Destiny (The Keeper's Trilogy Book 1)

by Olivia Ali

  The figure she crouched by wasn't in in a brilliant way. Its breathing was laboured and harsh, hands bloodied and long black hair tangled and matted. Tristan's eyes rested back towards the hands seeing a glyph fade back into the skin, his worst fears confirmed. It was Dante, there was no mistaking it and even though he expected to find him battered and bruised, that didn't mean he was prepared for it. He gasped, letting his legs drag him into the room and creaking the door further open. The sound made Myrina jump to her feet and swing around to face Tristan with a sigh of relief.

  "Is he okay?" Were the only words he could manage as he expected the worst.

  "So that’s why you're here then," she said solemnly as though she were disappointed and almost as though she didn’t mean to say it out loud

  "I'm here for you both. I made you a promise Myrina...and I'm going to keep it." A smile fluttered and the edge of her lips and she looked back to Dante, concern filling her soft face.

  "He's in a bad way. I don't know what happened, he just appeared out of nowhere. What is he doing here?"

  "I wish I knew. Either way I'm going to need help getting him out so I can't very well leave you behind now can I?" Her answer was lost as she jumped at a knock sounding at the door.

  "Who is it?" she asked as Tristan reached for Dante and dragged him out into the balcony, pulling the door shut again.

  ~~~

  I chose to stay in the room rather than follow my brother out to the balcony. After all, it's not as though I had to worry about being seen.

  "'Tis your lord my dear," came a wry voice that sent shivers pulsing down my back. I watched her reaction as she shook herself, repulsed and unlocked the door. Turning her back on the intruder, she rested her hands on the back of her dressing table chair, her posture turning rigid. "Good evening my dear!" Came the voice as the door opened and shut again silently.

  My eyes met with his, not that he knew it, and for a moment I felt electricity fill the space between us, our connection suddenly becoming physical as I felt the hatred boil over within me.

  "Good evening my lord," Myrina answered, keeping her back facing him. "What brings you here at this hour?"

  "I could be asking you a similar question my dear."

  A look of disgust filled her face as Hagen stepped closer to her placing a firm hand on her hip. The touch itself filled me with even more anger, how dare he allow himself to think that sort of movement was even appropriate.

  "I was woken by a commotion outside.” she answered numbly. “The guards - they are so restless tonight."

  "That is because we have an intruder in the dungeons." Myrina froze. "It would appear someone was there outside of visiting hours. You wouldn't happen to know who would you?"

  "How should I know?"

  "No matter."

  I watched helplessly as his grip on her hip tightened and he spun her round. She came to a stop before the bed, her legs catching on the post as she lost her balance. Landing on the bed, she came face to face with Hagen who stood over her with his hands behind his back.

  "After all," he said with a slight smile pinching his lips. "It would appear that both of us know the intruder...very well."

  "I don't know what you're talking about."

  "Do not lie to me wench!" His hand flew across her face causing me to snap my eyes shut and wish with all my might there was something I could do.

  ~~~

  Tristan straightened up as he heard Myrina scream. He couldn't hear a lot from his vantage point but if that wasn't a cry for help, he didn't know what was. He glanced over at Dante who was propped up against the balcony barrier, to check he was still breathing - watching a while as his chest expanded filling his lungs with air. He grabbed the dagger from inside his tunic.

  Opening the door urgently, he stopped as Hagen looked straight up at him from where he stood over Myrina who lay on the bed. His face aghast and pale, a dagger protruding from the back of his head as he fell forwards just shy of the bed. Tristan looked up at Myrina her face white and partially covered by a shaking hand. Near the door, he thought he saw a shadow that seemed to fade into the wall as it was no more. Gulping heavily, he inclined his head to Myrina.

  "I swear it wasn't me!" she stammered, unable to believe what had just happened.

  "You think I care?" Tristan sniggered. "Get your things, we're leaving."

  "What now?"

  "Yes now!"

  "What about Hagen?"

  "Just leave him there. I doubt he's going anywhere."

  "Are you not even worried about who killed him."

  "Nope. Good on them I say."

  Tristan turned his back on Myrina and went back out onto the balcony, peering over the edge and spying Zhaine and Basso heading for some bushes by the wall, Felix's body supported between them. His heart skipped a beat before he whistled, making Zhaine look up and nod to him. They perched in the bushes there, awaiting his next signal.

  "Myrina," he said, turning to see her staring at Hagen's body, her hand still covering her face. "Is there a warning bell that summons the guards?"

  "Yes," her voice was shaky as she answered him. "There's one down the hall. They're all connected so if you ring one you ring them all."

  "Good!"

  Speeding past her, he opened the door out into the hallway a little, looking both ways before sprinting out towards the rope he could see hanging to his right. Glancing up a little at the bell, he tugged on the rope hard, sending a loud bellow throughout the entire estate as the rest of the bells chimed along with it. Charging back towards Myrina's room he closed the door behind him and bolted it.

  "Hurry up and get your things together," He commanded as Myrina remained where she sat. "We don't have a lot of time."

  At last she stood, walking slowly over to the dresser and rummaging through her jewellery box.

  "Did he do that to you?" Tristan asked as he spied the cheek she had been hiding from him; a small breakage in the akin surrounded by redness. She nodded in response, not looking at him but continuing to search through her things. "Then he deserved what he got."

  Tristan went back to the balcony and watched as three guards congregated before heading into the estate. He signalled to Zhaine who nodded once more whispering something to Basso who took Felix over his shoulder and headed for the gate where Nielson and Merlin had now emerged. Zhaine sprinted towards them and began climbing the ivy up to the balcony. Lifting Dante, he cursed at how heavy he was before seating him on the edge and turning him to face outwards. Once Zhaine was in place, he eased him forward, his brother catching him on his shoulder and climbing slowly back down to the ground.

  "Come on!" Tristan commanded to Myrina.

  He turned to see her waiting at the door, a cloak around her shoulders and a necklace he recognised hanging around her neck. It was an amber heart with silver etching, making it seem more like a chestnut, which hung to a silver chain. Romeo had bought that for her and the sight of it bought a smile to his face. She nodded to him and he moved so she could get to the ivy and climb down to where Zhaine was waiting.

  The door suddenly swung open, three guards appearing it in its wake and staring open mouthed at Hagen's lifeless body.

  "Is he dead?" asked one of them, none of them seeming shocked at the sight.

  "Looks like," said another gulping as he tentatively poked Hagen's lifeless hand with his spear. "What do we do now?"

  "Ah just leave him there, he was a bastard anyway." said the third, looking mildly smug.

  "But who's gonna pay us."

  "There are plenty of Lords within this Estate Drew. I say we go the tavern and toast to our freedom."

  "But what about the Lady Myrina?"

  "Wherever she is it's a better place than here."

  The three guards shrugged to each other before disappearing back down the hall and shutting the door behind them. Hagen must've been a horrible commander to have his own men treat his corpse so. Choosing not to think about it, he pulled himself over the edge
of the balcony and climbed down the ivy. Once on the ground, he and Myrina sprinted to the gate where Basso was now waiting in place of the elders. Dante was propped onto a horse along with Felix' lifeless body.

  "We'll stop over by those trees," Nielson said pointing to the cluster by the mountain side. "Then we'll give Felix the send-off he deserves."

  The rest nodded before making their way towards the spot Nielson had pointed out a few yards. Felix was placed on the ground and Nielson indicated that all the Keepers should stand around him in a circle, their heads bowed. He chanted, tears falling from his eyes as he commanded Glyphs to take their First Keeper to his final resting place. And tall they stood mourning their loss. Just the wind and the stars in the night sky to stand over him as his warden, minding him on his way to his eternal resting place. In his own words as a final tribute; we hardly knew ye.

  The lost Keepers heard hooves in the distance, and it bought them away from their mourning, their First Keeper’s body now commemorated to the Earth. Tristan signalled for Myrina to get onto the horse behind Dante and tried to squint through the rolling mist to see what was coming.

  "Well don't just stand there you silly fuckers!" Came a ragged voice through the fog as a white horse came into sight. The rider grabbed Zhaine by the hand, forcing him up behind him before riding off again.

  "Who the..." Nielson didn't have time to finish his insult though as more hooves sounded.

  "Faders!" Basso yelled, as he came running out of the mist for the horses.

  Myrina pushed hers forward after the rider as Tristan climbed on behind Basso and Nielson behind Merlin. They raced ahead, pushing the horses beyond breaking point.

  "Bas," Tristan called ahead of the noise and commotion. "Try and catch up to the rider."

  "Are you kidding me?" Basso alarmed. "He took Zhaine!"

  "You failed to realise that Zhaine didn't resist. I think I know who it was."

  Tristan hadn't got a good look at the man's face but the fact that Zhaine didn’t resist, not even a little was unsettling. Whatever Basso planned on doing next was lost in the face of a Fader suddenly right beside them. It screamed at them, two red lights glowing in the space where it's face should've been. Acting recklessly, Tristan kicked out at it, knocking it from its horse. Reaching from the saddle he pulled himself onto the dark beast, pushing it onwards to catch up with the shadow on the horizon that was the mysterious rider.

  The others weren't far behind him and it wasn't long before he was side by side with the rider.

  "Caught up, did you?" he joked, a dry smile upon his face.

  "You crafty bugger Ramien!" Tristan yelled to him.

  "So you do recognise me. I am pleased."

  "Yes, well we don't have time for jokes, we need a plan."

  "Well I'm all ears."

  "So what you're just running from these guys?"

  "Pretty much."

  A loud bang sounded behind them and Tristan looked back to see Nielson draw another glyph before disparaging it in the direction of the Faders.

  "Tristan," Zhaine called. "How do you fancy leaving Dilu permanently?"

  "Well it might be advisable considering that’s two murders under my belt now." Tristan replied, the past few days catching up with his moral compass. What on earth would his father think?

  "New record for you isn't it?" Ramien chuckled as another bang sounded behind them shining light into the night air.

  "Shut up you prat!" Tristan cursed his brothers timing - this was no time for sarcasm or jokes, but then that was Ramien all over.

  "I hear there's a group of Keepers forming in Az Landen Forest."

  "Az Landen it is then."

  "Alright, fall back. I'll get us out of here. Let the others know what's happening. I'm gonna put a timer on this portal."

  Tristan nodded, pulling his horse back in line with each of the other horses and telling them the plan. He pulled in behind Basso and they all formed a line as Zhaine checked behind him to make sure they were all ready. There was a good distance now between them and the Faders which meant plenty of leeway for a quick getaway. A blue light shone up ahead as Zhaine commanded the correct glyph and shot it out ahead a couple of feet in front of them. Charging forward, they embraced the blue light that quickly began to fade once they were through. Myrina and Dante passed through next, followed by Nielson and Merlin, Basso and Tristan who just made it as the blue light from the portal faded into darkness…

  …to be continued