Past Truths

by Em Pitts

  When Ollie laid his hand on her cheek, she jerked surprised by the touch. I saw her press more firmly into his hand before closing her eyes in relaxation. How long has it been since she felt a gentle touch? My eyes welled at the sight.

  Soon enough Ollie was pulling his hand away. Her eyes opened slowly before they widened, and her mouth was opening and closing. Ollie was sitting down when I looked at him, breathing heavily as if he had been running. He smiled at me, before looking back to Vita.

  "Go ahead, try." He encouraged her.

  It took her time to get used to the feeling of having her missing tongue. When she spoke, there was a lisp that I'm sure would go away in time.

  "Thank you." She was crying again, but this time they were happy tears.

  "Guys, I hate to break this up, but I can't figure this out." Isaake sounded slightly hysterical as he was feeling around the cuff. "There's no way to open this thing."

  "Intention." Vita's words were already sounding more natural. "You need to open it with a pure intention that is stronger than the will of the caster."

  "So, we are dealing with witchcraft?" I asked recognizing the word caster.

  "Dark magic." Vita corrected. "Something humans have no business messing with. And yet, they continue to bleed and pour their will and soul into the darkness." She sounded disgusted as she glared at the cuff.

  "So, demons have nothing to do with it," Nick spoke up. At Vita's head shake, he smirked. "I told you demons weren't real." He spoke smugly to all of us.

  "Oh, we are real child." Vita's words shocked Nick into stillness. "We just aren't the dark sin that humans make us out to be." Isaake fumbled with the cuff for a moment before going back to what he was doing.

  I didn't expect her to be a demon. She claimed the titled proudly as well. This beautiful creature who cried over the pain of humans and tried to end their suffering peacefully was more like an angel.

  "So how do we use intention to get the cuff off." Ollie cut through the awkward revelation.

  My heart warmed as he didn't even debate helping Vita, knowing that she was what they were taught to fear and hate. And these men thought they couldn't see things differently by thinking for themselves.

  "Use something that you believe will work. You just have to believe it strongly." Raynor cocked his head sideways looking at the cuff.

  "Why haven't you removed it yet, if it's that easy?" I asked curiously. Her face darkened.

  "Humans created this to harm my kind. It weakens us and we can't fight it. Only a human can destroy the darkness with light." More sparkling tears dropped and hissed on the rock.

  "I'll do it." Raynor stepped forward. "Don't let me hurt you." He looked seriously at Vita before kneeling and paying attention to the cuff.

  Raynor’s hand hovered over the area before I saw the air start to stir. He was creating a circular blade, much like a saw. It hovered just beyond his hand, spinning so quickly that we could see its shape clearly. When it was formed, he slowly brought his hand towards the cuff.

  A ping sounded the moment the air hit the cuff. Then a high-pitched grinding noise echoed in the cavern as we watched sparks flying. Still, the cuff held tight and barely scratched.

  "Intention!" Vita yelled over the noise.

  "I'm fucking intent!" Raynor shouted back.

  Sweat was dripping from his forehead as he ground his teeth and pushed a little harder on the cuff. It looked like it was doing even less damage now as no new cuts were shown.

  "Let go of any doubts. You can do this." She tried to speak calmly but her pinched face showed fear. Fear that this wasn't going to work. Fear that she would be stuck.

  I walked forward and laid my hand on Raynor's shoulder. It startled him out of his concentration and the air disappeared. Taking the moment of distraction to my advantage I walked in front of him and kneeled with him. I gave him a smile and grabbed his hand that just had a deadly weapon in it. He looked at his hand and refused to look up at me. I squeezed his palm anyway.

  "You need a woman's touch, you know?" When he looked up at me baffled, I gave him a cheeky grin. "When a man can't do something it's because it needs a woman's touch to help. Here I’ll pull it away from her and hold on while you saw through it." The cuff only gave a fingers width of slack when I pulled on it, but I held steady anyway. "There, I can already feel it's going to work this time."

  Raynor shook his head before turning to call over his shoulder at one of the other guys. "One of you switch places with me." He gritted out.

  I didn't know what was going on exactly but something Vita said gave me an idea. She told him to let go of his doubts. This isn't the first time he has shown that he thinks of himself as lesser than the others. He hinted at it when he spoke of his runes. He was upset about not helping that night that I followed him home, and I bet that it had something to do with the same. None of these men wanted to be gifted, but when they all went through the trials, Raynor was the one who received the fewest gifts. He was wrong to think that made him less.

  "No." I stopped them holding up a hand. "We need your Air, Raynor. Ollie's Earth won't help much and if lava didn't burn it off then his Fire won't either. Nick's Water might hurt her. You know you are the best for the job." I held his hand tighter willing him to believe it's true too. The men supported my decision and agreed unanimously. I didn't know if they knew of his insecurities as well but supporting him like this clearly showed they didn't believe he was weaker either. "Together."

  Raynor nodded and started the air blade again. He kept away from my hand and pushed on the cuff. When the scratches started again, I knew we could get through it.

  "There!" I shouted encouragement. "It's working!" I smiled brightly as the metal cut deeper. "Last bit," I whispered and watched as the metal was sawed through with air.

  I jumped on Raynor as soon as the metal dropped and kissed his cheek over and over again. The guys laughed in relief as I continued my antics and Raynor squeezed me tightly in thanks.

  "Thank you." Vita's voice was thick, and her smile was brighter than ever. She held her hands out towards Raynor and me and pulled us upright. She rubbed Raynor's left forearm where his second gift was tattooed. "Intention." She spoke with conviction as she stared deep into his eyes.

  She seemed to be waiting on something from him and when he nodded, she turned her attention to me. I didn't have a chance to be confused by what just happened when she questioned me.

  "Will you let me give you a gift?"

  "No gifts are necessary." I smiled and hugged her too in my joy. The men called out and I pulled away freaked out. Everyone was looking at me as if I was crazy. I looked back to Vita and realized I just wrapped my arms around a woman covered in molten rock. And I wasn’t burned. "I'm just glad you're free." I went to move away not wanting to chance being burned now that I was aware of the possibility. She took my right hand and held it between both of hers.

  "You'll want this gift, child. It will be nice to give it of my own free will this time." Confused by her words I nodded my head not understanding what she meant to give me. "Don't fight me and it will hurt less." She said as she leaned her forehead against mine.

  Before I could realize what was happening, my hand started burning. Heat and pain raced from my fingertips up my arm like a thousand knife cuts. My head felt like it was exploding from the fireworks dancing behind my eyes. All noise cut off and only pain existed. More heat entered my body and a different wave of pain started up. This time it felt like I was peeling and being pulled apart. Slowly those pieces were gathered back together, and a soothing coating flooded my body.

  When I was able to think, I opened my eyes and saw my guys on the ceiling. Or rather my guys were surrounding me, and I was staring at the ceiling. Everyone looked panicked and lips were moving saying something. Voices filtered in before it felt like the worlds volume was blasted to the highest setting. My name. They were shouting my name.

  "Okay." I croaked out. "I'm okay." My head flopped sideways
when I tried to turn and see Vita. She wasn't there though.

  "She jumped in before I could get her." Ollie's voice was boiling.

  "Dying isn't on my list of things to do when I've been freed." Her voice sarcastically replied. She was still here somewhere. "I'm sorry Tessa. I can't take the pain away. I create life and it's not meant to be forced into the already living. I am rebirth for the earth. But if anyone deserved the power that was forced into hundreds before you, it would have been people like you. Pure of intentions just like your men. I wish the best for all of you." Vita sounded like she was leaving.

  "Wait!" I called out. "You don't want revenge?" I questioned confused.

  "I am life, I was not meant to destroy." She spoke and then grew quiet.

  "She's gone," Isaake told me as he relaxed now that there was no longer a threat. "Ollie, can you Heal her?"

  "I've been trying." His voice was frustrated.

  "What's wrong with me?" I asked confused. There was lingering pain in my head and arms, but otherwise, I felt fine.

  "She gifted you," Isaake spoke up as Nick held my forearm up for me to see.

  There on my left forearm was one symbol. I reached to touch it and saw my black and red freshly scorched hand. I laughed hysterically.

  "I guess I need a glove now." The others seemed to relax more at my teasing.

  "Guys, I suggest we tear this place down before it's too late," Nick spoke up capturing our attention. I looked around at the cavern just as the rest of the men did.

  "Blow it up?" I asked.

  "Send the whole thing down in flames," Raynor responded seriously.

  "Can we get out first, so we don't go down with the place?" Nick questioned tugging me up gently.

  "I'm with him on this one." I wobbled when I stood and realized I felt drained. "And then get some food and rest when we get out of here." Nick picked me up when he saw I was wobbling and held me bridal style. I leaned against his chest grateful for the reprieve.

  "You're not thinking about those waffles you missed out on, are you?" Nick spoke trying to force cheer through us as we made our way to finish destroying this place before we ran away.

  I looked down at my forearm. I was gifted now. With something. At least maybe I could actually help the men now. We already rescued Vita. Things were starting to look brighter.

  "Yeah, Nick. I'm thinking about waffles. I think I might try and make some." I teased.

  "Please don't." Raynor automatically responded.

  "You know what? When we get back to the future, I'm making you something. You just wait. When I've got packaged food or a stove that I can control the temperature, I can cook." I argued back. The darkness closed in around us as we walked farther away from the lava. It was comforting this time, knowing that on the other side of the tunnel was our freedom.

  "We?" Isaake asked.

  "Hmm?" I questioned closing my eyes and sinking further into Nick. His chest was comforting.

  "You said when we get back," Ollie spoke softly.

  "Well, yeah." I yawned before continuing. "I'm not very well leaving you guys. You're mine now, you know? I gots to keep you any way I can." I slurred out.

  I didn't realize I was speaking aloud. I didn't realize what I was saying really. I was weakened from the gift and Nick was so very comfortable as I rocked to the rhythm of his walking. I definitely didn't notice the look the men shared at my words. I just drifted peacefully and enjoyed the feeling of being whole. Well, almost whole. But Abby would come soon enough. I had faith.

  32

  The thing about plans not being made, is there are a lot of aspects unaccounted for. When you make a plan, there are many situations you create counteractions for. When you don't make one, then everything is done with the “fly by your pants” method.

  There was no warning for what was about to happen. Nothing could have pointed out how very fucked we were the moment we walked out of the cave. Why should we have been worried when we were invisible and powerful enough to disappear?

  Because clearly Alexander’s nullifying power was stronger.

  Both Alexander and the Judge revealed themselves as we walked through the cave’s entrance. I was still in my exhausted bubble of satisfaction, somewhat distanced from the situation. The moment the arms holding me tightened, I knew we were in deep shit. Especially when I looked down and saw those arms visible. We were all visible. Which meant Isaake couldn’t keep his Illusions any longer.

  "I knew there was something wrong. I knew, but I wanted to trust that the four of you knew better." The judge spoke in a patronizing tone. "Give me the woman and we will figure out how to fix this mess you have caused." The judge stared down at me in Nick’s arms. I tried to keep my hand tucked into his body and my arm away from his view.

  "Back the fuck off," Nick growled out not liking the suggestion of handing me over.

  "Leave and forget you saw us," Raynor warned. It was then I noticed the other three had stepped in front of Nick and me. There was a solid line of muscles and anger standing between Judge and me.

  We needed to leave now. I looked around the men trying to find the quickest way to lose these guys when I noticed more shadows. The blood drained from my face as I realized what had happened.

  "Don't make it worse for yourselves." Isaake backed up his threat with a step forward.

  "Move," Ollie commanded.

  No! No, no, no, no, no. They must not have seen the others. There was no point in fighting. No hope.

  I started tugging at Nick, no longer worried about concealing my marks. I just needed them to stop before they got hurt. We weren’t going to win this time.

  I never got a chance to say a word. The judge took a step forward and it was enough to set off my men. Ollie's fist was in his face instantly snapping Judge's neck back as he caught him off guard. Alexander immediately went to aid his friend, when Raynor charged at him tackling the man to the ground.

  Green lightening arced from Judge’s palm, heading straight for Ollie and scaring a startled scream from my lips as I struggled in Nick’s arms.

  “ENOUGH!” The minister’s voice boomed from the shadows.

  The others stiffened when they finally noticed what I had already seen. All the men who traveled here were standing by to capture us. The aspirantium boys and men, the minister, Judge, and Alexander. Twenty-eight men against us five. We were in a surrounded circle with our only way out being a cave full of lava at our back.

  “Why did you sneak a woman into the divine cave? I assume the screaming was the punishment she sustained from defying our God’s rule.” The minister strode closer to us acting casual like he wasn’t a homicidal psychopath. His statement gave me an idea though. Thinking quick I spoke up before the men could.

  "I did it!" I exclaimed. "I was trying to find a way home and thought this way would work."

  My mind was working overtime as I sprouted the lie. I wanted to protect the men right now and maybe I could play on the minister’s need to appear normal. Clearly, we didn't have their powers, or we would be underground already.

  "They found me and stopped me." I pushed fully out of Nick’s arms and stood up on my own trying to appear more independent. “I was punished for my actions, but the men were only doing what they thought was right.”

  The minister’s stare was narrowed on my face as he tried to see the truth in my words. This could work. Maybe they could get away and come back to help me afterward. I kept my expression blank so he wouldn't see the lie for what it was. Our stare off was abruptly ended as he glanced down at the blackened scorch marks along my left arm. It only took a moment before recognition set in and caused his face to pale and his mouth to flop open.

  "What have you done?" He sounded fearful. He looked at the men's faces before glaring. "What have you done?!" He shouted unnecessarily. He stared at my marks looking betrayed and angry. "You broke into sacred grounds. You desecrated a divine ritual by trying to gift a woman." He said woman distastefully as if he couldn't belie
ve that was our intentions. "You will be tried for treason when we return to the village and when found guilty you will be hanged for your sins. Hand over the woman so that she may face her punishment."

  No. This was not at all what I was trying to do. He was supposed to let the men go and take me.

  No one on my side moved as we faced off the others. We were sure to lose and yet none of us backed down. The circle started closing in tighter around us as the others prepared to capture us.

  The green lightening arced from my right and highlighted the Judge's sadistic smirk. For someone who dressed so nicely, he was pure evil inside.

  A blue flame flared from the corner of my eye drawing my attention to the brown-haired boy who was gifted that day. I guess he figured out what his gift was. He also seemed a hell of a lot older with that determined look, like he was ready and willing to kill us if given the order.

  "What punishment?" Isaake growled out, gripping my arm like he was scared they would snatch me away when he wasn’t looking.

  "She will be sacrificed to the fires so that God may have mercy on us for what you have wrought." The minister was going to throw me into the lava.

  The image of the boy who was stabbed, screaming as the lava boiled him alive, flashed through my mind. Vita wasn't there to make it quick. I was going to die a slow and painful death. Abby was never going to see me again. I could never introduce her to the men. There was nothing else. My end was about to be met at the end of an underground cave.

  I don't know if I regretted my choices or not right now, because as selfish as it sounds, I couldn't give a shit about the lives of the people around me who were willing to kill me. The people I cared about who stood with me, were bound to suffer the same fate as me. All because I wanted to play hero when I should have just let them die.