by Katie Cherry
“Makes sense to me,” Angela pipes up, her arm still around him. “Besides, I don’t want to let him out of my sight! He tends to get into a lot of trouble, I’ve noticed,” she adds, playfully poking his nose.
Ignoring that, I chuckle a little at her comment. “Him and me both.” He sends me a wink at that, which makes me smile like I haven’t smiled in weeks.
“Yes, well, we should head back to the palace regardless,” Thaddeus says, opening the door. “Since the Princess is supposed to be under lock and key.”
Nathan pulls away from Angela as we leave the hospital, which makes a small pout appear on her face. I can’t help but feel a little triumphant at that. “You’re supposed to be locked up? In your own house? Why is that?”
I sigh and shake my head. “Dad’s gone a little… crazy. He seems to feel that the only way to protect my life is to take it away. …Does that even make any sense?”
“What you’re saying, yes. Why he’s doing it, no,” he murmurs, concern lines appearing between his eyebrows and on his forehead. “How can he not see that he’s doing the same thing to you as Patrick did?”
“Exactly!” I exclaim, flooded with relief that someone understood. “I can’t stand being cooped up like that! Luckily, Angela’s started teaching me magic,” I add, which I immediately regret when he turns to Angela with an admiring look on his face. “You’re teaching her how to use magic?”
“Well, I’m trying,” she says with a fake pout, glee in her eyes. “She’s not learning very fast. I wanted her to be useful when we came to rescue you.”
“No,” he growls, suddenly angry at her. “You never endanger Crystal like that. I don’t care what you think you’re teaching her. Don’t put her into harm’s way to save me, when all I wanted to do was save her. Okay?”
She looks startled at his sudden animosity. “Okay. Sorry.” She looks like she’s about to cry.
Sighing, Nathan takes her into his arms to comfort her. “Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap like that.”
She shakes her head. “No, you’re right. It was foolish of me to endanger Zilferia’s heir, even for you… I just couldn’t bear the thought of you in there with those horrible people…”
He strokes her hair softly. I feel a pang of envy as I watch them, which I angrily shove down. What was wrong with me? “Hey, it’s alright.”
“You forgive me?”
“I forgive you,” he whispers.
Having had my fill of listening to their sappiness, I walk faster to catch up to Jared. “Oh, my goodness, Nora!” I exclaim as I catch sight of her in his hands once again. “I… I forgot again… I’m so sorry I left you behind…” Before she can reply, a thought pops into my head. I gasp. “Oh my goodness! Greg! I forgot to ask Nathan what happened to him! I’m so sorry, I’ll be right back,” I say to both her and Jared.
“No problem. Go do what you must,” Nora assures me. Nodding, I fall back a few steps to rejoin the happy couple.
“Nathan, you never told us- what happened to Greg?”
Concern flattens his features as he regards me. “What do you mean? He’s not here with you guys?”
Dread hits my stomach like acid. “Oh no… something terrible has happened to him, hasn’t it?!”
He frowns. “…We don’t know that yet. He could have just gotten side-tracked on his way to the Village,” he rationalizes.
“But how do you know that?” I cry. “We have to find him!”
Conflict darkens his eyes. “We don’t know that he’s in any danger,” he slowly says. “…So I think we should stay here and decide what to do about the Dragon Hunters at this point.”
“I do believe that Nathan has the right idea here,” Thaddeus concedes from behind us, “Although I hate to abandon a Familiar. We just have to trust that Greg can take care of himself.”
Everyone nods in response to this, and I grudgingly agree as well, although the pit in my stomach continues to tell me that something terrible had definitely happened to Greg.
<<
Zeke calls for the Sohos to stop before leaving the trees. They were about five minutes from the Village, but he wanted his men rested in case there was any conflict. They unpack food and quickly settle down to eat. Everyone was weary, although new hope also lit their features.
Zeke just hoped it wasn’t in vain.
“Zeke, dear, please come eat,” Kate invites, holding up a sandwich from her spot on the grass. Sighing, he gives in and does as she requests, sitting next to her on the ground. He accepts the food from her and rests his forearms on his knees and stares at the sandwich in his hand. After a few seconds, he takes a bite. Fresh lettuce crunches between his teeth and the meat is tender and perfect. This time, however, his favorite sandwich does little to quell his anxiety. He hardly tastes the food as he finishes and helps Kate pack up the rest.
Then comes the time for the final plunge. Gathering up his people once more, he turns his sight to the Village. As they walk, the abandoned buildings grow clearer. He frowns as a sense of uneasiness settles over him. Were the people just hiding? Or had the Dragon Hunters already wiped them out? Regardless, he approaches with caution.
Just outside of the Village, he calls the group to a halt. “I’ll go on alone from here,” he shouts to them. “I’ll return when I have secured us a place to stay.” With a bit of murmuring, his people accept this and settle down onto the ground to wait.
Kate stops Zeke before he walks into the Village. “Wait,” she says, pulling him down for a quick kiss. “I’m not letting you go in there alone.”
“Well I’m not letting you come with me. What if they take us for enemies and try and shoot and they hit you? I’d never be able to forgive myself.”
“They won’t,” she quietly assures him. “They are honorable people, even in times of war, and they wouldn’t shoot at a woman, especially not without provocation. They’ll speak with us first.”
Zeke can’t find fault in her logic, so he eventually just nods, accepting her plan. “Fine. But stay close to me.”
“Not a problem,” she replies, reaching out and gripping his hand tightly. With a small smile to her, he leads them into the Village. He stays on edge as their footsteps fall quietly upon the cobblestone streets and stops dead in his tracks when he hears a voice addressing them.
“State your name and your reason for coming here,” the voice commands.
Kate lifts her chin to hide the nervous trembling. “We are the Sohos, and we have come to aid the King’s army. …My name is Kate. I used to be the King and Queen’s doctor and friend.”
A pause comes before a man who looked to be in his fifties steps out from behind a nearby house. “…Kate?” he chokes, walking towards them. “Is it… is it really you?”
Tears pool in her eyes as she recognizes him. “Daddy!” she cries, releasing Zeke’s hand and darting forward, running into her father’s arms. Zeke watches awkwardly, his hands in his pockets.
“Oh, my darling girl! The King told me after you… were taken… what happened. I hadn’t dared to hope… that you were even…” He can’t muster the energy to continue.
“I’m home, daddy,” she cries as his hand rests on the back of her head, holding her close. After a few more seconds, Zeke clears his throat, reminding them both of his presence, although he felt bad breaking up the happy reunion. “Oh, sorry Zeke,” Kate says, pulling back from her father and wiping the tears off of her cheeks. “Daddy, this is Zeke, the leader of the Sohos. Zeke, this is my father, Adam Kingston.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir,” he says with a smile, extending his hand.
Adam shakes it firmly. “And it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m glad my daughter is dating a respectable man,” he adds with a wink to her.
She groans good-naturedly. “Dad!”
He laughs, then returns to the business at hand. “So, you’re here with your band of followers to aid the King? I admit, I’ve never heard of a group out there besides th
e Dragon Hunters. It’s good to know there are a few more good guys to join us on this side of the war.”
“Yes sir,” Zeke agrees. “Our group is actually made up of mostly those who have left the Dragon Hunters and those that we’ve rescued from them- like Kate. A few we’ve saved from the werewolves. …The dragons gifted us with magic stronger than an ordinary human’s,” he adds.
Adam’s eyebrows rise in surprise at the news. “Is that so? Well, I daresay the King will be more than happy to have your assistance,” he chuckles. “Where are the rest of this group of people you spoke of?”
“Waiting just outside the Village,” he replies. “We didn’t want to be seen as hostile.”
“Good thinking!” Adam laughs. “Well, you can go ahead and retrieve them now. I promise we won’t shoot. I’ll go tell everyone of your arrival immediately.”
Zeke nods. “We’ll be right back with the others, then.”
Kate slips her hand back into Zeke’s. “See you in a few minutes, dad,” she says with a brave smile. He smiles in return, then returns behind the house he first emerged from. As they walk back to the Sohos, Kate gushes to Zeke, her excitement overflowing. “Oh my goodness! My dad is still alive! He used to live on the outskirts of the Village… I was always so worried that Patrick had gotten to him…”
“Well luckily he seems to be perfectly fine,” Zeke points out just before they get back to the Sohos.
“Zeke! What’s the news?” an anxious youth asks, scrambling to his feet as he notices his leader’s return.
“They said they will allow us to join them!” he informs the crowd. They smile and cheer in relief. Zeke turns to Kate, lowering his voice. “Maybe now things will be easier,” he murmurs hopefully.
<<
My dad reacts about how I expected him to when he learns that I snuck out. “You did WHAT?!” he bellows. Mom tries to interrupt, but he ignores her, continuing his angry tirade. “Don’t you realize how dangerous that is? You could have been taken again! Heck, you could have been killed! Do you not understand that I’m just trying to keep you safe? Why do you insist on endangering yourself?”
“Dad! I can’t live my life in a box! That’s no life! What you’re trying to do to me is just as bad as what Patrick does whenever he takes me away from here! You’re just as bad as he is!” Everyone in the room gapes at me in shock, but I don’t care. I’m about to continue when there’s a knock on the door.
“I’ll get it,” Jared immediately volunteers, jumping up and hurrying to the door. We all watch silently as he talks with the other soldier who had just arrived on our doorstep. After a few seconds, he nods and shuts the door before walking back into the room where the rest of us wait impatiently for his news. “The Sohos are here,” he announces.
“Good!” I cry, standing. “I’m going to go welcome them and find them a place to stay,” I declare. “And there’s nothing any of you can do about it!” With that, I turn and stomp out the door. No one stops me, and no one joins me either. I’m a little disappointed that Nathan didn’t follow me out, but then I realize that he’s probably in more pain than he’s letting on. So, I set off to greet the Sohos alone. I aim towards the side of the Village closest to where the Sohos used to reside, figuring they would probably be there. I’m right.
“Crystal!” Zeke and Kate call happily when they see me. They both surprise me with a hug. “Thank you,” Zeke says when they’re finished.
“For what?” I ask.
“For helping us out,” Kate explains. “Zeke was really getting worried and we were running out of options- and people.” He nods in confirmation at her words.
I shake my head with a smile. “No, don’t worry about it. We needed help and more people as well,” I insist. “…Patrick’s really been doing a number on us- and on you as well, I see,” I add, noting how few people there are here with us.
Zeke’s face suddenly saddens at this. “That reminds me… Jacob!” A young boy races up at his call.
“Yes, sir?”
“Where is the Familiar?”
“With my bags, sir.”
“Go get him.” The boy hurries away.
“…Familiar?” I gasp, dread casting a grey tint onto everything I see. I have a bad feeling that I know who this Familiar used to be a companion to- as well as what happened to him.
“Yes, we found him just after he died,” Zeke cautiously informs me. “…I was wondering if you or your Familiar knew him or his companion.”
“Yes, I imagine I do,” I choke out. “Although I desperately hope that I’m wrong about who this Familiar is.” When the boy returns with the broken body of a rat in his hands, I nearly break down. “Oh, Greg…” I reach out with trembling hands, but pull back before I touch him. “What am I going to tell Nathan?”
<<
“Thaddeus, can I talk with you alone for a minute?” Nathan asks.
He looks surprised at the request, then nods. “Of course.” He struggles to his feet with the aid of his cane, then nods for Nathan to lead the way. Jared watches with concern from the couch, as does Angela. Neither of them protest as the two walk away, but their eyes follow them closely.
“What did you want to talk to me about, Nathan?” he asks as they slowly start up the stairs leading to Crystal’s room.
“I wanted to talk about Dexter,” he begins, watching Thaddeus closely.
A shadow of unease crosses his weary face at the name. “What about him?”
“How you know him.”
“I don’t…”
“I see your reaction every time I say his name,” Nathan interrupts. “So, what’s the big secret?”
Thaddeus looks down at his feet, buying time. Before he can respond, Nathan suddenly rips the cane from his hands and drives the metal end into Thaddeus’s leg. With a yelp of pain and surprise, he falls back down the stairs, landing heavily at the bottom of the staircase. Nathan stands frozen on the stairs for a moment, the cane clenched in his hands. He had blacked out for a few seconds. When he returned to his surroundings, Thaddeus was on his way down the stairs.
“Thaddeus!” he cries, finally snapping out of his stupor. Dropping the cane, he races towards the fallen man. As he does so, the cane slides beneath his foot. His weight splinters the wood as he falls. His back hits the stairs hard and he cries out at the unexpected and sudden pain, paralyzed by it.
“Nathan!” Angela’s face appears before his eyes as he blinks them open.
“Angela?” he murmurs, disoriented. “What…”
“You got knocked out,” she explains. “So was Thaddeus, although he’s in worse shape than you…” She stops for a moment, biting her lower lip. “They… they say that there’s a serious wound on his leg. Which could only be caused by his own cane. They say… that you had to have been the one that stabbed him in the leg with it. …Intentionally.” She stops talking and watches Nathan with wide, watery eyes, waiting for his response to this accusation.
He squeezes his own eyes shut, unable to meet her gaze. He hadn’t been in control of himself when it happened, but Thaddeus had also clearly nearly died at his hands. He doesn’t respond to Angela’s implied question.
She gasps in shock when he says nothing, and he opens his eyes to see that one of her hands was clamped over her mouth. She lifts it enough to get out a muffled, “Oh… oh my…” she can’t finish as she then bursts into tears.
“Angela, let me explain!” he pleads, reaching out and taking her other hand in his. She flinches at his touch but doesn’t pull away. “Hunter must have somehow used me to hurt Thaddeus… I would never do such a thing. Come on, Angela, you know me!” he cries desperately, his eyes searching hers.
After a brief hesitation, she nods. “But Nathan, if Hunter can control you without your even realizing it, how will we know if he’s going to make you do anything else or not?”
Nathan groans as he realizes what must have happened. “Hunter put me to sleep before he tried to use his mind contro
l on me. When I woke up, it seemed like everything was normal, so I thought he failed. …He must have used his stolen Gifts to not only tell me what to do, but to not remember it when I woke up!”
Angela looks concerned. “Do you think he would have told you to do anything else?”
Thinking carefully, he reflects back on his time there. “No… they wanted to use me as a secret weapon, but I’m pretty sure they meant it as a one-time kamikaze attack on Thaddeus.”
She nods, then looks down at their joined hands before slowly pulling away. “I’m going to go check in on Chet,” she says before walking out the door. Nathan watches her abrupt departure sadly. Oh, Hunter, he mourns. How many ways can you screw up our lives?
<<
I have the Soho boy follow me with Greg, since I can’t bring myself to touch his poor, broken, lifeless body. As we head back towards the castle, Jared intercepts us from the direction of the hospital. “Crystal!” he calls. “Good, I found you,” he pants.
“What’s wrong?”
“…It’s Nathan.”
“What? What happened?” I gasp.
“It seems that Hunter was able to control your friend after all,” he says grimly in way of response.
A sickening feeling lurches in my gut at the news. “What happened?” I repeat as he leads us back to the hospital.
“He attacked Thaddeus, but he claims he wasn’t in control of his actions at the time,” he explains.
“If he says he wasn’t in control, then of course he wasn’t!” I quickly defend. “…Is Thaddeus okay?”
“It was a close call, but he’s alive,” Jared responds. “And as for Nathan, see for yourself,” he says, pushing the door open to Nathan’s room. I’m relieved to find that he’s alone in the room. No Angela to be seen.
“Crystal,” he says, sounding relieved to see me. “I have to… is that Greg?” His face pales as the Soho boy follows me into the room.
“Zeke says he found him like that,” I explain, my voice wavering.
Nathan sits up all the way, staring in disbelief at his dead Familiar. The boy brings him forward and transfers him into Nathan’s hands. Tremors wrack his body as he stares down at his dead friend. Suddenly he starts sobbing.