The True Sacres

I enter the empty guest room in this house I hate to call home. The last time I was in this horrid place was the morning before I found out that I was more important than I was told. This room used to be mine, but clearly, the people who lived here wanted nothing to do with me. So, they turned my old room into a guest room. How can I tell it’s a guest room? Because the bedsheets, curtains, and carpet are white and beige, not white and blue. The pictures I had hung of me and my friends were replaced with random paintings. Probably to make the room look nice. 

It all looks so different, yet so familiar. It gives me a feeling of nostalgia and nausea at the same time. I miss messing around with my friends. I miss making other people laugh with my jokes and feeling like everything was okay. But my life at home, away from school, would make things hard sometimes. 

My father always drank and used me and my mother as maids. My mother was always cold to me and never really acted as a mother should. My older brother was usually out drinking with friends, bullying other kids, or stealing from random people late at night. I had nothing to do but clean, so I had loads of time to do as I pleased. I spent most of that free time sketching people I had seen throughout the day. Sometimes, I would even draw what I thought looked like “superheroes”. Little did I know, a few days after I had drawn my last superhero, I would meet mine.

Back to the point of my being in this house I absolutely hate. I was sent on a mission by our leader, Niran Herrian. He is the oldest Abnus out of all of the living Abni, so he immediately becomes the leader. That is how the leader of the Abni is chosen, by whoever is oldest. Although, there is one exception. Me.

I am what the Abni call “Sacre”. They say I am what will help them restore full control in who becomes an Abnus and who doesn’t. The reason for this is because there are many Abni who aren’t under Niran’s control, so they take advantage and rebel. So, our mission at the ARC (Abni Refuge Center) is to find as many of the Rebel Abni and limit their abilities. Some are too strong for their own good and have done incredibly bad things that were near to causing chaos and disaster. 

So, I am quite important and you may be wondering why. Well, it's mainly because I have the 3 powers no other Abnus has. Mind control, transfiguration manipulation, and a sort of sixth sense. Yeah, I can control minds, form new things out of old things with a simple thought, and sense any sort of danger, which means I am the Rebel Abni’s main target. And I was pretty much chosen for this mission because I can sense danger and any trace of dark actions. Even if I die here tonight, I will have left my magic as a sort of protection for the Abni and a curse for the Rebel Abni.

‘Elara Seren, what have you found?’ a voice asks in my head. I recognize the voice as Niran’s. I take off one of my anchor-shaped earrings and press it into the small hole my bracelet has. A hologram of Niran shows up in front of me, only visible to me. 

“Nothing so far sir. God, how I hate this place,” I answer.

“I know, Seren. But you are the only one qualified and available for this mission.” I can tell by the way Niran sighs afterward that he is so done with my ranting.

“Alright, alright, I’m sorry. But I haven’t found anything in the last 8 minutes. Are you sure this is the place?” I ask because I want to leave as soon as possible.

“Yes, it is the right place. Mannel tracked Solano and it led to that room. She noted that he met 7 other Rebel Abni and they suddenly disappeared. All that was left on the monitor were signals of time interference. Mannel believes they must have found a way to open the portals back up. You do remember what may happen if the portals open again, right?” 

“Yes sir, I do, don’t worry. But is Erin sure that they were signals of time interference? It could’ve been anything really…” I trail off as I see a small glow in the corner of the room. I can tell that Niran noticed because I hear his breath hitch a bit as I walk toward the light. I find that the light is actually in the form of some sort of symbol. I immediately recognize the symbol.

“Niran?”

“What is it, Seren?”

“What exactly happened to my family?”

“That is not important right now. Tell me. What do you see?”

“A symbol…”

“What symbol?”

“The Sacre Symbol. You do remember my family’s symbol, right?” I come from a long line of Sacre Abni, so one of my ancestors had created a symbol for the Sacres and the Seren Family. But my Grandfather wasn’t one and neither was my Father. I’m guessing my Grandfather hated the fact that he wasn’t born an Abnus because he never told my Father about them. If he had, then my Father wouldn’t have looked like he had just seen a ghost when a couple of Abni came to take me away from home 3 years ago. I was 15 when I left.

“Yes, I do remember it. Each new leader has to study the History of Abni before they take on the role,” Niran began, “Do you really see the Sacre Symbol in the light? Or are you just messing with me?”

“Herrian, I want you to be honest with me. What happened to my family?” I ask him this because I was never told about what had happened to my family a few days ago when Erin was checking this building.

“That is not important, Seren. Look around. Do you see anything else?”

“It is important, Herrian. I need to know what happened. Otherwise, I’ll leave this place and search for them myself.”

“Be smart about this. If you don’t tell me what else there is in that room, we might have to worry about something more important than finding your family.”

“Wait...what do you mean by ‘finding’ my family?” Silence. “Herrian, where is my family? And please don’t avoid the question. Because if you do, we may take longer than expected here.”

“I didn’t want to worry you, Elara. When you worry, you lose focus and sometimes control. If there is anything too dark around there, you might do something terrible and I didn’t want to take my chances,” Niran’s voice lost it’s stern tone and was replaced by a sympathetic one. 

“So? What happened to them?” I’m starting to get desperate because even though I hated the way I lived, I didn’t hate my family. I can’t hate them, no matter how hard I try. They are my family, after all.

“Alright, but afterward, you must continue your mission. Understood?”

“Yes sir, I do.”

“Well, a few nights ago, when Mannel was following the first 3 Rebel Abni to your old home, she said there were already three people in the house. A grown woman, a grown man, and a young man.”

“My mother, father, and older brother...They were in the house when the Rebel Abni arrived?”

“Yes, they were. And throughout the rest of that day, as more Rebel Abni arrived, they were there the whole time. And the reason we don’t know where they are is because they are with the Rebel Abni who disappeared.”

“What...how...so, they are wherever the missing Rebel Abni are? What if they really did travel through the portal? What if they ended up arriving at a place where only Abni blood can keep them alive? What if-”

“Seren, calm down. We will find them. As long as you keep on going with this mission, we may save the world and your family as well. So, please, continue looking around the room and inform me on what there is.”

“Okay, okay, um,” I took a deep breath. And then another. “There is a cloak on the ground, um, it has the Symbol of the Rebel Abni embroidered onto it. There is also some sort of...device.” I pick up the device at Niran’s command. I notice it also has the Sacre Symbol engraved in the middle of the circular device. “It’s powered by Abni magic. I think...”

“What is it? What do you think?” Niran questions because the guy doesn’t know how to control his curiosity.

“I think...they opened the portal. And...I believe I should go through to their location.” I may sound mental, but Niran did say to find out what happened and where they went.

“No, Seren. You did your job very well, but we can not send you in on your own without backup.” I can tell he says it because he means well, but...when have I ever done as I was told when I disagreed?

“I can take care of myself Niran, don’t worry. After all, I am a Sacre.”

“That is exactly why you can’t go in on your own. They might be expecting you and they may already have a trap set. We can’t risk it.”

“Well, what’s life without a bit of risk?” was the last thing Niran heard before I activated the device. 

Now, I have never traveled through portals before, but I definitely do not like the feeling of it. God, I feel like throwing up. Maybe I should have listened to Niran. Wait...Niran! “Hello? Niran, can you hear me?”

“That won’t work here.”

I turn around to find a woman in a blue and white suit. I look at the pin she is wearing on her blazer. The Symbol of the Rebel Abni. I immediately raise my hands, about to control her mind to tell me what is going on, but she calmly puts her hands behind her back.

“Do not worry, Sacre Elara. I mean no harm. I am not an Abnus,” the mystery woman tells me.

I keep my hands up just in case.“Who are you? And where am I?”

“My name is Belinia. I am the Queen’s assistant. And you are currently in the Royal Gardens of Terminu.” This woman is confusing me more and more each second.

“I’m sorry, the Queen’s assistant? Royal Gardens of Terminu? Forgive me, Miss, but I do not have a clue about what you are saying.” 

“Of course you wouldn’t know. Those disgraces wouldn’t tell you out of fear that you would discover your power and hurt them. How about this? I can take you up to the Palace to meet the King and Queen, as well as Princess Felori,” the woman offers.

“If they can explain to me what’s going on, then please do take me to them.” Felori? I definitely remember that name. But I can’t remember who she is.

We walk down the stone path and I then notice the Gardens. Wow, they are very beautiful. We walk for a few more minutes until we reach a wide staircase that leads up to the front of a beautiful white and blue palace. When we enter, Belinia leads me through two hallways to stand in front of two big wooden doors. She turns to me and says, “Please be respectful, they are having a hard time,” and turns to open the doors. We walk in and I am told to kneel before them. But I immediately look up when I hear the King murmur something and the Queen gasp.

“Sacre Elara Seren, this is King Dorian and Queen Leanne. And it seems Princess Felori is busy with her hobbies at this moment, so you may meet her later.” The Queen dismisses Belinia and asks me to follow her and the King. They take me to a balcony and study me for a moment.

“Excuse me, but what exactly are we doing here?” I am starting to feel uncomfortable and I really don’t want to use my powers against this pair.

“Elara, who are your parents and siblings?” the Queen asks.

“My parents are Henry and Sarah Seren, and I have an older brother, Carl. Why do you ask?” I must admit, the Queen is pretty straightforward with her questions.

“Do you have any aunts or uncles? Cousins? Have you met your grandparents?” She ignores my question and asks me a bunch more.

“No, no, and no. Why are these questions necessary?”

“When did you find out that you were an Abnus? And how?”

“I found out when I was 15. My parents...they were ignoring me one day and I went wandering around the streets. I ran into some people I didn’t know, but they were apparently looking for me.” That was half a lie, but I can’t tell these strangers that I found out after some Abni saved me from my parents.

“You can trust us, Elara. We are here to protect you. You do not need to lie.” Okay, how does she know I am lying?

“Because you are like us, dear sister.” I turn around quickly when I hear a female’s voice say ‘dear sister’. I have a brother, not a sister.

“Sister? I am not your sister. Who are you?” This girl...I’ve seen her before! But where?!

“You have seen her from your very old and faint memories as a baby.” This time, I turn to look at the King.

“You three are Abni! But...only the Sacres can read minds. Are you...” I look between the three of them, confused.

“Elara, do you know who the Sacres truly are?” the girl asks.

“Yes, of course I do. I am literally one of them.”

“Elara, I am afraid your whole life has been a lie.” The Queen is wearing an expression of sympathy.

“Excuse me? You don’t know anything about me.”

“Please, sit down and let me explain.” The Queen looks sincere, so I do as she says.

“Elara, Henry and Sarah are not your real parents, and Carl is not your brother. They are a family who took you in after the Abni took you away from your real family to eventually train you as one of their own.” I try to interrupt, but some sort of spell has been cast on me to stay silent, so the Queen continues. “You have an aunt and uncle who have never met you. And your grandparents passed away just last month.” I am extremely confused now. 

“The ‘Rebel Abni’ are actually our soldiers who we have sent to search for you. And the ‘dangers they have caused’ are actually illusions they create. They are trained to produce explicit illusions, no matter whether or not they were born with the ability. If they were, it's easier for them, vice versa. Their real mission was not to cause chaos and destruction. It was actually to find you. The Abni who took you in have bigger plans than what you are told. Taking you in and training you was just their initial plan for you. You are much more powerful than you think. The reason for this is because you are a Sacre. And no, not the Sacre you were told you were. The real Sacres are actually a family. But here, they are known as the royal family of Terminu.”

“Wait, but if I am a Sacre, and you three are the Sacre family, does that mean...” I was able to speak again, but I was at a loss for words.

“Yes, El. We are your real family and we have been looking for you for many years.” Who I am guessing is Princess Felori came up and hugged me. The Queen and King did the same.

“So, the Abni who opened a portal in the house I was raised in, they were really just leading me back home?”

“Yes. And your old ‘family’ were taken to another location in their world and their memories of you were erased by our Abni to prevent any problems.” The Queen, my...mother, looked overjoyed, and I felt the same way. I mean, it turns out that there really were people who cared about me all this time. Why wouldn’t I be happy?

“So, Elara, what do you say? Will you accept your position as Princess Elara of Terminu and live with us here in the palace?” my father asks. 

“Of course I will.”

“Well then, Welcome home.”