First of all. I am sorry that we had to bring you in under such circumstances." said Tobias. His eyes flared momentarily with a dangerous glint of anger.
"Never mind that, who were the people that got caught in the blast?" asked Taylor. He had started to think back to the charred corpses in the hallway. He wanted to know that instead of being given apologies by a complete stranger.
"Ah yes they were Charlotte O'Connell 21 years of age and Mark O’Connell 20 years of age, both in media studies" said Tobias grimly. As read from a piece of paper on the table. They'd gotten the information fast as if it had already been waiting for them before they arrived.
"It was very lucky that Noran and his people struck when they did, a minute later it'd have been an absolute slaughter with the hall packed full of students." said Michal. Now looking as grim as Tobias did.
"How did you get their information so quickly?" asked Taylor. His curiosity getting the better of him.
“Just take a look around how do you think we got the information? said Michal with a cheeky grin.
"Well you know our names and that of the man who attacked you today but there is so much more to tell you," interjected Farn
"Firstly our people are called the Arturion’s. Noran leads the Cyturion’s which I suppose you could call our opposites" said Tobias now beginning to look more serious.
"Our race is called The Embers and we go back thousands of years as the human race was just starting to develop. We lived in a parallel world to yours called Thurnar a paradise world." said Tobias. His arms now crossed looking directly toward the two of them.
"Now before I go further I want to make sure you're taking all of this in. There is so much still that you need to know and we won’t give you all the information at once. You need time to think on all of this.” he assessed the two of them in order to gauge their reactions as they averted their eyes.
Taylor tried to think of what to say but nothing came to mind. He was between staying and darting out the door. People who existed in a different world who also wielded fire from their bare hands, it was enough to make a grown man run back out the door, let alone a pair of adolescent’s
"Continue," said Jamie his tone flat taking a deep breath afterwards. This surprised his friend; he'd always been withdrawn never taking the indicative much. Taylor's pride soared at seeing his best friend standing up and making himself heard amid the chaos.On the other hand Taylor wasn't so convinced, these people were clearly dangerous but now he wondered if they'd made the right decision in coming with them.
"I'm sorry but I can't believe this so easily." said Taylor. He was determined not to be too trusting. He was a trusting person, but this could mean their lives.
"I suppose this was bound to come from one of you. I know that you can't entirely trust us right now but if we wanted you dead, you'd be dead." Tobias answered
"Fine continue, and I'll listen but I can’t guarantee I'll change my mind." relentedTaylor.
"Well as you've seen we are able to use our own very unique version of fire. Now what you have to understand is that we are human beings just at a different evolutionary stage” said Tobias. He paused a moment to allow for it all to sink in.
"We are what we believe to be an entire era ahead of other human beings, and we also had a good understanding of the world around us as if we’d been there before” said Tobias.
"Basically when our people first appeared we knew about the universe, what the purpose of a tree was and why we need oxygen in our lungs etc, you get the idea" said Farn.
"Were even unsure of own true origin, which we'll get into another time." Tobias continued.
"We need to get to the important part, after so many years we had constructed cities. We had created our own civilization as mankind is gradually beginning to do. Our own population grew into the millions." Michal added.
"Then civil war broke out between us and the Cyturion’s. Our two kings had been arguing for some time over the future of mankind." Tobias clearly looking displeased about that part, as his face creased into another frown.
"Culhuthe the king of the Cyturion’s. was insisting that the rest of mankind was a plague upon the earth. That they did not deserve to call it their home, but Culhuthe could not be swayed from his views." Michal interjected momentarily.
“He merely used it as an excuse to expand and conquer, believing that we were the superior beings who had a right to the earth," The Arturion leader explained.
"Our king Arturios strongly disagreed he would not have it. Then one day we were meeting under the pretence of diplomacy, Culhuthe tried to kill Arturios. He barely escaped with his life.” Tobias his nostrils flaring in anger at the memory.
"I watched as that man who had once called him friend plunged a flaming dagger into his shoulder. The man was evil in the most physical of forms," said Tobias, his contempt for Culhuthe evident as his nostrils flared at the memory.
"We waged brutal and horrific war on the other, with our brothers and sisters. Because of one man’s greed and hatred he twisted so many minds to fit his agenda. Our war raged on for over a hundred and fifty years. I still find it incredible it was able to last so long up there. We tried brokering peace on many occasions but they would not listen" Tobias sighing heavily as he ran his hand through his hair to try andcalm himself.
"Until during one final battle within the very first city we ever constructed, the course of the war changed forever." said Tobias.
"I will never forget the sight I saw on that day. It was summer time in Thurnar and the battle was in Beros. The war was not in our favour. It was our last stand with a mere two thousand against a mighty fifteen thousand strong." said Tobias. He looked over to the two boys whose faces displayed a mixture of curiosity and apprehension at the telling of the story.
"They breached the walls reaching the courtyard where Arturios awaited, a great sword made of pure sky blue fire in his hands as he stood among his people, a beacon of hope and strength amid the coming darkness." said Tobias his eyes starting to warm slightly at the memory.
"You do know how insane all of this sounds? I get the whole being able to wield fire as I've seen it but a civil war in another dimension. Sorry I just don't buy it," interrupted Taylor. He was becoming more suspicious by the minute and just couldn't bring himself to understand all this. The worst thing was that Jamie seemed fine with it, not questioning it at all.
"Just be patient Taylor, please that is all I ask." said Tobias. He understood the boys’ frustrations. If it had been him in his shoes he'd be the same. Taylor said nothing in return and allowed Tobias to continue with his tale.
"Arturios and Culhuthe fought amid everyone else, a clash of gods among men as it were. Culhuthe wielded a battle axe pulsating with blood red fire it was the most terrifying sight I’ve ever laid my eyes upon striking fear into my heart” said Tobias his eyes beginning to glaze over as he imagined the battle taking place in his mind.
“The battle raged on until Arturios did the most unspeakable thing. He ordered a full retreat of our forces out of the city. Initially I refused to leave but he practically had someone me drag away from the battle." continued Tobias after a brief pause, finishing with a smile tugging at the delicate corners of his mouth.
"Once we were out of the city, I knew straight away what he planned to do. Others of our kind had done it accidentally, not being able to control their power. He let all of his power swell up within himself, detonating his body, destroying the entire city along with Culhuthe and his forces."
"Afterwards all of the Embers fled to earth during the 1500's. We have never returned to Thurnar since." said Michal.
"And our war has continued behind the scenes. It wasn’t until a few decades afterwards that people like me and Michal started to be recruited, when Tobias had a very hands on argument with a newly manifested Arturion man” smirked Farn as a memory faded into the front of his mind.
"There were only a few hundred of us when we fled Thurnar. Others who could not fight yet such as children were killed before we could get to them, so many lives lost." said Tobias shaking his head in disbelief.
"Uh, so how old does that make you Tobias?" asked Taylor with the realisation of Tobias’ actually age actually dawning on him.
“Well take a wild guess." said Tobias with a sly smile.
"About twenty-five, twenty-six by the looks you" said Taylor, wondering what he was looking so happy about.
"Try a thousand and twenty-seven" said Tobias his smile widening even more at the dropping of his and Jamie's jaws.
"Farn and I are only about fifty-six years old but naturally we don't look it." said Michal, also smiling.
"Lucky motherfuckers” said Jamie clamping his hand over his mouth not meaning to blurt that out. The immortal's merely laughed at the outburst.
"Also we discovered our aging process halts between our early twenties to our early thirties." said Farn.
“That is a lot to absorb." gasped Taylor burying his face into his hands closing his eyes for a moment. Once he felt a little calmer, he lifted his head to face Tobias.
"So where exactly do we fit into all of this?" he asked.
"This is where it gets difficult again. Before the end of the war, Arturios told me that both he and Culhuthe had visited earth on several occasions. Culhuthe had fallen for a woman and Arturios the same," said Tobias, a cheeky grin forming upon his lips as it crept from ear to ear.
"So your saying they got it on!?" interrupted Jamie surprised at what he was hearing.
"Yes that's exactly what he's saying." laughed Michal.
"But I thought Culhuthe detested the human race?" asked Taylor. It didn't add up. Not one bit.
"He hated that the human’s controlled more than we. It didn't stop him from liking them, when it suited his manly urges." said Farn feeling dirty talking about the man in such a way.
"I may as well just tell you then. We believe you’re the ancestor of Arturios, Taylor. Our lost king, and Jamie you're one of the people who have developed our powers through evolutionary change," said Tobias wincing for a moment awaiting an outburst of absolute shock from the two.
"How about that for an explanation?" laughed Michal as Jamie and Taylor gawked at them in utter disbelief.
AN: Hey peeps! Just edited this one so it's a bit more polished around the edges and everywhere really. Gradually getting through the editing chapter by chapter :).
Hopefully this helps to answer questions on the story so far, and I hope you're enjoying the story so far!
All The Best FN.