Sonus rolled on the ground coughing in severe pain.
“Do we have to keep this one alive?” asked Dice with annoyance.
“Yes, we have to keep him alive. Even the Blades must have honor. If it weren’t for his parents telling us about Kry, then we wouldn’t be here now.” Luka stepped in front of Sonus to dissuade any of the other Blades from trying anything.
Dice laughed. “Luka, I don’t plan to end his life when I have so many left before him.”
“Traitor!” shouted Ren.
Seekers suddenly came to Ren and bashed him with their rods. “Silence!”
Kry now understood how they had been found. He should have ended Sonus sooner.
Ren’s lips were red with blood. “Traitor!”
The Seekers continued to hit him.
Makai raised his hand. “Enough. He isn’t wrong; Sonus is a traitor in his eyes. Let him have his moment.”
The Seekers moved back, allowing Ren to breathe.
“There’s another traitor, and that’s Kry,” said Michael as he followed Botulinia around.
Luka turned to Botulinia. “Keep your pet on a leash. I’ve no idea why you even brought him.”
Botulinia stared coldly at Luka. “I respect you, Luka, but mind your tongue, or I’ll rip it out.”
Luka said nothing in return and remained vigilant on anyone making a move on Sonus.
“As for my new friend,” said Botulinia, smiling toward Michael, “there are many uses for such things, many uses…”
“Uses which we don’t need to hear about,” said Makai. He then looked across the stadium. “Ah, more guests.”
Another group had just joined them. Kade and Rafal, the last remaining Blades, had arrived. Seekers followed them escorting a group of prisoners.
“You two are always late,” hissed Dice.
Kade finished smoking his cigar and then threw it to the ground. “Why hurry and force ourselves to be a part of the internal bickering that surely has already started.”
“It’ll be better now with you both here to add to our discussions,” said Dice, cynically.
Kade pulled out another cigar and sighed.
Rafal pushed forward a prisoner whose hair was covered in blood. “A professor,” he said. “God has shown us glory this day.”
Botulinia strode toward them and looked through the group of prisoners. “Did you see my brother anywhere?”
Rafal looked into her eyes with adoration. “No, my love. We couldn’t sense his presence anywhere, but I’ll help you find him, even if I have to go to the ends of the Earth for you!”
Kade blew smoke rings and shook his head at his partner’s embarrassing display. Dice burst into laughter as did Abbas.
Botulinia looked disgusted. “Worthless team this is! Where is my brother?”
“Maybe this professor knows something,” suggested Rafal.
Botulinia’s eyes turned wild. “Put him next to the other professors.”
Professor Manjra was forced to his knees next to Seranay and Yujin.
“Out of the entire campus, we could only find three? Where are the others?” asked Botulinia.
Dice giggled. “Well, one went down early, I’m afraid.”
“I should have guessed you couldn’t help yourself,” said Botulinia with a disgruntled look.
“Well, three is enough, for now,” said Makai. “One of them must know where your brother is.”
Botulinia looked at the professors and gazed into each of their eyes. “You went against the Shadow Government. The Government who protected you. The Government who gave your university money. Now, you repay their good will by harboring a fugitive? All of you lack loyalty.”
Manjra squirmed. “I told them it wasn’t a good idea not to tell the Shadow Government about Kry and what he can do! I was in the minority in the decision making!”
Botulinia helped him up. “Oh, you sweet thing. Is that true? Well then, I guess we can let you go.”
Manjra’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, I never let the Shadow—”
Blood dripped from his mouth and throat as Botulinia cleanly pulled her dagger out from his neck.
Many students screamed as Manjra collapsed to the ground.
“You are a cruel mistress,” said Makai.
Botulinia pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her dagger clean. She then turned to the other two professors. Yujin and Seranay did not react. Both of them realized that their lives could be just as forfeit.
“Examples had to be made. Now, do either of you know where your President is and, for another thing, where’s the Professor known as Zero?” Botulinia caressed her ruby-hilted dagger in front of them.
Yujin and Seranay continued to remain silent.
“So, you’re mute, just like the young boy over there?” Botulinia slapped Yujin across the face. “I don’t think so. Speak!”
Yujin bit his lip and looked up. He glanced down briefly at Manjra’s dead body beside him. “We don’t know where they are. My guess is, they both have already gone.”
“How honorable it is that the President flees, leaving his own students to die,” jeered Botulinia.
“Dishonorable,” said Luka. “I’ll hunt him down if I must.”
“You might find him more than a handful, even for you, Blind Blade,” said Yujin.
Luka stroked one of his scars. “The more glorious his downfall then if he can keep up with me.”
“And Zero? Where is he? My brother was sent here to investigate his activities. We also had a spy among your group. Where is Professor Himura?” asked Botulinia.
Yujin was surprised.
“Oh, I guess you didn’t know about Himura,” said Botulinia, smiling.
“Himura disappeared a week before you arrived. We haven’t seen him since, and we haven’t seen your brother either,” said Yujin.
Botulinia gripped her dagger and then turned to Seranay. “Do you care to add anything?”
Seranay had her eyes cast down, and sadness had flooded her as she glanced at Manjra’s dead body.
“Do you want to join him?” asked Botulinia.
“It is as Yujin said. Katar might already have left with Zero, and Himura hasn’t been seen for a week,” said Seranay. She then looked Botulinia in the eyes. “Why was a Blade investigating Zero?”
Botulinia kicked her to the ground with her high heels. “None of your business. Where is my brother?” shouted Botulinia.
The other Blades watched cautiously. They all knew that Botulinia would do anything to find her brother. Botulinia then grabbed Seranay, pulled her up and brandished her dagger against her neck.
Yujin tried to move but was immediately held down by Seekers.
“I will find my brother!” screamed Botulinia.
Makai stepped in closer. “Botulinia, calm yourself. If you kill them, we’ll find no answers.”
Botulinia turned to him gritting her teeth.
“Veron was sent here to investigate Zero, so my guess is that Zero has something to do with his disappearance,” said Makai.
“My brother was not weak, Makai. He was strong enough to handle such a professor,” snapped Botulinia.
“Maybe so, but Zero is the connection,” assured Makai.
Botulinia pulled her dagger away from Seranay’s neck and forced her back to her knees. Seranay gasped for breath.
Botulinia looked to the crowd of students. “Does anyone know where Zero is?” Her voice purred as she walked seductively in front of them. She made sure to reveal her leg through the slit in her purple dress.
The male students could not stop staring. Botulinia gazed at them and then looked at Kry with a smile. “Kry, stand up.”
Kry had been silent, trying to analyze everything. The Shadow Government’s interest in Zero was also an interest to him. He stood up without complaint.
“You’re an enigma—a very painful enigma at that.” Botulinia then walked over to Yujin and Seranay. “Let’s play a game.”
Dice clappe
d. “At last, some fun!”
“I want to know where my brother is!” snapped Botulinia. “It seems Zero might be the connection, but since he isn’t here, someone has to suffer for whatever happened to my brother.” She looked down at Manjra’s body. “Someone, meaning more than one.”
“I don’t know what happened either,” said Kry.
“Oh, I’m sure you don’t, but that isn’t your role right now,” said Botulinia. “Your role is to choose who dies among these two professors. Do you have a favorite, I wonder?”
Kry remained composed. “I’ll not choose such a thing.”
Botulinia pointed her dagger at the professors. “You will, and if you don’t, I’ll cut both their throats.”
Makai placated with his hands. “Botulinia, let’s not do anything until Viktor arrives. They’re still useful to us.”
“Don’t be a bore, Makai. Let Botulinia have her vengeance,” said Dice, playfully.
“I agree. My love should have the right to avenge her dead brother,” added Rafal.
Botulinia glared at him. “My brother is not dead!”
Rafal went to his knees. “My love, I did not mean—”
“Silence! And you, Makai, stay out of this,” said Botulinia, coldly.
Makai remained silent. Seekers then lifted Yujin and Seranay to their feet.
Botulinia placed her dagger momentarily to each of the professors’ throats. “Make your choice, Kry, or I’ll make it for you.”
Everyone looked at Kry, waiting to see what he would do.
“Hurry up!” Botulinia pressed her dagger against their throats.
“What good will this do?” asked Kry. “If I choose, one dies, then what? Your brother will still be missing.”
Botulinia pulled her dagger away. “I will feel much better.”
“Will you? I don’t think you will,” said Kry.
Botulinia smiled. “Let’s see, shall we?” She then placed her dagger against Seranay’s throat.
Seranay closed her eyes, preparing herself for her final moment. Kry looked away as Botulinia made the motion of slicing Seranay’s throat. There was a murmur among the students, and when he turned back, Botulinia had blinked next to Geminae and thrust her ruby-hilted dagger into her chest.
Botulinia looked into Geminae’s eyes as she pulled her dagger out. “The Shadow Government sends its regards.”
Geminae’s eyes showed surprise as she dropped to the ground holding her chest. Not a word left her mouth.
“You and Dominus should have died together for ruining my operations at Bellum. The Shadow Government does not forgive easily.” Botulinia wiped her dagger and returned it to the strap against her thigh.
The two voices returned to Kry’s mind.
Sacrifices must be made.
Love cannot be sacrificed.
Empathy is for the weak.
The two voices struggled with each other as Kry watched his aunt hold on to life as she lay in a pool of her own blood.
****
Rush sat inside the energy prison watching the two Seekers. Their rods remained blue making sure he could not use his ability. The Seekers never said a word and just stared at him.
Rush whistled. “Don’t you have anything better to do than to watch me? I know I’m handsome and have bright blue eyes, but I mean, come on!”
The Seekers were ghostly silent and continued to observe him.
Rush sighed and placed his hands on the energy bars. A spark forced him back. “This isn’t fun at all. Alright, since you want to stare at me, how about we tell each other stories? I have one. Let me tell you of the time when I played poker—”
“Silence,” said the Seeker.
Rush looked at them with excitement. “At last, a word! I knew you could do it! It’s a good story. It’ll be our little bonding session. You might even find that you like me and then set me free.”
The Seeker looked to his robed partner, and then they both turned their backs on him.
“You don’t want to be my friend, I guess,” said Rush. “At least, I don’t have to see your ugly faces anymore.” He tried to press against the bars once more, but the energy pushed him back. He kicked the floor in frustration. He had no idea what to do. His friends needed him, and he was here—useless and trapped.
The door to the room opened, and Rush was surprised to see Rhea.
The Seekers turned to her. “What are you doing here?”
Rhea flipped herself into the air and used her feet to knock out one of the Seekers. The other Seeker brought up his rod and tried to strike her.
“I’m not a User. Those things won’t work on me.” Rhea slid under his legs and returned a lightning strike to the side of his temple.
Rush was in disbelief as the Seekers were lying on the ground unconscious. Rhea quickly picked up their rods. “How do I turn these off?”
Rush was still surprised to see Rhea, and not only see her but see what she could do. “Who are you? I remember a weaker, no offense, version of you back in London.”
Rhea came up to his cell. “Do you want to get out of here or not?”
Rush smiled. “There’s a little switch at the end of the rod.”
She found the switch and turned the first rod off. The blue glow faded, and then she threw the rod to the floor. She was about to turn off the second rod.
“Please, daughter, don’t turn that off.”
Rhea turned to see her father standing in the doorway. Tai-Lao looked at the fallen Seekers, and his face showed pride. “I’m glad your training as a child was a good investment.”
She held the remaining rod in her hand, her finger on the button.
“Turn it off, Rhea,” insisted Rush.
“Don’t, my beloved daughter. He’s a criminal and will be punished. He also killed your uncle,” said Tai-Lao.
Rhea looked back and forth between Rush and her father.
“If you turn that off, he’ll be free, and everything I’ve worked for will be for nothing: my clan, my family, your clan, and your family. Think about the consequences of what will happen if you free him. I’m your father, and I order you to come to me, now. Give me the rod,” demanded her father.
“I’ve always loved you, father. Did you know that?”
Tai-Lao was more focused on the rod than on her.
“But you’ve never truly given me freedom. I’ve always been guarded, followed, and always had one of your men watching over me. You wanted me to be safe, but all it did was to keep me in my own prison. You never believed that I was strong enough. You never trusted me with anything to do with the clan or the family. I’ve always been second to the clan.” Rhea looked sadly at the floor and then returned her attention back to her father. “I know you always wanted a son, but you had to make do with me.”
Tai-Lao stepped forward slowly. “I will not lie about not wanting to have a son. What father wouldn’t want a son to continue their legacy? But that doesn’t mean I don’t care for you. I wanted you to be safe. I wanted you to be protected. I have many enemies, and other rival clans would do anything to hurt me. It was for your benefit.”
“No, it was for your benefit. You could just forget me. Just like how you forgot me in Bellum, and how I almost died because of it,” accused Rhea.
Tai-Lao moved closer. “I had to make tough choices—choices which helped the clan. The clan is our family. It is your family. Think about this.”
Rhea glared at her father. “The clan is your family, not mine. I didn’t even know the uncle who Rush killed. He was just a random stranger who was also in some illegal business and ended up on the wrong deal. You even locked me up inside this machine, and you claim you love me!”
Tai-Lao was very close to her now. “You are the daughter of the Dragon Wang-Tu Clan. You are my blood. Of course, I love you. You are just being tricked by him.”
“Tricked how? He offers me nothing except my freedom from you. And you have your family, and I have mine—a new family of my choosing.”
>
“If you choose this, realize that you can never return. Choose wisely. I’m your father, and he’s nothing but a fugitive who will be hunted down again. You will not be safe!” pleaded Tai-Lao.
Rhea looked at Rush who spoke only with his eyes.
“You choose him over your own blood? Your own father?” Tai-Lao lunged forward and grabbed her wrist.
“I choose freedom,” said Rhea, pressing the switch.
With the rod turned off, Rush could already feel his power returning. He opened his mind and split apart the energy bars of the prison.
“A blood debt is owed!” shouted Tai-Lao who tried to strike at Rush.
Rush blinked behind him and released a surge of energy into the back of his head. Tai-Lao fell silently to the floor. “Sorry about hitting your dad.”
Rhea looked at her father, but there was little sympathy in her eyes. “He deserved it.”
Rush grabbed his white coat and white-rimmed sunglasses from the locker by the wall. “Let’s go save our friends.”
Chapter 34 – One Faction
“I told you I’d feel better, didn’t I?” Botulinia smiled as she walked around Geminae.
Somehow, Geminae was still alive; her eyes were darting left and right.
“You’re mad. She was one of you.” Kry directed his attention to the other Blades. “Are none of you surprised by this?”
“What you have to understand about the Blades is that we all know where we stand with the Shadow Government. If we disappoint them in any way, our lives are forfeit. Even for Geminae, she could not be saved from this,” said Makai.
“We all knew,” said Luka. “Geminae was dead as soon as she returned to us. There is no returning.”
Geminae struggled to speak, but no words would leave her dying lips. Her breath blew frosty air as her heart beat slower and slower.
“She was pathetic. Both she and Dominus were disappointments,” said Dice.
“You’ll all end the same way. The Shadow Government will just throw you away as they did with Geminae. They have to be stopped,” said Kry.
Abbas grunted with laughter. “Stopped, how? No one is stronger than they. We’re all just pawns in their world. It’s better to be on their side than against.”
Rise of the Young: Warriors are not made; they are forged (The Ascended Book 2) Page 49