by SF Mazhar
Gently, Aaron covered his dad with the sheet and settled back in his chair. His head was pounding, his body sore and heavy. His hands ached, fingers still buzzing from using his powers. He rubbed at his eyes, fighting the fatigue that was creeping up his back and spreading across his shoulders. He could have easily fallen asleep sitting there, but Aaron struggled to stay awake. He couldn’t rest, not until his dad woke up. He wanted to talk to him, wanted to make sure he was really okay. He couldn’t take the Empath’s word for it. He needed to see it for himself.
The faint sound of a commotion outside the room reached Aaron, making him turn around in his seat, just in time to see the door fly open. Kate hurried in, followed by Michael. Sam and Rose were behind them, as was Neriah.
Aaron rose to his feet, taken aback by their sudden appearance. Before he could get out a word, Kate ran to him, her expression one of tremendous relief. She hugged Aaron, her embrace tight and strong.
“Thank God,” she breathed. “You’re okay. Thank God, you’re alright.”
“I’m fine,” Aaron confirmed, hugging her back.
Kate’s gaze moved to her wounded husband lying unconscious before her. She pulled away from Aaron and stood still, just staring at Chris.
Michael was quick to follow his sister and hug Aaron too, expressing his relief with a thump on Aaron’s back.
“Scott told us what happened,” Michael said, pulling away to look at Aaron. “When we heard the Lycans had attacked…” He paused, his eyes shadowed with fear. “He told us about Chris, but we didn’t know if you were okay.”
Aaron shook his head. “I’m fine,” he repeated. He looked past Michael’s shoulder, at his best friends. “Not a scratch on me.” His words were for their benefit too, so the identical looks of worry could fade from their faces.
Neriah stepped past them. “Chris will recover,” he said, speaking to Kate and Michael. “The Empaths have to keep draining out the venom, but in a few days he’ll be completely fine.”
Kate turned to look at him. “How did this happen?” she asked. “You left to get the Blade of Adams. How did Lycans cross your path?”
“I don’t know,” Neriah replied. “The zone we were in was safe. It’s not possible for the Lycans to pass its Gate.”
“Has the Gate fallen?” Michael asked.
Neriah shook his head. “It still stands. Scott confirmed it less than ten minutes ago.”
“Then how?” Kate asked in a choked voice. “How did they get in?”
Neriah took a moment to answer. “I don’t know for certain, but I have a suspicion.” He glanced once to Aaron, before looking back at Kate. “The Lycans came at us in big numbers, and they all emerged from one main spot. No matter how many we fought, they kept coming.” He paused for a moment. “I think it was a new tear.”
“What?” Michael turned to face him completely.
“It’s not impossible,” Neriah said. “Demons tore the barrier once, they can do it again. Lycans can’t get past our Gates, so our zones are safe unless a Gate falls. But if Lycans are getting into zones while the Gates still stand, then that must mean Lycans have started making their own back doors. I think they are using the human realm, ripping the barrier that separates our worlds and entering our zones that way. Today wasn’t the only time Raoul’s led his dogs into a safe zone.”
Kate stiffened. “Raoul?” she asked.
Neriah met her eyes and slowly nodded.
Kate looked down at Chris and understanding filled her eyes. “Oh God,” she whispered. “He was there? He’s the one who…Chris…He – he did this to Chris?”
Neriah stepped closer, his violet eyes fixed on Chris. “The moment he saw Raoul, Chris lost it. His anger clouded his judgement and he got too close.”
Kate collapsed into the chair, her head bowed, one hand clutched onto Chris’s. Aaron rested his hand on her shoulder.
“Mum?”
Kate shook her head but her free hand came to rest on top of Aaron’s. She tilted her head up but her bloodshot eyes were on Neriah.
“You didn’t believe us,” she accused. “We told you Raoul is after us, after our son. The moment you walked away with Aaron, Raoul came for him–”
“He came for all of us,” Neriah corrected. “There were five Elementals there for him to finish.”
Kate rose to her feet. “This is exactly why we don’t want Aaron involved,” she said. “Raoul is after our family. He wants Aaron–”
“Then Raoul’s in for a surprise,” Neriah said. He glanced at Aaron and a small but proud smile lit his face. “Because the legacy holder for Earth sure knows how to use his powers, despite next to no training.”
Aaron didn’t say anything. He knew Neriah was talking about him tearing open the ground to force the Lycan away from his dad. He saw the look of utter shock and surprise on his mum’s face as she turned to him.
Aaron avoided her eyes, knowing deep down that the reason he knew how to split the earth wasn’t because he was naturally talented, but because Kyran had worked two weeks endlessly to teach him.
7
The Prisoner Of Balt
The afternoon crept by, but Chris had yet to awaken. Michael had to drag Aaron away from Chris’s bedside and force him back to a cottage to rest. Aaron begrudgingly left. His mum was going to stay with his dad and had promised to come and get him the minute Chris regained consciousness.
As Aaron, Sam and Rose followed behind Michael, they passed Neriah at the table talking with Mandara. After seeing the red-haired Bella and then the chief Mandara, Aaron realised he was in the City of Balt. That’s why the Gateway had been so familiar. He had once come here to accompany Salvador’s Hunters on an assignment to survey one of the sub-zones. He could never forget that experience – discovering the demonic race of Abarimons, and nearly being killed by them, was as memorable as it got. Kyran had been by his side throughout the encounter. He had protected Aaron, fought the Abarimons almost single-handedly and even saved a bunch of kids from being eaten alive.
Aaron’s already pounding head ached when he tried to figure out why Kyran, the Scorcher – their worst enemy – had risked so much to help him and the young mages being held captive there. Were Kyran’s actions simply self-defence, because he’d been stuck in the valley of the Abarimons and needed to kill them to get out himself? Or had it been because he wanted to protect the young mages? Protect Aaron?
As long as I’m around, nothing’s gonna happen to Rose, or Sam, or you.
Kyran’s voice echoed in his mind and Aaron wished he could do something, anything, to erase Kyran and everything he had said from his memory.
Michael left Aaron and the twins at the door of the cottage and headed back, saying he needed to speak with Mandara and Neriah. Aaron, Sam and Rose walked into a small, brightly lit cottage. Lamps hung in all four corners of the hall. They headed to the only room on the ground floor and sat down on the sofa.
“You okay?” Sam asked, at last having the time and privacy to speak to Aaron.
Aaron nodded, reaching up to rub at his eyes. “Just tired.”
“The bedrooms will be upstairs,” Rose said. “Why don’t you sleep for a bit?”
Aaron shook his head. He didn’t want to sleep. He had to stay awake, so when his dad regained consciousness, he could go and see him.
Rose and Sam didn’t push him. They settled beside him to make idle chat. They told Aaron what it was like going back to Salvador. Rose told him renovations had started to repair buildings after the fire. Sam mentioned something about the Hunters and Lurkers making up most of the population of Salvador now. Apparently Drake was grumpier than usual, having to chase Hunters out of his orchard to stop them using fruit in target shooting.
Aaron was finding it hard to stay focused on them. His eyes were slipping shut, his head felt too heavy to hold up. His shoulders felt entirely too comfortable pressed into the soft sofa. Before Aaron could fight it any more, exhaustion pulled him into a deep slumber.
; ***
Aaron’s body tensed, his heart raced and he could taste fear on his tongue. Steeling himself the best he could, he forced out the words, “So what are you going to do?”
Kyran pulled in a breath, his head lowered. After a moment’s contemplation, he looked up at Aaron.
“What I have to,” he replied. His eyes were a poison green as he stared at him. “I have to kill you.”
Aaron snapped awake, his heart pounding at his insides. His hands were clammy, beads of perspiration clinging to his skin. He looked around the empty room, not recognising his surroundings. Then it all caught up with him and Aaron forced out a breath. He was in the City of Balt, waiting for his dad to wake up after the Lycan attack. Wiping a hand down his face, Aaron pulled himself up to sit on the sofa. Either Sam or Rose had covered him with a blanket and then left the room, letting him sleep.
Aaron took a moment to just sit. His dream had shaken him. More than that, it had downright petrified him. The calmness with which Kyran had told him that he would kill him – Aaron shuddered. The straightforwardness of it only made it all the more creepy and horrifying.
This wasn’t Aaron’s first dream about Kyran. He’d had many in the last six months now. Some of the moments he’d dreamt about had come true. Would this be one of them?
Aaron pushed the blanket off him, practically throwing it aside. He felt sick, suffocated. Fear clawed its way up his throat, threatening to choke him if he didn’t find a way out. He stumbled out of the room, pausing in the hallway. He glanced upstairs.
“Sammy? Rose?” he called in a shaky voice.
No answer.
Aaron hurried to the front door and pulled it open. He found his friends sitting on the kerb, just past the small fence that surrounded the cottage. Aaron paused at the door, breathing in the cool night air. The calm breeze ruffled his hair, drying the remaining droplets of fear on his skin. Nevertheless, Aaron wiped at his face with his sleeve, making sure all signs of his nightmare were erased before walking down the path. He could see the lanterns floating over the table where most of the city’s residents were gathered, having dinner it seemed. Sam and Rose had evidently chosen not to join them. At the sound of his footsteps, Rose turned.
“Hey,” she smiled. “Feel better?”
Aaron didn’t answer but came to sit next to her. “Any news about my dad?” he asked instead.
“Yeah, he woke up,” Sam said. “I wouldn’t get too excited.” He held out a hand to stop Aaron from running to the Empath huts. “He wasn’t conscious for long. Michael said he opened his eyes, asked for you and then went under as soon as he found out you were okay.”
Aaron looked to the table, seeing his uncle talking with Mandara. He couldn’t spot Neriah. His mum wasn’t anywhere in sight either. He figured she would be by his dad’s side.
“I should go check on dad, just in case he’s awake.” Aaron said, getting up.
He left Sam and Rose sitting where they were and headed up the street. He ignored the quiet stares, passing the table with his eyes fixed firmly on the bend in the road, past which lay the Empath huts.
“It’s no use,” a voice called from behind him. Aaron turned to see Ella had left the table and followed him. “Your dad’s still out for the count.”
“How do you know?” Aaron asked.
Ella smiled. “I’ve had a few run-ins with Lycans myself,” she said. “It’s pretty usual to be knocked out for the first day or so.” Her eyes softened a little and she tilted her head to the side. “He’ll be okay. The Empaths are watching over him. You really don’t have to worry.”
Aaron nodded but his heart continued to sink with dread. Was it really common to be unconscious for this long after being attacked by a Lycan? He looked past Ella and his eyes found Skyler, seated at the table, a drink in his hand. A lantern floated overhead, illuminating his face. Aaron stared at him and a memory resurfaced – Skyler returning from a Q-Zone hunt, one that had Lycans as their prey. Skyler’s face had been scratched, Aaron still remembered it – three long cuts down his face. But a few days later, Skyler was back to normal, no sign of any injuries, no scarring – nothing but smooth, flawless skin.
But the detail that was sticking in Aaron’s mind was the fact that right after being scratched by a Lycan, Skyler had ridden back to Salvador on his bike. He had looked tired, yes – exhausted, actually – but he hadn’t looked to be in any kind of pain. He seemed perfectly able to walk back to his cottage. He wasn’t unconscious for an entire day. He wasn’t rushed to the Empaths of Salvador.
“Ella,” Aaron called, but his eyes were still on Skyler. “If it’s common to be knocked out after a Lycan attack, then how come Skyler wasn’t affected when he got scratched?”
Ella turned to look at Skyler. “’Cause Skyler is one lucky son of a Hunter,” she said, turning to face Aaron with a grin. “He has the love of an Empath.”
Aaron was confused. “What does that matter?”
“Oh it matters,” Ella said. “It matters a lot,” she chuckled. “You probably didn’t pick up on it, but Skyler and Armana are together.”
Aaron hadn’t in fact known that Salvador’s best, sweetest, kindest Empath was with the arrogant bully of a Hunter until he’d seen the two of them kissing.
“Empaths don’t usually sit in on Q-Zone hunts,” Ella explained, “but Armana insists on being there when Skyler goes on one. The rest of the Empaths come to support Armana.” Ella turned to look at Skyler. “That day, when Skyler got attacked, he was completely out. I was trying to reach him, to get him to Salvador, but I didn’t need to. Armana reached out for him, healed him from a distance. She drained the poison before it got hold of him, so Skyler got back up with a vengeance.” She smirked. “Those Lycans didn’t know what hit them.”
“How can Armana do that?” Aaron asked. “Doesn’t she need to physically touch him to heal him?”
Ella smiled. “They’re in love, Aaron,” she said. “They share a bond with each other, one that’s strong enough to let Armana reach Skyler when he’s far away from her. When you have that kind of a connection, you don’t need to be physically close to be together.”
Aaron stared at her before a smile forced its way across his tired face. He shook his head. “God, Ella. That’s the corniest thing I’ve heard.”
Ella shoved him playfully. “Only because you’re romantically stunted.”
“So I take it most Hunters hook up with Empaths?” Aaron asked. “For the added perks of healing from a distance?”
“Not every relationship works the same way,” Ella replied. “Skyler and Armana have an incredible bond, which is why Armana can reach him and help him. Not every Hunter and Empath bond would work like that.”
Aaron opened his mouth to make a joke about ‘true love’ when a flash lit up their surroundings. Ella and Aaron turned to see the Gate of Balt open, and a crowd of boys and girls entered the city. Aaron moved a step forward, trying to peer through the darkness to see what was going on. He wasn’t the only one.
Dinner was halted at the table. Every eye was on the newcomers. Aaron wasn’t sure but it looked like they were carrying something as they hurried past the threshold. When they came under the soft glow of the lanterns, Aaron saw it was a group of Hunters, and they weren’t carrying something – they were dragging someone.
Aaron couldn’t make out much over the distance and with the terrible light, just the long hair of the unconscious body supported by the Hunters. Chairs scraped the ground as the residents of Balt got up from the table, darting to the Hunters. Aaron and Ella were running too. The group must have returned from a hunt, bringing their injured back with them.
But it was as Aaron got closer that he realised two things didn’t fit with that analysis. One, the Hunters didn’t look worried for their injured comrade – in fact, they looked rather gleeful. Two, the young woman held tight by the Hunters wasn’t unconscious.
Aaron noticed the odd angle at which her arms were bent behind her. Her head
was dropped, her hair obscuring her face. She was struggling slightly, as if the strength to fight had long left her but the spirit hadn’t.
Everyone was crowded around the Hunters, staring at the captured woman. Even Sam and Rose had joined them, but not all of them were stunned speechless.
“What are you doing?” Ella demanded angrily.
The Hunters met her eyes with surprise. A tall blond boy at the forefront answered her. “We got lucky.” He grinned. “We’ve caught–”
“I don’t care what it is you’ve caught!” Ella snapped. “Kill the thing! Don’t bring it back with you.”
The imprisoned woman stilled before raising her head slightly. The lightest blue eyes peeked out from behind her curtain of dark red hair.
“Did you really deactivate the Glyph to get this thing past the Gate?” Skyler asked and Aaron turned to see the fury on him. He looked ready to blast the whole lot of the Hunters out of the Gate. Knowing Skyler, he would do it too – without opening the Gate first.
The Hunters visibly bristled at Skyler’s tone.
“We had to,” the same blond boy replied. “You don’t understand, she’s–”
“A vamage,” Ella interrupted, her expression one of disgust.
The young woman struggled, this time with a little more strength. The chain cuffing her hands behind her clinked. A muffled groan, faint and strained, left her. She reared her head up again before shaking it, throwing her hair away from her face. Aaron saw the metal muzzle tightly strapped over her mouth and jaw. Her pale blue eyes were narrowed at Ella, hatefully glaring at her.
“Actually, she’s not,” the blond Hunter said.
Everyone stared at him with surprise. The Hunter met Skyler’s gaze with a little apprehension but his excitement was clear to see in his smile.
“You know of her,” he said. “Probably heard many stories about her, like the rest of us. Considered the last of her species, the one who turned on her own kind and helped eradicate them. The one and only...” He trailed off on purpose, grinning and raising his eyebrows.