After the Dark

by Spencer Labbe

  “You think there really are traitors in Westleton?” asked Sandy, worried. “I mean, who is this Castaway King guy?”

  “I’m not sure…” said Pil slowly. “Todd seemed to think there were more traitors, though. He made it seem like this was all part of a plan. That Kastellion Fairy guy — it couldn’t be him, could it, Damian?”

  “I have never heard that name before,” said Damian roughly. “Kastellion has never taken that title as far as I know…”

  “What is a Kastellion?” Felicity asked curiously.

  “It’s the name of the Fairy King,” said Pil shortly. Quickly Pil filled them in on the Fairy history he had learned while being a captive. Damian kept quiet as his story was told.

  “So, it seems this Kastellion guy is also working for the Castaway King?” asked Dirk when he had finished.

  “Or he is the Castaway King,” said Pil with a nod. “Either way, it feels like some kind of war is about to start.”

  Sandy’s face went white.

  “So how are we going to sneak in Damian?” Dirk asked. “No offense, mate — but I can kind of see why Elfin don’t get along with Fairies — they seem evil.”

  “I take no offense,” said Damian shortly. “We Fairies can be very evil. Especially if we drink blood. It is the Venor in us that acts up… And it will be quite easy to sneak me in...”

  “I’m sorry, the what?” asked Pil, confused. “And how?” “Venor — you Elfin do not know the story of Venor and Fae?”

  Pil looked around at him. “No, I — wait, what have you done to your face?”

  Damian smiled, and his teeth were no longer sharp fangs but normal Elfin teeth. His eyes — while still deep black — now had whites and seemed to have shrunk. Even his long ears had shortened slightly. He looked just like a regular Elfin boy, although the scars on his lips still gave him a fierce look.

  “I tried to tell you before,” said Damian, looking around to show them all. Sandy looked awed and Felicity unsettled. “All Fairies can change their appearance at will — it’s part of our magic.”

  “But that means there could already be Fairy in Westleton,” said Dirk, troubled.

  Damian shrugged as much as he could. “Perhaps.”

  “Who are Venor and Fae?” asked Pil again.

  “They are the creators of all living things,” said Damian simply. “They were magical sisters — the first children of the world. One was the embodiment of life — the other of death, and destruction. They loved each other at first, but soon their differences became too difficult to overcome. When Venor succumbed to her nature and began drinking the blood of the living, she lost herself in the madness. Fae found her sister and they fought to kill. In the end, it led them both to their deaths, but their magic lived on, spreading around their creations, to fight for an eternity. The Bahbeq inherited the magic of Venor, the dark sister, while some of Fae’s magic went into the early Elfin. Fairies were the creation of both sisters and have both Venor and Fae. It is part of our nature to fight and to kill.”

  There was an uncomfortable silence after Damian’s story. Elfin had no beliefs such as this — they believed they were created from the trees and nature — but the Wretch, Pil remembered, had said something about a Fae too. There was still so much unknown about Haven — so much was still a mystery.

  They marched on for a while in silence — as the day wore on, Pil noticed that the light was changing for the first time. He looked up at the sky and saw the bright purple sun had fallen from its high position. Strange colors were now showing on the clouds overhead.

  “It’s almost night,” said Dot, who was closest to them. “You have all been gone a week.”

  “When did you leave to find us?” asked Pil, concerned.

  “Few days ago,” Dot told them. “Harlem left the Exidite in Crispin’s care.”

  “Who?” asked Dirk.

  “Crispin Collin — the stern-looking man who tested you guys.”

  “You mean the guy with the round glasses and clipboard,” said Pil, thinking of the gray-haired man with the stone-like face. “I didn’t know he had a name.”

  Dot laughed, his scarred face seemed less scarred when he was smiling. “Yeah, he’s got one — he’s Harlem’s best man as a matter of fact — sort of a Lieutenant Captain.” It seemed like a lifetime ago that they had been tested, thought Pil as he remembered Crispin. So much had happened in such a short amount of time — they had all changed so much.

  “Hold,” came a command from Harlem as he stopped short. “This is the pack point. We’re nearly there. Take a rest.”

  They all walked gratefully around and sat down. Pil put Damian carefully down on the ground and walked over to Felicity and Dirk.

  “Crazy, right?” Felicity asked as she turned to see him. “I mean, we did it. We survived — and the things we’ve seen.” She shook her head, looking up at the sky.

  “Though I’m glad, really, that we haven’t seen any Bahbeq,” said Dirk happily. “Well, not any that were alive.”

  “But where are they all?” said Pil. “There should be tons hunting in Lungala — I know they live on Knix Mountain… but still…”

  “I think they were called away —” said Felicity darkly. “From what you said, this Castaway guy is the one who is controlling them.”

  Pil nodded. “He doesn’t seem to care much about them either…”

  “What do you mean?” asked Dirk.

  “Well, the one he sent to take out our squad,” said Pil slowly. “He let Todd kill it, just to convince Harlem there had been an attack…”

  They sat in silence for a second, their minds thinking of the Castaway King.

  “Who knew joining the Exidite would be so eventful,” said Pil at last, breaking the silence.

  Felicity laughed.

  “Things seem so different now,” said Dirk with a sigh. “We are going back, and it seems strange to think we will be going back to something so normal: Foibles, the Legacy tournaments —”

  “I know what you mean,” said Pil seriously. “There’s a whole world out here — and everyone’s stuck underground doing the same things, going to the same places…”

  Felicity smiled. “Look at the sky…”

  Pil looked up, the sun was beginning to set in earnest now; the sky was a dark purple shot through with cloud and stars. Orange and yellow light reflected off the clouds, spattering them with color, while the moon peaked through from behind, still dim in the half-light.

  “It’s amazing,” said Dirk in awe. “If only everything out here were this beautiful.”

  Pil laughed lightly and sat down. “It seems like such a long time since we took the test, doesn’t it?”

  Felicity smiled and ruffed up Pil’s hair. “You’ve changed so much, Pil,” she said lightly. “You seem taller — and the cuts on your eye — you look kind of like Harlem, now.”

  Pil blushed and smiled. “Yeah — well I can see why he looks so dangerous — I mean, after all these years heading out into the world… Well, it’d toughen anyone up.”

  “You think he knows about the Fairies,” said Dirk suddenly. “About them being able to change their features — they could be in Westleton right now…”

  “I don’t know,” said Pil thoughtfully. “I’m sure he knows a lot about the creatures of Lungala — still, I think I’ll tell him just to make sure.”

  Pil looked over — Harlem was sitting on a log in deep discussion with Avalon. He looked up as Pil walked over.

  “Pil Persins,” he said lightly. “Enjoying the sky?”

  Pil nodded and then said, “listen…” Quickly and quietly Pil told Harlem about the Fairies’ ability to change their appearance. Harlem looked unnerved as he looked over at Damian who was asleep on the grass. Avalon’s large blue eyes were trained on Pil’s face.

  “Right — that’s enough resting,” Harlem said aloud to the group when Pil had finished. “We need to get a move on.”

  They went back on the march at a slig
htly quicker pace. It was nearly nightfall by the time they reached the glade where Pil had first entered Lungala. Quickly the trapdoor was found and flung upwards. Harlem dropped into it first and gave the all-clear signal.

  “We made it,” said Sandy in awe as he watched the older Exidite begin to drop into the tunnel.

  Pil smiled, looking around, taking it all in. The last light of day was failing, and stars were beginning to poke fiercely through the night sky. “I’ll miss it — in a way.”

  “I won’t,” said Dirk happily. “Almost getting killed every day — when we get back, I’m going to soak in the bath for about a week!”

  They all laughed. Pil took one last look at the outside world as the sun dipped below the horizon and then he dropped down, once again into the dark.

  23

  Southden

  It took a surprisingly long time to wind their way through the underground tunnel. It was just as confusing as it had been the first time Pil had run through it, but he didn’t mind. The sense of excitement rose in them the more they walked, and when they finally reached a dead end, blocked by familiar white wood, Pil’s heart was ready to explode with happiness. He had done it — his friends were alive, and they had all made it back safe. Pil thought of Peach and Pa' and could barely contain his grin. What would they say when they saw his new hair and the scars that now ran down his face?

  Harlem pulled some lever and there was a loud screeching as the wall rolled slowly away. The first thing Pil saw was a figure framed by the light from the room. Slowly Crispin’s strict face came into focus. He no longer had a clipboard in his hand, but he was looking unusually grave.

  “Harlem,” he said, nodding to the Captain. “There’s a situation —”

  “What’s happened?” said Harlem jumping into the room.

  Pil and the others followed him through. The E building looked just as he had remembered it. The large room where once there had been long beds of coal, now held several black-clothed guards — all were stationed around the room grimly, and all had their weapons at the ready.

  “Perhaps we should discuss this privately —” said Crispin warily, observing Pil and the others.

  “What’s happened?” Harlem said again more firmly.

  “It’s Southden, Captain — it’s been taken,” he faltered, looking awkward. “Your father should explain —”

  “Where is my father —”

  “What do you mean taken?” said Dirk, worried. “My brother’s a digger in Southden…”

  Crispin ignored him and addressed Harlem again. “He wants to see you — he wants to see you all.”

  Harlem nodded grimly. “Crispin, see to the wounded — Dot, Zane, and Avalon will remain here with you.”

  Harlem turned to face Pil. “Hand over Damian to Avalon, Pil.”

  Pil hurried to comply. The blue man took him wordlessly, transferring the disguised Fairy boy to his own back.

  Crispin watched the boy being transferred strangely but said nothing.

  “All of you —” said Harlem to the group of Entri. “Follow me to the Castle, quickly.”

  Harlem turned on his heel and headed for the door. Pil was stunned, but hurried along after him, giving Felicity half a glance. Pil looked around as they passed the guards. They were stationed along the walls, a sense of urgency about them. There was a nervous air to the Exidite men.

  What had happened to Southden? Pil wondered as they exited through the door and walked quickly through the sitting room. Pil knew Southden to be the largest Elfin mound after Westleton. It had its own Exidite system and was close to them, though he didn’t know exactly where. He had never left Westleton.

  They left through the black double doors and out onto the familiar dirt street. The street was dead — the lamps overhead shone a dim purple. Everyone must have been asleep.

  Harlem kept at an even pace, striding confidently towards the large wood wall that separated the Castle grounds — from Mid-town. Atop the Ramparts, Pil could see small dark shadows moving into action. As Harlem came within sight, the gates, which were unusually closed, pulled apart to let him in.

  Pil had rarely ever been inside the Castle walls. The houses and shops were much better put together. Little purple lights popped out through every dark crevice, and up ahead the white Castle itself stood out as the largest building — and the only one made of stone.

  Harlem spared no glance for anything except the Castle. Two guards stood in front of the large wooden doors, but they leapt aside as they saw the Exidite Captain approach. Without a word to them, Harlem strode by and threw the Castle doors open wide.

  The inside of the Castle was marvelous. Pil had never seen something quite so clean and structured. Dirk and Sandy looked similarly awed, staring around like excited children. The huge vaulted hall was full of clean-cut stone floors, and wooden beams. Light filtered in through the hundreds of small see-stones that hung from the ceiling, forming a purple circle of light. Pil felt trepidation rise as he looked around. There was a sense of royalty and importance in the air.

  Felicity, Brixton, and Harlem, however, seemed not to notice their surroundings at all. Harlem strode quickly through the wide hall, his gaze aimed at nothing except a raised dais, where a figure sat on a decorative throne.

  “Father,” he said briskly, looking up at the wizened man.

  “Harlem — my son," said the King. He was lined and age-worn, but sturdy like the chair that raised him up. The resemblance to Harlem was frightening. The King was an older, fiercer, and more closed-off version of his son. No hint of emotion sparked in his eyes as he stared down at them all.

  “What happened?” asked the King, his eyes falling on Pil.

  “I was going to ask the same thing, Father,” said Harlem irritably. “Crispin said Southden has been taken?”

  “Yes indeed,” said King Harlow slowly, his brow raised. “Southden was taken by the enemy — we’ve lost contact with our Elfin kin and have closed all routes between us.”

  “What happened?” said Harlem furiously. “What enemy? Who took them?”

  “I do not know.” He seemed to not care, his face was just as curiously blank as it had been since they entered. “What about the golden sparks? Did you —”

  “Who cares about that?! What do you mean you don’t know?” yelled Harlem.

  The room rang with his echoes.

  “The Bahbeq were involved, that is certain,” said the King, his face still quite passive. “But other than that — we are uncertain; we have locked borders — the sparks —”

  “But how did they get in — what of the defenses — the Exidite house there? My men?” “They are likely dead — or hostage — it’s hard to be sure.”

  Pil glanced, frightened, behind him. Dirk and Felicity met his eyes; they were scared. Pil could tell Harlem was getting agitated. There was a palpable anger radiating from the Exidite Captain.

  “Father,” said Harlem slowly with the air of someone restrained. “How can you be so calm? Tell me what you know.”

  The King slid his eyes passively to meet his son’s. “We received word at morning today,” the King recited emotionlessly. “An Exidite man was wounded and dying. His last words were to relay that Southden had been taken — the Bahbeq have come.”

  There was a ringing silence.

  “No,” said Sandy in a tiny voice.

  “The — the Bahbeq,” said Harlem, his voice strangely absent. “I — how is this — how —”

  “I do not know,” said King Harlow. “Well, naturally I can imagine to some degree — but it seems there is a traitor here — likely in your very own Exidite.”

  “I — yeah, there was,” said Harlem taken aback. “It was Taydum Todford. He was responsible for the Scout squadron last week. He’s dead, now.”

  “I see. What has happened — exactly? Did you find out the source of the magic?”

  “Father!” Harlem’s rage erupted. “What is being done about Southden — the people — the Exidit
e?”

  “Nothing — there is nothing to be done.”

  “But —”

  “No — Harlem, listen,” said the King. “There is a traitor who was in your own Exidite — and undoubtedly is working with whoever has now taken over Southden. This is someone who can presumably control the Bahbeq —”

  “But how can you —”

  "It's obvious," he said. "The attack on Southden happened after you and your Captains left; surveillance of our borders was down. There are countless Bahbeq gathered a short distance away from us, and odds are that whoever is controlling them knows where Westleton is located … they know where we are — whoever it is, has an army of our worst enemy — and they know exactly where we are.”

  “Then we should storm… we should…we should…”

  “Do nothing,” said the King simply, sitting back. “They have the upper hand, as of now. There is nothing more that can be done. If the enemy wishes, they could storm Westleton — kill us all — now I will ask you one more time only. What exactly happened out in the light?”

  His tone was as unemotional as his face, though the command rung with authority. Harlem immediately gave a precise account of all that had happened in the light. There was a heavy silence when he had finished.

  “So, it seems we know who the enemy is,” said the King, breaking the silence. “This Castaway person — it appears he may have spies in the Elfin mounds, both Elfin and Fairy.”

  “Yes, it seems we do,” admitted Harlem bitterly. “But why Southden? Why not Westleton — or Eden? Why not take us all over? What’s in Southden?”

  “It’s hard to say — perhaps they were planning on attacking us next, but all tunnels have been collapsed.”

  “WHAT!?” screamed Harlem. Pil heard Dirk and Felicity gasp quietly. Even Brixton looked slightly pale.

  “The tunnels were collapsed? Why, how —” Harlem looked dazed.

  “It was a necessity,” said King Harlow calmly. “We had to protect ourselves, save the loss of life.”