by N. J. Cooper
“The school’s reputation for protection and me, is not so great, so somehow that is not comforting at all.” Kyla smiled, reminding Zarek of the last few times her life had been at stake, most of them being at the school. He grinned and climbed in next to her, with Wyatt immediately lying his seat down into a flattened bed. Zarek and Kyla copied his actions, lying down to sleep alongside him. Zarek pulled her against him, as she snuggled into the comforting wrap of his arms. It was still cold and yet his touch was as comforting as any blanket.
~ 4 ~
School was quiet when they arrived. Dark, eerie and oblivious to the troubles that warred in the arriving teenager’s minds. They walked solemnly up to their dorms, still cold and tired. Kyla’s tired wasn’t just physical though, it was emotional, pulling from Zarek’s sadness, his withering hope. It had been so long since they had been able to offer the reassuring comfort of each other, that she knew she had to try and get him alone. His sorrow pulled at her heart, but it just had her more and more frustrated, that she couldn’t do anything about it in public, especially at school. No one was allowed to see any kind of affection for each other, even their friends. They had been too slack today by holding hands, holding each other in the car, it was forbidden and could ruin everything and yet it had been an instinct, rather than conscious thought. Kyla sighed as they entered the room. The King approved them but since she had no supernatural background, she couldn’t be seen as worthy of the Prince, the future King of the realm. Not until she had proven herself, another pressing reason that she had to defeat Onyx. Especially since his mother, the Queen, was very against the idea of her son being with anyone other than the blonde socialite, she had chosen for him. Elanor. Her parents being on the High Council meant the union was expected, but that was before Kyla. Now, Zarek refused the pairing but it didn’t mean she could be with him. Not yet.
She looked over at Zarek’s tall body, slumped in defeat as he made his way into her room. The pull to go to him and ease his pain of failure, was intense but she couldn’t. It would be treason for disobeying the laws, especially since a certain blonde was all too happy, to report any suspicious behaviour.
Kyla was pulled from her thoughts as the solid door of her room clicked, confirming their curfew firmly. She had her shower, finally warm then pulled on her pyjama shorts and light jumper before climbing into her bed, waiting for Zarek who had gone into the bathroom. Zarek slept in her room often, now. He usually stayed on the daybed under the window until Wyatt fell asleep, then climbed in with her. It was probably an unneeded precaution, since Wyatt wasn’t an idiot and knew they were closer than friends, but it was the principle. The less people that knew about her and Zarek’s time together, the less risk there would be. Wyatt had fallen straight on to his own bed though, which used to be Sky’s on the other side of the room, simply taking off his clothes, down to his boxers and going to sleep above the covers. It was a usual occurrence of his that made her smile. He hid what phased him well.
Kyla looked over at the bed he laid on, with a sadness she tried to hide as well as him. Sky and Tyrone. Her best friend who she had given supernatural brain damage and Zarek’s best friend who was now dead, because of her. She was a useless saviour of the realm. Kyla sighed and looked up at the roof, trying to convince her mind to give her some peace from guilt before sleep, but it was relentless.
“Don’t Kyla. It’ll eat away at you. Onyx and Byron are doing this, I’ve told you before. This is on them.” Wyatt mumbled from where he still laid with his eyes closed on his bed. Kyla sighed and sat up to look in his direction.
“Wyatt, you said the full moon is an ingredient in rift jumping. If that’s what Onyx is intending to do to get over here, do think that is our window to stop him? Until the next full moon?” Kyla wondered. Wyatt sat up on his elbows to look over at her before answering.
“I guess if he has enough power by then.” Wyatt replied truthfully as usual.
“That’s only three weeks away. How am I meant to catch Byron and find my mother in that time?”
“Kyla, get some rest. Think with a clear head in the morning. We know Byron is after the Elders, so that’s a lead and we’ll come up with a plan to get your mom out tomorrow, okay?” Wyatt reassured. Kyla nodded then laid down to look at the ceiling again. She didn’t hold the same optimism. Especially since they still had no idea of Onyx’s whereabouts or plans, from his side in the human realm.
By the time, Zarek came out of the bathroom, twenty minutes later, Kyla had given up all hope of sleep and was surrounded in textbooks, notes and her journal on her bed. She had switched the lamp on her bedside table on, for enough light to see what she was doing and not wake up Wyatt, who had gone back to sleep. All the same ones she had been pouring over for weeks, trying to find a connection. Zarek came over in his plain pyjama pants and white shirt, sitting at the end of the bed. The instant fresh scent of his body hit her senses like a tidal wave, but she held back the urge to touch him, instead opting for a small smile.
“I know better than to tell you to go to sleep but what do you think you’re going to find here Kyla, that you haven’t been able to find already?” he asked softly. Kyla shrugged.
“What are your parents proposing to do during the Elder meeting tonight?” She asked instead.
“They are going to suggest that the Elders of the witch, wizard and warlock communities all be moved to the mansion tonight for protection and the centaurs have set up a constant watch over the others left there.” Zarek revealed. Kyla nodded and wrote it in her journal.
“And Byron?” She wondered. Zarek shrugged.
“There’s not much we can do right now. Until we have another lead on where he is, we can only protect the ones we know he is after” He gave a resigned sigh.
“But we do have a lead,” Kyla realised with hope filling her eyes, “The giants and goblins, Zarek. Their scent was there. They have something to do with this.” Kyla answered his unspoken question of what lead they had, pulling over her realm map to circle the giant and goblin territory with conviction.
“The centaurs have checked the warehouse Byron kept us in, a hundred times, Kyla. There is nothing there.” He reminded sadly. Kyla wasn’t deterred as she began to highlight the dirt roads. Most of the territory was mountain ranges, with miles of thick forest and deep caves. A separating line of shops ran in between the two habitats. The ones along the left said goblin, the ones on the right were the giants. Schools, convenience stores, weapons, healer’s office. One for each race.
“Yeah, but have they checked the actual community? Tried to trace Byron’s scent? Asked the giants or goblins?” Kyla asked. Zarek nodded.
“Of course. Kyla, their Prince and the Oracle were captured and tortured. The centaurs are very loyal creatures, trust me, they were extremely thorough.” Zarek reassured sombrely but it had the opposite effect. Kyla grimaced at the reminder of what Byron had done to them. He hadn’t tortured her physically though; he had tortured her friends, knowing it would cause her more pain, then he had killed Tyrone with her own sword. Kyla shook away the memories, as tightness constricted the breath in her chest.
“I want to go.” Kyla decided, finally bringing Zarek from his own walk down memory lane.
“Absolutely not.” Zarek argued quickly. Kyla snapped her eyes to him.
“I have to. I trust that the centaurs were thorough but if I go, I might see something, get a vision if we cross their scent. I have to go back to the warehouse.” She affirmed with a determined stare. Zarek clenched his eyes shut.
“Kyla, I know you have good intentions, but the giants and goblins are both very unpredictable creatures. The goblins are only tolerated here because they have to stay in their area, but they aren’t even allowed in the city anymore. They cause chaos where-ever they go. They love causing mischief, pulling deadly pranks. The giants are allowed out, but they are extremely offensive creatures. One wrong word and they’ll crush you before you can utter an apology. We can’t go there. I
f it’s a trap, we won’t beat them.” Zarek argued. Kyla shrugged. Trap or not, she had to go.
“This is our only lead. I’m not giving it up just because I’m scared. I have to find Byron and even if he’s not there, we might get information or another lead, as to where he is or what Onyx is up to or what they plan to do with the magic they are trying to steal. Zarek, I have to do this, we have nothing else to go on.” Kyla pleaded, placing her hand over his, her eyes begging. He was the Prince, her only shot into another territory, since it was technically forbidden. His hand went to the side of her face.
“We’ll go into the city in a couple of days. We need to get in some training and classes. We’ll go to my father and ask him how we go about getting into another territory.” Zarek conceded.
“Thank you. Oh, and I need to see Sky while we’re in the city.” Kyla remembered.
“Of course.” Zarek nodded.
“Kyla. I need to tell you something,” Another voice said from the shadow approaching. Zarek and Kyla moved apart as Wyatt came into view, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. He was still only wearing his boxers with the lean, muscular set of his body, slightly slouching with sleepiness. Kyla quirked an eyebrow at him.
“Okay?” She prompted. Wyatt sighed and sat down next to her.
“I’ve been deciding whether to tell you or not. Sky asked me not to because she knows you won’t agree but I think you should know,” Wyatt revealed as Kyla and Zarek both frowned at him. A worry grew in Kyla’s stomach, fiercer than before.
“What is it, Wyatt?” Kyla asked impatiently. Wyatt took a deep breath before looking her in the eye.
“Sky is looking for your mom. Using her ghosts and the shadow world.” Wyatt grimaced. Kyla dropped the pen she was holding, her jaw dropping with it. Her eyes prickled with tears as she fought the urge to run out of the room, find Sky and tell her not to be so stupid.
“No. She can’t. Wait, that’s why she was in pain today, wasn’t it? Why her time out of the ward has lessened so much? The shadows are trying to pierce her,” Kyla realised “This is all my fault” Kyla whispered, her head falling into her hands.
“No, it’s not Kyla. She knows she shouldn’t. That’s why she didn’t want me telling you. But this is completely her decision. You saved her life when you freed her mind of Onyx, she wants to pay that back by helping save your mom.” Wyatt reassured.
“Did I? It seems all I did, was trade one horrible outcome for another. Why doesn’t she get that saving her, would have been for nothing if she keeps going into the shadow world? They will take her soul and warp it, until she becomes one of them. I don’t want that happening, even if it means it takes longer to find my mom.” Kyla cried. Zarek placed his comforting hand on her knee, and Kyla didn’t even try to remove it before Wyatt saw it. Kyla closed her eyes against her tears and concentrated on his touch to pull her through her emotionally clouded mind.
“You know Sky. She’s stubborn and when I had this argument with her, she got defensive and told me where to shove my concerns. Considering, said place was a particularly uncomfortable one, I caved,” he smirked. Kyla couldn’t help her own smirk. It was typical Sky.
“Well how is she doing it then?” Kyla sighed.
“Ghosts can’t cross the veil between supernatural and human realms, so apparently she is sending Kasyn to the veil, he’s meeting a human soul there. He’ll give the human ghost the details of your mom. A picture, information, last sighting, all of that and the ghost will give that to one of the gifted humans, so they can find her.” Wyatt explained. Kyla bit back the hope that swelled in her heart.
“So, she won’t actually be going into the shadow world herself?” Kyla asked quickly. Wyatt smiled.
“Nope. I mean her constant contact with Kasyn is irking me a little, since even just that can make her more vulnerable, but it does mean that she doesn’t have to go in herself. And it is the easiest way to find your mom since we have to be here to find Byron.” Wyatt admitted. Kyla smiled, nodding slowly as she came to terms with the idea.
“When they find her though, I want to be the one to talk to her.” Kyla said, looking towards Zarek since he was the only one who could get her permission into the human realm.
“No!” Wyatt and Zarek both growled in unison. Kyla frowned between them.
“Onyx is in the human realm, Kyla. You can’t go there until we have some kind of advantage. At the moment, all we know is he has power and a driving ambition to kill you. That’s why we’re doing this remember? Finding Byron means we eliminate some of his power. Finding your mother takes away his human connection over there. We can’t just go to the human realm and expect him not to kill us as soon as we get there.” Zarek reasoned but Kyla wasn’t listening. Her shrug made that obvious.
“Kyla. You know I’ll be right there beside you if you go on a suicide run to the human realm, but your mom is still under Onyx’s control right now. What if she is and we turn up? We have no chance against him, if he’s been collecting power sources. Especially since he has a horde of human souls to power him. Normally I’m all for taking things head on but that won’t work this time. We have to play smart. The human that finds her can tell her you are alive, out of Onyx’s clutches and that’ll be enough for your mom to kick him out of her mind and refuse access.” Wyatt explained further. Kyla wasn’t as optimistic.
“And what if he is in her mind and just kills the human, before she can explain everything? Then we have killed a human, given him more power and not freed my mother? I have to be the one to go.” Kyla argued. Zarek cursed at the logic.
“Damn. Didn’t think of that. I don’t think Sky did either. Well the human could just run surveillance and then the guard could go and pick up Kyla’s mom?” Wyatt tried looking towards Zarek for confirmation. Kyla interrupted.
“Yeah, and Onyx won’t be in her mind convincing her they’re lying? He would have warned her against that stuff. She’ll deny everything and won’t kick Onyx out of her mind. She has to see me. We’ll follow this lead on Byron while Sky is finding my mom. But when she does, I’m going to the human realm. With or without an advantage.” Kyla bit determinedly. Nor Zarek or Wyatt had an argument for her, she was right, and they were going to have to walk straight into Onyx’s arms to get Kyla’s mother out from under them.
~ 5 ~
It felt strange walking through the halls of Imperium Academy as if nothing was happening outside of it. Kyla had just showered and changed after her training and was meant to be making her way to her afternoon classes. Shemar dutifully followed but he was tense. Normally his job was guarding Zarek but he was stuck babysitting the Oracle so she could attend training and classes, since the King had insisted on it. The King was wise beyond anything she dared to question so she made her way to class next to Shemar, sharing his attitude and wishing she wasn’t.
Sighing, Kyla held her folders closer to her chest. The students moved around busily, laughing, talking, avoiding her as if she hadn’t been on the news multiple times months ago, for saving their asses. As if she wasn’t trying to do it all over again.
Zarek was moving with his usual group of friends-still popular as ever-but his eyes didn’t hold the same light in them anymore. They had seen too much, been through too much to be so carefree. Elanor stood next to him as usual, her groupies flanking her. She laughed at something Zarek said, her long bony fingers touching his arm affectionately. Kyla rolled her eyes.
It was an entirely new form of torture having to watch the guy she loved, be groped by the girl that he was meant to marry. Royals were apparently meant to marry off young, high school young. The King was putting it off, knowing of Zarek and Kyla’s connection but his mother was becoming harder to deter.
Kyla moved down another hall, wanting to get away from the sight. Orion, who was guarding Zarek, offered her a sympathetic smile as they moved past, which Kyla returned. A friendship had formed between the usually stoic centaurs and herself. They were nicer than they looked-someti
mes. Other times they had no choice, they followed orders first. Always loyal.
“Hey Oracle,” Wyatt’s laughing voice said as he came up behind her. His grin was infectious.
“Kyla. How’s your head?” Kyla asked of the wound she had accidentally inflicted during training. Turns out archery was not one of her, nor the Oracle’s talents. His sandy blonde hair was wet and shaggy as usual, while his pale green eyes sparkled at the memory. She ran a hand through her own thick, dark wavy hair as he answered.
“Which one?” he winked. Kyla gasped at his crudeness, although a smirk broke through the surprise, she should have guessed Wyatt’s answer, he liked to make sexual jokes that he knew made her blush.
“Damn, walked into that one. Shouldn’t you be off seducing one of the many eager students in this school to kiss it better?” Kyla teased back as they walked into their shared history class. Their seats were at the back, behind Zarek and Elanor. It was her least favourite class just because of it. Wyatt grinned, leaning closer to her.
“Why do you think I’m talking to you?” He smirked playfully. Kyla giggled lightly as Shemar moved to stand at the back of the class inconspicuously, well as much as a giant centaur could be. She ignored his comment and sat down beside him as Zarek came in with Elanor and they took their seats in front of them. Orion moved to stand next to Shemar. Wyatt shoved her shoulder playfully.
“Looks like the King was right again. You should be at classes.” He indicated towards the white board that held their topic for the day. Kyla smirked at the words. Realm habitats. Well, of course the King was right, he probably already knew where she wanted to go and that this class would help her in the giants and goblins area. Kyla pulled out her notebook as the tutor, Mr. Lemmings walked in.