To thank everyone who helped with this book would take forever, so just know that I love you all. I am always humbled with your sage advice. To the readers and fans that have patiently waited for the last chapter, I won't keep you in the dark any longer. With my sincere hope for an enjoyable read, the series finale of The Chosen One.
Recap from the end of Chapter 9
The wife of Kevin Dvorska pulled hard on the trigger and shut her eyes as the concussion echoed off the walls around them. She wasn't prepared for the recoil of the .50 caliber handgun, and it flew out of her hands. In a protective movement, she grabbed her aching wrist as her ears continued to ring.
Nadia laughed as the depleted uranium round sailed harmlessly past her. With a quick burst of speed, she darted over to the pregnant woman. She knew the petite human was no match for her, and she grabbed Laura's throat and lifted her off the floor. Nadia began laughing again as she watched the woman struggle against the powerful hold.
While holding the struggling bride in one hand and the katana in the other, she deliberately strode toward the crippled SEAL. "Since you're so worried about your sweet husband, why don't you join him?"
It was easy for Nadia, given her superior strength, to throw Laura against the cave wall near Kevin. She smiled as she watched the woman's head bounce off the stone. When she saw that Laura was knocked unconscious, her smile turned to a pout, and she looked down at the worried male. "Well that didn't work out the way I planned. I really wanted her to watch as I took your life. Now that would have been the kind of fun I was looking for. Oh well, I don't want to wait any longer. Say goodbye, Chosen One. The prize is mine."
Moaning in pain and with great effort, Kevin reached over and touched his wife's face. "I'm so sorry, Laura. I love you."
Even though Nadia was saying something rude about the love Kevin and Laura shared, he couldn't hear it, as his memory flashed to an image of Atsuko standing in his living room. The small Asian was looking at his medallion.
**********
After Kevin released the older man's hand, he turned to look at Atsuko as she fumbled with her folder full of papers and photos. "Um -- can you really read all those symbols on that scroll?"
"Hai."
Kevin reached into his shirt and pulled the Lycanthrope Medallion out into plain sight. He heard the other council members moan in awe as they stared at the ancient artifact. Then he heard the cowboy wanna-be whistle in a low tone of amazement. "I was wondering if you could tell me what it says around the outside, some of the same symbols are on that scroll."
The petite woman bowed and reached out for the medallion. Placing one finger on the bottom and working her way around, she followed the symbols. "At the -- no, within the light he will -- um -- rule. A human will be -- um -- born again." She placed the medallion back in his hands and bowed as she backed away.
**********
Kevin's image flashed back to the first night in Predjama when he met the old woman sitting in Crook's Creek Pub. Astonished by the revelation, Kevin leaned forward. "So she wins? That can't be possible."
The old woman continued to study the palm. "It is unclear, my lord. I see only what I see, nothing more."
Kevin was about to pull his hand away when Vesna twitched slightly. If he hadn't known better, he would have suspected that electric shocks were flowing through her. He looked down as the pressure of her grip increased. He tried to pull his hand free, but found that the grip was too tight. He glanced up at her with surprise, as the force grew greater.
Kristine gently shook her in an attempt to bring her around from the attack. The trembling did not subside and the blank stare focused on Kevin became extremely unnerving. In fact, the stare seemed to cut right through him. Her voice took on a spine-chilling monotone, "Embrace the light; the time is soon, for the boy who rules the moon. He has but to ask, for his saving grace. The deed be done, he sets the pace."
**********
"...And I'll make sure to say goodbye upstairs for you." Nadia readied her katana as she watched Kevin.
The severely injured werewolf and Navy SEAL picked the medallion up off the floor and held it tight. He shut eyes and softly spoke to the only one who could save them. "Please God, help us."
Suddenly a bright, white light shot out of the ruby and quickly engulfed the entire cave. Kevin screamed out in agony as if his body were being torn apart. He could feel the intense heat coming from the ruby, but he couldn't let go as it burned into his palm. He was about to pass out from the extreme pain, but Nadia's equally loud screams kept him conscious.
Kevin felt his body stop shaking, and though his eyes were squinted shut, he sensed that the light was diminishing and he felt a strong wind sweep into the cave. He could feel it tugging at his body as he fought to remain on his side. When he dared to open his eyes, his first instinct was to check his wife. He placed two fingers against her neck and found a strong pulse, but she was still unconscious.
Turning to locate his enemy, he saw a large, black cyclone of dust and debris in the center of the cave. As he kept looking at it, visions of different human faces appeared within it. Expressions of agony tore at them as they drifted in and out of the spinning cyclone. Then he saw a number of wolf heads repeat the process and from somewhere in the center of the storm, he heard Nadia screaming out in pain.
Suddenly, the large white feather moved out of the storm as if it were trying to get away from something.. He could see that it acted like it had a life force of its own; then a small flash of white hot flames shot out of the storm and destroyed it in one quick blast.
He suddenly felt a twinge in his hand and looked down at his palm. The imprint of the Lycanthrope Medallion was now seared into the center of his hand. He quickly checked his body and discovered the injuries he had sustained in the fight were now gone.