1 The Meeting

2000

Alex Carbol was walking around the high school halls. It was his last year of high school, he let out a sigh as he was relieved that his 10 years as a senior would soon be over. It wasn't because he failed or anything, he just had an ability that no one else had. In a month he could finally consider himself as a 19 year old. No he was not born in 1981, he was born in 1990. Alex contemplated his life and sighed, he didn't want to confuse himself even more than he already did.

"Can we get Alex Carbol to the office? Alex Carbol," the announcements rang out in the middle of lunch. Alex muttered to himself, annoyed, "What is it this time?" He sighed and turned around to walk to the office. His backpack was heavy and he regretted not putting it in his locker. Not only did it hold his school work, from which he was learning for the 10th time, it was also holding a thick book about mythical creatures. It was a leather coated book with golden stitching. The words Encyclopedia of Mythical Creatures was engraved in the leather cover as if it was burned. A lot of his classmates laughed at him for still being obsessed with fantasy.

Alex stopped at the office door and told the person at the counter that he was called.

"Ah Alex you have a private meeting with the principal..." she said with a slight frown, "...again," she added. Alex was so tempted to smack her across the face to get the expression of hatred and annoyance off her. She opened the door to the principal's office, when he entered she closed the door, leaving Alex standing in the room staring at the meeting table.

The office was big, almost like a business office. Brown leather chairs lined neatly along the long grey and white table. On one side of the table his principal, Principal Goldleaf, was sitting wearing his favorite grey collared shirt and blue tie. To Goldleaf's left, sat another man Alex had never seen before. He was wearing a professional black suit and nice jeans. Alex walked over to sit down, two chairs in front of Principal Goldleaf's right, confused. When Alex was called to the office it was usually only the principal and Alex's parents. His parents often came to lecture him to stop being so reserved, and to make friends.

"Your face explains all that needs to be said...confusion", Principal Goldleaf said. He loved reading students' faces whenever he had the chance. His smooth, silky grey hair fell in front of his face as the man chuckled. He brushed his hair out of his face with his hand. Goldleaf gestured to the other man, "This is Mr. Spear, he came here because he is interested in your little ability."

Alex panicked but he didn't show it to the two men. Are they talking about the same thing I'm thinking about? Only my parents and the school's most trusted staff knew about what he had, he thought, analyzing the situation. Secrets, that was what Alex's life was full of. Just a bunch of secrets. The power of immortality isn't as fun as people would think. You will always have enemies to come. Alex looked at Mr. Spear with a suspicious gaze. If he came here because of my immortality, how did he find out? The man looked back at Alex making eye contact and smiling trying to seem friendly. You can't fool me.

Mr. Spear's blonde hair was gelled into a little wave unlike Principals Goldleaf's hair. Spear looked like a normal person but deep inside Alex had a feeling he wasn't. Alex relaxed his face.

"What ability are you talking about? The ability to do math in a second? How about my sports record?"Alex asked, trying to get them to say what they were really talking about. Mr. Spear stood up and walked over to Alex. Alex had just realized how tall this man really was, he was maybe 6ft 2in? The man didn't look that old, maybe his mid 30's? He smelled of Clive Christian No. 1 men's cologne. Rich much? Alex frowned. The smell was familiar to Alex as he got the same cologne from an old, rich friend for a birthday present. Alex didn't look at Spear's face to make it seem not as awkward with the man leaning over him. Alex looked down at the man's watch, He really is rich, Alex said as the watch looked as if it was worth millions.

"Alex, don't worry your immortality secret is safe with me. Plus I'm immortal too," Mr. Spear whispered into the young adult's ear. Alex pushed the man away, almost knocking both him and himself over.

"HOW!?" Alex shrieked.

Mr. Spear chuckled amused, "People with the same powers can sense each other." He waved his hand at Alex. "You have much more than immortality, kid. You can be much more if you let me show you. I can train you and teach you how to control it."

Alex was panicking and he couldn't hide it. He started showing his vulnerability as he started to tremble. All the ten years he's been alive he didn't think he would meet someone like him. He is now caught in, what felt like, a spider web of thoughts. Train? What would he train? I only have immortality and I'm fine with that. I can't just disappear because some old guy claims to have immortality?

"Who told him?" Alex hissed at his principal. Alex's parents could get anyone off the grid, turn anyone into a ghost, or even get them killed and have their existence wiped off the face of the Earth as if they were never even alive to begin with. Alex didn't know or ask how they did it, but they did it. He had hoped his parents would do the same to Principal Goldleaf.

The principal shrugged. "Your parents recommended him. They said it's time you knew."

"It's time I knew what?" He choked out clearly surprised and scared of what the man would say next.

"You're a Lingle Horn." Mr. Spear said with a sly smile. "You were just born human restricting you from getting the knowledge normal Lingle Horns would get."

"Wow. Thanks for that comment. So I don't fit in anywhere. I'm not a normal human and I'm not a normal Lingle Horn, or whatever." Alex sighed and hung his head. He continued slowly, without confidence. "So my whole life is a lie?"

There was dead silence as Mr. Spear didn't say anything. After that moment the man sighed and signaled Goldleaf out of the room. Spear sat down and urged Alex to sit. The high schooler did reluctantly. "I can make you who you are meant to be. Your parents and I have already talked. And they think you should join me and my clan. It is a clan of Lingle Horns banned from the kingdom for not meeting the expectations of the queen."

Alex looked up at him. "What do I get in return?"

Mr. Spear tapped the table, "First, let me tell you my name in case you want to know. My name is Zotar Spear." He then smiled, "and what I can give you is your freedom. A better family. A kingdom at your feet. Even an army. But those are normal offerings given to the people." He shrugged. "I'll give you..."

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What do you think Mr. Spear offered him? Any questions?