Dad was specific about how he was raised. He and Grandfather were meticulous on his schooling. Not only did he attend a top-notch private boys’ school full of humans, but during the breaks his time was full of Magical History, Magical Talents, Magical Balance, Magical Elemental Skills, Magical Herbs, and anything related to Magical Creatures one could fathom. He was the only person alive who had a childhood that consisted of only learning. Not that it didn’t pay off. He’d gained a full ride to Magical/Human World College, the top-notch college in the world. Upon exiting, he held a position in the Magical/Human Revelation World. Or he did. Who knew where he’d be in a few minutes thanks to his Dad? The job he worked hard to gain over the last three years might be washed down the drain before he got a month into it.
“Do as you were told by me, boy. I taught you long before I left this world. Listen to what I taught you, no one else and you will do find.”
The voice came to life from the depths of his mind, creating shivers across his arms. His father, not dad, but biological father, who along with his mother, and three other siblings had been wiped out by the Orgs when he was eight. The man he referred to as Dad and Grandfather had been his nanny and his father’s right-hand man. The fateful night his family met their demise his father ran into the room with his grandfather and ordered his grandfather to get him and his dad out. The next thing Jeffery knew he'd been shuffled into a dark, musky-smelling secret passageway behind his iron-posted headboard. He never saw his birth family again. He knew his grandfather went back for them after stashing him and his dad at some safe house on the outskirts of the family land that was tucked some miles deep in the woods. Upon his return Jeffery’s grandfather told his dad in hushed tones and where he thought Jeffery couldn’t hear that the Orgs left only bits and pieces behind. His dad’s response had been Orgs and their damn axes all be to the Elemental Pits of Effery Cove. Jeffery knew even back then what it meant, he was a child king to a kingdom that no longer existed. The Orgs had been demolishing every kingdom they came across for years upon years, most putting up a fight and causing a hardship on themselves for years before they lost the battle to the Orgs. His father had been no different. Him and the Orgs had been in a constant state of battle for over twelve years, as long as he and his above-him sister had been alive. The two of them knew nothing different than the results of a day’s battle, but they knew their father came home to them each night and read to each of them. Or he read to his four eldest daughters and to his young son, his heir, the future king of the Kingdom of Effery Cove, he taught lessons of what his life would be like. It was those lessons that Jeffery retold himself night after night for the first five years after losing his family. After that time frame, his anger for retribution faded into a desire for a life of his own and he began to work towards that goal since he knew there would be no kingdom for him to rule. No one knew him to be alive and no one knew his true identity.
“It is time they do. Elder Summar knows who you are, son, and he will make sure your position is restored. Now, do as you are told.”
“Fine, young King of Effery Cove. We will do this the hard way.” The old crumpled-looking man snapped his fingers and chains wrapped around his wrist as a man appeared to hover over him.
“Who . . . Where did you come from?”
“I’ll take the Futurity Teller,” he reached behind Jeffery’s back, snatching the foolscap from his hands. “And as for you,” The burly, well-built man who reminded him of how his grandfather looked when they first fled his castle, faced his dad and touched the top of his forehead.
His dad slumped to the side, landing with a thud.
“What did you do? Is he hurt?”
“The Stealer of Life’s Future is perfectly fine, just subdued for travel. He is unlike us.”
“What’d that mean?” Dad was as magical as he was.
