The Exodus

by Ali Winters

  “Great, so you’re here to help us find him then?”

  “Of course I am. Why else would I be here?” Camira snipped.

  Evander narrowed his eyes. He’d only met Nivian a few times, but she was nice and he couldn’t understand why she put up with Camira talking to her like that.

  The Hunters had finally finished scaling across the thin ledge and were walking toward the two girls. Evander wanted to get closer; he needed a better angle to study Camira. She was definitely not as innocent as she was trying to act.

  He transported behind a boulder several yards away. The crevice he’d managed to wedge into was just barely big enough to hide him.

  Nivian walked back toward the group.

  “What’s going on?” Kain asked as they closed the distance.

  “Caspian sent her,” Nivian explained half turning so she could see everyone.

  With another odd motion, Camira looked over her shoulder at the shear face of the cliff in the distance, almost as if she could see something he couldn’t.

  Evander shifted in place, trying to get more comfortable as he crouched down in the damp sand. The muddy grit already coating the edges of his cloak.

  Camira scanned the rock until her eyes landed on something. To Evander, it all looked the same, but something she alone spotted brought a gleam to her eye.

  “Another Reaper?” Jack asked indigently. Evander bristled at the man’s tone. For someone who was supposed to be working alongside Reapers, he hadn’t exactly acted in a fitting manner.

  “What are you doing here?” Camira snapped in return.

  Evander cocked his head.

  “He’s part of our team.” Nivian looked from Kain, to Azira, to Jack. “Do you know him?”

  Taking a step back, Camira looked surprised. “What? No. Why are you always saying such weird things? I just don’t like the look he’s giving me.”

  Kain stepped between everyone. “Now is not the time for this. We need to find Silas.”

  “Kain’s right,” Nivian agreed. “Let’s go.” Without waiting for anyone, she turned and walked down the beach. The group made quick progress now that they weren’t fighting gravity in a steady climb or weaving in and out of the trees.

  Though this also meant that in order for him to follow, he had to walk along the top edge of the cliff, and out of earshot. All the while, Camira continued to look out toward the rock wall as if something were there.

  Nivian led the way with Camira alongside her, Azira and Kain a few paces behind, and Jack trailing. Evander couldn’t imagine too much talking at the moment. And that suited him. He didn’t want to miss something Caspian would want to know about.

  “Oh, what is that?” Camira exclaimed louder than necessary, pressing a palm to her face, her other hand pointing toward the area her eyes had been glued to.

  He looked down, but from his vantage point he could only see more of the vertical surface of the rock.

  “I don’t know, but let’s keep going,” Nivian said taking a few more steps forward before Camira unceremoniously dragged her toward the cliff. “Cami, what—” she tried to protest.

  “I see something,” Camira insisted.

  Evander cursed, he couldn’t see and there was nowhere he could transport to get a look while remaining hidden. Patience is overrated.

  The Hunters ran to catch up at the abrupt change in direction.

  “Look, see? I told you I saw something,” Camira announced.

  “What’s going on?” asked Kain looking between Nivian and Camira, but Camira was already running toward something. Within moments, the five of them were out of sight.

  Evander transported to the sandy beach below and pressed his back against the jagged rock. From here, he could see a narrow cave entrance within the rock, hidden by a slab of stone that jutted out. He frowned, wondering how it was that anyone could see the entrance unless they were close and looking at just the right angle.

  Jack brought up the back of the group and entered the cave. Evander waited until they were all inside, their words muffled to his ears despite the echoes that carried their voices back to him.

  He ducked his head and followed them in. They all vanished into the curve of the tunnel. Evander followed as close as he dared, using the volume of their conversation as a gauge. The grassy ground that carpeted the first several yards inside the mouth of the entrance was unnatural but it softened his footsteps as he slunk his way forward. It was strange having to hide when his entire experience up to this point was the ability to follow anyone openly, knowing they wouldn’t see him unless he wished it to be so.

  The path ahead wound its way into a wide-open area with half a dozen tunnels leading off. There was something about this cave that suggested something otherworldly had a hand in its formation. Evander waited in the shadows, observing the group gathered in the center of the large area.

  Nivian walked to where she could see each opening then proceeded to turn slowly in a circle. Evander recognized the look of concentration on Nivian’s face as she tried to hone in on Silas. She held her eyes closed and Evander wondered if she really could sense Silas with the precision needed to decide which path to follow. She stepped toward one of the tunnels and paused, adjusting her course for another.

  Camira stepped forward. “Geez, if we follow you,” she poked Nivian in the chest as she passed her, “we’ll be here for a century at least! Caves like this always have a pattern to them. I’ll show you.” Camira walked around the edge from tunnel to tunnel, her eyes searching the top edge, rather than where they led. “Mmmm, this one,” she announced and pointed at a seemingly random tunnel with such certainty that Evander could have sworn it had been picked beforehand.

  “How can you be sure?” Nivian asked.

  Camira ignored her question and walked inside.

  He waited until they were all out of sight then followed after. The cave was dark, and the only source of light came from strange blue-green stones jutting out from the regular rocks at random intervals. If he squinted, he could see Camira walking ahead of everyone, her chin tilted at an odd angle.

  Narrowing his eyes, Evander looked up. A long scratch marred the stones. Hardly noticeable, in fact he never would have seen it if it hadn’t been for Camira. But there it was, a line, and Nivian and the Hunters were following her and it. There was nothing to explain why this hairline scratch was there, or how Camira knew of it, or what it all meant.

  Whatever was going on, he needed to get involved. Things weren’t adding up. Careful not to make noise, Evander pulled his cloak around him and transported himself to Caspian’s office.

  CAMIRA

  Some leader she turned out to be. She’s so weak and pathetic… Camira’s thoughts trailed off as she took charge and led everyone toward the weird underground city. Her gaze trailed the faint scratch along the length of the tunnel. It was high enough that she had to tilt her head, causing an uncomfortable kink to form in her neck. The ancient wasn’t very smart, it would have been better if it had been at her eye level. But it was obvious that age had a toll on Yeva’s dusty mind.

  “Where are you leading us, Reaper?” Jack’s voice echoed through the confined area, grating on her nerves.

  “I’m leading us to Silas, where else?”

  “How would you know the way?” he challenged.

  Camira opened her mouth to retort, but Nivian spoke first. “How do you know where to go, Cami?”

  “Like I said before, these types of caves have a pattern to them. You just have to know how to pay attention. I could teach you, but we don’t have time in case you forgot. Unless you think learning something is worth the risk?”

  “She just asked a question, you don’t have to be rude about it,” the short blonde haired Hunter bit out.

  Camira bristled. “Look, if you want to do this yourself, I can leave. I don’t see why I’m being questioned like I’m doing something wrong.” Camira spun to face them all. “If it wasn’t for me, you’d all be back in that m
ain cave watching Nivi spin in circles for who knows how long. Instead of treating me like a criminal, maybe you should all thank me for helping.”

  She could see the frown forming on Nivian and her friend’s faces. Jack simply glared.

  “Cut the attitude and go the right way,” he whispered harshly so only she could hear.

  “I am, and if you don’t like it, then I suggest you leave,” Camira whispered back through clenched teeth.

  “Nobody invited you Reaper,” Jack said with a sneer.

  Camira glared, but turned on her heel and continued to walk down the tunnel.

  She was helping them and all they knew how to do was criticize her every move! Sure, Yeva had told her to lead them this way, but they’d also been trying to find their way in. Regardless of her own mission, she was doing them a huge favor; the least they could do was be grateful.

  SILAS

  Silas rubbed his fingers over the two dried, clay disks with runes carved into them. One a jagged line and a curving base like an upside-down gnarled scythe, the other an hourglass with a line through the center. They were symbols that he’d not seen anywhere since the dawn of time. Symbols to represent life and death. The simple lines had the ability to harness unspeakable power.

  Silas sat back on his heels, already doubting his ability to put them to use. It had taken more than he’d expected to create the vessels. He would need to regain what power he could until it was time to put this last ditch plan into action.

  Yeva had kept him weak, giving him only enough Waters of Soyala to keep him from being destroyed. Her own brand of revenge. She would do everything to him that he’d put her through, regardless of his reasons for doing any of it. He was drained more than she realized each day, thanks to the crack in the shield that surrounded him. While it allowed Caspian to sense his location, it also allowed the powers of Yeva’s realm to enter his space, siphoning his power that opposed her very nature as if he were a pathogen to be destroyed for invading the sacred place.

  In the last few days, she’d brought him the energy he needed with the Reaper’s chalice. The anger that sparked inside him the first time he’d seen her holding the ceremonial cup had crumpled his carefully constructed facade. Silas had lost his temper in a way he never had before.

  Yeva had entered his space and presented the cup to him. An all too pleased smirk on her face. His hand snaked out, grabbing her throat. He would have drawn her life thread and sliced it then and there had his scythe been with him. While she was in his grasp, her satisfied smile never once wavered from her face. Yeva’s windpipe began to give under the pressure of his hold, the roughness of her voice after he’d finally let go attested to that. But in his anger, he hadn’t felt it start to give under her delicate and now bruised skin.

  As she knew he would, he had relinquished his grip on her, shoving her out of his prison. Silas secretly admired her even through his anger as she refused to show any sign that he’d hurt her. The reverence stopped him in his tracks. How many times had he hurt her in a way he never realized? He’d always seen her as weak and in need of saving. But in that moment, he saw how strong she’d been the entire time. It was only one more thing to remind him of how far they had fallen. Regret consumed him, replacing the anger that had possessed him moments ago.

  The chalice had been in the depths of G.R.I.M. Headquarters, inside his throne room. Only two Reapers other than himself knew of its exact location. Neither of them would have had reason to remove it from the room. Caspian knew of the importance, and Nivian was loyal to a fault, not only to him, but even more so to Caspian. They would never have betrayed him, or their reason for existing.

  It was impossible that Yeva would even know where to look, and had she somehow have been able to enter his realm, she would have found the Hunter’s chalice first. She continued to demand its whereabouts from him on a daily basis.

  Silas sighed, wondering how they had become this. Rage. Revenge. Hate. Those dark emotions overwhelmed the love they’d had as an ocean would devour a rock thrown into its most unfathomable depths. The love was there, and would remain so until the end of time, but so buried under the waves of discord that he knew it would be impossible to return to the weightlessness of their innocence.

  He turned the runes over in his hand. If he proceeded, it would mean his end. He would only get one chance to pull it off. With odds stacked against him in this weakened state, he would have to manipulate their surroundings with all his power.

  Silas pressed the two clay disks to his lips and whispered the words of a long forgotten language, opening them up to receive. He could feel the energy within them become ready to accept a small part of his power with no resistance.

  Stone ground against stone, alerting him to Yeva’s coming arrival. He slid the tokens into the folds of his cloak, hiding them from the green eyes that would scrutinize his every gesture and movement. Yeva walked into view, a scowl marring her face.

  “Get up,” Yeva spoke tersely as she walked into the room with long, powerful strides. A direct contrast to her usual flowing and gentle gait. Her gown billowed out behind her like clouds that matched her expression. The only thing missing was thunder and lightning to complete the storm she’d become in that moment.

  Despite the warnings that rang inside his gut, Silas stood as if he were not in a hurry, dusting his robes off and making sure the runes would be secure in case she invaded his space. Something had her on edge, that much was clear.

  “Ah, is it time for my daily dose of poison already?” he asked with venom dripping from his words. He’d mimicked the exact question she’d used on him when he’d held her, though they didn’t ring as true in his case. Yeva was only denying him enough power, not lacing it with the opposing forces. If she had been, he would have been destroyed by now.

  Yeva stopped in front of the glowing barrier that separated them and he stepped up to meet her as close as he dared. Close enough to embrace had there been nothing between them. Silas could feel her breath against his cheek as she spoke.

  “It is time for your reckoning.”

  With a wave of her hand, the barrier fell and with it, his legs gave way. Silas crashed to his hands and knees. The loss of the shields protection allowed the opposing energy to hit him with its full force, like a knife to the gut. His vision darkened as he gasped for air.

  TWENTY-SIX

  KAIN

  KAIN WATCHED THE shining white strands of Nivian’s hair, tinted green by the pale light, sway as she walked in front of him. Azira walked silently beside him, but he hardly noticed until her elbow found the space between two of his ribs. He grunted.

  “Kain?” Azira whispered.

  “Yeah?” he asked through gritted teeth, rubbing his side.

  “Look, I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but I think you should talk to her.” She continued in a hushed tone.

  “It’s fine, Az. Don’t worry about it.”

  She pinched her lips together and he knew she was holding back a lecture he probably deserved. The expression made him feel guilty. It didn’t matter if his feelings were justified, the situation wouldn’t repair itself by leaving it as it was. Kain hated to admit it, even to himself.

  The calm of their slow decent into the sloping cave had been quiet thus far as everyone walked with few words exchanged between them. It was a rare moment where he could speak to Nivian. Kain quickly dismissed the idea; this wasn’t the best time or place to bring up their personal issues.

  Nivian tilted her chin up and looked around as if seeing the tunnel for the first time. “Are you sure this is the right way? Maybe I should search for Silas—”

  “Stop questioning me.” Camira turned and marched back to where Nivian was in their line. “You’d all be hopelessly lost without me. We are almost there, so just be quiet and keep following.” Camira snapped. Nivian stopped in place, her mouth forming an “O” of shock from the harsh words.

  Kain bristled at her treatment of Nivian as he stopped b
y her side. Camira had been nothing but mean since she showed up.

  “Stop talking to her like that,” he snapped.

  “Why do you care? You’ve barely spoken more than a few words to her, if that, since I showed up.”

  “It doesn’t matter if I talk to her or not, you don’t need to treat her like that.”

  “Mind your own business,” Camira sneered at him then spun on her heel and stomped back to the front.

  He turned to Nivian, her gaze downcast as she tried to plaster a smile on her face but fell short. Kain opened his mouth to speak but everyone started to move forward again. Azira passed them both, catching his eye and gesturing to Nivian with a jerk of her head before hurrying forward to give them space.

  “Nivian?” Kain spoke, his voice strangled with the weight of the unspoken words between them.

  “Yeah?” she mumbled not looking up.

  “You shouldn’t put up with her treating you like that.”

  “I know, but during the fight with Yeva, I thought she’d been destroyed. We all did. We gave up on her when she needed us most. So, I’m glad she’s back. When I saw her at Headquarters, I noticed how different her power is from what it used to be. She’s probably still weak. I think it’s amazing that she came to help us even in her condition.”

  “You can sense changes in power?”

  Nivian lifted her eyes to meet his. “Not usually, it’s just recently I’ve been able to. It’s a gift only Silas and Caspian have had. The first time I sensed power was when we first met, I didn’t realize it until the other day when Cami felt different to me.”

  They fell into silence once more as they walked. Some of the tension between them had melted, and it eased his heart a little. Though he still had much left to say, and they really hadn’t talked about the topics they needed to cover, but it was a start which satisfied Kain for now. Kain watched her from the corner of his eye. Nivian was frowning, unaware of his gaze and lost within the turmoil of her own thoughts.