by Tara Chau
Nyx stands in front of Lucien, his three fingers stabbing into the crook of her throat, not at all gently, a yellow glare swirling around her terrified eyes.
“Kind of pretty, isn’t she?” he says wickedly, his other hand playing with a strand of her loose hair, “She came in here, about an hour ahead of you utterly confident and ignorant of my gifts.”
Lucien had placed the book on a table to his left, the charm obviously lifted for that slight shimmer Ty had reported is not in sight. I see Nyx's eyes dart to the book, then back to me, her face pleading with me, not for her assured safety, but in fact, the opposite. One word practically ripples in waves from Nyx, the same word that is still echoing in the back of my head.
Now!
Nyx turns her head as much as Lucien will allow, daring to look up into his demonic features. “I think you’ll find that you are completely ignorant to my gifts as well,” she seethes.
Throwing one last look my way in warning, I nod and lunge for the book as I hear a grunt of pain come from Lucien. Shoving the book into Jess's hands, I look to see what she's so preoccupied about. Nyx's hands have shifted into a mutation of a kind, long and stiff with clawed fingers that puncture a wound into Lucien's gut. She's Lycan. Nyx's horrified expression upon seeing me still frozen knocks us all into reality, sending Jess running for the exit.
“Yes, I do admit I did not see that coming,” Lucien admits calmly as he throws Nyx to the ground with a horrifying crack.
Throwing out his arm, I hear another thwack as Jess shrieks and hits the ground. The two of us painfully leave Nyx, running out into the station. Jess stirs on the ground stiffly, holding the book close to her chest. I dash to her side, whispering words of calm and assurance as I pry the book from her hands. Seeing Gabe come running, I look around desperately for a sign of Ty and the others. Somehow, upon the mercy of Dyla, Anne comes slipping from the shadows, positioning herself in front of Jess before Lucien as he too approaches.
“Run!” Anne orders.
So that's what we do. We fling ourselves into a dangerous speed towards the stairs. A high shrill call comes from behind us, sending shock waves of fear through my body. Suddenly five Shifters appear, blocking our way to the only exit. Gabe shoves me in another direction, further to the back of the platform, where it's a maze of dark tents. The two of us slip silently but hastily through the mass, watching in terror as the Shifters file out of their temporary homes, being called to a fight. I stumble once, hearing the distinct cry of Anne's loving voice, not from pain but fear and disappointment. He's coming. Just as we hit a small square of tents, Gabe stops me short.
“Hide it,” he hisses, drawing his bow, ready to make a stand right here.
I look around desperately for a good space, eyes searching.
“Not here!” he clarifies.
“What?” I question, whipping around to face him.
His face is hard as he continues to explain, “I’m going to hold him for as long as I can, like Anne before me, and like Nyx before her. You need to use the time well and either find a way out or hide it.”
“Like Anne and Nyx, you will get hurt,” I protest.
“Go!” he yells, not even looking at me.
“No!” I scream back at him.
“Dianna, leave and get to a safe place,” he says, offering up his life in those few scarce words.
“No,” I say, this time in a low persistent voice.
Gabe lowers his bow and walks over to me, though it is still drawn and ready. Looking down at me, I see his eyes soften, but after years of battle and seeing the outcome of it, I know from his eyes that I am not going to win this battle. I nod, the one motion racking a wave of unfathomable sorrow through me. Gabe gives me a half-smile, shoving me slightly. I set off at a fast pace again, not daring to look back as I run, knowing it will stop me instantly and make me run right back into the waiting arms of Lucien.
I force horrible rising images from my mind, clearing my eyes as I desperately run down narrow walkways created by the tent walls. Each turn simply takes me further into the maze, no hiding spots jumping out at me. Somehow, I know that one more turn and I will be at the end, it will spiral back out again, the same way with still no hiding places, all open space.
The air leaves my lungs in one foul swoosh. I gasp for oxygen, claw for it as I feel Lucien's magic touch my lungs. Blinking madly, I hold my breath, only taking in little oxygen when my lungs begged for it. Still, the feel of his presence rings inside me, suffocating me, restricting me. My thoughts race, trying to separate my mind from my crumbling body, my purpose.
The book, hide it!
That ancient power reminds me violently.
I stumble, looking around, trying to find anything. Feet slipping on some remaining trash or something, I fall back into one of the tents, through the wall, and into the centre. Glancing around, I see a bedroll and three boxes stacked on top of each other. Lurching for the boxes, I throw them around, digging through the contents inside each of them. The second box holds a roll of newspaper which I hastily wrap around the book, doing my best to disguise it. With my heart thrumming in my ears and sweat dripping down my face, I shove it into the third box, closing them all up and stacking them back again. I take as deep of a breath as allowed by Lucien before running back into the maze. I find the centre tent, then the second path back out.
Anne and Nyx. Turning back in the other direction, I take a shaky step towards them. Then one more, that ancient voice in my head screaming for me to protect the book, to keep that safe. My pace quickens as the panic flares, as the shouts and cries begin to die. I hear myself screaming their names, even though I had not thought to do so. Even over the clangs and shrill sounds of weapons, the cries of pain, and the shouts of protest, my voice sounds above them all. The tents seem to swirl in a colourful mess, confusing my vision as I continue to stumble down row after row of tents. The ancient thing is keeping track of the twists and turns, keeping track of the book.
Air! Something that has become scarcer as I practically drag myself back in their direction. My own raspy breaths sound through my ears, wheezing heavily as I take another breath before returning to holding it again. Suddenly, the air is cut from me completely. I gasp. Though my mind knows there is no use, my body does not react to this news. My knees begin to shake as I fall down, thrusting my arms out to catch my fall.
Fear and pain racks through my body, the joints in my elbows buckle and give out as well. Falling down onto my forearms, I wince as the concrete platform scratches against my arm, even the coat's protection failing to cushion the rough impact. Though the pain of my scrapped knees and hands are nothing compared to the burning in my lungs, the shaking of my body. My eyes water, clouding my vision, but I can spot out two white shoes walking my way. It's a few moments before I realise someone is talking, forcing my body to look up. I attempt to take in another breath of air as I look up at his familiarly grotesque face.
“Well, look at this, Dianna Iysador, the chosen one, kneeling.” I’m able to detect the hint of amusement.
Attempting another shuddering breath, I'm shocked when oxygen fills my lungs instantly, an invisible force being lifted from me. My body doesn't miss a beat, taking it all in upon reflex. That sticky ichor feeling in my lungs is sucked out as well, the remnants of Lucien's magic fading. As my headache loosens to a slow throb and my breathing becomes more consistent, I rise from the ground. My feet sway as I blink to clear away my tears, stumbling blindly for a few moments. The burning in my lungs decreases after a minute or two, though my body still heaves in breaths of air like it is expecting it to disappear again, I know it could. Looking to Lucien slowly, every movement seems like it takes twice as much energy, as usual, twice as much concentration.
“Pathetic,” he spits, any trace of the previous amusement gone.
“Where-where are… they?” I struggle.
“Who?” he asks, truly clueless.
“My friends,�
�� I rasp.
“Hmm…” he drawls, taking a step closer to me so that he’s merely two metres away. “Where is the book?” he asks, ignoring my question.
I look at him, look at his slipping demonic features, listening as that ancient voice calls from inside me. I wait for my breathing to become normal before I force myself to stand straight, moulding my face into a masterful artwork of plain candour.
“Not for my life will the tell you where the book is,” I sneer.
To my surprise, Lucien grins, a horrific gesture full of delight and heinous pleasure. He lifts an eyebrow, and I stumble back. The air had been sucked from me once more, this time not from his magic but from what he brings towards me.
Lucien's hand flares, casting a bright light of yellow and forming into a solid mass. Gabe. It takes every inch of my power to hold back, every inch of the ancient's will to keep me back. Gabe's hands had been bound behind his back, his face gagged and bleeding. He kneels on the ground next to Lucien as his eyes cast to the concrete.
“Not for your life, Dianna,” Lucien smiles, “but what about his?”
Gabe slowly raises his head to meet my eyes, torn and full of agony, along with a clear, precise message.
No.
Because he knows I’ll give it to him, Gabe knows that I will trade the book for his life.
“Why are you doing this?” I ask.
“I told you, the Shifters need their time, and they can only have it, once the Protectors time is up,” he explains calmly, “I came into a new world and saw corruption in this system, this supposedly perfect system, and seek to fix it.”
“Then try, but I don’t see how killing Gabe is going to get you that fixed system. Because even if you do, I’ll still never give you the book,” I say. This time the lie flows easy, a benefit of practising for months.
"It's a shame…." Lucien nods, his hand rising, lifting Gabe off the ground so he's standing unsteadily. "It's a shame that your Protector friends never taught you to lie."
I take in a deep breath, keeping my body from shaking, keeping it from showing any weakness.
"I don't want to take him away…." Lucien says, the lie easy on his tongue as well, "but I will. You can trust me on that if nothing else."
A sob breaks my lips as I feel my heart cave in on itself. Looking desperately to Gabe, I see he hasn’t taken his eyes off me once, the message still simmering in his eyes. I stand here, still, watching him, taking in everything I can, everything my muddled mind can hold at this moment. A weight drops onto my shoulders as my knees begin to shake again, and the tears run freely.
“No,” I whisper, closing my eyes and dropping my head, “no.”
“I’ll give you ten more seconds to decide before my generosity starts to slip,” he says calmly, though I believe him.
My eyes slip back to Gabe's, though I'm startled that the message in his eyes has changed.
Never.
His gaze softens so I may look into him, see his fear and his hope.
Never. Never will I leave you.
I fall, my knees give out again, and I fall. Forcing myself to look back at him, I shake my head slightly, a silent plead. He doesn't speak; he just keeps the same message in his eyes.
The ten seconds slip by unnoticed, and suddenly Gabe's in the air, yellow magic surrounding his neck as he claws helplessly. Adrenalin flows through me, and I jump up, running towards him. I'm stopped, the ancient power in me taking advantage of my frantic confused state.
“Choose!” Lucien growls, strangling Gabe. “Now.”
Gabe calls my name weakly, not for help but as a reminder. Panic overloads my head as I race for some idea, some way to end all this. But he's running out of time. I can see it in his flimsy attempts at escape.
“Okay!” I cry, horrified as soon as I say it. But true to his word, the magic surrounding Gabe falls, as does he. I’m unable to meet his eyes as I repeat, “Okay.”
Lucien smiles again, letting his other features recede, “Show the way the, oh great chosen one,” he mocks.
My head turns to Gabe as I see him struggling to rise. I walk over to him quickly, Lucien allowing me to do so is his only mercy.
“Don’t,” Is all he says as I help him to rise.
“Shut up,” I hiss, stumbling under his limp body weight.
Gabe pushes off me, tripping slightly before regaining his balance and walking slowly next to me. “I told you not to,” he says quietly, defeatedly, holding his stomach.
“I didn’t hear you,” I say, walking as slow as possible to allow extra time to think.
Gabe laughs coldly, though I hear no humour in his voice. He winces as he follows me through the mass of tents. I peak into my head, poking at the ancient thing holding the information. It reveals which turn to take next.
Think, think, think!
But we're here. I spot the hole in the tent wall, remember falling down and into it while my lungs screamed for air. I stop, looking down at my feet as I take one last jab at my failing brain for a clue as to what to do next.
“Dianna?” Lucien asks, a hint of warning in his voice.
Without looking at either boy, I slip into the tent and move the boxes one after the other until the third one, where I hesitantly open the lid and draw out the wrapped book. Harsh hands grab at it, tearing it from my grasp. Following Lucien out, I step beside Gabe again, the both of us watching as Lucien flips through it. Gabe inhales a sharp breath as Lucien rips out one page of the book.
“This,” he says, holding up the page, “is invaluable.”
We watch with struggling breaths as Lucien closes the book again, and places the folded page into his back pocket, something I store in my mind for a time to come. One hand on the bottom of the book, one hand on the top, I cry out as I see his magic touch the book and as it begins to burn.
Gabe barks and lunges for Lucien, but it’s already done; the ashes and remains drop in front of Gabe like a dead body.
“I’m going to kill you,” Gabe whispers, staring down at the ashen pile at his feet.
“You can try, but it would only end up with your death, and I do not want to kill a friend.” Lucien’s smiles.
“I am no friend of yours,” Gabe says, voice devoid of emotion.
Lucien merely nods, looking at the two of us like small flies that are beginning to annoy him. Then, he sighs, shaking his head before thrusting his hands in the air.
Gabe shouts as a large circle of flames encircle us, growing smaller and smaller till the two of us are backed up against each other. The flame wall surrounding us separates us also from that vital page we need to destroy. Burning flames flicker in front of my eyes. Flames hot enough to scorch my skin if I so much a step one foot from my spot right now, I would burn. Though somehow, they’re also thin enough to see Lucien on the other side.
To our horror, the circle starts to move. It takes us a minute to realise, and I cringe to hear Gabe’s cries of pain at the flames lick at our skin. Stumbling, we move with the circle, keeping to the centre. Sweat begins to drip down my brows as Lucien guides us through the maze of tents again and out back into the crazy battle raging. We skirt around the edges of it, keeping away from the swords and blood. I spot Anne and the rest of them caught in the middle, panting but holding strong against the Shifters. Even though dozens of bodies lay groaning in heaps around them, some rolling in pain, and some completely still, hundreds more surround them. Four Protectors and one mildly trained Lycan, against approximately four-hundred and fifty Shifters. No need to finish the equation.
I stifle the need to run to them, which would require passing through the flames that would burn me to a crisp instantly. Gabe seems to pick that up as well as he grips my hand tightly. It comforts me slightly to know that he’s next to me, though at a high price. Approaching the platform’s edge, we glance across at the other side, where the second exit lies, along with the huge stone block, which seems to have little purpose.
“Jump,” Lucien demands.
“I can’t jump that far,” I call back, seeing his features darken through the heat.
“Why do you keep lying when I already told you that you’re horrible at it?” he asks, “I saw you jump from the top of those stairs, and Protectors can jump even further than that.” He reminds.
Looking over again, I calculate the distance. A twelve-metre jump at least. Doable. Gabe’s hand tightens on mine as we jump the platforms effortlessly, the circle of flames reappearing at our feet as we land. I flinch as Lucien lands smoothly ahead of us as well.
Gabe barks a warning as he shoves me hard to the floor, narrowly missing a new flame wall as it separates the two of us, forming two new smaller confinements. I look to Gabe in horror, his own eyes echoing mine. My circle begins to move, herding me to the marble block until I’m pushed up against it. Clambering onto the block, I stand on top, but again the flames rise higher still.
Suddenly, the flames die but are replaced in an instant by a yellow fog. Looking around, I unconsciously breathe it in, my head becoming heavier and my body even more. My body crumples, landing hard on the marble block. I look around, and to my astonishment, it seems that I have lost control of my body from my shoulders down. Just as I begin to hold my breath, the fog evaporates, leaving my body twitching but otherwise still. My senses working but my mind slow.
Looking to Gabe desperately through the flame, I see his eyes widen in terror as he inched closer to the edge. I shout a warning just as he screams in pain, stumbling back, clutching his hand. I see him take another half step towards the rim, wincing as the heat intensifies.
“No, stop it,” I demand.
Lucien shakes his head as the wall of flame rises again, the smoke thickening, making me squint to see Gabe.
“I’m sorry I had to do that.” Lucien says, his tone betraying his words, “But I still need your blood.”
I shake my head. One of the only things I can manage right now. “But you can’t. That’s why you haven’t yet. You need my permission.”