by Day Leitao
Boom. The walls of the lift collapsed outwards, as well as the ceiling blocking Diane and Mael. The creatures were thrown far from them. Karina understood the explosion better, it was as if she pushed air outwards. Still, pushing the walls of the lift had been good, as some shards hit some of those creatures, who fell on the floor, hurt or dead. Karina crawled to the front, near Mael and Diane. Perhaps Karina could do this explosion thing while they walked, and they could go back to the bridge and rejoin the others. But no, Mael couldn’t walk. They’d need to wait for help.
Karina found a metal bar, Diane had a piece of a seat, and Mael, lying down, had the other. The girl looked terrified.
“I can keep them away,” Karina said. “At least until help comes.”
A creature approached, and Karina swung the metal bar but missed it. At least it flew back, like a fly avoiding being swatted. Diane hit its foot with her piece of the seat, but then the creature grabbed the piece and threw it away. Karina had wanted to wait for more creature to approach, but she wouldn’t be able to. Explode outward. Boom. The creature was thrown far away, but this time there were no shards, no pieces of metal to hurt it. As two more creatures approached, Karina did that explosion thing and pushed them out. Her vision was starting to get blurry, and she felt tired, but she managed a few more explosions. They were very draining. Karina was reaching the limit of her strength and could barely even see anything. There was no place to hide.
Thunder roared above them, and fat drops of rain reached their heads. It was cool rain, but it was welcome, as the creatures seemed to have slowed down. Not so much, though. They were still approaching, and Karina’s “explosions” were only pushing them a few meters. If they kept getting weak like that, the creatures would reach them. As one creature got really close, after a push that was like a child’s push, Karina trembled, thinking about what was going to happen with the girl that had so kindly given her breakfast and a ride to come to a bridge and try to fight a stupid war. But the creature didn’t reach Diane. It shrieked, as if in pain, and fell backward.
Karina looked back and saw Cayla and Alessa running towards them. Alessa had a gun in her hand, and a stick, which she threw like a lance. There were only about four creatures now, but they all moved in their direction. Cayla swung a branch. Karina wanted to go and help, but her eyes were almost closing. One thing she knew: no way she would be able to teleport in that state, alone or otherwise. If those creatures reached them, it would be her end. Could she at least be glad she had lived? That he’d loved, and fought, and tried? Maybe it had all been in vain, but at least it had been something. Stop it.
Karina opened her eyes. Push them out. A child’s push again. At least it was something. She’d die pushing, not yielding. Another creature came in her direction, but it was hit by something. Cayla was beside Karina, fighting with an ax. Rain was pouring now. The good thing was that there were only three creatures. Maybe they’d be able to defeat them.
But there was something else coming on the ground. Was it the help they needed? The rain and her blurry vision didn’t help much. They were many, and didn’t look like people. Of course. Kyons. They were coming. Considering the kyons would immobilize them, it would be their doom, as they’d be easy prey. Karina’s eyes were closing. Kyons were coming. Push out, push out. Boom. More like a tiny pop. Kyons and creatures were stopped for a couple seconds. She closed her eyes. Was this the end? Maybe, as she saw a strong light above her. Kyons were coming. Boom. Again, that was just a pop. Her eyes were closing. She’d better embrace the light. This time she heard another boom, and it wasn’t hers, and two creatures fell on the floor. Someone jumped from the sky with a long cutting blade and kept the kyons at bay. Visions. Great. That was indeed the end. Somebody carried her towards the light.
26
The Lost People
Something cold touched Karina’s lips. She woke up with a start. Resist, push, boom. She heard something falling on the floor, and a guy moaning in pain. She opened her eyes and found herself lying in the middle of a large lift, like the ones from the army.
“Karina?” Cayla’s voice. The girl was crouched beside her, with a look of relief. She turned sideways, addressing someone else. “The draught worked.” She squinted, still addressing the same person. “What happened to you?”
“I think the lift shook.” A guy's voice.
Karina sat up and looked in the direction of the voice. She was surprised to see Sian’s friend, Liam, there. He seemed to be in pain and was getting up. Had Karina just pushed him? At least she was weak, or she could have committed murder. Not to mention she could have destroyed the lift. Under the bright lift lights, the boy looked better than she remembered. It wasn’t just the dark blue eyes contrasting with the dark hair, but the way his face was shaped, with a strong jaw, bright skin, and whatever it was that juice that made people beautiful. He might have been the best-looking boy she’d ever seen in her entire life.
Best-looking, not most attractive. Only one person still held the most-attractive medal in her eyes, and it was better not to think about him, or she’d feel unbearable pain in her chest, not to mention the shame at the stupidity of not hating him yet.
The door to the front opened. Darian came in and crouched beside Cayla. He addressed Karina, though.
“How are you feeling?”
“As if I died and came back. What happened?”
Cayla said, “We saw the lift falling, so Alessa and I went to check. You were being attacked by those horrible flying things. They weren’t kyons. Darian and Liam came to save us. Liam gave you the draught that woke you up. Zayra’s the pilot.”
Had Karina woken up in some kind of bizarro universe, or was she hallucinating? Before losing consciousness, Karina knew that Liam was Sian’s friend, not Darian’s. Cayla and Darian had broken up. Last time she’d seen Zayra had been more than a year before. The girl had been Darian’s flying partner and had betrayed Cayla by revealing their location to some people who wanted to kidnap them.
“Zayra’s the only person who can fly in a storm,” Darian said, perhaps sensing some of Karina’s confusion.
“What happened to Diane and Mael?”
“We left them in Siphoria. He was badly injured,” Darian said. “Alessa stayed with them.”
“She fought brilliantly,” Cayla added.
“What about Ayanna?”
“I told her to run back, find a village, and hide,” Cayla said.
“Why are we flying? Where are we going?”
Cayla and Darian looked at each other, the way they had done a few times.
“We’re going north,” he said.
“To Arlenia?”
He shook his head. “Near there, but we’ll go somewhere else first. We’re not dealing against strength here, but magic. We need answers.”
Karina pointed to Liam. “What is he doing here?”
“Saving you,” Liam said. “I also happen to know the location of the towers destabilizing communication and flight from the north.” He winked. “Handy.”
“He also fought brilliantly,” Cayla said. “He and Alessa kept the kyons away while Darian and I carried you all inside. Mostly him, actually, since Alessa was exhausted.”
Liam waved his hand. “Nah. It was nothing. I killed some fifty kyons, not nearly as many as I would have liked, and—.”
“Killed?” Karina interrupted him. “You mean they didn’t come back?”
Cayla shrugged. “At least we didn’t see them. Maybe it’s the distance to the Darloom castle.”
“Did they reach Siphoria?”
“No,” Darian replied, “They are stationed outside the city. Sian is probably waiting for when our forces return.”
Karina looked from Liam to Darian and pointed to both. “But why…”
Darian nodded. “I was imprisoned, together with all the high-ranking military leaders. Liam got me out because he wanted to help you.”
Karina looked at both boys. “Thank you.”
Liam shrugged. “I told you I was your friend.” He then pointed to the front. “Thank also the girl there. That was some impossible flying, and I know about flying.” He shrugged. “Of course, I’m glad I was there, since you girls were tired. Darian here also has zero combat training, you know?” He laughed. “Sian used to say he can’t squat a fly.” Liam then changed his tone. “Well, of course, one more reason I’m no longer with him. What a nasty thing to say about your brother.”
Darian nodded. “But it’s true. I have no combat training. You’ll always have my gratitude for saving Cayla and her friends.” He wasn’t bitter or sarcastic, just graceful, and didn't seem bothered in any way.
Liam again waved his hand. “I would have given my life.” He looked at Karina. “For you.”
She looked away. That was awkward and uncomfortable. The dude barely knew her. But then, perhaps she was so traumatized with weird, out-of-place flirting and insta-love—fake love—from Sian, that she was imagining things.
Darian watched as Zayra managed a graceful landing on a river bank.
“I can’t stay,” the girl said. “Or they’ll notice I’m gone. Call me if you need me. I’ll come or I’ll find someone to pick you up.”
“Thank you.”
The girl nodded. “It was my duty.”
The door opened, and Cayla came in and put her hand on his shoulder. Darian kissed her fingers. After fearing losing her, he relished in each and every touch. There were still things unsolved and unsaid between them, but at least they were together again. All the coldness, mistrust, and distance had been dissolved in a few mutual apologies and love declarations, interrupted only because they had to focus on treating the injured and unconscious and had to plan their next steps. And here they were.
Cayla addressed Zayra, “Thank you. I hope your talent gets recognized.”
It was nice that she had forgiven Zayra and wasn’t at all jealous of the girl.
Zayra winked to Cayla. “If you win, send in a good word for me.”
“For sure,” Cayla replied.
Darian said, “And if we lose, I’ll do my best to send a good word to my dear brother.”
Zayra laughed. “Nah. If you lose, just pretend you hate me. That will have a better effect.”
She was probably right.
They were going to walk in the direction of the village where he’d grown up. He wasn’t really sure that this was the right thing to do, and, in a way, felt guilty for dragging the others in this perhaps pointless quest. But then, he couldn’t see any better action in the short term. Yes, Liam said he knew the location of the towers preventing communication from the north. If they could sabotage them, perhaps they could have some part of the army to help them.
That said, they could also be walking into a trap. Cayla had suggested they take the castle back, with a small force and using the secret passages, but Darian still thought that they were dealing with something greater and needed to be better prepared. He could be wrong, though, and maybe they wouldn’t find anything, but he felt he had to try. Cayla ended up agreeing with him, having fought creatures she had never seen before. They also needed a break and some rest before deciding on any action.
He dreaded bringing Liam along. Yes, he was thankful that he’d helped them on the plains. Had Darian known in how much trouble Cayla had been, he would have brought more people, but Liam made up for that. Goodness, that boy was a good fighter. No wonder, trained since he was a kid—with his brother. But Darian didn’t trust him at all, and it wasn’t that he thought he was spying or working for Sian, but something else. There was nothing he could do, though, as the deal for getting him out was to allow Liam to accompany them. He claimed he wanted something with Karina, and Darian feared that he was just trying to get back at his brother. Fair enough, if he was against Sian, in theory, he would be their ally, but Darian still didn’t trust him.
They walked in such a narrow path that they had to go in a single line. One of his arms was behind him, holding Cayla’s hand. He wished he would never let it go, but it was this wish that had gotten them separated in the first place.
After the Lost Castle in the south, now they were after the lost cities in the north. Some very unimaginative naming happening in Whyland. Karina walked behind Cayla. Liam, behind her, sometimes held her shoulders, claiming it was to prevent her from falling. Right. The path was narrow but flat. He also asked if she was feeling well enough to walk and if she wanted him to carry her. Oh, nope. She should think his offer was sweet, kind, or whatever, but it came under such an air of arrogance, perhaps even superiority, that it was unbearable. Maybe that was just the way extremely good-looking boys acted; as if he was offering some kind of high privilege just by talking to her. She’d crawl if she had to, rather than be carried.
The vegetation here was denser than near the castle, with dark green foliage, and the weather was much nicer. For the first time since she’d come to Whyland this time, she wasn’t wearing any kind of coat, hoodie or jacket, just a short-sleeved shirt and pants. That felt good. She didn’t quite understand why they were looking for a village, though, and what Darian and Cayla expected to find there.
Even the air reminded Darian of his childhood, and not only his childhood, but more, as if he was finding a piece of himself. He’d left his village only a little over three years before, but it felt like a lifetime. A lifetime of memories, and a desire to come to terms with whom he really was, as he felt that there was something more to find out. As to why only now he had decided to return, he didn’t know. Maybe it was the urgency, and the fear of seeing Cayla confronting the unknown. Perhaps he should have tried to come as soon as they’d been attacked by the kyons by the Lost Castle, but he hadn’t thought about that then.
A familiar stone marked the entrance of his village, and what should be a few houses bordering a hill. He paused, feeling as if he was sinking like his heart. There was nothing there, not even ruins, marks, nothing that could tell that there had been dwellings in that place.
Cayla moved close to him and whispered, “What’s wrong?”
“I think they moved away.”
She was by his side, staring at the clearing. “It doesn’t look like anyone moved from here.”
“I’m certain of the location, though.”
Was he? He started doubting himself.
Cayla stared again. “Well, your people are supposed to be hidden, right? I mean, it shouldn’t be that easy to see them. Come.”
She pulled his hand and walked towards the clearing. It was if they crossed a screen with the painting of an empty clearing, and came up to a village, with houses forming a circle around a central fountain. This time, it did look like people had moved away because the houses looked abandoned. He looked back, and Karina and Liam were advancing too, looking around as if surprised. Liam had an attentive look that bothered Darian very much.
A door opened, and a woman came out of it. It was Leena, the village leader. Darian’s heart warmed at the sight of someone from his past.
The old woman beamed and walked to them. “Darian!” She then glanced at Cayla and Karina as if recognizing them, but seemed puzzled when she saw Liam.
Darian looked at his companions. “Give us just a second.” He walked with Leena away from the others. “I had to bring them, but I don’t trust him. I’m sorry.”
Leena shook her head. “It’s fine. We can make him forget what he’ll need to forget. Don’t worry about him.”
“What about Cayla and her friend?”
“They’re both welcome in the Light Gardens.”
“Light what?” Darian had no idea what she was talking about.
“Oh, boy,” Leena said, “I thought you’d remember by now.”
“Remember what?”
Leena turned and gestured to the others. “Come! Follow me.”
She walked to the door from where she’d emerged. As they entered the house, however, they found themselves not indoors, as expected, but in a forest with t
rees wide apart, walking on a patch over bright stones. They looked down at a valley with bright buildings, made of tree resin and wood, standing up to eight floors high, with sharp towers. Darian should have been surprised that there was some kind of portal leading to another place, but he wasn’t. Everything about that place was familiar. That was where he’d grown up. That was where the hidden people in the north actually lived. The villages were nothing but decoys, even if some villages were real enough and had no connection to hidden cities. Those were the cities the previous king had been trying to find, without any success.
Darian was torn. On one hand, he felt a sense of peace at finally understanding who he was and where he’d come from. On the other hand, he was disappointed that his truth had been hidden away from him.
Karina had been sure that nothing could surprise her anymore, but she was wrong. She’d been expecting a village, much like the one she’d come by with Sian. Instead, she found a hidden city. It was smaller than Siphoria, and the buildings were quite different, but it seemed magic, not rustic or rural, more like something from a fairytale.
Liam stared at the scenery open-mouthed. Darian must have been crazy to have dragged him along, as he’d probably babble about the secret city as soon as he could. Anyway, that was not her problem. All she wanted was some food and rest, she realized, taking in the fact that sometimes people’s needs could be so simple.
Well, if she wanted food, she’d come to the right place. The woman, Leena, took them to a place by a river where there were tents and tables with food, music, and some twenty or thirty people; families with young and old. They all were light dresses, tunics, or pants, which was nice in the warm weather. Everyone took a huge interest in Darian and came to see him and Cayla. Some of them also introduced themselves and shook Karina’s hands, and she had no idea why. Nobody paid Liam any notice, but he seemed fine with it, standing in a corner and eating from a plate. She ended up standing by him because she didn’t know anyone else there, and Darian and Cayla were too busy.