Free The Descendants Book One: The Broken Scroll by Kurtis Smith

beautiful.  Blonde curls of hair cascaded off her head like waterfalls billowing downward.  Her eyes were a deep, dark blue and her skin flawless. 
    “So then what am I?” 
    She looked deep into his eyes.  “You are one of very few left in this world.  You are a Descendent of a race of people who existed in the beginning of time.  They were called Ancients.  This forest was their home.  As you can see, it was beautiful once.”
    “Why am I just hearing about this now?  Why didn’t my parents tell me sooner?” Davin queried.
    She did not hesitate.  It was like she had been waiting to say this for a long time.  Her words flowed out of her with the power and smoothness of a polished sword.  She had been waiting for him and no one else. 
    “One can only know when they are at the age of Awakening.  It is the age of seventeen.  The age you just became.  Your powers have come forth have they not?”
    “Yes,” Davin nodded, not wanting to interrupt.  Then he thought of his parents and became anxious. 
    “So then do you know what happened to my parents?  Were they Descendants too?”
    She shook her head sadly.  “Of course, but I can tell you no more than that. I am only the lingering soul of a woman that existed long ago.  I know only enough to tell you who you are and very little else.  I am sorry.”
    “What does that mean exactly?” 
    She again didn’t hesitate to answer.  “Our people discovered a way to become eternal, but not in a complete sense, only to convey messages to future descendants.  Very few could actually achieve this power.  It took great discipline and much solitude.  We who did this gave up a large portion of our lives to obtain it.  My knowledge is limited to these few things I am telling you.” 
    Davin frowned.  He hoped she would be more informative.  His temper flared shortly, and he did his best to quell it.  Shouldn’t she have infinite knowledge if she has existed all this time?  When he said nothing, she continued.  This time it was with more urgency. 
    “You must know that you have power beyond any normal man.  You will need to develop your gifts and become strong.  There are not many of you left.  Your world will need you before the end.”
    Davin grunted.  This was ridiculous.  There was no way he was going to get involved in something like a conflict in the land.
    “What end?  What exactly is happening here?” Davin exclaimed. 
    “Things are set in motion in your world right now that will endanger the Descendants that are left.  There are those who have the power to oppose your kind.  If these events are not stopped, the entire world could be in danger.”
    Davin couldn’t deny the seriousness of this statement, but he still had trouble believing it.  It did sound quite outrageous.  He shook his head in defiance. 
    “Why do I have to do anything?  Didn’t you say that there are others like me?  Let them handle it.”  He taunted her purposefully. 
    For the first time she looked sad.  “No one can force you to do anything, Davin.  However, I feel that you will find yourself in the culmination of these events one way or another.”
    “That sounds like the same thing to me.  How can I decide for myself if it is inevitable?”
    “You will have a choice; there is no doubt of that.”  She paused, half turning to see the other Ancients.  “I must go.  Goodbye, Davin, Son of Old.” 
    “Wait!  Can’t you tell me what these events are?  You must know.”
    She shook her head again in a slow fluid motion.  “I can merely sense the danger to our people.  Nothing more.  Goodbye.” 
    She turned and slowly made her way back to where the others.  Davin stood speechless.  He had more questions but knew she would be no more help. 
    As he watched her rejoin the other Ancients, the scene dissolved and he awoke in his cabin. 
    It was still dark.  The moonlight, presently, danced on the walls as it shone through the trees