Life on AkiRa went on as if nothing had happened. Adrianna and Nathan caught a small glimpse of the real AkiRa before Malaki transformed it to be exactly like earth.
Malaki lead Nathan and Adrianna to their new home before collapsing on the front steps. Nathan carried him across the threshold and laid him on a bed in the nearest room.
He then joined Adrianna in the parlor. “He’s getting weaker.”
“He’s dying. There will be no saving him.” Adrianna stated.
“How do you know that?”
“I can feel it. The baby’s already growing inside me. I’ve felt it since Selenity touched me.”
They heard moaning from the room where Malaki lay and they rushed to check on him.
“What is it Malaki?” Adrianna asked.
“There are… certain things that must… be explained to you… before you continue… life on AkiRa.” Malaki answered.
“Like what?” Nathan asked.
“No one… can see you. No one can… see the palace. No… one will be able to… see your son. On the… new earth, you don’t… exist. You only exist… on AkiRa. Everything you… will ever need… you will find in the… the palace.” Malaki’s speech was broken by winces of pain. It was as if he was being torn apart from the inside out.
“How will we give birth to the baby?” Nathan asked.
“You will have… to give birth by yourselves. AkiRa is… a living being. As she… weakens so will… the guardian. Guardians have… short life spans. We live our lives… in about twenty… years. You will stay… at the age you are now… forever. You will… never grow old, never… die, until you give up… your powers as… watchers. AkiRa will eventually… die. She will go into… a sort of sleep… until she in healed enough to… support herself… once again. The guardian will… follow suit. The people of earth… will go to sleep with her, you… however will remain… as watchers over everyone and that… will be the only time… you should leave the palace. Watch out… the windows if… you like. The orb… in the den can… show you any… person, place, or… thing you desire, but you… should never leave… the palace. You can, but it… is not wise. Her sleep… will last for ten years. During that time, do… what you please, but you must… return to the palace… before the sun sets on the last day.” Malaki passed out on the bed and Nathan and Adrianna decided to roam the house.
The palace was huge. They had a garden inside the house, and everything else they could have ever dreamed of. The reality of forever had still not yet hit them.
“Have you noticed something, Adrianna?” Nathan asked.
“What?” Adrianna replied.
“We haven’t eaten in days and I’m still not hungry.”
“Maybe it comes with being immortal.”
“Do you think we can do this?”
“We don’t have a choice anymore do we?”
“But forever?”
After exploring the palace Adrianna and Nathan sat by Malaki’s bedside.
He drifted in and out of sleep explaining things to them as he woke up.
“I can sense… that you are having some doubts about… eternity.” Malaki said during one of his awakened periods.
“How do we choose new watchers?” Nathan asked.
Malaki smiled weakly. “You must… go to the town below and look for a… a special person. When you find… the person, you will know. You must… then show this person… the truth. If the person takes… your hand, you and them… will be able to see AkiRa for what… she really is. They will know… what has transpired. Then you will recite… the verses as Selenity instructed you to.”
“What special care will the new guardian need?” Adrianna asked as she held her now protruding belly.
“You will only live… with the AkiRan guardian inside… of you for two weeks. This first child… will be the only different one. He will… come only a few moments… after I die. Once a guardian… is born they are very dependant upon… the two of you for the first… few years. They are born… with all the knowledge a… a guardian needs to know, just not… with the ability to fend… for themselves, like an… earth child. This child… must never know hatred… or prejudice, to do so would… kill the guardian. Then AkiRa… would be left to defend herself… until you produce a new guardian.”
“What happens if we forget something? Or if we need something?” Nathan asked.
“You pray… to the spirit of… AkiRa. She… will protect you.”
“What should we do when a guardian dies?” Adrianna asked.
“Nothing. We disappear. Only our… clothes are left. I know… this must be a lot for… you to comprehend, but…” Malaki died before he finished his sentence.
Thunder sounded in the distance and drew Nathan and Adrianna’s attention to the window. The sky had turned a deep red and what appeared to be blood rained down on the town below and the rest of AkiRa. They looked over at the bed where Malaki no longer lay.
Adrianna screamed with pain as she went into labor.
good story. It’s really good.
thanx. i just posted the last chapter so it should be up in a few days (hopefully).