A Tip of Balance

by Bella Forrest

  However, Damion didn’t need to know that.

  “It’s easy for you to talk,” I muttered.

  “It isn’t. I had no choice but to obey. It was either this,” he pointed both thumbs at himself, “or death. I chose to live.”

  “How’s that working out for you?” I asked sarcastically.

  Damion shrugged, then looked away.

  “It’s better than death,” he said. “You have a lot to live for, Vita. I shouldn’t be telling you this, but I’m hoping it will motivate you to make the right choice here. I was there when Sverik told Azazel everything he’d learned from your group.”

  I froze at the sound of Sverik’s name. I understood then who had betrayed us. It didn’t take long for me to make the connections and realize that Sverik had taken the Destroyers through the passage stone. He was the traitor that Abrille had warned me about.

  “Sverik?” I asked, my blood boiling.

  “Yes. Azazel caged him because he knew the Oracles might see him imprisoned. He’s known about a rebellion rising against him for quite some time now. Abrille may be weak and her powers mostly gone, but she was able to tell Azazel about someone plotting to overthrow him. I told you, Vita, he will stop at nothing to maintain control.”

  “So, Sverik was playing Azazel’s game when we saw him imprisoned.”

  “Indeed,” Damion nodded. “It was a ploy to bring the rebels out, whoever they were, and it worked. He knew the Oracles could be with them and he knew they had some connection to Bijarki and Kristos from previously gathered intelligence, so he put Sverik in a cage as bait. There was a break-in the other day. Azazel got to see the rebels for himself. It was then that he learned of a Druid still standing. The discovery was more than he’d initially assumed about the rebels. It didn’t take long for him to put two and two together, so he allowed your friends to take Sverik by ordering his Destroyers to stand down and let them reach Mount Zur. He was the perfect spy.”

  “I swear to you,” I said, seething, my fists balled at my side. “These cuffs will come off. When they do, I will set you all on fire. Sverik will burn the hottest.”

  “Vita, let’s be real here,” he replied. “You’re under Azazel’s spell, whether you like it or not. There will be no fire. Anyway, we’re digressing. As I was saying, I was there when Sverik told Azazel about what happened last night when they took you. He said all your friends survived. He and Patrik managed to escape with you, but the other Destroyers perished. Azazel then confirmed, saying he got word from Goren that the charred remains of those Destroyers were thrown out of the shield as if the Druid was sending a message to us all. Useless, in my opinion, but it did irritate Azazel.”

  “Good. I hope they suffered,” I muttered.

  “You don’t understand. I’m telling you this because you’re not grasping the gravity of the situation. There is no hope for the Druid and his Eritopian rebels. Azazel will capture and kill them. That is a fact. However, you have the power to keep your friends safe, if you cooperate. Get on his good side. Work with him. Help him, and he will not be reluctant to keep your loved ones alive. Serena, Aida, Field, Jovi, Phoenix, and Bijarki will be spared if you play your cards right.”

  I wanted to throw something at him but, I also wanted to see where he was going with this. Azazel must have sent Damion to sway me in his direction, but I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of winning me over. My entire body was trembling with anger.

  “I see you know their names now,” I replied.

  “I know their names, and I am aware of what each of them is capable of, as is Azazel. It’s why I keep telling you to stop fighting him. One way or another, he will win. It’s best for you to think about yourselves for once and pick the winning side. There is no glory in death,” Damion said, unable to look me in the eyes.

  His words sounded rehearsed as if he’d been taught to recite it all like a poem. It drove me up the wall, and I’d had enough of his attempts to persuade me to join Azazel. My inability to fight back upset me the most, making it hard for me to concentrate and find my practical side.

  “I’m sure you care enough about your loved ones not to want to see them suffer a most horrible death,” Damion continued. “Azazel can be particularly cruel.”

  “You have no conscience,” I replied, prompting him to look me in the eyes. “You do not have the mental capability to understand what you’re asking me to do.”

  “I do,” Damion said. “You are the one who doesn’t have a clue, Vita. You do not know what I’ve put myself through to survive.”

  “That’s the difference between you and me, Damion. You only care about yourself. I can’t bring myself to help Azazel cause more suffering and death in this world. I would rather die.”

  I pointed at the door, gritting my teeth. “Get out, and tell Azazel I will never help him.”

  “I won’t tell him that, Vita. You tell him if you wish, but you might change your mind by the time you see him again. Remember, Azazel always gets what he wants.”

  “Get out!” I shouted.

  My eyes stung as fresh tears gathered. My heart burned, and my stomach tightened. I struggled to keep my composure in front of the Destroyer. I couldn’t let him see weakness. I couldn’t let him think he’d gotten to me.

  Damion’s shoulders dropped, and he nodded slowly then left, locking the doors behind him.

  I sat by the window, wrapping my arms around myself and letting my emotions out.

  I cried for myself, mostly, but I also cried for my friends, for Bijarki, and for all the innocent creatures that died because of Azazel’s cruelty and greed.

  Movement in the corner of my room made me turn my head. I froze, gaping at the image before me. My heart stopped, stuck in my throat at the sight of Aida standing next to me.

  My mind must be playing tricks on me, I thought to myself. I must be losing my mind.

  Aida looked at me. She seemed real, cocking her head to one side, her eyes wide. Yet, she didn’t seem real. She looked as if she were added to the film strip as part of a collage. She was there, but she wasn’t. She waved and startled me.

  I yelped as I leaned back into the iron bars of the window.

  “Vita!” she spoke to me.

  “What… What is happening?” I managed to croak, my pulse suddenly racing.

  “Oh wow, I did it! I can’t believe it! I did it!” She looked happy, but all I could think of was how she’d gotten herself in Azazel’s castle.

  “Aida?” I asked, still unsure of what I was seeing.

  She nodded enthusiastically. I jumped to my feet, joy coursing through me. It didn’t seem real, and yet she was standing in front of me. Relief washed over me, but then faded as quickly as it had come. I reached out to hug her and I went right through her.

  She wasn’t there.

  It was an illusion. For a moment, I was back to thinking I’d lost my mind. Dread replaced joy, chilling my very soul.

  “You’re not real,” I muttered, looking over my shoulder.

  “I’m not here, per se,” Aida replied.

  Her voice seemed muffled like she was speaking through a tube. The image of her was partially faded and iridescent as if she’d been projected in front of me like a hologram.

  “I’m losing my mind,” I said, mostly to myself.

  “No, no, no!” She shook her head, prompting me to look up at her. “I’m here with you, not physically, but I’m still here!”

  “How is that possible?” I asked.

  “The Nevertide Oracle! You know she’s done it with us before!”

  I nodded, my mouth still open.

  “She taught me how to do it. I’m projecting myself to you and you alone. Nobody knows about this, Vita. It’s a connection unique to Oracles. Not even Azazel knows we can do it. It’s how the Nevertide Oracle managed to warn us whenever she caught a minute of consciousness.” Aida explained.

  I remembered the times I’d seen the Nevertide Oracle projecting herself to me. This was the
connection she’d told me about. Aida had done it. She’d managed to reach out to me from one Oracle to another and away from the prying eyes of Azazel. It was truly a stunning development.

  “No way,” I said. “You… You did it.”

  “I totally did!” she grinned.

  “I wish I could hug you right now.” I burst into tears, just so happy to see her.

  I reached out again, my hand passing through her. I didn’t feel anything, not even a chill. Her voice echoed in my head, and her smile warmed me up on the inside.

  “I know, me too!” she said. “It is so damn good to see you, Vita! I’m so glad you’re okay.”

  She then noticed my temple bruise and raised an eyebrow.

  “Mostly okay,” she added. “They hit you on the head when they took you, didn’t they?”

  I nodded, finding it difficult to contain the excitement that was coming over me. I had Aida with me, in a way. She could help me escape. She could help me get out of here. My mind started rushing in different directions, breaking my focus altogether.

  “Aida, you need to get me out of here. I need to get out of here,” I gasped, wiping another round of tears with the back of my hand. “Azazel wants me to help him. I can’t. I’d rather die. Help me get out of here, please!”

  “Oh honey!” she replied, her knuckles brushing against my cheek. I didn’t feel her touch, but I imagined, for a brief moment, that I could. Her gesture spoke volumes and it gave me much needed comfort. “Bijarki is gathering ingredients for the invisibility spell now. Once he gets everything he needs, he’ll be coming for you.”

  My heart skipped a beat at the sound of his name, hope blossoming in my chest with greater intensity than ever before.

  “He’s okay? How is he okay? He was hit by Destroyer poison!” I said, my voice trembling.

  “Yeah, but the Daughter figured out a way to heal him. She can heal Destroyer poison! She didn’t even know she could do it until she saw him dying,” Aida explained. “He’s back at full strength. He’s on his way to rescue you, so I need you to hang in there.”

  I paused for a moment, wondering how I’d survive in here until Bijarki got to me, then I thought of Serena and the rest of our group.

  “What about the others? Are they okay?” I asked.

  “Yes, they’re all fine. We destroyed the passage stone once we saw Sverik and Patrik carrying you away,” she said, her lower lip trembling. “Azazel had me trapped in a vision when the Destroyers attacked, so I couldn’t wake up and warn everyone. We tried to stop them. We killed four of them, but Patrik and Sverik got away with you. I’m sorry, Vita, I couldn’t warn them sooner.”

  “Hey, hey,” I replied gently. “It’s okay, Aida. It’s not your fault. How did he catch you in a vision, though? Was it like the first time he saw you?”

  “It was worse. He figured out a way to sense when I’m having visions that are near him. I’m not sure how but it must be a spell, a cheat of some sort.”

  “So, the Nevertide Oracle didn’t really betray us?” I asked.

  “Not really.” She shook her head. “Not willingly. She’s tried to keep us from him, but I guess years of torture and imprisonment will make anyone break, eventually, and give Azazel something, anything just so he’d stop…”

  “Her name is Abrille, by the way,” I said. “I found out recently.”

  “Abrille? Well, at least we have a name for her now. Took us forever to find out!” she smirked.

  “Azazel told me,” I mumbled.

  She froze, eyes nearly popping out of their orbits.

  “Is he around now?”

  “No,” I replied. “He said he’s giving me some time to think about his offer.”

  “His offer?”

  “He wants me to join him. To tell him what my visions show. In return, he won’t put me in a glass bubble. He’s even offered to spare Bijarki’s life if I accept.”

  “So, that’s what he called it. An ‘offer’. Typical…” She frowned, then took a deep breath.

  “I saw you in an earlier vision. You were in here with a Destroyer,” she said slowly. “How are you holding up?”

  “I’m angry and helpless,” I replied, raising my wrists to show her the shackles.

  “Yeah, I’ve seen these on Kyana in the dungeon. They stop her from turning into a snake or using any Druid magic.”

  “Like I said, helpless. Bars are on the windows. Doors are locked. Damion brings me food and water and constantly tries to get me to cooperate with Azazel.”

  Aida’s eyes glimmered at the sound of the Destroyer’s name.

  “Damion, you said?”

  “Yeah. Azazel’s servant, I guess.”

  “That’s interesting because Damion is one of the young Druids that Phoenix saw in the past,” Aida explained. “After you were taken, we delved into our visions. I got a better glimpse of Kyana and Patrik. Phoenix followed the young Druids to Marton, the desert continent east of Antara. Last time he saw them, six were still alive and hiding out there together. Two were killed, and two were taken by Destroyers when they ventured on the western shore toward Stonewall. One of them was named Damion. I think it’s him. I think this Destroyer watching over you is him! Vita, this is great!”

  “How? He’s trying to get me to betray everyone.”

  “No, I mean you could get to him. You could even influence him if you know which buttons to push. Patrik is close to breaking Azazel’s spell. Despite kidnapping you and all that,” she rolled her eyes. “He’s making progress. Maybe you could get Damion to try doing the same!”

  I exhaled sharply and leaned against the window sill. It didn’t sound like a feasible plan. I couldn’t trust Damion, and I didn’t want to get on his bad side either.

  “I’m not sure, Aida. What if he flips out and tells Azazel?” I asked.

  She scratched her head, looking away and pondering what I’d said.

  “You have a point. Best not to risk it. Stay on his good side. You’re right. We can’t have you in a glass sphere upstairs before Bijarki gets there!”

  “You mentioned Stonewall and the young Druids. What else can you tell me? What about the others?” I asked, eager to find out more.

  “Here’s a rundown of what’s happening now. We couldn’t use the passage stone anymore, so Field, Anjani, and her two little sisters created a series of diversions so the others could get out. By others, I mean several groups. They had to split up to cover more ground and get more done within a small timeframe. Since Sverik warned Azazel about the alliance, chances are his Destroyers are getting deployed to squash the rebellion before it comes to fruition. They also had to find another meeting spot for the alliance. Tamara went out to warn the Dearghs and her Lamias. Jax, Jovi, and Hansa went northwest to speak to the Tritones, the Maras, and Grezzi’s incubi. Serena and Draven rode out to the east, to Stonewall. There’s a hidden settlement of Bajangs there, and the Druid thinks he can reach out to them and get them onboard. Long story short, they owe his father a lot.”

  Aida brought me up to speed with everything else, including the details of each deployment, the Daughter’s ability to manipulate shape-shifters, and the precise steps that Bijarki had to take to get all the ingredients for the invisibility spell.

  A few minutes later, my confidence had been boosted by several degrees. I knew my friends and the man I loved were working hard and risking their lives to save Eritopia and to save me. I could breathe again, and my shackles didn’t feel that heavy anymore.

  All I had to do was stay put and keep myself alive and in this chamber, but I wanted to do more. I wanted to assist them in any possible way. I needed the helplessness to stop pulling me down.

  “What can I do?” I asked.

  “About that,” Aida replied with a guilty look on her face that made me think she was about to say something I wouldn’t like. “You’re not going to like this.”

  When I didn’t say anything, she took it as a sign to continue.

  “Turns out, Da
mion may have a point,” she said. “About Azazel, I mean. You need to get on his good side. Pretend you agree to help him, but give him some serious conditions in return, so he won’t suspect you’re trying to play him.”

  “You’re joking,” I scoffed.

  “Nope,” she shook her head. “Think about it. You give him some vague accounts from your visions, nothing to jeopardize our mission but enough to make him understand that you’re still learning to control where your visions take you. Give him just enough truth to keep him hooked and not interested in shoving you in a glass bubble. Tell him you want more than just Bijarki’s safety guaranteed. You want all your friends spared, and you want access to the castle. You’ll go crazy locked in this room. It might take a couple of days for Bijarki to get to you, so until then we need you out of this room and down in the dungeons.”

  “Wait, why?”

  “Kyana. You could get into Damion’s good graces and find out how to break those cuffs. Then, you could sneak downstairs and set her free. If she’s out of Luceria, Azazel will no longer have any leverage over Patrik. It might be what Patrik will need to either end his own life or finally break free from the control spell. You know, that final nudge we need to leave Azazel without one of his most powerful lieutenants. There’s no better way to get to him than from the inside, and this is a good start. You know, since you’re here.”

  “Since I’m here? I didn’t exactly stroll into Luceria all by myself,” I said, irritated. “That said, however, I’ll do it.”

  Aida beamed at me and placed her hands on her hips.

  “Seriously, I could hug you right now! Just tell Kyana the following when you see her, so she knows you’re allied with Tamara: the jaspers are in full bloom this morning. It’s a code the two of them use,” she replied.

  “If Bijarki hurries up and gets me out of here before I end up in a snow globe like Abrille, we’ll hug each other soon enough.” I gave her a weak smile.

  “We’ll get you out of here, I promise, Vita!”

  “I know you will. You’re all amazing, and I’m lucky to have you in my life. How are you holding up, Aida?”