K: The Awakening (The Shadow Chronicles Book 1)

by K. R. Fajardo

  “Perhaps you didn’t hear me,” the Enforcer growled, glaring at them impatiently. Narrowing his gaze, he took a step forward into the dim hall light, “I am here to speak with Mikel, go and get him.”

  Citera personally had never seen the Enforcer before. She had heard him described on numerous occasions, but people had a way of exaggerating and no two descriptions of him were ever the same. But with him standing in front of her now, she could easily see how people’s descriptions could vary so widely, the sheer size of the man was enough to discourage most people from looking at him directly. But for those who were brave enough to face him, the pitch black caverns that were his eyes, drew you into their depths like an abyss, making you forget about everything else.

  “Don’t even think about running, errand boy,” he threatened, smirking at Dirik. “I’m just looking for a reason to get my hands on you again.”

  Citera glanced behind her at Dirik, who indeed had taken several steps back. Turning back around she put on her bravest face while trying her best to maintain her composure. “My dad is unable to talk with you. He is lying unconscious in that room over there, possibly dying.”

  As she finished, Citera braced herself, half expecting him to scoop her up and crush her for her disobedience, but to her surprise he remained where he was.

  “Dying you say,” then, as if answering an unspoken question, he added, “I had nothing to do with that, he was fine when I left. Well, no matter, which one of you is in charge of this clinic in his absence,” he asked focusing his attention on Rigar. “You?”

  “Of course not, sir,” Rigar answered between gritted teeth. “I am a Full-blood, therefore I couldn’t possibly entertain the idea of running a business such as this. I am merely a laborer on the road crew.” Citera watched as Rigar worked his fists as he spoke. She knew that if he were capable of it, Rigar wouldn’t hesitate to take on the Enforcer right here and now. Unfortunately, Rigar was no way a match for dark giant, and no matter how much he hated to admit it, Rigar knew it.

  “Then what are you doing here so late at night, alone, with two young Terrians? I believe this town has a curfew in place, doesn’t it?” the Enforcer challenged.

  Fearing this conversation was leading to her old friend and guardian down a very dangerous path, Citera interjected, “He’s here as a favor to my father, to watch over us in his absence. A job he had once entrusted to Janil but, as you know, she is no longer with us.”

  He smiled wickedly and began to move down the hall toward her. Well, I did it this time, she thought, ducking behind Rigar, Dad always said my big mouth would one day get me in trouble.

  “Leave her alone, she is only a child,” Rigar demanded, maintaining his position between the two of them. Holding on to the back of his shirt, Citera could feel his whole body tense as he widened his stance preparing for a confrontation. The Enforcer, undeterred by his posturing, continued forward. When only a few steps remained between them and the Enforcer, Rigar stepped forward trying to prevent him from coming any closer to her. The Enforcer, seeming to have expected, if not desiring his interference, snatched Rigar up in his grasp and slammed him into the floorboards with such an impact that it rattled the walls and knocked Citera off her feet.

  Citera screamed and scrabbled backwards. She was barely aware of what was happening when Dirik grabbed her arm, pulled her to her feet, and dragged her, still dazed, down the hall in the opposite direction. They only managed to make it halfway to the back door before the stranger appeared in front of them, blocking their exit. Quickly they looked back, trying to find another route of escape, only to realize that they were now trapped in the narrow hallway between the two intruders. The Enforcer, now a rigid mass of tense muscle, reached down and picked up the semiconscious Rigar by the neck of his shirt, and proceeded to drag him down the hall as he angrily advanced in on the two of them.

  “Leave us alone!” Citera screamed grabbing her hair in both hands. “Haven’t you done enough already? In only two weeks you have taken a woman who was as close to me as my own mother and left me with an unconscious shell of what used to be my father.” She paused, attempting to gain control of her raging emotions. Releasing her hair, she lowered her trembling hands down to her sides and faced her attacker. “Now you have come back here and are threatening the only two people I have left. What have I ever done to you to deserve this? What have any of us done?”

  She was crying and clinging to Dirik as she stared up into his face and continued to beg for all their lives, “If you are here to take someone, please take me. I can’t handle losing anyone else.”

  He took a deep breath and sighed, you could almost see the anger melting from his face as he refocused his attention to the stranger behind her. They seemed to be having some sort of unspoken conversation, and after a few seconds she watched as his entire body relaxed and his anger was replaced by something more solemn. “I’m not here to take any of you,” the Enforcer said quietly. “I want the girl, the one that was here when we did the inspection nearly two weeks ago.”

  Citera, suddenly more confused than scared, began questioning the large figure looming in front of her, despite her own better judgment, “What do you want her for?”

  “That is none of your concern; we are here to get her. Give her to us and we will leave you and your friends alone,” he snapped angrily, surprised by the little girl’s questioning.

  Under any other circumstances she wouldn’t have hesitated to comply with the proposition. However all she had on her mind at the moment was the offer K had made to save her father, had how the opportunity would be lost forever if he took her away. Looking down at Rigar hanging limp in the Enforcer’s grasp, she knew she really didn’t have any options; he would take her by force if she didn’t hand her over, the fact he was even asking was surprising enough. The hopelessness of the situation was overwhelming as she raised her head to do what few rarely did. She gazed into those dark black eyes and refused.

  “No,” Citera said, planting her feet firmly, “I need her. She said she could help my dad.”

  “Citera!” Dirik protested. Squeezing her arm tightly, he whispered through gritted teeth. “Shut up and let them have her.”

  But it was too late, she had already said it. The Enforcer released Rigar, allowing his body to fall to the floor, and stepped forward to stand toe-to-toe with Citera. “You’ve talked to her, she is awake?” he asked with an expression that sent a shudder throughout her body and had her clinging tighter to Dirik. “What did she tell you, exactly?”

  He was looming over them both as those black eyes pierced deep into her soul. But Citera refused to buckle and stared right back at him, refusing to drop her gaze; she wasn’t going to give him the benefit of knowing how truly terrified she was. “She told me she could help me heal my dad.”

  “And how exactly did she say she was going to accomplish this miraculous feat?” the quiet stranger asked from behind her. She turned around to see that he had removed his hood and was staring at her with dark brown eyes and hair nearly the same color. There was a familiarity to his features and skin tone; he reminded her of someone, although at the moment she couldn’t place who. It was clear from the tone of his voice that he, too, was unhappy with her for having talked to K.

  Rigar, jarred awake by the drop, was struggling to get himself up off the floor as he pleaded with her, “Citera, don’t say anything else.”

  “You mind your own business,” the Enforcer snarled, pushing Rigar back down onto the floor with his boot, “before I decide to take you in for breaking curfew. Then what will become of that lovely family of yours?”

  Citera couldn’t stand hearing the Enforcer threaten Rigar’s family. “Please leave him alone, he has nothing to do with this.”

  “Then answer my companion’s question. Did she tell you how she was going to heal your father?”

  “No,” Citera answered quietly, staring down at Rigar, “she didn’t say.” She grimaced as the Enforcer increased the pressu
re on Rigar’s back, crushing him under his tremendous weight.

  Unable to do anything to help, she whispered to him through her tears, “I’m so sorry.” If she had only listened to him and not talked with K, if she had only stayed out of that room like he had told her to, none of this would be happening.

  “You’re lying,” the Enforcer said, pressing harder onto Rigar’s back.

  Rigar’s face contorted under the pressure and she cried out in a panic, “Stop, please don’t do that. I’m not lying, she didn’t tell me how. She only said he would have to change and that I would have to decide if that was something I was willing to accept.”

  This caught the attention of their attackers. The two of them exchanged a glance, before the stranger behind her asked calmly, “Is that all? Answer truthfully. We will know if you are lying.”

  Citera clung tightly to Dirik. “She told me that in order for her to bring him back, she would have to feed …,” she paused, swallowing hard. She was afraid to continue, knowing what she was about to say could have them all arrested and executed. But as the Enforcer continued to apply more weight onto Rigar’s back, she could hear the distinct sound of bones cracking beneath the pressure.

  “Please stop.” She begged falling to her knees, “You’re killing him.”

  “Then answer the question,” the Enforcer shouted, his voice booming off the walls. “What did she say she needed to feed on?”

  “On my blood!” She shouted back, holding her face in her hands. “That is all, I swear, there was nothing else.” She wept uncontrollably while Dirik knelt by her side and embraced her gently. Feeling his comforting warmth, she turned her face into his chest. “All I wanted to do was save my father.”

  Silence filled the hall as the two of them seemed to be debating silently with each other about how to proceed forward from this point. Citera trembled against Dirik’s chest, knowing she had sentenced them all to death. Why did she have to be so hard headed? Why didn’t she just listen and do as she was told? Now because of her stubbornness, they were all at the mercy of the Enforcer, the Shadows’ judge, jury, and executioner. The best she could hope at this point was for them to leave Rigar and Dirik alone and take her for being the one who had actually talked with K.

  After what felt like an eternity the Enforcer finally broke the silence. “Well, let’s go see her. Lead the way, girl,” He commanded, motioning for the stranger to follow.

  With the help of Dirik, she climbed to her feet, and led them reluctantly down the hall to K’s room. The Enforcer followed picking Rigar up off the floor, and the stranger nudged Dirik to follow as well. She paused a moment before opening the door, guilt consuming her for leading death to K’s door. Taking a deep breath she pushed the door open, allowing the entourage to enter inside. As the intruders came into the room, Citera watched as K’s body tensed and her eye narrowed into what appeared to be a look of recognition.

  “The three of you go stand in the corner and don’t move,” the Enforcer demanded, motioning to Dirik. “You, boy, come take your friend.” Dirik walked over and threw Rigar’s arm over his shoulder; he struggled to bear the weight that the Enforcer had so easily tossed around, but with no shortage of determination he made it to the corner and joined Citera to watch what was about to unfold.

  K glared at the two intruders as they approached her bed from both sides. “It seems I was right, it appears my time has run out.”

  The Enforcer’s companion appeared puzzled as he eyed K up and down, “This can’t be.”

  “What? Don’t you recognize your own handy work?” K countered viciously, causing him to retreat a few steps back.

  “My lady, forgive me, but you look nothing like you did when we last saw you. May we confirm you are who we think, so we can take you from this place to somewhere safe?”

  “I will not be going anywhere with either of you!” K growled under her breath. Hatred poured from her voice, surprising the pair who appeared to be at a loss on how to deal with the very angry young lady.

  The stranger continued inspecting K, appearing to be shocked by her condition. Once again he gave a disbelieving glance at the Enforcer, who shrugged nonchalantly.

  “If either of you lay a hand on me, I swear, by all those who have gone before me, you will feel a hundred years of pain surge through your bodies,” K threatened shifting her gaze back and forth between the Enforcer and his companion.

  With no shortage of cockiness, the Enforcer held up his gloved hands, to which K merely smirked. “Try me.”

  “We only wish to see your back,” his friend explained.

  “Like hell,” K snapped, “if you know who I am then you know my rules on these matters as well.”

  Citera was both shocked and amused by the abruptness and strength in K’s voice as she challenged the bewildered pair. And she wasn’t the only one, the Enforcer appeared as astonished as she was.

  “If you are here to finish what you started, then so be it. But I will not tolerate the two of you looking me over to satisfy your own doubts.”

  The Enforced growled and took a step forward. Citera grimaced, expecting she was about to witness the demise of the frail girl who so openly challenged his authority. But to her surprise the Enforcer’s companion raised a hand, effectively stopping him in his tracks. K glared at the Enforcer, daring him to take another step. Despite her fragile appearance, a strength emanated from K that permeated the entire room as she and the Enforcer continued their intense stare down. The companion cleared his throat, catching the Enforcer’s attention and made a motion with his head, signaling him to back down.

  “My lady, I don’t know what you are referring to us ‘finishing’. We are only trying to verify for certain you are who we think you are.” The stranger continued, moving away a few steps.

  K’s crystal blue eyes had turned dark red in color, and Citera watched in awe as her various scars transformed into black markings covering every inch of her skin. Enraged, she began pulling hard against the restraints. “How dare you?” she yelled at the stranger, pain playing in her voice. “How dare you come into this room and claim ignorance of your betrayal! Did you not think the Heralds would brag about how easily the four of you had found it to turn your backs on me? Do you have any idea how long I suffered at their hands? Do you?” As she spoke a dark aura surrounded her, growing larger and larger until it enveloped the whole bed, and it was then that K made one hard pull on the wrist restraints and snapped them both loose from the metal frame.

  “Well let me show you.”

  K pulled down the front of her gown, revealing the series of circular scars running across her chest. “One for each year,” she yelled, the dark marks shining against her pale skin, “each year they denied me the peace of sleep; forcing me to stay awake to be starved, tortured, and beaten.”

  The Enforcer and his partner stood side by side at the foot of the bed, having quickly retreated in response to her rage and the restraints being snapped so easily.

  “My lady, Jaron had nothing to do with what happened. He has been forced to live in exile since your disappearance otherwise he would have met with a similar fate,” the Enforcer implored, coming to the defense of his friend.

  The aura around K was slowly beginning to fade, as were the black markings covering her. Her eyes, however, remained red as she refocused her attention on the Enforcer. “And who are you that dares to speak to me of things you know nothing about? You serve them, do you not? So not only has he been hiding while I was forced to endure all manners of torture, he has been conspiring with them. That’s why the two of you are here, isn’t it? To haul me back to them and be rewarded, meanwhile I get to spend the rest of eternity as a prisoner.”

  Jaron, who seemed to be the focus of most of her anger, appeared astonished and bewildered by the implication he was in league with the Shadows. “Ka—” he began, but was quickly cut off by K.

  “Don’t you dare speak that name out loud,” she snapped angrily. “She is long dead, t
hanks to you and your friends. So if you insist on continuing to harass me, then you can call me K.”

  “As you wish, K,” Jaron answered, bowing his head slightly. “I only wanted to let you know our intentions are to help you, to take you back to my camp in the border lands, where you can remain safe while you rebuild your strength.”

  “Really?” K said, doubtfully looking the two of them over. “Because from what little time I have been awake in this period I have seen him do nothing but use threats and violence to manipulate these people. I was awake, after all, when he dragged an innocent lady from this room in chains then slammed the girl’s father against the wall for trying to protect her.” As she continued, K’s eyes blazed, burning into the Enforcer, “Then he had the audacity to place his hands on me. To break my arm and choke the very breath from my lungs.” The Enforcer, sensing her fury toward him, backed as far away from the bed as possible without leaving the room. “If I had even a fraction of my usual strength I would show you what it feels like to be terrorized and manipulated, and to be unable to do anything about it.”

  The Enforcer dropped his head, and this time it was Jaron who came to his defense, “My lady, please forgive him, he is not as familiar with you and your customs as I am. And while I will be the first to admit that he goes too far at times, it is because he has no choice, he is under their control just as much as the others are. It is not his fault that they have taken advantage of him and the gifts you have given him.”

  “The gift’s I gave him?” K’s eyebrow shot up questioningly, “I don’t recall creating an assassin for my enemy’s purpose.”

  “No, but you did choose to save a life long ago by blessing him with some of your …” Jaron paused, glancing briefly at the trio watching silently in the corner before continuing, “strength.”