Darkness Awakens_Chronicles of Hunter Read online

  The murder of D’HarmaSan occurred millennia ago at the hands of The Brethren. No one else apart from The Council knew of this. She had taken on the form of an ethereal being, almost mythical. Someone to have faith in with no physical proof of her existence. Much like the primitive religions that evolved in the younger species when they were feeling their way towards enlightenment. Every single planet in existence worked its way through this process, much like a young person works their way through puberty.

  They glanced down as one at the floating ether, willing the pentagram of rift into growth, the only gateway to the circle.

  The pulsing, orange-colored ether below their feet moved in a lazy pattern until a solid pentagram materialized inside it.

  The portal stood open.

  Glowing lines of power took form and the Watchers who awaited would soon have access to the rift and would flow through from wherever they stood, to reappear within the Circle.

  A younger species was approaching the point of enlightenment. The critical point in its growth. All future possibilities for this planet forked out ahead. One path would lead it down chaos, destruction, war and terror. The other enlightenment.

  Of the original Watchers hand-picked and trained by Luxfer, no written records existed but legends whispered stated that they were taken out of time itself and studied with him for thirty cycles in hand-to-hand combat mixed in with the ability to manipulate life forces for either incapacitation or healing. From that day on, they formed The Five. Their first act: to find, train and choose the next lot of watchers.

  Whenever a Watcher would fall or reached the end of their life-cycle, a new Watcher would be chosen from amongst those already in Black, a long and arduous training program ensuring that only the best of the best became fully fledged Watchers.

  From the time they were ready, each watcher would be sent out to different parts, to preserve order and guide other cultures towards enlightenment. They would also keep a lookout for other potential Watchers that could be prepared in their ways and to ensure the younger species were observed and reported on to The Council.

  All continued well at the start. The Watchers continued doing what they'd been told by Luxfer. Over time, differences emerged.

  Watchers from different sectors took it upon themselves to be absolute judge, jury and executioners.

  Their power shifted inwards and rather a few of them had considered themselves Gods over their own territories.

  *~*

  The Watcher remained cross-legged in meditating in front of the entry portal to The Council, centering himself.

  Dressed in the long flowing black dolman that all Watchers wore. A light flowing robe that woven from a special material that allowed it to absorb the aural power of its wearer, granting them the ability to manipulate it with ease.

  He still remembered the day, almost thirty cycles ago that he had been awarded the dolman upon completion of his training.

  Twenty cycles of constant striving in mastering the mysteries of aural battle. Hundreds were chosen to train every cycle, most would fail. All the others chosen alongside him had failed to reach the demands. In his twenty cycles of study, he had only seen three presented, in the thirty cycles since - another five.

  Being awarded Elite of the Elite status was not something accomplished daily and even though it went against his training, he felt pride when he thought about it. Remembering to find his center as soon as he caught himself.

  The Council would notice otherwise.

  Most of his brother Watchers brought in potentials for training regularly. In thirty cycles though, he had found none worthy of the training. He worried sometimes at this. Was he flawed in his training and incapable of seeing the potential in others? Was his pride too large to admit that there may be others more capable than him out there? Others who would need training in the ancient ways? He was sure it was one of the main reasons he had set aside to look after the younger species on planets in the most remote regions of the universe. There was never any aural power to speak of on any of these and he would not be expected to bring in any potentials.

  Thoughts went through his mind as he waited, ‘But now I've stumbled upon a girl. This tiny thing, surrounded by an aural presence and power the likes of which I have never beheld. A young wisp that has the capacity to destroy worlds and entire universes with just a thought. And she is unaware of the power she has, living on a speck of a planet in a universe that was treading dangerously close to taking the path of chaos. A species that The Council would soon determine too dangerous to allow to continue to evolve and would destroy it if their historical actions were anything to go by. Maybe things will be different with this one once they hear my report.’

  The portal hummed as the Council poured their power into it, signaling the opening would soon grant him access. He sighed and closed his eyes again, looking for his center, knowing he had about two minutes before being transported through the rift to report his findings.

  Would they trust his judgement and believe in the things he was about to report?

  Old doubts coursed through his mind anew, of The Council itself. Apart from Julian, he didn't trust them. Over time, he saw them as another group of power-greedy individuals, setting aside the task that Nexus had charged them with when it served them.

  Everything was now gray where once only black and white existed. ‘No use worrying about it, better to just report what I have seen and let them decide on a course of action. No doubt, I'll just be moved on from this planet and shunted off to another to watch.’

  But he still couldn't get the young girl out of his thoughts. Something different was going on there. She was something different.

  The problem was that he couldn't decide if that was good or not.

  *~*

  The Council members looked at each other with something akin to dismay. The Watcher reporting this day had been one of their favorites at the time he'd been elevated to the Black. The inherent ability that flowed from him was overwhelming.

  Thirty years with nothing of use from such talent. The debate had raged.

  "What is the use of having a Watcher who doesn't achieve?" Elder Micah asked once again. "There are plenty of others ready to don the Dolman. Perhaps it's time we replace him."

  Elgar rolled his eyes, "Once again we ride this Merry-Go-Round Micah. Never in our history has the Council stripped a Watcher of the Black. They either go down in battle or get to the end of their life-cycle. We cannot set a precedent when we are uncertain of what will take place. That one simple act has many differing future probabilities. None more certain than the next. No, this action is not something we can take lightly. We could never reach a consensus on this matter."

  "That's because Julian has always refrained on the matter. His choice to not decide is what keeps him in the Black."

  The most junior member of the Council, Julian kept his face blank knowing the others could read his aura and see his true feelings, regardless.

  He had mentored and trained the Watcher in question from the beginning. A Watcher who had held more potential than any other recorded. His aural battle performances had no peer, his readings of aural power beyond any other in existence to date, and yet, with all this innate talent he still failed to prove himself worthy of the Black.

  His talents for guiding younger species in the right direction still hinted at his power, only one of those under his guidance had come close to annihilation, due to his quiet and invisible influence. He was naturally gifted and Julian was unwilling to just let that talent go to waste and be destroyed as The Council was wont to do.

  Besides, his Master had different plans.

  Perhaps with this report, he would see the end of his days as a Watcher and if The Council had its way, the end of his own life-cycle with it.

  Nothing else would be acceptable.

  If word got out that a Watcher had been stripped of the black, there would be no knowing what the ripple effects throughout the universe would be.
Better to end his life and announce a mighty battle in which the Watcher had fallen. A battle the Council would have to engineer. This wouldn't be the first time they'd acted like this, with no one the wiser.

  Chapter 3

  Hunter sat back in the oversized black leather chair in Ren’s office, trying to get comfortable. The constant thrumming in his head was like an old friend now. A willing price he paid for dreamless sleep. Eye drops covered up the redness in the whites of his eyes and with enough breath mints in his pocket, he was ready to slip into the sober personality he had developed over the years. Few people would ever know he was hung over, almost all the time.

  Sitting on the other side of the desk however, was Ren. One of the few individuals in the world that would see his true state if not the underlying reason for it. She assumed he was just another talented lowlife who wasn’t thankful for the gifts handed to him. A gift that others would murder for. Is how she had put it to him once and you squander it away like a little kid throwing a tantrum!

  Kill for? Hell, I’d give it away for free! In fact, I’ll give them everything I own with it! Hunter thought to himself once again. If doing so would just set me free to live a life of my own, without the dreams, reluctant to confess to Ren just why he drank himself stupid every night.

  "The new novel is absolutely brilliant Hunter," Ren stated "without a doubt, another best-seller on your hands. I truly do not understand how you come up with these stories. How you can go from writing an epic, set during a World War and then follow it up with something from a fantasy angle. Not to mention the three horror books. I’ve just never come across any other writer that has that type of capacity and imagination in them. Well done!"

  Hunters’ eyes followed Ren as she moved around the mahogany desk in front of him.

  Dressed in a men’s white business shirt tucked into a tight black mini-dress finished with heeled, black leather boots that went up to just below her knees, she was absolutely gorgeous and every man’s eyes would follow her wherever she went. Not that she ever dressed to impress anyone other than herself. The make-up that was flawless on her was just slightly off today though and failed to mask the fact she had had a very late night. Lucky her, and double lucky for whoever the guy was! Hunter thought to himself wishing he was as normal as everyone else. Perhaps he would have even had enough courage to ask her out if that was the case. Probably not.

  With a start, he realized that he had not been paying attention to Ren. Lost in his own wandering, scattered thoughts as he stared at her oval, mocha colored face, deep blue eyes and her short cropped brown hair, layered with hints of purple and red highlights. "Sorry Ren", he muttered "Got lost in my own world for a minute. What did you say?"

  Ren smiled, "Your own world? I think that you’ve actually got a whole new universe that you live in most of the time, Hunter. One small world is not enough for that imagination of yours."

  Hunter watched as Ren’s smile lit up her entire face. Those smiles were few these days unlike when they had first met. Back then, she was always smiling. Regaling him with the little fascinating things that her daughter had been up to. Now that he thought about it further, Hunter realized that she hadn’t even mentioned her daughter the last few times that they’d caught up and that sleepless look on her face had developed over recent times. Something was not 100% in Ren’s world and he missed the normal-ness of those little stories. Somehow they had always made him feel good, more human and less the outsider that knew himself to be.

  "Plenty of weirdness in this one world Ren, no need to add an entirely new universe to my play-list."

  Ren’s smile deepened, reaching her eyes, "What I was saying before you went off on your mental walkabout, was that I’ve had another offer from Smitty and his crew-again. The same as the last few only with a bigger cheque attached this time."

  Smitty, aka Jonathan Smith IV, was the current heir and owner of Virtual Productions. They had bought the rights to the last 3 of Hunters books and turned them into Hollywood blockbusters that had made the studio hundreds of millions of dollars. Every single time though, Smitty and his crew had wanted Hunter to come on board as a Creative Consultant, with a very hefty pay-check to go along with it. Each time, they’d been disappointed when he had declined.

  It’s bad enough that I had to live through all those moments, good and bad. There’s no way in Hell that I will ever recreate it for the silver screen and the adoring fans, Hunter had thought to himself never going to happen! He hadn’t even bothered watching any of the releases. Regardless of how persistent Smitty and his group of high-powered execs were. In fact, Hunter had declined even meeting with them, allowing Ren to handle absolutely every detail of the process.

  "Whatever you decide Ren," he told her "Same details as the last though. Not interested in doing anything with it. They can buy the rights and make whatever they want with the script. I’ll leave it totally to you."

  "That’s what I figured you’d say but as your agent, I have to let you know about all the offers, regardless. Smitty doubled his offer this time for your services. A cool 5 million dollars."

  "They could offer ten times that and the answer would still be no, Ren. There’s literally not enough money in the world to make it happen. No need to pester me with the details. If you need the extra money from your commission, then just double what you charge me now. I don’t need all that much anyways."

  Ren laughed loud, a belly laugh that had tears running down her cheeks "I might just take you up on that Hunter. In the meantime, I’ll let Smitty know your answer. Who knows? He might even double it again. He probably thinks he can get even more mileage and profit if your name is associated the next movie." reaching for the phone as it rang on her desk.

  *~*

  Wisps of smoke arose from the kneeling Watchers' form as he emerged. Clear gold metallic colors swirled outwards-the color of full spiritual energy and awakening. Few had ever attained such perfection, reinforcing their belief that something would have to be done about this particular Watcher soon.

  Keeping their linked thoughts to themselves, they looked upon the Watcher and spoke directly into his mind, "We see that this planet is yet to change its course Watcher. It's as clear in your aura as you are before us. But yet, we also sense something that isn't quite clear. A confusion within you. Something that needs to be discussed. What is it?"

  The Watcher raised his head and looked to Micah, hesitating, “I've witnessed something... strange. Something that will needs to further investigation."

  The expression of The Five didn't waver, but The Watcher was more powerful than even they guessed. He could clearly read each individual members aura even though they had a shield woven around them that should have stopped him. It was a little something he had kept to himself, unwilling to share the information with anyone else. It was also one of the main reasons he didn't truly trust them. The thoughts they put forth to him when he was reporting held very little in common with what he read in each of their auras. Only Julian's aura resembled something akin to what The Watcher believed an aura of a Council member should be.

  The bright pink of pure lust and coveting, mingled with the controlling orange dominating the other four Council members all pointed to hidden agendas. Games being played. Games The Council was supposed to be above. All decisions decreed by The Council should be above reproach and yet, their auras spoke the truth to him.

  A truth they would not be able to deny if they knew he could see them.

  "A young girl," he continued, "A tiny little thing, showed power a few months ago."

  "Power is never seen on a planet that has yet to reach enlightenment Watcher. Are you absolutely sure about this?"

  Julian interjected, "A little girl you say? Someone who shows promise of power in an as yet unenlightened species? Are you sure?"

  "Completely sure, Councilor. At first, it was only a small snippet of power. But something happened recently. That small snippet has somehow transformed. The connections within h
er colors have morphed. She blends them all, without thought."

  "Her aura is the brightest I've seen. It dwarfs anything else before it", he finished, watching the Five's auras from the corners of his eyes to better understand and gauge their feelings. Their colors filled with shock and disbelief, every single one of them including Julian. Even the usual demeanor on their faces fell for a moment before they reasserted control over themselves. It didn't take someone as talented as he was in reading to know that there was a lot of chatter going back and forth amongst them.

  If he wanted to, he could push out his own consciousness and listen to what was being discussed. It would alert The Five to his true powers though and that was something that he wasn't comfortable letting them in on. So he stayed in his kneeling position watching them, like he had been taught to do, awaiting their commands.

  "We will need to verify this Watcher. So far you have failed to produce even one potential candidate for us to decide upon and now, without warning, you bring us a tale of a powerful, wild talent. It sounds more like a bedtime story than the truth. But, have no fear. The Council will discuss the matter further and command your presence when needed. We will let you know what we decide when we are ready."

  "D'HarmaSan guide your thoughts", The Watcher intoned and allowed himself to be transported by Micah, with a wave of his hand to a waiting area until summoned again.

  "D'HarmaSan be damned, you failure," muttered Micah to himself as he turned to the other members of The Council. "This is... unexpected. That affliction must be mistaken. He comes to us with a wild story about a powerful untamed, wild girl-child! What does he expect us to do? Drop everything and fall to our knees believing her the D'HarmaSan reborn?"

  The second eldest councilor, Arell turned around to face him, "Easy now, Micah. That failure has been nothing but a disappointment to us from the beginning. We all know that. Even Julian no longer defends him with the fervor he once did. Perhaps he has picked up some hint about our thoughts somehow and is trying to delay the inevitable."