Eyera (The Eyera Series Book 1) Read online

  The road becomes bumpy, and that is when I know I’m back into Siver. I hope Hunter is at home and not in the city; he is the only one I can talk to and is the only one where I can show my feelings to. I cannot do that with my family, my father likes me to be strong, I don’t want my mother to worry and Hadrian, I don’t want him to see me upset.

  The bus stops and I run out not thanking the driver. I run down the path not stopping till I hit Hunter’s house, his house is at the other end to mine, so I’m there within seconds. The door opens, and Hunter steps out, he puts on his steel blue jacket over his white T-shirt and adjusts his brown satchel, we lock eyes, and he immediately walks down.

  “Acelyn, what happened? Are you hurt?” he says, looking up and down.

  Hunter looks with his sharp, vivid green eyes; he is the only one that can read me clear; knowing how I feel, no one has ever been able to read me like that.

  “Eyera guards they-they,—” I stutter not being able to finish off my sentence.

  Hunter pulls me into a hug, and I inhale his ash- smoked clothes. Hunter works with his father as a blacksmith but he prefers to be a glass-smith. When Hunter works he makes me little gifts; they are stunning. He made me a glass squirrel a few years ago, the cutest thing ever.

  “Shh it’s okay, you don’t need to tell me. I know, I know,” he coos stroking my hair gently.

  He takes my hand, and we sit on the steps, I rest my head on his broad shoulders. Hunter and I were not close before, in fact, we hated each other, I could not stand him. In school, he used to tease me non-stop trying to find a way to annoy me and he succeeded. He got underneath my skin to the point I wanted to punch him.

  The girls swooned over Hunter, anything he did the girls giggled like three-year-olds, playing with their hair and blushing. It was quite sickly watching that. I’m pretty sure I was the only girl that didn’t like him or found him attractive. For the past three years Hunter kept pushing and pushing over the boundaries, but one day he took it too far. It happened after school, I needed alone time, so I went to the forest to sketch animals. I came across a huge and powerful stag. I captured every detail, it was peaceful and relaxing to see the magnificent creature up close. I remember seeing Hunter in the trees with a spear that his father crafted. I screamed to scare the stag, but I was too late. Hunter threw the spear deep into its heart, the screams lingered, I ran to the creature to see his eyes open wide, dark and stiff. Hunter ran with a huge smile.

  “Now you can draw it dead, be much easier,” he said.

  His laughter travelled to my ears but soon stopped as he saw how distraught I was, and from that day he stopped annoying me, he couldn’t bear to look at me as his guilt ate him up. Hunter tried to engage a conversation, but I could not look at him. I despised Hunter. I did nothing wrong for him to do that, it was shocking and hurtful. It’s strange to think back on old memories; he’s different now. Hunter used to hunt animals for fun and to feed his family but stopped because it got dangerous, he told me another reason why he stopped. He felt it was wrong and that is how we bonded, time grew, and we became good friends. Hunter will never do anything to hurt me, he is very protective and likes to make sure I’m safe.

  “One day we will be free from this,” Hunter says, breaking the silence.

  I sit up, looking at how serious he is, I trace over his high cheekbones, and his jawline is sharply carved, a favourite feature of mine. He peels his soft lips and two dimples appear.

  “This world belongs to us Acelyn; to all of us, we shouldn’t be scared as we step out of our homes, no one should suffer. We can be free from Eyera,” he says with passion.

  I can’t help but laugh, and his face scrunches.

  “You think I’m crazy,” he says hurt.

  A sharp pain hits my chest: guilt. A little slip and it changes the conversation.

  “No I don’t, I think you are fascinating,” I say hoping it will turn the conversation on the right path and it does, a small smile appears showing off his dimples again.

  “That’s the problem with this world; people are scared to stand up for themselves,”

  His flame flickers. But the person I am, I ruin the moment.

  “Yeah because if you stand against Eyera they will obliterate you within seconds, so what would you do? Stand up and fight for what’s right and die, or continue to live.” I say raining on his parade.

  Hunter looks at me, and he knows I’m right, we can never go against Eyera; no one will, and that is the way it’s going to be, always. I sigh and give Hunter hope.

  “Maybe one day we can be free Hunter, not worrying about the consequences doing whatever we want and pleased,” I get lost in that thought, imagining the world like that … impossible.

  “We don’t have to do what they say,” Hunter says.

  “But we do,” I say simply as that.

  “Now we don’t,” he snaps back.

  Hunter stands up big, showing off his muscular frame and throws his hands upward.

  “Shout it out loud! We can be free. It’s called having faith Acelyn; you should try it sometime,” he winks

  “Now let’s go, Shader,”

  “Where?” I whine as he drags me.

  “To be free, plus after the day you had you need it, now let’s go.”

  CHAPTER Five

  Hunter lifts up the wired fence, and I go under, I wait for him to do the same but he ends up getting his foot tangled, and trips, he jumps to his feet dusting off his shoulders.

  “Shh, you didn’t see a thing,”

  “Oh but I did, front row and clear,” I tease.

  Hunter glares playfully and brushes against me; he takes my hand into his hardy palms and runs. We cut through the forest dodging branches, nettles and leaping over rocks. The wind blows, and earth lingers.

  “Race you,” Hunter says.

  “I don’t know where we are supposed to be going,” I say.

  “Well, let’s see if you can keep up,” he says letting go of my hand and running ahead.

  I shake my head; he’s in for a surprise. Competitiveness runs in my family, especially on my father’s side.

  Hunter runs as fast as he can with the occasional glance over his shoulders, which is a mistake to do, never move your head only use your eyes, it slows you down otherwise.

  I push my legs – catching up slightly, slinking preceding objects like a snake, a burning sensation runs through my veins and adrenaline cruising through my body, the wind hits my skin blowing my hair widely, the smell of pine smacking against my nose and freedom igniting.

  I’m next to Hunter, and he looks over.

  “What the—- you were just back there,” he huffs.

  “Hunter I was raised on running, and besides, I don’t like losing,” I salute as I overtake.

  I run through the forest, not having the slightest clue as for where I’m supposed to be heading.

  “Field,” Hunter shouts.

  I speed out of the forest and onto the open field, running along the blades of grass that catches my boots, my muscles tenses as the field becomes steep.

  “Alright, alright stop, stop, you win Shader,” Hunter puffs.

  I jog lightly to Hunter both catching our breaths in the process.

  “You’re fast …”

  He pauses for a moment.

  “For a girl,” he winks.

  “Ew don’t say that,” I cringe.

  “What?”

  “Only because you lost,” I triumph.

  “Whatever,” he says as he jogs up the hill.

  Hunter reaches to the top arms stretching as he owns the world. I climb the hill, and a clear astonishing coruscating ocean hits my view, birds fly elegantly across the waves, the ocean spreads far and wide sparkling. I’ve never seen anything like this before, not knowing the ocean is this big! It’s glorious.

  I walk to the edge, looking down at waves crashing serenely.

  “She’s beautiful,” Hunter says looking at me.

  I nod e
agerly.

  “She sure is,” I say amazed by this beauty.

  The is wind blows harshly against my skin, sun blistering through the clouds taking over my soul. I close my eyes and silence my mind, feeling free; it’s a weird having this weight on my shoulders lift up. Hunter knows the right places, places that are hidden in this world. Come to think of it I wonder what else is hidden.

  I feel Hunter approach, our shoulders touch, and he looks at the ocean taking in a deep breath and exhales.

  “Do you remember when we were kids and we hated each other’s guts?” he says.

  “Of course I do, I couldn’t stand you,” I reply which makes him laugh.

  “Yeah I know, I never hated you. I’ve always liked you, I just didn’t know how to approach you, you were different from the other girls,” Hunter says.

  “So, you thought the best way to get a girl’s attention is to annoy her? That doesn’t make any sense.”

  “Yeah but it worked, kinda,” he says ruffling his black-inked hair.

  “Hunter, that is stupid.”

  He laughs.

  “That day when I killed that animal, you were so hurt I felt your pain, the compassion you had for that animal.” Hunter doesn’t take his eyes of the ocean.

  “I wish I never did that,”

  “Hunter don’t,” I insist, but he doesn’t stop.

  “No, Acelyn listen, I hurt you, hurt you bad, and I carried that guilt for years, and I still do. But when I come here all my guilt leaves, everything does, everything I feel it all leaves.” Hunter brittles.

  I knew he felt guilty, but I didn’t know he still felt this way to this day.

  “It was a long time ago, and I forgave you,” I say.

  He kisses his teeth.

  “Hunter look at me,”

  He takes a while but he eventually does. His eyes sparkling in the sunlight, skin is flawless and tanned, his eyebrows furrow.

  “But why?”

  “Time heals everything,” I respond.

  I take his hand in mine looking deeply.

  “Now let it go once and for all.”

  A small smile sits on his face; he turns towards the ocean, eyes closed and shoulders relaxed.

  “Feel better?” I say.

  “Hey, I’m the one that is supposed to make you feel better,” he pouts.

  “You already did,” I say.

  We sit on the edge of the cliff, legs kicking. I’m not afraid of heights unlike Hadrian; he is terrified. He gets scared climbing trees because he can’t get down, and I laugh as he screams for help.

  I think heights are great, it’s a rush, a very addictive one.

  “So, do you still want to do that thing you said? I’m down for it but if you don’t, it’s cool,” Hunter says clasping his hands together.

  “You scared?” I tease.

  “No,” he says defensively.

  I tell Hunter all the things I want to do, and this was one of them. I told him when I was twelve years old that I wanted to do something reckless, I thought he wouldn’t remember.

  I nod eagerly jumping on my feet.

  “Alright, on three Shader.” he says a little hazy.

  A huge smile unfurls as he reaches for my hand. My heart jumps out of my chest, am I really going to do this?

  “Gah, I can’t believe I’m doing this, Acelyn, someone stop me.” I laugh at his comment.

  “One … two … three,” we say in sync.

  “You ready?” Hunter says.

  “You bet.” I grin deviously.

  And we leap off the 80ft cliff gravity gripping our feet; our bodies collide into the water making a big splash, water bounces escaping into the air; water clings to my body like leeches, and little bubbles float on the ocean. I impact my muscles reaching out for the sweet oxygen and vault. My body fills with an exhilarating rush, my heart going wild. I cannot believe I did it.

  Hunter pops out of the water shouting with joy, his bottom lip trembles slightly, and his eyes widen up like a bug, his white T-shirt is see-through, and he looks down and laughs, our laughter echoing loudly.

  “I cannot believe I did that; I just jumped off a fricking cliff,” Hunter says, clearly buzzing.

  “It’s crazy.”

  I watch him as he looks up at the cliff in amazement, I take this as an opportunity to splash him out of his daze, his spits out water and licks his lips cocking his head to the side.

  “Ohh, you want to play, let’s play,” he says devilishly.

  Hunter ducks underneath, I kick my legs getting away from him, the cold water flowing through my fingers. A pair of hands grabs my legs pulling me down, I swallow water in the process. I’m only under for a split second as Hunter lunges me into the air. I cup my face rubbing my eyes; Hunter comes up spitting water grinning like a maniac.

  “You asked for it,” he says.

  “You’re such a loser,” I hiss.

  “But I’m your favourite loser.”

  I scoff.

  Moments like this I treasure safely into my heart. Hunter and I swim to shore, our boots hitting the squidgy sand, we get to the dry part of the sand. I shiver tremendously and teeth chattering, Hunter chuckles, and I give him a playful glare.

  We sit on the sand letting the sun dry us, my clothes cling to my body, and the worst thing of all is that my socks are wet, I hate wet socks, they’re so uncomfortable.

  I place my head on Hunter’s shoulder; he runs his hand through the sand picking up the odd pebbles and throwing them. We stay like this for a long time, watching the sunset, tucking away behind the hills, the orange rays sitting in the sky sprawling across making the ocean look breathtaking. When I’m at this moment I don’t think of anything but good things, I feel like Eyera doesn’t exist, the Director doesn’t exist, and we are in a free world, and we get to choose our destiny, our purpose, and fate. I dread the moment of having to let go and go back to reality; I wish I could pause this part of life and stay like this forever.

  “Acelyn,” Hunter croons.

  “Yeah,” I say.

  “What happened in the city?”

  I pick up the sand letting it slip through my fingers.

  “An Eyera officer killed a boy.” I say blue.

  “Slevic,” Hunter says hatefully.

  I take a small breath.

  “I’ve seen worse things than that Hunter, but this, this got to me, he didn’t deserve that, no child does.”

  Hunter pulls me into a hug; resting his chin on my head.

  “It’s okay,” he whispers.

  The sky fades to a darker colour; night is here.

  “Maybe we should get going,” Hunter says.

  We both stand making our way back home.

  Some cottages lit, and others are dark, an old man passes us with his dog on a lead. Hunter and I stop outside my house.

  “Thanks. I needed that,” I say.

  Hunter proffers a smile.

  “Anytime, Shader.”

  “I’m sorry if I kept you from going into the city, I know you had stuff to do,” I say, but he cuts me off quickly.

  “Acelyn, you know I’ll stop the world for you.” he says.

  We look at each other intensely, Hunter breaks away and heads back home. I wait till he disappears.

  CHAPTER six

  A loud buzzing sound rings in my ears, awakening me. I slump over turning off the alarm, today is training day.

  I roll out of bed with a big yawn and head downstairs rubbing my eyes. Entering the kitchen, I hear Mother singing beautifully while she makes breakfast. Hadrian sits at the table with a plate of mixed fruits and plaru with his hands over his ears.

  “Mama you’re a terrible singer, you’re making my ears bleed,” Hadrian says dramatically.

  I nudge Hadrian warning him, and he shrinks down.

  “What? But it’s true,”

  “Ignore him; Hadrian is jealous because he cannot sing,” I say.

  “You can’t,” he sticks out his tongue.

/>   “Never claim to,” I say.

  “Stop both of you.” Mother warns.

  Mother has a heart of gold and rarely gets angry, even when she does Hadrian and I never take it seriously. I’ve never seen her lose her temper, she is calm and collected but Father on the hand, now he has a temper, but only shows it if Hadrian or I have done something wrong.

  I sit down opposite from Hadrian. Mother puts a plate in front containing a portion of berries, grapes, sliced banana and a slice of toasted carmali, carmali is my favourite food. Mother makes amazing carmali’s, they’re sweet almond toasted buns with a little syrup on top. She doesn’t make them often, only if she has enough ingredients, same with plaru, a pastry with raspberry jam filling with a little sprinkle of cinnamon.

  I am about to take a bite but stop as I look at my mother’s tired face, bags rested underneath.

  “Did you only make one?” I ask.

  “Yes dear,” she says.

  I push my plate over, and she refuses.

  “No Acelyn, you eat,” she says sternly.

  I sigh at her stubbornness.

  I stand to fetch another plate grabbing the cutlery cutting the carmali in half putting it on the spare plate. I put some fruit on it too, pushing it towards her, she shakes her head in disapproval.

  “I’m not going to eat it all, Mum. You need to eat as well,”

  She finally drops her guard.

  “You don’t know when to quit,” she says.

  I hold my head up high smirking.

  “Persistent just like your father.”

  I watch Mother take a bite, her face melting over the flavour.

  I take a bite of the carmali, it’s so sweet and delicious, the aftertaste leaves my mouth jumping of joy. I wash it down with a cold glass of refreshing water.

  “Your father is in the gym waiting for you,” Mother says.

  I leave the fruit for Hadrian to finish. I head to the back of the kitchen opening the door tiptoeing down the stairs, it used to be a cellar for storing items, but Father always wanted a gym. It’s okay, it’s tacky and cold, but it works. Father trains me every day from fitness, weights and fighting. When I first started aikido I did not take it seriously, I was not fond, but I grew to love it in the end. At the age of seven is where I found my passion for aikido, Father has taught me techniques and the history behind it. It’s not about the fighting it’s the determination and passion I carry, and how to embrace who I am.