by Tara Chau
“Lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, pride. The seven to rise. What does that mean?” I ask, adding my own question, attempting to hide my short breath.
“Let’s just say that there are a few steps to it all,” he says wickedly. "For you, that involves researching, understanding, and dying from… a variety of feelings.”
“What?” I hiss.
"I'll see you soon pip-squeak, I've got to go do some stuff now; bloody warlock doesn't like it when I'm late."
Lucien disappears again, leaving me in the deserted street, watching the last spider die.
I begin to walk stiffly to Ty’s house, taking my time so as to shake the phantom feeling of the spiders, which had again crawled up my spine. Minutes later, I prowl up his driveway and take a deep breath before waltzing in. Not bothering to ring the bell or knock, I stride through the door and am met by a group of armed teens ready to attack, weapons drawn and faces concentrated.
I simply give them the most obnoxious smile I can pull out. Ty huffs in annoyance. The rest of them simply walk back into the living room silently, except Jess, who shakes her head disapprovingly but fails to hide her amused grin. I follow Jess into the living room to meet the others, sitting down on the couch next to Hayden and Jess, while Ty and Anne stand and pace fidgetingly.
"I'm surprised that none of you have asked me what happened yet. I think it's a record,” I say flatly.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Anne observes.
“No, I saw a demon,” I correct.
“Well, that’s not a surprise, but you’d think that after being a Protector this long, you would be used to seeing demons by now, Di,” Ty says mercilessly.
"Not when, said demon, happens to be my childhood best friend,” I snap harshly.
“Alright! That’s enough, so what did Lucien say?” Hayden asks firmly.
"Okay, he said he does have another attack planned, and yes, it does involve the Book of Beings,” I say with an agitated sigh.
“And why he’s doing it?” Anne prompts.
“Because he thinks that Shifters have the right to live how they want, without the Protectors constantly monitoring them, even if what they want to do is bad. He thinks that we’re the bad guys by stopping them from being who they were created to be.”
“But they were created to be monsters, monsters who serve the demons. We give them the opportunity to be better,” Anne protests.
"That's not what Lucien thinks. He wants to get rid of all Protectors so that the Shifters can take over. Lucien said that he stumbled on a world where things were unfair and unjust. He said that he was going to fix it so that the Protectors will be the ones being fastened to the leash,” I say, panic rising.
“Some Shifters are good, those who are, we gift them jobs and good homes. The ones that don't follow the rules that kill and torture, we call them rouges, there aren't as many as the good ones, but there's still a lot,” Ty explains, “When Lucien “stumbled across this new world, he must have found one of the Xavia groups, his first impression of us all would have been pretty obscure, if not, wrong.”
“So, what do we do with this new information?” Hayden asks.
“Keep it in mind, if anything he does in the next few days or even weeks add up to what we already know, alert each other so we can decide what to do from there,” Jess says.
Everyone nods in agreement just as Ronnie walks into the room from the kitchen.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" Ty asks, walking over to her and placing a hand on her shoulder. "You're supposed to be with Astrid for a few hours, remember?"
"I didn't feel well. I got home about twenty minutes ago,” she says, looking up at Ty innocently.
I look around the room and see that my whole team is wearing worried expressions, glancing between each other like they were holding an unspoken meeting.
“Why do all of you look constipated?” I ask.
Ty turns back to Ronnie, whispers something in her ear that makes her saunter off back into her room.
“We got news from Daniel about Gabe,” Jess says quickly, earning herself a few glares and wide-eyed looks.
“And?” I prompt.
“And it’s going to take longer than a month,” Anne finishes.
“Well, how do you know that? It’s only been a few weeks,” I say, confused.
“They know because it’s taken them these two weeks, just to remove the outside spell blocking them. It’s going to take even longer to get rid of the actual stone pillar.”
Everyone is silent for a few moments, watching me carefully to see how I will react. Looking up at all of them, I make sure that the hold on my anger is tight and secure.
“Daniel, who’s he sending in? He has to send some of us in,” I say calmly. No one speaks. From the corner of my eye, I see Ronnie poke her head around the wall.
“He’s not sending any of you,” she says, stepping out slowly. "I heard them talking. Daniel isn't sending anyone else to help. He said that he needs all resources working on finding the Book of Beings and Lucien. Sorry,” she adds.
Ronnie turns her back and walks away. I have no doubt, though, that she's really just listening behind the wall again. I stand up, heaving my bag back onto my back. I look to the others.
"Thanks for telling me. I know that this is just as hard for you guys as it is for me. Even though you've known him longer, you're the ones that are calm and in control of your emotions. I respect that. I'll see you tomorrow." I walk towards the exit, but as a last thought, I turn around to give the hiding girl one last smile before I sprint towards the Sanctuary.
The wind rips past me as I zoom into the foyer minutes later and storm past the guards, only taking time to take a few deep breaths as I stand in the descending lift.
Waltzing into Daniel's office moments later, I don’t give Astrid another look as she slides off the desk, giving me a sad yet warning look before exiting the room. I stroll towards the desk and bang my hands down against it, looking Daniel straight in the eyes.
“One month, one month is what you said,” I say heavily, “They’re still having trouble, so why haven’t you sent any of us in?”
“Well, first, it hasn’t been a full month yet,” he says calmly.
“No, but it will take longer a month. Send us in, let us help,” I hiss.
“No, stay here to-”
“Track down Lucien and the Book of Beings,” I finish.
“Correct,” he nods.
“If Gabe isn’t back at the end of the month, I’m going to find my own way to Maline,” I threaten, knowing full well that speaking to Daniel like this could earn me a one-way ticket to the Shifters hold.
I turn around and walk out the door before he can respond, giving Astrid a regretful slim-lipped smile.
“You look angry,” Ren says, beaming her fake an infuriating smile.
The weekend had dawned, and I received a call from Ty. He explained that his den had been cleared out, plus restyled to accommodate Tee-Ly-Ren and that we were to transport her today.
I drag myself out of bed, throwing on a white singlet and black jeans, still holding back all the anger and worry inside. Since my ‘meeting’ with Daniel, I have been sent on three missions. I guess it's his attempt to get me to blow off some steam. Walking beside Ren and Ty, I kept my gaze ahead but made sure to keep my focus on the Shifter beside me.
“I’m fine. Shut up,” I hiss.
“Ooh, I’ve just pissed you off now. What is it, what’s wrong? Max?”
My head snaps to face her. She looks at me expectantly, amused.
"I'm helping you. If it wasn't for me, you would be in the Shifters hold,” I seethe.
The Shifters hold is a dungeon of some sought. I know that it's in Maline. It's under twenty-four-seven surveillance and takes a total of one hundred guards to keep secure. The Shifters go there till the urge to give in to the blood lust subsides. They then go back into the
world but are closely monitored. Gabe explained that the cells aren't really like jail cells. They're more like small rooms, a bed and a desk with a few books and a lamp.
His parents took him there once for an educational experience. Gabe laughed as he told me that he'd gone and drawn on one of the doors: Naughty Shifter!
At the memory of that, I laugh quietly to myself. Reality kicks me in the gut as soon as it realises I've spaced out. My frown takes up its spot on my face again, inviting wrinkles and creases along for the ride.
“Maybe Tytus would like to tell me about what happened to Max?” she requests.
“Um… Max?” he asks, eyebrow raised.
"Yes, the blue-haired hottie, Miss Iysador’s love interest,” she says, obviously.
“You mean-”
“Max!” I interrupt, giving Ty the stink eye.
“Yeah, what’s up with Max?” she asks suspiciously. “Haven’t seen him in the few weeks I’ve been held at the Sanctuary. Strange?”
“None of your business,” I snap.
“Right,” she grumbles.
No one speaks for the rest of the walk back to Ty's. By the time we get to his den, we're all already over each other's company.
When we enter the den, I stand in the centre of the room, amazed. Ty had completely cleaned it out. All that is left is the clean desk and chair, the beanbag, bookshelves, and a new blow-up single mattress.
"This is cosy and all, but what do you expect me to do all day?" she questions disrespectfully.
“You’ll be going to help with a community service thing,” Ty says to my pure amusement and Ren's horrified shock. "Starts at eight am in front of the Sanctuary. It's for troubled Shifters. You should fit right in, Ren.”
Ren growls, a growl that echoes from deep within her.
"If you don't turn up on time, you will be sent to the Shifters hold. Same goes for arriving back here. You should be back by six pm. I'll meet you at the entrance to let you in. I have a sensor set up so my phone will alert me when anyone walks through that door. I can also see who it is. Warning you know Ren, one chance,” he says sternly.
“And I haven’t been in the best of moods lately, so I won’t be standing up for you again,” I say, giving her a feral smile.
Ty and I turn to leave when she calls out.
“Wait, how do I go to the bathroom?” she asks awkwardly.
Ty points to a small door in the far corner of the room, which I hadn't seen before. He then shows her that one of the desk drawers had been filled with dry food -crackers, chips, protein bars, chocolate. Ty then goes on to take her to a bowl of apples and bananas on another small bench in the corner.
“They feed you the main meals while you are at the community service. Just tell me when you run out of snacks. Feel free to read the books, but I swear if you damage even one, I’ll gut you,” he threatens. Ren nods, her version of a thanks.
“There’s also a small movie player in the drawers with a fair number of DVDs. I'm allowing you all these things and letting you into my home. I'd suggest you don't disappoint me,” Ty warns.
Ren turns to face both of us and says something I would never guess she would say in a million years. “Thank you, I really appreciate it.”
Both me and Ty smile at her before climbing the stairs and leaving her to the den's silence.
"Thank you, Ty, I know this was my idea, and if anything… bad happens, that’s on me,” I say quietly.
“It’s fine, don’t stress it, Di,” he says, this time giving me a reassuring smile. "Go, relax. You need some time to yourself."
"Yeah, alright, thank you again,” I say, waving to him before walking back home.
I spend the rest of the weekend painting. After I got back from Ty’s the first day, I went straight back out to buy a whole bunch of canvases. It’s been months since I last painted. I start out by painting my garden with watercolours, moving onto an acrylic painting of the garden down the road. That garden, in particular, has gorgeous rose bushes. Lastly, I put to the test my new watercolour pencils by painting a scene from one of my dreams. To be exact, the one which I'm dead on the street, Death having just killed me. That dream plays over and over, visiting, again and again, every few days or so. I am constantly on the lookout for anything that might be connected to Lucien’s plans. In the Sanctuary, I'm always listening to the Protectors whispering, hoping that they will slip up and spill something about what they think is going to happen. If Gabe were here, I would call him over to give his opinion on the paintings and his thoughts on the dream. But he’s not, though one month is quickly approaching. Soon, I tell myself, soon.
Strolling into class with heavy eyelids and dull spirit, I sit at the back of history with my eyes gazing down at my desk. The class chatters noisily, gossiping about the latest post from Michelle Mondrian, their busy weekends, along with why they picked out this specific outfit. Two boys are having a standoff in the middle of the classroom, a small girl trying to pry them off each other. I can see Anne's head pocking up from the crowd of teens. She spots me and gives me a small wave before sitting back down. Ty and Helen sit three seats away in the row in front of me.
Hayden and Jess don't take this class. Everyone settles and casually walks to their seats as the teacher walks in. The boys in the middle of the room pull apart grudgingly, giving each other a look that promises a rematch. Our teacher walks behind the desk and looks out towards all of us, surveying each and every face. He turns around and begins to write something on the board.
The seven sins.
I open my book and copy down the title, looking up from my book, I feel the colour from my face wash away as I see what he writes next.
Lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, pride.
I force myself to look back onto my page and steadily add it to my notes.
"Can anyone explain to me what the seven deadly sins are?" the teacher requests.
A girl with a crucifix hanging around her neck on a thin silver chain raised her hand.
“Alright, Abagail, go ahead,” The teacher says, obviously not surprised to see that she was the only girl with her hand up.
“The seven deadly sins, also known as the capital vices, or the cardinal sins, are all part of a grouping and classification of vices within the Christian teachings.”
Her voice is soft but confidant. When she speaks, she looks around the room as if addressing the whole class. Abagail's dark brown hair sways around her shoulders, and her chocolate eyes sparkle as she continues to explain. "Although it does not appear explicitly in the bible. These sins are thought to be abuses or excessive versions of one's natural faculties or passions. The catholic church would use the concept of the sins in order to help people curb their inclination towards evil before dire consequences and misdeeds would occur."
God, it’s like she memorised this description from the dictionary or something.
“Questions?” The teacher asks, looking from his desk out to the bored faces.
The only question I have is what Lucien is planning to do with an old Christian teaching? And how he plans to destroy the Protectors with it?
The class seems to drag on for hours; no one asks questions or comments. We all merely watched in silence and copied down the dreary notes into our books. Finally, the bell rings, everyone files out quickly, dashing for the exit. I race out into the main parking lot and am instantly confronted by Anne.
"Where are you going?" she asks. I'm momentarily stumped. I have no idea what to tell her.
“And why does your complexion resemble that of a polar bear?”
“What?” I ask.
“You look white as snow,” she clears.
“You could have just said that," I mumble. Anne continues to look at me expectantly. “I’m going to the Sanctuary,” I say.
"They've still got two days till the whole month is up. You can't go bursting into Daniel's office again,” she says strictly.
"I-I'm not going to. I forgot my coat there yesterday, and I need it for my patrol tonight,” I say, the lie taste bitter in my mouth.
“I’ll come with,” she says to my dismay.
If I tell her not to, she'll suspect something’s not right, so instead, I let her accompany me to the Sanctuary. We stroll along the streets calmly, Anne smiling at passer-byers and me trying desperately not to sprint away from her. Running through the corner of Munimenti Lumen, we end up in the foyer of the Sanctuary. Walking briskly to my room, I pass Gabe's door without pausing to look at it for even a nanosecond. Anne follows me through the doorway, sitting on the end of my bed. I make a show of searching for my coat before walking into my ensuite and grabbing it from off the hook behind the door. I smile at Anne as I shrug it on, trying not to look at it too closely. Everything reminds me of Gabe these days.
I feel the weight of the dagger he gifted me in the pocket by my abdomen, strapped tightly so as not to get in the way.
“Ready,” I say.
“Right, let’s go ask Alice where you’re patrolling today,” she says.
I try to mask my horror as she struts out of my room. Walking down the halls towards the main room, I try to stall her by suggesting a different route. It fails. I then attempt to undo my laces as we walk along, only successfully undoing one, which only grants me another thirty seconds to come up with another idea. Then, just because I am having a really bad day, Dyla decides to pick on me even more. Alice rounds the corner and smiles as we near.
“Just the girl I was looking for,” she says, stopping Anne and me, moving us to the side of the walkway.