Uncle left with his chair and mug, quietly closing the door behind him.
“Piers? Piers!” Something shook Piers' shoulder.
Piers knuckled one eye. “Wha… What? Is it time to get up already?”
The light wasn't on. Uncle always turned the light on to wake Piers. He never sat on the edge of the bed either, holding Piers' shoulders. “Piers, you must listen to me. We don't have much time. Your real name isn't Piers Adams. It’s Pieravor Gimitri. You are not from this human realm we live in.”
“But—”
“Shhh…” Uncle's words became more frantic. “Your mother practiced powerful magic, considered by some to be evil. She's dead. A friend told others who might harm you that you were too. I brought you here to the human realm to protect you.”
Human realm? A powerful but evil mother? Magic?Magic wasn't real.“Like the village girl in the story you told?”
“Exactly.” Uncle took Piers' face in his hands. “We move around because some don't believe you died and seek to exploit you. They’ve found us. They'll be here soon. This time, they've put a tracking spell on me. I can't escape, but you can. You must go.”
Even in the dark, Piers saw his uncle's brief smile.
“I didn't realize when I left home with an infant how long we'd be together or that I'd never see home again. But I have come to think of you as a son. I'm so sorry I won't be here to protect you. I've packed your school things and some of your clothes. There's also a book, jewelry, and coins from your mother. I've sewn them into the lining of your backpack so no one else can find them. My friend would want you to have them. I tried to contact her, tell her we'd been found, but I couldn’t get a message through. If there's any way, I will, and she will send for you.” Uncle kissed Piers' forehead. “If you need money, sell the jewelry or coins, but never, ever, let the book out of your possession. Understand?”
What? What was happening? This must be a bad dream. Please let Piers wake up any second now; go into the kitchen for runny scrambled eggs and burnt toast.
Uncle let out a sob. What? Uncle never cried! He'd been a soldier. Soldiers didn't cry, did they?
“Remember, my boy, good and evil are choices we make. No matter where we come from or who our family is, we determine our own fate.” Uncle Lee gathered Piers close. “I've laid out clothes for you. Get dressed, take your bags, leave down the fire escape. Find the nearest policeman. Tell them you need social services.”
“But—”
Uncle gave him a rueful smile. “I know I've forbidden you to play out there, but now you must go.”
Go? Uncle wanted him to leave?
Tears spilled over Piers' eyelids. Please let him wake from this nightmare! He wrapped his skinny arms around Uncle, soaking up comfort. “I love you, Uncle.”
“And I love you, little one. Very, very much. I will give my all to protect you. Now, go. They'll be here soon. I’ll cast a confusion spell. Any who seek your magic will not find you.”
Uncle paused at the door for one last look, backlit by the hall light. He wore the uniform he'd kept hidden for so long, the sword strapped to his back. “It has been my honor to serve as your protector. Go with the ancestors, child.” He shut the door firmly behind him.
No! Piers ran to the door. Locked? This door didn't have a lock. He pulled on the clothes Uncle left for him and tried the door again. Nothing.
His heart thudded. The hairs on his arms rose. Someone approached. Someone bad.
Wiping his eyes with the back of his hand, he put on his backpack, slipped the strap of the other bag across his body, squeezing his stuffed cat to his chest. The backpack weighed much more than usual.
Theywere coming. He'd never seen the ones Uncle spoke about but knew they were real.
They'd haunted his dreams often enough. Something bad. Something very bad.
He put on his tennis shoes and crawled through his window. The metal railing of the fire escape felt cold under his fingers. Dark. No streetlights. No lights shone from apartment windows.
Shivers ran up Piers' arms. He wanted Uncle!
Away. You must get away!Uncle's voice in his head?
Piers climbed down the fire escape and darted across the street, slinking behind a trash can. He glanced at the apartment’s living room window.
Flames flickered behind the glass.
Uncle! He must save Uncle. A flash of lightning shattered the window.
