by A. R. Crebs
Gaius turned and leaned against the windowsill, his arms folded. He kept his eyes on the floor. “What happens in this war? Who all is fighting?”
Lita’s expression twisted into one of sorrow. “Everyone,” she shakily whispered.
“Everyone?”
“Humans from all nations. Ives, torn in two against one another. Everyone fighting, struggling, dying in terrible ways. Horrible weapons and…things. Things I cannot explain. Whether they are human or not, I can’t tell.”
Gaius suddenly held up a hand, his eyes turning white. Lita remained silent.
“Azera?” Gaius asked aloud, though his mouth made no movement.
“Sir?” Azera replied, the voice echoing within the room.
“No one is to enter during Lita’s visitation. All must remain outside this office complex.”
“Understood.”
Next, Gaius whispered a spell. The doors and windows all closed and sealed within white light. It was a mute spell. Those outside the bindings of the room would hear nothing. Not even the most elite of Azure status could penetrate the muted walls confining them.
“Continue,” Sir Gaius said with a gentle smile.
Lita’s fingers clenched the cloth of her sleeves. For Gaius to respond in such a way was unnerving.
“Don’t get nervous my dear. It’s just a precautionary action. I know of your visions. I don’t take them lightly,” Gaius spoke.
“Yes, but I’ve been wrong before.”
“And the times that you have been, you were never this anxious.” Gaius moved to his desk. “Now, tell me everything you know. From the very beginning.”
Lita proceeded to tell Gaius all about her recent visions. After a while, he made her backtrack much further. She told him of small things she had noticed as a small child, things about Dovian. She mentioned how she envisioned a man’s death right before her literary teacher, Sir Bayerd, died. There was no doubt now that she had seen his end. Her dreams led to Euclid and him killing Sarkov through the facilitation of embedding fear into the man’s mind.
“It was my impression, by Euclid’s reports, that he arrived late to the scene. Sarkov had already died before Euclid could resuscitate him. It was only then that we allowed him to go in disguise as the man.” Sir Gaius sounded angry. According to Lita’s visions, Euclid had lied about everything. As a Sorcēarian, to lie about such things was a grand criminal offense. “When did you have these dreams?”
Lita chewed on her lower lip. “The night the event took place, sir.”
Sir Gaius hung his head. He looked to Azera who suddenly stood behind Lita. The soldier’s eyes spun in silken silver pools.
“She speaks the truth, sir.” Lita jumped at Azera’s voice.
“How long has he been behind me?” she whined.
“As soon as I told him to lock down the facility. Standard procedure.” Gaius motioned for Lita to continue.
The young woman sighed, adjusted herself in the chair to be a bit more comfortable, her foot resting on the front of the man’s desk.
“You’d think I’d lie about these things?” She sounded a bit cross.
“Not at all. But one can never be too safe. With Azera’s proficient vision, he can tell the difference between a vision and a dream,” Gaius explained. “It’s not a guarantee, but he is saying your visions hold some truth. This warrants an investigation. Which also makes me question….” He sternly looked at Lita. “Why haven’t you told me this before?”
Lita fidgeted uncomfortably. “I, uh…thought that they were mistakes. I had reason to believe that Euclid had done some awful things, but I didn’t want to believe they were true. It just didn’t sound possible. I thought he was merely troubled and lonely. Perhaps I was wrong.”
“Have you told anyone else about these visions?”
“Only Dovian.”
“And how much does Dovian know? Has he been made aware of your speculations of Euclid?”
Lita looked to the side. “I may have told him a bit about it.”
Gaius sighed.
“I thought he was going to speak with you about it. I mean, after the incident with Euclid losing his connection to the Heaven Song, I thought you and Dovian were keeping a close eye on him.” Lita sank in her chair.
“He…what? That is news to me.” Gaius’ eyes enlarged, his blue fading to white. Though the man remained passive, Lita could tell that he was annoyed. “Since when has Euclid not been able to hear the Heaven song?”
“You mean…you didn’t know?” Lita squeaked.
Gaius held up a hand. “Stop.”
Lita’s breath paused in her chest, Azera’s swirling eyes slowed to a near halt, the flames paused mid-flicker. In the blink of an eye, Dovian was torn from whatever task he was in the middle of and pulled into Sir Gaius’ office. Dovian stood shirtless with wet hair, tugging up his baggy lounge pants.
“What?” Dovian quickly tightened his bottoms and turned toward the others while folding his arms. “What is going on? I was naked only seconds before!”
“As if I’ve not seen you bare-assed before, boy,” Sir Gaius grumbled.
Lita snorted, holding a sleeve-covered hand over her mouth.
“Is there a problem?” Dovian asked, becoming a bit more serious as he realized his current situation. Sir Gaius would never pull him into his office if the matter were not concerning.
“It seems there has been some slight miscommunication between us, Dovian.” Gaius stood tall, his chin slightly raised. Dovian shrank beneath the man’s electric glare.
“I, uh, am not sure what you mean, sir.” He ran his hands over his bare arms, trying to warm himself in the sudden chill of the office.
“Tell me everything you know about Euclid. I don’t care how long it takes. I want to know every questionable word he’s spoken to you.” Sir Gaius moved his hand through the air, his fingers pointing and motioning for a chair to scoot behind Dovian and force him to sit.
“Alright,” Dovian raised his hands in the air.
“You’ve protected him long enough. It’s time we know the truth.” Gaius’ voice resonated from all corners of the room. Dovian’s nervous gaze flitted from his grandfather to Azera. He looked to Lita, his heart sinking as he realized what she had done.
“Okay. I’ll start from the beginning,” Dovian sighed.
And so Dovian recounted everything that had occurred where Euclid’s actions were questionable, from the time he stole one of the most treasured of Gaius’ books as a child, to the time he lost his communication to the Heavens.
“He assured me he had been feeling better and could hear the song again. I didn’t question him. He truly seemed to be performing well,” Dovian explained.
The conversation moved to the wars where Euclid had made questionable statements about humanity. They went over the probability of him killing Sarkov. Dovian mentioned the strange way Euclid had behaved after the destruction of Dovian’s village, how the Azure man hinted at murdering the human responsible for the annihilation of the hospital and surrounding homes.
“I had forgotten about it, as just after Lita and Martelle’s church had been attacked. The chaos pushed Euclid’s insinuations aside in my mind. If ever the thought came to me again, I ignored it. Like before, he seemed to have acted better afterward. Euclid has a twisted sense of humor. We all know about his distaste for humanity.” Dovian ran his hand through his wet hair.
“Yes, that became very clear after he allowed a man to use his frequency tuner,” Gaius reminded Dovian.
Lita and Dovian both winced at the memory.
“He didn’t take Martelle’s death well,” Dovian muttered.
“Or was he merely looking for a reason to take out his aggravations on the species, I wonder?” Gaius sat in his large chair, his hands gripping the arms. He tried to appear cool and collected, but his irritation betrayed him.
Dovian’s hands did the same. “Sir, I know you have reasons to suspect Euclid of foul play, but believe me, he w
ouldn’t truly do these things. It’s…not possible. It’s unheard of.”
Sir Gaius’ face softened. “Ah, Dovian. You remind me of your mother. She had a naivety about her that made her so loveable and easily susceptible to betrayal.”
“Do…you think it’s possible? Has Euclid done these things that Lita has envisioned? And Sir Bayerd? What of his death?” Dovian asked.
Sir Gaius leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Azera, what evidence has been gathered?”
Azera’s eyes spun. “Reports indicate humans killed him. However, Bayerd at the time was a member of Euclid’s squad.”
“I wasn’t aware of this,” Dovian barely contained his shock.
“You were busy teaching Emeralds, remember? Your knowing was unnecessary.” Sir Gaius closed his eyes, shaking his head. “Sir Bayerd was an advocate for the World Council’s unification projects. He had been pushing to build refugee centers here on Ives. At the time, there was worry of human settlement on our island. Before anything went into motion, Bayerd was killed. The current war had gotten out of hand before a thorough investigation was made. You were called into action to aid Euclid. Orin took Bayerd’s position, Emerald of your squad. As war spread and with the creation of unethical weaponry, the World Council’s concerns shifted to other matters regarding the safety of billions. The plans to bring refugees to Ives never followed through.”
“Many held that over our heads.” Dovian nodded.
“Some think it’s our responsibility to sustain humanity by any means necessary. Others think we are here to guide and aid them. To allow humanity onto Ives would be like…” he paused.
“Allowing the plague within our city walls,” Lita spoke up.
Gaius’ eyes dimmed a little. How Lita’s hope for humanity had dwindled over the years. “As brash as that may seem, many seek the destruction of our land. I will not endanger the lives of our people. Only by cautious council and voting among our civilians and Elders may we decide on such a thing. However, we build and secure many camps around the world for refugees. We supply them with water and food, medicine, and some of our best warriors and healers.”
“Sadly, some don’t think that’s enough,” Dovian added.
“Unfortunately, no. But, with some people, you can hand them the world, and they will never be satisfied.” Gaius looked to his armband, running a search. “All this discussion of Euclid and his probable involvement in foul play has got me concerned. Dovian, I need you to fetch him for me. Since the release of his bindings, many have told me he’s often scarce to our land.”
Dovian hummed in confirmation. “I know of some of his favorite hiding places. I’ll look for him.”
Gaius held up a hand. “I would do it myself, but I am afraid he’s taken quite a disliking to me.”
Dovian scowled. “He’s a bit rough around the edges, sir. Euclid doesn’t care much for anybody or anything.”
“But he remains respectful of you. I believe you can keep things somewhat…civil between us all.” Gaius sent a few messages through his band. “I believe I will have a chat with the Elders tonight. You and Euclid are to attend the World Council meeting tomorrow.”
Dovian tried to hide his dissatisfaction. He had only been to a few World Council meetings in his lifetime. Usually, these types of gatherings were handled by the Elders with a few Violet and Emeralds in attendance. This only made him more uncomfortable.
Nodding in understanding, he asked, “Am I dismissed?”
Gaius looked at him, his eyebrows raising. “Ah, yes. Do put some clothes on, Dovian.”
Dovian stood, waiting for Gaius to transport him back to his home as he currently was unequipped with a tuner.
“Don’t give any details to Euclid as to why he’s being called home. All he needs to know is that the Elders require a meeting with him,” Gaius said, waving a hand in the air. The Elder was always vague on the details, which Dovian rarely questioned. It was easier to do as he was told.
Dovian placed his hand against his chest, his world spiraling around him. Before he could even bow his head, he was back in his room. Heaving a sigh, he finished dressing and grabbed his tuner. There was a place Euclid frequented. Dovian had only been there a time or two; the location and style of the club weren't to his tastes. In fact, he pondered why Euclid would bother visiting such a dive, but Dovian wasn’t one to judge. For whatever reason, his friend felt at ease in the small run-down joint. He shivered, not much wanting to visit the place, but odds were he’d find the Azure Sorcēarian there. Twisting his dial, Dovian ventured to the Strutting Moggy—a club that was merely a step above the dingy bars in the city. It served strong drinks and entertained the patrons with scantily-clad dancers.
The smell of saltwater hit his nostrils as soon as he appeared behind the club near a grouping of palm trees. Dovian looked down at himself, realizing he had worn his robes instead of civilian attire. With a shrug, he strolled to the entry. Regardless of his attire, everyone could blindly see which race he belonged to. And with sudden hostilities, he was tired of hiding who he was. Truthfully speaking, he had dealt with enough humans in his lifetime. What could a small group of drunk thugs do to him at this point?
Dovian pushed through the door, a chime sounding at his entrance. The crunchy noise of rock music and the scent of assorted liquors and drugs greeted him. Shifting to peer at each podium of dancing women along the sidewalls, he searched for his friend. Euclid’s energy didn’t occupy this room, but somewhere his beacon blipped in Dovian’s mind. It was subtle and quickly dimmed to nothing. Dovian smirked. Euclid had sensed him and was now masking his aura. The Azure man was sure to make an appearance soon. Casually, Dovian took a seat at the bar, thankful not to receive any guff outside of a few leery glances and annoyed thoughts from the fellow patrons.
“What would you like?” The bartender’s voice held a slight accent, one that wasn’t typical for the area. She was average height, had shoulder-length black hair and wore a dark tank top with a red lacy bra underneath. Metal studs, tears, and patches decorated her jeans. Colorful tattoos covered one arm. A gray leather chain linked bracelet adorned the opposite wrist. Her green eyes set upon him, her expression gentle despite her slightly rough tone.
“Oh, nothing for me. I’m waiting on someone.” Dovian rested against the bar.
“Nothing at all?” she asked, cleaning a glass. “Not even water?”
Dovian smirked. He didn’t really trust the water in the establishment.
The woman gave a small pout. “Okay, fine. No water.”
She turned, grabbing two glasses. Dovian eyed the staircase to the left, one that led to a series of dressing rooms and apartments for the dancers. No doubt that was where Euclid lingered. His attention moved to the woman as she set two glasses upon the lacquered wood before returning to the shelves behind her to grab a series of bottles. Dovian’s eyes set on her figure. She was fit, in her late twenties, early thirties perhaps. He was never good at age.
“I suppose you are waiting on, Euclid, yes?” the woman asked as she opened the bottles and set them in a line beside the glasses. She planted her hands on either side of the lineup.
Dovian’s eyebrows raised a little, and he nodded. “I am.”
The woman huffed, lowering her eyes. “I figured as much.”
A strange twinge came from her emotionally, and Dovian perked up his senses, focusing in on the sensations. Something about the mention of Euclid made her uneasy. Dovian eased a bit.
“Well!” she laughed. “If you’re here for him, then that means you could use a drink, right?”
Dovian chuckled. “You don’t care much for him, do you?”
She pursed her lips. “He’s got a bit of a creepy vibe. Sorry, not meaning any disrespect.”
“None was taken. Euclid is a bit brash at times.”
She nudged her head toward a table of men who were preoccupied with the dancers. “See those guys over there? Last week, one spouted off and challenged your friend
to an arm wrestling tournament. He got his arm broke in the process. Your friend healed him just fine, but not after proving his point.”
“Euclid broke the man’s arm?” Dovian chanced a look at the men. They appeared to be a typical biker gang, though the whole lot also looked to be ex-military.
“Yeah. He does that sometimes. I honestly don’t blame him. With the things people say to him, they are lucky they aren’t killed.”
“Still, Euclid knows better.” Dovian’s glare set low on his hands.
“Er, so he is a bit of a…concerning fellow?” she asked. “Anyway! You do look like a man who could use a good drink!”
Dovian smiled kindly. “I really don’t need one.”
She leaned forward, pointing a bottle at him. “On me. Besides, I’m bored. And you look like a guy who could use some entertainment!” She flipped the bottle into the air, bouncing it from elbow to elbow a couple of times before catching it in a cup behind her back.
“Oh? You can do tricks?” Dovian asked, genuinely interested.
“Heh, a few. I came here to go to school. My grandmother lived in the area and got very sick. I dropped out, joined a few competitions, won some awards. I met a few people and ended up here.” As she spoke, she performed for Dovian as she made two mixed drinks.
“I noticed you have an accent.” Dovian watched the woman work. He had to admit; she was kind of cute. And there was a roughness to her that he liked.
She grinned. “Father is of Russian descent. Mother is Italian. I grew up traveling between the two places as a child before settling in America when I was high school aged.” She lit both drinks on fire. “Hurry! Blow it out!”
She handed one to Dovian as she quickly passed air over the top of her glass, extinguishing the flame. With a flick of the wrist, she downed the entire drink. Dovian quickly followed her actions as she eyed him, immediately pouring herself another glass. Holding his breath for a second after swallowing, he eased the air out of his lungs. Rather than having a harsh aftertaste as expected, it was pleasantly sweet. His eyes lit up.
“Yeah?” she asked, twisting the bottle in her hands.