Back to the Dream Page
Chapter 6
"Are you sure you're doing the right thing?" Carrie asked as the two reverently approached the Council circle around the fire.
Justin paused and looked at his friend. "We both know that this is the right thing. Let's just hope that we can find something that can help us conquer this new evil."
Carrie nodded and stopped some feet away from the circle, kneeling down and keeping her head turned downward until she was summoned.
Justin meanwhile, continued at his pace toward the circle where his colleagues sat, patiently waiting for him to join them.
As one, the four other members rose to greet him. In turn, he stood in front of his seat and bowed his head to each of them, acknowledging the presence of Casta, Hyam, Melisenda, and Quinn. Together, they sat down as the five Chosen of the Lhaam.
Justin waited until Quinn was ready to hear his case. Until then, silence followed, with the only sound coming from the crackling fire in the middle of the group. When the time came, Quinn raised her head and looked at Justin. "You may begin," she spoke.
Justin, now Li, stood. "My friends, I come here to ask of your wisdom and guidance. Another evil force has entered our lives, in particular, the lives of my close friends and myself. I have reason to believe that it is the work of Nica." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "As you know, I am part of the group 98 Degrees and it has come to my attention that my fellow band mates are being harassed by this unknown."
Melisenda questioned him. "How do you know this? Is there anyone else that can testify to your case?"
"Yes, there is," Li answered. He beckoned for Carrie to come forward.
Carrie stepped into the circle and waited to make sure all eyes were settled on her. "I feel honored to be in the presence of the Chosen and can only hope to help," she started, with the formal greeting towards them. Quinn indicated that she should proceed. "I have been Li's apprentice for a long time now. I have followed him and his group as has been requested. In that time, I have had the chance to get to know them, and I am certain when I say that I know all of them quite well now.
"As Li has already said, there is something going on with his friends. A dark presence made itself known to us about a week ago during one of their concerts. It was deliberate enough so that we knew the Nica wanted us to sense them nearby. In the following days, one by one, each of the guys have fallen under some sort of spell. Something is troubling them greatly. They are all paranoid and unsure of themselves, characteristics that these guys do not have. And what's more is that they avoid Justin at all costs. They've even begun to avoid me."
"Well, this is a strange twist of things," Hyam announced. "Why would they avoid you?"
"Again, I think that the Nica sensed another and concluded it to be me. There's no one else around who is as close to them as the two of us are."
"Thank you, Carrie," Casta said, dismissing her. She waited for Carrie to leave the presence of the circle before continuing. "What we have here sounds to be a very strong case of Nica interference. Not only are they after hurting others though, they are deliberately on the move to destroy one of us."
"Li," Melisenda turned to him. "Is there anything else that has been going on lately? Are you sure that these aren't just some death threats the guys are receiving?"
Li gave a sad smile. "I understand that you wish this to be a minor thing Melisenda, but you can rest assured that this isn't a death threat. Something is truly wrong." Melisenda gave a knowing nod and looked toward the fire. "Please. I just want to know if there is anything I can do to prevent anymore of this suffering. What does the future hold?" The other four members of the Council sat in a thoughtful state while Li waited patiently for an answer.
After a long pause, the silence was broken. Quinn gave a little cough, indicating that she was about to speak. All reverently turned their heads to her and waited. "Li, the answers you seek may not be what you expect or want to hear."
He inclined his head. "I understand Quinn. Please go on."
"Very well." She turned to the others. "It is, indeed, Nica on the prowl again. Their latest victory has left them hungry for more. They overestimate their powers however, and think that they can actually break us. No, they cannot break us, but they can truly hurt us." She again turned to Li. "You most especially, will be hurt if things continue on this path." Quinn indicated to the fire. "See what will happen. This is the future."
Images flared up along with the fire. There, they could see the flickering scenes of his fellow band mates going off for a picnic one day without him, still avoiding him because of the current events. Once there, the guys decide to play some basketball to wear off the tension in their bodies. One of the guys shoots the ball out and Jeff goes after it. He had seen it enter some thick foliage but is greatly discouraged in finding it. A mist surrounds him and he can no longer tell where he is going. Suddenly, the mist clears and Jeff finds himself at the edge of a cliff. He hears a sound behind him and thinks it's one of the guys. Instead, it's a hooded figure with a dagger in hand. The figure walks slowly toward him and Jeff has nowhere to go. He turns around, dizzily staring into the gulf below him. The figure rushes forward and Jeff slips off the edge. Li imagines the screams of his friend as he plunges toward certain death.
The image returns to the brothers who have been left behind. They get tired of waiting for Jeff to come back with the ball so Drew calls out that he's going horseback riding. Not seeing anything wrong with it, Nick agrees and watches his little brother walk back towards the stable area. There, Drew finds himself a gentle looking mare with chestnut brown fur. Drew smiles as he mounts the horse and begins down one of the trails. A long while passes by before he feels someone following him. Sure enough, when he turns in his saddle to look back, he sees the hooded figure riding its very own black stallion. The dagger is in hand and the stallion picks up the pace, getting closer to Drew every second. A high-speed chase follows until Drew turns back and sees that the figure has vanished. He doesn't see the noose ahead nor feel it tighten around his neck as he speeds underneath the tree branch. He had no time to feel any pain as he swung from the branch.
The scene returns to where Nick now sat in a great field, just basking in the sun's rays. Carrie comes and is now approaching him. The two looked happy, and Li felt a smile fill his face. Carrie had been a good apprentice and he was glad that they had gotten so close. He knew that she really loved Nick and was a little saddened by the fact that she wasn't there to see their future. His mind snapped back to the fire when he saw the atmosphere change. Their happy moments together wouldn't last very long it seemed. It is evening and the guys still haven't returned. Worried, the two wait, laying in each other's arms and watching the stars appear. Shadow figures rush forward though, and separate the couple. Nick is helpless as two individuals hold him back. He cries out in agony as he watches Carrie being brutalized. An object glints in the moonlight and he screams out as the blade plunges into Carrie's body over and over. Suddenly, they drew back and Nick rushes forward to cradle Carrie's now lifeless body. He cries and doesn't feel as the dagger plunges deep into his own body.
The image flickered and faded. Grim thoughts were etched on everyone's faces as Quinn let this new knowledge and insight sink in to everyone's heads. "Li," she spoke softly and waited for him to look up. "I don't know how to help you. I have spoken with the Ancestors and with the Great One and none are saying anything that is of any help. It is as if they want us to go into this battle… And lose."
Li's eyes showed the intense pain he was feeling. His voice was hoarse. "How can that be? You showed us what would happen if we continued on the path we were taking. There must be something that can stop this! I don't want to see any of my friends die!" He didn't notice as tears slowly started to pour from his eyes.
Quinn gave a sad smile and shook her head. "If this is the plan of the Great One, who are we to interfere?"
Li swallowed the bitter feeling he felt and lowered his head, suddenly feeling weak and very much alone.
"We'll be there at the battle with you," Quinn continued, trying to comfort him. "Hopefully Tanek will show a way…"