by Leyton, Bisi
So they do cry? Wisteria had always wondered.
“He was murdered,” Enric replied. “By Felip.”
“What?” Wisteria blurted out.
They all knew Alba murdered him.
“Shh,” Garfield whispered to Wisteria. “Do we really want her even more unstable right now?”
“How? Why did he do it?” Alba asked.
“When I get back, I will tell you everything,” Enric promised. “Right now, you have to wait here.”
“You’re not going to leave her here with all the artifacts?” Wisteria cocked her head to the side.
“Now that she is free of his hold, I do not want him near her again.” Enric looked firm about it. “So, it is either she remains or Felip does.”
“Enric, we can’t. The things here are too important.” Wisteria objected.
“My sister is a good person and no longer the person Felip made her. I trust her. Is that not enough?” Enric shot back.
“No, I barely trust you,” Wisteria admitted. “And your sister? Granted she’s—better, but I still can’t leave her here.”
“The avatar said the artifacts can be used by your people, so, what is the worst that can happen? The sentries and Robinia will be here. Alba will be safe until we have stopped High Father.”
“I…” Wisteria bit at her lip. “I don’t know.”
“Enric, why do you allow your Thayn to talk to you that way?” Alba studied Wisteria curiously. “I am confused.”
“She is not my Thayn,” Enric replied and sighed very, very heavily. “She is my friend.”
“Your friend?” Wisteria coughed.
Alba stared at Enric as if he’d suddenly turned green and had grown horns. “Please, do not tell me you have communed with it?”
“Alba, stop,” Enric barked.
“What if we lock her in a vault or something until you get back?” Garfield proposed. “According to Robinia, not even Dy’obeths can break through them.”
“Imprison my sister? Are you out of your mind?” Enric snarled at Garfield.
“Wait.” Garfield backed away. “She’ll also be safest there. No one can get to her and right now, she’s no clue about what’s going on. The last thing you want is her wandering out and running into your father’s reaper or something like that.”
“My father’s reaper?” Alba queried. “A reaper? Why are we talking about fairy tales?”
“I can live with that.” Wisteria shrugged.
“Fine.” Enric acquiesced, though he still looked angry. “But Robinia puts Alba somewhere where she can get food and water.”
“Robinia, find somewhere safe, but secure and keep Alba there until we return.”
“There are chambers below where she will be secure and no one will have access to her,” Robinia replied.
“If we are gone for more than three weeks, Robinia probably should let her out,” Garfield pointed out. “Unless you want her growing old in here?”
“Fair point.” Wisteria accepted. “Robinia, if we’re not back in three weeks, send Alba to any location on the home realm that she wants, but from outside the compound. Can you do that?”
“Of course Mistress,” Robinia stated. “At your instruction, I can open a threshold to any of the discovered realms, but Alba will not be able to return here.”
“Enric, why is a Terran deciding what happens to me?” Alba scoffed. “I am not going to be sealed in here like a jaga for three weeks. I am going with you and you can explain to me what is going on, on the way.”
“Alba, you cannot.” Apologetically, Enric kissed her forehead.
“Yes, I am,” Alba insisted.
Robinia picked up the girl and tossed her over her shoulder.
“No, stop. Put me down,” Alba protested.
Enric moved to go after her.
“Don’t prolong her suffering, let her go.” Wisteria grabbed his arm. “If you want to make sure she’s settles down, let Garfield go with them.”
“You want to ensure she is locked up and that I will not somehow go back on what we agreed?” Enric suspected.
He was right, Wisteria admitted the truth to herself, because even if Alba was no longer under Felip’s control, she was still a Famila and as arrogant as hell. “Enric if you go down, I’ll be left with Felip. And no one can tell what he’s planning. I’d rather have you up here with me.”
“Fine.” Enric gritted his teeth. “Let him go with them.”
Garfield winked at Wisteria as if he’d understood her trick.
But he hadn’t really.
Once Garfield was gone, Wisteria turned to Enric. “Garfield is not leaving with us.” She walked out of the room and made her way down the steps back to Felip. “He needs to return to Earth and warn the others if we fail.”
“It may not matter—if we fail, nothing he will do can stop the Dy’obeths,” Enric commented as they descended.
“But he’s got to try.”
“It will not make a difference, but I never wanted him with us in the first place. It will be better for him to be sealed in here too.”
“Robinia will make sure he doesn’t leave. I wanted you to understand in case—”
“In case I try to help him?” Enric scoffed. “I assure you, I will not.”
“Just don’t get in the way.”
“I am surprised you told me considering you do not trust me,” Enric commented dryly.
“I don’t, but we want the same thing—an end to the Dy’obeths and Bach’s freedom.”
They joined Felip who sat hunched over on his knees. He didn’t move or acknowledge them as they reached him.
“Are you hurt?” Wisteria asked him.
“Do you feel lost now that my sister is free from your hold on her?” Enric sneered.
“What do you mean?” Puzzled, Felip glanced at him.
“We found a way to undo the renewal or whatever magic you used to brainwash my sister.” Enric grinned. “She is free now.”
“Enric, I did not do anything to Alba. Coia—wait—what happens to me now?” Felip inquired. “Are you going to kill me?”
“You broke Alba out of the bridewell and saved her from the reapers. You did not have to, but you did, so I will not end your life,” Enric stated. “But we are far from even.”
“What were you going to say about Coia?” Wisteria interjected.
“It does not matter.” Felip shook his head. “Alba is better and I am happy about that.”
“Go on, humor me,” Wisteria urged.
“Coia’s ability to bend minds is beyond anything I can understand. She must have found way to exert control over Alba from the Deep,” Felip replied.
“That’s probably a lie.” Wisteria shook her head. “But it doesn’t matter because we can still undo whatever she does.”
“So, you are going to leave me here to rot?” Felip noted with a laugh of self-pity.
“You want us to leave you in the Hall of Ages when we’re gone?” Wisteria tried to figure out what he may be up to now.
“You do not need me now that you have everything—” Felip said.
“How stupid do you think I am?” Wisteria gaped. “This is all you’ve ever wanted, being in this place right here and right now.”
“Being with you was all I ever wanted,” Felip expressed painfully.
Wisteria backed away.
“You can sense in your heart, I would never hurt you,” Felip continued. “If we stay here, we can wait out the madness outside. We will be safe together.”
“Shut up.” Enric stormed up and punched him in the face. “Open your mouth again and I will pull out your tongue.”
“Enric, stop,” Wisteria called to him.
Striking him, one last time, Enric moved away from Felip. “You belong with Bach and he knows that. We are leaving now!”
“When Robinia gets back, we’ll go. I need to tell her what to do when we’re gone,” Wisteria reminded him.
“You want her to keep Garfield
here?” Felip slurred.
“I said shut up,” Enric warned.
“You do not have to wait for that avatar to return. Press on one of her icons, call to her and she will come,” Felip suggested.
The image of a black figure was on a nearby column. It’d been the same image she’d first seen when she entered the Hall of Ages.
Scanning further afield, she noticed more copies of the same image on walls, steps and shelves. “We’ll wait for her to get back with Garfield.” Wisteria opted not to be drawn into his lies.
“I get it. You do not believe me, but understand that the Hall of Ages is too massive to have a single avatar. How do you think she keeps this place clean? That alone would take her centuries.” Felip pointed out.
“And this was all in your book?” Wisteria questioned.
Felip nodded.
“Where exactly did you get this book from?” Then she remembered she’d lost it in her attempt to flee from the sentry. Looking back in the direction she’d ran, she tried to see if she could spot where it fell.
“You will never find the book now. It is like looking for needle in a hay stack,” Felip remarked.
“Where did you get it?” Wisteria turned to him.
“The Room of Ages—when we were there together. It was something I...borrowed,” he confessed. “I will tell you exactly what was in there.”
“He wants to keep you in here,” Enric realized.
“You are right.” Felip’s eyes darkened. “I do not want her to leave and be torn apart by the monster Bach is. He will kill her because to a Dy’obeth death is the highest form of love.”
Enric scoffed.
“If you want to go when it is still dark you have to leave now as the sun rises in less than two hours. Use the icon and summon Robinia’s avatar, so we can go. The icon was built by your ancestors like the rest of the place, so you are totally safe in here,” Felip went on.
“Apart from the sentries that almost killed me,” Wisteria reminded them.
“They were after Garfield not you,” Felip countered.
“It is funny how you have all the answers.” Enric seethed.
“If I am wrong I know I am dead,” Felip admitted. “But if you step out of the Hall of Ages you are dead too Wisteria. I am begging you, do not go or open a threshold and journey to wherever—”
“Say one more word…I dare you!” Again, Enric strode up to Felip and grabbed his neck.
“Enric, will you get a grip,” she yelled. “Beating him up isn’t helping. If you do it enough, we’re either going to carry him or leave him behind which is what he wants.”
“Trust me or not, I am not going to let you face the Dy’obeths alone.” Felip groaned as Enric dropped him.
“Don’t you ever get tired of lying?” She strode over to the icon on the grey stone column, and brushed her hand over it. “We’ll wait for Robinia.”
“Yes Mistress,” Robinia said from the icon on the column. Soon, small black pebbles rolled out of a hole in the column and another version of the avatar grew in front of Wisteria.
“Where is Garfield?” Wisteria panicked he’d now been left alone with Alba.
“With another avatar. Alba is secured and will not be able to leave or be disturbed until you return. Garfield and the avatar will be returning shortly. Do you need anything else Mistress?”
“How did you get here?” Wisteria frowned as she studied this near perfect copy.
“You said my name into my icon,” Robinia answered confirming Felip’s story. “Do that anywhere within the archive and I will come to help you.”
Wisteria glanced over at Felip.
He smiled wearily at her.
“We have got to go now, if you do not want your friend to cause a scene,” Enric suggested.
“Robinia, Garfield isn’t returning to the Moon Desert. If he wants to leave, he can take a threshold back to Earth, but nowhere else,” she ordered. “Make sure he picks somewhere safe.”
“Of course Mistress, I will ensure he is safe here and protected when he returns,” Robinia assured her. “Are you certain you do not want to simply seal the threshold and leave the people of this realm to resolve their own problems? It would be the easiest way to save your people.”
Stunned Wisteria, frowned at the girl. “Since when have you had an opinion about anything?”
“I have no opinions Mistress. I am simply here to serve you,” Robinia maintained.
“No, your opinions are good.” Wisteria smiled. “Hopefully soon, we’ll be able to actually talk. I’m sure you could tell me a lot.”
“I—I—Is there anything else you require Mistress?” Robinia sounded puzzled. “Will you leave the last one here?” She pointed at Felip
“He’s coming with us.” Wisteria nodded.
The sentry moved away from Felip.
Rising, Felip staggered toward them. “You have changed a lot?” he whispered as he joined her. “You are harsher. I am partly to blame for that.”
She didn’t answer, but headed up the stairs, leading to the glass corridor they’d come in through.
“Felip, move.” Enric came up behind him.
When they reached the exit, the glass door opened.
Someone shouted her name.
Turning back, she saw it was Garfield.
He raced toward them as the other avatars stood in the distance. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I’m sorry, but you can’t be part of this anymore.” Wisteria stepped back into the glass passageway. “Robinia, close the door.”
The glass doors shut and seconds later, Garfield raced up the steps and pounded on them. “Wisteria.” He mouthed.
Wisteria couldn’t hear the words he uttered.
Placing her hand on the glass over his face, she fought the urge to cry. “Robinia, please make certain he’s comfortable for as long as he’s here.”
“Yes, Mistress,” Robinia said as an avatar instantly materialized behind Garfield.
“Robinia? Promise you’ll be there for him. Please? I’m asking you as a friend—help him.” Wisteria coughed any cry from her voice.
“Mistress, I am not your friend, but simply here to serve you. I will do what you ask,” Robinia recited.
Turning away from an irate Garfield, Wisteria followed Enric and Felip across the corridor, back through the metal doors and into the outer garden.
“You did the right thing,” Enric whispered. “He would have gotten himself killed.”
“Don’t.” She choked back tears. How was she going to face the future without Garfield?
They crossed the garden in silence and came to the main gate leading to the desert.
Looking back at the surreal and enormous atrium, she wished she didn’t have to do this. This was a mistake. She wasn’t strong or powerful enough. Fighting biters and babysitting her little brother were things she understood and managed to do, but carrying the weight of this world on her shoulders? She was the wrong person.
“You can do this.” Enric softly placed one hand on her shoulder as if he heard her inner doubts. “You are stronger than you realize.”
Running her hand over the control orb, the gate slid open and the dry desert air blew into her face. Squinting, she looked over the rocky desert.
Stepping out ahead of her, Enric scanned the environment.
Felip and Wisteria followed.
“Goodbye, Mistress.” Robinia vanished from beside them.
The gates shut behind them.
Wisteria felt like she’d lost another friend, but accepted Robinia’s place was in the Hall of Ages.
She took a few steps toward the overland and stopped. They were in danger. “We have to go back.”
“What?” Enric asked.
“Bach’s here. I can sense him.” She realized. “I didn’t sense him in the Hall of Ages, but I can now. We’re walking into a trap—”
“Are you certain?” Enric stopped moving.
“Of course I’m sure. Fe
lip led him here.” Wisteria turned to the black gates. “After everything you said, this was what you were planning?”
“This was not me.” Felip gasped. “He would kill me if he learned—”
Not waiting to argue, she dashed back to the black gates. “Robinia,” she called, hoping the avatar would respond to her voice, but knowing she’d have to touch the gate first.
“Peeka,” Bach called from behind her.
She raced toward the gates, but stopped when she saw that Bach, Lluc, Malcolm and several Drones surrounded her, Enric and Felip.
“Hey guys.” Felip laughed nervously. “What are you doing out here?”
Eyeing Felip bitterly, she couldn’t believe his nerve.
Felip tossed something to her.
They were the earplugs she’d used earlier at Bach’s den.
Taking out a cantus, Felip squeezed it as she covered her ears.
She fled back to the Hall of Ages, but stopped when she remembered the prax. She tapped the vial that was in her pocket. This was her chance to infect Bach and the others. She needed to go back, but barely took three steps before she was lifted off her feet and zipped through the desert. She was taken to a cave.
“Here she is. I told you nothing Felip could pull would prevent me from getting her to you.” Enric deposited her in front of Bach.
“Enric, why did you do this?” Wisteria accused in shock. “We were supposed to be helping him.”
Bach didn’t speak, but his cold demeanor sent a chill down her spine.
Just then, she heard the screams of a man. Felip! “What are you doing to Felip?” she demanded trying to get up, but Enric pushed her back down.
“You wanted her and now you have her.” Enric tossed the broken cantus at Bach’s feet. “Now will you make me one of you?”
Bach raised an eyebrow at his old friend and nodded.
“You did this to become a Dy’obeth? Are you out of your mind?” she responded. “They’re killing your people?”
“It is better to be a winner than a loser Wisteria.” Enric squatted next to her. “I would rather have my whole bloodline destroyed than die for nothing.”
“You qwaynide Enric.” Felip lunged at him.
Lluc picked Felip up and drove his head into the ground before lifting him up again and snapping his back on his knee like a twig.