Chapter 11

The sound of the drum beating and electric guitar strummed is softly played by the radio in the car. The rain has stopped about half an hour ago. Emma and Lia are asleep in the backseat where as I’m unable to join them for slumber in the front.

“Another head hangs lowly, child is slowly taken…”

My mind is occupied with all the information that I’ve learned in the past 24 hours. First is the fact the present is changing because of someone is in the past messing with history. Next is my niece that comes from 2030. Finally are the four ‘gifted’ ones who will upgrade mine and Lia’s curse.

“And the violence caused silence…”

I still don’t see the point of the last part. Do we have to risk Lia stuck in her dragon form forever while I have the ability to travel time without limit? No, it’s unfair for Lia. I know how much she detest her curse, and I don’t want to make her suffer this way.

“Who are we mistaken? But you see it’s not me, it’s not my family…”

I really hope the future me can explain thing in further detail.

“You used to sing this song for me every night,” Emma says out of the blue, making me jump in surprise.

I look at the back to see her awake and Lia still sleeping.

“Oh, you’re awake,” I state, feeling a little stupid for speaking the obvious. “Really? The 90s had great songs back then.”

Emma stretches. “You have not been sleeping.”

I shrug and turn the knob down so the music won’t disturb our conversation. “Can’t sleep. I was thinking about the mess we’re in.”

“Really confusing, is it?” she says.

I nod and lean back into the leather seats, staring at the forest surrounding us. “Will my and Lia’s curse last until we die?”

“No,” she says, making me sigh in relief. Unfortunately, I have assumed too quickly. “You and the princess will have to defeat the beast in order to break both of your curses.”

That’s where I’m lost. “What is this beast? Why do we have to defeat it?”

Emma takes in a deep breath, as if she’s about to tell me the longest story in history. “You see, the Beast of Time has been wandering on earth for many centuries. It is harmless and invisible to us. This beast is then commanded by the Dark Lord to cause havoc.”

“Why suddenly? What made this Dark Lord angry?” I interject. I notice Emma looks annoyed at my interruption, but does not voice it out.

“You see, the Dark Lord rules the underworld, where all souls that enters can never leave. One stubborn soul left hell which encourages other souls to follow in his footsteps. The Dark Lord has released hellhounds to find all the souls that escaped the underworld except for the stubborn soul. The Beast of Time, which is the Dark Lord’s most powerful creation, is ordered to find this soul. For so many centuries, the beast has searched all over the earth for him,” Emma explains. I look at the mirror to see her look out the window with a distress expression.

“What happens next?”

“After so many years of hiding, this soul has learned dark ways and he may be more powerful than the Dark Lord himself. We have no idea how, but one way to end this soul is by destroying the world so no one lives. No more souls. No more troubles. No nothing. It was the Dark Lord who thought of this idea and then ordered his creation to execute the plan. The gods, however, are opposed to the idea. That’s how you and Princess Lia come in.”

I look at Lia through the mirror, who is still soundly asleep.

“The gods need two perfect humans to save this world as the gods cannot interfere with the Dark Lord’s business here on earth due to some agreements they made a long time ago. The Beast of Time has the ability to shapeshift, but in his true form, he is as powerful as Princess Lia in her dragon form,” Emma continues.

I choke in my own spit and turn to give Emma a bewildered look. “Wait, so you’re saying Lia has to defeat this beast alone?”

Emma is calm as she answers, “Yes.”

“But she’ll get herself killed!” I almost shout at my niece, not wanting to wake Lia up. “What am I going to do then? Sit by and watch her die in the hands of a creature from hell? Literally.”

“No, you’re given the gift to time travel. When Aria and I make some modifications with both of your curses, you have the ability to travel at will, Uncle Tony. You will bring Princess Lia to the time where the Beast of Time is so she can fight with him.”

“So why can’t the future me do it instead of me?” I ask angrily. “I’m sure he knows a better way to defeat this beast with the future Lia.”

“He failed, Uncle Tony. Princess Lia died in the battle with the Beast of Time and the Dark Lord had changed Uncle Tony’s curse so he can travel to the year 2013 every few days to remind the year he failed in and he is unable to die,” Emma says sadly.

“Wait a minute… Lia died?!” I repeat in shock. “And I will not be able to die? Why?”

“The Dark Lord knew you can’t live without Lia and you would kill yourself to join her. He wanted you to suffer for attempting to ruin his plan so he made you immortal until the time for you to die comes,” my niece tells me, sounding as if she’s going to cry. “Before he found me, he tried every way to join her. Jump off a cliff, stabbing a knife through his heart, a bullet to his head… Nothing worked. Then he has the idea of finding me so I can inform you – the past him – about everything before it’s too late.”

What Emma says makes sense. It is true. If Lia dies, I would kill myself so I can join her. It is my duty to protect her and I failed. I suddenly pity the future me, thinking of how much he must have suffered.

“Lia died because he knows about the situation late?” I ask with furrow eyebrows.

Before she can answer me, Lia yawns out loud and rubs her eyes. This has put an end to Emma’s and my conversation.

“We should go now. Uncle Tony is about to travel in a few minutes’ time,” Emma informs us.

Together, we leave the car and enter deeper into the protected forest of Tigris. Emma is in the lead, me in the middle and Lia at the back of me.

“It’s going to be dark soon,” Lia states as the sky starts to turn orange. We must find the older version of me before Lia’s curse reacts.

“Please tell me you know where you’re going,” I say, looking around the woods cautiously and making sure Lia is following us from behind. It is going to be dark soon and Lia’s curse is going to react.

“I know where I’m going, Uncle Tony. Trust me,” Emma says without doubt in her voice.

I huff in impatience. How can she be so confident that the future Anthony will appear here? Didn’t she say that his curse was more messed up that mine? A part of me tells me that this is not a good idea. Maybe Emma really is a disguised fan girl…

But even if she is, she wasn’t surprised when I accidentally brought her back in time. It was as if she was anticipating for the trip.

 “Can you at least call me Anthony?”

My niece hums, as if thinking. “What about… No.”

I grumble under my breath about how annoying girls in the year 2030 can be. At that very moment, I wonder how it is like in the future. Is it changing as well? What is going to happen to my friends? Why am I not affected by the change? If I were, I wouldn’t have remembered when the palace was attacked by Visis or how I knew Gabriella.

I sigh silently as I think of Gabriella. I miss her scolding me and whacking me for doing stupid things. I miss Rebellious Lads. The guys are supposed to be my best mates, not complete strangers.

“Sweetheart?” a deep voice asks, making me alert.

“Uncle Tony!” Emma screams in glee while running towards the voice. Lia and I glance at each other and fasten our speed so we can catch up with Emma. When we reach the scene, I see Emma hugging someone huge, but I can’t see his face due to the lack of light.

I clear my throat, causing the two to let go of each other. Emma grins widely as she turns towards me.

“Uncle Tony, meet your past self!” she introduces.

The man steps out of the shadows, making Lia and I gasp in surprise. He is a little taller than me, but it is obvious I’m him. He has short black hair that is combed tidily and wears casual clothes, unlike Emma with her glittery pants thing. The reason Lia and I is in surprise is that the older Anthony has scars on his face and exposed skin.

So this is what Emma meant by him trying to kill himself after Lia’s death…

That very thought saddens me. If I don’t change the past, I would be just like him. Lia means a lot to me, even if I don’t want to admit it out loud. She’s one of the very few people who understand me.

“Lia,” he says, looking at her as if she’s made out of gold. He comes up towards us and hugs her.

“Hello, Anthony,” Lia replies, looking out of place with the dress she wore from 1648.

The older Anthony laughs awkwardly as he releases her from his arms. “I’m sorry, but it has been a long time since I’ve seen you. It’s just that, you never changed! It’s so good to see you again.”

“I wish I can say the same, unfortunately, I can’t,” Lia says, glancing at me. I stand there as I watch their interaction. It is clear that he cares for her as much as I do, which strangely makes me jealous.

What is wrong with me?

“Anthony,” he says, nodding at me, which I nod back at. He then laughs. “How are you taking everything you learnt in the past few days so far? Must have been a hell ride of a rollercoaster.”

“Yeah,” I respond and point at our niece who is watching us with a huge smile. “Got the shock of my life when she appeared as if she’s about to rob me.”

Another belly laugh is received from older Anthony. He looks at Emma with a twinkle of amusement in his eyes. “That is Emma, after all.”

“Uncle!” Emma whines, stomping her feet rather childishly. “You better talk to them faster before you travel back.”

That all it takes before older Anthony composes himself. I look at him in surprise, seeing that he looks scarier when he’s not smiling or laughing. He looks like Lord Riddick, which scares me as well, that I’m going to turn out to be just like him.

“You’re right, sweetheart,” he says, glancing at Lia and I. “Listen, you must not repeat my mistakes or we’ll turn out the same way.”

Lia and I nod in synchronization, still confused on what he did and how he failed defeating the Time Beast.

“When I was your age, I have no knowledge about the Time Beast or whatever is happening. The Anthony from the future at that time also failed to defeat the beast, but it is because no one was there to tell him about the purpose of our curse. Naturally, no one did until Emma was born since she figured out the puzzle many, many years ago. Because of that, the future Anthony was told too late. Then he got this idea to go back to my time when I was a teenager. Do you get it so far?”

“The Anthony from the future you’re speaking of is just like you are doing right now, just that it happened to you instead,” Lia concludes.

“Yes, I know it’s very strange, but you have to admit that what’s not?” Future Anthony says with a smile when he looks at Lia with such adoration.

“Strange indeed,” Lia agrees, looking at me.

“So what are we supposed to do?” I ask him, rubbing my hands on my jeans so I can lose the sweatiness that is starting to form.

“Just do everything Emma asks you to do.” Future Anthony concentrates on Lia now. “I know that you hates being in your dragon form, but it is necessary. Elopura is not the only nation that’s affected, Lia, the whole world is.”

Lia nods. “I’ll do it, Anthony.”

“Are you sure?” I ask, a little surprised that she agrees immediately. Then again, I shouldn’t be because Lia would do anything for her country. Even if it means taking her own life, she would do it in a heartbeat.

Lia turns to me with a small reassuring smile. “I have never been so sure in my life.”

“Bloody hell! I’m going to travel back soon,” my future self exclaims. “Listen Anthony, find another way through. Sure, the prophecy says that Lia has to do it on her own, but it’s not enough. Find another way of winning.”

“What do you mean, uncle?” Emma asks, touching her uncle.

“Don’t touch me,” he hisses at Emma. She removes her hand off his shoulder. “Sorry, sweetheart, but I can’t afford to bring you back. We’re running out of time. Speaking of time, Anthony, don’t let her wait for – ”

In an instant, Anthony from the year 2030 is gone, leaving the three of us staring at the empty spot. Silence envelop us as we think about what my future self has told us. If only he had a few more seconds to complete his sentence.

Don’t let her wait for what? Her, meaning Lia or Emma? It’s obvious that this is very important for him because of the desperation that was painted in his eyes.

If Lia or I screw up this chance, I’ll turn out just like him. Suicidal. The pain of losing an important person might make you go insane. Now, I’m starting to lose people that I love; Gabriella, Chase, Daniel and Zack. Not forgetting my family in the past, the Johnsons. I really do hope that at least someone from the Johnsons is still alive after the attack from Visis.

This makes me realize that I have only Lia left. She’s the only person that makes me me.

“Uncle Tony?” Emma says softly.

“Yes?” I reply, unconsciously snaking my arms around Lia’s so we can offer each other’s strength.

“Let’s go back to the car and wait for you to travel back. Lady Aria and I need to cast a spell on you and the Princess.”

I nod, understanding what she’s saying, but not able to move. Lia tugs on my arm so I let her lead me back to my Nissan. Emma is walking up in front. Lia and I trail behind her not too far or too near, just so we can have a little time to talk.

“Lia?” I whisper, tightening my hold on her.

“Yes, Anthony?” she whispers back.

“I’m afraid.”

“Don’t be; because everything will turn out just fine,” Lia assures me softly.

I sigh and stop walking. Lia stops as well since her arms are hooked onto mine. I stare into her eyes that are starting to turn yellow. It is going to be dark very soon and I do not intend to leave Lia alone here in the woods and in my time. Her bones crack loudly, which makes me flinch.

Emma joins us when she realizes that we were not following her. She decides to make herself comfortable by a tree and playing with a gadget from the future.

Lia let go of my arm and takes a few steps back. I want to so badly help her go through her transformation every night, but there is nothing I can do. I’m aware that turning into a mythical creature is more painful than traveling back to time.

Lia finally lets out a whimper when she’s fully shifted into her black-scaled dragon. I walk over to her and touch her wet nose, making her open her eyes so they’re focused on me. She huffs, making me laugh at the slight wind that messes up my hair.

I sit by her front legs, not far from her long talons. Her tail moves so they’re surrounding Lia and I, blocking Emma from seeing us. Now it’s certain that we have our alone time once more.

“I don’t want to lose you, Lia,” I say, plucking a grass. Lia’s silent growl vibrates throughout her body. I discard the grass and touch her sharp talons, wondering how is she going to kill this beast when she never fought before. Lia’s a Princess; not an assassin.

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” I mumble.

Lia only puts her large head on the forest floor and closes her eyes while I keep examining her talons that are going to be used as her weapon one fine day.

The only weapon that might save her if I couldn’t.