Revived (The Lucidites Book 3)

by Sarah Noffke

  “No!” Trey says through the pain.

  Pulling his bloody hand out of Trey’s ribcage, Zhuang stands up straight. “Give me your power before I take it by killing every single person you have serving you!”

  “You’re going to kill us anyway,” Trey says through wheezing breaths.

  “So true,” Zhuang sneers broadly. “But I wasn’t planning on killing them in front of you.” Faster than a cheetah he spins around, facing us. His silk robes billow around his lean and muscular frame. Somehow Zhuang appears taller than the last time we met and significantly more menacing as he peers at me behind black and golden eyes. I search for a place in them that’s human, but all I see are the many demonic compartments which possess him with uncontrollable wickedness.

  Trey gasps, blood spewing from his mouth. “Damn it, Roya and Joseph! Get out of here!” He tries to stand but winds up on the ground after a failed attempt to walk, heaving on hands and knees.

  I try not to look at my father, hunched over on all fours as he spits blood on the blue fibers of the carpet. He clutches his stomach, which is badly slashed. Ren’s breathing in the corner, but looks to be on the verge of passing out. The noose around his neck hangs loosely and I’m grateful to see that the cords have stopped moving momentarily.

  Sliding his sword through his hands, Zhuang lets the blood from it trickle onto his fingers and eyes it hungrily. “Little girl, I see you have come to die. This is smart of you. I shall suck out your consciousness and then I’ll have no trouble obtaining your father’s.”

  “We’ve come to kill you,” I say, feeling the adrenaline in me taking effect.

  The laughter from Zhuang’s tiny frame fills the destructed room. “You’re as disillusioned as your father if you think you and your naïve brother stand a chance. Look at this pathetic man.” Zhuang pulls Trey up by his silver hair and speaks next to his drained face. “He’s as arrogant as you. He thought he stood a chance against me. Now he will watch you both die as punishment for his foolishness.” Zhuang lets the blood-drenched hair slide from his fingertips and Trey’s head hangs low again. “And then your father will give me what I want.”

  Joseph pushes his sleeves up to his elbows. Only anger registers in his eyes when he speaks. “Would you shut up already? Put down that damn sword and fight us like a man, you evil parasite!”

  The smirk drops from Zhuang’s narrow face. The sword hits the ground with a loud clunk. “As you wish.”

  Chapter Forty-Four

  As if cued each of us sinks down low into a fighting stance. Zhuang’s gold eyes dart between me and my brother. I confirm that my shield is up and strong so that he can’t penetrate my thoughts. This is even more of a concern for Joseph since he and Zhuang now share a link. According to Trey, Zhuang leeching Joseph’s power meant he knew the workings of his brain and therefore how to break his defenses. During our practices we worked to find new strategies to shield Zhuang and I’m hoping that it works. If it doesn’t then we’ll know soon.

  I never thought I’d enter a fight hoping to get myself cornered into a place where I’m about to die. However, that’s the only reason for this fight. It’s a show. The truth is there’s no winning against Zhuang. Not in a fight. He will only be overpowered by someone more powerful than him, and none of the people in this room meet that criterion. I nod at Joseph, one that says, let this deadly show begin. My only prayer is that Joseph’s assistance doesn’t get him killed.

  Just as we rehearsed, we take the offensive immediately. Joseph spins around to the other side of Zhuang and I take the front. Zhuang’s pockmarked chin twitches. He wasn’t expecting this approach, which means we’re on the right track. When fighting to lose, it’s easier to take risks, knowing when they don’t pay off, it won’t matter.

  The three of us dance around each other. I keep a close eye, waiting to see the flex of Zhuang’s muscles or the pivot in his foot telegraphing an oncoming attack. I’m fairly certain he’s delaying, trying to get through Joseph’s shield and therefore capture the workings of our plan. We can’t give him this precious time. I have to do the one thing he isn’t expecting: Strike first.

  Bobbing side to side, I step forward with my back foot, rotate on my front, and whip my leg around in a spinning hook kick. My flexed heel slams across Zhuang’s face. He falls back from the attack, but remains standing, his snakelike eyes rimmed with ferocity. As intended, he’s pissed. Momentarily he’s distracted wiping a drip of blood from his lip which allows Joseph to unleash a series of punches. Being reckless means we aren’t conserving our energy. All attacks are meant to push Zhuang to a breaking point.

  I reset and throw another round of kicks. The air around me feels lighter as the force of my kicks repeatedly drills into block after block. My feet hardly remain on the ground together for more than a half a second at any one time. However, Zhuang’s having no problem blocking my kicks on one side of him and Joseph on the other. At one point he simply sidesteps back and the kick I’d already launched connects with the side of my brother’s face. I falter back, giving Joseph a look of apology. That one look costs me the offensive and suddenly I’m forced to block attacks from Zhuang. His punches are fast. His fists thrust heavily against my forearms and legs. The cuts from Allouette are threatened by each assault. I know soon one is going to buckle back open, oozing blood. Thankfully I’m able to hold my blocks, but I’m quickly becoming dizzy from the speed. One false move and Zhuang will have me on the ground. I don’t want to be pummeled to bits; I only want to be placed into a position of threat. And I’m not quite there yet.

  Joseph rams his body into Zhuang, pulling him away from me. The man hardly budges, though, and it takes him only inches to regain his footing. I’ve momentarily been tapped out of this fight and it’s weird to lamely watch from the sidelines as Zhuang drills punches into Joseph’s side and arms with practiced ease. We aren’t fast enough, but we knew that all along. It was never our intention to win this fight. Zhuang is stronger, more powerful, and quicker than ever before. Even with two on one we’re no match. This must be why he laughs wickedly every now and then after delivering a series of attacks. Our attempts are amusing him.

  Now Joseph’s face is bleeding in multiple places. We need to progress to the next phase of the plan. I need to tap back into this fight. Joseph lunges low and sidesteps backward, putting a few feet between him and his challenger. Slowly the dance from earlier resumes. Zhuang is mostly untouched and has hardly wrinkled his robes from this altercation.

  Trey looks like he’s just escaped a deadly car accident, and is only barely conscious. There’s something in his gaze that makes him seem somehow lost, like although he’s here right now he may never be the same after this. “Don’t,” he mouths at me.

  Does he know what I’m about to do?

  Trey’s mouth, red from the blood pouring out of his nose, pinches together. He shakes his head with a deliberate force.

  Insanely cold water from a nearby leak sprays my back, making me cringe, and reminding me we have multiple ways we can meet our end tonight. “I have to,” I mouth back to him. Each of my words sharp and deliberate.

  “No,” he mouths, his face haunted by dread.

  The beat of my heart rams against my head. My face burns with heat as I refocus my attention on the fight. Everything’s moving rapidly. But when Joseph and I exchange looks the next sequence of events slows. He retreats. I take the center spot. I feel his reluctance, but he knows this is the way to the end. This is the way his vision informed us to move. I’m all too aware of Zhuang’s oncoming attack, spy the telegraphing of his joints as they lock into place. I can avoid it. Duck. Block. Move. Instead I stand upright. Pretend to be too slow for the kick that strikes across my face sending me to the ground. As soon as my head hits the soggy carpet Zhuang is leaning over me, his face inches from mine. “Just returning the gesture from before.” Zhuang’s breath smells like rotting fish. He bares yellow teeth and hisses into my face. “Surrender your consciousness to me o
r die by my sword.”

  Now things are going to plan. I’m finally in mortal danger. Hurray. Taking down all my shields I reach out to him, knowing this is the moment he’s been waiting for. Although Zhuang is inching in closer to me I force out the fear. Focus on only one person. Like I’m dialing him on a telephone, I reach through time and space until I imagine that he’s received my message. Zhuang’s sword flies through the air and without taking his eyes off me it lands in his outstretched hand. Only then does Zhuang step back to allow for the distance he needs to swing. I know if this doesn’t work that seconds from now I’ll feel that blade.

  “Please, I need you. Please come to me. Please, if you love me… save me,” I plead.

  “Little girl, your father cannot save you. No one can,” Zhuang growls.

  “I wasn’t talking to my father,” I say through gritted teeth. “And there’s someone who can save me,” I say, my eyes flicking over Zhuang’s shoulder. “He’s just arrived.”

  “I will not fall for your elementary tricks. Now release your consciousness to me,” Zhuang says, holding the sword over his head.

  “Step away from her now,” Chase’s cool voice saunters through the air.

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Zhuang stiffens. His lipless mouth snarls. Stepping to the side he swivels chin enough to take in the solid form which has just arrived.

  Chase glides until he’s hovering over me. He’s unconcerned for the man standing at his back, holding a sword uncertainly by his side. “Get up,” Chase says, extending his hand. My fingers curl around his cold hand and he yanks me from the ground. When I’m on my feet he turns, his sturdy frame sheltering me from Zhuang.

  With Chase’s back to me, I feel protected as he takes control of the room. His tall build stands against mine, and I sense on the surface of his smooth features is a smile mixed with a strong expression of power. From my vantage point all I can make out is the smoothness of his shiny black hair as it meets the collar of his jacket and even just this is enough to remind me of how attractive this man is to the unsuspecting person. However, I’m not unsuspecting.

  “Well, well, well, what do we have here?” Chase’s voice is clear, deep. He peers around the room taking in the mayhem, then focuses on Zhuang, who is oddly frozen. “I suppose I should congratulate you on your superb work.” Chase’s hands rub together.

  Zhuang eyes him nervously but doesn’t say a word.

  “Looks like you’ve managed to do me a series of favors in one single night,” Chase says smugly.

  “I do not work for you,” Zhuang spits through his pointy teeth.

  “Everyone works for me,” Chase says coolly.

  Zhuang separates his feet and zips his eyes around the room.

  “You can go ahead and finish those remaining.” Chase waves his hand at the three men lying in various positions behind Zhuang. “But the girl belongs to me.”

  Zhuang flares his nostrils. “The girl dies tonight.”

  “Make this easy on everyone. Get over your grudge with her. If you don’t and insist on killing her then I’ll have no choice but to stop you. I really hope you’ll reconsider since I’d hate to end your majestic reign tonight.”

  Zhuang laughs but not like before. This one reeks of insecurity. “There’s no stopping me. Now step aside while I destroy her.”

  The room is suddenly colder even though the fire behind Trey is building with intensity, sending clouds of smoke into the air. Chase’s fists ball up and then relax.

  “You and I both know the first statement you just made is inherently false,” Chase says calmly. “You can be stopped. And no one will destroy her––until I say.”

  “I’m not leaving until she dies. She almost ruined me and will pay,” Zhuang says, taking a rattling breath.

  I half expect Chase to say something but instead his fingertips tense and curl into the palm of his hands. The dim lights flicker. A low buzzing fills the space. Everything in the room changes on such a subtle level. The temperature. The light. The sounds. Although I’m watching from my safety zone behind Chase, I sense the terror building.

  Zhuang’s long pointed nose twitches and then his face follows suit as if trying to fight something off. Spasms flex all over his face. His eyes bulge from an unseen pressure and dart chaotically all over his attacker’s face. He’s searching Chase for an option that will tell him how to combat what’s happening.

  This ancient force prepared to waltz in here after learning all of the Institute’s secrets and destroy its unsuspecting residents. He’d expected he could overpower Trey, who would die to protect his palace and its people. Zhuang expected he could fight Ren and Shuman, who are talented but still moral. He knew they’d be unwilling to dip into the dark side to pull from the strength that it would take to fully challenge him. Zhuang had expected everything he’d encountered up until this point. However, he wasn’t prepared to face the man who stands before him now. Before him is the one person who’s not only powerful enough to bring him down, but now has the motivation to do it. And Chase has no trouble selling his soul in exchange for the power it takes to end Zhuang’s long life. He’s been doing just that for all of his life, which is exactly what makes him Zhuang’s perfect challenger.

  Chase isn’t moving, but I can tell by the way he’s holding his hands in a fixed position that he’s using all his energy to channel the strongest power he’s ever tried to harness. Zhuang’s features stretch under an unseen pressure. His long slit pupils dilate. The surface of his face grows smooth. Suddenly he looks placid, like he’s in a trance.

  An intense roar booms from Chase. He pulls both hands into the air. Zhuang rises three inches off the ground. I back up until I feel the cold steel on my neck. Another growl erupts from Chase and Zhuang stretches out his own hands searching for something tangible in the sticky air.

  Zhuang howls, one so high-pitched, I cover my ears. His bony hands shelter his face, claw at it. Something from inside him or all around him or from far away sucks the very life out. Chase appears to be hardly straining as an unknown force suddenly speeds through the air. However, I know Chase has been drained by the power he’s exuded through this feat. My bracelet is undoubtedly doing its job, but still a part of me feels won over by this man. He’s drained himself. Staked his life on everything to kill my adversary.

  I swallow hard. That feels like true romance.

  Shaking my head I withdraw from these thoughts, remembering I can never be fooled by the immediate actions of this man. In the end he’s only after one thing and it isn’t me. This is the man who had my mother killed. Who forged the way my life unfolded. This is the man who killed Pearl and countless others, including Aiden’s parents. I remind myself why I’m here. Why I made the decisions I did. This is about choices and right now I’m choosing not to fight, but rather to let those who like to, face each other. Their selfish hate has overwhelmed them so much that they don’t even know who they’re fighting anymore.

  A sound so awful it makes my stomach turn explodes from Zhuang. It isn’t words, but still I interpret the hoarse sound exploding from his mouth as a plea. If Joseph’s theory is correct, based on what he’d seen in his flash, then Chase is using his mind control to force Zhuang to send the power that he sucked from dreamers back into the ether. Like moisture in the air, it will be absorbed by some cloud of consciousness, where it will build until one day all this power rains back down onto the Earth and its dreamers.

  Zhuang’s pointy fingers recede from his face. The red streaks start at his cheekbones and slash down his sunken cheeks. Before my eyes his skin wrinkles like a damaged piece of leather. It goes from being taut against his bony frame to dripping from his features. Sunken eyes stare unblinkingly at Chase and then they land on me. The wheezing in his chest is the first signal that he’s trying to speak and therefore abandoning the power he’s been trying to use to fight.

  “I should have killed you when I had the chance,” he hisses at me and blood leaks from the corner of hi
s mouth.

  Zhuang is using his last breaths of other people’s lives for hate, which makes everything I’ve done and will do easier to digest. “Don’t delude yourself,” I say evenly. “You never could have killed me because I’ve always been the means to your end.”

  “I’ll haunt your dreams, little girl. I’ll be there…every…time…you…sleep,” Zhuang says, blood spurting from his mouth with each word.

  “Go to hell where you belong,” I say behind my barrier of protection.

  Zhuang eyes flutter like he’s on the verge of passing out. He easily weighs twenty pounds less than he did moments prior, his robes slipping off his scrawny shoulders. His greasy black ponytail is now silver and wiry and drapes from his almost sunken head.

  Chase casually drops his hands to his side. Instantly, Zhuang falls dully to the ground at his feet in a heap of silk and disillusions. This is the first time I consider stepping out from behind Chase and watching from his side as my adversary wretches in pain and agony. My eyes flicker momentarily to Chase, who’s oozing with pride as the man at his feet heaves in a breath and spurts out blood. “That’s it. Go ahead and die,” Chase says, his voice a welcome sound after all the noises of pain from Zhuang that filled the lobby.

  In a quick motion Chase shoots one hand through the air and rips it back like he’s pulling something out of Zhuang. A howl bursts from Zhuang’s mouth, sending a volcano of blood into the air. Geysers of thick red liquid shoot up and sink back over his face filling in his wrinkles and drenching his silver hair. Instantly the flesh and bones twitch violently and when I think I can’t watch any more he grows smaller and smaller and every part of him dries up into itself. Within seconds Zhuang disappears into a pile of ashes and bones and silk. The sight is vile.

  However, there’s something that isn’t despicable and it’s that Zhuang is gone. He’s dead and that means a new reign. Dream Travelers and Middlings are now safe. I should be happy. Relieved. Grateful. But I know my fate is not as safe as the people I’ve bargained to protect.