The Lotus Effect (Rise Of The Ardent)

by Bridget Ladd

  Xander shook his head as he straightened in his chair. “I have two theories. One being quite plausible and the other . . . well, I’m not so sure you’ll agree with.”

  “Agree with what?” I asked curious.

  “Either the Council fears you progressing further and knew I was about to . . .” He paused, thinking of my sensitivity with the issue.

  “—about to kill Bubbles and win the match?” I finished for him. “Go on.”

  “Yes. Or perhaps, your parents really do love you and asserted their authority, knowing you couldn’t handle a higher ranking match so soon after such an injury.”

  He was right. I did not at all agree with the latter scenario. I sighed heavily in my frustration. “I know it was hardly due to my parent’s consideration. Whatever the reason may be, the Council is up to something.”

  Xander didn’t argue as he sat back against his chair again, his jaw tense in thought. “Earlier today while you slept, the announcement was made that Sector 2 is to fight Sector 5 tomorrow at dawn. Later, Sector 1 will go up against Sector 4.”

  I pursed my lips and furrowed my brow, recalling the Drawing. “So that means Venator versus the Gatling gun? Crescent Knives versus Klaives?”

  He nodded.

  “Does anyone even know what kind of beasts Sector 2 will be fighting with?” I was extremely curious. Venator was one of the fighting specialties that intrigued me the most.

  “No. No one knows yet. Percival and Fin have kept themselves well hidden so far.”

  I cringed as an image of Percival flashed into my mind.

  “What’s wrong?” Xander asked, sitting forward some.

  “Nothing, it’s just that Percival gives me the creeps. I’m not sure what I think about Fin yet, but there’s definitely something about Percival that makes me worry.” It was a bone deep intuition that I could not explain to Xander, to anyone, that made me wary of him. “He looks like the type who would stand in the shadows and watch girls undress, and then once he got his fill, he’d kill them and then . . . oh, I don’t know, eat them or something.”

  Xander made a face. “I’m not sure I had that exact impression, but yes there is something off about him.”

  We both stared at one another in a mocking, glazed wide-eyed glare, mimicking Percival. I smiled weakly, breaking eye contact first and groaned, forgetting to not play around with facial expressions when my face pained me so. “Ow—that’s what I get for making fun.”

  “Sorry.” Xander grinned, but then his smile seemed to wilt, a hidden knowledge of remorse transpired across his features before he masked it by looking down at his hands.

  “So. Question . . . ?” I began, not understanding why he looked so troubled. “This means we’ll be fighting one of the two who will be defeated from those rounds tomorrow?”

  “Yes. We’ll fight again in two days’ time. You rest until then.” He patted the top of my leg before standing up. “Now that you’re awake, I have business with Dex. I’ll return within the hour. Get some sleep—your body needs time to heal.”

  I nodded lazily, too tired to question him what this meeting would be about.

  He bounded for the door. “The force field is set,” he added, his dark cloak spinning in the air as he wrapped it squarely around his shoulders. He turned to me as he flicked the large shadowing hood over his head. “So, Lily . . . dream away.”

  And with that he was gone, leaving me alone to the quiet and dim flickering of the candlelight.

  ~

  Sleep? Right.

  I watched the shadows that the light played upon the wall for a short while, trying to will myself back into unconsciousness.

  Huffing as I sat up, I realized it was to no use trying. I was too anxious to see my face and the damage that it had suffered. After retrieving the candle and making sure it was secure in its holder, I gingerly placed my bare feet onto the cold floorboards and felt my way to the washroom. I pushed outwards when my fingers felt the rough texture of the door, the candlelight instantly flooding the small space beyond.

  Hesitatingly, I shuffled over to the mirror, my eyes curious of what was to be seen. The soft glow of the candlelight illuminated the planes of my face, the shadows again dancing upon my cheeks. I regarded the girl before me with an open coolness. The naive Lily Emerson, the daughter of the Head was now gone, replaced with someone whom I could better respect.

  I was Lily Emerson. The fighter.

  Reaching up, I trailed my finger along the line of the wound that carved over my eye and down my cheek. The same side of my face that was swollen and with an eyelid that was nearly black in color.

  My eye would heal, but Xander was right. There would be a scar. No—I would not pity myself. I would use this as a sign, a symbol of mercy to remind myself of the person that I am, and not who they want me to be. I could’ve killed Bubbles McGee today, but I didn’t. And for that brief moment of hesitation, I am grateful. Grateful for the inner voice that stayed my hand.

  Looking down, I caught sight of my dirty and bruised cuticles. I would always trade beauty if it meant I would have the option to save a life. Any life is a life worth saving. One may never know when that soul’s true purpose can tilt between evil and good. That one small teetering hope can be the spark that creates something beautiful, something that can save others. Who was I to judge someone’s true worth?

  Bubbles McGee was a good man at heart, I could tell. He was only caught up in the mess that the Council threw at us. He wanted to provide for his Sector, to change the Law, not kill irrationally.

  I looked to the savage stranger in the mirror again.

  I liked what I saw.

  ~

  The hot water beaded down my bruised body, steaming the small enclosed space of the washroom in a humid cloud. The soothing warm caress of the shower kneaded deep into my sore muscles, allowing my mind to drift. My fingers ran down the length of my hair—only to hesitate when a loud noise boomed from the front of the hut. Dropping my heavy hair, I watched as a purple wave of energy rippled across the wall of the shower next to me.

  Xander shouldn’t be back yet. A pang of unease began to swell in my chest.

  Frowning, I stepped out of the tub, quickly wrapping a towel around my body. I hesitatingly approached the chill of the main room, my eyes teetering between both the front door and to the container that held my axes. Dripping wet, I inched my way towards the container, one barefoot over the other. “Who’s there?” I shouted loud enough so to be heard beyond the force field.

  A large groan emanated from the front porch. “Lily? It’s me, McGee. I’ve come to apologize . . . for what I did to yer face.”

  Giving a relieved sigh, I allowed myself a small smile, realizing the force field had knocked Bubbles from the porch when he’d obviously tried to approach the hut. I stood awkwardly a few feet from the door, holding my towel close while my hair dripped chilled water onto the tops of my feet.

  “I forgive you. You had to do what needed to be done.”

  He groaned again and from the sound of it I could tell he was trying to stand. “What in the world do you hav’ on yer door ‘ere girl? Bout blew me skyward . . .”

  I scrunched my face sympathetically. “Uh, yes, sorry about that. It’s Xander’s new security system as it were.”

  “It wouldn’t hav’ hurt the boy to put up a sign—warnin’ somebody ‘bout it,” he grumbled.

  “That would sort of defeat the purpose,” I added, tentatively. “I’m sorry Bubbles. We didn’t plan to have guests. You know, only the possibility of the throat slitting variety.” I cringed at my ill attempt at humor.

  Bubbles scoffed. “The boy needn’t worry. I think you, girlie, can hold yer own. You’re quite the scrapper when it comes down to it.”

  Bubbles paused, waiting for a response, but I didn’t have words for that. “Look ‘ere though. I don’t pride myself on beatin’ on women . . . I’m . . . I’m sorry about havin’ to smash a pretty face such as yers. I hope the damage isn�
��t too bad?”

  “I’ll be fine,” I said hoarsely as I leaned my back and wet hair against the door.

  “No really. I feel like shite ‘bout it. Especially since you went and spared my thick neck like ya did . . . I—”

  “—Think nothing of it,” I said, cutting him off, knowing there may be voice recognizers outside trying to gleam any and all of our conversation.

  I heard Bubbles make a sound of surprise just before he whispered thickly through the door, “Well I’ve said my piece and I hope you know I respect you. As a person, and as a fighter. I should go now, seeing as yer boyfriend is mean-mugging his way over to me.”

  “Who Xander? We’re not . . . he’s not—” I sputtered back, but then clamped my mouth shut, knowing I sounded like an idiot.

  “Judgin’ by the look on his face right now, I would hav’ to disagree,” Bubbles added quickly before I heard him bound away from the creaky porch.

  Leaning the uninjured side of my face close against the door, I tried to listen to what was being said. The door muffled their words, but I could tell Xander was delivering a few choice words in his general direction. I blinked, jerking my head from the door as the force field went down and the handle began to turn.

  My eyes widened and I squealed in shock, Oh, Bones! Realizing for the first time that I wasn’t properly dressed, I nearly tripped over my own feet as I tried to get away from the opening door.

  “Lily?” Xander called out as he entered.

  I gasped, embarrassed as I stood before him, my hair still dripping wet with only a towel wrapped around me to show for.

  Making a weird face, I croaked out strangely, “Welcome back?”

  Xander’s eyes went wide in appreciation and then dipped in anger. “Did he try to come in here while you . . . ? At night?” He growled in his throat, a deep menacing thrum of disapproval. “He really is asking for a horrible death.” He turned so he could pursue him. I reached out and stopped him, holding firm to the towel with my other hand.

  “He’s harmless, Xander. He came to apologize. That’s all.”

  Xander eyed me suspiciously for the truth before he shut the door behind him, the force field spreading around the hut once more. “Harmless. Tell that to your damaged face.” He brought his eyes up to meet mine again. The heat in their gray depths made me blush.

  I clumsily backed my way towards the washroom.

  He grinned as he watched me go, the smile reaching towards his eyes before he turned his back to me, crossing his arms. He lifted his chin, barely looking over his shoulder. “You act as though I’ve never seen you without coverings before.”

  I froze in horror. “You . . . you what?” I pulled the towel tighter as I stared him down, my eyes shooting daggers. If looks could kill, he’d most certainly be pinned to the wall in front of us.

  Xander rolled his eyes with a smile before turning to look obediently at the door again. “Lily, I’m kidding. Though I must admit, I’ve had ample opportunity to do so if I wished.”

  “Do what if you wished?” I shot out. Enough with being embarrassed. Now I was furious.

  “I’ve checked you over for injuries while you were unconscious—on a few occasions already,” he said bluntly, but then added, “Don’t worry, my eyes were tame on the objective. No need to get all red in the face.” He paused, his tone serious. “That’s not how I do things.”

  I scowled and swallowed hard as I finally backed my way into the washroom and slammed the door in front of me. I leaned up against it as I tried to control my breathing.

  And how is it that he goes about doing things? I wondered.

  “Goodnight,” he called out as I heard him compress down upon the springs of his mattress. Even though I couldn’t possibly see him, I knew Xander was grinning at my expense behind the door, I could hear it in his voice.

  I didn’t think he was going to say anything else, but then the mattress squeaked again like it did when he was restless. Even Xander had trouble sleeping at night. “I brought some anesthetics. I had Dex get them for me while I made sure you—” He paused. “They’re by your nightstand if you find you should need any,” he added, his voice low.

  I sighed, knowing that even with Xander’s teasing or savage sternness, he always meant well. Always looking out for those he cared for with no account to his own feelings.

  Xander was right—that wasn’t how he did things, and I believed him. I smiled inwardly, feeling a sense of contentment overwhelm me at the knowledge that I wasn’t walking this difficult path alone.

  “Goodnight,” I echoed softly from behind the door before readying myself for another long, sleepless night ahead.

  Chapter 30

  Compromises

  A steaming bowl of my favorite sugared oats sat awaiting me on the nightstand when I awoke. I groaned, but noticed that my face, though numb, held only a dull ache and not the intensity of the day before.

  “Is this how you treat all the ladies?” I asked sleepily, rolling over to find Xander’s back turned to me as he sat from the edge of his bed. He looked over his shoulder and smiled, already dressed for the day.

  “Only those brave enough to partner up with me. Morning, Lily.”

  I scoffed and sat up some. “If I remember correctly, it was you who partnered up with me.”

  Xander turned, giving me his full attention as he sat lacing his boots. “Oh yes, how easily I forget.”

  He stomped each boot to the floor and stood, walking closer so he could stand by the end of my mattress. He had a smoldering look in his eyes and a wry smile on his face as he fiddled with the buttons of his shirt’s sleeve. “What a stupid thing to do,” he teased.

  There it was, that look that he does. I blushed as I pushed myself up further and reached over to grab at my sugared oats, trying to ignore him. He was being way too flirty for him to think of me only as his ‘mistake’.

  “Stop it with that charming smile thing that you do. It’s too early,” I growled.

  He laughed, his smile genuine. I could feel his eyes crawling up the back of my neck, inspecting me for a reaction. “Charming . . . never been known to be called that before.”

  I furrowed my brow as I shoved a spoonful of warm oatmeal into my mouth. I wasn’t prepared for a morning full of awkwardness between Xander and I. Especially ones with hidden professions of . . . well, awkwardness.

  I cleared my throat. “Thank you for breakfast,” I managed to say clumsily. And hoping to change the topic at hand, I turned to face him. “We should go to town today and meet Dex. I . . . well . . .” I fiddled for an explanation. “. . . so I can stretch my legs before tomorrow’s match.”

  He narrowed his eyes, seeing straight through my request. “You know they’ll not allow us to watch the other matches.”

  Sighing, I replied despairingly, “I know. I just feel so isolated in here. Like I’m to be a speaker of an important event that I’ve yet to prepare for.”

  “That’s how the Council wants you to feel. Exposed and unprepared, so that the fighting is raw.”

  Xander shifted and neared my side. “Do you think you’re even ready to move about? Honestly, how do you feel?”

  Fidgeting away from his stare, I took stock of how I felt: a bludgeoned piece of meat with my muscles screaming at me for having the very thought of wanting to exist. Information in which Xander did not need to know. “I’m fine. Besides I’ll have to make do if I’m to fight tomorrow. My face feels better already,” I lied.

  He narrowed his eyes at me suspiciously. Xander wasn’t the gullible type, nor was he the type to question. “I’ll only agree to go to town with you—as long as you agree to let me do one thing for you in return.”

  “And what’s that?” I asked hesitantly.

  “That’s not how this compromise works. You agree to it otherwise I won’t help you find Dex.”

  I scoffed. “I’ll just find Dex on my own then.”

  Xander made an amused face as he unbuttoned and shook out the sleeve of
his other arm. “I doubt you’ll find him. And if you do manage, you’ll spend all day searching. There’s a large chance he’s nose deep in a bottle of bourbon and unconscious in someone’s rafters.”

  “Well that’s a good enough start for me.”

  Xander’s grin faded, became serious. “Just let me help.”

  I didn’t have the energy to argue. “Fine, I agree to whatever you want to help me with.”

  Xander attempted a smile, but he never achieved one, his face suddenly turning pale. “Just trust me okay?” he said, rubbing his hands together as if to warm them. They looked as though they were shaking. “Lie on your stomach.”

  “Xander . . . what are you—” I started to ask as I sat up, but he was gesturing for me to lie back down.

  “Please?”

  I groaned, annoyed as I flipped over and hid my scarlet-colored face into the quilt of the mattress. “Really, Xander. This is your compromise?” I mumbled inaudibly into the sheets.

  His voice wavered some. “Just relax. Tensing your body up like that is defeating the purpose of what I’m trying to do.”

  “Me relax? Look at you! And what is it exactly that you’re trying to do?” I asked acidly as I tried to lift my sore neck from the pillow to look at him.

  He rolled his sleeves up past his elbows, slowly, hesitantly. His face looked strained and his eyes teetered to his hands as though he was nervous. “Teizel called it Reiki,” he said in a low, gravelly voice. “I’ve never done it before, on someone other than myself, but it should help ease the soreness from your muscles. I . . . I can tell they give you pain.”

  “What?” I tried to sit up to protest, but he eyed me hard, his resistance shattering.

  “Just forget it. It was a stupid idea anyways,” he said as he stepped back, hastily pushing his sleeves down.

  Rolling my eyes to the ceiling, I made a gruff sound. “Xander, just do whatever it is you’re going to do. Just try not to throw up on me . . . because it looks like you might.”