Tides of Fate

by Sean J Leith

  Zaedor wondered where she came from. He looked from cage to cage, only seeing broken spirits. How long have they been here? Kindro said there was no way out. He was proud of what he was but realized through several breaking points that he may be in need of some advice. He lightly toughed his face, feeling the result of Gorlin’s violent strikes.

  “Hey,” Zaedor said. Freya and Kindro turned with raised eyebrow. “How do you two fight?” They glanced at each other extensively, nodded, and looked back to Zaedor.

  “You fight properly, Mr. Noble, or that’s what the guards mumbled about,” Freya began. “You parry, you dodge, you jab.” She shook her head dismissively. “There are no rules here. They don’t pit someone your size against you. You can fight someone five feet, or seven feet tall. There are no cheap shots or rules, just one winner and one loser. People are going to kick your manhood and pull on your pretty hair.”

  Zaedor attempted to understand the meaning behind her words. What is she getting at? Fighting using dodges and parries was the best way to fight, he assumed. What more was there? He noticed her hair was full and pristine still, contrary to her comment.

  “You were right about one thing, Zaedor. Sometimes, we are animals,” she sighed, looking to Zaedor with disdain. “You have to discard your humanity.” While Zaedor wasn’t Human, he understood the meaning. “You have to become an animal. You don’t fight to win. You fight to survive.”

  Zaedor thought hard about her words. How did he become an animal? Why would she want to become a beast? He cringed at his thoughts, knowing how Freya would react.

  Freya’s stare turned cold. “If you don’t fight, you die. You only get to lose once to a breaker and live, and you lost already.”

  Chapter Twenty-one

  The Manipulator

  Lira Kaar

  Lira and the others crept through the sewers; Lira almost threw up from the smell of mold and excrement. Kayden navigated at the helm, pointing them left, right, and forward toward the manor, or at least, where she thought the manor was. When they came to a ladder accompanied by a set of drain grates riddled with dry blood, they knew they arrived. They rushed up, storming the jail and the torture room, finding one lone man with a scourge in-hand with an emotionless white mask upon his face. Magnus threw him down and tied him quickly, while Kayden covered her mouth walking briskly out of the room.

  “I’m going to scout ahead,” Kayden barely said, gagging.

  They questioned him briefly, to no avail. The brutal man sat tied against the pole of his ‘temple,’ as he put it. Lira shuffled her feet and looked around with a slight whimper. Domika and Vesper clearly detested being there, and Magnus seemed unaffected.

  The sewer’s putrid smell wasn’t why Lira’s stomach turned more than ever before. It was the nauseating, overpowering smell of blood. Dried bloodstains coated the walls, and vast stains on the ground left the memory of a river flowing out of the bodies of men and women. Lira scratched the nape of her neck while slowly scanning the room. She looked to all the devices, then the ceiling—anything to avoid his eyes. There were iron maidens, stretchers, and all forms of sharp, peculiar tools Lira never saw before. Poles stood at each corner, including where they had the man bound. Lira found it all extremely difficult to stomach; it was abhorrent to her sensibilities. She covered her mouth in shock but attempted to keep a steeled demeanor as Kayden taught her.

  The man they detained was accused of torturing innocents, which was clear when she saw the slate grey room turned crimson. He wore an ivory mask with an emotionless face. Lira removed the mask and backed off quickly.

  The man had sandy brown hair, patchy stubble, and hazel eyes. His face was plain and forgettable; Lira felt she wouldn’t notice him in even the smallest of crowds. But his smile, the smile, was detestable even to look at. She could feel pure horror crawling from his skin.

  “So, what are you going to do with me, hmm?” the man asked with a gravelly voice.

  Lira wasn’t sure. She figured she should ask him questions first. Kayden was usually the one doing the asking, but she was upstairs making sure they didn’t get caught. I have to try something. Magnus stood with his arms crossed, and Domika and Vesper were leaning up against the nearby wall in a spot that wasn’t covered in dry blood.

  “What is your name?” Lira asked.

  “Callidan Feywater. What’s yours, little lady?” Callidan asked, eyeing each carefully. A creeping smirk uncoiled across his face.

  “Lira Kaar,” she responded. She felt responding might allow a bit more information to come her way.

  “Don’t tell him your name,” Domika hissed.

  Lira just shrugged her shoulders. She was just trying her best since the others did nothing. “Why did Lord Tammen hire you?”

  “Oh, he didn’t hire me,” he said with a chuckle.

  Lira twisted her face in response. “Well, who did, might I ask?” Lira heard Domika sigh. She knew she wasn’t talented with interrogations, but she was at least trying. The others refused. Lira needed the information. It was her decision to come to town, after all.

  “I think you know that answer,” he said with a wide grin.

  Lira thought of who it could be. If it wasn’t the Lord Tammen of Deurbin, it must have been one other. “Lord Drayfus?”

  Callidan laughed for a few moments before returning to a sly, wide grin, revealing crooked, mottled teeth. “Maybe. Oh, and it’s King Drayfus now.”

  This was going nowhere. He was probably just waiting it out until they all got caught. Lira needed to try something more drastic. She didn’t know how to use the tools but wanted to attempt a bluff. She didn’t want to actually use them, as it was stooping to his level. Not to mention they were downright gross. Lira was squeamish. She looked to the sharp pokers, serrated knives with edges thinner than hair, and long, hooked scissors. She didn’t know where to start.

  “Where’s the little girl who left? I like her.”

  Lira looked back to the other three, each responding with a tilted head and a shrug. Lira figured Kayden would injure him more than anyone else. “Why?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. She just seems cute.” He laughed like a man deep into the drink.

  Lira grimaced and looked away, unsure if she wanted Kayden there. She already seemed sick to her stomach when she bypassed the room itself—and that alone was strange. Of anyone, she thought Kayden would be adjusted to the scent of blood. “Maybe later.” Lira picked up the tool with a sharp hook on the end. She examined it carefully, wondering what it did. Does it go up the nose? Lira cringed at the thought. The room was horrid and it frightened her, but she attempted to contain herself while speaking to Callidan. She dangled the tool near his eyes, then dragged it down the side of his face toward his nostrils. “How about you tell me why you hurt those innocent people?” she said in a quiet voice. “And maybe then I won’t shove this up your nostrils.”

  Callidan chuckled as if he saw right through her. “Do it. I dare you,” he said in a snarky tone. His breath smelled of rotten food and feces.

  Lira held her breath so she didn’t throw her stomach contents upon the floor. I wish I was at home, back where I didn’t know people like this existed.

  “I do it because I like it.” His voice was like a creeping insect. The very sound made her stomach turn.

  Lira sighed. “All right, that’s all very interesting.” She placed her hands on her hips as she stood back up. “How about you tell me what else is going on around here? Do you have information about other towns, or things King Drayfus planned?” Lira wasn’t being convincing, but at least she got an answer from him.

  “Oh, I might know a thing or two. I sent some of these people to a friend of mine,” he said. “That is, if I don’t have too much fun with them first. Sometimes I just use a tool or two. But other times, I get a little overzealous and use the saw.” He motioned to a bloodstained, two-handled saw in the corner of the room. “But what are you going to do for me?” His grin stretched from end to en
d. “I hear nice ladies like you are pretentious, but nasty when the candles are out.”

  Lira cringed and nearly puked right then and there. She huffed and crossed her arms. “That’s a little insulting.” Should we let him go if he tells us? she mused. No, that wouldn’t be right. But how could I kill him afterward? He’s unarmed, and helpless.

  “Getting answers out of me is going to be just as difficult as you dirty little rebels,” Callidan said. “Luckily for me, I love my job so it’s a little easier.” His crooked smile grew larger. “Some of them talked, some of them didn’t.” He giggled like a little boy. “All of them have a true purpose now, I’m told, along with thousands of others coming from the east from that ridiculous neutral city.” He giggled continuously as he spoke.

  “The east? Where in the east? Where are they going?” Lira asked politely.

  “I don’t know. Although I might know more for a lovely kiss,” Callidan responded.

  Lira was resistant to even the thought of getting near him. Where is Kayden when I need her? She felt she could learn about getting information, but she wasn’t ready for major interrogations just yet. “No, I don’t think so.”

  “Well then, I guess I don’t know anything.”

  “We might just have to kill you, then,” Domika poked in.

  Callidan ignored Domika’s presence entirely. His gaze never left Lira. “Do it,” he chuckled. “Kill me. Then what?” His smile didn’t fade.

  Lira heard the quick pattering of footsteps descending the nearby staircase to the castle courtyard.

  “Say, you’re a pretty little gem. Beautiful brown eyes, lovely dark skin, tall, slender, hair as black as night—I think we could have a good time together. I know how to treat a lady,” Callidan said to Lira once more.

  She almost vomited. All she spat up was, “No, I’d rather not.”

  The footsteps arrived. It was Kayden. “Hey guys, not too many guards up there. If we’re good with timing and quick, we can handle it,” she said as she walked into sight. “Who was describing the princess? It didn’t sound like any of you—” She stopped dead in the doorway. Her stare grew as wide as dinner plates. Tears quickly formed at the corners of her eyes. “What the hell?” She fell to the ground and scrambled to get back against the rough stone wall. Her breathing was rapid and hoarse.

  Callidan’s chuckle rose to a guffaw. “Well, it’s good to see you, too.”

  Kayden was frozen—unmoving. Lira motioned to Magnus to watch Callidan as she rushed over. “Kayden,” Lira snapped her fingers in front of Kayden’s face. No response. “Kayden!” she placed her hand on Kayden’s cheek, moving to stand face-to-face. “What’s wrong? Who is he?”

  Kayden’s breathing didn’t slow. Her pupils darted between Callidan and Lira rapidly.

  “Her and I are old friends,” the torturer said in a smug voice. “Aren’t we, little girl?”

  Chapter Twenty-two

  The Subservient

  Kayden Ralta

  “He—he—he—” Kayden repeated the word over and over again. “Torturer,” she stuttered in a panic. Tears flowed down her face, with no signs of stopping.

  “How’s your back feeling?” Callidan called. “I bet you haven’t forgotten that one, oh no.”

  Ice crawled across her entire body with the mention of it. She shuddered. Shivered. Remembering the blades across her back. Her nails lifted and dug under. Joints pulled. Her screaming so loud her throat stung and died for weeks. The laughter of Callidan. The eyes of Sheeran watching. Punishing. Then she felt jagged steel drag across her. She yelped out and tightened the grip on her shins.

  She heared a muffle and saw blood spray to the side. Mags.

  Mags swiped him across the face with his gauntlet, again and again. “Stop talking,” he ordered in a rough voice.

  “Kayden,” she heard someone say. Sheeran’s voice echoed with it in her mind. My love, she heard. It’s for your own good.

  Her own good. Her whole body seized. Frozen. Paralyzed. For a moment she thought she was dead.

  Was she breathing? Couldn’t tell. Her chest felt like a knife was buried into it. As if it burned. Her back felt steel again. Agony. She saw a hand near her. She shot away, flinched, waiting for pain. But none came. Didn’t make sense…

  “Kayden,” a voice said again.

  The torturer’s voice called out to her. “You okay? C’mon let’s have a little fun.” That voice she knew. The laughing man, he was called. Callidan. Feywater. Monster.

  Pain only followed that name. Every hair on her arm, leg, and everything stood on end just hearing it spoken. She just stared five thousand yards away trying to forget. Trying to ignore. Trying to pretend it would be over soon. Hoping she never felt anything.

  “Kayden,” the name said again. It shattered her vision. Dark skin was in front of hers. Black hair. A woman. Didn’t make sense. Who was she? Not Sheeran. Not Callidan. Not any of them.

  “We’re here. You aren’t alone,” the voice assured her.

  She was alone. Always.

  Kayden looked up, seeing warm, chestnut-brown eyes. Not the typical cold or stagnant blue or green. It was—she remembered a name, barely…

  The face came into focus. “Lira?” Kayden whispered.

  The woman smiled and gave a weak nod. She remembered. The weird girl that trusted everyone. Lira. Stupid, honestly. But endearing. Lira—she—she was the only one Kayden truly trusted. Dared not admit it.

  Kayden kept glancing back to the vile Callidan. That’s all she saw. Callidan. Memories. And Lira.

  Lira’s hand forced Kayden’s face to hers. She flinched waiting for the pain. Confusion filled her each time her prediction failed.

  “Look at me!” Lira yelled. Kayden’s eyes met hers and stayed. The warm eyes melted her fear like flesh in a flame. Her breath slowed, barely. “You’re okay. We’re all here.” But her eyes showed fear. Fear of the one behind her. Fear of the monster that sat there.

  After minutes of slow, methodical breaths, Kayden fumbled to her feet. She gently touched her back and bit her lip. Her back. The scars. Brought by Callidan. Ordered by Sheeran.

  The past was gone. But the past stood before her. With a deep breath, Kayden focused her mind where she could. To what she was. To ensure Lira never experienced this. To ensure no one did.

  She sauntered toward Callidan and drew her blades.

  “Kayden, what are you doing?” Lira asked.

  Finishing it.

  Kayden walked toward him blank-faced. Without thought.

  Without remorse. The Shadow of Death lived.

  Callidan looked around Kayden, back at Lira. “Don’t I get to talk to the tall one? She was pretty. Hey, Lira, come back! I thought we had a good deal going.”

  Kayden bared her clenched teeth, breath quickening once more. “Don’t you dare talk to her,” Kayden snarled. “Talk to me.” Kayden picked up no tools. No need. “Did that drake Fillion hire you? Is Sheeran part of this?”

  “Why don’t you tell me?” Callidan said in a snarky tone.

  Wrong answer. Kayden brought a sharpened blade to his chest and slashed it slowly across its width. It was vengeance. Fair play. Blood flowed from the wound like a river that spelled justice. Callidan screamed in agony as it dragged along his skin. It was odd seeing tables turn.

  “Kayden, no!” Lira yelled. She ran to stop it, but Mags held her back. She was unable to match Magnus’s strength. She slapped his arm and wrenched forward but gained no ground.

  She needed to do this. Not for herself. But for the missing. For the ones he hurt. For the ones he would hurt. “I said who are you working for!” Kayden yelled, kicking his bloody wound. “Is he part of this?” With all she was, she hoped not.

  “Fillion, Fillion!” Callidan cried with heavy guttural coughs. “He doesn’t know. This isn’t his work!”

  A wave of relief came over her. First time in a long time. “Good,” Kayden said coldly. “Why are you bringing people here? Where are they going?” He
r face stayed as stone. Unlike his.

  Callidan glared at her, clenching his teeth. His breaths hissed like a snake. “I’m not telling you, you little whore. He’s after you, so I’m not helping you.” She got to him. A bit. But mentioning he was after her… That was the worst answer he could give.

  Lira tried to free herself from Mags’ grasp, but to no avail.

  Kayden kicked him into the pole and stuck her blade between his legs. “Last chance.” Vesper and Domika were plastered to the wall in fear and struck silent.

  “Fitting that you’d want to touch me, but I don’t think he’d like that.”

  Another wrong answer. For a torturer, he was stupid.

  The sound of steel cutting flesh and Callidan’s screams echoed in the space as his manhood fell to the ground. He never touched her in that way. Never dared. But it was still satisfying. “Answer me!” Kayden screamed.

  “Solmarsh! They’re being taken there with the people who are disappearing! I don’t know why! Stop, please!” Callidan pleaded, tears flowed from his eyes. His mocking demeanor broke like a bug under a boot.

  Solmarsh. Lira’s home. She felt the pain swell behind Magnus’ grip. She could feel Lira’s confusion. Fear. Shock. Sadness.

  “What do they want with those people? I’m not giving you a warning this time—just like you didn’t.” He never gave warning. Sometimes she saw a nod from Sheeran, which he said was a kindness. A favor. But that meant nothing when a nod meant anything. A cut. A gouge. An evisceration.

  “I. Don’t. Know! I just—do what I’m told!” Callidan yelled through clenched teeth. “Malakai—he—came, with another. He—took a prisoner with him and—said things worked and could—proceed as planned. Had a—violet orb, said from—Amirion.”

  A far way away. Hadn’t heard of Amirion since she was there a year ago. Kayden’s expression stayed blank. Cold. Unsettling news, but she showed nothing. “Asheron’s brother?”

  “Yes—” Callidan wheezed. “The Blood Knight. Said Amirion was—a genocide. For their uses. The people here are to finish it.”