Before anyone could move or take a breath or bat an eyelash in response to what was happening, she seethed, “Annihilation.”
Raising hand quickly, I was a fingertip away from touching her cheek when the spikes, woven and earthy with prickling thorns sliced through my body.
Tears that were on the verge of slipping spilt out and down my cheeks, salty and cold from the bite of the wind. Blood trickled from multiple wounds, spread and was numbing every part. Nevertheless, there was one thing I wanted her to hear before I succumbed.
“I didn’t . . . Lie . . . About Lawl,” I coughed up blood that splashed across her unflinching expressionless face. “Parents . . . murdered . . . his . . .”
It is no use. My mouth won’t function any longer, so I stared at her perfectly unsurprised face and smiled.
Heh, with the right help, she could save this corrupt world from disaster. Only a type zero like her can.
Take care of her, Law . . .
“Conner,” she touched my shoulder and tried to catch my attention. It wasn’t working. I was too absorbed in the text message my master sent me. “What’s that?”
“Nothing,” I shut the screen before she could read it and turned to her.
I have been going to this school for two months now. I was just sent news that Eileen’s parents will be coming home in a few days, so he wants me to invite Eileen over to his place today to see if she was special. I was afraid of this day. I was scared that whatever lies I said to my master will come out with one single look at this girl. She was my friend. I grew close to her and seemed to have done many things with her. This was my chance to tell her the truth and fail my first proper mission. I don’t care what my master says to me, Eileen is no threat.
“Did he hit you again?” she asked. Surprised, I flinched at her hand on my cheek. I felt a tingling sensation and the dull throb I forgot to hide vanished. “Done. Now you can help me build a sandcastle. I’m nearly finished.”
“Eileen,” I whispered and cast my eyes down. “I have been lying to you.”
“I know.” My eyes widened, and I felt a cold chill when she stepped away from me and released her hand on my cheek. “A mage appears at my school randomly, in all of my classes and happens to try and befriend me right away. You’re watching me. Did I do something wrong again?”
“It isn’t you. You’re good. It’s hard to explain but . . . My father wants . . . wants to see you.” The words spilt out, but they were not mine. I felt the obedience rune burn heavily on the back of my neck. Rubbing it, I looked back at Eileen and noticed that there was resolve on her face and when I looked further, I saw her eyes were dead. “Eileen,” I tapped her forehead, and she repeatedly blinked. “Are you happy being my friend?”
She smiled mysteriously and raised her hand to me.
“Is that your car?” I leant to the side and noticed that that was my car parked on the main street suspiciously. He’s here. He wants me to take her to our home. “Let’s go before they see.”
“Run. Run with me,” I tugged her backwards and was leading her away from the car when she forcefully stopped. She had that stubborn look on her face when she folded her arms across her chest. “Please, Eileen. I don’t want him to hurt you. He will. I know he will, and he won’t care because he can’t feel anything like we do.”
“He doesn’t?”
“There’s nothing in his eyes.”
“Have you seen mine,” she chuckled darkly. “I’m not scared. He won’t hurt you. Trust me,” she raised her hand to me and instead of taking it, I shrugged mine in my pockets and followed behind a cheerful Eileen.
I was foolish not to trust anyone. I was foolish to keep things to myself when I could have easily told anyone about the problems I was having. It is bad, walking around this earth seeing darkness when there was always a door ready to open. Showing me the light.
How foolish of me, not to realise this sooner.
I should have taken hold of her hand.
Now I am the one dying by them.
Just like, she died from mine.
Chapter 43.
Lawliet – goodbye.
There was blood everywhere. Spooling across the ground, soaking into the fresh snow that littered over the top of the dead charcoaled grass and dirt. His body went limp almost as soon as the words were out of his mouth. Words I couldn’t hear, as the howling wind lashed and cut the senses of sound. It must have affected Eileen, for the dead ridden eyes widened slightly into acknowledgement and horror. She stepped back shakily, leant down and threw up. Vines that were piercing Spenc retracted into the ground, and the rune underneath him faded into the snow. He fell sideways, and I could see the punctured holes all over his body. Eyes stared at me, lifeless, while warmth still resonated off his peaceful smile.
Idiot.
“My Mistress!” the hare was the first to act as he pretended he didn’t see his little woman murder someone and go to her immediately. “My mistress, let me tend to your wounds.”
He reached out to her red arm, but she raised her hand and slapped it away as she straightened up.
“Don’t touch me,” she whispered. “I am fine.”
“Hey,” I walked towards her, the hare stepped back and narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Eileen still stared down at the pile of vomit that was near her boots. “Droid,” I raised a hand when she looked up. Grabbing her shoulders, I pulled her towards me and let my arms wrap around her waist. I noticed the shock in her eyes as well as the inhaled breaths of the hare and Valeria. Her cheek also reddened, as we both saw an audience that probably fucking despises me.
“Ok?” she asked.
“I hate liars when they lie about stupid shit. I hate mages who put up a pathetic excuse of a brave face when everyone knows, no, you’re not fucking okay! You're not strong. You're weak. We want to help, but we can’t help if you keep pushing us away.”
“Ok.”
“I hate to break this romantic moment up,” Mika smiled awkwardly while his magic from behind was Healing Rokk and tending to a deceased Spencer. “It is well past midnight and organisation will be coming shortly. You both need to leave and find Trinity.”
“I don’t understand,” Eileen murmured.
Mika softened his expression and leant his head to the side. “So, you didn’t hear anything Spencer has said. Lawliet will clear this all up on your way. Now go. We will sort this whole stuff out while you both run.”
“Why’s Valeria here?” she asked.
“No time, let’s go,” I said and went to grab her arm when Hopper intervened.
“May I speak to my Mistress, alone?” he asked. About ready to decline, Eileen nodded glumly, and they walked off for a moment. A twinge of anger rose when he wrapped arms around her head, and they went into a warm embrace. Always the hare. The stupid fucking hare always gets in the way. Once finished, she walked off towards Valeria who immediately became withdrawn and cold. “Mr Clarintine,” looking away from Eileen, I noticed the hare stand before me. “If you abandon or harm my Mistress,” he tilted head, crinkled eyes with an innocent rabbit-like smile, but those eyes were cold and determined, “I will drop you down a rabbit hole, and it won’t be as fortunate as last time.”
“Whatever,” I muttered, grabbed Eileen’s arm who came up disappointed besides me and lifted her until she was on my back.
I explained the situation on the way, and she was surprisingly acceptant of what occurred. She nodded but didn’t ask to elaborate when I skimmed parts, like me nearly turning into a fire-breathing dragon. She doesn’t need to know those small details. The conversations with Spencer didn’t get sugar coated for her sake. I laid it all out and yeah, it would make her feel ten times worse for killing him, but I doubt Valeria would have let him leave. I woke when they were arguing, so I didn’t know what happened after Mika slammed me into the ground and lost consciousness.
When we got near the city, I let her off my back and grabbed her arm once more and gave in with her lacing her fing
ers in the cracks of mine. She trailed after in silence. We both have a lot on our mind for a conversation. I am still reeling at what I saw. Looking at Eileen and seeing the girl in her memory left a scar. I wouldn’t want to see that side of her again.
Weaving through mages and shapeshifters, they moved on, eyes to the destination they were heading and were completely ignoring the fact that we were covered in blood. Especially Eileen.
It was when we got to the train station, and the door opened. His eyes were glazed over, and he spoke mechanically and directed us to one of the rooms inside. Tugging her arm, I walked in and let my eyes follow the robotic door that still stood straight ahead. Hypnosis? Guess this is what Mika was talking about when he said it would all be taken care of.
Finding the room, inside already had suitcases of Eileen’s and mine packed? Pulling down the blinds, making the room dark, once I got changed out of my dirty clothes and into fresh new ones, I flicked on the living room light and sagged shoulders with exhaustion. To think I am heading into the o-d-h world. Jumping straight into the deep end. I can barely keep up with a conversation without anger towards mages. Pest ordinary creatures will drill annoyingly into my head with every syllable.
“What’s this letter?” Eileen came out of the bedroom two minutes after she said she is showering and held up the note Mika handed me. “This is my grandfather’s handwriting. Why is there an address? Is he there?”
“Can we talk after you’re dressed?”
She hugged the towel around her tightly but didn’t seem phased or look embarrassed like she usually would if I said something. That’s when I knew she was serious. It made my eyes shoot forward to the television screen and hands-on knees that were gripped tighter, as I tried to control myself.
She suddenly then appeared before me on the lounge. Her hand touched cheek, and her expression was serious.
“No.”
“Your grandfather sent Mika that letter. He wanted you to go to that address if anything happened to the runes at the high school.”
“Ok?”
Fucking hell, I hate elaborating.
“Your parents destroyed all the runes your grandfather left behind. In the case of emergencies, he had given that letter to Mika for you instead, so you can still find out what exactly went on at Mage Academy.”
“I see,” she straightened up, and I averted eyes quickly. “We will go there.”
“Fuck off. We are going to that clock tower so you can hide and be safe.”
“Then you go there while I go here,” she waved the letter around, and it angered me to the extent that I stood, grabbed her arms and shoved her into the wall. She looked up, expressionless.
“Why do you make this complicated than it already is? What part don’t you get? ‘There is fucking organisation after you, and they won’t stop until you’re dead!’ You’re leaving yourself open to them if you go there alone.”
“Then come.”
Tightening grip on shoulders, I stared into her eyes and tried to dig out what emotion I can. She is serious and curious. Whenever she is curious, it is tough for her to change her mind once it is already made up. Exhaling heated breath, I relaxed the grip and bowed head, so it clunked with hers.
She blinked and looked up.
“Thank you, Lawliet Clarintine,” she whispered as she wrapped arms around waist and pressed her head so that it was resting it on my chest. “You’re the only mage I can trust.”
Now I feel fucking horrible.
Chapter 44.
Maya – meeting our mother.
The doors opened automatically. Broad structured heavy-duty doors that only open with heat radius. Inside the doors, I felt secure enough to shift back into a human. Fur withdrawn, bones snapped into place, and I stood to brush the dirt away from blouse and jeans.
The hallway was dimly lit, which means that she’s home. Raising arms, I scratched behind my ear as I walked. As I went down the hall, I casually looked at the doors. Most were closed with their lights on. A few were open. Jeb was already at his door when I walked past. He has been here the longest like I have so he was more comfortable than the new shifters. I ignored him and sidestepped when he tried to swipe at the pouch on the side of my jeans. Biting back, he slowly walked into his room and slammed the door.
Temper tantrum.
“Maya!” a bubbly voice came from a door that was mine. Mia came out with a crooked grin. One of her canine teeth is chipped, so it looked funny to me. I always laughed. I think she knew what I was laughing at but didn’t care. “Maya, you been gone forever. I missed you!”
“Here,” I untied the pouch and threw it at her. When she grabbed hold of it, the bag made a squishing sound. The blood was already seeping out. “A hare. It strayed too far from its hatch. It was for the mother, but you found me first.”
“Oh, uh,” she handed the pouch back to me and looked everywhere but at me. “Mother isn’t happy. It’s Xail. Go see. Take white meat.”
With a firm nod, I jogged down the hallway and to Mother’s throne room. The doors opened freely with a shrug of a shoulder, and I stopped short at the stench. Twinkling nose, I sauntered until I stood behind the mother. Her long, lush blond hair moved to the side when she leant back and saw me. Her yellow glass eyes were red raw from shed tears. I placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed tightly. Xail was on a cemented platform with an arrow through his heart. Mother was petting his fur down and sniffing softly from sadness.
“Who done this?” I asked.
“Orjan and Nysa,” she said through clenched teeth. “I sent him out beyond our barrier for bigger game. Deer. They were sniffing around. Trying to find something. They found Xail. He did not want to come home and lure them, so he fled further away to protect our lands. I found him. Followed his . . . his stench and watched his death through mage magic. He was brave, but they are more animal than us. But enough about that,” she stood and flashed me a weak smile. “This girl, is she type zero?”
“Crystal,” I went into my pocket, took out the crystal and handed it to her. She touched it delicately and grinned. “Will she help us?”
“Help us. She will save us!” Destiny laughed. “I have already spoken to my dear Spencer. He believes in her, and I believe in him. If what he says is correct, she will purge the organisation, and then we can live outside of this land. We can live in warmer places again. Now, how is my dear Spencer doing? I have not seen him for a few weeks.”
“It was you in the woods? Spencer blamed me for nearly attacking him.”
“Yes. He asked to talk to me. I was surprised he could without them watching him. I went to Mage Academy but was not too trustworthy of him. There was a girl. He did not talk much about her when we did speak, but he only asked for her protection, and in return, we will have our freedom. I agreed. I’d like to go home, Maya. I’d like to show Spencer all the places that I promised him in the cells. He would love to see a proper beach. How is he? You saw him before you left?”
“Mother. What if the girl won’t save us but hurt us.”
“Why do you ask?”
“She killed Spencer. The rune you spoke stories about looked similar to the rune she killed him by. The death dome by the other type zero. Victor Malloy.”
“What is her last name, Maya?”
“Well, my teacher's last name is Frost. So, I suppose it would be the same.”
“Frost, huh? A relative of Gospel Frost.” She took a deep heavy sigh, raised hands, and I knew what she was doing. I stepped back far enough for her to conjure.
She clutched thin air, and chains gripped in her palm and rattled. Seven oversized wolves were now before me, and wretched growls tore from their throats.
The look on Mother said it all that what I said angered her.
I want to tear them all apart.
END.
Emotionless: (Prototype: Zero book 1) Page 41