Watching Eyes

Light poured from Eli's hands, bright as a thousand suns. The guards covered their eyes, yelling in pain. Dr. Kane stumbled backward, her gun falling to the ground.

"What's happening to me?" Eli gasped. His skin tingled, like tiny sparks dancing across every inch of his body.

Your Lumari DNA is waking, Kael explained. Focus, Eli. Control the light.

Eli took a deep breath and imagined pulling the light back inside him. Slowly, the blinding glow lessened, but a soft silver shimmer remained on his skin.

"Run!" Marcus yelled, grabbing their backpacks. The three of them dashed past the blinded guards, deeper into the cave system.

Behind them, Dr. Kane's words echoed off the walls. "Find them! I want Carter alive!"

They ran through the tunnels, following Marcus's chalk marks. The sound of boots and shouting grew distant.

"Here!" Marcus pointed to a narrow crack in the wall. "I found this earlier. It leads outside."

One by one, they squeezed through the hole. On the other side was a steep cliff with a path barely big enough for their feet. They pressed their backs against the mountain and inched along the ledge.

The night air was cold on Eli's face. Stars filled the sky above them, more stars than Eli had ever seen. He looked down at his hands. The silver glow had faded, but his skin looked different—smoother, with a slight metallic sheen in the moonlight.

"Am I changing?" he whispered to Kael.

Yes, Kael answered. But not completely. You are becoming what you were always meant to be—both human and Lumari.

They reached a wider part of the road and stopped to catch their breath. Below them lay a valley, dark and peaceful.

"We need to keep moving," Marcus said, checking his watch. "It's nearly dawn. They'll be able to see us better when it's light."

"Wait," Eli said. "I think I hear something."

They listened. In the distance came the soft sound of helicopter blades.

"Kane called for backup," Marcus groaned.

The Void will hear it too, Kael warned. We must find better protection.

Marcus pointed to a thick patch of forest at the bottom of the valley. "If we can make it down there, we might be able to hide."

They followed the path down the mountainside, going as fast as they dared. The helicopter sound grew louder. Just as they reached the tree line, a spotlight swept over the mountain behind them.

"They're searching the area where we came out," Marcus said. "We've got a little time."

Deep in the forest, they found a fallen tree with roots forming a small hollow. They crawled inside, pulling branches to cover the hole.

"What now?" Eli asked, his voice shaking. "We have two different groups hunting us, and I'm turning into an alien."

"Part alien," Marcus amended. "And you've always been part alien, you just didn't know it."

Eli stared at his hands. "It's different now. I can feel it—something humming under my skin, like electricity."

Your skills are emerging, Kael said. The light you made back in the cave was just the beginning.

"Powers?" Eli and Marcus said together.

All Lumari royalty have powers beyond our normal telepathy. Your great-grandmother could manipulate energy—create force fields, produce light. You may have similar skills.

"Great," Eli grumbled. "Just what I need. More ways to stand out."

"Are you kidding?" Marcus's eyes were wide with joy. "That's amazing! You're like a superhero!"

Eli couldn't help but smile at Marcus's excitement. "I don't feel like a superhero. I feel scared."

Kael put a hand on Eli's shoulder. Fear is normal. But you are not alone.

The three of them snuggled together as the night grew colder. Eventually, Marcus fell asleep, his head resting against the root wall. Kael stayed awake, his violet eyes glowing softly in the darkness.

"Why didn't you tell me about my great-grandmother earlier?" Eli asked softly.

I was not certain at first, Kael admitted. And then I feared it would be too much for you to accept. Humans often fear what is different.

"I'm not just any human," Eli told him.

No, Kael agreed, a smile in his voice. You are special.

Eli felt his face grow warm. "So, what happens now? If I'm becoming more Lumari, will I be able to do everything you can do?"

Perhaps. The royal bloodline brings many gifts. But it will take time for your abilities to grow fully.

"And what about the Void? Why do they want the royal family so badly?"

Kael's eyes darkened. The Lumari royal family carries a DNA key—a code passed down through generations. This key triggers ancient technology from the time before records. The Void thinks this technology will give them power over all worlds.

"And I have this key in my DNA?"

Yes. That is why they hunt you now.

Eli sighed. "A week ago, my biggest problem was finishing my research paper. Now I'm a hunted alien prince with superpowers."

Life changes quickly, Kael said, laughter in his mental voice. But change brings chance.

"What opportunity?"

To learn who you truly are.

As dawn broke, they took turns keeping watch. Eli's turn came last. He sat at the edge of their hiding place, watching sunshine filter through the trees. The forest was beautiful in the morning light—dew sparkling on leaves, birds singing overhead.

Something moved in the trees close. Eli tensed, ready to wake the others, but it was only a deer. It stopped, looking directly at Eli with curious eyes, then bounded away.

Eli relaxed, but a strange feeling remained—a sense of being watched. He scanned the trees again. Nothing seemed out of place, yet the feeling remained.

He closed his eyes, trying something new. He focused on the feeling, letting his newly awakened senses reach out. Suddenly, he could feel presences all around them—small animals, insects, plants. And something else, something cold and watching.

Eli's eyes snapped open. "Kael," he whispered quickly. "Wake up."

Kael stirred quickly. What is it?

"Something's out there. I can feel it."

Kael closed his eyes, his face focusing. Yes. One of the Void. It is looking, but has not found us yet.

They woke Marcus, explaining in whispers. His face paled.

"We need to move," he said. "But where? They're everywhere."

Eli thought hard. "The ship piece. If we can get to it, maybe it has something that can help us."

It is risky, Kael said. But you are right. The ship holds technology that might protect us—or even help us contact my people.

"How far is it?" Marcus asked.

Five miles north, Kael answered. But we must be careful. Both Kane and the Void are searching.

They collected their few belongings and slipped out of their hiding place. The forest was quiet—too quiet. No birds sang now.

"It knows we're here," Eli whispered. "It's just looking for exactly where."

Stay close to me, Kael directed. I will shield our minds as best I can.

They moved quietly through the trees, following Kael's directions. Every shadow made them freeze, every snapping twig made their hearts race. After an hour of tense hiking, they reached a small stream.

"We should follow the water," Marcus offered. "It'll mask our scent and sounds."

They waded through the shallow water, going upstream. The cold water numbed Eli's feet, but he didn't whine. Anything was better than being caught.

As they rounded a bend in the stream, Eli stopped suddenly. Ahead, the water ran into a small pond. Beside the pond stood a cabin—old and worn, but still standing.

"Maybe we can hide there," Marcus said.

Eli nodded. "Worth a try. It looks abandoned."

They approached carefully. The cabin's windows were dirty but undamaged. The door hung slightly open, creaking in the breeze.

Something is not right, Kael warned. I sense a trap.

"We don't have many options," Eli said. "And we need to rest."

Carefully, they pushed open the door. The inside was dirty but surprisingly well-preserved—a table, chairs, a woodstove, and a bed with old blankets.

"Looks like a hunting cabin," Marcus noted, checking the cupboards. "There's even some canned food."

Eli closed the door behind them, moving a rusty bolt into place. "It's not much protection, but it's better than nothing."

They ate some of the canned beans, which tasted surprisingly good after their long night. Kael didn't need to eat, but he sat with them, his eyes constantly moving to the windows.

"How long until we reach the ship piece?" Eli asked.

If we move quickly, we could be there by nightfall, Kael replied. But I am worried about the Void. It is too quiet.

"Maybe they lost our trail," Marcus offered hopefully.

Eli shook his head. "I don't think so. They're out there. I can feel them."

As the day wore on, they took turns resting. Eli tried to practice controlling his new powers, creating tiny balls of light between his palms. It was harder than it looked—the energy wanted to burst out all at once.

"You're getting better," Marcus encouraged after Eli managed to hold a small glow for nearly a minute.

Evening approached, the light outside fading. They prepared to leave, packing the leftover food into Marcus's backpack.

Just as they reached for the door, Eli froze. "Wait," he whispered. "Listen."

They stood perfectly still. From outside came the sound of footsteps—slow, deliberate footsteps circling the house.

Kael's voice was tight in their minds. It has found us.

"The Void?" Marcus mouthed silently.

Kael shook his head. Human.

The footsteps stopped at the door. Then came a knock—three sharp raps that made them all jump.

"Dr. Carter?" called a familiar voice. "I know you're in there. Open the door."

Eli's blood ran cold. It was Dr. Kane.

"I'm not here to hurt you," she continued when no one answered. "I'm alone. I just want to talk."

She is lying, Kael said. I feel others nearby.

Eli moved to the window, looking through a crack in the dirty glass. Dr. Kane stood alone on the porch, but he could see shapes moving in the trees.

"What do we do?" he whispered.

Before either could answer, the door burst open. Dr. Kane stood in the doorway, a strange device in her hand.

"I'm sorry it came to this," she said, pointing the device at them. "But you've left me no choice."

She pressed a button. A high-pitched sound filled the air, so painful that Eli and Kael fell to their knees, covering their ears. Marcus lunged at Kane, but she sidestepped easily.

"It only affects those with Lumari DNA," she explained quietly. "Interesting that it works on you too, Dr. Carter."

Through the pain, Eli saw armed men entering the cabin, surrounding them. Kane stepped closer, looking down at him with cold interest.

"You've changed," she noted, noting the silver sheen to his skin. "The transformation has begun."

"How did you know?" Eli gasped, trying to stay conscious through the pain.

Kane smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Because, Dr. Carter, your great-grandmother wasn't the only Lumari who chose to stay on Earth." Her skin began to shimmer, revealing a faint silver glow beneath her human appearance. "And royal blood isn't the only lineage worth protecting."