"No, Guide."
"Do not let it happen again."
"I won't, Guide."
"To make up for your failure here, you will spend the night cleaning the dining room and kitchen on your own. As soon as dinner is served, the rest of you may take the night off. Auren, you will eat in the dining room with the others tonight."
"Thank you, Guide," I said, not feeling at all thankful. At least I had the evening off, which would allow me to work on finding my father.
"Everyone back to work now."
The plan didn’t hit me until I returned to the dishes. The boy’s punishment meant he would be left alone all night, unattended. If I could somehow earn a similar punishment, it would give me all the freedom I needed. The patrols would be lighter during the night, as everyone was locked in their cells. I only needed to venture as far as the office, which would be easy enough—unless it was locked.
Chapter 5
I waited several days before putting my plan into action, to avoid raising suspicion. Breaking a rule so soon after witnessing the consequences was foolish. I didn’t have the option of showing up late, because a guide escorted me to the kitchen each morning. But I knew of another rule I could break. After I finished the lunch dishes I went out into the main kitchen to get myself a plate of food, though I had no intention of eating. I couldn’t risk a full stomach, not when I knew what was coming.
As soon as I spotted one of the others, I approached her, feigning clumsiness by bumping into her. I hit her a little too hard, knocking her to the ground and spilling the contents of my plate.
I reached my hand out to help her up.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm so clumsy. Here, let me help you," I said, grabbing a towel and wiping the food from her clothing.
Her eyes widened, darting over my shoulder. I knew a guide was approaching, but I pretended not to notice.
"I'm sort of new here, and I'm still—"
"Auren, you are not permitted to talk to the others. You know this," the guide scolded.
"Yes, Guide. I'm sorry."
She sighed. "Sorry doesn't teach you to follow the rules, I'm afraid. Punishment position."
This was it. I let my mind escape to the shadow world before she returned with the whip. I didn't notice the crowd gathering around us, people who were returning to work after their lunch. When the guide completed my punishment, she instructed me to stand. My legs felt shaky, but I forced myself upright.
"You took the punishment rather well for a newcomer, Auren."
"Thank you, Guide," I said through quiet sobs, though I doubted she’d meant it as a compliment.
"Tonight, you will be responsible for cleaning the dining room and kitchen on your own. You will also wear a gag every day to work as a reminder not to speak."
She placed the gag over my mouth and fastened it behind my head. It was only a thick strip of leather, but it was effective in silencing me. It felt less like a physical reminder and more like a humiliation tactic. Fortunately, I didn't care. I had what I wanted.
I hadn't anticipated how much harder it would be to clean the dishes when my back was covered in welts. I kept up as best I could, but the guide told me I would have to go without dinner that night. Not that it mattered. There would be plenty of opportunities to sneak some food once everyone had gone.
*****
When dinner was over, I was left alone in the kitchen. The guide informed me if I finished early, I would be allowed to go to my room to sleep. If not, it meant working night and day without rest. I knew I'd never finish in time because I would not be in the kitchen all night, but if I found my father it would be worth it. I was more determined than ever. I knew something prevented my father from entering the shadow world. I also knew if I could free him, there was a chance we might even be able to escape that night. The thought sent a surge of excitement through me. I imagined the look on Kado's face when I returned to the Dark Isle with my father. The council would not dare defy him, and Makari would become our prisoner.
The Dansig troops were the only ones patrolling the corridors, so all I had to do was avoid them. I had discovered they were the ones in the special uniform. Avoiding them turned out to be harder than I thought. As I approached the office, a pair of Dansig appeared, leaving me with nowhere to hide. I was forced to meld into the shadow world or be caught. Fortunately, it worked. They were completely unaware of my presence, allowing me to slip quietly into the office.
It was another stroke of luck that the door was unlocked. They clearly weren’t expecting any form of unauthorized access. Then again, their methods of brainwashing were effective. I hadn't seen one person rebel.
Once inside the office, I closed the door behind me and felt my way to the computer. I didn't want to risk turning on a light, so had to figure out how to turn on the machine in the dark. As it turned out, the computer was in standby mode. It came to life as soon as I touched the screen. I'd used similar computers in school, so it wasn't difficult to navigate. It was simply a matter of finding the right file.
I spotted one labeled "Residents". Really? They referred to their prisoners as residents? I opened the file and, sure enough, I found a list of detainees assigned to this reconciliation center, which was apparently called, Brynn. I scrolled down, barely breathing when I came to "Z" and saw my father's name. He was here. They were keeping him in a cell in block D. I was in E block, which meant he couldn't be too far. I felt a nagging pull in my gut, but I dismissed it as the effect of knowing my father was close by.
As I was closing the folder, another file labeled "Shadow Stalker Attenuation" caught my eye. I opened it and saw a folder labeled "Recinder". A recinder is a circular collar worn on the neck by shadow stalkers. The alloy, Beryllonium, contains properties which interfere with a shadow stalker's ability to use their powers. All captured shadow stalkers, if not sentenced to death, are fitted with a recinder. Once locked in place, the recinder cannot be removed unless cut with a specific tool.
I flicked through the file. Apparently, the alloy was also used to make weapons against the shadow stalkers, something Kado had referred to. If I could somehow get the information to the Coalition, there was a chance they could find a way to counter it. But I knew my time had run out as soon as I heard voices in the corridor. I switched the computer to standby, wondering at the pull inside me. It was stronger than before. I hesitated in the dark, reluctant to reenter the shadow world, especially after reading about the recinders, and the alloy used to make them.
The door swung open before I made my decision, and by then it was too late. They saw me before they switched on the light. Two guides stood in the doorway, gazing at me from beneath their robes.
"Well, well," one of them said, dropping his hood.
It was Makari. But how? And why was he dressed like a guide?
"If it isn't my little lizard."
My throat clenched. It was just a coincidence. He had no way of knowing my identity. I could have been anyone.
They approached me, leaving me with little option but to take my punishment. If I left through the shadow world it was game over. I would never be able to get to my father. My only chance was to play dumb and hope I could reach him somehow.
I was pushed roughly into the wall, my arms pulled behind my back. One of them, I couldn’t see who, took my hands and locked them in place. A second later I felt a jolt run through me, not an electric shock, but close. I gasped, and swore I heard Makari do the same. For an instant we were one person, and I wanted to shake my head in denial. This couldn't be happening. Not with my enemy.
Then my mother's words rang clearly through my mind. "Your true mate awaits you on Nadiria."
"No," I cried out. This had to be some cruel, sick joke. How could I be fated to be with someone meant to deliver me to the man who wanted me dead? His own son, in fact.
"Don't fight," he said, softly in my ear. "I'm going to cuff you, and then we will go somewhere for a chat. Just the two of us."
"Do you think
that's a good idea?" the other guide asked. "She's the one who withheld her name, and now we find her in here. Maybe she’s a spy."
"She's no spy. Don't worry. I can handle this one."
Makari gripped my arm tightly and led me to one of the cleansing rooms.
Chapter 6
As soon as the door closed, Makari turned and slapped me so hard I fell to the ground. He was angry, though I had no idea why. He couldn't possibly know my true identity. Worse, our connection was overwhelming. I often felt Kado's emotions, but not like this. It was as though Makari was a part of me, a permanent fixture in my mind—what he felt so did I.
He reached down and pulled me to my knees by my hair. I had to fight against a compulsion to fall into his arms and hold him. When I had experienced a similar feeling with Etan, the connection was mutual. Why was Makari different? And, if he did feel something, why was he being so cruel? I couldn't even summon the strength to fight back. Though with my arms cuffed at the back, I couldn’t even if I wanted to.
Makari caressed my cheek where he had slapped me. "You’ve caused a lot of trouble for me, Auren."
I gasped. No, he didn’t know me. He only knew my name because I had confessed. He didn't know it was me. He couldn't. His words from earlier replayed in my head, "If it isn’t my little lizard." No, he couldn't know. It was impossible.
If he did, it meant I was in grave danger. I started to call the veil, knowing I needed to escape through the shadow world before it was too late. If I could find Deakan, he would remove the cuffs. We could still make a plan. I knew about the alloy, so I could help the Coalition with knowledge, even if I couldn't save my father. As soon as I started to shift, Makari's eyes went wide.
"Don't do it, Auren," he said, raising his hand as if to slap me again. "Don't make me put a recinder on you. Then everyone will know you're a shadow stalker."
I let go of veil and nodded. "What will you do to me?
"I will complete your cleansing personally, not that I expect it to have much effect, delohi-saqu."
"Don't call me that," I said, glaring at him.
"It's who you are."
"It's who your father says I am, but not who I choose to be. I'm not who your father believes. I never will be."
Makari shook his head sadly. "You can't change your fate, Auren. Even Kado knew that much."
"Your father is the cause of all this. It would never have happened if not for him. I would have been nothing more than a shadow stalker. Kado's vision showed me I became a monster because of the torture I would suffer at your father’s hands. Not because of some prophecy. Drevin doesn't have the gift of true sight."
He knelt in front of me, gripping my face between his hands. "I know who my father is. You don't have to tell me. I could turn you in to him right now. I should, but I'm not going to. So, you will show your appreciation by being subservient to me. Accept the cleansing, and in return I will not reveal your identity."
"Why? Why not just turn me over to your father?" I whispered. None of it made sense.
"Because once I turn you over to my father, I will no longer be of use to him."
"So, it's all about self-preservation then?" I choked back a sob.
Makari shrugged.
"Why not just help the Coalition? If you really know who your father is, you can't possibly trust him. You could help the Coalition and the other shadow stalkers, and end all this. Then—"
He held up his hand. "That still leaves the problem of the one who will enslave our people."
I shook my head as tears ran down my cheeks. "I won't do that. I couldn't hurt people like that."
"But you will."
"How can you possibly know that?"
"You know how I know," Makari said, smiling indulgently.
I wanted to slap him.
"How can I prove to you that I'm not the monster your father says I am?" I don't know why I felt so desperate for him to believe me.
"Do as I say, and accept the cleansing."
"Fine." If that's what it would take, I would give him what he wanted.
"If you promise to behave, I'll remove the cuffs."
I nodded.
"I'm curious, though. How did you get away from the Dark Isle without me knowing? And how did you get here?" he asked, pulling me to my feet so he could release my wrist restraints.
"I escaped through the shadow world."
"I gathered that much," he said, turning me to face him. "How did you do it without me or the Council of Elders knowing?"
I shrugged.
"I see. You'll tell me eventually. So how did you get here?"
"I was captured on Appolia trying to get into the Council Hall."
Makari chuckled. "So, you walked right up to the troops and got yourself captured?"
"Not voluntarily." I frowned. "I was looking for someone. A friend who was captured."
"I see. And did you find her?"
"No."
His grin told me he knew I was lying, but he didn't press the point. "I guess we should get you back to your room. How did you get out of there, by the way?"
"I didn't. I was working in the kitchen tonight. A punishment for talking to one of the others."
He laughed again. It was a musical sound that melted my heart and at the same time made me want to vomit. How could this be happening with him?
"I will return you to the kitchen then. I wouldn't want you punished further."
*****
Somehow, I managed to clean the kitchen and dining area before the guide arrived the following morning. I was beyond exhausted, and not looking forward to enduring a cleansing with Makari. I was slower than normal through breakfast, which earned me a warning. If I didn’t catch up, I would be spending another night in the kitchen. I was only halfway through the dishes when Makari arrived to collect me.
"Can we skip this today? I'm tired," I asked, knowing he wouldn’t give me a break before he opened his mouth.
"Whose fault is that?"
It annoyed me how much he sounded like Kado when he said it.
Once we were in the cleansing room, Makari grabbed the shock wand and motioned me into position. I obeyed as I prepared to hide my mind in the shadow world. As soon as I was in position, he gripped my hair and yanked my head back.
"None of that, Auren. I told you, you will accept the cleansing. That means you will not use your powers in any way to mask the pain. Do you understand?"
How did he know? He shouldn't have been able to anticipate me. My shift the night before was obvious, he would have noticed the moment I began to fade into the mist, but hiding my mind in the shadow world was different.
Makari yanked harder, making me cry out. "Do you understand?"
"Yes," I said in a small voice.
He released me.
"Please don't do this." My voice sounded hoarse.
He stroked my hair, and I started to sob. One minute he was manhandling me like any other prisoner, and the next he was being kind and gentle. It was worse. At least the other guards had been emotionally distant during the process. With Makari, I could almost feel the love and warmth emanating from him. It was as though he truly believed he was doing the right thing.
"Don't move. I don't want to have to punish you."
I screamed when I felt the jolt. It was worse than the first time, and my body reacted instinctually. I jumped away from the source of pain. "Please, I can't do this. Please."
It was too late. He was already exchanging the long shock wand for the smaller version used for the beatings. I backed myself into a corner of the room, expecting him to be angry again, but he wasn’t. He knelt in front of me, pulling my arms away from my face.
"You’ve never truly felt the pain of the shock wand, have you? You've somehow masked the pain this entire time. No wonder the cleansing hasn't worked."
"It's torture and brainwashing. Not cleansing."
He sighed and pulled me to my feet, then walked me to the table. "I thought you wanted to prov
e to me you weren't the delohi-saqu."
"How will this prove it?"
"According to my father, it will not work on you if you're who he says you are. If I put you through the cleansing, and it works, it means he’s wrong. If it doesn't work, well then I will know he was right, and I will feel justified in bringing you to him to meet your fate."
So, my only choices were either allow myself to be brainwashed or be taken to Drevin and executed? At least there would be freedom in death. Did I really want to spend the rest of my days at the mercy of a man who only knew how to love me by subjugating me through pain and torture? Makari wiped the tears from my face.
"Please, Auren. Don't fight me."
I nodded, crying in anguish. As Makari strapped me to the table I began to reconsider my options. If I could somehow escape my cell, I could go back to Appolia and help Deakan.
"This is going to make things easier for you," he said. "If you can't move, I will have no reason to punish you. But you must be punished for moving the first time."
"I thought this wasn't supposed to be punishment."
"It is now. It is with me."
He turned the shock wand to its highest setting and placed it across my belly. It felt akin to having my insides twist into knots and try to force their way free. After what seemed an eternity, he moved the wand lower. He inched down my body until he reached my feet, then started on my arms. I stopped trying to scream when my throat no longer produced any sound. Screaming didn't help anyway. When he finished on my front, he turned me over and started on my back. This time using the longer shock wand.
"You're doing well now," he said softly in my ear. "It's much better when you can absorb the pain, isn't it?"
"Yes," I whispered. He was right. The pain was no longer concentrated in one area of my body; each shock seemed to radiate everywhere at once, an effect that somehow reduced the agony. Eventually, my mind found its own retreat, without the use of the shadow world, and I almost felt at peace.
Shadow Stalker Part 2 (Episodes 7 - 12) Page 4