by Phoebe Brown
“We need to go.” She said, “Helen is nearby.”
Without saying much else the others turned to follow her. Tafari looked over at Ellion and whispered something to Khar. She shrugged and urged them onward.
“Helen doesn’t have much time,” she said, “the others must have warned them that we’re coming.”
She rushed forward confident that if the others didn’t keep up, they wouldn’t make it to Helen in time. The important thing was that they got there together.
She found Helen sitting on the ground in a garden talking to a group of women who were all too excited for her attention. If Helen weren’t so different, she would have fit right in.
“Gaia,” Helen said when she saw her.
“We need to go.” She said, “Now.”
The other women must have sensed her intensity because their faces changed from cheerful to anxious the instant she spoke.
“Oh, ah, yes sure.” Helen said calmly before standing.
Gaia waited on Helen to say her goodbyes before pulling her away in the opposite direction from the men in black who were watching them intently.
She was pulling her away when she realised that something was amiss. The men weren’t following her, yet they stood watching as if they expected something to happen. Gaia tried to feel the ground around her but there was no movement. In a split second, she saw something barrelling towards her from the corner of her eyes.
She pushed Helen to the ground and huffed out a breath. She wasn’t sure what she was doing but it instinctively worked. As she opened her eyes, she was stunned to see that everything stood in place. Helen was halfway to the ground; Ellion was lurching forward to push her down. Above her was a man descending from the rooftop draped in black with eyes so grey they seemed transparent. She saw his gaze intent on her and she knew at that moment that he was a Cenobyte. The way he moved and her inability to detect him reminded her of Master Morell.
In another huff, everything was back to normal and she slowed her breathing to take on the challenge that lay before her. While master Morrell had always been the best at beating her, he had taught her how to defeat the best, even better than himself. As the Cenobyte fell, she sidestepped him and used the force of his momentum to throw him to the ground. The movement was so sudden and powerful that the ground on which he fell cracked. She waited a moment for him to move and when he didn’t, she rushed over to Helen.
“What was that?” Helen asked.
“Later,” Gaia answered.
The others came rushing over to them, but she didn’t want to wait for the other Abyssinians to realise that their ambush had failed completely. She hurried the others to the meetup spot hoping that Kirk would recognize the danger and leave wherever he was.
“What about Kirk?” Helen asked.
She checked again and realised he was still in the centre of the village. She knew by the height of the moon in the sky that the ship would be waiting for them. It was almost dawn and he had not left.
“You all have to go back to the palace.” She said, “Stall, do whatever it takes if they’ve realised we’re missing. I will get him there before the sun rises.”
They nodded and as soon as they reached the spot, the ship descended for them. She urged them in and watched as the ship took off into the distance. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and found a path to Kirk.
“Let’s go.” She said to Ellion who was waiting patiently.
They moved stealthily through the crowds of people who were still out. No one seemed to notice them as they skirted around the dark corners towards the centre of the city. As soon as they were away from the large crowds, she took the time to observe the way the buildings had been made. They appeared to be made of white marble and carved into dome-like rooms. Each dome was different but they each had the same trademark look.
The closer she got to where Kirk was, the more anxious she became. He had warned them against being late at the meeting point yet she could see him in her mind sitting in the hut as if he was trapped there.
It was then that the realization dawned on her. The Cenobyte earlier had been a traitor to the calling. The Cenobytes who were his personal guards might have been also traitors. She stopped a few paces away from the building where he was being held and focused her energy. She could feel him and she could sense defeat. His guards were there, but they weren’t protecting him. They were holding him hostage. Suddenly another man was in the picture. She could feel his menacing energy, but Kirk didn’t seem troubled by him. He was putting on a brave face despite how bad the situation was.
“You made a grave mistake coming here tonight,” the man said.
Gaia was surprised she could hear them. She could feel them, feel their energy, and sense their movements but hearing them was new odd.
“If I had known you were the one who wanted me dead, I would have had your head the last time I saw you,” Kirk said.
The man chuckled and moved to stand before Kirk.
“I hear your friends just left in the vessel you were supposed to be in.” He said, “I guess that even as the prince you still have no one.”
Kirk didn’t say anything, but she could sense that these words hurt him. It made her feel angry that this man was trying to lead him to believe that they didn’t care about him.
“So, what now prince?” the man asked, “do you know why you’re here?”
“I’m sure you’ll tell me,” Kirk said.
“Oh no,” the man replied, “I have a rule, never reveal unnecessary details to those who still breathe. I’ll have plenty of time to tell you when you’re dead.”
Gaia’s heart chilled when she realised what was to be Kirk’s fate. He would be killed, tonight.
“So, the end game is my death?” Kirk asked.
“It always has been.” The man said, “The only reason you lived this long was because of your father and that spy of his.”
Gaia’s thoughts went to Abito and she wondered how he had managed to help keep Kirk alive this long.
“Well, why the wait?” Kirk asked.
“I take orders from a higher power.” The man said.
“And you won’t tell me that either will you?” he asked.
“We both know I won’t.”
Kirk went silent and Gaia decided it was time to move in. Cloaking herself in invisibility as she had done before, she moved out from behind the trees and into the open. The house was surrounded by men in hoods who she assumed were also Cenobytes. She noticed an area towards the back which had been left unguarded and decided to make her advance from there.
It didn’t take her long to make it to the hut but she realised that the entryway was guarded by two burly men whose bodies blocked the entire entrance. There was no way to get to Kirk without causing an uproar.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to replicate what Tafari had done. In the distance, there was a thundering sound and a flash of lightening as she had never seen light up the skies. She could see the fearful looks in the guards’ eyes and she tried again. She only needed enough space to pass by. Another flash of light split the skies and the men moved from their post to step outside and check the skies.
Gaia didn’t hesitate when they moved but passed them by and moved into the small hut. Inside she saw Kirk sitting in the corner. The moment she stepped in he looked over as though he could see her. His eyes widened but then his expression changed; he smiled.
“Something funny?” the man asked.
Gaia turned to look at him. She had never seen him before, but his clothes told her that he was a wealthy man, probably someone with a lot of power in the kingdom.
“I just thought it was funny that they sent you here to die,” Kirk said.
Kirk was on his feet so fast that the Cenobytes in the room didn’t have time to react. She intercepted them before they could reach him and struck them to the ground. She heard the shocked gasp of the man in the corner and realised that she was still shrouded in her invisibi
lity.
“I don’t think you’ve met Gaia,” Kirk said.
She shed the covering and revealed herself to the man who was gasping for air as the realization hit him.
“The Cenobyte?” he asked, “She’s here.”
Kirk didn’t prolong their interaction. He simply walked toward the older man and cupped his face.
“I need you to tell me who gives the orders,” Kirk said.
Outside she could hear the loud rumbling of thunder and see the lights flashing. The storm she had created was getting closer and it was as violent as the emotions that had built up within her.
“I can’t,” the man said, “I’d rather die.”
“I’ll take you to the palace and have them torture you before I let anyone kill you,” Kirk said.
Gaia believed he would do it. Although he was the most level-headed one, he still had an edge that reminded her of mountain cats; they were beautiful and friendly until they were hungry.
“Give me the name now!” Kirk said squeezing the man’s neck tighter.
“Little prince,” he said, “I fear this is the end of it between us.”
Gaia watched in shocked amazement as the old man forced Kirk away before grabbing a knife from a nearby table and plunging it into his chest. Kirk stepped back and stumbled into her. She reached up to steady him.
“We need to go.” She said clutching him.
“He.” Kirk stuttered.
“Yes, and we can’t be here when they find him.”
Kirk realised what she was saying and turned to her.
“How did you find me?” he asked
“I can feel everything.” She replied, “I’ll tell you about it later. For now. I know a way out.”
Kirk nodded and followed her as she led him towards the doorway. The men had moved away from the entrance to find shelter. She knew Ellion would be waiting for them to emerge from the house and so without much hesitation, she ran out into the rain. There were shouts all around as the men saw them fleeing the house with Kirk. Still, she moved without looking back; if she stopped now, she would never make it out of there without a fight.
“Keep running,” she said over the roar of the rain.
Kirk matched her every step and soon they were in the trees. The men pursued them, but this was her territory. She urged Kirk on and led him through the rain towards the outskirts of the town. The Cenobytes were farther behind now but they kept coming without faltering.
“We can’t outrun them!” Kirk said panting with the exertion.
“I know.” Gaia replied, “We only need to get to the sea.”
Kirk nodded and continued moving forward. The sea wasn’t far away but they were moving slowly in the rain trying to dodge falling arrows. She was exhausted after everything she had been through during the night. Even though she had been trained for situations like this, there was no way she could have been prepared for it. As they neared the sea, she summoned lightening around them. It struck the sandy beach around them.
Suddenly realising that she was controlling the weather, Kirk grabbed her shoulder.
“How are you doing that?” he asked.
She shook her head.
“Not now.” She replied breathlessly, “I have to get you out of here.”
She forced Kirk to stand aside and raised her hand. The rain stopped instantly, and she wiped the dripping water from her face before turning to face the oncoming army of men. She had never seen this many and was surprised that so many still kept coming.
“You can’t fight them all!” Kirk insisted.
She didn’t reply. The sand began to move and like crabs escaping sinking holes, shards of glass began to rise from beneath. The lightening had struck the sand exactly as she’d planned. Glass had formed beneath the sand creating the perfect weapons. She used all her energy trying to control the shards as they rose slowly above her. She aimed them.
Each chard of glass had targets and with the simplest thought, she launched them. They locked unto their targets and flew through the air taking out all of their enemies without fail. There was no sound, no cry. Only the sound of bodies falling to the ground. She felt herself crumbling then. She knew as her body slumped and Kirk caught her, that there was nothing else she could do. At least for now, they were safe. The last thing she saw was Kirk looking down at her in horror and Ellion rushing away into the trees as Abyssinians retreated.
Chapter 19
When Gaia awoke, she thought for a moment that she had dreamt it all. She was inside her room with the soft light of the sun filtering through her window and a light breeze blowing the scent of the sea in.
“You’re awake.”
The voice belonged to Kirk, but it didn’t sound like him. Something was different.
“I am,” she said raising herself on her elbows and looking over at him.
He stood at the foot of her bed wearing a white shirt and pants that moved in the wind. There was a chair there and she knew he must have been sitting there while she slept. His hair had been combed but something in his eyes seemed perplexed.
“Why are you here?” she asked wondering why he was here instead of Lolita.
“I told them I needed to talk to you.” He said, “Don’t worry your maid is just beyond the door if you feel the need to call out to her. “
Gaia nodded and shrugged.
“What’s wrong?”
“You don’t remember?” he asked.
“What?” she asked.
“Last night,” he responded.
She paused and looked over at him finally realizing that it hadn’t all been a dream.
“That was real?” She asked.
“You killed over a hundred men,” he whispered, “you summoned a storm, Gaia, you made yourself invisible.”
“I,” she said but stopped when she realised, she didn’t really know what to say.
“What happened last night?” He asked.
He sat by her feet and stared up at her. His eyes pleaded for her to be honest, but she didn’t know how to be.
“How did we get back?” She asked.
“The others turned back for us when they saw the storm.” He replied, “Tafari guided them through and Helen found us on the beach.”
She nodded feeling grateful that they had come back for them.
“You haven’t answered my question.” He said, “What happened last night, how can you do all that. You’re a Cenobyte?”
“I met a woman.” She began, “She came to me in the form of a bear but then she transformed into a woman.”
“I’ve heard of people like that.” Kirk said, “They’re extinct.”
“They were hunted into extinction.” She corrected, “It was a genocide.”
“I see,” Kirk replied, “and she gave you those powers?”
Gaia looked away unsure of how to say it. It was crazy and she didn’t believe it herself. There was no way that it was true, but she didn’t know how else to explain it.
“What?” Kirk asked.
“I can’t tell you.” She said looking earnestly into his eyes, “You just have to trust me.”
It wasn’t that she couldn’t tell him, she just didn’t understand what was happening to her and why it was happening. She wanted to find out more and she needed to do so soon.
“Will you tell me eventually?” He asked as if reading her thoughts.
“I will.” She replied.
“Then I will wait for you.”
Their eyes met and she suddenly realised how happy she was that he was here, that he was safe and that he had stayed with her.
“Thank you for always saving my life.” he said, “When I thought you guys had left me I was ready to die but when I felt you in that room I wondered how I could have ever doubted you.”
She smiled.
“I would have fought through any amount of men to rescue you.” She said.
“Is that so?” He asked raising his brow.
“I mean, no man gets left be
hind.” She added trying not to blush.
“The others want to see you.” He said, “Can I let them in?”
“Yes,” she replied.
He walked over to the door and opened it. She saw them standing in the hallway waiting and she burst into laughter. They rushed in and Khar and Helen climbed unto the bed with her.
“You look terrible,” Khar said with a charming smile.
“Why are you all still dressed for bed?” she asked observing them.
“It’s bedtime,” Helen said.
“Yeah, you slept the entire day.”
Wait what?” she asked.
“We told, umm, I told the headmistress that you had lady troubles,” Helen said nervously
She blushed and averted her gaze.
“Thanks.” She replied unsure of what else to say.
“I came to check on you this morning. You didn’t wake and so we decided to let you sleep in.”
There was a part of her that was bursting with joy on the inside. Here she was surrounded by people who cared enough about her to not only rescue her but care for her. She had been taught to do the rescuing all her life.
“Are you going to cry?” Tafari asked taking a step back.
She laughed and wiped the unshed tear from her eyes.
“You have to excuse me; I’ve had a traumatic night.” She said.
“We wanted to talk to you about what we learnt.” Helen said, “Before you stormed in on us, we were getting information from the locals.”
“What did you learn?” she asked eagerly.
“I learnt that the Abyssinians have been here for a few months, but they’ve grown in numbers over the last few days. They’re preparing for something big.”
“I learnt that the king’s men have been seen in the area where we got attacked.” Tafari added, “The soldiers questioned the locals but when they saw the Abyssinians, they did nothing. It’s as if they didn’t see them or didn’t want to see them.”
Gaia tried to understand their actions. Could the soldiers be working with the Abyssinians? It seemed unlikely that so many of them could be working against the prince.
“The fishermen taught me that the men have been bringing boats out towards the palace and doing strange things with ropes before returning inland. No one can go out with them, but they accidentally went out one day and were turned back. One saw the Abyssinians throwing up ropes towards the palace as if they wanted to climb it.”