by A N Martin
Dominaze’s eyes were wide. “I didn’t realize it was Brike who received the letter. I guess I just assumed she would have sent it to Hemrick.”
“Who sent it?” Kurtike turned to Dominaze. “Because honestly, this is the worst rescue ever planned.”
“I wasn’t involved in any planning for any of this. I was literally left in the dark for the past few months.”
The ground shook again and the tower threatened to come down on top of them. Kurtike grabbed Dominaze’s hand and led her out of the tower.
“Stay low.”
The winds outside were roaring and made it almost impossible to make sense of what was going on. There were hot and cold currents burning and freezing their skin. They crouched down and made their way to a large broken stone. Carefully peeking over, they were immediately faced with all sorts of debris. Bugs and shards of glass flew passed them. Fire rose into the air only to fall back to the ground and incinerate everything in its path. Wood splinters exploded from surrounding forests and darted through the air. Marinetta stood by Soomi’s side as Soomi created living rivers that dragged Manicks and Prints away in their currents. Dominaze shuttered as she watched Kor open the earth and swallow a group of Manicks up into it. There was a bubble of ice between the far building and forest. A thin pale figure danced around its edges, freezing the earth in place and everything that came close to it. Dominaze had never had the chance to see Adora before Bain had shadowed her eyes, but she was sure it was her inside the ice. It was difficult to see clearly with everything going on, but she could have sworn Adora had no hair. Her head appeared to be completely bald. She was as white as could be and sparkled like snow. The earth erupted between Dominaze and Adora creating a wall of debris so Dominaze could no longer see her.
Dominaze’s heart raced. “We’ll never make it out of here.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Kurtike squeezed her hand. “It’s a walk in the park.” He laughed at his joke. “We just have to get to the west side. As long as the Elect and their army are distracted by the Cut-Throats and Hemrick and Brike, they shouldn’t notice us sneak by. Come on.”
He ducked low and pulled Dominaze along beside him. A dark cloud of dust spread over the ground from Kurtike, concealing them from attackers. Only a bubble of fresh air surrounded them. They moved steadily over the rocks and Dominaze was sure they would make it out. She began crawling with ease next to Kurtike when she suddenly felt the soft cold flesh of someone’s skin beneath her. She gasped as she realized she had just crawled onto someone’s body. Looking down her horror grew.
A squeamishly thin Print with foggy patched markings lay in front of her. His mouth hung open. He was missing several teeth and his shoulders hunched forward.
“Bain!” She gasped and backed away from him.
Kurtike grabbed Dominaze and held her still. “You knew him?”
“Sort of.” She looked into Bain’s lifeless eyes. “He kept me in the dark while I was here. He had planned to run away until it was safe to return. I guess he never had the chance to leave. That’s why his shadows disappeared from my eyes. They killed him.”
Though Bain had tortured her with darkness for so long, Dominaze’s heart ached at his loss. In a way killing Bain was like killing a child.
Kurtike pushed Dominaze in front of him. “If we stay we’ll suffer the same fate. Keep going. We’re nearly there.”
Dominaze closed her eyes and crawled past Bain. She had to get out of here. Unfortunately, with her eyes closed she could once again see everything. There was no escaping Bain’s lifeless body as she crawled past. Dominaze saw everything surrounding them as she continued forward with her eyes pressed shut. She could see and feel the Prints hiding in the trees launching attack after attack. She felt the terror of the Manicks as they ran in search of refuge. She could feel every element pulse in response to the Prints who controlled them. Vines crept across the floor behind the Scott’s army and swiftly knocked them off their feet. Through the dust Dominaze was surprised to see Tistine controlling the vines. Dominaze hadn’t thought of her since the message she had left for her on the apple tree. Now Tistine lay low as she secretly fought both sides of the battle. Dominaze wanted so badly to take hold of all the elements and freeze them in time, to stop the battle that raged around her, but she couldn’t. She could barely carry her own weight.
The heat in the air grew more intense and the wind was pushing against her. Kurtike pointed ahead.
“They’re just up there.”
“Finally,” she breathed in exhaustion. She could feel two Prints ahead, battling furiously.
Kurtike pulled her arm around him. “Let’s get you out of here.”
Pushing forward they broke through the dust. The relief of Hemrick’s face right in front of Dominaze was overwhelming. Hemrick didn’t hesitate when he saw Dominaze. He took her from Kurtike and hugged her.
“Dominaze,” he sobbed. “I thought you were dead.”
“Almost.” She tried to hug him back, but was barely strong enough to hold her arms up.
Hemrick sat Dominaze on the ground by him and turned to Kurtike. “The Elect are closing in fast. Brike and I will hold them off while you escape into the trees. We will not leave until you’re there.”
Dominaze looked up at Brike who was covered in flames from head to toe. He threw flames in all directions and scorched anything that came close.
He peeked over his shoulder at Dominaze. “Glad this wasn’t for nothing. I was sure we were rescuing a corpse.” He smirked.
She smirked back and stood with Kurtike’s help. Again the black dust spread out over the ground. Kurtike had to work extra hard to keep them concealed as they ducked and moved forward. The winds from Hemrick and the attackers constantly blew it away threatening to reveal them. Dominaze could feel the attacks getting closer and stronger. She feared for Hemrick and Brike. How could they hold off the Elect and their army alone? A burst of unbearable heat burned her from behind and she turned to see what it was.
A pillar of red fire rose high into the sky above Brike. The armies of the Elect were surrounding them.
“No!” Dominaze turned to run back.
Kurtike grabbed Dominaze and held her still. “You can’t do anything. If you go back now all their efforts will be for nothing.”
“I can’t just watch them be overrun while I escape.”
Kurtike refused to let her go. “Yes, you must. Trust them to do what they do.”
Dominaze watched as Hemrick’s winds spun around Brike’s red fire pillar. It pulled the fire in creating a massive fire tornado that swirled through the air above them. The heat in the air burned overhead as Hemrick rolled the fire around and around.
Dominaze watched in horror as the fire grew hotter. She could barely hear Brike’s warning yells to Hemrick.
“I can’t contain it Hemrick.” Brike’s body glowed hotter and hotter. “Get out of there.”
The wind was too loud to hear Hemrick’s response. All Dominaze could see was Hemrick shake his head. He clung to his winds and continued to spin the fire. The tornado let random shots of fire loose and they flew through the air. Dominaze could see the Scott’s army run to take cover as the air filled with searing fire bombs. Kurtike dragged Dominaze back until they were finally in the trees.
She stood and braced herself against some branches. “Okay, we’re here. Now tell them to get out of there.”
Kurtike created a river of dust and guided it across the ground toward Hemrick and Brike, but as it got closer the heat from the fire incinerated the dust until there was nothing left of it.
“I can’t. The fire is too much. Brike is too hot. He’s burning everything.”
Dominaze’s heart dropped. “If it’s too hot for your river of dust, Hemrick is in trouble.”
Dominaze looked around frantically as she could feel the heat growing. Steam from the rivers rose into the air. She spotted a frustrated Marinetta following Soomi as she
retreated. The ground vibrated under the high temperature and the countering winds died in fear of spreading the inferno. The Elect’s army scattered aimlessly, unsure what to do. A herd of mice ran across the ground and Dominaze saw Thora disappear into the distant tower. Everyone ran from the spinning flames.
“Hemrick!” Dominaze called as loud as she could.
Hemrick turned and looked at Dominaze. His apologetic expression made it clear he didn’t plan to escape the burning inferno spiraling over his head. Beads of sweat poured down his flushed skin as he struggled to hold on.
“GO!” he yelled to Dominaze.
Brike crouched low and let out a painful roar as he glowed pale blue and the fire above did the same. It heated to a magnificent white and engulfed everyone surrounded by it. The wind suddenly burst and the fire erupted in all directions. Kurtike pulled Dominaze to the ground as the fire roared toward them.
“NO!” Dominaze yelled as Kurtike covered her.
The heat passed over them. Kurtike screamed in anguish as it did, and then it was still. Dominaze pushed Kurtike away from her and sat up. She looked back toward the tower ruble. Everything was blackened and smoking. The air was unmoving. It was too still. She scrambled to her feet and ran out onto the smoldering ground. She stopped where she was sure Hemrick and Brike had been, but there was no movement, just chard blackness.
“No no no…” She gasped as she searched for movement.
Suddenly in the distance, someone sat up from behind a large stone. Dominaze started toward them, but stopped when one by one a few more Prints and Manicks rose from the blackness. She quickly realized none of them were Hemrick but those who were just safe enough from the heated blast to survive it. Nothing remained where Hemrick had stood.
“It’s the Demon.” One of the soot covered faces pointed at her. “She’s there.”
They moved toward her limping and sluggish as if she had just caused the explosion that engulfed them. She backed up slowly. Someone grabbed her from behind and pushed her behind them. At first she thought it was Kurtike, until she recognized the red flames across his skin and the fact that most of his clothing was scorched off.
“Brike?” Dominaze breathed, “Where’s Hemrick?”
Brike was breathing heavy from exhaustion as he back her toward the trees. “Let’s get out of here.”
Dominaze stepped around him. “Where’s Hemrick?”
Brike didn’t look at her. He took her shirt in his hand and pushed her toward the trees.
Dominaze shoved at him. “Stop.” She pulled away. “Where is Hemrick!” her voice choked.
“He gone!” Brike yelled.
He shook his head and clenched his jaw tight. His breathing shook as he looked at Dominaze. He lifted his hands with fingers flexed at her, but turned and screamed at the sky.
“HE’S GONE!”
Dominaze turned and glared at the blackened mob making its way towards her. She could see the hate in their eyes but it couldn’t compare to the hate brewing inside her. Their battle had taken the only person she fully trusted, the only person who really trusted her. She felt the black inside her grow and strength she didn’t feel earlier filled her veins. It filled her with a hated pressure that threatened to explode.
“You did this.” She took a deep breath as she watched them gather. “You did this!” she yelled.
The mob, for a moment, cowered back from her.
“YOU TOOK HIM FROM ME!” she cried. “HE WAS MY BROTHER!”
She couldn’t hold it in any longer. The black hatred she felt erupted from her with streaks of black fury flying through the air. The force pushed through everything in its path, crushing and flattening whatever remained standing in the Rockwell ruins. Dominaze cried out as the last of what pressure she held burst from her. She collapsed to her knees and could only hold onto her consciousness long enough to see the destruction that lay in front of her. Nothing remained. There was no more movement and no sign of a town having ever been there. The ruins were gone and the battle, too. Once again it was still. She put her hand on her chest and held her necklace medallion firmly. She thought of Granny Mink and how wrong she was to have trusted her, the Demon Print. It was clear to Dominaze in that moment that any Print willing to help her would be killed in her name. Blackness covered Dominaze’s eyes, but this time she knew it was her own unconsciousness taking over and she welcomed it.
~20~
TO FIGHT
Dominaze couldn’t hold on to her dreamless coma. She could feel the reality of consciousness overpowering her. As much as she didn’t want to see her surroundings, she had no choice. She closed her eyes tightly in a failed attempt to block everything out. She lay in a large narrow room lined with beds and lit with three flame chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Heavy curtains covered the windows. It was neither cold nor hot and to her relief she felt no physical pain.
Still, Dominaze knew without a doubt Hemrick wouldn’t be there when she opened her eyes. So she held them shut.
“Are you planning to lay there forever?” A soft male voice asked.
Dominaze opened her eyes, surprised to see a strange ancient man standing at the foot of her bed. His hair and beard were long and dark grey. He wore all white and looked somewhat angelic. With the lack of markings on his skin she knew he was a Manick. She scowled at him. She hadn’t felt him in the room, which meant he was invisible to her when her eyes were closed. She didn’t like that.
He walked to her side. “I thought you’d wake soon when they said your markings had stopped pulsing.”
Dominaze looked at her arms. Her black streaks lined her skin and were perfectly still. She looked back at him and scrunched her forehead.
“I don’t care who you are or what you want. I don’t trust you.”
He smiled a grandfatherly smile covered in wrinkles. “I don’t blame you. I haven’t done anything to earn your trust.”
“Don’t waste your time trying.” Dominaze stared off at the chandeliers above.
The man nodded. “Very well.”
To Dominaze’s surprise he turned and began to walk away.
“You’re not going to try and convince me to trust you, or tell me about a master plan you have to bring balance back to these worlds?”
The man turned to her. “Well child, why would I tell you anything of that sort? What is it you have done to earn my trust?”
Dominaze was surprised. For the first time she felt like she was just another Print, like this man didn’t think she was anything special or dangerous. He was ready to walk away from her. She sat up in her bed.
“What kind of game are you playing? Are you trying to trick me?”
“I have no intention of tricking you, Miss Dominaze. It is my understanding that you have undergone abuse over the last few months and have now lost someone dear to you. I just wished to pay my condolences and see to it that you were comfortable.”
“Well, I’m not comfortable,” she snapped. “I’m mad. They killed my brother.”
Dominaze didn’t even try to control herself. The room shook violently and all the beds began to rattle. The chandeliers swayed dangerously over head as gusts of wind circled the room, but the man stood calmly. “Who killed him?”
“Everybody.” Tears streamed down Dominaze’s face. “They all did. The Elect, the Elders, the Cut-Throats.” She paused. “And Brike.”
Water began seeping up from the ground and the end of her bed burst into flames. The room threatened to come apart as pieces of the walls peeled away from each other. Still, the man stood calmly.
“Brike and these other groups were there to kill your brother?”
“They were there for me.”
“To kill you?”
“Yes…No…Sort of.” Dominaze shook her head. “It’s complicated. The Elect want my strip so that they can control everyone; the Cut-Throats want my strip to be destroyed so they can be free from control. Either way they both want me de
ad. Adora wants me to fight for her city and Brike hates me but came to rescue me and killed Hemrick during the chaos.” Dominaze grabbed her head as it throbbed viciously.
The man nodded and walked toward her, still paying no attention to the commotion she was creating. “And do you wish to be alone now?”
“Yes…No…Maybe.” A dark mist began filling the room.
“Would you like to hide?” the man asked.
“No.” Dominaze glared. “I want to fight.” She looked up with anger in her black eyes.
“Fight the Cut-Throats?”
Dominaze thought about it, but shook her head. “I think the Cut-Throats are just scared of the Elect. They want to be free.”
The old man nodded. “I see. So, Brike then?”
Dominaze glared, but as she thought about it, she shook her head again. “Brike has hurt so many people he loved and never on purpose. I don’t think he meant to hurt Hemrick. They were fighting side by side when it happened.”
Again the old man nodded. “So, the Elect then?”
Dominaze didn’t answer right away. She thought about the Elect. She thought about Zapora, the young girl who was killed when mistaken for her. She thought about the vulnerations they performed into order to create their own Demon strip to exercise control over everyone. She thought of the hard living conditions forced in Caba and among the other Manicks. And she thought about the battle in her forest after she had refused to go with them. Everyone she had encountered was either suffering from the Elect or chasing after them for what they had done or for what they wanted to do.
Dominaze knew what she wanted and she suddenly felt her anger focus. In the blink of an eye she consumed the energy she had release, pulling it back inside of her. The room was suddenly still and completely put back together as if nothing had ever happened.
“Yes.” Dominaze nodded slowly. “I want to fight the Elect.” She looked at the man with determined eyes.
“Well, how do you expect to do that?”
“I don’t know yet, but I will.”