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Chapter 8 - Welcome to Providence 

We, I mean me and the Hat, walked for what seemed like days. The desert gave way to a road. It was paved but no cars ever seemed to travel along it. We walked for three days and didn't see anything. I knew I should be getting hungry or thirsty, but the Hat kept telling me not to worry about it. I felt this burning in my chest from time to time, but it wasn't like hunger or thirst.  

Not exactly. I kept having the feeling that I was in need of something but having never had it, I couldn't tell you what I was lacking or how to fix it. Whatever it was, it was wrong. The sense of wrongness you get when you drink a bitter liquid and are told you can't spit. The longer we walked the more that sense of wrongness grew. My skin felt too tight like a balloon blown up to the point of breaking.

Walking all day and all night, time gained a surreal quality and my senses became fuzzy, as if I was not seeing the world as I knew it. The road eventually became a dirt path and the Hat said our destination was ahead. We passed a sign that said "Welcome to Providence, population 1,024." The paint on the sign was old and the number had been replaced recently updating the four.  

There was a sense of foreboding as we continued down the road. The air grew thick and the wind picked up. The early morning sky darkened and the smell of ozone filled the air. A storm was coming. The pain in my chest grew stronger, as if a weight was being placed on my chest. My breathing became ragged. 

"Sit down for a second." 

You are awful bossy for a hat. "What is that feeling?" 

"There are two things going on here. The first is your power trying to compensate for your lack of food and water. But in doing so, it has begun to make others aware of it. That feeling is the presence of a Power you are sensing." 

"What does that mean?" 

"It means we need to get you a meal and soon. The longer you go without food, the more likely the Power will overtake you and consume your life essence." 

"Uh, say again? Consume my life essence? That does not sound particularly healthy."

"It means your consciousness would cease to exist and you would for all intents and purpose be dead. This would be undesirable as your Power would be roaming the world uncontrolled. You still have some time before that is something to be seriously concerned about."

"What exactly is a Power? Is it like the use of magic or technology?"

"You have not been told what a Power is?"

"Not the way you say it. You make it sound like a capital P when you say it. I take it that is different than when I say power-plant or power-steering." 

I could feel the Hat shaking its figurative head. "What happened when you met the Great Ones, Kali and Shango? Did you feel anything?" 

Other than scared out of my boots? Or the feeling of complete insignificance in the presence of legendary beings? "No. Wait. I did feel something. But it felt as if they were making an effort to keep something from me." 

"They shielded their Power from you. They were trying to protect you. If you could feel their true power, you..." 

"What? What are they protecting me from?" 

"It is not for me to say." 

"Are you serious? Everyone has spent the last week telling me they cannot tell me about whatever it is that people are trying to kill me over. I thought you were on my side." 

"So we understand each other: There is no one on anyone's side. Powers will lie, cheat and steal whatever they can from you, and take whatever they cannot bargain for. This is a dog eat dog Universe. Season dog well, so when its your turn to eat, he won't taste so bad. The best you can hope for is an alliance of convenience." 

"So you are not on my side?" 

"I did not say that. I said the idea of sides is a relative concept and thinking that people will be fair to you or work on your behalf is one that may get you killed. I sense something of honor about you. Probably from your father. But understand this, we did not come to Providence so you could get yourself killed over your honor." 

"I don't understand." 

"I am trying to keep it that way. A Power is seeking you out. They know you are coming here. Let's keep moving. They will be here soon." 

"Who?" The question went unanswered. 

As we walked, Providence solidified around me, and it looked like any small town from any 1950's B movie I had ever seen. The streets were cobbled, nicely, and the rock was solid under my boots. The town while small, was well constructed and from I could see through the dusty air, seemed to be relatively nice.  

I noted immediately the one thing that seemed out of place. No people. Not on the road, not in the windows, not in the storefronts. But as I moved further into town, I could hear the sounds of voices. A dull roar off in the distance. I kept walking toward the sound. As it grew louder, I saw the first signs of habitation. Vehicles. But they were all old, nothing modern. Yes, they were cars, but if I were guessing, nothing from later than the '50s.  

Then I saw the stadium, or what would be a large football field with stands on both sides of the field and people filled the boxes on all four sides of the field. The place was packed. I could see the two teams playing on the field and the ball was moving down field and the stands went wild. The roar was the old fashioned cheering of the home team. That creepy feeling I had been having seemed to ease up for just a second. This was just a small town playing a weekend football game. Nothing unusual here. 

Looking up at the old-fashioned scoreboard, I could see the score, 10-24 in favor of the home team. Turning away, I looked back into the town when I saw him approaching me. He was wearing a long coat and wore a star on his lapel. He was a large man, whose size became more evident as he grew closer. Under his long black coat he wore a khaki police uniform but he did not carry a gun, I could see. My father's voice came to me unbidden. "Mark a man, not just by what you can see, but what you can't." 

I looked again, this time with the mind of a man whose life might depend on what he saw next. He walked with a slight limp. Off balanced, his right arm swung a little wide. He is wearing a shoulder rig. His gun rides high, likely for a cross draw. He is left handed, his left hand swings, his right, much less. He is wearing good solid boots and a wide hat, to keep the sun out of his eyes. He is coming toward me with the sun in my eyes. Taking any advantage he can get. There was something else about him. He was magically sealed. Some kind of warding,  I could not tell what it protected him from but it was strong. 

"Howdy, stranger. Enjoying the game? Our local boys are whipping 'em something fierce today." 

"Yes, sir. Your team is doing a fine job." 

"I was sent to escort you into town to meet the mayor." 

"How did you know to expect me?" 

"The name of the town is called Providence for a reason, son. Everyone who shows up here, needs to be here. I am the Sheriff of Providence, I am always where I need to be. This way, please." 

"Can I ask the mayor's name?" 

"Certainly, he said you would ask. Mayor Black said to extend you every courtesy. He said its not every day you get to meet the Last Scion in person." 

"That is the second time someone has called me that. What does it mean? If you can tell me..." 

"It means you are the last living member of your house. You are the last of the House of Dragon, the bearer of the Equinox." 

When he said that, the fire in my chest suddenly seared with a physical heat, as if having someone name it brought it to incandescent life. A pulse of force radiated from me in a circle, and as it passed the stadium, the crowd became silent. 

"Now, now. We don't want any of that. We don't want or need any trouble. You keep that under control or I will do it for you." 

"A smart man waits until he knows the lay of the land before showing his hand." I could feel my father standing over my shoulder in that moment. I would wait. I could feel the Dragon curling back up and going to sleep. That seemed to be the right word for it; dragon, I could feel it, a great power coiled within me. Why did it cause me to be even more afraid? If it was so powerful, why didn't it protect my father? Something is still wrong. But the answers feel closer than ever. 

I took a deep breath. I turned to look at the sheriff, who appeared to be poised to take some sort of action. His eyes had narrowed and I could feel the tingle of an anti-magic aura being gathered. I smiled and remained perfectly still. To even raise my hand might be mistaken as me gathering energy or about to use magic. "Take me to your leader."

Equinox © Thaddeus Howze 2011. All Rights Reserved [@ebonstorm]