Casey's POV

"...When neither sorcerer could defeat the other, they made peace. Their peace treaty included hibernation for Darkeners until darkness triumphed over light. They decided to put their weapons in one being and have them choose their path. Every Awakener is the descendant of darkness and light, Allric and Cairo. If the Awakener chooses the darkness inside them, that breaks the curse. The rule was to let each Awakener choose their path, but the Darkeners found a way to manipulate things by having the Awakener live in Lands of Azuria. From birth, the Awakener was indoctrinated into the ways of the Darkeners. Their "purpose" was drilled into them every day until the ability to choose was lost. When the time came, the Awakener did what was instilled in them since birth and accepted darkness, thus triumphing over light and waking the Darkeners' dormant powers. Once the task is complete, they become a fully-fledged Darkener. From then on only darkness exists in them".

"So the Awakener can still choose?"

Andrew nodded. "But like I said, Awakeners who live in Lands of Azuria don't have a choice. It's like the story of Adam and Eve. They didn't know the existence of good and evil. Awakeners born in Lands of Azuria don't know Light. To them only darkness exists. The light in them never shines enough to be significant".

I brought my knees together and put my arms around them.

"Are you cold?" Andrew asked, worry seeping into his voice.

"No, just unsettled by everything; that's all", I replied.

There was a bit of silence.

After his showdown with Karen and David in my room, Andrew had taken me with him to the safest place he could find; his cabin in the woods. We'd driven for a significant amount of time before leaving the car on the side of the road and proceeding by foot into a thick jungle. We walked for a long distance. Andrew said it was necessary that we do so in order to throw off anyone who might be looking for me.

When we came upon his cabin I breathed a sigh of relief. I was tired and just about ready to demand that we stop so I could sit – preferably lie down for 20 days. The cabin was so secluded I couldn't even make out city lights, let alone village lights. It looked like we were very far from civilization.

Going with Andrew was a conscious decision I took. The man had just saved my life; and not only that, he knew about Darkeners. He knew much more than I did about the danger I was in. I'd weighed my options as I stood facing him in my room. If I waited to tell dad and Calvin about Karen and David being Darkeners, they were going to think I was crazy. No one would truly understand the danger I was in. Andrew offered me refuge for the moment and I took it.

At that moment we were sitting in the living area of his cabin, drinking coffee he made.

"Do Lighteners have their own world like Darkeners? Like under the ocean or something?"

He shook his head. "Lighteners are not a distinct race. We are human really, chosen to be keepers of Cairo's curse. We bear the mother of the Awakener".

"So if Darkness represents evil, then light represents good. So, I take it then you are the good team?"

"You could say that. Our job is to fight the darkness, ensure the Darkeners remain in hibernation. That wasn't necessarily our job until the Darkeners decided to play dirty".

"How many of you are there?"

"I have no idea. Because we are humans, it's hard to figure out who's a Lightener until the Awakener claims the chosen one. At the moment we are a group of 3. You'll meet the others when they come back. We had planned on finding Riley before the Darkeners did, but now that that's failed, our mission is to protect you".

"How did you know they were after me? How did you know to get there on time?"

"Cairo sometimes sends messages to Lighteners in dreams. Unfortunately they are really cryptic. My dream simply contained the words: A little hearbeat, wrapped in a bundle of cages; the world must greet, a miracle that shall live for ages. I didn't really get it until I was in a bar earlier and met Karen and David. They were talking about the boy they had been sent to get by Isandro Dark. I knew you were somehow related to my dream. Isandro sees you as some kind of threat. I don't know why yet", he said.

"David...he...uh...mentioned that there was no way I could be pregnant. He said that as if it would be the reason they were sent to get me. I mean, it's absurd for me to be pregnant. I'm a guy..." I said.

Who probably has testicular cancer...the words were left unsaid.

Andrew seemed lost in thought. "That could work...as a reason I mean. If the Awakener has a child with someone that is not the chosen one, that renders them impure and until both the mother and child are dead, the Awakener cannot perform his "duty" and neither can future generations. If you were pregnant, it would explain why they are looking for you. A little heartbeat, wrapped in a bundle of cages; the world must greet, a miracle... ".

I chuckled. "Except, I'm not pregnant. It's physically impossible for me to be pregnant".

"Cassidy, at this point, anything should be possible to you. Once awakened, Darkeners can do unimaginable things. You've already told me Riley can appear and disappear; a male pregnancy wouldn't be so shocking. A miracle that shall live for ages", he said.

I chuckled again. "This is preposterous. I'm just gonna step out and call my dad".

"I don't think that's a good idea. What will you tell him? How will you explain the bodies lying in your bedroom without mentioning Darkeners and Lighteners?"

"Um...I...so I should just keep quiet? He'll be worried sick", I said.

"If you call him you will have to explain everything. You'll either end up dead or in a mental institution. Choose carefully", he said.

"What if he comes for my family and uses them as bait?"

"Darkeners cannot hurt humans who are not a direct threat to them during hibernation. Call it a peace treaty. If you stand in their way – which I believe you do – they have a right to get rid of you. Our priority is you right now. You need to be protected. Part of that protection is cutting ties with your family", he said.

"Whoa! I...I can't do that", I said. "We are not even sure I'm what the Darkeners were looking for".

"You know Riley; you know he's a Darkener. This isn't coincidence", he said. "The Darkeners were looking for you. You haven't told me how you and Riley know each other".

I shifted slightly and scratched my arm.

"Um...we are...were friends, since we were 15 years old. We were really close..." I said and my voice trailed.

I knew everything that was happening was connected to Riley, but I hadn't allowed myself to think of him. Truthfully, I missed him.

He looked at me straight in the eye. "You love him".

"Yeah, he was my best friend. I miss him", I admitted to Andrew.

He shook his head. "Were you just friends?"

I wasn't looking at him when I started talking. "For the most part, yeah, we were just friends. Along the way I fell for him. He was dating my friend. I eventually told him how I felt and he said he felt the same way. But then he hurt Matt and..."

"Do you think he really loves you?"

I shook my head. "I don't know"

"He loving you wouldn't be enough for Isandro to want you out of the way, unless that love prevents Riley from accepting darkness", he said thoughtfully. "Even so, love isn't pure like light. It can be tainted by dark aspects like possessiveness and deceit. Isandro wouldn't want you dead; that would alienate Riley. He'd rather try and poison his love for you. There has to be something else".

"I don't think..." I started but Andrew put his index finger on his lips to silence me.

He looked straight at me and I wondered what was going on. He seemed to have heard or sensed something because he got off his seat slowly.

"Hide", he mouthed.

I nodded, hearing my heart beat faster. Someone or something had come unannounced. I watched as Andrew left the living area, right after grabbing his rifle. He didn't make it out the cabin before I saw the main door open and a person enter. Andrew had his rifle pointed at him, a sign he did not know him. I managed to get off the couch and hide behind it.

"Where is he?" I heard the intruder growl.

"Take a step forward and I'll blow your brains out!" Andrew warned.