by D. N. Hoxa
It was already seven a.m. and I started to run in place, a bit warmer now with the coffee in my system. The wet ground soaked my sneakers, socks and feet immediately.
“You’re here.” Young’s voice came from behind me like every other morning. And he sounded surprised that morning, too, even though I went to class on time every day. “Good,” he added and I imitated him when he wasn’t looking. I didn’t bother to say anything back to him. I just wanted to get it over with.
The raindrops slipped from his bald head and onto his cheeks constantly. The scar tissue on his face reminded me of a good day. I stifled a smile.
“I have something...special for you today. We will do some breaking,” he said, faking excitement as if he were fooling someone. He knew exactly how much I hated breaking and a eye-roll was in order, but instead, I was already on my way to prepare the bricks.
Breaking. Such a waste of time. Everybody knew it was just for show. My hands had hurt for a week after the first time he made me break four of the thickest bricks he could find—together. I reluctantly grabbed another four from the arsenal room and—in the mood I was in—dragged my feet back to where Young was waiting for me. He had his arms crossed in front of his chest and an evil smile on his face. God, how I wanted to wipe it off for good with my katana. But, like always, I kept my face expressionless as I prepared the wet, thick bricks in front of me atop two parallel wooden holders.
“Double it.”
I turned to look at him, careful not to show any surprise on my face. “What?”
“Double it. Four more bricks,” Young said.
As much as I hated him, I smiled and made my way to the arsenal room again. The bricks were heavy, and it looked like the rain was making them even stronger. My hands were already twitching with anticipation. I knew exactly how much it was going to hurt.
But to my surprise, when I got back, I found Young with a...dog?
I blinked a couple of times and rushed my steps. It really was a dog. Why?
“What’s that?” I asked him, as I put the other four new bricks above the others.
“I found this creature in the woods. I thought it might be helpful this morning, since last time you broke your bones before you could crack one brick,” Young spit.
“But I didn’t break any bones,” I said calmly as I watched the dog. It was the cutest little guy. His brown fur was dripping wet and his two large black eyes were to die for. He sat in silence with the rope around his neck attached to Young’s hand. I couldn’t think of how a dog could help me with the breaking, but a sick feeling in my stomach gave me an idea.
“We’re going to use him as your stimulation.” Young walked ahead. My heart sank as I watched the cute dog follow him, shaking his tail with no idea of what was going to happen to him.
I kept my face expressionless as I cursed Young a million times in my mind and watched him tie the rope around a thick piece of wood that usually held exercise bags. The dog immediately made his place and laid his head on his legs. His black eyes were as curious as mine, and I wanted nothing more than to go untie him and send him running.
But I couldn’t. And I shouldn't even be thinking that way. It’s just a dog.
I drew in air and filled my lungs, getting the look of the dog’s face off my mind. I concentrated on the bricks in front of me. This was going to be hard. Young didn't even let me warm up a little.
“Get that thing off,” he said to me instead, and I had to take off the hood just like I knew I would. He smiled but I ignored him.
As I went back to the bricks again, I watched Young from the corner of my eye. He drew out too many small knives to count from his pocket, and he took his position right in front of the dog.
Disgust brought bile to my throat. I wanted to rip his hands off, but I looked in front of me instead.
The bricks. The red bricks. The pretty red bricks…it’s just a dog!
“The exercise is simple,” Young said. Very much like him to refer to torture as exercise. “You will break these bricks with your knuckles. The trick is, every time you hit them and they don't break, I throw one of these at the dog.”
He showed me his knives. I gave him a nod, barely holding my feelings from showing on my face. It wasn’t the dog’s fault, sure, but if I said that, it would just make Young more determined. So instead of speaking, I studied the bricks by touching them with the tips of my fingers. The rain dropping without stop gave me some calmness and I inhaled deeply, eager to get this over with. My right hand was in front of me, parallel to the very middle of the bricks, and while exhaling slowly, I brought it down with all the strength I could muster.
Nothing, at first.
And then the pain started.
A heartbreaking cry came from ahead, and when I looked up, I saw the dog crying, looking at the knife buried in his left leg in surprise.
Anger washed over me but I didn’t turn to look at Young because I already knew he was smiling. I pulled my hand up again, the pain already forgotten. I inhaled. Exhaled. Brought it down.
The bricks made a cracking sound but aside from a small, thin line on the first one, nothing happened.
Pain. The dog’s cry. He jumped up and down helplessly. Another knife had appeared just a palm above the first one.
Red dots began to fill my vision. I had to end this. Now! Before he kills the poor dog.
Impatiently, I pulled my now torn and bloodied hand up. Gathering all the strength within me, I brought it down again.
The damn things will not break!
I wanted to shout, but I barely held a cry of my own from the pain that had turned my hand and arm numb. I heard the dog cry but I didn’t look up. I can't. I can't see him like that.
I shook my head and focused, but something didn’t feel right. The scene, the feelings—the dog seemed too familiar. I looked up reluctantly and saw exactly what I knew I would see. The third knife buried in the dog’s right leg. He was crying and standing on only two feet as the rain washed his bloodied fur.
I turned to look at Young and see him just like I knew I would. He had his smile on and his knife ready at the tips of his fingers.
Something nagged at my stomach and realization hit me hard.
I am dreaming!
I’d already lived that day. I lived it, and I knew how it ended. My stomach turned because…the dog died.
It was one of the lowest things I’d had to endure during my training. So many creatures got hurt because of me. But I didn't have to let it happen this time. I could do something about it, and maybe the dog would get to live another day. Only three knives were in him so far.
I smiled secretly and turned to the bricks again. I opened my senses and called out to them. The bricks hummed in response. They were very strong. And stubborn. But I was the Elemental and I could control them. They were part of the Earth.
I closed my eyes and breathed in slowly. I put my good hand above them, initiating physical contact. The energy was stronger that way. I told the bricks of my concerns, about the dog and how much I wanted to save his life. He was innocent—probably the only innocent creature in the Castle.
“What are you doing?” Young asked me, almost breaking my concentration. I ignored him and continued to whisper to the bricks until our connection was strong enough.
Break, I told the bricks, the second my hand touches you.
Their energy began to change as mine started to alter theirs. I touched them with the tips of my fingers.
And the bricks broke.
They made a terrible sound, but they were broken now. I’d done it. I broke all eight bricks right in front of Young, and he would have no other choice now. He would have to release the dog.
I turned to see a very surprised Young looking at me with his mouth open. I smiled for him, because I won. He didn’t need to know how, but I won.
Only, a second later, his face turned to a stone sculpture again. He looked at the broken bricks on the ground in front of me before he turned to f
ace the dog again. It happened so fast that I didn’t have time to even think about it. He moved in a blur. He pulled his arm up with the knife already in his hand and he threw.
No!
But it was too late.
Next, I heard the dog’s last cry, just like I remembered it. The knife was buried in his chest. I bit my tongue to hold back a scream.
Young was smiling when I finally looked up at him.
“I broke the bricks!” I yelled at him. I was ready for him now. Ready to fight him until he was no more. He’d cheated!
Why are you surprised? an annoying voice asked me in my head. It sounded like it was coming from somewhere outside the dream. But it didn’t matter because I wanted to save that dog. I didn't want to hear that last cry again. So I was going to kill Young, dream or no dream.
But then, Young’s smile grew wide and when I tried to attack him, I found couldn’t move. “Dreams can't change reality,” he said.
And then I fell.
12
——————————
I was standing in Thomas’s office with a swollen face, thankful that Jack woke me with a hard knock on my door at five am sharp. I was having a horrible dream. I had no idea what it was, but I was still crying when I woke up, as I’d been when I fell asleep an hour before.
Something important had happened, and we were meeting with the Elders right away. Old Smith looked the best, in comparison to the rest of us. Me, Horatio, Thomas and…Aaron. Jack didn’t even count. He never slept.
Horatio looked the worst. He had his thin, grey hair in all directions like he didn’t have time to comb it. His light brown eyes were wide with panic, but that was nothing new. He was the most paranoid warlock I’d ever met. But we all looked like shit, really.
I kept my head down and analyzed my fingers, ignoring the stares Aaron was giving me from the corner of the room. It was going to be a long night. Or morning, rather. I was already a nervous wreck when Jack came back into the room holding his golden coin. No one said anything, but we all closed our eyes.
When I opened mine, I found myself in the room I was already familiar with. Now that I knew who Grandmother was, I didn’t find it strange that they could afford such a wide, perfectly constructed space in the fifth dimension. The homey scent was there, as well as the Elders, looking the same as always.
Everybody sat straighter in their seats and kept their eyes on their laps. Except for me. And Aaron.
My eyes found the unusual green ones of Grandmother and the concern I saw in them didn’t sit well with me. I was dying from curiosity to know what was so important to wake us up for a meeting at five a.m., but I already knew that it wasn’t anything good.
“We have received a message from Samayan,” Grandmother said. It was the first time she hadn’t even bothered to say hello.
No one said a word, but their bodies froze same as mine as we waited for Grandmother’s explanation. My eyes scanned the faces of the other Elders, who were watching me with as if their eyes were carved out of ice. That’s when I knew that whatever it was, I was involved in it.
Hell, I was always involved whenever there was trouble. No news there.
“Short story shorter, he wants you, Star,” Azazel said, his brows narrowed and his huge hands pulled into fists.
And there it was. Of course Samayan wanted me. That much was clear to me right before I killed McGraw—and Samayan let me. He could’ve stopped me. I was in their territory. I was alone. He had guards. He didn’t bother because he needed me alive.
But why was the question that needed to be answered properly.
“How did he contact you?” I asked, feeling the other’s fearful eyes on me, but I didn’t take mine off Grandmother’s face.
“He killed one of Eleanor’s vampires and left the note on the ashes,” Grandmother said reluctantly.
“I want to see it.” Not that I could do much with a note, but maybe I could catch something else that would give me a clue.
“The letter was spelled. It caught fire the second I read it,” Eleanor said, her voice as low and as seductive as ever, but she wasn’t going to continue without making me ask. I almost rolled my eyes. I hated games in situations like that.
“Well, do you mind telling me what the note said?”
Eleanor didn’t appreciate the tone of my voice, but really, nobody gave a shit. So she cleared her throat and gave us the damned message.
“Bring me the Elemental, and the Council shall sign a Peace Treaty with the Red Rebels. That is my word.”
For a second, nobody in the room even breathed. My ears were filled with the rapid beating of my heart. All I could think about was Samayan’s flawless face and his dark, defined eyes. I jumped to my feet because I couldn’t stand in one place.
“Has this ever happened before?” I asked whoever had the answer in the room, and I turned my back to them because I didn’t want them to see me. My eyes were tightly shut and my shivering hands were gathered in fists. I tried to reach for the air around me for some calmness, but my mind was working too fast to even think about connecting to the energy around me.
“Yes. Once,” Grandmother said. I was expecting her to say no because I never heard of Samayan ever making demands on notes. “When he kindly asked to name my son King of the Seelie Court.”
“And…did you?” Probably not the time or place, but I had to ask.
“Of course not.” Grandmother raised her chin as if I’d insulted her. “But I found out too late that my good-for-nothing son had already made a deal with Samayan. They banished me and he became King.” Holy shit. King Desartes was Tytania’s son? Grandmother caught the surprise in my face before I could compose myself, and she smiled. She smiled like the Cheshire cat and gave me goose bumps. “Don’t you worry about that, dear. The day will come when I will hang his head as a trophy in my Quarters, as I should have the day he was born.”
A chill ran down the length of my body. That was why the few were the strongest of the supernaturals. They lacked feeling almost completely.
But whatever issues Grandmother had with her son, it was their business and their business alone. So I concentrated on the task at hand. Samayan.
“I had no idea he was this desperate to get to me, though I already knew he wanted me.”
Before I killed him, McGraw said that the Council wanted the protection I could offer them as the Elemental, only until the end of the year. My best guess was that they needed me as a personal bodyguard. Now, after Samayan sent a freaking note to the RR, ready to make a deal with them if they turned me in, I wasn’t so sure. They wanted something else from me, and I had no idea what it was.
It sucked that they seemed to know more about me than I did. More than ever, I wanted the White Book of Wisdom in my hands. If something was going to help me figure out why Samayan wanted me so much, it was it.
“It doesn’t make any sense,” I said again when nobody spoke. It felt like me and the Elders were the only ones in the room. “Why does he want me so badly, Grandmother?”
“I don’t know, dear,” she said, and the coldness that had reflected in her eyes seconds ago when she spoke about her son was gone without a trace. She gave me a weak smile. “But we are looking into it, and it shouldn’t be long before we find out.”
I nodded. I was leaving in less than two days for Chicago anyway, and I was hoping to be able to shed some light on the suspicion that had formed in my head days ago.
“Anything on the...thing?” The Elders told me that they would dig in to see if our suspicions about a traitor in the Council’s midst were confirmed. Grandmother just shook her head. I wanted to tell her. I wanted to talk to her about the crazy theory I’d come up with, but I definitely didn’t want the whole room to hear. So I decided I’d wait until I had some solid proof that would back my story up, as ridiculous as it sounded.
“We should do it,” said Thomas. He’d finally gathered the courage to look up at the Elders. “If Samayan gives us his word, h
e can’t break it. We should do as they asked.”
I didn’t even know why I was surprised. Samayan had just made them believe that he had given them a choice, a chance to walk away from war with them. But they didn’t know how the Council operated. Those people didn’t hold the supernatural throne because they were kind, nice people who gave away flowers and free hugs to everyone. It was a trap.
Samayan knew very well that I’d know and the Elders would, too. But he also knew that if the word were to get out to the people, to all the members of the RR, there would surely be those who would believe that I wasn’t worth it and think that turning me in would be the end of their problems. They would even be eager to cooperate with the Council, thinking that they were doing the right thing.
But it was a trap. Samayan didn’t give his word. He wrote it. To vampires, writing it didn’t apply when it came to holding your promise or else. And once they turned me in, they’d lose their only defense against the Council.
“That would be walking right into the mousetrap, Thomas. You know better than to trust him,” I said, my voice dripping with disappointment, although I didn’t blame him. He didn’t spend four years of his life working for the Council.
“It is a simple enough request,” he said and met my eyes. “If it means that we have a chance to avoid a war against them, then we should take. You should do it.”
The hatred in his eyes was as clear as the rest of him. He would’ve had my head on a plate in a second if he didn’t know the trouble it would cost him with the Elders. Or if he actually could do something like that.
“Dad,” Aaron said through gritted teeth, his word a warning. It was easy to ignore him now. In fact, if I were to be as angry as I was that moment every day, I was sure it would be fairly easy to ignore him all the time.
“That is exactly what he wants you to think. I know how they operate, Thomas, and trust me when I tell you that it would be the end of you if I went back to them,” I said, trying but failing to contain my anger and not let it show on my face. He was angry enough for both of us, and he was ripping me apart with his eyes. I didn’t want to provoke him even further than Samayan’s message had.