Unafraid Read Free

light that radiated from the large round window. He closed his eyes, accepted the church’s offering, felt his face glow, and made his annual wish. This year he didn’t wish for a future away from Weeping Water; he didn’t wish to be rescued and taken somewhere else, he no longer had to. He also didn’t ask that his future only be filled with happiness, that it be spared tragedy and pain, for he knew that would be foolish. He simply wished that no matter what surprises and challenges he encountered this year and for all the years to come that he face them directly and not be weakened by fear.
    Suddenly, an odd sensation filled Michael’s body; he felt warm and wet at the same time. He opened his eyes and saw that the cathedral’s stained-glass window was gone, and in its place was The Well. Looking into it from this new angle was disconcerting at first, but Michael soon saw the familiar, silvery water ripple slightly and then emerging from it a thin, white light that only stopped when it touched his heart. Overjoyed, he knew his wish had been granted. His heart and his soul were connected to The Well, and no matter how difficult the year ahead was, no matter how challenging his future might be, he wouldn’t have to be afraid.
    And what a wonderful change that would be after the tumultuous year he had had, a year filled with events that were still almost incomprehensible. Losing his mother, the horror of learning she had died at his father’s hand, the death of his friend Penry, the disappearances of Imogene and Alistair, the attack on Saoirse’s life and her unexplained survival, the revelation that David longed for the annihilation of the water vampires. He knew it would be a struggle to face each new obstacle with a fearless heart, but knowing The Well supported him, knowing The Well was an ally, would make it easier for Michael to find his own courage.
    He continued to walk across campus and proudly surveyed his domain. When he came across the white roses that sprouted from the ground in front of St. Joshua’s he laughed out loud. No matter how strong and how gifted he might be, he still couldn’t decipher their mystery; their truth was just beyond his grasp. Beyond everyone’s grasp for that matter. No one understood why they were always present, always in full bloom season after season, century after century. No one, including Michael, understood their purpose, or if they even had one other than adding beauty to the school. Michael bent down to caress a milk-white petal that was incredibly smooth and thick, and he felt like a child and an adult at the same time. He was filled with wonder by this baffling creation and the knowledge that mystery was merely a part of life. Accepting that some things could never be explained was all a part of becoming an adult. So too was understanding the need to exercise caution.
    In the distance he saw the headmaster’s office. It looked like all the other buildings at Double A, and yet Michael knew it was unique. It was where David presided, where he and his dutiful subjects conspired to destroy The Well and wage war against Michael’s kind. He knew that David was a formidable opponent, and he wasn’t naïve enough to think that he and his army wouldn’t strike out against them again. However, David’s plans had been thwarted once already, and David had learned that victory would not be easy or achieved without bloodshed, so they had all settled into an uneasy peace. How long that peace would continue Michael had no idea, but he didn’t want to dwell on it, not on his birthday.
    The past, however, was strong and tugged on his memory. In the presence of the office he thought of David’s predecessor, Alistair, the headmaster who had welcomed him to Archangel Academy. He hoped that wherever he was, he was at peace. He hoped that was the case as Alistair had offered him kindness and support when he first arrived