Forever and Always Read online

  “Maybe not Mozart, but you could give John Tesh a run for his money!”

  “You know who John Tesh is?” I laughed.

  “Yes, Josiah, even a creature of the night knows icons of such.”

  “An icon?” I guess he was to someone. To each their own, I suppose. “So,” I said. “You’re telling me I can play the piano. How so?”

  “Everything in nature has a melodic scale. Every note, every experience, every memory is played out on the grand piano of life. This piano is only an instrument. It is up to you to find your own song, your own voice.”

  “How will this make me a better fighter?”

  “It doesn't. It will make you a better leader. Being able to express yourself in other ways besides your fists is a very good thing.”

  I walked over to the piano and Goshi got up. “Goshi, before I do this, you need to know I do care about what has led you to me. It is just as important to me as why I have been led to you.”

  Goshi smiled.

  “Goshi, I do have a question for you.”

  “Oh, this should be good. Go ahead, ask.”

  Are you a Mani?”

  It was the first time I had seen him smile. “Yes” he said, “I am.”

  “Wow” I thought you were a–”

  “—a little blue troll that happened to get the Josiah Reign assignment?”

  “It's a good assignment,” I said.

  “I know it is. You and I are making history and you don't even know it.”

  “Trust me, I know it.” I stared at Goshi and realized that in many ways we were in this together. I was glad to not be alone. I was happy that I had a mentor.

  I looked down at the piano. “So what do I do with this thing?” I asked. I placed my hands on the keys and pounded like a three year old. It sounded like a freight train screeching to a halt.

  “Please don't do that, Josiah!” Goshi said, as he stuck his entire arm over the piano keys to stop me. “That piano has been played by some of the most amazing pianists in history.”

  “Sorry.”

  “Just close your eyes and feel. Feel every moment, every trial you have ever had. Feel the pain and feel the celebration. Then allow the music to come out of your fingertips.

  I closed my eyes and opened my heart. I thought about the details of my life in which I had the most to gain and the most to lose. I felt the keys with my fingertips. As I looked deep into my soul, I pressed down on each key. Soon, the music was coming out of me. It was my own music, my very own song. The music moved me to tears as I played. I pressed the keys harder and harder as each memory passed. Eventually, my heart had made its way up to the loss of my family. I looked over at Goshi and he seemed extremely moved by my outpouring. I had seen that look he had in his eyes before.

  I kept playing and as I did, I thought about Lena and the last few months. The music poured out of me. The music became a part of me. I was one with the notes. For the first time since I had become a Mani… I felt reborn.

  Chapter Nine

  For the next three weeks Goshi and I trained every single night. We went over every detail and idiosyncrasy of my gifts and abilities. He helped me master fighting, flying, mind control, and we spent days on telekinesis. Not to mention we found time to get on the grand piano and just allow our souls to play music that would make Beethoven and Bach jealous. One thing we hadn’t done was go over any of my prophetic gifts. I was eager to do so but whenever I bring it up Goshi would teach me something else.

  It was my 24th day of training and when I arrived in the courtyard Goshi was dressed in some weird white ceremonial robe. It was unusual to see a creature of the night wearing what appeared to be a graduation outfit in the year 1900. I wondered if this was the day I had finally reached the end of my training.

  I flew down into the courtyard. These days I could land on my pinky if I had to. I had more control with my flying than I did with my walking.

  “Hey there, blue man,” I said.

  Goshi looked over in my direction with an unusual smirk on his face. He appeared to be up to something.

  “Last day of training,” he said.

  “Really, you think I'm ready?”

  “Not even close, Josiah. But you do need to go home after this, and take some time with your training and let it become a part of you.”

  “Then I'll be ready?” I asked eagerly.

  Damn, I wanted to be ready so I could move on with my life.

  “I will come to you once you have preserved your gifts for a period of time.”

  “You will come to me? You mean back in the United States?”

  “Yes.”

  “You're just going to pop up in all your blue glory? Not to be mean, but you'll stick out a tad in the real world.”

  Goshi looked at me and was not amused. “I will find you Josiah, and we will have one final lesson, or should I say, session.”

  I had more questions, but decided to keep them to myself. I really wanted to go home. “Okay, Goshi, it sounds like a plan. So what's on the agenda for today?”

  “Absolutely nothing.”

  “Really?” I asked.

  “Really.”

  “Then I can go home?”

  “You could have gone home whenever you wanted to, Josiah. You have chosen to stay here. It was always your choice to leave at any moment you felt fit. You never had to come here and see me. You would have been just fine discovering your abilities on your own. It would have taken you much longer, but eventually you would have mastered all the things I have taught you.”

  “So what are you saying?”

  “I'm saying that you are the one choosing your path. I know it doesn't feel that way, but you are the one that is completely in charge. I know it feels like a lot of things are happening that are beyond your control. But, you are the one who is choosing how to deal with them. You didn't have to kill Atticai, train Tommy, or even fight Goliath, but you chose to do all those things.”

  “How do you know all of these things about me?”

  “You don’t lock it away inside you. It’s not a secret. You're an open book, Josiah. And that is not a good thing. That is your last lesson I want to talk with you about before you leave. Only you control the information that you’re sending out. I am a powerful Mani, but Josiah, you have become more powerful than I. There is no reason why I should be able to look into you and know your soul. There is no reason why someone like Atticai, Krull, or even myself should be able to see into your heart.”

  “How do I stop it? It isn't like I'm running around inviting you guys to know the depths of who I am.”

  “Josiah, deep inside you there is still a man. Not a Mani, not a mixed-martial arts fighter, but a man. There is a core of who you really are that you need to protect. The man that you once were before you became a Mani will always live inside you. You need to protect that piece of you by surrounding it with strength and wisdom.”

  “Wow, I like that.”

  “That also means you need to stop believing your destiny is to walk hand to hand with a woman you barely know.”

  “Who? Lena?”

  “Yes.”

  “Barely know? I know her very well. What does that have to do with my inner strength, or lack thereof?” I asked.

  Goshi stared directly at me and said, “You need to stop this fairytale belief that part of your calling is to stand next to a woman who isn’t part of your eternal plan.”

  “Not part of my eternal plan? What are you talking about? How could she not be? Saving her has made me who I am.”

  “And that is where it ended, Josiah. On that night! She was a piece on the chessboard and nothing more. You protected that piece but it’s not going to get you the checkmate. If you choose to chase this fairytale, it could be the end of you.”

  “The end of me?” I was confused. I had always thought that loving her was part of the calling. “I love her,” I said.

  “Do you?”

  I thought about it. “Yes.”


  “Why?”

  “Because all that we have been through together. Do you have any idea the magnitude of what we shared?”

  “Shared?”

  “Yes, shared,” I stated.

  “What you have shared is a myth. A myth that there is some mystical connection that has brought you together. That some life force had decided that she is your destiny. All she has become is a crutch that you’re holding on to because you’re afraid of doing this alone.”

  “That could be partly true, but it’s more than that. I know it. What I have with Lena is real.”

  “Real? What does that quite mean? Real?”

  “There is substance to us. Something I don’t think a creature like you is capable of feeling or even grasping.”

  “Is that so? Is it so hard to believe that a creature like me might know what he’s talking about in regards to women?”

  I looked at Goshi. He was tiny and creepy looking. I couldn’t imagine any female creature of any sort being attracted to this thing.

  “Yes, Josiah! Look at me with disgust! Tell yourself that I couldn’t possibly know what love is. Tell yourself that I have never been in love and that is why I’m being so difficult. Maybe, just maybe the reason I am so indignant about this subject is because I know better than most. I know what it’s like to allow a woman’s love to destroy your true calling, your true destiny.”

  I paused and looked at Goshi. Was he this adamant because love ruined his true calling?

  “So what should I do?” I asked. “Not love her? Turn my back on what we have built?”

  “No, but put it in the right perspective. She can never become bigger than your calling, and if she ever does, I’m afraid that will be the beginning of the end for you.”

  “Okay, point taken.” I was done talking about this. “Now what?”

  “It's time for you to go home. It’s time to apply all that you have learned to your daily life. You need to become more than a fighter. You need to become a leader.”

  I nodded my head at my little blue friend. “Okay,” I said.

  “It's time to go back, Josiah.”

  “Tonight?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay. Wow. So this is it? You and I are done?”

  “We are done for now.”

  “Thanks, Goshi.” I was never good at this kind of thing. “You are a great warrior, and an amazing teacher.”

  Goshi nodded and looked at me proudly. “Go Josiah, I will see you soon.”

  I walked over and shook his little blue hand. When I did, electricity shot through me. It was powerful and it nearly knocked us over.

  “Damn!” What the hell was that?” I asked.

  Goshi smiled, “Don't forget, I am also one badass motherfucker.”

  I laughed and looked up at the stars. I nodded at Goshi and flew up and shot across the sky heading towards my hotel. It was finally time to go home. Thank God.

  Chapter Ten

  It took some slick planning but I managed to get into LAX airport after a day and a half of flying during the night.

  I got into LAX at 5:00 in the morning. It was still dark and I purposely didn't call Lena or anyone else to let them know I would be coming in. I wanted it to be a surprise.

  I got off the plane without an item on me except my wallet. I thought there was a slim chance Helen would pop up again on the flight home, but apparently she was a one hit wonder. I had no idea what that whole situation was all about, and I just chalked it up to another bizarre experience in the life of Josiah Reign.

  I made my way out of the LAX terminal and walked up the street that led into the airport. I wanted to make sure no Tandra would see me as I transitioned. When the coast was clear, I became the eagle and headed towards Yari's townhouse in West Hollywood. As I flew over the Los Angeles skyline, I felt a sense of pride, a sense of accomplishment. I went halfway across the world and came back in one piece. I had been taught by one of the greatest teachers in Mani history. Goshi said I needed to test my abilities in the real world, so here I was in the real world. That probably meant I'll be having more trouble coming my way. I was pretty used to that by now. I didn’t need to worry about that right now. All I wanted was to see my friends, especially Lena.

  I looked down and glided my wings towards Yari's Townhouse. From the sky, her community looked incredibly tiny, but as I got closer it became more apparent how beautiful and enormous the property actually was.

  This would be the first time I was to land on the ground in America, and I thought I'd do it in grand style. I glided down and transitioned into my Mani form seconds before landing, I decided to shift my body in a way that when I landed, I did so with a handstand. As I hit the earth, I backed flipped a couple of times off a handspring, and made a perfect dismount into the parking structure of the community. After gaining control of my body, I brushed myself off walked over to Yari's house.

  I stopped just short of the door and took a giant deep breath. I could hear commotion on the inside and I could tell that everyone was up having a good time.

  Here goes another chapter in my life.

  I opened the door and the TV was on in the living room, however there was no one in there watching it.

  Damn, that was anticlimactic!

  I could hear voices in Yari's master bedroom. They were laughing and it sounded like they were drinking and listening to Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall’.

  I walked over and stood at the doorway. I looked in and Yari, Lena, Tommy, and Wyatt were all sitting around Yari's room talking and yes, drinking. Yari saw me first and screamed, “Josiah!” she jumped up and hugged me. Her body was warm and it was nice to have positive human contact.

  Tommy got up from a chair and rushed over to me “Buddy! What's up?” He gave me a giant bear hug and lifted me off the ground. He smelled like Drakkar Noir, the punk had been snaking my cologne. I didn't care; I was thrilled to see him. He eventually put me down and said, “Holy Crap, Josiah! You look even better than the last time I saw you. Did they feed you steroids in Romania?”

  “Not quite. I just worked my ass off.” I looked at Tommy and his stomach had a little more meat on it than I remembered. I pinched his stomach, “Looks like someone won't be able to go 175 pounds for a few months.”

  Tommy patted his stomach and said, “I know, I've been eating real well since you left. None of these guys can eat, so I make sure I eat enough for the whole clan.”

  “Clan? Is that what we’re calling this?” I asked, laughing.

  “We could call it, ‘Josiah and his Merry Band of Misfits’ if you like?” Tommy joked.

  “No, clan is good.” I hugged him again and looked across the room at Lena. Her eyes were glued on me, and were as wide and beautiful as I remembered. I stopped, and took her in. She walked over to me, and I grabbed her and held her tight. She smelled amazing, and I knew I was finally home. I exhaled and said, “I missed you.”

  She leaned back, “I missed you, too.” She had tears in her eyes.

  “Are you okay?” I asked.

  “Of course I am, you shit. I'm just really glad to see you.”

  I leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips.

  “All right, you two,” Yari said, “remember you have an audience. You are more than welcome to hit the back room and do whatever it is you kids do.”

  I smiled at Yari and said, “We'll have plenty of time for that. Right now, I want to hear about everything that’s happened since I’ve been gone.”

  I looked over at Wyatt. He got up and shook my hand. “It's good to see you, Josiah.”

  “You too, you big lug!” I hugged Wyatt and he returned my sentiments by giving me the most awkward hug I have ever received in return. I think it's probably been years since this guy had hugged someone.

  We all made our way to the living room and found places to sit. I sat on the couch with Lena.

  “All right,” I said. “So what's been happening?”

  Yari looked at me with a look onl
y she could give. It was a strange glance and I had no idea what it meant. I locked in on her thoughts and tried to read what she was thinking, but she was way too powerful. There was no getting into her head, not even a super power like myself could get in there uninvited. As a matter of fact, everyone in this room was probably too powerful for me to read their thoughts—everyone, except for Lena. I knew there were some lines I couldn't cross and reading her thoughts was probably one of them.

  Finally Tommy said, “Not much has been happening here. We’ve all been waiting around for you to return. It's like all of our lives went on hold.”

  Yari shot Tommy a look that implied ‘No they hadn’t’. Something was up between the two of them. They weren’t even looking at each other.

  I decided to ask specific questions. “How is a werewolf getting along with a house full of Mani? Speaking of which, where is Hector?”

  “Who knows?” Yari said. “He's been going off by himself lately and if we ask him where he’s going, he just shrugs us off.”

  I looked at Wyatt. “You two are usually joined at the hip, do you know what his deal is?”

  “Don't ask me,” Wyatt said. “That guy has some serious secrets. I think it’s better if we don't know.”

  “Secrets? Like what?” I asked.

  “If we knew, they wouldn’t be secrets,” Wyatt said.

  “All right, fair enough.” I took a deep breath and enjoyed the room. “It’s good to be back,” I said.

  “So, what about you, Josiah?” Tommy asked. “Did the blue gnome do unthinkable things to you?”

  “Actually” I said. “The blue gnome is pretty awesome. I actually don’t think he is a gnome. I’m not exactly sure what he is. He just isn’t human. His name is Goshi and he is a Mani.”

  “A Mani? Really?” Yari asked. “Are you sure?”

  “That’s what he told me. Why? Have you never heard of other creatures being Mani?”

  “Seriously, other than humans, I didn’t know other life forms existed. I thought he was only a figment of your imagination and when you actually got there it was going to be a typical Mani.”

  “Well, he definitely wasn’t a typical Mani. That little fucker trained my ass off.”