The Beast Within (The Elite Series) - By Jonathan Yanez Page 0,42
how much time we have.”
“There’s more?”
“You want to know how you fit into all this, don’t you? Why you’re not dead already like any other half-blood would be? Connor, you’re the last living member of your bloodline. You, being a half-blood, may be forgiven because of who your ancestors are. You hail from a long line of ferocious warriors. Your lineage can be traced back all the way to the first Judges who inspired myth with their epic feats on the battlefield and their destiny to balance the Five Families. For centuries, your ancestors have been blessed with more strength and power than any Elite has ever known. With this blessing also came the responsibility of keeping the peace between the Families. Every time there was conflict or the actions of an Elite threatened to spill over to the human world, a Judge would rise up and quell the chaos. Your father was the last full-blooded member of your family. There has been a prophecy that one day a half-blooded Judge would emerge when the Five Families needed him most. He would not only save the Families from destruction, he would save the entire world.”
Connor stood quiet for a moment with his arms crossed against his chest. An internal conversation was going on, debating this new knowledge. Sure it was nice to think about how important he was, and even that he could be this hero was worth a second thought, but he was just an ordinary kid from New York. He was Connor Moore, he worked at his mom’s nursery shop, his love life was more confusing than ever and he had a few weird dreams. That was it. That there were these people with these abilities who had managed to stay hidden all these years was astounding, but he wasn’t any savior.
Connor heard everything she was saying, but his analytical mind couldn’t help but wonder why she was so certain that he was the one that would fulfill this prophecy. “How do you know the prophecy is even real or that they’re not talking of some other half-blood?”
“I believe the prophecy because I’m the one that foretold it. I know you’re the one that will lead us out of this time of darkness because there has been no other half-blood in your lineage. This lineage ends with you.”
“You foretold the prophecy? Is that why you stayed to watch me all those years?”
She nodded. “We’ve seen you grow from a newborn baby to the man who stands here now.”
“We?”
“I’m not sure you’re ready for that yet.”
“Really?” Connor arched an eyebrow. “You introduced me to a new race, changed my view of history, and told me I’m going to save the world. What am I not ready for?”
“All right, remember, you asked.” She pursed her full lips together and let out a shrill whistle.
The sound of pawed feet on carpet was heard and the same bulldog and bloodhound Connor met when he visited her house entered the room. They ran straight to Connor, jumping up and down, expressing their joy in seeing him. The feeling of familiarity with these two dogs struck Connor once again.
“Boys, to me.” Morrigan gave the command clearly and the dogs immediately ran to her. Bulldog on the right, bloodhound on the left, they both looked up at her, panting, waiting for her next command.
“You may show yourselves now.”
Both dogs seemed to smile, then right in front of Connor’s eyes they began to change. Paws became hands and feet, tongues shrank, and fur turned into skin. The bulky figure of the bulldog shifted into Joe’s stout body and the bloodhound’s long ears shrank ever so subtly into Pete’s large earlobes. Within seconds, the familiar faces of the men his mother hired to help her with deliveries, men he thought of as uncles his entire life, stood before him. Both looking at him, grinning.
“Never had an idea, did you?” Joe said triumphantly.
“We did a good job, see?” Pete looked to Morrigan for reassurance.
“Yes, both of you boys did a great job looking after him.”
Joe and Pete walked over to shake his hand and give him hugs. Connor was once again speechless.
Finally finding his voice, he managed, “Maybe you were right about this one, maybe I wasn’t ready.”
It all made sense, though. Connor had known both of them as long as he could remember. They worked for his mother and he saw them multiple times every week. Who better to keep an eye on him?