Underworld by M. L. Woolley Page B

warm in extreme cold and
cool in the heat.” said Tom. He had a set of saddle
bags draped across his arm that had a sleeping back
tied to the back.
    We exited the room quickly and were running toward
the back of the house where the stable are located.
We are outside in a matter of moments and the sound
of wings can now be heard.
“What will happen to you?” I said with concern.
    “They are after you Ivy. We thought you would have
at least a week here before they found you . I’m so
sorry you are being faced with this before we had
time to give you any proper training with the bow.”
Said Tom
I gave Tom a warm smile. “I am familiar with a bow
and arrow Tom. I used to go quail hunting with my
friend and her dad most weekends growing up. I
appreciate all that you and Lizzie are doing for me. I
don’t know how I will ever repay you.”
    Tom stopped for a moment and I thought tears were
welling up in his eyes. He smiled, almost sadly at
me.
    “You don’t owe us anything Ivy. We are here to help
you and I am sorry that we didn’t have more time to
show you around and prepare you for your journey.
We just were not sure you were the one we were
expecting. Not until tonight.”
“How do you know I am the one you were
expecting?” I said
    “The Shining Ones said that we will know the girl
who is coming by the light and she will be riding a Watcher . We saw that first with the locket you wear
but when you held the knife in your hands we were
certain. The knife is made for the chosen and will
only display its power when the one whom it was
created for takes it out of the sheath. I should have
gone with my instincts instead of doubting. If the
information were to go to the wrong person- I
shudder to think what could happen.
Lizzie seemed upset and was wiping the corner of her
eye as though she had done a terrible thing.
     
“Tom. What is a Watcher ?” I said
    Tom gave me the strangest look before he answered.
“The Watchers are the mounts of the Chosen. They
are the “spirits of heaven” that are sent to Earth to
keep watch on the good and the evil”. Said Tom
“I don’t understand Tom. What are they?”
    “You would be better to say
- who are they. They are
the holy ones sent from the Most High . They are a
type of angel child. I have never seen one and never
believed that I would. They are warrior angels sent to
fight the forces of evil. They are given to the Chosen
ones. They are said to be ridden by the armies of
Heaven. They know where to find the Tree Of Life and the seven scrolls by way of the Refiners Fire ”.
“How do you know that this animal is a Watcher ”?
    Tom had a solemn expression and scratched his beard
in thought. He stepped forward and kneeled before
the large horse not looking the creature in the eye.
“If you are come from the armies of the Most High reveal yourself” Said Tom
    A great light was emitted from the animal. The light
had the appearance of a flash of lightening. The
power that surged from the horse was fearful to see
and we had to cover our faces. Something came over
me at the moment the blinding light came. It erupted
and washed through me with fantastic power. It is a
power beyond scientific possibility and truly
terrifying. It courses through me like a monstrous
thing and I plead for it to let go of me. The spirit of
the Watcher merges with my soul and helps me pull
the power back into itself. Then it is gone as quickly
as it came.
    There is no explanation for what happened. I will
never tell anyone of the terrifying sensation of such
power coursing through my body. I felt so helpless
and so out of control of the raw power that raged
inside me. Then there was the sense of having
another being inside my body. It almost felt like I
was being physically grafted with the spirit of the Watcher . How can that even be possible? Never
again will I let myself be invaded by the Watcher or
any other spirit for that matter.
    When the light had faded away I