by SF Mazhar
Aaron stood next to Ella in silence, waiting for everyone to assemble. Ella’s bike stood to the side, ready for her to mount and take off with Aaron. Across the road, Ryan waited with his bike. Kate stood next to him but her eyes were glued to Aaron, watching him, silently pleading with him to change his mind. Aaron kept his eyes firmly away from hers. If it wasn’t such an important mission, one that needed every Hunter, Aaron was certain his mum would’ve argued with Neriah until he agreed to leave Aaron behind.
Aaron spotted Neriah walking through the crowd, heading towards him. Peeking out from behind Neriah’s shoulder was the hilt of a sword. Aaron didn’t even have to see the rest of it to figure out it was the Blade of Afton.
Neriah walked up to Aaron but his eyes were on his niece. “Any sign of him?” he asked.
Ella’s expression clouded with pain. She shook her head. “No,” she replied quietly. “He hasn’t come back since the funeral. I don’t know where Skyler is.”
Neriah didn’t say anything, but Aaron could see sorrow in his expression. He nodded before scanning the crowd. “Another few minutes, then we must leave.”
Neriah walked away. Aaron watched him go, his eyes on the magnificent sword slung on Neriah’s back. Like the Blades of Adams and Avira, the Blade of Afton too had engravings along the gleaming silver. Neriah passed by Mary, who was standing to the side. Next to her were Sam and Rose. Aaron hadn’t spoken much to either of them in the past few days, but he could see the worry in their eyes as they stared at him. Finally, Rose broke and ran towards him. Aaron moved too, making his way through the crowd to get closer.
Rose threw her arms around him, clinging to his neck.
“Please don’t go,” she whispered. “Don’t go, Aaron. You’ll get hurt.”
Aaron pulled her away. “I need to do this,” he said. “I have to help get the Hub back.”
Rose’s eyes were already welling with tears. She looked downright terrified. “You’re going into Hadrian’s zone,” she stressed. “It’s too dangerous.”
Aaron smiled. “Are you channelling my mum?” he asked. “She said the same thing, word for word.”
Rose held on to his hands. “Listen to her,” she pleaded. “I’ve got a bad feeling, Aaron. I don’t want you to go.”
Aaron gave her hands a tight squeeze. “I’m going to say to you what I told her – I’m not sitting this one out. I’m fighting against Hadrian. I’m getting the Hub back.”
Rose dropped her head and Aaron moved in to hug her again. He looked over her shoulder at Sam. It was clearly taking all he had to stay where he was and not come running like Rose. Aaron gave him a small smile and moved back. He left Rose and went back to Ella, who was getting ready to mount her bike. The Gate flashed and opened under Neriah’s command.
***
The roar of the bikes filled the air as Neriah led the way, speeding through the forest on his liquid-blue Ducati Panigale motorbike. Aaron was seated behind Ella, holding on as she raced after her uncle, the rest of the Hunters behind them.
They went further than Aaron had ever been before. Usually, Scott had a portal ready and waiting in the middle of the forest to take them wherever they wanted to go. Now they had no choice but to travel the whole way across the zone to get to the next one.
They rode for what felt like hours. Eventually Aaron saw the trees thinning ahead. They came out of the forest onto a stretch of dry, sand-covered ground. The bright sunlight blinded all of them until their eyes adjusted from the dark woods they had left behind. Neriah slowed to a stop, halting the Hunters behind him.
For a moment, Neriah did nothing but scan his surroundings. There didn’t appear to be anything there but sun and sand. Neriah revved his bike and turned, heading to his left. He took off and the Hunters followed in pursuit. Their bikes kicked up flurries of sand and dirt, which meant they couldn’t follow directly behind each other. They spread out. Ella kicked her bike up a gear and raced to Neriah’s right. They kept going until they saw a dark shape ahead of them. Aaron tried to make out what it was, but the sand was stinging his eyes.
It turned out it was nothing more than large rocks – a cluster of them, some boulders as tall as Aaron. Neriah came to a stop and dismounted his bike. Ella and the others followed his example. Aaron’s legs had become stiff after sitting on the bike for so long. He stretched them as discretely as he could. Stepping past Ella, Aaron peered at what lay beyond the rocks: a steep hill leading the way down to more dry, sand-covered ground. Loose rocks sat on the surface. He pulled back to find his mum by his side.
“The path ahead is uneven. We should go on foot from here,” Neriah instructed. “Stay ready. You don’t know what we might find.”
Guns clicked in response. Aaron saw the pistol in his mum’s hand but refrained from taking out his own…yet. Neriah made his way past the rocks and down the hill. The other mages followed after him, carefully picking their way down the sharp slope. Aaron barely managed to get to the bottom without slipping and rolling the entire way.
The Hunters walked in tense silence, following Neriah, weapons clutched in hands. Aaron looked around, but he couldn’t see any signs of a Gateway, or even a Gate. All that met his eye was more barren land. Then it occurred to him – they were going to one of Hadrian’s zones. Everyone knew that Hadrian didn’t use Gates. That’s why elemental energy leaked out into the human realm through the tears and caused so much destruction, which the humans mistook as brutal acts of nature.
It was only Kyran who had argued that the nine zones they had were all Gated, that he himself had put them up.
Just as the thought came to Aaron, he spotted a glow in the far distance. As they moved closer, Aaron realised what it was. A Gate. A towering mass of glittering light. There was no Gateway to this Gate. It was just sitting there in the open, like the Gates that protected the Blades of Aric.
The Hunters shared looks, staring wide-eyed at the Gate, surprised at its presence. Ella turned to Neriah, looking as if she was about to start demanding explanations. Neriah didn’t say a word, and continued walking towards the Gate. They finally reached it. Neriah stepped closer, examining the glowing white tower.
“Neriah?” Ryan called. “What’s going on? How can one of our Gates be out here?”
“It’s not one of ours,” Neriah replied. “It’s almost an exact replica, though.” He stared at the Gate before a small smile came to him. “Looks like Hadrian taught Kyran well.”
Aaron felt his mum tense beside him, but she didn’t say anything.
“Kyran?” Ella asked. “He set this up?”
“He’s the only one who could,” Neriah replied.
“How are we getting in?” Zhi-Jiya asked.
Neriah turned to look at her. “It’s a Gate,” he said. “It won’t be warded against mages.” He faced the towering door again. “Not unless Hadrian wants to lock out his so-called son too.”
He reached out and touched the shiny surface. He didn’t have to say his name. With a flash, the Gate slid open. Aaron saw more of the dry, sand-covered land waiting for them beyond the Gate.
Neriah was about to lead the way in when Ella cried, “Neriah, wait!” She hurried to his side, her eyes wide and filled with unease. “This doesn’t feel right,” she said. “The Hub being kept here, right next door? Having a Gate that will let us through? It’s too easy.” She shook her head. “This feels like a trap.”
“Smart girl,” a voice said.
Everyone turned, their guns raised and aimed. Daniel Machado appeared before them from a swirl of mist. He smirked at Neriah, his glittery blue eyes alight with mirth. In the space of a heartbeat, large clouds fell to the ground, surrounding the Hunters. Countless vamages appeared out of the fog, guns clutched in hands and vicious, gleeful smiles on their faces.
“A trap is exactly what this is,” Machado said.
The vamages moved in, tightening their circle. They motioned for the Hunters to walk through the open Gate. The Hunters didn’t move. Neriah
was watching Machado. The right-hand vamage of Hadrian waved a hand and stepped aside.
“Please,” he said. “Do come in.”
Aaron knew Neriah had seen how many vamages had appeared and surrounded them. They were outnumbered. Resisting would only get them killed that much faster. But as he watched, his heart going a thousand miles a minute, he was certain Neriah was going to fight back. To his surprise, Neriah walked in, head held high.
The Hunters, with their guns and swords still clutched in hand, followed after their leader. Machado stood like a mockery of a host, greeting each one as they passed by him. Neriah led the way across the barren land, until the last of the Hunters passed the threshold. Then the Gate closed with a resounding click.
A cloud, thick and pulsing, shot across the sky before hitting the ground before Neriah. It kicked up a mighty sandstorm. A man appeared within it, but it was only when the dust settled that Aaron and the others saw who it was.
Dark-haired and just as handsome as Aaron had witnessed in the memories and dreams, he didn’t seem to have aged much in the last sixteen years. Hazel eyes, speckled with gold, ignored the rest of the Hunters, focusing only on Neriah.
Hadrian bared his teeth in a dazzling smile. “Neriah,” he said in greeting.
Neriah bristled, like the sound of Hadrian’s voice was physically painful. He didn’t say anything.
Hadrian chuckled. “You’re so damn predictable,” he said. “Out of all my zones, I knew you would think this one would hold the Hub.” He held Neriah’s eyes and tilted his head. “If it makes you feel any better, this zone would’ve been the one to hold the Hub, if I didn’t know you’d suspect it.” He shook his head. “I guess that goes to show how well we know each other. Well, how well I know you.”
Neriah held his silence. He stood with fists clenched at his side. Hadrian’s gaze trailed leisurely through the crowd of Hunters. When it came to Aaron, Hadrian paused, but for no more than a heartbeat. He looked past him, giving Kate an almost smile.
“So many familiar faces,” he said. “But what happened to you, Neriah? You haven’t aged well.” His eyes glinted. “What’s the matter? Have the last sixteen years been tough on you?”
Neriah, for some reason, still remained quiet. Hadrian looked to Ella and paused. His expression changed. He looked genuinely surprised and awed.
“Don’t tell me this is little Ella?” Hadrian laughed, turning to her. “You’re all grown up.”
Ella had her gun aimed at him from the moment he had appeared. “Yeah” she said. “Sixteen years do that to you.”
“Not to everyone,” Hadrian corrected.
Ella snorted. “Let me rephrase that – sixteen years do that to those without a tainted soul.”
Hadrian smiled. “You’re very much like your mother,” he said, with something akin to fondness.
In the blink of an eye, his hand had lifted and Ella was yanked forward, landing straight in Hadrian’s arms. Neriah was pulled out of his shocked stupor, but it was too late. Hadrian had Ella turned around, one hand wrapped around her neck, the other restraining the wrist that held her gun.
Aaron felt like his heart had stopped. He watched helplessly as Hadrian used a struggling Ella as a shield, but that didn’t stop the Hunters from taking aim. The surrounding vamages clicked their guns in warning. No one fired. The Hunters watched in horror as Hadrian kept Ella in a chokehold, his eyes fast turning to a golden hazel, but never moving from Neriah.
“This must be like déjà vu for you, huh, Neriah?” Hadrian asked.
Neriah took a single step, holding out a hand. “Don’t,” he said, his voice not much more than a whisper. “Just let her go.”
“She looks very much like Lily, doesn’t she?” Hadrian asked, tightening his grip, making Ella grimace and pause in her fight to get free. “Talks like her, too. Don’t you think she should die like her mother did?”
“Hadrian.” Neriah’s booming voice was panicking. “Don’t.”
Hadrian’s eyes were a shade of liquid amber. He dipped his head to whisper into Ella’s ear. “Like I said, déjà vu.” His voice carried, so everyone could hear him. “Those were the same words he begged the day I killed your mother.”
Ella’s struggles ceased. Her eyes widened. “No,” she managed to gasp. “Lycans...killed...her!”
Hadrian pulled back, looking thrown. His gaze darted to Neriah before the lines on his brow disappeared. He let out a breath of laughter.
“You never told her?” he asked.
Neriah didn’t reply.
“What’s the matter, Neriah?” Hadrian called. “Afraid the truth wouldn’t show you in a perfect light?” His fingers dug into Ella’s skin as he pulled her close to speak in her ear again. “Your uncle lied to you,” he told her softly. “Your mother wasn’t killed by Lycans. I killed her. I held Lily, just like I’m holding you today, before snapping her neck.”
Ella looked to Neriah, holding his gaze. Tears welled in her eyes as she silently asked him if it was true.
Neriah didn’t say anything, but his drooped shoulders, clenched fists and curved back told everyone he was breaking at the revelation. Ella’s stare didn’t move from her uncle, the only family she had – the man who’d brought her up, loved her like a daughter, and also lied to her about how her mother had died. Ella closed her eyes, spilling drops down her cheeks. She tried to get out of Hadrian’s hold, but he wasn’t letting go.
“Don’t you want to know why I killed her?” Hadrian asked, his voice trembling with anger. His eyes darted to Neriah once more. “It’s all due to your uncle,” he said. “Lily’s blood is on his hands.”
“You’re right,” Neriah said and Ella stopped in her struggles, staring at him with an open mouth. The Hunters, including Aaron, were left shell-shocked at Neriah’s confession. “Lily’s blood is on my hands. I let her die.” Neriah took a step closer. “I let all of them die, because I refused to kill you.”
Hadrian gritted his teeth, but didn’t speak.
“I should’ve killed you when I had the chance,” Neriah continued. “If I had, I would have saved all the lives you’ve destroyed. So yes, every death at your hand, every family left devastated because of you, all that pain and loss is my fault, because I let you live!”
The fury on Hadrian’s face was frightening. His eyes were glowing gold, his face taut with anger, jaw clenched. “You let me live?” he asked. “Is that what that was?” His grip on Ella must have tightened, because her face contorted with pain, her free hand scratched desperately at Hadrian’s fingers. Hadrian barely seemed to notice. “What you did was worse than any death,” he said to Neriah. “You should have just killed me – that would have been more merciful than locking my core.”
Neriah straightened up to stand tall. “I guess it’s the day to rectify mistakes.”
The ground suddenly shook. A ripple tore through the ground, coming blindingly fast at Hadrian from the right. It hit him and Hadrian fell sideways, taking Ella with him. The surprise knocked his grip loose, only for a heartbeat, but it was all Ella needed. She rolled away from Hadrian, before crouching on all fours.
Out of the very ground, countless mages sprung up, spraying sand every which way. They grabbed the vamages from behind, holding the barrel of their guns to the vamages’ temples before instructing them to drop their weapons. The vamages did so without protest. They wouldn’t die if the mages shot them, but none of them wanted bullets in their heads. The excruciating pain would slow them down in the fight.
Aaron, along with the rest of the Hunters, stared in a moment of dumb confusion. The mages who had leapt out from the ground had sand and dirt stuck to their skin, sitting thickly in their hair, making it difficult to see who they were. But the one that had Machado in his grip was very familiar.
“Uncle Mike?” Aaron whispered in recognition.
Blue eyes twinkled at him and Aaron made out his uncle’s grinning face behind all the sand.
Aaron looked through the sand-cove
red mages again, picking out Patrick Sweeney. Parts of his white robes were visible through the sand. Some of the other mages were dressed in robes too, a few blue, some green, but mostly white. Then it hit Aaron. Lurkers. They were Lurkers.
Attention quickly shifted from the Hunters and Lurkers who had come to the rescue, to Hadrian, who sat up like a wounded animal. The ripple that had thrown him to the ground led from him, all the way back to a furious Chris. Aaron stared at his dad with surprise, and a little awe. He looked undeniably fearsome – his bright green eyes fixed on Hadrian, his hands curled into fists as grains of sand crawled down the length of his body to pool on the ground.
Hadrian looked away from Chris, to find Neriah had stepped before Ella and was now looking down on him.
Neriah smiled. “I guess I know you pretty damn well.”
Hadrian glowered. Neriah had played him. Neriah had known this was a trap, so he had Hunters and Lurkers already waiting in hiding, to flip the tables on him. The gold of Hadrian’s eyes came alive and the ground lit up with fire.
Neriah leapt back, pulling Ella with him. Fire rolled like a wave, heading towards the Hunters. Neriah reached behind him and pulled out his sword – the Blade of Afton. The engravings on the sword shimmered an electric blue. With a mighty swing, Neriah brought forth a crashing wave of water that swallowed the flames.
The vamages, taking advantage of the distraction, attacked the Hunters and Lurkers holding them at gunpoint. Hadrian was back on his feet and sent a stream of fire that zig-zagged across the ground, spreading out in every direction. The mages and vamages broke into battle, with the flames licking at their feet. Aaron threw his own ripple at two approaching vamages, knocking them back. Kate pulled Aaron behind her, shielding him as she took care of the vamages, using her gun and her powers to keep them away.
Fire shot through the air at the slightest twitch of Hadrian’s fingers. Neriah was fighting the flames, his Blade taking out most of whatever Hadrian conjured. Even so, at one point, it looked as if the sky was raining fire. Everything from fireballs to streaks of lightning fell on the Hunters.