by Fletcher, MJ
“I know it’s weird but I got passed weird when I found out about my powers.”
“I can’t believe she would turn on the Guild, not to mention that she worked with other groups. She constantly preached that we couldn’t trust the others. She hated DS, I mean hated it.”
“I got that feeling when I first met her, though I don’t think it made a difference that I was connected to DS. She disliked me no matter what.”
“That’s because of your dad.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your mom and she were good friends, they went to Paladin together.”
“They did?” I shook my head trying to remember if I had ever met Ms. True before seeing her in school. I couldn’t recall anything, though I had thought her voice familiar as if perhaps I heard it in a dream. “I don’t remember meeting her.”
“She’s one of the Guild’s top people; she travels all over the world for them. I’m not sure how much your mom and True saw one another, but Gran told me that they were very close when they were younger. She’d been the one who informed us of Aunt Talia’s disappearance.”
Something clicked in my head and I reached out and tugged on the back of Jordan’s jacket. “Jordan, who told you about my grandmother and did that person suggest sending me to stay with her?”
“Ms. True,” he said without looking back or slowing down.
“She set us up,” Jess said.
“I was staying at my friend Val’s, why send me to Gran?”
“Is Val one of us?”
“No, Val is normal.”
“Then that’s why. If they attacked you at a normal person’s house they couldn’t hide their signatures. But by going after you at a Guilder’s house it could be passed off as any number of things. Ms. True sent you to Gran’s on purpose that bitch.”
“We owe her some payback.”
“Damn right,” Jess said.
We both turned silent after that lost in our thoughts.
We crossed into a set of large rooms each bigger than the last until finally in one room, on the far wall, stood a pair of large wooden doors. On either side stood guards, powered up, on edge, and ready for battle. They tensed even more when they saw us approach.
“Hold there!” One of the guards commanded as he walked toward us. Blue energy wrapped around his arm like a coiled snake waiting to attack.
“Is the council safe?” Jordan asked.
“Sir, what’s going on?” The guard relaxed when she recognized him.
“Help, they attacked me,” Jordan screeched and bolted before I could grab him.
The guard reacted without hesitation, letting loose with a blast of energy. I had no time to protect myself and I took the full hit. I sailed through the air and then crashed hard on the floor. Between a direct power blast hit and the force with which I landed, my entire body was one giant ache. I struggled to get to me knees, let alone my feet as the sounds of battled exploded around me. I caught a glimpse of Nightshade fighting the one guard while Jess fought the other. Slade was running after Jordan who was in a desperate flight to reach the large double doors.
Let’s see here, my whole body is in pain, all my plans have gone to hell, and I can’t imagine how this could get any worse. I want to add here that even giving this thought is asking for trouble. And I’m a complete idiot for doing so, since, of course, things were bound to worsen.
“What have we here?”
I shook my head, though not for long since it hurt too much.
Caleb Darker’s voice resonated throughout the massive room. He stood at a side entrance flanked on either side by numerous people all waiting his command. He surveyed the room, his eyes settling on me with a wicked grin. “Kill them all and bring me the artifact.”
The guards turned away from us and headed straight for Darker and his troop. I supposed they were trained to deal with the biggest threat, making us insignificant. I strained to get to my feet and then hobbled more than ran my body in too much pain to move any faster.
Slade had reached Jordan and had grabbed him by the back of the neck. He appeared to be yelling at him and pointing at the large set of doors. Jess and Nightshade both had the same idea as me as we all rushed to join Slade.
A multitude of energies exploded sounding like endless fireworks as the various fractions warred against each other.
An explosion ripped through the wall beside me and I stumbled losing my footing and smashed to the floor for the second time. I took a deep, energizing breath and tried to stand, but found my legs unsteady.
“Chloe!” Jessica yelled, looking over her shoulder at me and immediately turned and raced toward me.
I trembled, trying to deal with feeling like I’d just been beaten to a pulp. Finally, I stood on shaky legs, not sure if I could keep going. One step was all it took... I fell to my knees.
Jess’s hand slipped under my arm as she knelt beside me. “We have to go.” She let loose with a blast of energy at something behind us, though I couldn’t bring myself to look.
“I can’t stand.” Anger boiled up inside me. I was no quitter and I wasn’t about to start now. But my body refused to cooperate no matter how many commands I gave it.
“Watch out,” Nightshade ordered as he pushed passed Jess.
I hadn’t seen him following her but he must have been right behind her when I fell. His arm wrapped around my waist and his other looped under my knees and he scooped me up easily. He turned to Jess, shook his head and started running. Jess kept pace at his side. Every now and then she’d shoot a glance over her shoulder and let loose with a band of crimson energy.
I kept my eyes on James as he carried me. He remained focused, his eyes locked on the double doors as he ran. His kept a tight hold on me and I knew that no matter what happened, he wouldn’t let me go.
I dared to peek over his shoulder and saw that the battle continued to rage. Caleb locked energies with one of the guards while the other took on numerous people. Guards from around the library had joined their comrades making victory a stronger possibility. Some of Darker’s crew were breaking loose and giving chase. Jessica did her best to defend us, throwing energy and portals at them. But they continued to come.
It dawned on me that with Nightshade carrying me he was helpless to defend himself and yet here he was holding me, with no thought to his own safety. At that moment I had an epiphany... I was never going to understand James Nightshade no matter how hard I tried.
“Open the door,” Slade screamed in Jordan’s face as we approached and then shook him violently.
Slade turned our way and when he saw me in Nightshade’s arms his face drained of all color.
“Now!” Slade slammed Jordan into the doors so hard that they shook.
Jordan reached out with trembling hands and activated the ancient doorknob. It glowed brightly and power flowed from around the edges of the doors. They opened and Slade shoved Jordan inside, Nightshade followed with me in his arms.
As soon as we entered the sounds of battle disappeared. Jessica stepped in behind us and swung the door closed. The room was large like the one we had just left. The mosaic tile floor bore the symbols of each organization. Massive floor to ceiling windows made the clear starry night sky appear as if it were inside, not out while at the far back of the room sat a large raised table with eight chairs.
“Mr. Jordan, so glad you could rejoin us.” Mr. Tower my principal stepped out of the shadows his deep set eyes regarding each of us suspiciously.
“Gregory, these students attacked me,” Jordan accused, pointing at us as he rushed forward.
“Did they now?”
“Yes, it’s the Masters’ girl. I told you she was the cause of all this trouble.”
Another man stepped from the shadows. He was thin and wore wire rimmed glasses, his salt and pepper hair sprawled down his forehead into a widow’s peak and he looked at me with a warm smile. “Jordan, I very much doubt a young girl who recently came into her powers could generate
the amount of help from so many people with the intent of attacking the council.”
“You’re wrong, Jeremiah it is her. Why else would she be here?” Jordan said near hysterically, pointing at me and stomping his foot.
“We have a bigger problem than me,” I said as Nightshade eased me out of his arms to stand, though I kept hold of his arm to keep myself steady, my legs still wobbly. “There are people right outside that door trying to kill all of us and they’re going to be in here any second.”
“No need to worry, Ms. Masters, those doors can withstand almost any onslaught. For the moment I think we are quite safe. So I think we best resolve the matters at hand.” Mr. Tower walked to the dais, stepped up and took the main seat in the middle of the table.
Mr. Jordan scrambled up behind him and sat next to Tower. Jeremiah gave me a wink and joined them, taking the seat on Tower’s other side.
“I call to order the three hundred and twelfth Council of Others. We gather to hear the case against Chloe Masters as a traitor to her kind.” Mr. Tower slammed a small wooden gavel on the sound block and it resonated throughout the hall as if sounding my death toll.
Chapter 35
Status: So yeah, I’m on trial and the wolves are at the door.
“Are you freaking kidding me?” I shook my head and wanted to scream at the top of my lungs.
“This is no joke, Ms. Masters. A member of the council has made serious accusations against you and they must be answered.” Mr. Tower slid his glasses onto his hawk nose and peered down at me.
“There are people fighting for their lives on the other side of that door and you want to have some sham trial because this loser says I’m a traitor?” I tried to keep the anger out of my voice but it wasn’t easy.
Slade’s hand gripped mine and squeezed. He was sharing his strength, trying to help me stay calm. But I didn’t want to be calm right now, I was growing angrier by the second and I didn’t care anymore.
“Those guards have sworn their lives to this council, Ms. Masters, but once you crossed the threshold into this room you stepped out of time. What is happening on the other side of that door is in effect paused as the council convenes. I take that very seriously as I do the charges against you. Now let us begin.”
“You’re a bunch of old idiots. No wonder my dad didn’t care about getting kicked out. Who the hell would want to be a part of a group who would rather obey antiquated rules then do the right thing? I’d rather go down fighting.” I turned to leave and my body froze stiff. I couldn’t move, couldn’t do anything. It was as if a puppet master worked my strings, I was turned around to face the council. Crimson light wound around me and it was coming from Mr. Tower’s hand.
“You’ll do no such thing,” Mr. Towers commanded. “Until this matter is satisfied you will answer to us. Is that understood, Ms. Masters?”
I was stuck; I had no choice. I couldn’t see my friends, though I knew they were somewhere close to me. I wondered if they were unable to move as well.
“Fine,” I spat, my mouth being the only thing that worked.
“We have on record that you attacked members of the HVO causing the destruction of your grandmother’s house possible breaking and entering of the Paladin Academy, though that remains under investigation and finally attacking a member of this council. How do you respond to these charges?”
“I admit to everyone one of them.” I smiled at the council, Tower and Jeremiah both stared at me in shocked disbelief.
“I told you it was all her,” Jordan said as if my confession vindicated him.
“Quiet, Jordan,” Jeremiah snapped. “I’d like to hear what the young lady has to say.” He turned to me with a tilt of his head and a twinkle in his eye and asked, “Why?”
I let loose detailing everything that had happened since the attack at Gran’s house. Jordan grimaced whenever his name came up and even tried to cut me off but Mr. Tower silenced him with a stern look. I explained about Dad’s kidnapping and how Ms. True was a traitor and how Caleb Darker was the man chasing us and that he was inside the library this very minute.
“And you say you actually have the Legend?” Jeremiah asked after I described finding the artifact of the Mapmakers Union.
“Yes.”
“She’s lying!” Jordan shouted desperate to shut me up.
“If she is, it’s very easy to prove. Do you have the artifact with you?” Mr. Tower waved his hand releasing me from his controlling grip.
I sighed, relieved that my body was mine to control. “Yes I do.”
Jordan jumped from behind the table and rushed me. I tried to avoid him but I wasn’t fast enough. His hands wrapped around the cylinder on my back and ripped it off me. He jumped away from me and raised the plastic cylinder high over his head.
“Nobody make a move!”
Jordan was maniacal, his eyes shifting and darting around the room. The others had been released as well and stood beside me watching as Jordan slowly lost his mind.
“Jordan what are you doing?” Jeremiah came forward his eyes glued to the cylinder.
“This is that girl’s fault. She’s a liar just like her father and I won’t let her fool you with promises of artifacts that don’t exist.” He tossed the cylinder in the air and swung his hand up and blasted the plastic into a million pieces that rained down like confetti across the room.
“You fool!” Jeremiah stepped across the distance between them and punched Jordan twice in the face dropping him to the ground, his face a bloody mess. He spun looking at the small pieces of plastic and shook his head.
“She’s a liar, Jeremiah. There was no artifact. Her family is intent on ruining me,” Jordan screeched, his nose bleeding profusely.
“No, he’s wrong.” I reached into my pocket and activated my doorknob opening the seam I had made earlier and wrapped my fingers around the paper and brought it out. I held it up and Jeremiah turned to see it glowing in my hand.
“Is that what I think it is?” Jeremiah asked with a tremor in his voice.
I smiled and nodded. “You’re a Mapmaker aren’t you?”
“That obvious?”
“You actually remind me of my Mapmaker friend Edgar. I think this belongs to the Mapmakers.” I handed him the Legend that beamed like a beacon in the night as soon as his hands closed around it.
He sighed and grinned. “It is a true artifact of the First Kind.” He opened the Legend with tender care and his grin grew.
“No thwis ith all wong, she’s wying,” Jordan words were near incomprehensible, his broken nose making speech and breathing difficult.
“I believe now would be a good time to shut up, Mr. Jordan.” Tower walked down from the dais and stood next to Jeremiah eager to examine the artifact.
“Now what?” Slade whispered to me.
I shrugged unsure of what to expect and still having no idea how we were going to get out of the library safely. Slade rejoined the others as Mr. Tower and Jeremiah approached me.
“Chloe, you have the gratitude of the entire Mapmakers Union for returning to us an artifact of the First Kind.” Jeremiah offered me his hand, and I gladly shook it.
“In light of this discovery I think we can safely assume, Ms. Masters, that you’ve been telling the truth,” Tower said. “While I don’t agree with the choices you made and the action you took, I can understand why you chose not to seek the council’s help in this matter.” Tower turned to Jordan with pure disdain in his eyes.
“What do we do now?” I was happy to finally be able to ask someone else that for once. The decision was out of my hands. All I wanted was for things to return to what passed for normal in my crazy ass life.
“For the moment we’re safe as the room is time locked so that the battle outside is as I said earlier, paused. Jeremiah and I will discuss our options and come up with our next course of action. You’ve done very well for one so young and untrained.” Tower arched his eyebrow slightly as he regarded me with a questioning glance and then walked
away to talking with Jeremiah.
Jordan was sitting on the floor rocking back and forth one arm curled around his knees while he tried to stop his nose from bleeding with his tie.
“Well?” Jessica asked as I came to stand beside her.
“They’re coming up with a plan.”
“What? They don’t want you to devise a plan?” Nightshade teased and I couldn’t help but laugh. Jessica and Slade both joined in and for a moment, tension faded while we simply enjoyed ourselves.
“I guess my plans do tend to go a little haywire.” I punched James in the shoulder playfully.
“A little?” Warn me next time you have one, Masters so that I can be out of the country.”
“Very funny.” I gave him my best annoyed face and felt Slade ease up behind me, his arms slipping around my waist. Nightshade’s eyes lingered on Slade’s territorial hold, then he abruptly turned away and Jessica and he walked off leaving the two of us alone.
“Looks like we’ll be getting out of this soon,” he whispered
I could feel the unasked question behind the comment but chose to ignore it. “Yeah, I guess we will.”
He didn’t. “So what does that mean for us?”
The haunting question I had been mulling over for some time now and the one I still wasn’t sure how to answer. “What do you want it to mean?”
“You know what I want, Chloe.” He turned me around to face him, his hands resting on my waist.
“You see how crazy my life is; somehow I don’t think it’ll be getting any easier.”
“I don’t care; I still want to be together.” He rested his brow against mine. “I care about you.”
I couldn’t bring myself to look up at him, so I looked to the side. Jess and James stood chatting, paying no attention to us. Nightshade never sent one glance our way.
“I care about you too,” I finally said. “I’m just not very good at relationships.”
“I’ll take that chance.” He smiled and pulled me closer.
“Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” I wanted to make sure he understood that I couldn’t promise anything, couldn’t be certain that I wouldn’t mess things up before they even got started. Had he listened, understood or maybe he really was willing to take a chance on me since he lifted me too him and planted a mind-numbing kiss on me.