Rise of Xavia

by Tara Chau

  “Di?” Gabe’s voice pulls me from my sea of thoughts. I look beside me, at him. "You good? You've been drifting off since the fight. Are you feeling alright?”

  I know that he’s talking about the Xavia attack, but I can't help remembering our fight. It was the first conflict we had had; Gabe was trying to bench me, and I was trying not to break into hot burning flames. After that, I tried leaving, and then he kind of kissed me. It was only a brush of lips, but then he tried telling me something I wasn't going to let him say. Not for my benefit, but his. If I had let him say those precious words, then he would surely regret it later. He wouldn't be able to take them back.

  Gabe is right, though; I have been retreating into my mind a lot since then. It’s becoming a habit. Whenever I’m not busy doing something, I try to work through things that portals me into my very own world, which is very hard to get back from.

  “Di?” Gabe calls.

  Damn.

  "Yeah, sorry, I'm good. What's wrong?” I ask.

  "We should go; Daniel's finished talking,” he points out.

  “Who?” I ask, confused.

  “The man who was just speaking, he’s the head of this Sanctuary. He is also Astrid’s partner. They’re Ker-ah,” he says.

  “Okay,” I nod, “Hang on, when did he finish? And what’s…Ker-ah?” I ask wonderingly.

  “About three minutes ago. The second question I'll explain…some other time,” Gabe says slowly, almost cautiously. I make a note to interrogate him further another time.

  “Oh, alright, what should we do? I don’t have to be home till six,” I recall.

  Gabe takes half a step towards me, careful not to get too close. He's about to suggest something when Jessica comes running.

  “Gabe!” she yells. “One of the prisoners slipped up. We have a lead on where one of the hideouts might be!”

  Both Gabe and I just stare at her. Did she just say that we have a lead?

  "Come on! I'm headed to collect all our weapons. Quickly change into something stealthier. It's a recon mission only,” she says.

  Gabe snaps into action, making to run after Jessica. I grab at his arm, holding tight. He freezes at my touch, stiffening before looking back at me.

  Let me come.

  I plead. Gabe knows what I'm asking without me needing to speak. He looks reluctant for a few seconds, then nods. We race around corners until we both crash into his room. Gabe dashes over to his wardrobe and starts flinging things everywhere.

  “Pull this on.” He tosses me a baggy black shirt, continuing to search his cupboards.

  I look down at the black T-shirt, not moving to put it on. Looking up at Gabe, I see him shove on a black hoody over the top of his usual grey shirt.

  "Is something wrong?" he asks, spying the shirt still hanging from my arm.

  “What’s wrong with the clothes I’m wearing now?” I ask, looking down at my tight green top and jeans.

  “They’re too…noticeable,” he says. As soon as it comes out of his mouth, he blushed a dark shade of pink, averting his eyes to anywhere but my face. I smile and look at him expectantly.

  “What?” he asks innocently.

  “Turn around,” I say obviously.

  Gabe blushed darker and turned around swiftly. I laugh softly at him and strip off my tight top, yanking on the loose shirt. I'm hit with a cloud of sweet-smelling cinnamon and chestnut. I breathe it in, marvelling at how strong the scent is. Gabe must have recently worn it.

  “You decent?” He asks cautiously.

  “Yes, you can turn around now,” he spins and looks at me like he's trying to figure out a tough question.

  Gabe walks up to me; this is the closest he's been to me in days. I can tell that it costs him by the quickening of his breath. Gabe reaches behind me and pulls out the elastic band holding my hair in place, causing my hair to spring and flow around my shoulders. He takes hold of my wrist and loops the band around it before dropping my hand again.

  “Better?” I ask.

  “Much, this will help you blend in more. I don’t have long hair like you, so I have to wear a hoody,” he explains.

  “Right,” I nod. “Let’s move.”

  We both run out of the room and head for the back. I spot the van and the others waiting for us a few metres away. We approach them, and Anne gives me an encouraging smile.

  “Jess, I hope you’ve got a spare sword or something for Dianna,” Gabe says. I haven't heard him say my full name in a while. It sounds strange coming from him.

  “You of all people know that I never pack lightly,” she says with a sweet but deadly grin.

  “Let’s go,” Anne speaks up. “We may not be stressed for time, but it’s better that we get there as soon as possible. Hopefully, we’ll be able to obtain some valuable information.”

  Everyone files into the van, Ty and Hayden up front again, Anne and Jessica in the middle two seats, me and Gabe in the back, leaving a spare seat in case one of the rouges gets the honour of driving with us. Ty starts the van, and we drive off; I wonder how he can drive when he only turned seventeen about a month ago.

  “Make sure you stay close, okay?” Gabe demands from next to me.

  "I can take care of myself. I'll be okay, Gabe,” I assure.

  “Stay close,” he repeats.

  I nod, and it seems to satisfy him. He smiles at me, which makes me want to melt into a puddle of goo.

  “Say,” Anne turns around to speak to the both of us. “Are you two dating now or what?” She asks unprofessionally.

  I blush maddeningly and slouch down into the chair. I expect Gabe to yell and tell her that we aren’t a thing. Instead, he surprises me by smiling charmingly and speaking in a completely civil and strong voice.

  “Na-Na, I love you, but that’s not any of your business,” he emphasises the silly nickname he assigned to Anne when she was little. We all know how much she hates it.

  “You two really need to DTR. Like ASAP,” she continues, her use of abbreviations somehow making it more embarrassing and confusing.

  I straighten up and glare at her. Anne knows exactly what I mean when I glare at her like this. I'm being more than obvious about it right now. She smiles innocently and winks before turning around. I look at Gabe next to me, who is smiling to himself for some reason.

  “What does DTR mean?” I ask regretfully, slightly embarrassed that I have no idea.

  “I have no clue,” Gabe admits with a low chuckle.

  We both laugh out our cluelessness. “But we do have to talk,” he says softly.

  I sigh and nod, I was hoping to prevent this talk for as long as possible, but I guess we really should figure this out. Whatever this is.

  “I’m free after this,” he says with a small smile.

  “It’s a date,” I tease.

  He looks at me amusedly and is about to say something when the van stops suddenly, jerking everyone forward. A chorus of groans come from the van, front and back.

  “Sorry,” Ty calls out from the front. "We're here,” he adds.

  “Where is 'here?’" Gabe asks.

  “Would you believe me if I told you that we’re at the movies?” Hayden asks.

  "That depends," I say worriedly. "Are we here to see the movies or to break into them?"

  “Why don’t you take a jolly good guess?” he asks with a wide smile.

  I groan and wish that I hadn’t asked. “Let’s just go,” I grumble.

  Everyone snickers at me as we all get out and walk around to the boot, where all our weapons are being stored.

  Anne opens the boot and starts to hand out the weapons. She hands Gabe his bow and quiver, Hayden a handle-wood axe, and Ty a long golden sword. She then pulls out two gorgeous daggers and tucks them into her coat, tossing Jessica a small item. She walks over to me. I'm about to ask her what it is when something shiny catches my eye. Anne is holding a silver sword, about the length of my forearm. Its handle is
neatly wrapped in black leather. I take hold of it and swing it around a couple of times. It is heavy but not enough to drag me down; it would definitely hurt to be on the receiving end of this thing.

  “It’s the only spare weapon left,” Anne says sadly. “I promise that once we get back, we’ll go and pick out your first real weapon. Then you can practice with it, and it will become your best friend.”

  “That roles already been filled,” I say with a smile, “but I would like my own weapon,” I add thoughtfully.

  Anne smiles and takes a step back before calling out. “Come on, gather round. I'll explain what's happening.”

  Gabe comes to a stop beside me. We stand only a few centimetres apart but not touching.

  "The cinemas closed, but that doesn't mean you can go around setting off every alarm you can find,” Anne expresses. “I’ll split you into teams that will scan the different rooms and halls. Hayden and I, Dianna and Jess, Gabe and Ty.”

  “Anne, let me-” Gabe starts.

  “These groups are to ensure maximum work is fulfilled, Gabe. Di is more than safe with Jessica; I know that for certain,” Anne insures.

  Gabe looks across at me, locks eyes with mine.

  Be safe.

  I nod slightly and answer. Watch your back.

  We don't need to speak to understand each other anymore. Just by watching each other, we could have our very own unspoken conversation. Everyone breaks apart, moving to enter the cinema through different sections.

  Jessica and I were told to scan cinemas one, two, and three. It had been twenty minutes, and we still hadn't seen anything. We walk quietly, Jessica ready and me jumping at even the smallest of sounds. Gabe and Ty were assigned four and five but also the front desk area. I'm sure that Anne partnered them together so they could seek out their problems with each other. Anne really knows how to make things awkward.

  “I always thought that Gabe or Ty led this group.” I am the first to break the silence.

  “No,” Jessica corrects. “Each of us takes the lead depending on what the situation is. Anne is leading this one because she is a great negotiator. If we were to get caught, then she will be able to bargain for our release. Gabe is a specialist in stealth attacks. Ty is good in combat. Hayden leads when it comes to missions that need to be in and out within a specific amount of time. And me, I come in when there is a mystery, and we don’t know what we are dealing with at all.”

  “So, there is a possibility that we could get caught?” I ask worriedly.

  “It depends,” she answers.

  We round the bend, and I hit a flesh wall. I scream so loud that Jessica jumps and trips over. It’s dark, so I don't know who I've run into. All I know is that it came so quietly that not even Jessica heard it.

  “Shhh, quiet, it's just me, Gabe.”

  “Shit.” I let out a big breath that I had unintentionally been holding. “Shit, shit, shit. Gabe!” I yell.

  “Shhhh. Keep it down,” he whispers urgently. “We found where they are hiding. Come on." He starts running as Jessica gets up, and we run after him.

  Around the corner, there is a faint glow of light emanating from under a closed door. Everyone is already crowded around it listening. I creep up and stand next to Anne, tuning my ears to listen to what they're saying. I hear voices, one female one male. They're fighting softly but aggressively.

  “Xavia needs her!” the male shouts.

  “No, we don’t. She will not join us willingly. Dyla will make sure of that,” the woman argues.

  “The one of roses, we need her. Not moon.”

  “Moon will join us; she was reborn for this very task,” the woman announces.

  I look over at Gabe, who is on the opposite side of me. His face is white as parchment, and his eyes have gone black.

  The man speaks in a low dangerous tone. "We gain the eye of roses. Then the rest will either follow or fall. She is too powerful to be left to them. What will stop the Protectors from using her now? The only way to ensure our safety is to obtain Dianna.”

  I fall against the door, pushing it open and stumbling through. Crap.

  The two people look at me, shocked. The man's mouth spreads into a toothy grin, and the woman sneers.

  “Grab her,” the man orders.

  I focus on myself, on the air around me. I touch the power lying inside me, I feel it lying just beneath the surface, and it doesn't take much for me to release it. Everything goes still. I turn around to see all my team members staring in horror. Oh, gods. What have I done? Time is starting to speed up again. I should really start practising this more often. I run towards the others and focus on them. Time moves, the air around me shimmers, and the lady falls to the floor with a thud.

  “Run!” I shout.

  They all look at me, confusion playing on their faces. The man barks, and we all run, going faster than any human could ever go. I barely take in the sensation of moving faster than wind, moving faster than possible. We reach the van within a minute with Xavia right on our heels. Pushing our way into the van, we slam the door just in time. I jump as they crash against the door.

  “Drive!” Anne yells.

  The van speeds out of the car park and onto the main road, going way past the speed limit.

  “Followers?” Ty asks.

  “Negative,” Hayden says as he looks through the rear-view mirror.

  Ty slows the van down to just a few kilometres slower.

  “Dianna,” he says fiercely. “What was that? We could have gained valuable knowledge if you had just gotten a grip.”

  I know that. Of course, I know that.

  “I’m sorry,” I mumble.

  I can see Gabe watching me through the corner of my eye, but I can’t bring myself to look at him.

  “I’m sorry I ruined your mission, Anne,” I say sadly.

  "It's fine. We got some information, and we found out that they still hide there,” she says with a small smile.

  “Not anymore,” Hayden grumbles. “There probably packing up as we speak.”

  After that, no one speaks. I am silent all the way back to the Sanctuary.

  * * *

  As soon as we get back, I stride to the training hall. I grab some boxing gloves and start hacking at the sand-filled punching bag. About fifteen minutes later, Anne walks in and sits to watch me.

  “Let’s go out,” she says once I join her at the benches.

  “Where?” I ask.

  “Um…just the canteen,” she answers regretfully.

  “Aren’t you mad at me?” I say cautiously.

  "No, I think we both need a break. Come on." She gets up, and obediently I remove my gloves and follow her to the canteen.

  The room is empty except for the waitresses. I sit at a table towards the back, Anne returning with two full glasses containing a dark yellow liquid.

  “Is that...”

  “Alcohol,” she finishes.

  “Um, I’m pretty sure we’re both underage,” I say.

  She grins smugly at me and sits down, handing me one glass. “Just don’t go home till it’s all out of your system.”

  “I’ve never had whisky before,” I say, smiling.

  “Well, let’s do this,” Anne says.

  We both raise our glasses and clink them together before taking our first sip. The whisky is smooth bitter, but somehow sweet as well. I hold back my cough as the liquid makes its way down my throat, burning like fire, but the heat is surprisingly welcome. My smile grows wide as I get an idea. “I dare you to drink it all at once,” I challenge Anne. “Honey, I am the queen of shooting.”

  Anne lifts the cup to her lips and downs the whole glass within seconds. I laugh as she wipes her mouth and bangs her glass down in front of her. I bring the cup to my lips and gulp down the burning liquid with a wince.

  “Woah. For your first time, that was amazing,” Anne announces proudly.

  I hiccup loudly and giggle at myself.
I feel so lightheaded and free, like I can say or do anything I want, and I won't get in trouble. Only the faint sense of my throbbing throat keeps me from yelling at the top of my lungs with joy.

  “Hey Anne, I bet that if I climbed up onto the table, I could fly when I jump off,” I say with a giddy smile.

  Climbing up onto the table, I steady myself on the edge and swing my arms out to the sides of me. "Ready?" I ask Anne keenly.

  “Get down from there,” Anne hisses while yanking me back onto the seat.

  “But don't you feel like you want to flyyyyy?” I pout sadly.

  “Are-are you…drunk?” Anne asks.

  I laugh at her serious face and her stupid words. “I isss of drunk,” I say defensively but giggle at how it comes out all wrong. “I am not drunk,” I attempt again.

  “Oh god, oh god. Alright, let’s take you back to my room. You can sleep there,” Anne says nervously.

  I break free from her grasp and start spinning down the hall, twirling round and round, laughing, staying ahead of Anne. I spin around the corner and bump into someone. I stumble against the wall to keep myself up. I'm feeling very lightheaded right now; whether it was from all the spinning or the drink, I don't have a clue. Anne comes jogging around the corner and stops.

  “Well. Crap.” Anne says simply.

  “What have you two been up to?” I hear Gabe ask.

  Shit, shit, shit. Somewhere in the back of my head, someone is screaming at me, telling me not to allow Gabe to see me like this. I push off the wall and take a shaky step forward. Looking up at Gabe, I get a sudden urge to slap him, kiss him, and hide from him at the same time. Instead, I simply wrap my arms around his neck and rest my head against his chest.

  “Hello, Chip,” I say with a smile.

  He stiffens under me and stands there confused as I tighten my arms around him.

  “Di?” he asks cautiously as he untangles my arms from around him.