My eyes meet Lexa's. “Run,” she shouts as she tries to wriggle free of her prison.
Huge chunks fall from the ceiling around us, landing with a resounding boom, and the floor shudders with each impact.. I run, dodging rocks I reach Lexa and tug on the massive beasts head. I growl in frustration. I don’t have the strength for this. Bitterly I recall how Nathanial had lifted the Cerebi from me with ease. My eyes dart to a smaller horn nestled between the two pinning Lexa to the rock. The spike slowly inches closer Lexa's chest as the rock behind her starts to break free.
I leap onto the beasts head and hack at the horns, trying to cut through the one near Lexa's chest. If I remove it, then maybe Lexa can wriggle free. I cut halfway through, and my sword gets wedged in the horn. I tug, but it’s stuck fast. Desperately I kick at the horn, and it starts to give. One last vicious kick snaps the horn in two. Lexa wriggles free from her trap as the roof loses its battle with gravity. She takes hold of my waist and jumps off the beast’s head, narrowly missing a massive chunk of roof as it falls where we stood moments before.
We turn in mid-air and land on the ground. Lexa rolls on top of me and attempts to shield me from the falling rocks. A large rock strikes her shoulder. A gasp escapes Lexa, and her mouth sets in a hard line as the force of the impact pushes her towards me.
Our bodies meet, and a rush of energy flows through me. A bright blue light emanates from under my armor.We stare at the light in confusion, and I reach into my top and pull out my mother’s necklace. Blue light flows from the necklace and spreads over our bodies. The falling rocks bounce off the light and land harmlessly on the ground around us. The shimmering around us isn’t stable. It flickers, and small stones fall in through the gaps forming in the light.
Lexa reaches into her top and pulls out a necklace similar to mine. Instead of blue, hers is deep emerald green. I don’t miss the fact it is the same color as Lexa's eyes. Lexa inches our glittering gems closer and takes hold of my hand. The light that explodes from the jeweled necklaces is blindingly white. I close my eyes and turn away, but the light pierces my closed eyelids creating an explosion of color. The light dulls, and I open my eyes to see a dancing wall of green and blue light.
A deafening boom resounds through the chaos of falling rocks, and a massive section of roof drops down and hits the light above us. It sits there for a moment, and I stare at it in disbelief. The chunk of rock is bigger and thicker than I am. After a moment it slowly slides off the light to land beside us with a crash that vibrates the ground. A cloud of dust rises, making it impossible to see anything but the shimmering light and the darkness that attempts to swallow it.
“We need to move,” I shout over the noise of destruction around us.
Lexa glances down at our hands, her face reflecting my thoughts. How are we going to move without breaking the connection between our necklaces?
“Hold on to me and keep the necklaces together,” Lexa orders and scoops me up in her arms.
The movement surprises me, and I fumble with the necklaces for a moment, causing our light to flicker for a heartbeat. I throw my arm around Lexa's neck and hold the necklaces together with my hand. Lexa runs, dodging fallen rocks as she sprints out of the corridor that could have easily become our tomb.
After a few minutes, the roofing stabilizes, and Lexa slows her run. Coming to a stop, she lowers me to the ground, and for a moment we stand close. Lexa clears her throat and steps back, breaking our contact, and the light wall around us shimmers and fades.
Shouting fills the darkness, and a flickering light creeps into the hall not too far from where we stand. I shove my necklace under my vest.
“Lexa!” Shouts a female voice as the flaming torches cast their lights on us.
This voice belongs to a short blonde woman wearing a lot of belts, every available space filled with various objects. I can’t help but think whatever this woman is doing she is certainly ready for it.
“Tash,” Lexa greets with a warm smile and takes the short woman’s forearm in her grip.
Tash glances over our battered appearances. “I see once again you have managed to survive.”
“It’s going to take a lot more than a Chimera and a cave in to take me out,” Lexa quips.
I look over this new woman as she fills Lexa in on what happened during our absence. A brand sits across the woman’s right cheek, ‘3871’ with the symbol of a spanner under it.
This woman had once been a slave too. An engineer if I’m correct. It is hard to be sure, as most engineers lived closer to Darkmor’s free citizens in order to maintain their machines day and night.
“Tash, this is Claire,” Lexa introduces.
I step forward and grasp Tash's arm in the same fashion Lexa had.
“Hi, Tash, thanks for fixing my armor. I'm afraid I already ruined all your hard work,” I say flashing my best smile and gesturing to my dirty armor.
“Maybe next time I should make you fix it,” Tash says with a smile. “Then perhaps it will last more than a few hours.”
I pretend to consider her suggestion. “You see, I seem to have developed this awful habit of ending up in life or death situations.”
Tash takes off her backpack and hands me a canteen of water. “Sounds like an unhealthy habit. Have you tried giving it up?”
I take the canteen and reply, “Yeah, but I relapse back into old habits. Then before I know it I end up scared to death and having to fight to save my skin all over again.”
Tash smiles and turns to Lexa. “I like this one, can we keep her?”
Lexa pretends to think it over and winks at me. “I don’t know, she eats a lot.”
“And I snore,” I add brightly.
“Yeah, and I suppose she does have that awful life or death habit,” Tash concludes with a smile.
Lexa nods, her face solemn, and Tash snorts out in laughter.
“I think you are going to fit in perfectly,” Lexa smiles. Tash nods enthusiastically through her laughter.
Nathanial jogs into view, a group of people with him. He approaches Lexa and gives her a report on the base, and within moments Lexa has resumed command. Our light moment of humor swallowed by the situation.
“How did they get in here?” Lexa asks. “None of our entrances are big enough for creatures like that to just walk in.”
Nathanial stands a little taller. “The west side entrance has been blown apart.”
Lexa rubs her head. “Chimeras are not capable of using explosives.”
“The dead guards we found near the entrance are.” Nathanial adds. “The fools believed they could control a pair of chimaeras.”
“I suspected Darkmor had a hand in this.” Lexa glances around the people in the hall. “Where is the second beast?”
“We believe we have it cornered in the east wing living quarters.” Nathanial reports.
Lexa nods. “Take a group of engineers with you. I want the west side entrance sealed, it cannot be allowed to remain open.”
“I recommend a reinforcement of the tunnel and the use of some of our own explosives to trigger a rock fall to seal the entrance.” Tash pauses and Lexa nods for her to continue. “I recommend Lucas head the team, he has invaluable knowledge of explosives.”
Lexa nods. “See that it is done.” Tash moves but Lexa halts her with a further question. “Where is Anne?”
“At the main evacuation point, we are in the process of moving everyone there.”
Tash returns to her task and Lexa lets out a small breath before she turns to Nathanial. “I want twenty well-armed rebels to go with you and lock this creature in the east wing. I will organize a team of animal workers to devise the best way to dispose of the creature. They are not easy to kill.”
Nathanial nods and sets off.
Lexa calls over a small group of people, names them team leaders and sends them off into the tunnels to look for anyone who didn’t make it to the evacuation points.
She is preparing to join
one herself when Tash stops her. “Lexa, the people are uneasy, and they would greatly benefit from seeing you alive and well. Your presence will do more to boost morale than my words ever could.”
Lexa considers Tash's words, and her eyes show the internal battle raging in her mind as she makes her decision. A moment passes, and Lexa nods. Tash leads us down the corridor. I trail behind them, trying to ignore the burning pain in my chest from my broken ribs. Bright red spots of blood sneak out from under my bracer. The throbbing there is a familiar burn that can only mean one thing, my stitches have ripped. Sighing, I make a mental note not to fight any more monsters until I feel better.
I glance down, and a flash of blue catches my attention. I stop and stare at my arm. Three blue lines intersect and glow against my skin, the same color as the light my necklace had created. I rub my skin and pain flares as my fingers make contact with the lines. Warmth spreads through my fingers, and I pull them back, the tips of my fingers red. Pain prickles behind my eyes and slows my thoughts. What is this?
My eyes flick over to Lexa who has stopped just ahead and quietly speaks with Tash. Has this happened to Lexa? I search her exposed skin with my eyes and find nothing.
Lexa calls out to me, “Claire, are you coming?”
“Yes.” I hastily pull my bracer up, so it hides the blue marks. I hiss softly as the lines burn with the contact from the bracer. I don’t want people asking about it until I know more.
The women in front of me turn into a doorway filled with light, and the sounds of chatter drift from the open door. I catch up with the two women, and together we step into the room.
Chapter Eight
The people.
Injured rebels lay on mats, or sit propped up against walls. Most of them injured from the rampaging beasts and a separate cave in from ours near the east wing. Uninjured people do their best to provide medical attention to those in need, while those unskilled in healing give water or comfort others.
Lexa stands in the entryway, and the whole room stops to look at her. I can see relief and joy in many faces. Lexa doesn’t say a word. Slowly she raises her hand, so her closed right fist rests on her heart. Everyone in the room repeats the action.
Lexa nods and the room resumes its soft noises. Lexa takes in a slow breath, and I can see the effort it takes her not to show how hurt she is. I don’t understand what I have just witnessed, and I am unsure if I am allowed to ask.
Lexa moves to the nearest injured rebel and assists with bandaging a nasty arm wound. Many people approach her, and she continues her work as she speaks to each of them. It is easy to see how important Lexa is to them, and in return how important they are to her. I find myself enthralled by the respect and attention Lexa gives to each and every person. I watch her work for far too long. I look away and meet the eyes of an old woman, who gives me a knowing smile and my cheeks heat up. I should be helping.
A small boy around eight slides up to stand beside me and ghosts my movements as I approach a wall with a line of woven baskets set alongside it.
I turn to face him. “What are you up too?”
The boy’s cheeks turn bright red and he splutters out. “Can I help you?”
I raise my eyebrow. “That depends. Do you have a name?”
The boy nods his head eagerly. “My names Lewi.”
I nod. “Nice to meet you Lewi. Do you think you can remember the things I show you?”
Lewi puffs his chest out with pride. “I am very good at remembering what I have seen and heard. All the adults say so.”
I smile at his bravado. “Well Lewi, we have some people to help.” With that
I flip the woven lid of the closest and find it filled with medical supplies. I take the hamper over to the nearest wounded person and assist, as best as I can. Lewi shadows my every movement and watches intently. I’m not as good at this as my mother would have been. But seasons of having my own wounds treated has given me a basic knowledge of what needs to be done to make most people comfortable.
I spend hours treating the wounded and Lewi learns quickly. So many people are severely injured from cave-ins or run-ins with the beast, apparently the second beast found its way into a mess hall during meal time. I shudder as my mind imagines the panic that must have taken place in that room. To help pass the time, I listen to the discussions taking place around me as I work and talk with my young companion. I discover there had been more than one beast roaming the tunnels. The description of this other creature, a brown Chimera, gives me the impression it had been smaller than the one Lexa and I encountered. The others’ accounts don’t describe a beast with face appendages like the one we had fought, and I am unsure if they are the same species.
A young man lies beside me, unconscious from the pain his injury causes him. Doing my best to be gentle I wrap his mangled leg in a tight bandage and place a yellow cloth next to him. These cloths are left to tell the actual healers which people had injuries that need a person with more medical training than the average individual.
“I need to go fill this Lewi.” I tell the young boy. “You wait here with this young man and see that he gets help.”
Lewi seems uncertain. “Okay,” he finally says.
I rise and take my basket back to the wall so I can refill it with supplies. I squat by the pile of rough bandages and select some for the basket. A gentle tap on my shoulder startles me, and I twist around to stare up into emerald green eyes and a concerned face.
Lexa gestures at my arm. “Has anyone tended your injuries?”
I glance down at my arm and study the stain working its way through my bandage and bracer. “I should probably deal with that,” I agree.
I delay acting on my words, because part of me fears the blue lines, but Lexa stands nearby waiting, and I know she won’t go until my wounds have been checked. I reach for my bracer and fumble with the clasp. I can’t remember it ever being this hard to remove. I am about to give up when a gentle hand takes my arm.
Lexa crouches before me. “Here, let me help.”
Carefully she removes the bracer, doing her best not to aggravate the wound further as she unwraps the bandage. I scan my arm. The lines are gone. I rub my face with my hand and hold out my injured arm, waiting for Lexa to inspect it.
Lexa cleans the area with a cloth. “You have pulled out three of your stitches.”
She takes the med kit from me and rummages through it, pulling out a needle and thread. Lexa looks at me. I nod, and she sets about sealing my wound. I watch her push the needle through my skin, resealing my lacerations. She is efficient and quickly finishes the last stitch before wrapping my arm in a fresh bandage. Lexa props her head up with her hand, and her ordinarily perfect posture is slumped. She could have left my injuries for a medic.
“Thank you,” I say.
Lexa has small splashes of blood on her shirt. I’m not sure how much of it is hers. I make a mental note to attempt a check of her injuries when we are in a place more private. I have a feeling Lexa won’t reveal an injury to her people. Not when they need her to be strong. And especially when she believes her injuries are less severe than the ones she is treating. I have a suspicion they are not.
Tash enters the room, scans through the people scattered throughout it and spots us. Her and a young man head in our direction. The young man’s square glasses magnify his blue eyes until they are bug big. As they approach, his sandy hair flops about as he walks. It is in desperate need of a brush. The man has a brand under his eye, ‘3921,’ and the symbol of a spanner. Another escaped engineer.
Tash winks at me. “Lexa tells me you two encountered a male Chimera Panthera in the tunnels. I have also been told you delivered the final blow. It is an impressive feat to kill a creature as heavily armored as a chimera.”
I smile, but I don’t get long to bask in my glory.
“We have set up a room across the hall for people to sleep in,” Tash informs us. “The south wing of the rebel encampment is safe and we have patrols watch
ing all entrances.” She nods at us. “You two should get a few hours rest before you pass out on us. Lucas will show you to your bunks.”
The tall, lanky man beside Tash waves at us with a shy smile.
Lexa’s jaw clenches and her eyes glint in anger. I lean in and take the medical basket from her and murmur, “You are no good to anyone if you are so exhausted you cannot raise your sword or think clearly.”
Lexa lets out a long sigh and nods, rising to her feet with grace. I make an attempt to get up behind her and fumble, but somehow I manage to rise to my feet.
I smile up at the tall man beside me. “Lead the way, Lucas.”
Lucas returns the gesture and swipes his long hair out of his face as he turns to lead us through the wounded. I turn and wave goodbye to Lewi who stands and waves eagerly in return. We pass through the hall and enter another room. We pad our way through lines of bunks, most are filled with sleeping people wrapped up in warm blankets. We reach the back of the room and find an empty bed, and a bulging knapsack rests upon it. The whole set up is behind a rough dirt wall. I assume this extra privilege is an attempt to give Lexa some privacy.
Lexa’s jaw clenches as she surveys the space, her voice taking on a strained tone, “Why aren’t there more beds behind here?”
Lucas shifts on his feet. “Tash was trying to give you some space, and in any case, there are no more beds. These are all the emergency supplies and what we could scavenge from ruined sleeping areas. We never intended to deal with such a large scale relocation, people must sleep in shifts.”
Lexa walks around the space as if gauging how much room there is. “We must remedy this as soon as possible.”
Lucas nods and quickly retreats. I survey the space and scan the various storage crates that fill it—if they had more beds two or three would fit. Lexa moves behind the boxes and stoops to pick up an old cot, far older than the ones around the room, and begins to assemble it, twisting aged wood together. I awkwardly realize I still have the medical basket in my hands, and I set it on the floor near the wall. With my hands now free I go over to help Lexa with her wooden puzzle. We have just finished stretching an old sack over the wooden polls when Nathanial rounds the corner.
Shadowsoul Page 8