They Who from the Heavens Came (The Wisdom, #1)

Itzy clambered off her bed and stood but a metre from the Ancient. She had to be on her feet, on even ground with him. Behind her, Myra had gone still and silent.

‘Quetzal,’ Itzy named him boldly. She trembled inside, but she didn’t dare let him see that.

The intruder started in surprise, but quickly recovered himself. ‘Indeed,’ he said. His voice was deep and majestic, ominous and powerful.

‘Who…who is…,’ Myra stammered.

Itzy didn't know how to answer this – so she didn’t. ‘How did you get in my room?’ she demanded of the Ancient.

He looked uncomfortable. ‘I’ve been following you a long time, Itzel Loveguard.’

His words hit her like a punch to the gut. She put her hands to her head to stop a wave of dizziness. ‘No,’ she muttered to herself. ‘No, this isn’t happening.’

‘Itzy,’ she heard her mother say. A moment later, Myra was on her feet beside her daughter. ‘Who is this…creature? What’s going on?’

Itzy shook her head. ‘Honestly, Mum, I…I don’t know.’

‘But you named him,’ Myra insisted.

Itzy swallowed. ‘I…I’ve dreamt of him.’

Her mother’s eyes grew round and large. She gripped her daughter’s shoulders and stared at her like she was just seeing her for the first time. At last, she said, ‘Are you saying you’re psychic?’ Her tone was impossible to read.

‘I don’t know,’ Itzy made out. ‘…maybe…?’ It was so hard to speak when the Ancient stood so near. He was so imposing in his regal stoicism. She cleared her throat and turned to face him. ‘Why…why are you here?’ she asked, terrified of the answer.

Quetzal regarded her. ‘At first, I came for the boy,’ he said. ‘I believe you call him Aidan.’

‘Her boyfriend?’ Myra asked in confusion.

The Ancient looked disturbed by this terminology, but merely dipped his head in acknowledgment.

Itzy stared at the Ancient, frozen. ‘Because…because he has the Wisdom?’ she asked.

The giant arched one of his thick eyebrows. He looked disappointed with her question. ‘You really think….’ He shook his head, and she decided he definitely needed feathers.

‘Itzy,’ Myra tried again. ‘What’s going on? What are you talking about?’ Her tone was so frantic, Itzy couldn’t bear to meet her eyes. All she could think was: So this is how my mother finds out what I really am.

Downstairs, there was a banging sound, like someone knocking furiously at the front door. No one moved a muscle, as if they could wait and whoever was at the door would leave them alone.

The banging came again, this time almost violent.

The ground shook, then, and Itzy was thrown sideways. The mandala rug swam in her vision. She somehow found herself in her mother’s arms, huddled on the floor. The Ancient looked down on them like a god. His velvet robe rippled around him and dripped onto the carpeting.

Another quake struck, and she gripped her mother to keep steady. A terrible throaty sound followed. It was no longer like thunder. It sounded alive.

Monsters, Devon had said. Giants, said Oz. What was making that hideous sound?

The banging downstairs ceased. A minute later, the ground finally stopped moving, and Itzy dared to look up. She gasped when she saw Aidan standing in the doorway. Beside the Ancient, Itzy couldn’t help but marvel that they had the same golden tan. A thought formed in the back of her mind.

Aidan doubled backward when he saw Quetzal. Then he was at Itzy’s side, on the floor. ‘Itzy,’ he breathed. He ran his eyes over her as if he thought he might never see her again.

Her mother’s grip on her tightened. Itzy could read the thought in her head: Who is this, now, come for my daughter? She felt caught between mother and lover, childhood and adulthood.

‘Aidan,’ Itzy made out. Without thinking, she pulled out of her mother’s arms and reached for Aidan.

He took her hand. ‘What is this?’ he asked.

Itzy fought off tears and said, ‘It’s Quetzal. From my dream. He’s real, Aidan, and he’s –’

Aidan held her hand tightly, and she leaned against him, thinking as long as she could hear his heartbeat, everything would be alright.

Quetzal appeared bewildered by their exchange, like it didn’t fit into whatever plans he had in mind. Itzy wondered why it meant so much to him – but she didn’t want him to explain. She didn’t want to hear anything he had to say. If this was to be a nightmare-come-true, she wished she could at least rewind things like she had in those dreams, change them, make them better.

‘Aidan,’ Quetzal pronounced as though he owned him. ‘It’s been a long time since I last saw you. Look what you’ve grown into.’ He lifted one of his rough hands and gestured at the boy. It was hard to say whether Quetzal was impressed with Aidan or disappointed.

Aidan got to his feet, taking Itzy with him, and eyed the Ancient with suspicion. ‘Who are ye?’ he demanded.

Quetzal took a deep breath and lifted his great eagle-like head. He clasped his hands in front of him and studied Aidan. ‘I’m not sure where to start with this,’ he said. ‘It goes so far back. But I suppose, Aidan, you might say I’m your father.’