I arrived in time to find Marcus Tannon shouting orders to the guards still standing and the backs of the demons disappearing into the forest. Something had called them off. Again.
My eyes flashed to a furious Marcus Tannon.
The first several days after I’d joined them, he’d been bitter. I got it. He didn’t have time to babysit some first-year student bent on getting herself killed.
By the second night, he’d stopped complaining. My skill with the bow alone was unmatched by his best marksmen.
“Should we be thankful something seems to call them off every time?” he wondered aloud.
I shook my head. “Makes little sense. Not that I’m complaining, but why don’t they just finish us when they have the chance?” It was a good question. None of us had the answer.
One of the other guards, shaking from head to toe and gathering up weapons, looked at us both.
“Sir, I don’t get it. What are they after? I mean, what’s the purpose? Are they playing with us?”
It was the burning question.
Marcus shrugged and turned away, mumbling beneath his breath to himself as he did. “... like they’re protecting their pets and not the other way around...”
I turned away to load up my pack and gather any loose bolts I could find.
Something bothered me about the entire scene. None of it made any sense.
Marcus Tannon signaled to us and we turned as a unit and fell in line. It was time to head back the way we’d come.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
I added a bowl of Tomato soup to the grilled ham and cheese on my tray and turned towards our table in the cafeteria. I needed comfort food and a bed. My grades this semester were running the gambit of down, up, down, according to my nightly activities.
The Tuttle clan occupied the far end of the table. Nobody was laughing. Everyone appeared to just be going through the motions.
On the other end of the table sat Sirris and Thomas. Thomas leaned over his tray, shaggy head drooping, stabbing at something on his plate like it needed killing more than once. Sirris sat at his side, one hand resting on his shoulder, the other picking at whatever fish they served that day.
Against my better judgment, I found my feet moving in their direction. It was a stupid move. I knew it, but somehow I couldn’t help myself.
I sat across from them with my tray and busied myself with my lunch. Trying not to sneak secret peeks and failing. I missed them so much.
I’d expected snide comments or dirty glares. Instead, they ignored me. Somehow that hurt even worse.
I looked closer at Thomas and realized he was as haggard as I’d ever seen him. His hair stuck flat to his head in places and rose in frizzy balls in others. It was the worst case of bed-head I’d ever seen him have, which said something for the tight wiry coils that grew close to his head. His dark skin had a faint grayish cast to it. He looked like he was recovering from the flu and hadn’t bathed in a week. I tried not to inhale the scent of dirty dog.
Something was very wrong, and while I’d been out taking on the world without them, I’d missed it.
I stared into his red-rimmed eyes; the pupils shimmering werewolf yellow, tiny veins spiking as they flashed in my direction.
Was my best friend getting ready to attack me? I put my sandwich down.
My eyes slid to Sirris. She fared better, but not much. Her eyes stared at mine, cold and emotionless.
“What’s wrong? Has something else happened?” Thomas looked down at his food and picked up a piece of pizza, shrugging. He took a huge bite and wiped his hands along the sides of his filthy jeans.
I turned to Sirris. “Don’t shut me out. Tell me what happened.” I was almost positive she wasn’t going to answer. I was asking them not to do what I had already done. She surprised me when she spoke.
“That family that went missing on the mountain? Well, when no one heard from the small Detail Tuttle Council sent to check on them, Todd and a few of his friends went to check on them both. There were four of them. They’ve been gone for three days now.”
I gasped, my eyes flying to the other end of the table. Why hadn’t I realized Todd was missing?
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I cried, frantic.
Thomas stared at me with barely suppressed anger. “You were busy,” he bit out, eyes flat.
That made a husband, a wife, their little boy who was only seven, and nine men, all missing now. All on the Southwest ridge of the mountain.
I didn’t tell her that was where most of the fighting had been happening.
“What about Tuttle Council, what are they doing?”
“Nothing. They don’t want to lose any more men until they know more about what they’re up against. Said that Todd and his friends were stupid to take things into their own hands and the gist was that they got what they deserved. Dad blew up at them and walked out. I don’t know if Major’s going back, or if they’ll have him if he does.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but Sirris cut me off.
“There’s more. Someone broke into my house in Breathless last night. Dad was locked in the Lab. They tore the hell out of the inside of the house trying to get find something and get into the lab with him.
“It’s a good thing that door is made special and enhanced with protective Magic, courtesy of Mayor Seul, himself. He wanted to make sure dad and what he was working on remained secure. I don’t want to think about what would have happened if they’d gotten in,” she finished.
I closed my eyes. What was going on? It all had to tie in together somehow. I just needed to figure out how.
I stared at my best friends, looking alone and afraid. I’d failed in the one thing I’d tried to do, I realized.
“I was only trying to protect you. I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you.”
Sirris’ gaze turned somber, but it wasn’t she that spoke.
“It already has, Sadie. You can’t control everything that happens around you. You can’t protect us from life. Our homes, our families, and who we are as Magicals and humans alike are at stake, don’t you see that?” Thomas whispered on a ragged breath, continuing.
“It’s not fair for you to decide for us whether we hide or we fight. It’s not your call—it’s ours. I can’t sit around and do nothing while they pick my family off one by one.” His eyes slid to Kimmy, hanging on every word. A fat tear hung off the end of her chin.
“Who will be next that I won’t be there to fight for?” His mouth formed a thin line and I watched in shocked amazement at the gleam of fangs as his canine teeth seemed to lengthen and grow sharp.
“It doesn’t matter though. I’m done waiting on the sidelines. I’m going out with or without you. Dad, certain members of the council and other families on the mountain? We’re banding together and heading the fight from the other side of the mountain in Breathless.”
I opened my mouth to protest and then snapped it shut. What was I going to say? Wasn’t that what I was doing? Protecting the lives of those I cared about. Could I deny the people I loved that same right?
“What if...” I started. “What if instead of going off half-cocked on your own, we band together? Let me talk to Marcus Tannon and Lucas Seul.”
Thomas shook his head, expression grim.
“I think the time for talk is long past, don’t you?”
The message was simple. Thomas Tuttle was done waiting on anyone.
THEY DIDN’T INVITE me to the meeting. Despite my prowess in battle, I was still just a kid to them. They didn’t want me there—that was clear. But I’d cut a deal with them they couldn’t refuse. They needed me and what I brought to level the playing field.
Surprised faces turned in my direction when I entered like I had the right and came to take my seat next to Paul, the same young guard who owed me his life from the other day. He smiled at me, and I nodded in return.
I turned and met Mayor Seul’s steady gaze with my own. I refused to back down, no matter how much this
was costing me. Just try to make me leave!
He took his place at the head of the table and closed the door behind him.
I looked around the table, noticing the familiar faces of the council members I knew, including Professor Shamon and Bennett. Further down the row was Jerry Waverly, who winked at me and put me more at ease. I figured he was the only Non-Magical human in attendance. I admired Sirris’ dad and his determination to support a community that didn’t always support him. He had embraced the impossible, and he hadn’t run. Jerry Waverly had courage.
I realized the mayor was speaking, and I turned to concentrate on what was being said.
“... Increasing in numbers faster than we can deal with them. It’s time to work on figuring out where they are coming from and why they are here. We don’t know what’s behind the attacks or what purpose the Macu serve yet.”
Marcus Tannon interjected. “We know the Macu for one aren’t very smart. They seem driven by emotion rather than intellect. That makes their needs simple. Eat, sleep, reproduce. Basic.” I nodded. He was right.
Carol Shamon, a scowl adding years to her face, spoke up. “I get that. But what are they eating?”
“Well, I think they’re eating us?” Paul blurted. Everyone looked at him and he slunk low in his seat.
I rescued him. “I think they are attacking us yes. Having fun playing with us. But eating? No. From what I’ve seen, it’s almost like they’re trying to eat the mountain.” I frowned. That didn’t sound any better.
Jerry Waverly shifted further down the table and cleared his throat. Most everyone gave him their attention. There were still a few that were miffed that an ordinary human and a first-year student were in attendance.
“They aren’t eating the mountain. Though I realize it looks that way.” He opened the file in front of him and spread out several graphs and papers that looked like so much gibberish from where I sat. He continued, thumping his finger at a line on one of the graphs.
“They are eating what’s on the mountain. See, we all agree, the wolves are smarter, faster, more vicious than the Macu. So why are the Demon wolves protecting them? Unless...” He rattled the papers in front of him, shuffling through them until he found the one he wanted. “Unless they serve a purpose. I think I know what that is.” He made sure he had everyone’s attention.
“Why do they always take their dead and dying, their wounded with them? I think it’s because they don’t want us to know what the Macu are useful for.” He held up a single sheet of white paper, peppered with graphs and charts none of us could understand on a prayer.
“But I found it, anyway. It was in the blood all along. See, most demon cells steer clear of light and power sources, doesn’t mix well with demon systems and those wolves are demons for sure. But the Macu aren’t the same demon. Their cells gravitate towards that energy... they need it to survive. They consume it.”
I looked around. Almost everyone in the room looked confused by Jerry Waverly’s ramblings. My eyes narrowed on Lucas Seul and the horror dawning in his eyes.
Jerry finished. “... They’re energy demons. They’re eating our shield. That’s why we’re having so much trouble keeping it up and healthy. The Demon wolves are using the Macu to bring it down, and when they do? Well, there won’t be anything to protect any of us on either side of the mountain.
Mayor Seul sat back, fingers steepled underneath his chin with a grim frown.
He nodded to Professor Chang. “You ran the last reports on the shield integrity when? Was it three days ago? What was it then? Anything since?”
Mr. Chang looked concerned. “Three days ago it was sitting around like 87%.”
“Where is it today?” the Mayor asked.
I watched Jobe Chang squirm. “Not sure. We rarely check it every day. I’ll get on it first thing in the morning and let you know ASAP.”
A quick nod. “You do that.” He turned to Jerry, who was gathering his things.
“That was superb work Mr. Waverly. It’s much appreciated.”
Jerry looked up. “This isn’t about human lives. Or Magical either. It’s about us working to find a solution so both sides survive.” Many nods all around. Jerry was well-liked, and most valued his opinion. But people were people everywhere on both sides of the mountain. Sometimes prejudice and mistrust ran deep.
A steady buzz grew around me, and I caught snippets of conversation. The meeting was over, but apparently the gossip was not.
“That shield comes down it’ll be like the Salem Witch trials all over again...” Came from two older guards on my right.
“There will be panic and the news will spread like wildfire. That’s all the Dark Faction will need to take control. They want war. This will give it to them... Drae Hallow will just be the start.” Came the hissed reply further down the table.
I tuned them out. Instead, my eyes slid down the table towards the other end. Jerry Waverly, coke-bottle glasses perched on the end of his nose, nodded to the Mayor. Over the top of Jerry’s head, Lucas’ eyes landed on me in speculation. He moved back to the head of the table and waited for conversation to abate. Everyone looked to him.
He seemed to gather himself before he spoke. “I don’t think I can stress enough the importance of maintaining the integrity of that shield. The Dark Faction has been bucking for a coming out party for years. But not so magicals and humans can learn to live in peace, though that may be what some of them have been lead to believe.” Whispers from several others pulled his stern eye.
An uncomfortable silence ensued. “The Dark Faction wants a war. We need to make sure they don’t get it. The best way for both sides to live in peace for now at least is for the magicals to remain a secret in plain sight. The shield falling all at once will send the human community into a panic. That won’t work well for anyone.
Again, I looked around the table. Some were worried and afraid. Others were just plain angry. But a few, like Will Bennett and Carol Shamon, showed no emotion at all.
What are you thinking you aren’t sharing with the rest of us?
People got up and filed out. The meeting was over. I stayed in my seat. So did Jerry Waverly.
I got up and moved down to sit across from Jerry Waverly.
“You’ve been a substantial help to the Guard’s efforts, Sadie.” Jerry said. Mayor Seul came to stand beside us.
“Yes, thank you.” He stared at my drawn face. “But somehow I don’t think that’s why you hung back is it? Is there something else bothering you Sadie?”
“I don’t know. Yeah, a couple of things I suppose.” I folded my hands on the table in front of me.
I looked at the Mayor. “You know about Thomas Tuttle’s family, right? The missing cousins and now his own brother on the mountain and missing?” My eyes moved to Jerry, who looked uncomfortable. He knew what was coming next.
“And yes, you too, Jerry. Sirris told me about the invasion on your home. What if they had got to you in the basement? Can you be sure you’d even be here today and alive?” I went on.
“I tried to shield Thomas and Sirris and protect them. But I can’t hold them back from what they feel they have to do. You taught her Mr. Waverly, and the Major taught his children as well to stand up for what was important. They will fight with us or without us. I want them to join in when I go with the guard out on patrol. If we don’t, they’ll both just go without us.”
Mayor Seul grimaced and nodded. He knew I was right.
“But something else has been bothering me. I want to know why we aren’t all dead. Not complaining mind, but. I’ve been there, Mr. Seul. We didn’t live because we fought better or had the upper hand. We won because they gave up. Something has been calling them back. Are we the mouse? If that’s true? Then where is the cat? It’s not the Demon wolves or the Macu. It’s someone—something else.”
“When I’m out there, fighting with the guards, all of us struggling just to stay alive? I feel like a pawn on a chessboard and someone else is in control of my e
very move. Why is that?
“And demons. When you say that, what does that mean for real? I’m thinking they aren’t little red dudes with forked tongues, tails, and pitchforks who call hell home.”
Mayor Seul grimaced. “No, you’re right. They have nothing to do with that. Think alternate dimension or reality to ours and you get closer to the truth. Picture a world that exists alongside our own, just a different version.
“There are infinite numbers of worlds that coexist alongside our own. Some of them are similar. A few are beautiful, magical places. others are dark, like the world the demons live in, where humankind no longer exists and was snuffed out a long time ago. All alternate dimensions run along a time line. The demon world is further along that line. It resulted from a magical population that overtook its human counterpart and wiped them out. They embraced the darker side of magic, creating a reality none of us want to experience.” Lucas took a drink of lukewarm coffee as I absorbed what he said before he continued.
“Usually, the path between these worlds is separate and closed off. But occasionally, whether by accident or design, a wormhole; we call it a portal, opens up. Think of them as brief time bridges where the other world can cross into ours, and vs versa.”
I felt a headache coming on. Maybe what scared me the most was that what he was saying made some kind of warped sense. Hello Twilight zone.
“If it’s a doorway, what prevents an entire army from just waltzing through and destroying us all?”
“Thankfully, it’s not that simple. Portals are fragile, transient or temporary things. You’ve seen those crazy videos on Facebook? The ones where someone is driving down the road and smashes into thin air? Almost like they ran into an invisible wall? That’s an instance of them hitting a portal that pops up. A glitch in the fabric between the worlds if you will.
Most portals are small, not large enough to admit anything bigger than the occasional butterfly that flutters through. Enter the new species of moth scientists discover every day? But some are big enough. The dimensional world exists in a constant state of repair, always mending shifts and rips as they occur. In general, portals last a short time.”
Fire Born Dragon (Rule 9 Academy Book 1) Page 20