Unfaded

by Sarah Ripley

  “You promised.” I didn’t look at him. I was afraid I might break down. Connor was my last lifeline towards the world I’d always known. Hanging out with my friends at Beans, parties, high school, being a normal teenage girl—it was all about to end. Letting him go meant giving up everything I’d ever known. If I made it out of this cave alive I’d be leaving behind the last bit of humanity inside of me. It would make me a killer because one of us wasn’t going to survive.

  I expected Connor to fight to the bitter end but he didn’t. Placing his candle down on the floor, he gave me one last look and then headed back down the tunnel towards freedom. Part of me both rejoiced and died as I listened to his feet fall against the rock.

  “You know I’m still going to kill him,” Sobek said once he was out of sight. “You know the rules.”

  “I know.”

  “It’s nothing personal.”

  “I know.”

  “Hell, I’ve got nothing against you either. I’m not the bad guy here. It’s a crappy deal you got dealt.”

  I nodded, taking a few steps backwards, clinging tightly to the rock. When it happened, it would be quick, the more distance between us, the more time I’d have to prepare. If only I could stall a little bit longer, if only my head would clear up enough for me to think straight.

  If you had asked me a month ago how I’d end up dying, I’d never in a million years had thought it would be like this. Would anyone find my body? I didn’t think so. Sobek would make sure to hide me deep in the caves where no one would ever venture.

  But there was no point in getting sad over it. I had bigger problems to deal with.

  Sobek lunged.

  I dodged him to the left, but he was expecting it. Grabbing hold of my hair, he yanked me backwards, slamming me against the wall. My wrist became crushed between the cold stone and his muscular arm. A large spasm claimed my hand, forcing me to drop the rock. Immediately Sobek kicked it away into the darkness. Ignoring the pain, I twisted my body, shoving him hard. I managed to force him back a few feet. It was a pretty feeble attempt. He didn’t even sway off balance. Instead he dropped down into a crouch, thrust his foot out and kicked both my legs out from under me. I landed straight on my tailbone, clenching my teeth tightly to keep from screaming. I’d never give him the satisfaction of hearing me beg.

  However, Sobek wasn’t about to give me the chance to do anything. The moment I managed to pull myself to my feet, he came again. Using a mixture of both his muscles and energy, he sent me flying across the cavern. I hit the ground on my side and slid across the rest of the damp floor and thumped against the wall. My jeans tore on a sharp rock. Bits of stone and sand embedded itself inside my palms from where I pressed against the ground to try and slow myself down.

  Deep inside me, something was stirring. A small tingle, it spread across my stomach, moving through my nerve endings, extending outwards with each heartbeat. The wound in my stomach flared up for a moment, sending adrenaline coursing through my body. It was like being injected with a strong drug. I could feel muscles tighten as they responded to the synapses’ firing throughout my nervous system. My senses intensified—it was like a veil being lifted over my body. Suddenly everything was crisper, brighter, electrifying.

  It was time to stop thinking like a human and claim the birthright that kept being taken from me.

  I was Apani, daughter of Rafferty, sister to Dialexa.

  I pulled back my arm and slammed him across the face. His head snapped backwards along with the rest of his body, flying across the room where he hit the ground hard.

  I had to stop myself from immediately running over to him to make sure he was all right. I was absolutely horrified. I’d never done something like that before. I wanted to apologise but that was kind of pointless. It was hard to tell who was more surprised—me or him.

  “Nice shot,” he said, rubbing his jaw. “You’ve come a long ways. I’m impressed.”

  “Thanks.”

  This was becoming even more surreal. Did my enemy just compliment me for almost breaking his jaw?

  “A challenge is fantastic. I’d much prefer it this way.”

  “I’m happy you’re happy.”

  We squared off again, moving around in circles, neither of us wanting to make the first move. He was being more cautious now. He didn’t want to give me a second opportunity to use my right hook. Reaching into his jacket, he produced a knife similar to the one Anique had tested on me earlier.

  “I think it’s interesting that you chose to die here,” Sobek said as we continued to pace. “Were you feeling nostalgic?”

  “Seemed like a good idea at the time,” I said. “Not so sure now.”

  Grinning, he darted left but I was prepared. I managed to avoid his fingers as they reached for my arm. His fist closed over air but he also ignored the foot I kicked in his direction. We stepped backwards into our original positions, both unsatisfied.

  “You realise Rafferty is here,” I said. “He’ll never let you go. He’s probably got Anique by now.”

  “He’s here?” Suddenly Sobek didn’t look so sure of himself. “You’re lying.”

  I shook my head. “I invited him. Showed up a few hours ago. What makes you think you can kill me, anyway? Anique couldn’t finish the job. You’re no stronger than her.”

  He laughed. “Anique lets her emotions get the better of her. Doesn’t always think before she acts. I don’t have that problem. Besides, I don’t think your friends will be rushing to your aide this time.”

  “You won’t kill me.”

  “I killed Kian.”

  I stopped moving. My legs no longer knew how to work.

  “You didn’t realise that?” Sobek was grinning, showing me a wide row of perfectly shaped teeth. “Oh, I’m sorry. I should have mentioned it earlier.”

  “You’re lying.”

  “Oh? How do you know? Did you think there’d be some sort of magical connection? Did you think you’d feel his soul as I ripped it from his body? It doesn’t work that way, sweetheart.”

  “He’s not dead.”

  “Don’t worry, you’ll be reuniting with him soon enough. Wait, I guess not. Your soul never gets to rest, does it?”

  I almost didn’t notice when he came at me for the final time. The knife was inches from my face when my hand automatically came up to block it. The blade sliced through my skin but I barely discerned the white heat spreading through my fingers. Every single second ceased to exist, time lost all meaning and the world completely stopped. In my slow motion daze I managed to shove him against the cavern wall, slamming him hard enough to bring dust and pebbles raining down from above. He grunted twice and sprang back, using his hands to spin me around, shoving me up against the side, pinning me by placing his arm up against my neck.

  “It was a good fight,” he said. Bringing the knife up, he positioned it just above my throat. The edge of the blade pressed into my neck, sending a small trickle of blood down my chest, staining Kian’s shirt.

  It had been a good fight but it wasn’t over yet.

  Something was coming towards us from the mouth of the cave. Just like the calm before a storm, a soft tremor swept under my skin and an invisible breeze tickled my hair. It started out as a dull beam of energy, moving along the walls of the caves. Pulsating fingers reached through the darkness to find me. Electrified like lightening, the purple light cracked under the intense heat. It flowed into the cavern like a tsunami, illuminating the room.

  Rafferty was teaching Kian some of his old tricks.

  It gave me strength.

  It gave me hope.

  It gave me the urge to kick some Unfaded ass.

  I love you. I won’t lose you. This time it’ll be different.

  It was.

  I pulled Sobek’s arm from my throat as if it were nothing more than a scarf draped across my neck. Bringing my knee up, I slammed him hard in the one spot you’re never supposed to hit a guy unless you mean it. His annoying smile played upon
his face for a brief second before shock overtook him. Eyes widened and then he doubled over, a high pitched whimper was the only sound he could muster.

  I didn’t even touch him. A blast of energy burst through my skin, sending him flying upwards and straight into the ceiling where he hovered for a few brief seconds before crashing to the floor. Crumpling to the ground, he didn’t move. I hadn’t killed him. I could hear the ragged breathing through his broken nose. It would mend. In a few days he’d be right as rain. But for now he was unconscious and I wasn’t going to have to worry about him for a while.

  I stepped around his motionless body, resisting the urge to kick him a few times. This was not a time for petty revenge, even if I knew it would make me happy. Instead I picked up the candle from the floor—it was still flickering—and began making my way back through the tunnel towards the icy door.

  I only managed a few feet before the floor started spinning. Stopping, I placed my hand out to brace myself but the walls melted away into darkness.

  I was in a cave but it was another one, somewhere further away from any distance I’d ever travelled. It was cold, so cold, my fingers were stiff and the numbness had claimed my feet. Leaning against the cavern wall, I’d brought my legs up and wrapped my arms around them to try and keep warm.

  I’d never be warm again. This I knew for certain.

  It was dark, blacker than nothingness. Just beyond my reach, my sister Dialexa paced the floor, her bare feet slapping time against the damp rock. She was furious, I could feel her hatred pouring from her skin and just beneath that I could sense the newly found power we’d claimed a short time ago. Ancient power. The kind any creature would kill for.

  Creatures just like us.

  The power waited just underneath my own skin. I could feel it straining at my chest, spreading its fingers through my nervous system, examining my muscles, blood cells, bones, not a single inner working part of my body was untouched. A million ants crawled around my belly. Centipedes worked their legs through my hair. The energy was looking for quick release. It wanted to reunite with my sister. The powers needed to be together. They begged for it.

  They hadn’t been able to stop us from unleashing it. But they’d trapped us just the same. Deep down within the mountain, so far down, our powers would never break through the rocky surface and into the light.

  And because we couldn’t starve to death or die of thirst, we’d be forced to spend the rest of eternity trapped underneath the mountain until the darkness claimed the last of our sanity.

  We’d spent days wandering the tunnels but they only led us further into the mountain. Aelin had done a good job, she'd made sure not even a single crack of light would find us. The air grew heavier as our eyes adjusted to the permanent darkness.

  “I won’t allow this,” Dialexa finally said. “We have all this power. We might as well use it.”

  “How do you mean?”

  “We strike a curse.”

  Dialexa had been prepared. She’d found a way to cheat death. A curse more powerful than any magic Humans and Unfaded dared to utter. But there were consequences. There would be no salvation for our souls. We’d never have the opportunity for eternal rest.

  We also didn’t know if it would work.

  But Dialexa was beyond reasoning. She refused to accept that it was over. She was prepared to die and take that chance.

  In the end it wasn’t hard.

  Down in the dark we’d managed to light a fire with bits of debris we’d collected over several days of wandering. Tree roots, dead grasses, whatever might have been drawn into the caves over the centuries. The darkness continued to press down in spite of our efforts. The fire offered little warmth.

  “I will find you again, dear sister. There is no power that can keep us apart. We will finish this game. I will live again if only to make Aelin regret her decision. Now give me your hand. I want your blood.”

  “How do you know this will work?” I didn’t look at her. Instead I watched the fire, my eyes shimmering with the blaze as it slowly grew weaker. Soon the flames would fade away and the embers would burn out. There was nothing else to feed it.

  “We don’t have any other choice. Do you want to stay here?”

  “No, but...”

  “But what?”

  “We deserve this.”

  Dialexa dropped the flint she was polishing in disgust. “You are speaking as if Aelin has all ready defeated you. This is not the end. Only we can say when it’s over. Now give me your hand!”

  “No.”

  She was on me instantly, grabbing my wrist, forcing my palm open upon the ground. I fought the best I could but she’d always been the strongest. Using the bit of flint, she sliced open my skin, letting my blood drip into a bowl she’d prepared. Adding her own blood next, she began the ritual. Crawling over to the corner, I covered my ears, not wanting to know the words that would bring us back from the dead. That kind of power was too dangerous.

  “I’m not letting you do this,” I said after a while.

  “You have no choice.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Everything I’ve done, I’ve done for us.”

  “That’s a lie.”

  When she came towards me, I used my energy to push her back but it only lasted for a few seconds. No matter how much I feared her, she was still my sister and I couldn’t bring myself to use my powers for harm.

  She drew me close until we embraced. Holding me tightly, she ran her fingers through my hair, touching my face gently. I tried pulling away from her but her hold on me was deadly.

  “I will see you again,” she said. “This is not the end. Now speak the words.”

  My voice was stuck in my throat and I swallowed hard. “No.”

  “Each time this Unfaded falls, I shall be reborn.”

  The struggle was quick, my strength was weak and I couldn’t do much except watch helplessly as she pinned my arms behind me. Tears fell down my cheeks but my cries went unanswered.

  Dialexa brought the flint up, thrusting it deep into my heart without hesitation. The cold rock invaded my body, taking away the last bit of warmth I possessed. The energy inside me exploded, filling the room with a violent swirl of power. I closed my eyes and allowed my body to fall, down, out of the dark where everything slowly began to fade. Fingers gently touched my cheek, a last caress to show how much she truly loved me.

  I honestly didn’t believe I’d ever see her again. She thought I was embracing a curse but in reality I was preparing for death. I didn’t believe she would succeed. It wasn’t the first time I’d been wrong.

  Death was easy.

  Staying alive was harder.

  Off in the distance I could hear a voice but it was far away and I had no light to guide my way. I tried moving towards the sound but it was like surfacing after being under water for a long time. I was so tired. It would be easier to fall back to sleep. In the darkness I didn’t have to fight. All I had to do was sleep.

  I was so tired.

  No.

  I began to run but there was nothing to run towards. The darkness surrounded me, drawing me away from my path. I couldn’t see anything. No air to cool my face. All my senses were gone, I’d never taste or smell or feel again. There was no path beneath my feet, no walls to keep me in. Not that it mattered. I’d run forever in this space and never move an inch. My stomach burned with emptiness, even the fear bursting beneath the surface was nothing compared to the loneliness that I knew would last an eternity.

  This was my own personal hell and I deserved it.

  “Mai.”

  Kian? I could hear him but where was he? Knowing he was just beyond my reach and that I might never see him again was more than I could bear. Dropping to the ground, I curled up, wishing away my existence.

  “Come back to me.”

  A flicker of light but only for an instant.

  “Where are you?” I asked. “I want to find you.”

  Off in the distance I saw it
again. Purple energy, moving towards me. Using the last of my strength, I picked myself up off the non-existent floor and began to run. The light grew stronger and brighter, when I reached out my hand to catch it, I was engulfed in warmth that instantly melted away all the pain.

  Opening my eyes, I tried to focus on something, anything at all but it was all just a blur. I was being carried. Warm hands held me tightly and we were moving. A jumble of emotions. Concern. Fear. Panic.

  Love.

  A soft blur of light pushed its way into my vision. The icy waterfall was in front of me, so close I could reach out and touch it.

  Kian didn’t even hesitate. Pulling my head closer, he held up his hand and a wave of energy burst from his fingertips. A thundering noise filled my ears and the cavern floors vibrated as if an avalanche approached. Sharp and jagged slivers began to rain from above, large chunks smashed against the rock, forcing bits of ice and debris to scatter across the cavern floor.

  He carried me out of the darkness as the morning light caressed our bodies.

  Twenty-Three

  It was over.

  I sat on one of the dilapidated picnic tables, covered in a warm blanket as the morning sun warmed my face. Kian was beside me, face pale, his emotions in turmoil as we watched two of Rafferty’s bodyguards bring Sobek out from the cave. He was still unconscious. I couldn’t help but feel a little smug.

  “I don’t know what you did but I don’t ever want to get on your bad side,” Seito said.

  I grinned.

  Lina was back at the motel taking care of a wounded Micah. Although his injuries were severe, Seito assured me he’d be fine after a few days rest. I was relieved to hear that. I knew how important Micah was to Kian. I couldn’t imagine what his death might have done. I caused enough havoc as it was.

  Connor was waiting over in the car. His eyes stayed on mine the entire time but he didn’t dare come over. I think it made him nervous being surrounded by all those Unfaded. I can’t say I blamed him. Rafferty’s bodyguards were unnerving, especially since they mostly stood around staring and never said a word.

  “You did good,” Kian said.

  “Thanks to you.”