by Dawn Peers
“I can’t do that. Quinn is a good person.”
Eden looked over to Quinn. She was unconscious still, prone, so vulnerable if he was going to attack her now. Of course, this would be the only time he’d manage to win—if Quinn woke up, spoke to him, or even got a glimmer of a chance to use her ability, then Eden would be defeated. He knew that. But…why did he want to hurt her again? He loved Quinn. He reminded himself of that, repeating it to himself under his breath. Bile rose in his throat. He was going to be sick.
The girl frowned at him. She was unhappy. “You have to kill her!”
Her voice was croaky, broken, but insistent and incredibly angry. Her insistence forced another bilious wave to crest over Eden’s body, and this time he did retch. Liquid splashed over the stones. The girl scooted out of the way before she was splashed. Eden wiped at his mouth with his sleeve. What was happening to him? What was she doing to him?
“You’re the one that helps Sammah.”
Even admitting the words causing a throbbing pain to surge through his temples. He was fighting, trying to climb up a waterfall against the force of the falling water. Neyv screamed at him. Blood burst from his nose, dripping down his chin. She was forcing him to believe her. She was trying to force him to kill Quinn. This had happened to Vance. This was how Sammah had taken the throne. He couldn’t let her take his mind—he couldn’t submit. If he did, Quinn would be dead.
* * *
Quinn stirred to the sound of vomiting. She looked across, her blurred vision clearing, to see Eden heaving his guts out near the body of Neyv. The girl was squinting at him, a spiteful line to her lips. Quinn felt out, and recoiled at the horrible spoil of emotions she felt tumbling from the little girl. How had she gotten so bitter? Why had Quinn thought she could be helped? Sammah had twisted her into an isolated, bitter and resentful child. Her selfish motives were naked now. Like Sammah, Quinn could feel there was no stopping her.
Or was there?
She leaned against the hatred. The only counter-emotion Quinn could feel for Neyv, was pity. She tried to remember the little girl that she’d ignored growing up. Quinn should have been there for her more. Maertn, too, but their relationship had already been established, their group closed, when Neyv came along. The situation was perfect for Sammah’s manipulation—they would not remember and not care about Neyv, and it would enable Sammah to keep the girl all for himself.
Quinn had thought that she’d been lonely growing up, and she’d still had a brother. Her reliance on Sammah had been almost irrevocable. If they’d opened up to Neyv, acknowledged her as part of their world, would she be just like this still?
The more she dwelled on how they’d effectively abandoned Neyv to take the brunt of Sammah’s abuse, the stronger Quinn’s empathy grew. She had to help Neyv. Without her, if she wasn’t stopped, then she’d just grow to become completely obsessed with using her power to control others. Quinn had stopped herself from doing it—had hated being the Satori. Neyv knew nothing else.
“Please Neyv, let me help you.”
Neyv screamed again, this time unleashing her fury on Quinn. Quinn felt it hit her, a hot wave of anger that she didn’t need an empathic ability to feel. She hardened herself against it, but even with Quinn’s age and strength, it rocked her. Eden screamed again. Quinn had to stop Neyv, soon, otherwise Eden and the others around her would be killed. What had happened to Shiver and Sammah? Quinn tried again.
“It doesn’t have to be like this Neyv. You don’t have to let Sammah rule your life.”
“He isn’t! You are!”
“I’m not doing this to you, Neyv.”
“You are!” Tears blistered Neyv’s cheeks. Quinn crawled over to her, trying to close the distance between them. Quinn was hoping that the more Neyv concentrated on Quinn, the less inclined she would be to influence the men left around her. The girl didn’t even know how strong she could be. Everything she was saying, would be affecting the people around her. Quinn had to turn this conversation around.
“It’s Sammah. It’s the way he’s brought you up, Neyv. I know—he tried to do it to me, too. Let me help you!”
“I tried! You were going to die, Quinn. That would have helped me.”
Quinn yelped as a hand closed around her calf. She twisted and saw Eden, blood seeping from his eyes like tears of death, beseeching her.
“She’s wrong, Quinn. I know she’s wrong. She’s hurting me. Please, stop her.”
Neyv was killing Eden. Eden knew that her words were a lie, but Neyv’s ability was twisting his brain, making him believe everything Neyv was saying. He was fighting it, but the battle was killing him. Eden wasn’t gifted; if Neyv carried on, Eden would die.
Quinn pushed back, using her own gift as a buffer against Neyv’s. She was starting to get angry at what Neyv was doing, but in this situation she couldn’t fight anger with anger. The emotions would bloom, and Quinn feared that their combined efforts to defeat each other would have devastating consequences on everyone around them. Empathy was the best weapon Quinn had. Scraping together every ounce of pity, scouring her mind for every memory she had of Neyv, their scant childhood together and, more importantly, the years they both definitely spent under Sammah’s yoke, Quinn pushed back.
Neyv faltered. Quinn felt the pressure of the girl’s power drop. She pushed harder, and this time it was Neyv’s turn to squeal in panic. She wasn’t in pain. Quinn could tell it was more shock at the rebellion, at feeling someone else’s mind grate against hers. Quinn crawled closer, feeling out for Neyv’s hand and taking it in hers.
“No one else wanted to hurt you, Neyv. It was all Sammah’s doing. He has used us both, for all of our lives. I’m not your enemy. He’s made you think it, but really, he just takes what he wants. When he has the throne, and when he’s defeated his brother, he’ll kill us both.”
Neyv began to sob, and her influence dropped completely out of the room. Quinn’s power was extinguishing the fight in her, and now the emotions Quinn was forcing on her had started to overwhelm her mind.
“I don’t want to feel like this, Quinn. Everything he says sounds true. Who am I meant to believe?”
“Who do you think is right, Neyv?”
“I don’t know!”
Neyv hid her head in her hands, sobs overwhelming her body. Eden had gone silent. Quinn carried on stroking Neyv’s hand to keep contact with the girl whilst she sought out her lover. Eden was lying prone. He was still, but Quinn could see his chest rising and falling; he was still breathing at least. If Eden was safe from Neyv for now, Quinn had to make sure that everyone in the future would be protected from her devastatingly invasive ability.
“Only you can decide who’s right, Neyv.”
“But whenever I tell someone something, they believe it! It used to be easy. Father told me to say things, and those things were true. I always believed what he wanted. Then you came back, and you didn’t believe me all the time. You could remember me. No one remembers me, Quinn.”
“There are ways to control yourself, Neyv. We can learn. Together, we can help you. I won’t forget you now. I know you. I’m not safe from your ability, but I can resist it. I’m stronger than other people around you. You can learn not to use it on everyone, like I learned how to stop everyone from getting into my head. You can have peace. Do you believe that?”
Neyv nodded, sniffing and peeking at Quinn through the one hand she had covering her face. “I want to. I don’t want to be like this. I want to know people.”
“Together, Neyv. We can help you. But first, we need to kill our father.”
* * *
Sammah staggered through the corridors. He was trying to ignore his heavy legs. If he stopped running, Shiver would catch him. Sammah’s only hope now was to get to his rooms and the safety of Elias, though Sammah feared that even that man’s mighty swing might not be enough to defend him against the vengeance of the king.
He shouldn’t have attacked Neyv. The girl was near useless to him
unconscious, and Quinn had been just as bad. Together, their combined abilities might have been enough to win him the ruling seat of both lands. Without them, with no armed men at his back, Sammah was rapidly, and nearly fatally, reminded of just how weak he was. He couldn’t fight, nor could he combat Shiver with an ability of his own.
Apaths within the shores of Sha’sek caused fear wherever they went. The reason was simple; they were practically immune to most of the aggressive abilities. Anything that touched the mind or changed the environment, did nothing to an apath. To Sammah, Rhi was just another singer, no more or less talented than the drunkards that warbled in taverns. Neyv was just a simple child; Quinn a petulant teenager. Yes, he was aware that sometimes people were capable of growing stronger than he, therefore Sammah was put at risk. Nerren had been a danger to him, which is why in the end, he’d needed to die too.
If Sammah had managed to evade and defeat the empath who had caused the Empath Wars, then he couldn’t die at the hands of his two adoptive daughters. Even worse, he couldn’t let himself be run through by a mere mortal. Shiver might proclaim himself king, but the man was nothing special. He was nothing compared to Sammah and his kind.
“You’ve got nowhere to go, Sammah! Turn around and face me like a man!”
Shiver wasn’t going to stop pursuing him, Sammah knew that. Sammah wasn’t going to beat him in a swordfight. He’d get to Elias’s protection, and whilst Shiver was preoccupied with his final bodyguard, then he’d make a run for the courtyard. His only chance now was to get onto a mount and through the besieging army before they realised who was trying to escape. It was a slim chance. He needed Neyv, really, for the ruse to have any chance of working.
“Stop, you coward!”
Sammah didn’t waste any of his breath replying—he couldn’t have even if he’d wanted to. He wasn’t sure that he had the lungs to make it to his rooms, but he was going to try. They weren’t far. He still stood a chance.
* * *
“The last news from Everfell, is that the King Shiver has laid siege to the city. There is very little by way of resistance from Sammah. He still had his skilled within the city walls, but it remains to be seen whether or not he’s able to use them for his own ends.”
“Your calculations appear to be correct, then?”
“Mostly. I was hoping for more conflict. It seems that Shiver is going to escape this with most of his armies intact.”
“What is your plan next?”
“We have to see what Shiver decides to do next, and whether any of our own make it out of Everfell alive. It still isn’t our fight.”
“And if he chooses to attack us? They have a fleet in Kahnel.”
“Not enough to be a threat. We will have years to prepare, even if Shiver does elect to be stupid enough to attack us within the islands of Sha’sek.”
“What alternatives do we have?”
Pax didn’t like this. He wasn’t used to having his judgements questioned. Despite the fact that the situation in Everfell was panning out largely as he’d predicted it, they were starting to doubt him. There was no alternative.
“If you mean our attacking first, I have not considered that as a possibility. We don’t have enough fighters. We haven’t prepared. Tarik is lost, and we’d need to gather our swordmasters together. When was the last time anyone saw Under? If you want Sha’sek to be the aggressors in this, then we need to change our mindset.”
“We have been guided by you this far, Pax. It is you who has dictated the pace of our development and we have trusted you this far. If you say that we should remain in Sha’sek and monitor the situation, then we can continue to do so.”
“It is still the best way. Just because Shiver is the king, does not mean he has the power. Everfell will be in a state of chaos whilst they recover from everything Sammah has done to them. We will still have a long time to consider our battle plans. We do not need to change our course. Vote. Disband the council in Farn until such a time as we are needed again.”
Eight hands went up in Pax’s favour. It would be enough, for now.
* * *
The mercenaries were all dead. Quinn made sure of this, before dragging Eden to the far wall of the cavern and propping him up in a sitting position. His tunic was soaked with sweat and vomit. Neyv helped, though her thin arms didn’t do much as they both struggled to move his bulk to somewhere safe. Quinn cushioned the back of his head, making sure it rested safely against the rocks. She didn’t want him sliding around, hurting himself in his stupor. She wiped with her sleeve at the blood caking his cheeks and chin, just to reassure herself he wasn’t mortally wounded.
“Quinn?”
“Hush Eden, you’ve been hurt. You need to rest.”
His eyes fluttered open. “Where am I?”
“You’re in Everfell, in the springs.”
“Who hurt me?”
Quinn’s eyes drifted to Neyv. “Sammah did.”
Eden nodded, not disputing this. “Where’s…my father?”
Quinn didn’t know, but she could make a solid guess. “We’re going to find him. We think he’s going after Sammah.”
Eden struggled to get up. He might have been weak and half-awake, but Quinn still struggled to hold him down. “No, Eden, you need to stay here. You can’t come with us.”
“I need to fight with my father.”
“You need to stay down here, otherwise you’ll get yourself killed.”
The fight burst out of Eden, and he flopped back to the stones. Quinn hadn’t been telling the full truth—she had no idea whether or not Eden would die if he followed her—but it had been a safe assumption, and Neyv’s ability had stretched to fill the gap. Quinn felt for his mind. She could feel it pulsing—the concern there, and the pain. This had to end.
“Is he okay?”
Neyv sounded concerned. Quinn grabbed out for her, squeezing her hand again, the way an older sister should comfort her younger sister. “He’ll be fine. He’s been through worse than this.”
“Are you sure? He looks terrible. I caused that, didn’t I?”
“It wasn’t your fault, Neyv. I told you, it’s Sammah that’s made you like this. We can change it.”
“Won’t he hate me?”
Quinn smiled. “I’m not sure Eden’s capable of hating anyone.”
“I wish that was an ability. I bet a person with that ability has an amazing life.”
“I think anyone forced to like everybody would have just as horrid a time of things as us, Neyv. We make our lives good by making the best of what we have, not by wishing we had what other people have got.”
“What are we going to do when we find Sammah?”
“We have to stop him.”
“But…how?”
It was a good question, and Quinn hadn’t actually considered how she would do it, she’d been so focused on the task itself. Maybe Shiver was closing down on him now. Perhaps the king would already have his blade through the baron before they got there. Then what would Shiver do? Quinn and Neyv would definitely have to use their combined abilities to defend themselves, if they came across an angry king with a blooded sword and his anti-Sha’sek agenda.
Quinn picked up Eden’s sword. “I can use this.” Neyv didn’t look convinced. Quinn tried a toothy smile, which wasn’t received well. “We’ll do what we can. If all else fails, there are two of us and one of him.”
Working together for the first time, Neyv and Quinn ran the halls of Everfell. Quinn revelled in the feeling that she was helping the little girl. She should have done this years before—if she had, they might not have even been in this situation. Well, Neyv had an older sister now. Quinn wasn’t going to let her down. Eden was safe; now they just needed to make Everfell safe for everyone else.
When Sammah was gone, Quinn would go too. Shiver would rule this place. Quinn didn’t want any further part in the politics of these men. She would take Neyv with her. Once they were safe, Quinn would take Eden’s advice. They would go a
nd hide together on an isolated Sha’sekian island and make their own way in life, without anyone trying to tell them who or what they were to be.
First, they had to find Sammah. They were running for his suites. It was the only place Sammah could go, Quinn reasoned. Shiver’s armies were still camped outside the city—he wouldn’t be able to just run. Where else could he leave the city? Everfell was enclosed on most sides. He’d have to try to sneak out. Neyv could help him do that. Quinn skidded to a stop, pushing her little sister to one side.
“I don’t think you should come with me Neyv.”
The girl looked hurt. “We’re doing this together Quinn, you said.”
“Sammah will still try to use you…I think you’re the only way he can get out of Everfell alive. We can’t let him do that.”
“By telling people, when I’m there, that we need to let him go?”
Quinn nodded. “Exactly.”
“But you can see through that. You’ll be able to stop him, still. I can’t get through to you Quinn, not when you don’t want me to. You wanted to lose your power. You thought it would be a better way for you to live, so it was an easy lie. You don’t want Sammah to survive. So you’ll be able to resist me.”
Quinn didn’t like the risk. Was Neyv telling her the truth, or was it something Quinn desired, so like Neyv had already said, it would be that much easier for her to cooperate? Quinn was getting confused. There was no pressure though, like she’d experienced before when Neyv’s untruths had tried to warp the real world around her. Neyv just wanted to help, and knew that Quinn would be there to show her the way.
Could she leave Neyv behind? Again?
“Come on.”