by T. C. Edge
I target those minds, and those alone. Open the gates, I whisper. Lower the bridge. Do not stop until it is done. I draw a breath, hating the order, but knowing there's no other way. Kill... I say weakly, kill if you have to. Open the city, protect the way in with your lives. Join the invading forces in the fight...
I sense the order settle, sense it filtering into their minds. One by one, the people rise. One by one, they act.
And drawing back into the room, I nod with a heavy heart.
It is done.
200
AMBER
I sit in my cell, lit by torches behind me, my body shackled to the iron chair. Beyond, footsteps sound, two sets rushed and loud, another smooth and graceful. Before the door even opens, I know he's coming. My mind is about to fall once more.
A groan signals his arrival, the heavy oak door complaining as it opens, as an old man embittered by age. It reveals the tall shape of the Overseer, two black-clad soldiers by his sides. He lifts a hand and waves them backwards. They shut the door behind him as he steps into the room.
A silence consumes the air, greedily feasting. I stare at the Overseer, fearful, yet calm. My journey here had been fraught, my words pleading for answers. Yet now my nerves have had time to settle. Thrashing and ranting will get me nowhere.
"How did you do that?" I ask him, standing before me, his face half shadowed, half catching the firelight. "How did you take away all our powers? I didn't know you could do a thing like that."
"There is a lot you don't know, Amber," he says. "With Brie's help, there is plenty I can do."
"You're using her to amplify your powers?"
"Occasionally," he grins. "I couldn't possibly have subdued you all on my own. But through Brie? Well, it really wasn't so difficult."
He moves over towards the wall. There's a chair there, set in a corner. He sits upon it, relaxing into the shadows. That's how he likes it, isn't it? Ruling from the shade.
"Is it really you?" I ask. "In control of this city? Have is been you all along?"
He tips his head back, laughing with pleasure. "Oh no, of course not," he says.
"But you said you never served. It was all a lie, a ruse..."
His eyes glint.
"You're the man behind the curtain," I whisper.
"Do I look like the man behind the curtain?" he asks me, fluttering his colourful robes. "I am everywhere, child. Without me, the Prime's powers would be useless. I am the one who guides them."
"And now you're going to replace them."
His eyes lift up, surprised.
"That's what you're doing, isn't it?" I ask. "You're planning on replacing them with Brie."
"An interesting insight," he says quietly, leaning back further into the shadowed corner. "I suppose, in a way, you're right. But this has always been foreseen. The Prime have always known their days are numbered."
I frown, so confused. The expression draws the Overseer's face into a smile.
"They are dying, child," he explains, a tone of sorrow to the words. "They may not look it to your eyes, but their bodies are failing, and their powers with it. They knew this end would come, and are happy to let go. Brie will continue their good work, and take it to the millions beyond our borders. She is the piece of the puzzle we've been waiting for. It is so very tragic that they will not live to see it."
He stands from his chair, stepping towards me, mournful. Long fingers appear from the folds of his robes, reaching to my chin. I don't fight it, don't draw back. I know there's nothing I can do to repel him now.
"People see the Prime, only as I wish for them to appear," he whispers. "But Brie's powers are...beyond even their own. She will assume the mantle, with Marcus by her side. And you and Perses, and all the others, you will retake your positions up here upon the hill. All of you will be Heralds, under Brie's command..."
"Under your command," I spit, a spike of anger causing me to draw away. "Don't pretend like this is her. Don't pretend like you won't be controlling her."
"I don't control people, Amber," he says. He takes a step away from me. "That is never my intent."
Now it's my turn to laugh. "How can you say that? Do you know how it sounds?"
"Did I control you?" he asks me. The words come tinged with regret. "Yes, perhaps you acted against your will sometimes, doing so to feel the joy of the Prime, but if you truly wanted to deny it, you could have. I only act in the name of what we are trying to achieve, Amber. We are children of war, the Prime and I, born amid the global collapse. Our intent has only ever been to secure peace."
"And this is the way you're doing it? There are better ways, Alfred."
The flickering light reveals a smile, a real smile, drawn on his lips. "Do you remember when I told you my real name?" he asks me. "Did you not see me as a friend then?"
I don't nod, nor deny him. I merely stare, thinking of how I once perceived him. Kindly and gentle, not cruel like Kovas, or mystical and divine like the Prime. Just an old telepath, trying to do some good.
How wrong I was.
"You're a fine actor, Alfred," I say. "I guess you had me fooled."
A sigh begins to drift through his nose, his head hanging forward. "I suppose it is the price I pay, for doing what must be done," he says. "In time, you'll see me as you did. In time, you all will."
He turns away, stepping back towards the corner. He returns with the chair, moving ahead of me, planting it down on the floor. It is just what Secretary Burns did, when he helped me escape the pull of the Prime. And now here I am, about to be drawn back into the shadows. I can't help but smile at the irony of it all.
"Perses has already fallen," he says, his words, and expression, flattening out. "Years in the service of the Prime have made him vulnerable. It wasn't so hard to bring him back around. He will rejoin the Heralds, and lead our armies in this war. Soon, Kira and Ares will follow, and join our family here on the hill." He allows a small, victorious smile. "We are spoilt for choice now," he says. "And to think I made that oaf Krun a Chosen. How laughable..."
His words fill with spite, his eyes flashing cruel.
"Krun?" I whisper. "He's the Chosen Titan now?"
"A temporary elevation," he says, "until we find someone better." He smiles again, his eyes settling. They take on a sympathetic, sorrowful slant once more. "There is no need for you to fight it all, or to worry, Amber," he goes on, his voice softening. "I will try to get Elian back for you. You can marry, and be happy. Or even choose Jude if you wish. I'll even gather your family for you too. Your parents, even Alberta, should you desire it." His face settles into a compassionate frame. "I do not want you to worry, or be unhappy, child. As you have seen, our doors are opening to the people of the Fringe. Brie has changed everything. We can usher in a better world, together."
His words are a potion, honey and milk. I sit and consider them, see the picture he's painting of a brand new world. For a moment I find myself almost relishing it, the scene one of beauty, a tantalising vision. Could it work? I find myself wondering. My family could be here, safe with me. Jude, Elian, even Grace. Why fight when we can join? We can step forward to a new dawn, hand in hand. Together.
I blink, drawing back, my body running cold. "No," I say quickly, breathing out the word. "No, it could never work..."
"Oh, there's no reason why not." His words strike quick, like snakes hidden in the grass. "You started this journey for your sister, didn't you? Do you remember the deal we made back then?"
I think back to when I first came here. When Jude was in a cell, and Lilly set to discover her duty. "You said you'd set her up with a good life," I whisper. "If I joined the trials. If I...committed."
"And has anything truly changed?" he asks. "Your sister is a sweet girl. And Jude is a dutiful young man. All can be here with you, Amber. All you have to do, is give in."
Given in, I think to myself. Do I even have a choice? What can I do against powers like this?
My head falls low, delaying. I can already f
eel his subtle controls in my head, twisting and turning the direction of my thoughts, driving me down the path he always wanted me to tread.
If Perses has given in, what can you do to fight it? Just accept it, Amber. Think of your family, your loved ones. At least they will be safe.
The words are his, but delivered in my voice. I find myself starting to nod, staring into an empty void. My eyes work up, ready to link with his own. Without my powers, I cannot fight him. There will be nothing I can do.
Footsteps.
They clatter outside, rushing quickly down the corridor. I hear brisk words, blurred beyond the door. It thrashes open, and a figure pours in.
I look into the face of Herald Avon, another whom I liked. His handsome visage is twisted, eyes curled in confusion, body dripping with rain.
"What?" the Overseer barks. "I asked not to be disturbed."
"It's...the gate, Master Overseer," Avon says. "And the bridge." He shakes his head. "The city is open!"
"What!" The man's calm exterior cracks, his face ageing decades in a flash.
"I don't know," Avon says. "Our soldiers, they're fighting down there. I don't understand it. Some of them are opening the gate, lowering the bridge. The enemy army is rushing in!"
The Overseer doesn't even look at me. He marches immediately for the door, Avon trailing behind. I don't let him go without a word of my own.
"Not in such control, after all, Alfred."
His eyes flash back, face a twisted mess. For the first time, I see an ashen concern on his face.
"Watch her," he growls to the soldiers, as he marches through the door. It slams shut behind him as they leave, casting me into the gloom.
I sit and wait, trying to figure out what's going on. And as I do so, I begin to feel a warmth flow through my blood. I frown, and look down to my hands. Firelight flickers upon them.
How?
In my head, the shroud recedes, the fog subduing my powers gradually drifting off. I look again to my arms, and let the fires flood and grow hot. Slowly, surely, my armour brightens to redden, the shackles around me glowing, melting off my frame.
Is it because the Overseer has left? I wonder. Surely he wouldn't make such a mistake.
And then the answer comes, so blindingly obvious, so clear.
Oh no, I think, this isn't the Overseer. This is Brie...
The chair melts around me, and my body, glowing bright, stands tall.
I stare at the door, the fires consuming me.
And step forward, my body aflame.
201
KIRA
A commotion begins to lift to my ears, echoing and far off.
I blink in the fire-lit cell, my body shackled to a chair. The pervading gloom recedes, my night-vision starting to return. I look to the stone and see detail, my eyes zooming in. Cracks grow to fissures. The once-smooth stone reveals a thousand chips and imperfections. My heart-rate soars as the mist in my head clears.
Somehow, my powers are back.
I struggle now in my chains, my body rabidly shivering, Dasher powers fully unleashed. I'm too well bound, the chains too tight. I twist my shackled wrist and press the flesh of my palm and fingers to the back of the chair. The sight blooms, a vision of the building forming in my mind.
People.
I see people moving, rushing down the corridor in my direction. Another two figures stand outside my door. They turn towards the coming bodies, and a burst of gunfire fills the air.
It rattles loudly, bursting with noise. The two figures don't stop, but keep coming. One suddenly explodes at a staggering pace, rushing into the two guards at the door, obliterating them where they stand.
A moment later, the wooden door cracks loudly, blown suddenly from its hinges. It jumps forwards and falls before me, landing with a heavy thump.
Ares steps through the breach, Amber trailing right behind him.
"Your powers are back?" he asks me, speeding to my chair. I hear the chains being torn, ripped like wet paper. I stand immediately and nod.
"It's got to be Brie," I say, breathless. "Zander must have broken her free."
"The Overseer was with me a second ago," Amber says, her voice rushing. "Apparently the gates are being opened..."
"By who?" Ares asks.
"Soldiers," she says. "They're fighting down there. Brie must have control of them somehow."
My body flushes with a wild energy at the thought. This must have been what Zander was talking about. Something bigger, he said. He was working on something bigger...
"The coalition forces are rushing in," Amber goes on. "They're storming the city as we speak."
"Then we must do our part," growls Ares, his voice causing the room to tremble. "We're at the heart of the city, up on the hill." He looks to the both of us. "We destroy the Prime."
"It's not the Prime we need to destroy," says Amber. "It's the Overseer. He told me it all. He told me they're dying. Their powers are fading, and Brie is the replacement."
"They're dying," I whisper, staring at her and nodding. "Zander told me that. So...it's true?"
"It's true," she confirms. "They're not how they seem. It's all one big lie, Kira!"
"Then we must destroy them, the Prime and the Overseer both," Ares says, his eyes narrow and intense. "Until that happens, the people will be under their controls."
"It's too dangerous to do it alone," I say. "Brie might be the only one who can repel them."
"Only if she's truly escaped their controls," Ares says. "How can we be sure?"
"Because of what's happening below," I pant. "Because our powers are back."
Our words run rampant and wild, breathlessly spilling into the room. Time is against us all, we know. We must figure a plan and act on it, fast.
"Then we find out, and make sure," Ares booms. "Did anyone see where she was taken?"
"To the western edge of the plateau," I say. "I saw Marcus take her in that direction."
"And if she's not fully free?" says Amber. "She'll be just as dangerous as the Prime, if not more."
"She's free," I say, my words adamant. "I'm sure of it." I look to them both. "Where's Perses?"
Amber's body tenses up, golden skin paling. "The Overseer got to him, just before me. He's..."
She doesn't get to finish her sentence.
From the doorway, a titanic figure comes rushing, eyes glowing with rage, body consumed in tight, black armour. He charges right for us, swinging a great arm at Amber as he comes. She just about manages to pulse, lifting a fiery shield to protect her as Perses's arm connects, sweeping her across the room as she crashes heavily into the stone.
My entire body tenses, preparing to dash away, as Perses bears down on me, charging with a thick-muscled shoulder. He gets within a foot before he's intercepted by Ares, grabbing him around the waist, slamming him to the floor.
"Fight it, Perses!" Ares roars, pinning the great Olympian down. "Fight it!"
I look with terror into Perses's eyes, black stones catching firelight. His face is twisted into a horrifying hate, overcome by a desperate urge to slaughter us all. His entire body shakes, Ares struggling to hold him down. The Neoroman's eyes surge to mine.
"Go, Kira!" he calls. "Get Amber and go! Now!"
I fly across the room, sliding to the floor where Amber lies, dazed and confused but seeming uninjured. I haul her to her feet, and begin moving for the door. I reach for my hip to find my pistols are gone, though my scimitar blades continue to hang at my flanks. I ignore them for now, spotting the pistol of a dead guard, lying in the corridor.
I grab it as we go, moving down the stone hallway, making for the exit. Outside the other rooms, guards lie dead. Behind, my cell suddenly erupts, the entire building shaking as Ares and Perses go to war. Dust falls from above, shaken loose as I hear walls crumbling, stone and wood cracking alike.
We near the exit, the rains pouring down outside. I look and listen and sniff for trouble, but don't stop to use the sight. "Amber," I say, setting her
against the wall. I take her shoulders, shaking lightly. "Amber, are you all right?"
She blinks a few times, firming herself up. "I'm...I'm OK," she says. "I'm fine."
Another rumble shakes the building. My eyes tear backwards down the corridor, where Ares and Perses tumble into view, crashing through the stone wall and into the open. A second later, Perses has Ares by the neck, lifting high, slamming down. He follows with a seismic punch, hitting only stone as Ares rolls away, his fist blasting a crater into the floor.
They grapple again, Ares behind Perses's back. He takes him in a bear hug, squeezing hard, but Perses lifts his lower legs, kicking violently against the wall. Both men fly across the corridor and crash through another door, tumbling out of sight as their battle continues.
I turn back to Amber, my eyes working into the dark, rainy night. Above, the storm continues to bellow, but the rains don't seem quite as heavy now. My eyes stretch westward across the plateau. "Do you know where Brie might be?" I ask. "She might be staying with Minerva. Do you know where she lives?"
Amber's head shivers left and right. She still seems a little shaken.
"OK," I say, thinking. "OK, think, Kira..."
Again, I shut my eyes and call out to Zander, hoping he hears me, that he might be able to direct me. I can sense him, and sense Brie, somewhere in that direction. But there's no response, no answer.
He must be busy, I think...
I take Amber's shoulders once more. Outside, I can perceive figures starting to appear from their homes, the Chosen drawn out by the commotion. We'll soon be surrounding, I know. With Ares distracted by Perses, I'm not sure if we'll be able to fight them off alone.
"We need to move, Amber," I say. "You know this place. You know these people. What do you suggest?"