Sohmer's Academy for the Gifted - Book Four - Chapter Twenty Five

Marcos didn’t speak for a time, instead collecting his thoughts and deciding exactly what it was he was going to say. He knew without a doubt who it would be in the group who had a major problem with what he was going to say. Well, maybe it would be two people.

He had been hoping they’d be able to just cross into the Shadowlands before he talked much about them, but in retrospect, that was foolish. Everyone disserved to know what they were getting themselves into, even if in the end it wouldn’t matter.

He remembered the first time he’d entered his subject matter for the day. Everything he’d heard on it, everything he’d read had spoken in detail about the dangers, and yet, he had been young, and as the case was with most young people, way too confident in his own abilities. In short, he’d been stupid.

And yet, here he was, much later, about to bring another group through that included some young kids; although he had to say, at least Todd had a surprisingly level head on his shoulders – along with others who weren’t young, but acted like it.

He sighed quietly – it was time. He knew the way he had to go about doing this, so he stared his potentially greatest doubter directly eye to eye and said, “Lauren, why don’t you tell us what you’ve read on the Shadowlands? Your Gift on this is incredible, and I’m sure if there was time you could talk on this, or practically any subject, for hours. But please, I only wish for a brief description.”

Lauren frowned at him and that was enough for Marcos to know this was the right course of action.

The woman who might be known as Prophecy’s Vessel if this whole even ever found itself in the histories, pursed her lips and began. “I have many works by many authors available to me. As you know part of my Gift means I have access to any writings that have been put on paper by humans. If it’s something I’ve never researched before, it takes time to go through everything and find what I need, but in this case, the information you require is something I’ve read before, and thus I can have it at my fingertips in an instant.”

She closed her eyes, breathed in deeply and then when she opened them again, they were softly glowing white. Her pupils were nowhere to be seen. Out of Marcos’ peripheral vision he saw Sarah jump back in surprise and a small smile threatened to break into his expression. He’d been around the Gifted long enough that, nothing about how someone activated their talents surprised him anymore – especially not since he’d had his first Tattoo-omancy class Lauren’s voice disturbed his train of thought and he focused on her once more.

“The great Gifted explored Luis Pea wrote that the depths of the Shadowlands were unlike anything his imagination could create. He offered that we think of the worst place we could possibly create in our mind’s eye, fill it with creatures that are little more than insane with hunger and death traps of every shape and size, and only then will we be scratching the surface of what the Shadowlands are truly like.”

She paused and Marcos saw uncertainty and fear flitter over many expressions, not just the children. Still, it was important she continue.

“It is said that anyone may enter the Shadowlands freely, but only the most hardy survive long enough to escape and tell the tale. Details about the King of the Shadows, as he calls himself, are few and far between, but one thing is certain. He is a being of immense power and he has complete control over his borders and everything within.”

Her eyes returned to normal. “I could get into more detail, but you requested I be brief, so I have been. It is into this place – into this hell that we bring three children, not to mention everyone one of us here. You placated me back at the school when you mentioned you’d been there before Marcos, and lived to tell the tale, so answer me this – Luis Pea is the most respected Gifted explorer I have ever come across. Everything he’s ever written about has been proven to be exact truth. I’m not sure how you’re going to explain this one out, Marcos, but the floor is yours.”

Her face was stone and her eyes bore an accusing stare. He couldn’t help it anymore. He laughed, and the storm cloud of anger that swept over her face produced another chuckle. However before she could open her mouth and rip into him, he spoke.

“I laugh because that was exactly what Luis Pea did himself when I spoke to him of that tome. You see, after I graduated, I took it upon myself to learn from the best. I wanted to see the world, and every nook and cranny that was only available to one of my Gift, and it’s best to know what you’re getting into before you leap.”

Her anger dissolved into surprise and her eyes flashed white. She spoke softly. “If you’ve met him, you should know, he passed away recently. I found his will when I was doing my research.”

Marcos just nodded sadly and all traces of humour vanished from his expression. “Luis was an old man, who had lived a full life, but all the same, he will be greatly missed.”

He continued, “In any case, we’ve gotten off topic. The reason Luis laughed, and similarly also the reason I let my amusement show is this. You were right about one thing, and only one thing, although you cannot be blamed for that. The King of Shadows, a name I don’t particularly like, but we’ll use for now does indeed control his borders with an iron fist. The memory of anyone who passes through is altered slightly. When you leave the place, everything you’ve seen within is wiped clean and replaced with what you described above.”

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