Rise of the Darkness — CHAPTER 19

Ethan woke up in the morning. He looked at Calla who was sleeping peacefully on the bed. He went to the bathroom, did his morning business and took a shower. He stepped out of the bathroom and went to the closet. He changed into his casual white t-shirt and black jeans. He stepped out of his bedroom and went to his master's room. He remembered everything Calla told him. He sat on the edge of the bed and looked at the painting of his master on the wall. He rubbed both of his hands on his face in frustration. "What am I missing?" He thought and ran his thick fingers through his hair. The information he got from Calla was something new.

"The time will tell you and teach you everything about your future, but what about her future Master. I can't do this alone. I thought protecting her was my duty. But all this is too much for me Master and you aren't here to tell me what to do next? I'm lost, I don't know what to do next? I don't even know Where I am standing? I can't do this without you, I have never done anything without you Master." Ethan said in a sad tone. He was missing his Master.

Calla came from behind and wrapped her arms around his neck. She kissed his cheek and held him tightly. "It's okay Ethan. And you are not alone. I'm here with you." She cooed him. She then stood up and offered him her hand. Confusion was visible on his face but he took her hand. She pulled him up. He stood in front of her. She wrapped her arms around his waist and he did the same. He held her closer and inhaled her berries scent deeply. It calmed him a bit. He took a deep breath and kissed the top of her head.

"Better?" She asked with a smile.

"Better…" he assured her. He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. He took her to the kitchen and made her sit on the counter. He was about to turn but his t-shirt stuck into something. He looked for the source and found Calla's chain. She pulled it out of her neck to get it free from his t-shirt. His eyes glowed brightly as he looked at the blue pendant that Calla kept hidden. He held the pendant for a closer look. "Where did you get this from?" Ethan asked.

"Sophie gifted me this on my birthday. The same day I saw you the second time, well as I can remember. But, Why? What is it?" Calla asked in confusion.

"This is the reason why the Storm Riders still are looking for you but can't find you." Ethan said.

"What do you mean Ethan?" Calla asked back.

"Did Sophie choose this for you?" Ethan asked.

"No, she made me choose. She held so many pendants I chose this one. What is this thing?" She asked him again.

"Do you remember each and every pendant she chose for you?" He asked.

"Yeah, I do. But why?" She questioned.

"Great then, you have to show me all of those pendants." Ethan replied as he picked her up in his arms.

"Wait, why?" Calla asked.

"I'll tell you everything once I'm sure it's what I think it is. Till then keep quiet." He said as he scooped Calla up in his arms and carried her bridal style. He zoomed out of the house and in a few minutes he was standing in front of the fantasy gala. But it was not in their town anymore. It was in another town. He sniffed the air and closed his eyes. He opened them again and in the blink of an eye they were in that same shop where Sophie had brought her. "Agatha, are you home." Ethan yelled as they entered the shop.

"My Master, I'm always here at your service. What can I do for you?" A woman in her late 50s said. She came out and bowed her head, showing respect for her master. She was short with grey hair neatly pulled in a bun. Even though she was old, she was stunning.

"Do you remember this young lady Agatha?" Ethan asked the old lady pointing his finger at Calla.

"Yes, I remember her. I remember her, my Master. You told me her name, Calla." Agatha replied.

"Do you remember she was here with a child? The child almost looked like her." Ethan asked.

"Yes, my Master. I remember everything." Agatha replied.

"That child picked a few pendants that day and Calla chose this one…" Ethan said and showed Agatha the pendant Calla was wearing. "... do you remember all the pendants that child picked up and showed Calla?" Ethan asked.

"Of course my Master. Do you want me to show you all those pendants?" Agatha asked and Ethan nodded his head. Agatha went inside a small room in the shop. After a few minutes Agatha came back with her hands full with all the pendants. "Here you go Master." Agatha said as she handed the pendants to Ethan.

"Calla, tell me, are these the same pendants that Sophie showed you?" Ethan asked Calla.

"Yes." Calla replied.

Ethan examined all the pendants one by one and with each pendant, his eyes glowed brightly but not as brightly as it glowed when he saw the pendant Calla was wearing. "Where did you get these Agatha?" Ethan asked the old lady.

"My Master, I got them a hundred years ago from a broken fairy. She gave me these before she died. I was shocked that day when that little girl asked me to give her these. Never in a hundred years, anyone had asked me for these pendants." Agatha replied.

Ethan examined them all again, for one last time and gave it back to Agatha. "Leave us alone for a few Agatha." Ethan said. Agatha bowed her head and left Ethan with Calla. Calla raised a brow at him, he made her sit and held her pendant in front of her. "Yesterday, it was a question. Is Sophie the one who is protecting you. Now I have the answer. Calla, Sophie is the one who is protecting you. She gave you this pendant for a reason. All the pendants Agatha had shown us, were enchanted. And not just enchanted, they are all enchanted by a powerful fairy. This is the reason why Storm Riders can't find you. And they won't be able to find you in future as well." Ethan explained everything to her.

Tears filled in her eyes as she heard Ethan. "She should have asked me to buy her another. She would be here with me." Calla said between her soft sobs.

Ethan wiped her tears with his thumb and cupped her face. "This could never have saved Sophie, I think she knew it. That's why she played it smartly and gave you this. And you chose this one, this one is more powerful than all the others. I think the special powers of yours I talk about, they made you choose this one." Ethan explained.

"Why couldn't it save her? And why is this more powerful?" Calla whispered.

"Agatha, we are leaving." He yelled. He made her wear the pendant again, scooped her up in his arms and zoomed out of the shop. In a few minutes, they both were in Ethan's house. He took her to his Master's room, he made her sit on the edge of the bed and he also sat beside her. "As I told you, Sophie is pure blood. This pendant and it's power, can't hide the powers that child has in her. Thousands of pendants like this might hide her from the other powerful creatures but no one can hide her from Storm Riders. As per your second question, this pendant is more powerful because that fairy had used her blood with her fairy dust on it. I can still smell her blood. That's why it is more powerful than all those together. Calla, Sophie played it very smartly and she knew what she was doing. You need to stop crying because you are going to help me to get your niece out of the Riders world. We're gonna free all of them." Ethan said confidently and Calla nodded her head. He pulled her close and pecked her forehead. "I promise, we will find her." Ethan reassured her.