Last Time . . .

“We are going to provide you as well as the rest of your neighborhood with maximum security so these people don’t find you. We’re going to let you go now, because I’m sure you have some things to take care of as far as funeral arrangements. As soon as the funeral is over, and you are able to talk, you can contact us.” Agent Morgan said giving him his card. “Until then, you are free to go, and don’t worry, you’ll be safe!”

“Th . . . Thank you!” Beryl said still confused.

“Come on Beryl, let’s go home.” Elizabeth said walking out of the office, her arm around Beryl’s shoulder.

“That was weird!” Giz said as they walked through the hallway and saw Detective Hanson and Agent Dawson talking to the Police Chief.

“That’s not even the word!” Beryl said as they went into the elevator.

---------------------

This Time . . .

“Hey, you gonna come down for dinner?” Giz said entering the room, finding Beryl sitting on the windowsill.

“Nah, I’m not hungry right now. Tell your mom to save me a plate, I’ll eat later.”

“Ok, want some company?”

“Thanks, but I think I need to be alone right now.” Beryl said looking at his friend. “Don’t worry though, I’m okay . . . really. I just need to think about some things.”

”Ok, well, I’ll be downstairs if you need me.”

“Thanks Giz.”

“No prob.”

As Beryl sat looking out the window over the horizon, the sun was starting to set. He looked up at the orangy-blue sky and felt the warm summer breeze blow across his face. He looked over to his left out the window, and saw the now abandoned house he called home. As he continued to look at his empty backyard, a flow of emotions filled his heart and head. Acting purely on adrenaline and love, he looked out at the thick tree that stood between the two houses right in front of the window. He opened the window all the way and perched himself on the windowsill. Not having a second thought in his mind or heart, he jumped for the tree, flipping mid-air and landing gracefully quiet on the heavy branch. Not wanting to get attention from the family who embraced him, sitting at the dinner table, he immediately jumped from the branch to the deck in his backyard.

“Good sense of balance and trajectory” A man in dressed in black swat gear said into his walkie-talkie. “Do you want us to intervene?”

“No, let the boy go . . . he needs to do this.” A voice replied.

Going over to one of the patio-chairs, Beryl moved it out of the way and pulled a string that connected to a hatch in the wooden deck. Descending down the stairs, he reached the backdoor to the basement. Crouching down to the drain in the cement floor, he lifted up the cover, reached to the side and pulled out a key. Replacing the cover, he opened the backdoor and entered into the basement. The light remaining from the setting sun provided just enough for Beryl to see his way around the basement apartment where his brother once lived. Not letting his emotions of pain and sorrow get the best of him, he continued through the apartment. Taking a black canvas duffle bag from his brother’s closet, he looked around the apartment and placed a few pictures inside the bag. Walking up the stairs that led to the house, he stopped for a second and looked over the apartment one last time. Reaching the main portion of the house, he looked around the kitchen and dining room then continued up the stairs to the bedrooms, avoiding the living room. His first stop was his room, getting a few clothes and books to keep him occupied before he had to move everything out and put it into storage. Stopping in front of his Wiccan alter, he kneeled down to his knees, and spread his palms out in prayer position. Sending a blessing to his family and all those who had helped him, he lit a small white candle, picked up his bag and left his room. Saving his parent’s room for last, he hesitated to open the door. Finally getting the courage to walk in, he stepped inside, looked around and sat on the bed; the emotions finally getting to him, he burst into tears. Sobbing uncontrollably, he let out all that was in him, all the pain, anger and anguish he was feeling. Feeling a warm breeze enter the room, and surround him, he stopped crying and looked up. He looked to the window and saw it was closed, looking out the window, he saw the night about to take over for dusk. Seeing the beautiful sunset outside comforted him, nature always providing a comfort to him, he dried his tears, picked up his bag and preceded back downstairs. At the foot of the stairs, he turned to his left and looked into the living room, the very place where he saw his family lay slain the night before. Anger getting the better of him, he forced himself to return to his exit. Quickly leaving through the back door of the basement apartment, he locked the door, placed the key in his pocket and went up to the deck. Placing the bag on one of the chairs, he peeked over the fence to see that the Brayhams were just finished eating dinner. Seeing Giz get up from the table and start his way to the stairs, Beryl acted quickly. He backed up a little, got a running start and jumped towards the wall. He kicked his feet off the wall and landed back on the branch he had used before. Hearing Elizabeth about to open the door, he jumped to the window and dove into the room, quietly tucking and rolling as he hit the floor.

“Excellent acrobatic skills!” The same man in swat gear said into his walkie-talkie. “Are you sure he hasn’t received his powers yet?”

“We’re sure,” The voice responded. “he was taught martial arts and studied gymnastics.”

--------------

“Hey B!” Giz said entering the room, seeing Beryl laying on his bed.

“Sup?” Beryl said looking up at his friend.

“You hungry now?”

“Actually, yeah, could you go fix me a plate? I’ll be right down!”

“Sure, no prob!” Giz said as he left the room and closed the door.

Quickly getting up and going over to the window, he saw Elizabeth re-enter the house. Sticking his head out the window, he looked over at the bag that lay on the patio chair and concentrated on it. The bag started to move, and shortly after, it began to rise and move up in the direction of the window. Sticking his arm out to grab it, he held the bag up with his mind and placed his arm through the strap.

“Whoa!” The Swat guy said into his radio. “Did you see that command?!”

“Yes . . . he’s telekinetic.”

“Whoa . . .”

”Now keep quiet and keep your post!”

“Yes sir!”

--------------

“As we now lay these five bodies to rest, we pray. We pray that whatever monster did this is brought to justice. May they rest in peace, amen!” the priest said as the 5 bodies of Beryl’s loved ones, were placed into the ground.

“Blessed Be!” Beryl said under his breath.

No longer shedding a tear, Beryl just stared at the row of coffins descend into the ground one by one. Although his pain and sorrow were immense, he felt a sense of courage running through his body. Somehow he knew that things were going to be okay. After returning to the Brayhams’ house, he just went up to his room and slept.

<Dream>

“No please!” Anastacia screamed.

“Where is he you bitch?” a man yelled.

“I…. I don’t know, I swear!”

“You’ll never get him! I won’t let it happen! You can kill us all, but I won’t let you take him!” Alicia yelled.

“Fine, have it your way! Kill them! Let him know we are coming for him!”

<Flash>

“We named him Beryl Entoño,” Gabriel Rincón, Beryl’s father said. “He’s special . . .”

“Of course he is!” Jose Rincón, Beryl’s uncle replied. “Look how handsome he is!”

“No, I mean special in the way we are.”

“How? The Fates brought us Jose Jr.” Leonardo Sinfuentes, a good friend of the family stated as the three men looked through the glass of the pre-natal ward of the hospital.

“Junior did complete the team, you’ve seen the way he controls his powers, and he’s only three!” Gabriel said staring at his new son through the glass. “Pretty soon, he’ll be able to morph into his adult self and fight with us!”

“But what about Beryl?”

“I honestly don’t know . . .”

“Maybe you should ask the Oracle?” Jose suggested.

“Maybe . . .”

<Flash>

"We are an ancient force, set out to destroy evil. We have been around since the ancient times of the Middle Ages when a great darkness was released in this world. It was the magician Merlin who made us what we are. He gave us powers, and said that it would be passed down through our bloodline. There were five of us who were there, each of our future relatives would gain these powers, it would only be shown to them when they needed to be used. Each of our spirits would live on in after our deaths in our relatives. Each member to come would have a piece of us in them, so you see, there are more like you out there. Three of the five families’ relatives are fighting now as we speak. Including you, it is now four." A female voice said.

<Flash>

“NO! YOU CAN’T DO THIS!” A male voice screamed as he was sinking in the middle of a large, glowing lake. “YOU CANNOT STOP ME! I WILL RETURN! I WILL FIND A WAY!”

“By the powers of dark and light, restrain this monster of all might. Magic bound powers withdrawn, trap this evil for all dawn.” Two men with long white beards, one dressed in a blue robe, one in a dark purple chanted over the sinking male.

<Flash>

“I now present to you the class of 1999!”

<Flash>

“No please!” Anastacia screamed.

“Where is he you bitch?” a man yelled.

“I…. I don’t know, I swear!”

“You’ll never get him! I won’t let it happen! You can kill us all, but I won’t let you take him!” Alicia yelled.

“Fine, have it your way! Kill them! Let him know we are coming for him!”

<Flash>

“I’m home! Sorry I stood out so late!” Beryl said entering his home, knowing his parents would be waiting up for him, “Hello?”

He walked in the living room and saw the remains of the massacre that had taken place.

“Oh my god!! HELP!!”

<Flash>

“You cannot hide! We will find you!”

<Darkness>

“Don’t be afraid . . .” A deep male voice said amongst the darkness.

“Huh?” Beryl said, a spotlight shinning on him. “Who said that?”

“You know who this is, don’t be afraid.”

“D . . . Dad?”

“Don’t be afraid my son, you must stay strong, the world depends on it.”

”D . . . DAD!”

“Listen to your father,” a female voice now said. “we have much to teach you.”

“M . . . Mom?”

“You are now a Chosen One.” Another female voice said.

“Anastacia?”

“You will continue our fight against evil.” Another male voice said.

“Tio Jose?”

“You are the one who will aid a team of the strongest men in the universe.” Another male voice said.

“Junior?”

“Yes, it is us.” Gabriel said as they appeared surrounding him with the same spotlights shinning on them. “Beryl, we have much to tell you.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Trust in your visions, you know this is no dream.” Alicia said.

“I understand that, but tell me what? What are you going to teach me?”

“You mustn’t grow angry with us, for our secrets were kept to protect you.”  Anastacia said.

“What are you talking about? What secrets?”

As the darkness faded, it turned into an endless arena of clouds among a blue sky. Looking around him, he saw his family disappear and a crystal ball appear on a table in front of him.

“Look into the orb.” Gabriel’s voice echoed.

Doing as he was told, he gazed into the crystal and saw his family reappear.

“What’s going on? What are you trying to show me?”

“The truth.” Alicia replied.

“What is the truth?”

“You are destined to continue on a legacy that was instilled upon us the same way it is being instilled upon you.” Junior said.

“What?”

“Beryl, you are now a Chosen One.” Anastacia said.

“I don’t understand, a Chosen One? What’s that?”

“We are a team of vampire slayers, picked by the sacred spirits of Merlin’s Gift.” Jose said.

“What?!”

“Watch the orb.” Gabriel said.

*

*

*

"We are an ancient force, set out to destroy evil. We have been around since the ancient times of the Middle Ages when a great darkness was released in this world. It was the wizard Merlin who made us what we are. He gave us powers, and said that it would be passed down through our bloodline. There were five of us who were there, each of our future relatives would gain these powers, and it would only be shown to them when they needed to be used. Each of our spirits would live on after our deaths in our relatives. Each member to come would have a piece of us in them, so you see, there are more like you out there. Three of the five families’ relatives are fighting now as we speak. Including you, it is now four."

*

*

*

“Now what’s the real reason you’re so anxious to get to New York?”

“I dunno, I just have this feeling that we need to be there.”

*

*

*

"Did he give that much of a problem?"                                                     

"I underestimated him. For a couple of seconds I thought I was in some big trouble. I know for a fact he has stronger powers than I do."                                                 

"A little help here?"                                                                

"How much trouble did the Wizard boy give you?"                                         

"A lot more then I thought he would. With every use of his power he gets stronger. If I hadn't figured out how to use that blocking spell I would probably be dead."        

"So these . . . Boys are the ones?"                                                     

"Where's the book?!?"                                                               

"He dropped it when he fell."                                                       

"Don't lose that book he needs it."                                                                                           

"I know, that’s why I have it with me."                                                                            

"Give it to me."

*

*

*

“They are referring to the Chosen One and his team.” Gabriel said.

“I thought I was the Chosen One?” Beryl replied.

”You are A Chosen One, the leader of the team of which they speak is THE Chosen One. Their identity will be revealed to you through time, you will know who they are when you meet them.”

“So let me get this straight . . . You were a band of Vampire Slayers, and from what I’m getting at, I’m supposed to do the same now?”

“Yes.”

”How exactly am I supposed to kill these things? Well, aside from the whole cross, garlic and stake through the heart thing.”

”Firstly, garlic doesn’t work. Crosses and Holy water only work because of a spell that was put on them. Any religious symbol that is of good nature will repel them.”

“So I can use my pentacle?”

“Yes. However, there is more we must teach you.”

“That being?”

“Watch . . .”

As Beryl continued to watch the orb, he saw his family in various fights with vampires. He saw his mother throw lightning and fire from her hand, he saw his father with his super strength and agility, he saw his brother teleport and turn invisible, he saw his uncle with a Katana slice through an ambush of vampires. The last person he saw was his best friend morphing into different people, blending into her surroundings as if she were invisible and changing her arms into weapons.

“Whoa . . .”

“Unbelievable at first, yes, but it is the truth.”

“So what’s my power? My ESP?”

“Yes, but there are more.”

“Do I get to fly? That would be cool!”

“No . . .” Gabriel said laughing at his son’s enthusiasm.

“Then what? Come on dad, tell me!”

“Your powers, just like every other team, will be the same as ours.”

“Huh?”

”You’ll all of our powers.”

“At the same time?”

“Yes.”

”Dope!”

“You are one of the first ones to have this instilled upon you. The only person ever to experience this before was killed before she got to experience her true potential."

"Oh gee, that's real reassuring!"

"She wasn't as strong as you, and the threat of death is all you will be facing."

"Something tells me that I don't get a choice about this, do I?"

"Unfortunately, no. But after awhile, you will realize it as your destiny."

"Just as we did." Alicia said reassuring her son.

"Beryl," Anastacia said stepping forward. "we gave up our lives to protect not only you, but millions of innocent people not only in this city, but around the world from a fate worse than death!"

"We never wanted to keep this from you," Junior continued. "you don't know how many times I wished you were out there fighting with us."

"And now you will be." Gabriel finished. "You're going to wake up and question all this, but you're going to know what you have to do in order to convince yourself. It is at the end of that journey when you will find your powers."

<Flash>

TBC . . .