Not today…he wasn’t gonna do it today. He kicked through the sand as he tread a path around the exterior of the building, regretting everything about the last week. It started the morning he brought the Steelryn girl to Za’in, like he was supposed to. He was an Arch and it was his victory. That should have been the end of it. Za’in had a lot of useless curiosities and collected plenty of worthless things; she was no different. Sure, she was famous, there was a novelty to that, but after he delivered her he began to wonder what Za’in had planned for this particular bit of plunder. Jeremy recognized the rewards that came with his find, but didn’t he deserve to see what was so special about this girl? He didn’t like the feeling of being dismissed.
There he stood that morning, his back to the wrong side of the door, warring with his curiosity, pride, and little bursts of apathy. After a long stretch of stillness, he moved forward, finally deciding it would be some kind of vague failure on his part if he turned back and pressed his ear to the wall. It was then Jeremy heard Za’in’s laugh. He froze. The sound was muffled, but it was undeniably…affectionate. What was going on in there? He told himself that was enough reason to investigate this meeting as he quietly made his way back to the doors.
Leaning into the wall, he listened carefully, holding his breath. Za’in was going on about something, but he couldn’t make out the content of their conversation; it just continued at length with no change in intensity. Jeremy let out a heavy sigh, closing his eyes. He got worked up over nothing. He slid down the wall, sitting on the cold floor and lazily keeping his ear to the crack in the door frame.
The voices came closer and he rose up on one knee, ready to retreat. He was sure he heard the word “weapon,” and his face tightened as he strained to grasp the meaning of their exchange. Suddenly Kayla cried out, either in pain or fear, followed by the sound of a rapid series of sharp crashes, and Jeremy was on his feet, his daggers drawn, before he acknowledged his own actions. He caught his breath, looking down at the knives in his hands, and silently cursed his stupidity. What was he gonna do? Kick down the door and save the lamb he brought to slaughter? No, he’d only end up being the one butchered. He worked too hard and struggled too long to jeopardize his position.
The doors parted and he flattened against the wall behind them as Kayla and Za’in exchanged pleasant goodbyes. Jeremy’s agitated awareness barely caught the two significant portions of their farewells — Kit wasn’t coming back any time soon, and Kayla would return here tomorrow. His body remained rigid and motionless as the doors closed and he watched her walk slowly down the hall, her form relaxed and her skin lightly glistening with sweat. She disappeared around the corner and he sheathed his knives. For a moment he considered following, to coax and threaten the answers from her, but after what happened last night it was probably better to stay away. He said too much then, and what’s worse, he didn’t know why. At any rate, it ended with her acting like she’d been attacked, even though just moments before her protest, she was yielding to his touch, drawing closer to him with her eyes closed and lips parting…
Jeremy shook his head, attempting to clear it from last week’s memories, as he stood beneath the sun, his boots buried in sand. That was how it started. He had returned the next morning, quickly realizing the ear-to-the-door technique would provide no answers. On the third day, he woke before dawn and walked out into the yard, regarding the braided tracks of metal above his head that connected various parts of the compound. Without another thought, Jeremy began to climb a latticed column, his long limbs quickly bringing him to the top. He followed the beam as it bent at a right angle, forming a bridge to a huge pipe. He straddled the cylinder, sliding across its surface until he reached another rail, and then he carefully balanced his boots over its narrow width before stepping foot over foot along the gradual ascent. Jeremy leaned forward to keep his equilibrium, his eyes trained on the broad, flat surface where he would soon be landing.
Once he was safely on the roof, he lowered to his belly and inched over the edge to see a thin row of windows, tucked right beneath the overhang. They were shuttered, but it didn’t take Jeremy long to find his way in. It wasn’t until he was nestled in the steel rafters that he briefly considered the consequences of his actions. He relaxed into a dark space, wedged between a support post and a dense collection of cross bars, and made a conscious decision to ignore that nagging call for reflection. At this point, there was nothing left to do but wait.
Jeremy watched the warm brown of the wood floor far beneath him gradually come into view, the rich color emerging as the sunrise slowly entered the room. The shadows shifted, making way for bright shapes to form an orderly pattern over what earlier resembled a void. His eyes softened as he allowed all his thoughts to recede. He didn’t know how much time passed before he heard footsteps, but now he could see Za’in walking below, his usually relaxed movements a bit tighter and more energized than ordinary, displaying an energy similar to the anticipation of battle.
There was a short, nervous knocking sound, and Jeremy shifted in his seat to steal a better view as Za’in made his way to the door. When Kayla entered the room, Jeremy took hold of the metal beams surrounding him, resisting the urge to move closer and give up the cover of the shadows. She was dressed in a deep green top that hugged her form closely from the sleeveless straps down to her slender waist, ending in loose, delicate panels around her hips. Her charcoal pants were heavier cotton, widening as they reached her ankles, where a knot connected the front and back of the garment below a small slit along the side of her calf. He was struck by her long hair, shining like a trail of flame, and it was then he noticed that he had never seen her so clean. There was something else too, something different. He wondered if her new glow meant she was happy.
Jeremy clenched his jaw. He missed some of their conversation already.
“Now you understand that a sense of self-preservation, or even a firm resolve, will only bring you so far,” Za’in said, guiding Kayla into the center of the room. “The vessel that holds those precious jewels must be strong. Part of this training is physical. If we align our bodies so that energy can flow freely, the expression of our will is pure and uninhibited. However, it takes time and effort to find and maintain this structure. At first, it is uncomfortable, painful even, and may not feel natural, but with consistent practice it will be difficult to imagine your previous forms of movement or stillness.”
What the hell was he talking about? Jeremy watched as Za’in instructed Kayla to bend her knees, and he then adjusted her posture by lightly touching her thighs, ribs and shoulders. He smoothed her stiff fingers and laid her hands on her stomach below her belly button, one over the other. The pair stood together, side by side, breathing deeply. The silence in the room was thicker than when Jeremy was alone in the rafters. He understood the challenge of their modest posture when he found it difficult to remain as still and quiet as they were.
After a while, they widened their feet, sinking deeper into their stance and raising their arms to hover in the air. He could see Kayla’s limbs quivering, but that was the only evidence of her strained muscles. She didn’t complain or fidget. Za’in arranged her into a new pose and touched his palm to hers, then applied some pressure. Kayla stumbled back, but quickly assumed her previous posture and tried again. Jeremy leaned forward, enjoying the spectacle of the girl struggling to find a strong position, falling over again and again, and he wondered when she would accept defeat. As soon as that thought entered his mind, her body appeared to transform, taking on a beautiful shape that he was sure wasn’t present earlier. His eyes followed the lines of her legs, descending like roots, before his gaze doubled back over her torso, regarding the two graceful limbs that met Za’in’s force with stability, but no resistance.
There was some sudden movement near Kayla’s face and Jeremy’s body jerked in response, his tight grip on the surrounding rafters barely preventing him from springing to action. Soon his heart slowed as he realized the tiny ex
plosion wasn’t a blow directed at the girl, but something projecting from her own hand. His features tensed, both in frustration at his reaction and in wonder of the gleaming, bony sword she held to Za’in’s chest. Was all this activity about training her to use the relic? Why didn’t he just seize it?
Kayla’s form continued to be tested, and she managed to retract and release the weapon a few more times to Za’in’s approval. The lesson ended with his arm around her shoulders, and exchanged whispers that Jeremy couldn’t decipher. When they were gone, he made his way out in the same manner he entered, but with even more caution beneath the blazing sun.
Jeremy’s musings scattered with the wind-blown sand. Over the last week he found plenty of excuses to return to his hiding spot in the rafters, but ultimately he knew it all came down to his own weakness. Swearing oaths of damnation on his own head, he hurried up and over the metal beams, holding his breath against the knowledge that his hesitation might be what would give him away this time. Jeremy entered the room as soundlessly as he could, his eyes scanning the space below as he settled onto his shadowy perch. This was the first time Za’in was already present when Jeremy found his way in, but he seemed too focused in his standing meditation to notice the stealthy Arch.
Jeremy watched his lord, frowning. He thought about the contents of Kayla’s locket and wondered what it felt like to be Asher Serafin. It’s not that he didn’t respect or fear Za’in, and he couldn’t complain about his position just a few rungs beneath the man that ruled almost everything worth having — but he couldn’t forget that tiny picture and the admiration on the boy’s face…he couldn’t forget the familiarity and shared pain present beneath those written words. Jeremy lifted his gaze, directing it towards the shadows. It didn’t do Serafin any good. Michael Steelryn was dead, and Kayla…well, she was out of his reach now. Jeremy’s heart beat faster with the memory of her screaming Serafin’s name.
He closed his eyes, steadying himself against the metal bars. This was ridiculous. Maybe he could just leave now without being noticed. In a tiny, involuntary spasm of movement, his boot slipped on the beam below him and his eyes immediately shot downward, only to be caught in Za’in’s black stare. Before he could breathe, there was a knock at the door, but the man below didn’t move. Jeremy was unable to swallow, speak, or flee while he was held by those dark eyes, and even after Za’in turned to answer the door, the Arch knew he had been commanded to stay put.
“Is something wrong, Sebastian?” He heard Kayla’s voice before he caught sight of her.
“I didn’t want to burden you with the conflicts that sometimes occur in my organization here, but recent developments have moved me to accelerate your training. My responsibilities may limit our time together, and your safety is my paramount concern.”
“What happened?” she asked, nervously crossing her arms.
Za’in moved to the window, assuming the simple stance that always marked the beginning and end of a session. Kayla quickly followed. After a few long breaths, he spoke again. “Saros has killed his Ophan.”
The girl turned towards her teacher, startled. “Jeremy?”
“Is that any reason to abandon your posture?” he said softly.
Kayla’s mouth opened, but she shut it without a sound, her body falling back into position, bending her legs even deeper in penance.
Jeremy angrily turned his head away. What was the point of telling her that? He was within his rights. His Ophan went against orders, leaving him to die in Madeline, and if he wanted to return as an Arch there would have to be a confrontation. It was the strongest that led, not the most forgiving. He knew trial by combat was not only outdated and had little to do with justice, but in this case it was also a bullshit excuse for revenge. Jeremy called for it anyways, and Za’in sanctioned the battle. It was a long time coming. He held his breath, steadying himself against the dizzying memory of his Ophan’s dark form falling to the earth.
Looking down, he saw Za’in and Kayla had already begun the day’s lesson. They stood facing each other with an extended arm, their bodies making contact at the wrist. He could feel the tension of possibility between them, the heightened pulse of the inevitable.
It reminded him of his first night back at the compound, just before dawn. The desert air was cool as he stood beneath the electric lights, facing his Ophan, acutely aware of his men watching from the perimeter of the yard.
Now the pair below him had made some space between them, each holding aloft their own bony hilt. The twisted mass in Za’in’s fist expanded, transforming into a short sword. Kayla’s face was hard with resolve as she drew a ragged breath, moments before she stumbled backwards, moved by the force of her own almost identical sword releasing. Za’in didn’t give her a moment to recover, immediately changing the form of his weapon to a blunted spear. She grabbed the wrist of her sword arm with her opposite hand, choking back a whimper before she expelled a growl along with the extension of her relic. Their staffs clashed and she closed her eyes as she threw her body into one wild swing. Za’in yielded to the strike, and then snapped his weapon in half, drawing each shard into a thin trench knife.
Jeremy squeezed his temples as the memories returned. He knew he could defeat his Ophan, but he had to make it seem fair. He discarded his sword in favor of a steel pole as defense against his opponent’s bladed knuckle dusters. The small knives danced in quick succession close to his face, his hands, his side, but he blocked each attack with quick swings of his makeshift staff.
Kayla was backing up, protectively waving the jagged rod in front of her. Her face was twisted in concentration, but the relic refused to transform. “No, stop! I…can’t!” she cried as Za’in approached.
His Ophan said nothing as Jeremy was forced up a set of stairs and back along a metal beam, high above the ground. He remembered that wicked smile…was it eager to kill or to die? His adversary shot low, catching Jeremy’s leg with the edge of a trench knife, and he stumbled, dropping his weapon, but he used the opportunity to pull his Ophan down with him, wrenching one of the knives from a surprised grip as they fell together against the girder. It had to end here. Trial by combat really was an excuse — not for revenge, but for control. The eyes that watched them didn’t matter, and what happened in Madeline was nothing in the face of the knowledge that being an Arch didn’t make him free. This was the only way to end the struggle of the past five years. He dragged the weapon’s barbed knuckles along his Ophan’s back, and then turned his wrist, pressing the blade through flesh, all the way to the hilt. He released his grip on the weapon and shoved the writhing body off the beam. Jeremy stood, regarding the still, twisted form that lay in a patch of dark, wet sand, wondering if he’d ever feel the relief of a lifted burden, even as his men raised their voices in his name.
A girl’s scream brought him back to the present. Kayla was on her knees, holding her staff above her head as Za’in’s blades made contact with her weapon. Her opponent took a retreating step, bringing his hands together and conjuring a sword that was the skeletal twin of Jeremy’s blade. The Arch watched as Kayla’s eyes widened, her hands dropping into her lap. She lowered her head, gripping her relic tightly as the staff began to glow, shrinking in size and collecting in her right hand. Kayla raised her face, her eyes wet and shining, her teeth bared in rage. She flung her arm up into the air, throwing an explosion of light towards Za’in. He shielded himself with the massive sword, and she fell forward, collapsing to the ground.
Jeremy swallowed hard, staring as his lord stood over her, motionless and silent. Za’in then knelt down beside Kayla, gently resting his palm on her back, and he looked up to lock eyes with his Arch.
“When we push our limits, we find they are further than we think. However, this is dangerous without the proper guidance. You survived today, and such a trial need not be repeated.” Za’in turned his full attention to the girl, gathering her trembling form into his arms.
Jeremy’s face stung, and he lingered for one more moment
, catching a glimpse of her eyes fluttering open. He quietly crawled out the window into the blinding desert light, a pale imitation of the brilliance that escaped Kayla’s right hand.
7
The giant bulbs above each metal structure outside Kayla’s window were shining brightly, every one throwing out four radiant beams in separate directions. Some cast a bluish, others an orange tinge on the surrounding concrete walls and sand dunes. The only sound in the night was the ever-present wind, cooled by the fallen sun. She had brought Kittie’s chair to the narrow, tall window, and sat resting her head against the single bar running vertically through the opening, while she stared out, her eyes unfocused. She was lonely.
Kayla recognized that the dull pain in her chest wasn’t the same longing that moved her to leave the potter’s village. There was a sense of accomplishment and thrill that came from her lessons each morning with Sebastian. Even now, the muscles in her thighs and shoulders ached, and her right hand tingled and burned, but those physical reminders of her training brought a blissful grin to her face. In each session, Sebastian revealed that she was more than she thought she ever could be. The little trials he put her through were meaningful challenges, and his approval was a true reward.
Still, she recognized that he was a busy man, and she didn’t try to meet with him outside their appointed time. Kayla practiced her exercises and contemplated the mysteries he revealed to her, but there were so many empty hours left in the day. She hoped Kittie would return and bring her cheerful energy into this gray room, but nearly two weeks had passed since she last saw her wide and smiling eyes. It had been almost just as long since she followed in Jeremy’s cold shadow to meet Sebastian for the first time. She liked to think the Arch was on another mission, somewhere far away from the compound, so she wouldn’t have to consider other reasons behind his absence. With a sigh, Kayla closed her eyes.
Dominion of the Star (Descendants of the Fallen Book 1) Page 5