Enlightened: Light vs. Dark

Darryn should have been relieved. He hadn’t died in his battle with the Fair One three months ago. Though he hadn’t killed his enemy, at least he’d lived to fight another day. Unlike the others. When his body didn’t fade with his fellow Dark Soldiers, his brood had been stunned. He had been, too. But his shock had been due to a more troubling reason: something inside him had changed.

He had been violated, infected with some sort of virus—a virus that had spread throughout his body. He’d felt strange then and even stranger now, a fact which terrorized him. He didn’t know how to stop it or make it go away. His only comfort came from the lack of visible signs. He just had one, though it was one that rattled him to the core. It had to be concealed. No one could find out. If anyone learned of it, like The Dark Council…

Darryn swallowed hard. They could not find out.

Opening the small plastic case in his palm, he stared down at the contact lenses. How he hated wearing them. He’d been proud of his brilliant green eyes. They’d declared him as The Chosen. He was born to slay the Fair One and, though he’d failed to capture his prey, one day he would. Still, things were different now—very different. He couldn’t explain it, but he did know this:

His eye color was fading. Fast. No longer violent green, it was turning a dull brown. Had the brown been pure it would have been one thing, but this? Much, much worse.

Glancing up, he moved closer to the mirror before him. Black hair, long nose, chin with a cleft. All appeared as before, except his irises. They weren’t just fading.

Now they were rimmed with violet.

six weeks later

Chapter 1

Cold air tickled Alina’s nose as she tried to step into her Uncle Raynor’s footprints. She failed, causing a cascade of snow to fall into her boot. So much for keeping her feet warm and dry. If only her giant uncle’s strides didn’t rival an elephant’s, but they did. Brushing her long brown hair out of her eyes, she gazed up through a break in the forest trees. A thick blanket of gray clouds hung overhead. Great. More snow. Another thing to slow them down.

As she tromped behind her uncle, her warm breath forming smoky puffs in the air, she thought back to the heat in late June. That’s when her journey had begun. In what had seemed like an instant, she’d gone from unsuspecting, ordinary girl to Fair One, Savior of The Light. The role had come with tons of pressure, but had enabled her to save her clan from The Dark in the nick of time. Even so, the battle had been fierce and had cost much. All of their homes, jobs and friends had to be abandoned. At least they’d kept their lives—that was, all lives but one. Her fellow warrior, Jason, had a father who had died. The Dark Soldiers they’d battled had also perished, but that detail seemed to trouble no one but her.

Alina sighed. The fact that she had killed the last soldier standing weighed heavily on her heart. The soldier’s glowing green eyes haunted her every day. She could not forget him. Yet, despite all the death, her clan considered the battle a victory. So how did they reward her? By making her ditch her clan and everything she loved.

As soon as they’d resettled, she, Uncle Raynor and her guardian, Harley, set off on a journey. Not only did it seem to have no end but its path was unusual, as well. Florida first then Arizona, only to back track to the East Coast before heading to Colorado. It made no sense to anyone but Raynor. Harder to track meant harder to crack, he had said.

Not that she didn’t understand. They had to do what they could to evade The Dark’s detection. Though everyone in their little group of three held great power, she had no idea how they’d fare against a hundred Dark Soldiers. Knowing The Dark could appear anytime and anywhere left them constantly on edge. As for Raynor’s insistence that they evade The Light, as well? That was just annoying.

I still don’t get it, Alina said as she stepped over a fallen tree. Why are we hiding from The Light? Aren’t we on the same side?

We’re not hiding from The Light, Raynor said, looking like an overgrown lumberjack in jeans and a Sherpa-lined beige flannel coat. "We’re hiding from The Light Council."

What’s the difference? The people on the Council are the leaders of The Light. That means they’re good, right?

That means they’re allies. But they’re also in power. Folks who rule are a different sort. They like being in charge and the lot we’ve got ruling right now have been in charge a long time.

So?

So I doubt they’d take too kindly to sharing power with a sixteen-year-old girl. We’d best be careful.

It drove her crazy when he said stuff like that. Who said I want to share their power? They can stay in charge for all I care.

Sorry, Alina. You’re a threat whether you want to be or not. Deal with it.

Great. She was a threat—not only to The Dark but to the rulers of The Light. So much for making friends. How much of a threat could she be anyway? The Light Council was filled with wise and powerful people who knew The Light a lot better than she did. Sure, she was the Fair One, Savior of The Light, who could drain Darkness from Light Warrior’s souls. She could also fell The Dark’s fiercest soldiers with a blazing power like no one had ever seen.

Okay, so maybe she was a little intimidating. Even so…

I’ll still need to meet the Council one day, Alina said. We can’t go from Light clan to Light clan forever, you know.

True, Raynor said. But we can’t stop anytime soon. We need to keep on widening your fan base and gaining support. There are a lot of folks who have to meet you, see who you are for themselves. They need to know you. They need to believe.

Alina sighed. The Fair One’s secret Meet the People tour—the whole reason for their journey. Last stop: Brinmoor, Missouri. Today: Thunderbridge, Colorado. It would be the fifteenth clan they’d visited with many more to go. She’d become a traveling circus act.

Okay, it wasn’t that bad—at least not as bad as when they’d started. She’d gotten used to the craziness. Though having the spotlight shine on her so brightly still made her cringe, she enjoyed meeting the people and healing warriors felt awesome.

We’re getting close, Raynor said, his voice hushed. Not that it mattered. No one could hear them while they were cloaked. From my meeting with them earlier today, I expect a crowd of seventy or so. The entrance is over there.

Raynor pointed to a dark hole along the mountain wall about three hundred feet to their left. Alina followed him as he walked toward it, stepping around a snow-covered boulder before catching her foot on a tree root. Tripping forward, she caught herself before she fell.

Nice save, Harley said from behind her. You should remember that step for the dance floor.

I will, she replied. I’ll pair it with my signature move. I call it ‘falling flat on my face.’

Harley chuckled, soft and low, which made her smile. She liked the sound of his laugh. Still, she hated to admit it. Harley might be her guardian and so-called partner for life, but that didn’t make him her boyfriend. Though she’d grown fond of her black-haired, lilac-eyed, leather-jacket-wearing companion, that spot was reserved for Blake. She’d loved Blake her entire life and nothing could change that. Hopefully, Blake felt the same. The clan that took in her clan after the battle had a lot of pretty girls. Alina hated leaving him there. Still, she couldn’t worry about it now. At least that’s what she kept telling herself. Alina had to focus on meeting the masses and building her audience, whatever that meant.

As they walked toward the hole in the mountain, Alina realized it was an entrance to a cave. It looked so small. Once they entered, however, she saw it had enough room to hold a high school dance. Heading toward the back, the room narrowed and darkened. Luckily, Alina could see. All of them could, not a bad little bonus for being a Light Warrior.

About sixty feet from the entrance, they found a hallway so constricted Uncle Raynor barely fit. To be fair, though, at 6’ 9" and well over three hundred pounds, her uncle wasn’t a dwarf. He went first as they walked another hundred feet in and met a dead end. Grabbing a rock off the ground, Raynor used it to tap a short rhythmic arrangement on the stone wall.

Her feet tickled as the ground beneath them rumbled. The stone wall rose up to reveal a tunnel. Formed with the same dark gray rock, it measured eight feet wide and high and very long.

Raynor’s brow furrowed. No one’s here. They said they’d greet us.

A cool prickle ran up Alina’s spine.

When did you tell them we’d arrive? Harley asked.

A half hour from now. But warriors always arrive earlier than they say they will to catch people off guard.

Well, it looks like you did.

No, something’s wrong. Raynor slowed his steps as he proceeded to walk down the tunnel. "Stay behind me, you two, and be at the ready. If I say run, Alina, run."

The hair on the back of Alina’s neck stood on end as she followed her uncle down the hard stone path. They turned left then right, peeking around the corners first. The whole tunnel system seemed eerily silent considering seventy people lived there.

Raynor stopped by a smooth black rock embedded in the wall. This is where they said we’d meet. Their gathering chamber. Harley, front and center. Alina, take ten steps back. He hesitated. Make that twenty.

She did, though she hated being treated like a delicate creature needing their protection. At the same time, the look in her uncle’s eyes really spooked her. Had The Dark managed to track them down? She couldn’t feel a dark presence. Regardless, her heart pounded as she watched Raynor and Harley get into battle stance.

Pressing themselves against the wall on either side of what she hoped served as the soon-to-be visible door, Raynor and Harley each produced huge orbs of dazzling blue light between their hands. Then Harley gave Raynor a nod and Raynor reached toward the black rock embedded in the wall.

He ran his hand across it, triggering the door. It slid open, sending a burst of jovial chatter into the tunnel. Peeking inside, Raynor’s shoulders relaxed. He stepped into the door frame and scanned the room. Then his eyes flashed and he cleared his throat, his lips cracking into a cold, cautious smile. With his gaze remaining fixed on something in the room, he used a secret gesture to beckon Alina.

She scuttled to his side, moving just shy of the door. Is it safe?

Yes and no. Raynor spoke through his teeth. Remember saying you had to meet The Light Council some day?

Yes.

Well, Alina, today is that day, he said. Good luck.

Chapter 2

Panic rose in Alina’s throat as she stood in the tunnel, stunned by Uncle Raynor’s words. The Light Council? Here? Now? She was nowhere near ready to meet them. Though she’d learned a lot in four months, she hadn’t learned enough to prepare her for this.

Should I run? she asked, hoping the answer was yes.

Too late. I’ve been spotted, Raynor said. If they’ve seen me they’re certain to know you’re here, too. He scanned the crowd. I see two council members...

I can’t do this, she said.

You can because you must. It’s show time, whether you’re ready or not. So get rid of that slouch and start acting regal.

Regal? She wasn’t the Duchess of Windsor. Even so, her uncle had a point. Prepared or not, she had a job to do and could not screw it up.

Taking a deep breath, she peeked over at Harley. He gave her a reassuring wink. Then, squaring her shoulders, she took position next to Harley in front of Raynor at the door frame.

As Alina peered into the room, her eyes leapt to a high-backed chair along the scraped rock wall fifty feet to her right. Elevated by some sort of low-level platform, it looked like a makeshift throne crafted from an antique dining room chair. Behind it, a glittery gold backdrop flowed down from the blue shimmering ceiling above. A hand-painted banner hung down, as well. Rejoice! The Fair One has arrived! it announced. That was all well and good, save the fact that someone else had arrived first and was sitting in her chair.

Old and thin, the small man in the chair had shining brown eyes, light mocha skin and white hair which rimmed the bottom of his bald head. He also had a grin so infectious it compelled Alina to smile along with him. That didn’t stop her from noticing his clothes, however. He wore a long silvery robe. Though it was cinched at the waist with a golden braid, it looked suspiciously like the Fair One’s garb in the book The Histories, Prophecies and Hidden Mysteries of The Light and All Its Creatures. Still, she couldn’t stop herself from watching in amusement as he sat, leaning down toward the crowd in front of him. With a twinkle in his eye, he said something that made them all laugh, then he glanced up and caught her gaze.

At last! His smile widened as the entire room grew silent. Popping up from the chair with surprising agility, the small man stepped off of the platform. The crowd parted in front of him as he started walking toward her.

Is that who I think it is? Alina whispered to Raynor as the man drew closer.

If you think he’s Counselor Ravi, then yes.

Ravi the Wise, Elder Statesman and Leader of The Light Council.

Whoa.

Uncle Raynor had taught her much about him. Both well-liked and highly respected, Ravi ruled the Council with what her uncle called the cotton ball touch. Soft and gentle, you never knew until too late if the ball had been soaked in chloroform. Raynor said Ravi could negotiate his way in or out of anything—a wonderful skill for a leader. Only sometimes Ravi’s own interests seemed to come before the people’s, or at least that’s what Raynor suspected.

Alina! Ravi’s voice sounded joyful and fatherly as he approached her with outstretched arms. Grasping her shoulders, he gave her arms a soft squeeze. I could see your violet eyes from across the room. Welcome to the Thunder Light Clan.

With that, the crowd erupted. Quickly encircling them, the crowd pressed in so all could see her up close. She did her best to meet each person’s gaze with a smile amid a mixture of gasps and strong outbursts. Praise The Light! a man exclaimed. Mercy has come! yelled another. Then, of course, somebody fainted. Someone always managed to faint during one of these things.

How embarrassing.

Now, now. Ravi waved back the crowd. Let us not suffocate the girl. She’s had a long journey.

I don’t mind, Alina said as graciously as she could. I’m as eager to meet them as they are to meet me.

Ha ha! Words worthy of the Fair One. Such kindness in your spirit. I knew I would like you right away. Ravi offered her his elbow. Let us get you up on that beautiful throne this clan has made.

That’s okay...

No, no! This way everyone can see you. His voice dropped to a whisper. And you will be able to breathe.

Alina couldn’t help but chuckle. Ravi put her at such ease. She took his arm and started walking toward the throne. Then she remembered Raynor and Harley. Peeking back at them, she smiled reassuringly. Neither smiled back.

Remember, Raynor’s expression warned her, he’s a charmer. Let your guard fall and you may fall, too.

Alina’s smile faded. Whether Raynor was right or not, she couldn’t think about that now. She had enough on her plate. Her least favorite part of the This is Alina show would soon begin: her speech. Gazing up at the throne, her stomach lurched. Right now it looked more like an electric chair. No matter how hard she’d practiced or how many times she’d recited her speech, fears always swirled in her head right beforehand. What if she screwed up? Would the crowd boo her? Heckle her? Laugh if she stuttered? Alina had to get a grip. This was a speech, not an execution. She took a breath.

Ravi continued to guide her as they walked up three steps to the elevated platform. With a warm but elegant gesture, Ravi offered her the throne before moving a few paces to her right. Blushing, Alina sat down. Cheers rose from the crowd, sending a fresh wave of panic through her body. So many eyes, so much hope. The chair began to feel very uncomfortable.

Alina didn’t want to lead The Light. Regardless, the response she received everywhere she went highlighted how much the clans wanted her to do it. Needed her to do it. She was the Fair One, their savior—a daunting job for a sixteen-year-old girl. She’d always thought her first job would involve telling customers they could bump up to a larger drink for twenty cents more. That she could do. But leading The Light to victory against The Dark? She wasn’t ready and wondered if she ever would be.

Alina thought back to Ravi sitting so easily, so casually on the throne when she had arrived. He’d seemed completely comfortable, like he belonged in that seat. Perhaps that had been his point. Then again, maybe he’d just needed to sit. He looked pretty old, after all. It wasn’t like they were competing with each other.

Were they competing with each other?

She didn’t want that question answered. Not now. It was go time. Alina cleared her throat.

Thank you, she began. I’m so happy to be here and look forward to meeting each and every one of you. What a wonderful welcome you’ve given me and—wow—what a chair! It’s so beautiful. I have to say, though, it seems more appropriate for a queen instead of what I really am. I am a servant. I have been put here to help The Light rid the world of the Darkness which plagues the earth. I am also a healer, put on this earth to rid warriors of the Darkness which weighs down their souls...

Then heal me! a rough voice yelled from the back of the room. Gasps rose from the crowd as people turned their heads toward the source. A husky middle-aged man, six feet tall with a scruffy brown beard, began making his way toward the stage.

A small woman in front with dark curls and worried eyes said, Please forgive him, Fair One. He’s on the cusp. And he was. As the gruff man drew near, she could see the heavy red rims which circled his irises.

Giving the woman a comforting smile, Alina rose from her seat. Forgive him? She wanted to kiss him. Now she could abort the rest of her speech and get down to what she really loved: healing. Catching the warrior’s gaze, she beckoned him onto the stage and offered him the throne.

Please sit down, she said.

No, the warrior replied. That throne’s only for you.

Why? Don’t you protect The Light? Haven’t you sacrificed your well-being in order to save others?

Of course! he snapped. That’s why I’m in this terrible state. You of all people should know that.

The entire crowd blanched but Alina smiled, setting everyone back at ease. She was well aware that crabbiness went hand-in-hand with Darkness absorption. Uncle Raynor had taught her that all too well before she’d saved him.

You’re right. I do know that, she told him, which is why I know you’re worthy to sit on this throne. Plus you’re going to lose consciousness for a second or two. I don’t want your body to hit the floor.

The clan laughed. Oh, all right, the man said before sitting down with a huff.

What’s your name? Alina asked.

Conall. Conall Warrister.

Conall Warrister, thank you for all you have done for The Light. Now hold onto your seat.

Then man gripped the chair’s arms as Alina dropped to one knee, raised her hands, and placed one palm over the other. Then, with her hands two inches over his heart, she asked, Are you ready?

The warrior closed his eyes and nodded.

Alina leaned forward and pressed her hands to his chest. A jolt passed through her tingling hands as white light spilled out between her fingers and into the crowd. Dark energy from the warrior throbbed up her arms and into the whole of her chest. She felt her heart open up, commanding the Darkness into the bottomless void which now served as her center. The terrible energy pulsed through her and rippled down into the abyss of her soul, never to return. It could harm no longer. She had freed the warrior of his burden. He was fresh, renewed.

When his eyes fluttered open, the red rims of Darkness now gone, he greeted her gaze with flushed cheeks and a smile. Thank you, Fair One, he sighed. Are you okay? Did it hurt when you did it?

Not at all. In fact, it felt wonderful. Which was true, at least in the sense that mattered. What felt better than restoring someone’s life? He didn’t need to know it took a toll on her physically. No one did.

After healing sessions, her chest throbbed. Her arms burned. She felt weakness in her joints and a dull ache in her head. When she’d healed Raynor and the rest of her clan’s warriors, she hadn’t noticed. Perhaps she’d been too thrilled. Or perhaps she’d just refused to acknowledge the signs? It didn’t matter. She noticed them now. Many times these clan visits, with all the warrior healings, really weakened her. Luckily, Raynor’s long, crazy travel pattern from clan to clan gave her time to recover. This allowed her to heal everyone on their path, including the man before her.

Standing back up, she watched as Conall Warrister regained his composure. Before she knew it, he rose from the throne. Then he grabbed her waist with both hands and raised her high into the air.

Praise The Light! The Fair One is among us! he yelled.

The crowd roared. Some people jumped into the air while others pumped their fists in celebration. Alina couldn’t help but laugh. Like she’d told him, healing felt wonderful.

Warriors young and old rushed the stage and formed a line in front of her, eager for their turn to be saved. All had eyes shaded in vibrant blues and browns. Some were rimmed in red, others not. She took her time with each one, asking their names, who they were, what battles they had fought.

At first the clan watched her intently, amazed by their warriors’ transformations. But it soon became apparent that with each rejuvenation came rejuvenated families. Once a warrior was renewed, the warrior’s parents, wives, husbands, children—all of their loved ones—formed a tight circle around them. Then they whisked the warrior off to a not-so-quiet corner and celebrated, oblivious to the world around them. Watching them do that made Alina glad. Renewing warriors wasn’t about her. In fact, it wasn’t only about saving Light Warriors from Darkness. It meant saving people—people who loved others and whom others loved.

Buoyed by that thought, Alina cheerfully went about finishing the last few people in line. Then she got to the last one. When her gaze fell on him, she instinctively sucked in her breath.

Similar in size to Uncle Raynor, the man’s red-rimmed eyes pierced hers with a violent steely-blue hue. His square, clean-shaven jaw held a clench which she suspected was a permanent condition. The close-cropped cut of his dark blonde hair screamed military service. His bearing did, as well. Chin up, shoulders back, spine as straight as a flag pole—who was this man and why was he wearing a robe like Ravi’s?

Wait. A robe like Ravi’s? Raynor had mentioned he’d seen two Light Council members in the room. If Ravi had been the first one that meant this guy had to be number two. But which one could he be? Alina wracked her brain trying to remember the council members she had been taught. Big as Raynor...steely eyes...military bearing...

Oh, man. Malden the Bold.

Alina gulped.

Chapter 3

Trying not to tremble, Alina met the gaze of the huge man standing before her. She failed. Counselor Malden—Malden the Bold—served as the US Statesman and High General of The Light Warrior Guard and he looked ferocious.

Uncle Raynor knew this counselor well, or at least he had years ago. For reasons he would not explain, Raynor had packed up and left their family’s clan at the ripe age of nineteen. Full of high hopes and higher purpose, he went straight into the Warrior Guard at The Light’s High Command. Malden joined at the same time and they became best friends. They had so much in common—at least they did in the beginning. As the two grew older, Malden began to change, much to Raynor’s disappointment.

Malden had wanted to lead—no, he’d had to, his desire for power swelling to lust. Raynor watched as his friend focused on promotion at all costs, often pleasing those above him at the expense of those below. What’s worse, it worked. Malden rose up the ranks, leaving a disgusted Raynor behind. Uncle Raynor held on, serving ten full years before he finally left the Guard and returned home. However, his views on Malden, The Light Warrior Guard and all of High Command were forever changed.

Now the very same man whom her uncle had dubbed a self-promoting sellout stood staring down at her. Her neck craned as she peered into the eyes and saw the red which rimmed his steely blue irises. Would renewal rebalance his views or desires? Did they even need rebalancing? Alina couldn’t judge him. She didn’t know Malden or his heart. She only knew what her uncle had told her and words spoken by a wounded friend sometimes carried extra venom along with the truth.

Counselor Malden, Alina said. I’m so happy to meet you.

Are you? he asked with more than a hint of cynicism in his voice.

Of course. You’re a member of The Light Council. I’m honored.

As you should be.

Okay, so maybe Uncle Raynor’s depiction of Malden hadn’t been far off the mark. Even so, he had Darkness inside him and she had a job to do. On instinct, she lifted her hands.

Don’t you dare. He snatched her by the wrists with one gargantuan fist. It is my honor and duty to carry the Darkness of those I’ve slain in order to protect The Light.

Whoa. That was a first.

Honor, indeed, Raynor muttered in her ear. It sounds more like vainglory.

Uncle Raynor? Hold on. When did he appear? Turning her head, she noticed both him and Harley standing behind her, less than a breath away. Counselor Ravi took the cue and swept to Counselor Malden’s side. The air grew thick as Raynor and Malden glared at each other. Their lips said nothing. Their eyes spoke volumes. Alina wondered who would explode first. It was Ravi.

How wonderful! he said a little too brightly as he stepped between the two men. Malden and Raynor reunited at last! How long has it been since you old friends have seen each other?

Malden crossed his arms. Sixteen years.

And what a great sixteen years it’s been, Uncle Raynor said. Pity we had to break the streak.

Malden’s nostrils flared. I told you, Counselor Ravi. They’ve been avoiding us.

Don’t be silly, Ravi said. If they had been avoiding us they wouldn’t have made the phone call.

Phone call? Raynor said.

Uh oh.

The one you placed two days ago. How clever of you to signal us that way. Ravi turned to Malden. A while back Raynor developed wonderful cloaking technology to keep The Dark from intercepting cell phone transmissions. Instead of keeping it under his hat, he was kind enough to share it with Command. Knowing that, he would have never made the call if he hadn’t wanted us to learn his location.

That’s right. I wouldn’t, Raynor grumbled.

Alina suppressed a wince, knowing Raynor meant that comment for her.

Two days ago her brother, Trace, had turned thirteen years old—a fact her Uncle Raynor knew. He also knew Alina had never missed being with Trace on his birthday…until this year. Being away from her family and friends had been hard. She’d missed everyone so much. Mom, Grandma Bea, Blake...oh, Blake. They were all so far away. Not being able to be with Trace on his birthday had been the final straw, leaving her emotionally weak. What could one lousy phone call do? she’d asked herself before she finally broke down and called her family. Well, now she had her answer. It could ruin everything, and it had. She hoped Raynor could forgive her.

"Well, you made the call at