by M. L. Greye
Perfect, Legann grumbled to himself, falling backwards onto the bed, no longer able to sit up. Right before he gave into the drug, his mind shouted out to his sister. Olinia!
He wasn’t awake long enough to hear a reply.
: : : : :
Archrin held Tiara against him, lightly stroking her arm with one hand as she slept. Her scent wafted up to him, and, like always, it left him intoxicated like a man drunken from wine. She really had no idea how good she smelled to him, but that was probably for the best.
He sighed and glanced down at the landscape far below him. He was in the window seat of his row with Tiara to his left beside the middle aisle. Across from him, Sazx sat facing Archrin and Tiara, an empty seat to his right. His head was tipped back against his chair and his eyes were shut. Archrin knew better than to assume Sazx was asleep, though. No, Sazx was wide awake, most likely analyzing the circumstances of how they managed to be captured and what could be learned from their mistakes. He was undoubtedly calculating their chances of survival. It was the curse of the soldier. He and Archrin would never be naïve enough to think that everything would work out for the best. Experience had taught them otherwise.
How odd it was to be with the former Nagreth Captain. As a Kendren soldier, Archrin had heard of Thyrnion’s death and Sazx’s rise in status. However, his position in the Kendren army would never have placed him within the same circles as Dagon’s second in command, or any Nagreth for that matter. His troop had been assigned to strictly Saerdian worlds. He had not been part of those who fought alongside Nagreth in the overthrowing of mixed breed worlds. It was something he had been thankful for. Nagreth had always seemed like half-dead creatures with their gray skin and steel eyes.
Tiara groaned softly in her sleep. Archrin bent and kissed the top of her head, glancing around the small cabin once more. The interior was mostly a beige color, except for the cherry wood trimmings and flatscreen television mounted to one wall. There were two rows of eight seats, upholstered in pale leather that matched the beige theme. The rows sat back to back, with a walkway running down the middle of the plane, splitting them into four seats on either side. One of the men who had brought the Other Worlders aboard was reclining in the row behind Archrin and sleeping with his large gun in hand.
From what Archrin had seen of airplanes during his Ethon stay, he knew that this was not a normal aircraft. Sazx had confirmed his suspicions when he mentioned earlier that they were on a private jet. Who owned the jet, though, was still in question. It was doubtful that Aeorin, a fellow Other Worlder, could possess her own airplane. But then again, it was just as unbelievable to be able to fly at all, and yet here he was.
Archrin ran a hand through his hair. When he originally ran away with Tiara that night in Drivian, he had anticipated a revengeful Foehn and even a couple skirmishes with the Kendrens, all in search of a peaceful life together. He had had no inkling that he would later kill two of the Kendren brothers, or that he’d become the future king of the Saerds by marrying Tiara. Never in his wildest dreams did he place himself in Ethon. In fact, entering Ethon was the farthest thing from his mind.
A quiet life with Tiara was turning out to be a non-existent ideal he would never take hold of. She really did attract trouble, practically without any effort. Archrin almost wished he were back in the simple existence of a Kendren soldier. Almost. Even though being with Tiara meant constantly living in peril, he wouldn’t trade it for anything. To be close to the fiery young Drivian was pure bliss.
Releasing another sigh, Archrin leaned his head against his seat, remembering the role he was to play. Since Tiara was to be Princess Olinia, he was to portray Will. Sazx was going to use Archrin’s name as his own for the time being. It would be better for Tiara if Talik was not told the Nagreth Captain was traveling with the supposed Olinia. For all Talik knew, Sazx was still loyal to Dagon. Also, according to Sazx, they never got along very well.
Archrin frowned. It didn’t really matter what names they went by, though. Eventually the truth would come out. Archrin had a bad feeling about the whole situation. He wasn’t eager to arrive in California.
: : : : :
“I’m really confused about what just happened,” Hillary exclaimed, dropping onto the coffee table. “Why did she pass out?”
“Globing takes a lot out of her,” Will explained without turning.
They were back in the basement of the library, right where they had left from. Olinia was now sleeping in the chair Will had been sitting in earlier. He watched her silently for a moment before glancing at Hillary.
“You should probably be getting home soon. Won’t your parents be wondering where you are?”
She shook her head. “My parents are divorced. I haven’t seen my dad in over a year, so I doubt he cares much about what I do.”
It had been so long since he’d heard of someone being divorced that Will had practically forgotten there was such a thing. As far as he knew, there was no divorce in the Other Worlds. “So, you live with your mom?”
“Yeah, she’s a librarian here,” she answered. “I waved to her on my way down to you and Olinia. I usually come here after school to study while I wait for her to get off work.”
“Do you have any siblings?”
“I have a couple step-sisters, but I never see them,” she replied. “They live with my dad and his new wife in South Carolina.”
Olinia moaned softly, pulling Will’s attention around. He needed to get her back home. The rest of the Other Worlders staying at her house were probably wondering where they were. Not to mention, Zedgry was bound to have landed by now. Will let out his breath in a rush. In order to get Olinia to the car, he would have to carry her through the library. That would definitely turn some heads.
“I want to help you find Legann.”
Will winced inwardly. Legann’s disappearance felt an awful lot like Zedgry’s abduction by the Vrenyx. Except this time neither Will nor Olinia had any idea of where Legann was being held. In all honesty, Hillary probably was the best option in discovering Legann’s whereabouts. She knew the workings of DS. But this wasn’t the Other Worlds. Hillary was a minor. She couldn’t just run away from her mom for a little while with a bunch of strangers, who were all adults. That would look great in a missing persons police report.
“Hillary, who are your friends?”
The woman’s voice caused Will to turn. He found a petite, middle-aged librarian in purple-rimmed glasses watching them from just beyond the little sitting area. She had to be Hillary’s mother. Will could see the close resemblance in her eyes and nose.
“This is Legann’s sister, Olinia, and her boyfriend Will,” Hillary said, standing. Will couldn’t help but smile at Hillary’s assumption of his and Olinia’s relationship.
“Legann?” Her mother paused for a moment, trying to recall the name. Then, “Oh, that nice boy from school. Is his sister alright?”
Nice boy? Will blinked. Hadn’t Hillary and Legann fought just a few days before? He wondered what Hillary said at home to give her mother the impression that Legann was a “nice boy.”
“No, she’s not feeling well,” Hillary answered. “Will was about to take her home.”
Her mother nodded, eyeing her inquisitively. “Are you going with them?”
“I want to,” she said simply.
“Very well. Keep me updated.”
“Of course.” Hillary offered a small smile.
Her mother returned her smile and looked at Will. “Carry Olinia out through the back so that no unwanted eyes take notice.”
“We will,” Hillary assured.
“I’ll see you later.”
“Bye, mom.”
With that, Hillary’s mother left them. Will watched her retreating back, feeling like he had missed something. He glanced back at Hillary. “Does she know you’re gifted?”
“Yeah. Not being limited by DS means I can be fully honest with the person who cares about me most.”
“An
d she knows about Legann being taken.” It wasn’t a question.
Hillary grunted. “She was the one who told me to help you.”
“I’m surprised after hearing about the DS controls over its students your mom is still okay with you being a part of it.”
“Once you’re in you can’t really get out. As far as I know, no one has ever done it and succeeded.” She frowned. “Plus, she’s not supposed to know, remember? And it’s not like we can go to the cops about a bunch of gifted kids being forced to keep their gifts a secret. They’ll think we’re insane.”
She had a point. If the students weren’t able to display their gifts in front of their parents, how would they be able to show a group of government workers? Besides, he doubted the general population would be very understanding of others with special abilities.
“You can’t really escape something you’re forced to hide from the world,” Hillary said softly, more to herself than to Will.
“Right.” He suddenly felt sad for the gifted students. The kids most likely just wanted to belong to a place with others similar to themselves, but ended up finding themselves trapped.
Will watched her, suddenly drained. His realm was supposed to be the world of non-fiction. Yet, here Hillary was, telling him all about some crazy institution he was about to become entangled with. And apparently, Aeorin, who he had mistaken for a naïve, spoiled girl back in Relivaynt, was somehow involved. Will was beginning to have a headache.
“We should take Olinia back to your car,” Hillary said, yanking him once again from his thoughts.
He nodded. “I’ll carry her if you lead the way.”
: : : : :
After leaving the airport, Zedgry spent the remainder of the trip biting at his knuckles and looking out the window. Trenton sat calmly beside him, making small talk with the taxi driver every so often. He seemed completely unconcerned with Olinia and Will’s lack of communication. Or, at least, he wasn’t letting it show.
Finally, the taxi pulled into a long driveway and came to a halt in front of a two-story, whitewashed house with a slate colored roof. As Trenton went to pay the driver, Zedgry jumped out of the car and headed for the house’s front door.
He vaguely acknowledged the driver’s uncomfortable laugh. “What happened here? It looks like some party gone overboard.”
Zedgry tore through the front door, noticing absently that it hadn’t been entirely shut. “Olinia!” He shouted, his eyes focused upward on the second floor. “Olinia, are you here?”
“What a mess!” Trenton stepped inside behind Zedgry. “I don’t think this was the work of your sister.”
“Mess?” Zedgry turned back to the Key and realized with a start what he had missed on his hasty entrance.
Shattered glass littered the floor. If he had been paying better attention, he would have noticed the pieces crunch beneath his shoes. The house was empty, sunlight flickering over the broken shards beneath him.
Practically every window had some sort of gaping hole and tattered curtains or blinds. A side table was toppled over, appearing to have been tossed aside in a hurry. Fresh flowers were sprawled in a puddle of water beside a half-demolished crystal vase at the foot of the staircase up to the second floor.
Zedgry couldn’t help but stare. “Ohreen doveem naunt.”
“My thoughts precisely,” Trenton remarked. “What sort of battle took place here?”
Zedgry stepped to the kitchen and dropped into one of the chairs at the table, surveying the damage. Nothing seemed to be stolen. Was this why Olinia couldn’t talk? Their connection was still closed. He wondered if something had happened to her.
“The upstairs seems to be untouched,” Trenton announced as he joined Zedgry a few minutes later.
Zedgry sighed, rubbing his eyes with his hands. “Should I ring Will’s mobile again? Maybe this time he’ll answer.”
“You’ve been trying to call me?”
Will’s voice brought Zedgry’s head around with a snap. He was entering the television room from the front entryway. Olinia was draped across his arms, her head resting against his shoulder. Behind Will, a petite brunette girl hung in the background, appearing awkward and out of place.
Zedgry leapt to his feet. “Is Olinia hurt?”
“No.” Will shook his head, setting her down on the couch. “She’s just asleep. What did you do to the windows?”
“Me?” Zedgry blinked. “We just got here.”
“When we left, the house looked fine.” Will glanced past Zedgry to Trenton. “Hey, Grandpa.”
“Hello, lad.” Trenton smiled.
“Is it just the two of you here?” Will asked, casting a look over his shoulder to the entryway.
“Are you disappointed?” Zedgry raised an eyebrow.
“I’m surprised,” he returned. “Tiara and the others should be here too.”
The girl Will had brought spoke for the first time. “You’re missing more people?”
“Who is this?” Zedgry wondered aloud, pointing toward her.
Will frowned. “Her name’s Hillary. She’s going to help us rescue your brother.”
“She’s what?” Zedgry blurted.
“Legann’s been taken.” He grimaced. “And by the look of things, Tiara, Archrin, and Sazx have too.”
Zedgry’s mouth dropped open. “Sazx is here?”
“You didn’t know?” Will exchanged a glance with his great-grandfather. “You didn’t tell him? No one told him?”
“The Nagreth has been living with my family?” Zedgry spat out the words, his hands balling into fists at his side.
“Yeah,” Will took a deep breath. “He’s not a Nagreth anymore. He helped us rescue you from the Vrenyx. Now, I guess we can return the favor.”
“I’m not going to risk my neck for some Nagreth!” Zedgry erupted, practically shouting. “I don’t care what he did to redeem himself.”
Will couldn’t believe that no one had mentioned Sazx’s presence. He wondered if Olinia had kept it from her twin on purpose. If she were awake at the moment she could explain herself, but she was conked out on the couch for who knew how much longer. He sighed. “Sazx isn’t the only one gone.”
“Doesn’t mean we have to go after them,” Zedgry retorted.
“So, you would leave the future sovereigns of the Saerds, who came here for your sister, to fend for themselves?”
“Maybe you all shouldn’t have been in cohorts with the enemy in the first place,” he barked.
Will felt like rolling his eyes. “How did you really not know that he was here?”
“Because no one tells me anything anymore!” He was visibly fuming. “How was I able to get all the way to Ethon with you before I discovered I have a little brother?”
“Yeah, that was unfortunate.” Will winced.
“Unfortunate?” Zedgry repeated, running a hand through his hair. “Ecknreef. I go away to Delvich for a little while and everything changes.”
Will really did feel bad for Zedgry. A lot had happened, but since Zedgry’s return, there just hadn’t been time to sit down and tell him about it. Will leaned against the backside of the couch and folded his arms. During Will and Zedgry’s little fight, Trenton Alridge had invited Hillary to join him at the kitchen table. Hillary seemed uncomfortable, and Trenton looked amused.
“I’m sorry things are so different now, Zedge,” Will told his friend. “You can blame me for this mess.”
He blinked. “Why you?”
“I took your siblings to Ethon.”
Zedgry let out a short laugh. “You’re right. This is your fault.” He glanced down at his twin. “When do you think she’ll wake up?”
“Good question,” Will noted. “What’s the longest she’s ever slept from Globing.”
“I’ve seen her sleep two days straight, back when she was first learning the gift.” Zedgry grunted.
“Hopefully she won’t be that long.”
“It doesn’t really matter how long she sleeps f
or if we don’t come up with some sort of rescue plan for Legann,” Zedgry muttered.
“And the others?” Will raised an eyebrow and the Lantz rolled his eyes.
“Yes, the plan will include the Nagreth too.”
“Hey, Will?”
Hillary’s voice pulled his head around. She’d said it so softly he’d almost not heard her. “Yes?”
“I think I could find them for you.”
Zedgry spun around to face her. “How?”
She smiled slightly. “As a typical modern-day corporation, DS puts everything into a computer.”
“And you can talk to it,” Will finished for her.
If Hillary could locate the Other Worlders, then it would make this rescue much faster. There was the risk of Hillary being caught though. DS knew her gift. Will frowned. “Won’t DS detect you in their system?”
“It is a possibility,” she admitted, “but highly unlikely considering the fact DS doesn’t know I can do it.”
“But doesn’t DS know-”
“DS knows some of my gifts,” Hillary said, cutting Will off. “If they knew I could communicate with electronics then they’d figure out that their Bead doesn’t work anymore.”
“Fascinating gift, my dear.” Trenton smiled brightly. “What will you need in order to find young Legann?”
Hillary’s eyes darted between Will and Trenton. “A laptop with an internet connection would do.”
14
------------------
It was time – before Talik’s wench returned for her work with the boy. Even though Dagon had rested for the past couple hours since the boy had arrived, he was still too weak to escape Talik’s castle, where he assumed he was. He personally had never been to Zeedyr before. His messengers had always summoned Talik to the Vrenyx. If he were not actually in Zeedyr, then it would certainly complicate matters.
Dagon opened his eyes to the same odd ceiling and white curtains. The surrounding corridor was silent except for the noise from one of the boxes by his bed. Taking a deep breath, Dagon slowly began pushing himself up. The world momentarily spun as a wave of dizziness crashed over him. Dagon paused, waiting for it to pass, and then edged himself to the side of the bed. Gritting his teeth over the amount of effort it required, Dagon first swung one leg onto the floor and then the other.