“If I remember correctly, you are the one who left me.” He sighed, but I knew he wasn’t really mad. “Not that you lacked a good reason.”
“It was hard to leave. It took all the strength I had. It’s hard to fight what comes naturally.”
“Did you just call our relationship natural?” He watched me intently.
“Yeah, I think I’m done pretending otherwise.” I gave him a coy smile, and he pulled my head down to his, and our lips locked. It felt so good to get lost in his embrace again, to feel his arms around me, and to know I didn’t have to be alone.
“I am sorry to interrupt, but we need to get moving.”
The heat rose to my face as I realized that Lawson had been watching us. I moved off of Calvin quickly, but he pulled me back down so I ended up sitting on his lap, facing him.
“Thank you for letting us know. We will be just a minute.” Calvin held me to him for a few moments longer, then looked at me with a smile. “You are adorable when embarrassed.”
I swatted at him in a failed attempt to hit him. I was still overwhelmed by the kiss and from being found in such a compromising position. “You enjoyed that, didn’t you?”
“What? Kissing you? Of course.” He gave me a wry grin.
“You know what I mean.”
“Charlotte, you are my Essence. We are supposed to be together. I had to wait a year to enjoy the greatest benefits of being the Gerard, and I will not be embarrassed by it.” He kissed me lightly on the top of my head before standing, then helping me to my feet.
I was still a little lightheaded when we went to meet the rest of the group. I hoped Lawson hadn’t reported the position he found us in, but that prospect was doused when James raised an eyebrow and Mom gave me a secretive smile.
I ignored their hints and said, “Okay, so let’s get going.” It was time to return to the Resistance.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Charlotte
The moment we entered the fern grotto, five soldiers with swords surrounded us. In a swift movement, Calvin pushed me behind him.
“That isn’t necessary.” I said to the soldiers. Calvin held me back as I tried to step around him.
“I understand he is your Gerard, but he supports Blake,” one soldier said.
“He is no longer with Blake,” Monty responded.
“Do you agree to vouch for him until we reach Theodore?” the soldier asked.
“Yes, let us pass.” Monty didn’t wait for the soldier to move out of the way. He pushed ahead, making the man jump to the side.
Calvin tensed beside me, so I squeezed his hand. I understood that returning with us to the Resistance couldn’t have been easy for him.
“Sweet mercy, Emma!” Theodore pulled my mom into his arms. We stood back a little in an attempt to give them privacy. The reunion between Mom and Monty had been emotional, but nothing like the one we were watching. I guessed the difference was that she and Monty had parted on good terms.
“Hello, Theodore.” Mom smiled with a look of pure happiness.
“I am so sorry, Emma. Can you ever forgive me?” Theodore shook with emotion, looking as though he might fall to his knees.
“I already have, Theodore, years ago.” Mom put both her hands on his face. “I heard you have a daughter the same age as mine. When can I meet my niece?” She sure knew how to defuse a situation.
“Tara is in the dining area with Owen. I would show you back but—”
Monty broke in, “Don’t worry. I am sure Charlotte would love to see Tara as well, and she can introduce Emma.” I could tell that Monty was trying to get rid of me, but I wasn’t ready to go quite yet.
“I’ll stick around a little longer.” I left no room for argument.
“If you insist.” Theodore stiffened before turning his attention to Calvin. “How can I know for sure that your change in allegiance is true?”
“In the same way that the Resistance found it fit to believe in your change.” Calvin’s harsh tone took me by surprise, but he was right. Theodore had betrayed his own sister, yet the Resistance trusted him.
“I suppose I deserve that,” Theodore replied evenly.
Monty nodded. “We have no choice but to trust him. The Essence needs to be with her Gerard. You know as well as I do that we cannot win this without Charlotte at her best.”
“Very well. We can use any help we can get. You might as well work with the men; you will rally their spirits.” Theodore’s change in demeanor surprised me, but it only confirmed my suspicion that the questions were just a formality.
“Calvin, I assume you were privy to Blake’s plans?” Monty put down his pack as he spoke, a sign that he was starting to relax.
“Blake kept much from me, but I have a good idea of his military plans.”
“How large is the Bravado now?” Lawson asked.
“The count is now in the thousands. Blake has been pressing men into serving.”
“Blake has conscripted men by force?” Theodore fumed, his face darkening into a shade of purple.
“What’s the big deal? We’ve used a draft before,” Liam said.
“Energo has never needed to draft anyone. Usually, it is such an honor to be called up that Bellgard turns people away,” Monty said.
“We should introduce you to the men.” Theodore gestured for Calvin to follow him.
“I believe this is our cue to go find Tara,” Mom said lightly.
I stood on my tiptoes, and whispered to Calvin, “Is it okay with you if I go?” I didn’t want him to think I was abandoning him.
“Absolutely. Go right ahead.” He kissed the top of my head. Mom took my hand, and we walked further into the caves.
***
“The Bravado is moving in. We need to relocate to the watchtower.” The lookout alerted us to their approach. Calvin placed a hand on my shoulder.
I immediately responded, “Then it’s time we head up.” Strangely calm, I let Calvin lead me through the maze of caves to a small staircase built into the wall. James brushed past us without a word.
We walked out to the open area that jutted out of the side of the cave. An overhang of trees provided some camouflage, but still left us in a vulnerable position. I knew Calvin wanted me to stay more protected inside, but he accepted that I would be more useful there.
Mom was waiting for us. “Are you ready, Charlotte?”
“Yes, I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Okay, relax as best you can.” Mom placed a comforting hand on my arm. “They will be here in minutes.”
I listened to Calvin give directions to Liam, James, and a group of the Resistance soldiers. “We should move into formation around Charlotte and Emma. If the lookout is breached, we get them down at all costs.”
We stood there for several moments before the sound of horses and men’s war cries were heard in the distance. I looked up at the sky, blood-red for as far as I could see. Branches of trees beyond the grotto looked like pens dipped in ink as they touched the redness. My stomach tightened as I worried the sky was a prediction of things to come. The Resistance spilled out of the caves to meet the Bravado, leaving all the children and most of the women inside.
“There are too many men!” Calvin exclaimed as endless rows of soldiers appeared and stretched across the entire horizon. “Blake could not possibly have this many!”
“They are not men.” A soldier handed Calvin a pair of binoculars. The soldier’s hand shook, and his eyes were glazed with terror.
“How is this possible?” Calvin mumbled.
I ran forward, tugging the binoculars from Calvin’s hands. I momentarily questioned my eyesight as I watched rows of corpses move forward. With hollow eyes and loose skin, the zombies were a sickening sight. Worse was the thought that Blake could control the dead. I silently handed the binoculars to James, trying to keep from hyperventilating. I heard everyone discussing the revelation, but I had to get ready.
Mom returned to her position behind me. “All r
ight, Charlotte, you remember what to do.” We had briefly discussed strategy, but decided I should go with my gut when the time came.
Closing my eyes, I reached out and pulled in the energy from the surrounding jungle. I had a sudden inspiration and pictured the thick vines of the fern grotto growing longer, moving toward the Bravado, and encircling their legs. I kept my concentration, trying to block out the screams from below.
Although the vines knocked down several lines of men, they were not enough.
“More. Keep concentrating,” Mom instructed.
I kept my eyes closed, even though they started to burn. I heard my mother say, “More.” I had a sudden image of the world shifting and the Resistance finding protection on higher ground. As I pulled energy from around me, the ground shook, and even with my eyes closed, I knew I had caused the land beneath the caves to rise.
While I held that visualization, I felt another pull. I pictured large billowing storm clouds and the wind picking up as huge balls of hail assaulted the Bravado. Though intently focused, I could still feel the steep temperature drop. I struggled to maintain enough energy to focus on both images. The exhaustion nearly overwhelmed me, and a sensation of fire surged through every inch of my body, but it still felt incredible. Using my abilities thrilled me; I never wanted the sensation to stop.
In the mist of the euphoria, there was a tug of something else—something foreign. I knew instantly that it was bad. The new sensation was the opposite of how I felt when I connected with the Source. I tried to push against it, but my efforts just made the sensation worse. The discomfort quickly became pain, and I weakened.
“Charlotte? Charlotte, open your eyes. Something is wrong!” my mother cried.
I tried to pull to the surface, but couldn’t. The sensation had a color—black—and it engulfed me completely.
“Open your eyes.” My mother’s hands were cool on my face as she tried to pry open my eyes. “Calvin, something is wrong. You have to pull her out.”
Calvin. I heard his name and wanted him closer. I got my wish as I sensed his approach. I had never been so connected to Calvin while using my powers, and the effect of his hand on me was indescribable. Slowly, the black faded, and I opened my eyes.
“Are you all right?” Calvin asked.
I let Calvin steady me as I stood up from where I lay on the ground. I leaned into him as we walked to the edge of the lookout. Below, the Bravado were successfully climbing the hill.
“I have to try again,” I said.
“No! It is too dangerous, Charlotte. You cannot sacrifice yourself. I think that Blake must have found a way into your head.” I knew instantly that Mom was right. The blackness had been Blake.
“How is Blake stronger than Charlotte? She is the Essence.” Calvin looked down at the fight with alarm.
“He must be more powerful than we thought. We are lucky he did not kill her.” Mom’s voice sounded strained.
“We have to stop them!” I screamed. My Guardians needed to get down to the fight. “You’re all free to go!” I didn’t want any of them getting hurt, but we couldn’t lose the battle. If Blake had his way, the Resistance would be destroyed.
“We won’t leave you unprotected!” Liam shot me down immediately, his eyes full of worry.
“Then I’m going down, and you can all join me.” I headed toward the stairs, but before I took two steps, Calvin put his arm around my waist.
“What good do you think you are going to be down there?” His voice was kind, but I could hear his tension.
“Maybe I’ll have a chance if Blake doesn’t know where I am.” I didn’t actually believe it, but I needed to help in any way possible.
“He is not finding you by sight. He will find you anywhere,” Mom said.
“Can I at least try to reach out for Kevin? Maybe if they’re coming, we’ll be okay.”
Mom paused for a moment. I sensed her hesitation, but she eventually gave in and said, “You have one minute.”
I didn’t wait for her to change her mind. I recognized that I didn’t actually have to listen to her, but she was my mom, and some habits take a while to break. The sensation of the fighting hit me as soon as I closed my eyes. I pushed out a little further and sighed with relief. Kevin was coming, and he wasn’t alone. I wished that my abilities included telepathy because I wanted to tell him to hurry, but unfortunately, I didn’t have that talent. I tried to reach out to him, but quickly hit a barrier.
Without warning, the blackness returned. It felt like being pushed up against a wall, everything froze, and my head throbbed with intense pressure, as though it were being squeezed in a vice.
“No! No! No!”
“Protect her!”
I heard the screaming, but couldn’t open my eyes. Beyond my closed lids, I sensed a flash of light but my other senses were closed off. In the haze, I couldn’t figure out who had screamed. I fought against the blackness, but it continued to hold me. I wanted to let go and give in, but I made one last attempt.
The blackness receded almost as suddenly as it had appeared. My eyes flew open, but what I saw had me on my knees in seconds. James lay on the ground in front of me, unmoving.
“What happened?” I cried.
“He just jumped in front of you, like he knew an attack was coming,” Monty explained, studying James’s limp hand.
I looked down at James’s motionless body and began to tremble. Calvin and Liam each grabbed one of my arms and started to pull me to my feet.
“I don’t get it! What happened?” I couldn’t control my terror.
“Blake tried to kill you, Charlotte. He had your abilities closed off and was making his move. James saw it first and jumped in front of you.” Liam’s shaky voice mirrored his shell-shocked expression.
“We have to get you inside.” Calvin began towing me toward the stairs. Too weak to fight, I went with him. Liam and Monty picked up James. He was breathing faintly, but his eyes were closed, and I knew something was seriously wrong.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Kevin
I smelled the fight before I saw it. The scent of blood was unmistakable, and it both chilled and excited me. Maybe having a taste for battle came naturally. Energo had become a part of me, and I wondered if I could choose to leave it behind. As much as I loved basketball, it was nothing compared to the way I felt holding a Guardian sword.
“We’re getting close,” I said. My sword was sheathed as we rode on horseback toward the fern grotto. Even though I didn’t have much experience with horses, riding was a lot faster than walking.
“You better know where you are going, Winthrop.” Alexander and Bry rode on either side of me. Alexander might have been working with us, but he wouldn’t let up.
“Look at that!” Ollis yelled, riding up alongside us.
I followed his gaze, surprised by the bright red sky. Large storm clouds loomed, and I assumed they were Charlotte’s doing. “We need to split up.” The idea came to me unexpectedly, and I hoped it was a good one.
“The boy is right.” Alexander agreed with me. Wonders never ceased. "Kevin, you take center, Ollis to the right. We will take the far path, and Bry you take left. Samantha, go with Bry and make sure he gets the Aves airborne.”
“Sounds reasonable,” Bry replied calmly. “Are we all on board?”
“Absolutely,” Samantha said.
“Yes, see you on the other side.” I wasn’t sure where my burst of confidence came from, but I knew I could do my part.
Alexander spoke to the leaders from the other nations and gave everyone their orders. Naomi and the rest of the Zatamanians rode with us. We took off, the distance between us and the grotto shortening rapidly. The wind howled, and I zoned out, only aware of my place on the horse.
We stopped short when we came to a steep hill. I didn’t know Energo well, but I was sure I would have remembered a hill that size.
Naomi rode up behind me. “Your sister never ceases to amaze me.”
I poin
ted at the steep incline. “My sister did that?” The caves had risen several meters from the rest of the ground. It looked like a mesa.
“Who else could have?” Naomi asked sarcastically.
I didn’t have to turn around to know that Naomi was rolling her eyes. Even though I couldn’t see the top of the hill, I had a bad feeling about how the Resistance was doing. Hundreds of Bravado men were clawing their way up the side of the mesa.
“There is another way up,” Henry said. “Follow me.”
Henry took the lead, and I signaled for the line behind us to follow. As we reached the peak of the hill, we were met with a sea of black. Thousands of Bravado soldiers filled the field, with all of their attention centered on Ollis and his men. I gave the signal, and we moved in—just as Bry and Alexander rounded the hill, taking the Bravado by surprise.
At the same moment, a bright light nearly blinded me. Even though the light was bright, it felt dark. I blinked a few times, grateful I wasn’t injured. I couldn’t figure out where the light came from, but I knew Blake had sent it. No one else could create something that felt so horrible. My gut clenched as I realized that any attack by Blake was more than likely aimed at Charlotte.
I searched for a sign of Blake in the mass of bodies, but I could hardly see. Blinded once again, I squinted and realized the glare from the sun reflecting off the Zales was causing the problem. I barely had time to unsheathe my sword before another group of our men filled in behind me and I was pushed through the mass of bodies toward the center of the field.
“What the hell are those?” I yelled to Naomi. What appeared to be walking corpses straight out of a horror movie littered the field, many wielding maces, axes, and knives. Flesh hung off their bodies, and their eyes were empty holes.
“They look like dead people,” Naomi replied. I knew Blake had some serious power, but I had no idea he could raise the dead.
A zombie came at me, and I slashed it with my sword. The flesh fell away easily. It was like slashing butter with my guardian sword, yet no matter how many times I cut him, he wouldn’t fall. I thrust my sword into his chest, aware that more zombies surrounded me. The zombie impaled on my sword appeared unfazed, and with his eyes glowing red, he pushed the sword further into his chest pulling it from me. Weaponless, I kicked the corpse to the ground, but found myself quickly surrounded. I punched another corpse in the head, and it felt like punching rotten wood. As ineffective as the punch was, I tried again, only to have my arms grabbed and pinned behind me. Flooded with panic, I watched with horror as the zombie prepared to attack me with my own sword. Just as I expected the blade to make contact, the zombie crumbled to the ground.
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