I put my camera back in my bag and dug out a small container, using my power to line it with arcane energy. The arcane mites would need something to eat. Protocol said I should coat it with energy from the arcane remnant, but it was so tainted. I did not want to be walking around with a miniature version of this spell, remnant or not.
I waited for neither of my companions as I waded back into the chaos. The last of the souls had been freed, the black tendrils gone, and all that was left were the arcane remnants. What was left was a mere echo of its former power. I could handle this. My head still pounded, but I could work through it.
Kneeling down next to an arcane remnant, I gently scooped up a few arcane mites. Putting the cover back on, I looked at the little worm-like things a moment before putting it into my pocket. My backpack was too large and I did not want to risk it getting damaged.
Silver stood over me with his arms crossed - his sword and shield away. Retanei handed him the coat as I stood up. I turned away, knowing that standing stubbornly before him and daring him to say something would be ridiculous given the height difference.
Putting my bag on the ground, I opened my arms to the remnant, mentally preparing myself for what I had to do.
“Ket, do you have to do this? Don’t these things dissipate on their own?” The sound of worry was distinct in Retanei’s voice.
I paused, my arms drooped slightly - the shaking I was trying to hide showed itself. I already considered the option, but Retanei questioning my choice made me rethink my course of action for the moment.
“Lady Ketayl, you’re still shaking. This can wait,” Silver said, his hand on my left arm, gently pushing it down.
Out of reflex, I jerked my arm away. “I don’t know if the arcane remnants will dissipate normally and I don’t want to chance it. They have already caused enough damage.” I stopped and took a deep breath, centering myself. “This doesn’t require much.” My words sounded more sure than I was. It did not help I was chilled through either.
Retanei moved, digging into my bag. “You can get so stubborn about things. I never thought I would find someone worse than your sister. The least we can do is document that the arcane remnants are being destroyed.” She pulled out my camera, the arcane filter still on it.
Destroyed. That was the word I needed to firm up my resolve for this. Opening my arms back up fully, I closed my eyes, feeling for the arcane remnant before me with my power, slowly breaking it apart. First was to pull the blended spells apart, then break down the power that was woven into each individual spell.
I felt sorry for the arcane mites that handled this naturally, but I could not risk anyone else being hurt by this twisted magic.
Anger again pushed at my control and I focused it, using the power it provided to destroy the arcane remnants faster. Perhaps not the wisest option, but an effective one.
It still took me the better part of an hour to finish. Silver had begun casting something under his breath and he stood close to my back. I was not sure if it was him or if I had simply gone numb, but I did not feel the bite of the cold as much.
As the last arcane remnant was shredded and disappeared into nothing, my body gave up the pretense of being strong and I collapsed. I felt like I had nothing left. It should not have required much of my energy to do this task, but I was exhausted. Silver managed to catch me before my knees hit the floor. It took a moment to realize that it was not my arcane reserves that were drained. This was something different.
The cold came back in a rush as did my headache.
~*~
It was late by the time we left the Waking Dawn. Silver insisted on carrying me back to the truck and I fought him the whole way. He wanted to head directly back to the hotel so I could rest, I needed to head back to the office to download the pictures to add them to the case file for the others.
Retanei settled the argument by calling Savanas. She in turn ordered us back to the office for a report on what we found. From what little I caught of the conversation, Retanei had not given any details.
I was not sure why I was fighting so hard against Silver. We had to figure out how to work together. Thinking about it a bit more, I pushed against Kitteren when she gave me unwanted attention. I did not like being treated as if I were glass. But even Kitteren did not know what I was able to take.
It did not change the feeling of being weak in the eyes of the others.
Retanei drove as I huddled in the backseat with all of the heat vents pointed toward me. Despite Silver’s protest that I should take the front, I was smaller and it made more sense to let him with his long legs have it. I also found it meditative to rub Artemis’ head - the action took the edge off of my headache.
I was thoroughly frozen through. Both physically and mentally. How could one person do this? What would drive someone to do something like this? I should have inquired more with Archmage Maewon. I would have to get Savanas’ permission to discuss further details of the case with him.
“M’lady? Are you well?” Silver asked and tried to turn to look at me, but I had huddled in the seat behind him out of his line of sight. It was an odd question given that he knew what I just put myself through. Or maybe I was better at hiding how bad I was hurting than I thought.
And how could I be well with what we just witnessed? Thinking about it made me sick again. Taking a slow, deep breath, I replied, “Yeah.” It was the most I trusted myself to say. A lie for certain, but they did not need to know the truth.
“You’re not, but you will be. It takes a while to get past something like that.” Retanei’s words of wisdom yet again and it did not surprise me that she saw through my front.
It was odd she was actually several years younger than me and yet was the one keeping a level head. I did not want to think about what horrors she had witnessed. Even though I had become close friends with her, I was finding I truly knew little about her.
Silence was our companion the remainder of the way to the office. Artemis rubbed her head against my cheek and I curled into her, finding warmth and solace.
~*~
Getting out, Retanei tossed me the keys. “Sorry, Ket, but you’re going to have to get the two of you back to the hotel. We’re going hunting. Tell Savanas she’ll have my report by morning.”
“Sure thing,” I replied. If I did not have Silver with me, I would probably have simply decided to stay at the office and rest at my temporary desk. Rest would help alleviate the pounding in my head.
“Move my stuff to your room so Silver can have the other bed,” Retanei said, waving and headed for a different vehicle with Artemis at her heels.
Hefting my bag up on my shoulder, I signaled for Silver to follow. I was not exactly in the mood for conversation. Thankfully, he seemed to understand and remained silent.
Brad greeted us as we got off of the elevator. The smile quickly left his face. “Hey, you two don’t look so good.”
At this stage, I did not care. The most I mustered was a half-hearted wave. I collapsed at my temporary desk, digging out the camera and cable to get the download started.
I should be more careful about my appearance in front of others, but I was too tired to care. I was also too busy fighting to keep myself centered, which was not helping my headache. Pleasantries were obviously not high on my priority list at the moment.
I normally worried about appearances as to not draw attention to myself. To look normal, blend in, what have you. I knew how different I was and I long learned the importance of hiding everything. Even how I felt.
I could not look up when Savanas commented, “You two look like you’ve seen a ghost. Why do I have a feeling I should have gone with you?”
I had… I had seen many ghosts. I merely pointed to the computer to which she promptly came over.
Savanas said in a breath, “Gods preserve us…”
Before the others could wander over into the already too tight space, Savanas quickly typed on my keyboard and put up one of the first images I
took this evening on the large screen. My own gaze was drawn to the blown up image.
It was one of the entire scene: wildly swirling colors of the arcane remnants contrasted by the agony of the souls trapped by black tendrils. The blown out walls, the broken bar, the thrown about tables and chairs, the blasted bottles and screens, the blood splattered everywhere - none of that had anything on the magic used to cause the destruction.
“Can one of you explain to me how this was possible?” Savanas asked, looking at both of us. The rest of her crew were busy in different stages of shock and repulsion. Brad covered his mouth while Darius stared with his wide open. Rathal clenched his fists and looked away, muttering something under his breath.
Silver found his voice first, “My aura - I am a Paladin of the Holy Church of the Sun. It illuminates the darkness. Apparently the camera was able to pick it up. I didn’t see all of this though.” He moved toward the screen and was pointing at the arcane remnants.
I jumped into the conversation, “That’s essentially my ability to see the arcane. The camera has a filter on it to be able to capture it.” This was something I could focus on. “These images will show the full spell used. I was unable to see the divine side before.”
The change to business helped regain the level of control I needed - I could push my emotions back and focus down on the pure facts. Like I did back in my lab.
Savanas had gone back to her desk and started typing quickly. She asked, “What else happened?”
“I released the souls so they could move on and find peace,” Silver said.
I quickly added as I dug the small container with the arcane mites out of my coat pocket, “I took pictures of everything.”
Rathal asked, “Did it look like the arcane remnants were starting to degrade at all?”
“Yes, I collected a sample of the arcane mites that appeared once the power source was disconnected. I also destroyed the arcane remnants - I wasn’t sure how well they would dissipate normally given that they were attached to a divine power source for an extended length of time,” I said.
That was it: cold, hard facts. I did not need to think about the horror of souls being used as a power source. Though it did not give me much respite from the building headache.
“Leave your gear here and go get some rest. I’ll review the files and plan our next course of action. I take it Retanei already left?” Savanas asked. She never seemed to skip a beat.
“Yes, she said she would have her report to you by morning.”
Savanas cursed under her breath.
Hesitantly I requested, “I would like to speak in more detail with Archmage Maewon on this case. See if he can’t give us something more substantial to go on,” I had nearly forgotten about asking to speak with him again.
Savanas chewed on her bottom lip for a moment. “Fine, but I may call you in depending on if we get authorization to speak with Magister Browne again. Silver, do you mind accompanying her?”
Speaking with the Magister was another headache I was not looking forward to.
Silver bowed and said, “It would be my honor.”
Again, Rathal was glaring at Silver and the paladin returned the look. My headache was quickly getting worse and I did not want to be standing between them right now. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I tried to think of what I needed to do next.
“Ket, why don’t you head down to Doc’s office and get yourself looked at?” Savanas suggested, “You really don’t look good and I don’t think you’re safe to drive right now.”
Her look told me that while her words and tone sounded like a suggestion, it was an order.
Rathal and Silver both offered to go with me at the same time. It only made my head hurt more. What was with the two of them. I could understand if Rathal had not been able to burn off the effects of his exposure. I did not understand Silver.
“Rathal, escort her down and then get back up here quickly. We have work to do,” Savanas said.
While Savanas was ordering Rathal, I had switched to rubbing my temples. Neither spot was working to relieve the headache. The fact that my normal means of soothing the pain were not working was only frustrating me and making the headache worse.
Rathal basically pulled me from my chair. “Definitely time to go see Doc.”
Before he could get an arm around me, I moved away. “I can walk.” I could not afford to appear weak at this stage. I made it through the chaotic hell that was in the Waking Dawn, I could get down a couple of floors.
Chapter 9
As soon as the elevator doors closed, Rathal stood directly in front of me, pulling me against him. Until I felt his warmth, I did not realize that I was still chilled. My headache had taken priority. “What are you doing?” I asked as evenly as I could. I was scared - I did not understand this behavior.
“Trying to help.”
I rolled my eyes and regretted doing so as a sharp pain shot through my head. Rest would help more than this awkward hug.
Trying to back away, I found I could not break his hold. I simply did not have the energy for it. It bothered me that I could not figure out why I was so tired. It felt like physical exhaustion, but that did not make sense.
“When this is all over and you don’t have your shadow, we should get dinner. There’s a really nice seafood place near my apartment. Best seafood in Ocean’s Edge.”
Black hair dangled into my vision as he rested his head on mine. One of his hands began rubbing my back.
I did not want to admit it made me feel slightly better. I tried to squirm out - my discomfort overrode Rathal’s attempt at soothing. As soon as the elevator dinged, I managed to break out of his loosened hold.
“Um, thanks. Maybe. I can find my way from here.” I hit the button for the third floor and stepped out of the elevator quickly before Rathal could respond.
Once the elevator started making its way back up, I leaned back against the wall and rubbed my arms. I did not like being touched.
~*~
After finding out Doc was not in his office, Melody directed me down to autopsy with a packet to deliver. The elevator dinged again and I cringed, the sound making my headache worse. At least I did not have an escort anymore.
The doors to autopsy were within view of the elevator. There was no getting lost this time. I peeked in through the glass doors, not wanting to just walk in and disturb him.
The lights were off on this side of the room. Doc was at the other end of the large room, almost out of view, next to a large bank of small doors. I could not see what he was doing and so I gently knocked on the door in front of me, jumping when it made a louder sound than I intended.
Looking up, Doc smiled and waved me in. As soon as I was inside, he asked softly, “Ketayl, what brings you down here?”
Walking slowly, I took in the room around me. I had never been in an autopsy lab before. It was cold; I ran my free hand over my arm, huddling at the temperature change.
“Savanas wanted me to come see you. Melody also sent me down with this,” I said, holding out the packet.
Doc adjusted the height of the wheeled table he was next to and pushed the platform a small form laid upon onto the shelf at an open door. The sound felt sharp and final. “Thank you. That is probably the paperwork so I can release a few more of my charges back to their families.”
He had a Human adolescent laying before him. The boy was clean and for all the world looked like he was sleeping - the white sheet only showing his head and the tops of his shoulders. I had to back up a few steps and cover my mouth, knowing he was one of the victims.
Doc quickly covered him with a sheet and pushed the shelf back into the wall. The sound of the door slamming shut echoed loudly through my already hurting head. I felt like I could not breathe.
Suddenly Doc was standing before me, asking me something, but I could not hear over the pounding. I was fighting for control as I felt the wave of arcane energy surge in me. Then the world went black.
~*~
The first thing I noticed is that it was not as cold. Opening my eyes, I could not get my bearings as to where I was. It looked a lot like the examination rooms at the main office.
“Hey, girl,” said a female voice I did not recognize.
Turning to look, I felt like I should know her. The orange suit reminded me that I had only seen her in passing when Retanei and I arrived. Her name escaped me.
“I’ll be right back. Need to let Doc know you’re back in the land of the living,” she said.
The one thing I remembered was having one of the worst headaches. My head hurt significantly less. I managed to sit up and was immediately hit with a wave of dizziness. A small, strong pair of hands steadied me.
“Easy there, girl. You gave Doc quite a scare.” The woman was back - I had not heard her return. She continued, “He’ll be here in a few minutes. He’s still talking with the boss lady.”
Her dark cropped hair was tucked up under a hat. Grease smeared her cheek.
It took me a minute to follow what she was saying. I finally just asked, “Where am I?”
“This is one of Doc’s patient rooms. After you passed out, he called me to help bring you up here. I was in the garage behind autopsy servicing the van so sorry if I got you a little dirty,” she said, sounding a little too cheerful. “My name’s Sasha by the way. We crossed paths briefly when you landed.”
“Ketayl,” I replied. What else could I say? I have never had this problem before. Blacking out only made me look weak and incompetent. I was not sure how I was going to explain myself to Savanas and the others. Retanei certainly would lecture me later.
Doc entered, his tablet in front of him, humming softly. He tucked it into one of the large pockets on his lab coat before sitting down on a stool next to me. A smile was on his face, but I was not sure why his eyes did not match that expression.
“How are you feeling?” Doc asked.
“Better,” I said, “I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize. Thank you for keeping an eye on her, Sasha. Sorry to have kept you.”
Twisted Magics (Terra Chronicles Book 1) Page 10