by SF Mazhar
“Dad?”
“Shhh!” Chris urged.
Aaron could hear Skyler and Ella getting their weapons ready. No one moved. They barely breathed. But Aaron still couldn’t pick up on what had caused the reaction.
He stared at his surroundings until he noticed something moving, straight in front of him. Before his eyes, several big shadows stepped past the cluster of trees. Stray rays of sunshine made their way through the leafy canopy so Aaron couldn’t mistake what he was seeing.
Lycans.
A whole pack of them, growling low in their throats with fangs bared, blocking their way.
6
When Dogs Come Out To Play
It happened in the blink of an eye. One moment Aaron was standing, staring wide-eyed at the pack of beasts before him; the next a full-on battle had broken out. Neriah, Ella and Skyler unleashed a fury of attack, while Chris pulled Aaron behind him.
The Lycans howled as they were thrown back by the bullets. It took Neriah and Ella mere seconds to encase several Lycans in ice, holding them immobile, before moving in to shoot them in the back of their heads. Skyler sent whirlwinds of pure power at the Lycans, throwing them to the ground. But the Lycans weren’t staying down for long. They leapt back up, standing on two legs, not four, with their fangs and claws bared. The fur on their back bristled as they tensed before darting forward to attack. Some Lycans managed to break out of their iced prisons before they could be shot. More and more Lycans darted out of the darkness of the woods. They all slashed and tore their way closer to the Elementals, trying to get near enough to taste blood.
Neriah pulled back his hand and struck out. Spears of ice flew outwards and impaled two Lycans, pinning them to the trees. Ella sent a flurry of snow at the approaching five Lycans, blinding them long enough for Skyler to blast them back and against the trees, knocking them unconscious. But more Lycans kept coming at them, dodging the bullets and jolts of power.
When two Lycans came at Chris, Aaron’s training kicked in. Almost on instinct, Aaron pulled his hands together, ready to send out a ripple and throw the beasts back.
He never got the chance.
The ground trembled under him before Chris threw out his arms. The trees on either side of him uprooted, tearing out of the ground with a monstrous crack. Trees as tall as houses flew towards the Lycans, slamming into them. Chris moved forward, swinging his arms like he was throwing punches, sending tree after tree at the approaching Lycans. The beasts darted back, leaping aside to avoid being crushed.
Aaron stared at his dad in a mix of awe and fear. He had never seen anyone attack like that before. He realised belatedly the reason – his dad was the only Earth Elemental other than himself. Even Neriah, Skyler and Ella paused in their attacks for a heartbeat, to watch Chris unleash his power.
The ground shook under Chris’s feet, trees swayed and bent into arcs before springing back to hit the Lycans, throwing them across the forest with enough force to break bones.
The Lycans hunched down onto all fours. Their eyes were on Chris, a low growl in their throats. Chris held out both hands and the ground around the Lycans began to sink. The Lycans scrambled to get out but the ground gave way before many could manage. They fell into the fast-forming pit, their howls ringing in the air. But not a moment later, more Lycans thundered out of the shadows, coming at the Elementals from all corners. Aaron turned to see two darting towards him. He held up his hands and sent two perfect ripples through the ground, knocking the Lycans into the nearest tree. Two more took their place. No matter how many they took down, more Lycans kept coming at them, fangs and claws bared.
“Chris!”
Aaron turned at Neriah’s shout to see him throwing Chris one of his pistols. Chris caught it and ran towards a fast approaching Lycan. All of a sudden, the Lycan came to an abrupt halt. It jerked, trying to move forward but thick roots had grown from the forest ground and held onto his feet. Chris reached the trapped Lycan but went behind him, before shooting a bullet into the back of the Lycan’s head. The Lycan fell to its knees before toppling over, its feet finally released from the ground. It lay unmoving, clearly dead.
“Adams!”
Aaron turned at the sound of Skyler’s shout. He saw Ella holding two Lycans immobile, wrapping and rewrapping their bodies in ice as they struggled to break out of their prison.
Skyler met Aaron’s gaze before raising his guns and aiming at the back of the Lycans’ heads. He fired both at the same time. The bullets penetrated the ice to hit the Lycans. Ella let go and the ice disappeared, leaving the dead Lycans to fall to the ground. Skyler turned his head to hold Aaron’s gaze, before throwing him one of his pistols, mirroring what Neriah did with Chris.
“One bullet,” Skyler instructed. “Straight in the occiput.” He tapped the back of his own head, at the small space between his head and neck.
Aaron nodded and turned, but it was impossible to aim so precisely at the back of the Lycans’ heads – at their occiput – when they were moving at such an unnatural speed. Now Aaron understood why Scott always set up Q-Zones to trap and kill Lycans. Collapsing the prison with the Lycans inside was easier than trying to shoot them in such a difficult spot.
Something changed in the air. The Lycans came to a stop and fell back, howling unearthly cries. Aaron didn’t know what was happening, and then he saw it – the huge demonic beast that made its way through the pack of Lycans. The other Lycans were tall when they stood up on two legs, with greyish black fur sitting like a coat on their backs. This one easily dwarfed the others. The fur on its back was a deep blood red. Its eyes were a cold cobalt blue, and they were fixed on Aaron’s dad.
The ground shook so violently, Aaron was sure an earthquake had hit them. He had to hold on to the nearest tree to remain standing. He turned to see his dad’s entire being tense, his face distorted with rage, pure and unadulterated. His eyes were on the red-furred Lycan, who was growling back in response. It let out several loud barks before falling to all fours, and racing towards him.
Before Aaron could do more than steady himself on the shaking ground, his dad took off, running directly at the Lycan.
“Dad!”
“CHRIS, NO!”
Aaron’s shout was drowned out by Neriah’s furious cry. As his voice bellowed out, so did a cascade of water, sweeping through the forest. It pushed back the Lycans but before it could reach Chris and the red Lycan, the two had met. Aaron had to remember to breathe when he saw his dad take on the massive beast with nothing more than his fists. Then both fell back, the gush of water knocking them off their feet, but it didn’t take long for them to get back up. The Lycan howled, its crimson fur drenched, blue eyes slitted. Chris swung a fist and nearby trees uprooted to pound the Lycan. But this one took the hits, knocking them back with just as much force.
The rest of the Lycans were still fighting with Neriah, Skyler and Ella but Aaron couldn’t look away from his dad. He had to hold on to the nearest tree for support as he watched his dad pull back to strike the massive Lycan again. The ferocious beast lunged forward, twisting out of the way of Chris’s attack, swiping its clawed hand at him. Chris’s eyes widened, his mouth open in a silent scream as he arched back – as a long red line stretched across his torso.
Aaron’s world tilted when his dad hit the ground. The cut on his chest begun seeping blood, staining his front. Then his body started to writhe, convulsing in agony.
Aaron’s ears were ringing; a pressure built in his chest, making it hard to breathe. A strange sound had filled the air. It took Aaron a moment to realise it was a scream – and it was coming from him.
It was his cry that was echoing in the forest, his fury that was pounding at his insides, his fear that was twisting at his heart. He also realised his grip had fallen from the tree and he was now racing towards his dad.
Aaron didn’t stop to think what he was doing. All he could focus on was his dad, and getting to his side. He saw the red-furred Lycan come to stand over his dad’s f
allen body and Aaron’s whole being pulsed with panic. His fingers felt like they were on fire. With another cry, Aaron threw out his hands and the ground shifted under his command. The whole forest shuddered. With a monstrous roar, the ground split on the far side of them, the chasm spreading to take down whatever was in its way – trees and Lycans alike.
The red-furred Lycan had to scamper back, the crack forcing him away from Chris. Aaron came to fall next to his dad, but his eyes were still on the Lycan, his hand outstretched towards him – ready to attack, to defend. The Lycan dropped to all fours and licked its jowls. It snarled at Aaron before taking a few steps back, crouching low. It was going to try and jump over the gap.
Before it could take off, though, something hit it with enough force to send it toppling to one side. It recovered and turned with a growl. Skyler waited a moment before curling his fist again and sending a jolt as powerful as a tornado. The beast darted out of the way, narrowly avoiding the power that tore across the forest, demolishing everything in its path. Skyler wasn’t done. He sent another jolt, then another and another. The look on his face told Aaron the attack wasn’t anything but personal. Skyler’s usually cold blue eyes were now burning, his jaw clenched, teeth bared as he hit out repeatedly. His tornado finally caught the red-furred Lycan, blasting him out of sight.
The other Lycans retreated, scampering back to the darkness they had come from. Aaron’s attention quickly snapped to his dad, who had fallen still, his eyes closed.
“Dad!” Aaron held on to him. The horrendous cut across his torso had stained the whole of his front with blood, but the rise and fall of his chest told Aaron he was still breathing. He was unconscious but alive.
Skyler manipulated the air to help Neriah and Ella jump across the wide crack in the ground before following after them. They gathered around Aaron and Chris, kneeling next to them. Neriah’s hand hovered over Chris’s torso and Aaron wasn’t sure if he was imagining it or not, but the bleeding seemed to slow down.
Ella was already holding on to her pendant, talking quickly to the only one connected to it – the Controller, Scott.
“We need it now,” Aaron heard her say. “He’s been infected.” She nodded at the response, her brow glistening with sweat. “Okay. I will.” She turned to her uncle. “Scott’s opened a portal, about a mile west.”
“What?” Aaron choked. “A mile? Tell him to open one here!”
Ella’s fierce gaze locked on him. “He would if he could.”
“Skyler,” Neriah commanded, his hand still aimed at Chris’s torso. “As gently as you can.”
Skyler didn’t say anything but stood up and held out both hands. Chris was pulled off the ground, his prone form floating mid-air, lifted up by Skyler’s power. Aaron wanted to protest but his voice failed him. His chest felt as if it was in a vice-like grip; just breathing was proving to be a feat in itself. He scrambled to his feet as Neriah rose too, his hand still hovering over Chris’s levitated body. Hoping that Skyler wouldn’t act on his intense hatred of Chris in front of their leader, Aaron held his tongue but stayed next to his dad’s side, in case Skyler decided to drop him.
With Skyler, Neriah and Aaron’s attention on Chris, Ella was the only one left to guard the group. Clutching her weapons, she guided them quickly through the forest.
The portal was waiting for them, the same glowing mark of Aric, a beacon of hope in the dark forest. Hurrying through the portal, Aaron arrived at a familiar Gateway – a long road with acres of flat land stretching out on either side of it. Rocky mountains in the distance. The sky tinted a warm orange and red from the setting sun.
It wasn’t Salvador or Marwa, but it did seem familiar, though right now Aaron didn’t have the clarity of mind to figure out why. All he could focus on was his dad. Neriah had managed to stem the bleeding, but Chris was still unconscious, his lips tinged a faint blue, his face far too pale to be healthy. Skyler kept him levitated, but his pace had quickened. They were practically running down the pathway.
When they arrived at the Gate, they stood before the brilliant white door towering over them. Ella strode forward and placed her palm on the door.
“Ella Afton.”
The symbols on the door brightened before fading to leave Aric’s mark. The Gate slid open and they hurried into the city. A group of mages were standing ready. They ran towards them, their hands raised, sending a stream of power to gently take Chris’s weight from Skyler. Ella and Skyler stepped back but Neriah and Aaron stayed with Chris.
They set off down the street, no doubt heading to the Empaths’ hut so the blind healers could save Chris before the Lycan venom killed him. Aaron hurried along with them until he was stopped by a middle-aged woman.
“Stay here,” she instructed as the group moved ahead with Chris.
“What?” Aaron asked. He pushed past her. “I’m going with him.”
“You won’t be allowed in with the Empaths,” the woman argued, holding him back.
“I’m his son,” Aaron snapped, pulling his arm out of her grip. He made to move forward but was blocked by her again. Aaron’s hands curled tight. He was close to shoving her aside. “Move!” he spat.
“Aaron,” Neriah called, turning to look at him, even as he kept up with the moving crowd, his hands still hovering over Chris. “Stay.”
Aaron wasn’t going to do anything of the sort. He pushed past the woman and raced down the street. He followed after them and turned the corner to see them approach a square building – nothing more than a wooden hut with a slated roof. There were other identical huts lining along the street. Aaron figured they must all be the Empath huts.
Neriah was left outside, as was most of the group. Only four entered the hut with Chris, disappearing behind the curtained door. Aaron ran to follow them inside.
“Whoa! Whoa!” A girl grabbed him by the arm, halting him. “Where’d you think you’re going?”
Aaron recognised her. It was the red-haired Bella, the Hunter from the City of Balt, the first Hunter he had seen challenge Skyler in the ring to get a chance to fight in the Q-Zone.
“You can’t go in there,” she said.
“The hell I can’t!” Aaron shook his arm free and moved forward.
Bella’s hand hit his chest and stayed there. “You deaf?” she asked, her sea green eyes narrowed. “You can’t go in there. The Empaths need to do their job.”
“That’s my dad in there!” Aaron said.
Bella’s expression changed. Her hand came away and she looked genuinely regretful. “I’m sorry,” she said. “But you can’t go in. Your dad’s been infected. He needs treatment and trust me, it’s better for you not to see him go through it.”
If she thought that would make Aaron feel better, she was horribly wrong. It felt like her words had pierced his heart, bringing about a new bout of pain and panic to flood his senses. Aaron moved back, his hands going to his head as he paced outside the hut. A hundred and one thoughts raced in his mind, but only one was making his heart bleed – he was mad at you and you never got the chance to make up with him.
“Aaron.”
He turned to see Neriah, his features heavy with concern. He stood before Aaron, and for a moment it was as if he were out of words. He met Aaron’s eyes and reached out to clasp his shoulder with a strong hand. “Trust the Empaths to do their work.”
Aaron didn’t say anything but gave a weak nod. No matter how much Aaron tried, he couldn’t stop himself from replaying the last conversation he’d had with his dad and thinking about how he’d argued with him.
He had fought to go with Neriah.
He had asked his dad to come with him.
If he hadn’t, none of this would have happened.
***
It was just under half an hour later when Aaron finally got to see his dad. Walking through the curtained door and into the hut, Aaron was led to a small room which held nothing more than a single bed and a chair. His dad was on the bed, still unconscious, still a little pale,
but nothing like he’d been when they first arrived. Aaron hurried over to his side.
“He’s going to be fine,” said the young Empath who had led him in. “The venom in Lycan claws isn’t as potent as their fangs. It still has to be drained out, but it won’t take as long. He’ll recover in a few days.”
Aaron turned to him. “Thank you,” he said.
The Empath smiled, his unseeing light blue eyes staring past Aaron. “He’ll be asleep for quite some time. If you like, you can go and rest, and come back–”
“I’m staying here,” Aaron interrupted. “With him.”
The Empath nodded. “Very well. A cottage is ready for you, if you change your mind.”
“Thank you,” Aaron said again and pulled the chair closer to sit by his dad’s bedside. The Empath left, closing the door behind him with a soft click.
Aaron sat in silence, just taking in the sight of his dad sleeping peacefully. His bare chest was covered by a thin sheet. Aaron carefully lifted a corner, wary of seeing the wound, but a part of him needed to know how bad it was. The cut had been lightly bandaged with a thin muslin cloth. Aaron could see a yellow paste had been generously applied under the makeshift bandage. The cut ran from his dad’s lower left side, up his stomach and across his chest, ending at his right armpit. But it was the inked mark on the left side of his dad’s chest that made Aaron move closer to inspect. It was a simple design – a circle with the letter B inside it.
Aaron never knew his dad had a tattoo. It occurred to him that he had never seen his dad topless before. No matter how warm the summer was in the human realm, his dad had never taken off his top. Aaron stared at the tattoo. The circle was part of Aric’s mark, representing Earth. Being the Elemental for Earth, it wasn’t surprising his dad would get a tattoo with his mark. After all, Skyler had the spiral inked on his shoulder, representing his element. Even Neriah had the mark for the element of Water on his wrist. Aaron studied the letter B sitting inside the circle. B – for Ben. Aaron didn’t need confirmation. He knew that was what the tattoo represented. It was his dad’s first born, his eldest son, the child he lost.