The military men burst through the doors of the town hall bellowing instructions and I wait outside. Quickly I pull the gun from my pocket, check that the safety is off and thrust it into the high waistband of my jeans. Voka is rigid with tension beside me. Her eyes are still glowing, her emotions heightened through fear and I can practically hear her mind whirling. As arrogant as Voka is, she is no fool. She knows that without her brothers she is a sitting duck and no match for her father. I can picture Dex and Amarox streaking through the forest toward us, like the cavalry.
“They’ll be here,” I try and assure her, but she just raises her wide, panic-stricken gaze to meet mine.
“I’m not hanging around here, Rachel, not without my brothers. You can’t expect me to do that.” Fear is making her hostile.
“Of course not,” I nod, my heart plummeting. Everything is falling apart.
Our conversation is cut short as about a hundred people stampede from the hall, following two of the General’s men. Through the chaos, I catch sight of Sally and Megan Graham but I let them pass us by. I keep my eyes peeled, frantic that I might miss Kimberley in the chaos. I spot her suddenly through a throng of people and I leap forward, grabbing her arm. She whirls on me furiously, jerking her arm out of my hand. As her eyes find my face they widen in relief and a sob bursts from her lips. She throws herself against me, crushing me in a massive bear hug.
“You made it!” she half-laughs, half-sobs.
“So did you!” I reply tearfully.
“Rachel,” Voka warns. She’s right, now is not the time for catching up.
“We have to get out of here, Kim.”
“James! Frances!” she yells and a man and a woman fight their way through the mob to join us. There is no time for introductions and we tear after the fleeing crowd. As we plough into the forest the rain hits us. I have seen enough rain to last me a lifetime, but this rain hurts like nothing else. It stings like needles falling from the sky, even through my jacket, every drop more painful than the last. People are already slipping and sliding, losing their footing, and I hear shrieks of fright as lightning streaks across the sky overhead. The crowd is dispersing into the woods; the military personnel are having a hard time shepherding them in the bedlam. Everyone has the general idea, though, and they are all headed in more or less the right direction.
“Stay with me,” I warn Kimberley, and she nods, her brown eyes wide with fright.
We run like hell. Falling over and picking ourselves up until we are covered in mud. More than once I lose them in the torrential downpour and, all the while, the storm above us gains momentum. Voka sends fireball after fireball into the sky every few minutes or so. I know what she's doing, she’s letting Dex and the others know where we are. I am praying that Zonax will not see her signals through the rain lest he sends his own soldiers after us.
I sprint through a copse of trees and collide with something warm and solid. The force of the impact knocks the wind right out of me and I am flung backward landing on top of Kim. We both crash to the ground, dazed.
“Rachel!” Dex picks me up easily, lifting me off Kim and running his hands up and down my body, as if he needs to physically make sure that I’m okay.
“Oh, thank God!” I sob, burying my face in his neck. I meet Amarox’s green eyes over his shoulder and I smile feebly, weak with relief that they are both here. Dallan and Benon are standing just behind Amarox, their own eyes glowing, their mouths set in hard lines.
Dex releases me and spins me to face Amarox, his hypnotic green eyes only inches from my own.
“Do it,” he orders and Amarox’s eyes glow, lighting the rain that is falling between us.
“Rachel,” even his voice is mesmerizing, “your mind will not be able to be controlled by anyone but me. Not until I say so.” Again, as he speaks I am aware of what he is doing, but I don’t fight it. I know Dex – he would never allow this unless it was for a good reason, and he can’t control my quintessence himself, not properly. I nod, confirming that I understand, although I have no idea if it actually worked. Dex releases my shoulders, pushing me to keep going.
“Run, Rachel,” he orders. Everything is happening so fast, there is no time to even wish him luck. I watch through the deluge as he and Amarox turn and hurtle toward the town, Voka falling into step behind them.
“Rachel!” Kim yells in my ear, “Was that Dex?” Her face is ashen, devoid of any color. A million questions hang between us, but despite everything that’s happened, I see something shining in her dark eyes that I never expected to see - empathy. I bite my lip to keep from crying and I nod before grabbing her hand and racing up into the mountains. It is only a few minutes later that I discover I have lost the gun, it must have fallen when Dex knocked me over. Cursing my own clumsiness, I keep going.
We are climbing steadily, slowly gaining ground, when an almighty boom sounds behind us. I turn back, my heart soaring at the sight of the two new storms galloping in from the south. The deep grey and the lighter green race toward each other and then fuse together in a magnificent display of light and sound. The two storms merge in the middle, so that there is no clear point of distinction. From our high vantage point we can see the army compound below. I can’t make out any soldiers, but I know they didn’t come with the crowd of civilians, save for the few soldiers who were ordered to accompany us. They are still down there, somewhere. I squint through the rain which has lessened now that we have put some distance between ourselves and the war raging in the heavens above Burnsville.
Kim is gasping for breath behind me, and James and Frances below us are struggling too. I keep going, leading them away from the danger. We are still far too close. Jason, Darren and Kate will hopefully have fled into the mountains already, taking Noah with them. Every now and again I see a straggler, still heading away from town. I shudder to think what would have happened if we hadn’t gone back to fetch Kimberley. The explosions behind me are tangible proof that Zonax and his followers are destroying Burnsville. Realizing I have gotten too far ahead, I stop and wait, watching the anarchy below. The black storm is advancing, rushing headlong to meet the lighter, and I watch as they blanket the sky ominously. The remaining daylight is extinguished as the three storms collide, plunging us into darkness. The noise is deafening and reverberates through the entire area, rattling the very ground we are standing on. The lightning, thankfully, is contained to the sky for the time being, with Zonax distracted by his sons.
I watch as the fires light up the town; towering infernos blazing through the buildings. Voka must be fighting too, but there is no way of distinguishing which fireballs are hers. There is also the flashing white of rapid gunfire. The military are definitely still down there, making their final stand. I dread to think what will become of them. Kimberley and the others finally catch up and I am about to get moving again when it happens. The lighter storm above me dissipates, disappearing almost into thin air, the fading sunlight suddenly hurting my eyes after the blackness of the past half hour. I whirl around, searching frantically for any sign of Dex or Amarox, but there is nothing. I gasp as the black storm rolls in on itself, slowly decreasing in size until it too is gone. What the hell is going on? What does it mean? The second I think of Dex my heart plummets. Something bad has happened and I cannot bear to even contemplate what it might be. Making a lightning decision, I turn to Kim.
“Keep going, head for Mount Mitchell – you should come across the others soon enough.”
“Rachel, where are you going?” she shakes her head trying to deny what she already knows I am going to do.
“I have to go, Kimmy, I have to help him.”
“He’s always had a hold on you!” she cries, frustrated. “I know I don’t understand what it is between the two of you but I can’t lose you again. He’s not worth your life, Rachel!” I gaze into her warm brown eyes seeing the fear and the disappointment. Again, she feels betrayed.
“He is,” I insist, taking her by the shoulders. “Kim, listen
to me. I’m sorry for what I did, for how things were left between us. You are my best friend and I love you,” she smiles, and a world of sorrow and regret passes between us as I continue, “but I have to do this.” I hug her one last time and then I turn and run, faster than I ever have before, my muscle memory pushing my body to limits that it hasn’t reached in years. The rain has stopped but this is ominous instead of reassuring and I shrug out of the heavy jacket as I race back the way we have just come. As the weight falls away, I feel my pace increasing. I slip and fall, only to gather myself again and sprint through the woods, the blue and white shirt flapping around me. My legs warm up the further I go, and I am speeding up rather than slowing down, streaking through the trees, my blonde hair flying behind me. I have lost sight of the compound; I can’t see anything now through the trees, but I don’t care what is waiting for me. I have to find Dex.
Chapter 34
I burst out of the tree line at full tilt and it takes me almost twenty yards to skid to a halt. My chest is wracked with huge gasps for air, my ribs aching painfully as I pant and struggle for breath. My body is overheating, sweat mingling with the rain in my soaked clothes and the blood pumping through my head is making me feel faint. I fight the urge to throw up, and I shake off the dizziness as I survey the scene around me, and then instantly wish I hadn’t.
Dex, Amarox and Voka are on their knees, and the expressions on their faces make it clear that it is against their will. Dex turns to face me, a look of abject horror on his face. Bodies litter the ground around them, charred remains, and the stench of burning flesh fills the air. A few men, Tom and the General among them, are standing, seemingly dazed, only a few feet from me. Dallan and Benon are standing to one side, surrounded by Venite soldiers. I take all of this in, but every fiber of my being is acutely aware of the man standing in the center of all this madness. I don’t want to look at him, knowing that when I finally do everything will change. I can feel his eyes boring into me. A tear trickles down my cheek as I see Dex waging an internal battle, struggling to break the mind control that Zonax is obviously exerting over him. Voka looks resigned, her head bowed, while Amarox holds his head high.
I only appreciate the full power of their father’s ability now, as I watch him exercise his control over so many minds at once. He does not even have eye contact with them. Slowly, I shift my gaze to look at him, hatred bubbling up inside of me like boiling lava. He is a giant of a man, taller than Dex and even brawnier than Amarox. He is wearing the same black tunic, but in the last dying rays of the sun I see a faint silver emblem emblazoned across his chest. It looks like four crescent moons, one below the other, each intersecting at the top. His hair surprises me – it is a coppery blond, the complete opposite of Dex and his siblings. His eyes are as green as his children’s, although his brow is heavier, but it is the fanatical expression on his face that scares me the most. It is hateful and unyielding.
“You must be Rachel,” he says, and his voice is both seductive and repellent all at once. “Come here,” he commands and I take an automatic step toward him before I come to my senses. His eyes narrow but he speaks again, more deliberately, “I said, come here.” I glance at Dex and he gives an infinitesimal nod of his head. I walk forward slowly, focusing on placing one foot in front of the other. I stop a few feet in front of him. Zonax reaches out a hand and moves a stray blonde lock of hair out of my eyes. “It would seem you have caused me a lot of unnecessary trouble, Rachel.” His tone is sinister and I tremble under his scrutiny, my mind unable to comprehend what is coming. “Ah, well. It’s nothing that can’t be sorted out.” He smiles evilly, turning to gauge Dex’s reaction. “Now, kneel,” he orders casually over his shoulder.
I remain standing, absolutely terrified. Zonax notices Dex’s proud smirk and he whirls back to face me.
“I said, kneel,” the words ring out in the air.
“No,” I shake my head, my legs trembling.
“No?” he rounds on me, incandescent with rage, his green eyes glowing. He stares intently at me and I can hear his instruction in my head, but I remain standing. I will not die at his feet, broken and beaten. The discovery that he cannot control me enrages him even more and he snarls.
“You can’t control me!” I hiss, raising my head haughtily, my own fury outweighing my fear. An ugly smile spreads across his face.
“And so I can’t,” he muses, “no doubt another act of defiance by my children, but you are the only one. Mr Stewart,” he turns abruptly, facing the older member of the National Guard. An ugly foreboding creeps over my skin as the grey-haired man steps forward without hesitation. “Would you do me a favor and take out your weapon.” Tom does as he says, holding his gun at his side.
“Thank you,” Zonax continues cheerily. “Now, if you would just place it to your temple and pull the trigger...” I scream as I comprehend what is about to happen. Zonax is a vindictive sadist, capable of unspeakable acts. Everything that Dex told me about Amarox – about their race not being sadistic – does not apply to their father. What’s worse is that he is doing this to prove a point to me. A look of consternation crosses Tom’s face as he raises the gun to his head. I rush toward him but, as I pass Zonax, he flings out his arm and swats me aside, as easily as dusting crumbs off a table. I land painfully on my back.
“No!” Dex roars, twisting his body from side to side, desperately trying to fight off his father’s control.
“Silence!” Zonax’s maniacal yell echoes around the compound. Tom seems not to notice the activity taking place around him. I watch in horror as he puts the gun to his temple. A single shot is fired and his lifeless body slumps to the ground. Zonax smiles, satisfied.
“General,” he beckons with a long, manicured finger, “I believe you’re up.” I can’t watch this! I can’t watch these brave men being manipulated like sheep. I roll onto my stomach and start to crawl back in the dirt, away from the gruesome scene, but a black-booted foot appears in front of my face, preventing me from going any further. I glance up into the illuminated green eyes of one of Zonax’s militia.
Dropping my head, my face in the dirt, I wait for the crack of the gunshot. Instead, I hear Zonax’s vocal musing, “It seems we have company.” I jerk my head up, swiveling round to look at him, but his gaze is locked on the forest behind me. His eyes narrow in concentration and the power emanating off him is palpable. The General is standing, quite contentedly, awaiting further instructions. I hear the sound of footsteps squelching through the mud and then I give a wail of misery. Kimberley is walking towards us. Her eyes are dazed and glassy and she shows no emotion. I should have known she would come back for me - I would have done exactly the same for her.
“Leave her alone!” I scream, scrabbling to my feet and rushing at Zonax. Again, the instant I get close enough, he sweeps out his arm and backhands me across the face. I fly in an arc through the air and land face down in the dirt, spitting out blood. Kimberley is unfazed and she spares me only a curious glance as she passes me by, moving to stand beside Zonax.
“Hello Kimberley,” he greets her politely.
“Hello,” she answers, her voice monotonous.
“Father!” Dex gasps, sweating from the exertion of his constant struggle. “Don’t do this. It doesn’t need to be this way.”
“It doesn’t?” Zonax’s voice raises in a furious screech. “My own sons turned against me, Dexon! My own daughter!” he glares at Voka and she wilts beneath the intensity of his ire. “This planet will be destroyed!”
“Please,” Dex persists, “I beg of you, don’t...”
“Silence!” The word rings with authority and black clouds roll in overhead as Zonax’s rage spills out of control. Dex closes his eyes in defeat but says nothing, unable to disobey.
“Benon,” Zonax’s strides away from Kim, temporarily distracted and I heave a sigh of relief. I quickly get to my feet and make my way to her side as Zonax faces Amarox’s fair-haired water-user. I feel guilty that Benon will be punished
for helping us, but first and foremost, my concern is for my best friend.
“Kimmy!” I hiss, taking her face in my hands. “Kimmy, you need to run. You need to get out of here!” I tug at her immobile body but she doesn’t react. Zonax is still addressing Benon.
“You helped these insolent fools?” he gestures at his powerless children.
“Sir, I...” Benon is quivering, “I was following instructions, Sir,” he finishes pitifully.
“Ah,” Zonax smiles mercilessly, “how noble of you, Benon.” Like a cobra he strikes Benon’s chest and a bolt of lightning streaks from the sky, hitting the young Venite in the exact spot that Zonax’s hand was just a second before.
Benon collapses to the ground; dead, and Amarox emits a half-snarl, half-growl. Benon was one of his soldiers and acted on his instruction, so he feels ultimately responsible for his death.
I cast a furtive glance at Dex who, incredibly, is still trying to fight Zonax’s will. He manages to get one foot underneath him and, with a howl of effort, he forces himself up from the ground. Zonax whirls on him disbelievingly.
“Kneel!” he thunders. Dex manages to remain standing for only a second before his legs buckle, but to my astonishment, Amarox is now doing the same, using every ounce of his willpower to get unsteadily to his feet. “Kneel!” Zonax’s order sounds fanatical and Amarox falls back to the ground. “Stop defying me!” the Venite leader screeches, spittle flying from his mouth.
The Traveler Page 24