Divulgence (Song of Sophangence Book 2)

by E. I. McAllistair

  “Yep. With the speed I can heal people, if I do it actively, while it would be more powerful, I’d rather not do more harm than good. I don’t get the opportunity to heal people often, so I can’t say it is one of my better abilities. If I were more confident in my active healing, I could have healed Phavian instantly. Then maybe I wouldn’t have…”

  “Massacred dozens of people? No need to be shy now, I was waiting for the right time to broach the subject.”

  Hanging his head in shame, he moves to speak but finds he has no words. When she sees him in this state, she is reminded of the last time he killed people and this response was much more in line with that revelation than the boy she had met in the warehouse.

  “Who was that man I met in the warehouse?”

  Shrugging, “I don’t know. It seems he was the new leader of the group who kidnapped me before, and he decided to exact revenge for killing their boss Fagan and his friends by killing me, and Phavian by association I guess.”

  “Illuminating as that is, I gathered that already. I think you know who I mean.”

  Hanging his head again, he sighs, rubbing his hands down his face. “Hobb says it is a different personality inside of me. For me all I feel is darkness. I am clearly me, because I have the same aims and goals, I just don’t seem to care about how they are achieved. Actually, that is incorrect. I care, as long as it is going to bring immense amounts of pain to others. It’s strange because it usually only happens when someone I care about is put into a dire situation. It is odd, and painful to me to think that from love I turn into a monster. That is one of the reasons I never wanted to get close to people. The further removed I am, the greater my chances of retaining control.”

  “Is this why you did everything in your power to reject the boy? You were afraid of what you might do for his sake?”

  As tears creep out of his eyes, Anaar nods silently. “I don’t know what I am going to do. Who can love a monster like me? Phavian was petrified of me, but now that the gates have been opened, I can’t just put my feelings back inside.”

  “With all the things I have seen you do child, I never thought I would say this, but you must become stronger. If what you are saying is true, you have a long and lonely life to live if you cannot get close to anyone without the hazard of losing yourself to your power. In just a week you have done it twice, both of which resulted in many casualties. To be fair, some were more deserving than others, but if you cannot discriminate with a truly clearly mind, then you really are a danger to everyone around you. I do not wish to scare you, but it is only a matter of time such fearsome power, borne out of the desire to protect those you love ends up hurting them instead, or worse. Count your blessings child. Your mother was spared, yet if you would have destroyed the building, she would not be alive. The same goes with Phavian. If he had not already been on the brink of death himself, you may have chosen to destroy that building as well.”

  “I couldn’t”

  She peers at him with curiosity. “Oh? And why not? Many people in Cuba would beg to differ.”

  He shakes his head. “That was their whole plan. They only knew of my abilities as a Demolitionist, so they thought if they filled the warehouse with combustible gases it would render me powerless.”

  With a laugh, “Is that what the fumes on the air were?! It was hard to tell over the smell of blood and terror! Well, I guess they will do better research next time! That reminds me…” She taps her Vizer, “James, send a clean-up crew to the location you collected us from. Make sure to pay extra to keep it anonymous, though there is not much in the way of them to find that they can piece together… Also make sure they sweep the building for anything even remotely resembling surveillance. If there is anything, I want that footage found and eradicated.” With a curt response it was clear James was off to set about his task.

  That was surprisingly fluid and efficient… I think I’m scared to ask just how often she has to employ this clean-up crew.

  “Now, as for you, I would be remiss if I allowed you to go about this journey all alone.” After a moment of barely veiled snickering, “Oh dear, who am I trying to fool? Knowing you, my intentions would be as clear as glass. I am absolutely thrilled at the idea of having not only a Hydrokinetic apprentice, but one that is a True Water Quintessence. Oh, the fun we will have! Given you would be easily my better when it comes to wielding the abilities of a Medic, I will be counting on you to help me in my own development there. You are already well on your way to surpassing me in skill, that is if you have not already. I am under no disillusions you are hiding yet more things from me, but all in due time my dear! For now, I am satisfied, and better yet excited at the prospect of having someone to train with for the first time in over a century. To think I almost lowered myself to extending a hand to the Schodes boy… A twit that one. This is a far better prospect, and it falls even more in line with you practically being my surrogate child. Who knows, given your long life, I may even give my fortune to you! I have outlived most of my other descendants anyway. I will not pressure you to change your status quo, as everyone knows you as a Fire Affinity, and quite frankly the more I think of it, the fallout from the revelation that you aren’t, would be far more trouble than it is worth. I do not have to worry about you exposing yourself as you have had years of practice hiding, but just know I have many plans for you with this newfound information. I will check my schedule and see when we can begin our training.” With a few quick claps she springs from her chair merrily. “Today has been a fantastic day!”

  Did she just completely move past the part where one of her students got kidnapped, again, almost died, and then another in a wrathful tantrum murdered all the kidnappers? Is this what I have to look forward to living for centuries?!

  3

  Stumbling through the wormhole face first in front of James, Phavian stands from the jarring experience shaken, but finds it nothing compared to the things he had just experienced in the past day. When he looks around, he finds a perfectly poised man in an expensive suit not far from where he exited. Seemingly waiting for him to regain his bearings, the man finally speaks once he sees Phavian focus on him.

  “You live in the Infernal Twins, yes?” Looking the man over, he recognizes why Ixnes would rather him not traipse about the campus in swimwear that left little to the imagination. “I cannot get you exactly to your door, but I can surely manage your floor at least.”

  Mind still muddled, he looks to the man, clear green eyes begging for explanation. “Where am I? Who are you?”

  “I am James. I am the Headmistress’ assistant. I understand you have been through quite an ordeal. I have been instructed to transport you to your room. Could you tell me where you live?”

  “I think I’ll walk. I don’t trust any portals right now…”

  James looks to the still open wormhole from which Phavian had just arrived. With a slight hand gesture, “You mean such as the one you just exited from?”

  Phavian looks at the swirling wormhole, finding his temper flaring. “I just wanted to get the fuck out of wherever I was!”

  “So, you took a portal to an unknown destination, yet you will not take one to a destination of your choosing? Do you even know where you are?”

  “Yes! Well no. I don’t fucking know! Why is everyone fucking with me right now?!”

  “Mr. Ingraham, I do believe it would be best if you get some rest. I thought interaction might do you some good, but clearly you are more traumatized than we thought. You should have time alone to work through your issues.” He takes a look at his Vizer and Phavian begins to scream.

  “My issues? What the fuck do you know about my issues?! You don’t know me. You don’t know the shit I have just been through. Fuck you for standing there all calm and judgmental-”

  As Phavian is going on his rant, James seems to have found what he was looking for and in the midst of Phavian’s words, another wormhole opens below him, sucking him in and depositing him on the second floor of t
he Ivory Twin. Standing up confused for the second time within a couple of minutes, he finds himself in a very familiar place, not far from him door.

  “That fucking guy is worse than Ripp!”

  Trudging to his door, he finds himself overwhelmed with relief as the normal beep of the door signifying he was at his room greeted him. Having thought he would never see the light of day again, nevertheless his room, he collapses on the floor just inside after he shuts the door. After a few minutes of lying almost lifelessly on the floor, images from the past hours flood his head again, making him sick to his stomach. With a retch, he runs to the bathroom where he vomits, but very little comes out as he has not eaten recently. When he looks into the mirror in front of him, he is surprised at the sight he sees.

  Though he knows his body was beaten, bruised, and torn, he had not actually seen the results of such, only felt the agonizing pain that was the result of it. The man in the mirror however, showed not even the slightest sign of any injury except for the stains of dried, caked blood, riddling his body, no doubt his own as he lay in his own blood and filth. Once again, he vomits into the toilet, nothing much coming out, but the pain of the memories echoing inside his mind. Pulling off the small briefs, the single article clothing he was wearing, he dives into the shower where he slumps on the floor underneath the scalding water. Though it was far hotter than he was used to, he wanted nothing else but the intense heat to cleanse away all the evils that had been done to him and he had witnessed.

  As he sat crumpled at the bottom of his shower, red tinted water washing from his body, flowing down the drain, he let the numbness overtake him, as the pain of the memories proved too much to bear. When he had finally come to, he jumped from the floor, grabbing the soap and vigorously scrubbing himself all over, hoping somehow the act of bathing would do more than just cleanse his body of the blood that stained it, but also the scars that permeated his mind. Rubbing with such intensity his skin was beginning to redden under the intense heat and the vigorous friction, he finally falls to the floor again, his eyes flowing tears as if it were the showerhead above.

  Turning off the water, he steps out of the shower, wrapping himself in a towel, peering into the haze that was the steam riddled mirror, finding it was somehow still a perfect reflection of himself. Though he could recognize the person before him, it was only just barely, as the world seemed like nothing but dense fog that left only questions and confusion. Storming out of the bathroom with tightly clenched fists, his mind is assaulted. But of everything that swirled inside of him, the most prevalent was seething anger.

  Though no one would be able to tell from the outside, on the inside his body still felt ravaged by the brutal assault he endured. The assault alone had almost broken him as a man, and as someone wholly confident in his abilities. When he was first transported to the dark building, he knew that he was in some sort of trouble, but based on his history and experience, he was confident he could handle whatever was potentially thrown his way. He was hailed as the strongest person in a school that stood at the pinnacle of excellence in every way. From the grades he achieved, to the fellow students he had defeated, to the many successful missions he had accomplished, they all solidified his place as the best.

  With a small pin prick and a surprise assault, all of that had come crashing down, however. Years of martial arts training became useless. Cultivation of his abilities were a moot point if his abilities could be disabled. He had always felt that even far outnumbered he could come out ahead if he wanted to, if he needed to. His flaming rage was only stoked by his realization of his own weakness. Never had he felt so small, powerless, and out of control in his entire life. He had become so accustomed to being untouchable, that he forgot how to respond when that barrier was broken.

  Recognizing this weakness he now knew he had, there no choice but to work harder so he could become even stronger. He could not let himself be caught so completely unaware he was not ready to assess dangers immediately, thus responding accordingly. He had received the greatest learned lesson in hubris, in the worst and most humiliating way. As he huffed, all he could think about was training and how he would reclaim his dignity in the upcoming Mid-Year Melee. Resolved, he decided he would work nonstop, so that when the day came, no one would be given any quarter to doubt his supremacy.

  Storming around his room, tripping over a pile of clothes, causing him to sprawl naked to the floor, he realizes he should probably at least put on some underwear now that he was dry. Continuing his pace throughout his room, his mind is brought back to the source of his torture, and thus his angst. No matter how he looked at it, the only thing he had that tied him to his kidnappers seemed to be Anaar. Feeling his anger bubble forth again, he found himself initially less curious, and more annoyed that whatever the mysterious boy had going on in his life, it was enough to pull him into the mix.

  Though he had a small moment of joy that apparently others considered he and Anaar a couple, it did not necessarily mean Anaar himself felt the same. For the greater part of a year he had done everything in his power to win the affections of this creature of perfection that made him feel things he had never felt before. Now realizing Anaar was involved in deeds nefarious enough it would warrant the kidnapping and maiming of an innocent person, it gave him pause about this relationship he had so desired with the stripling adonis.

  He had always felt something was there, a connection that Anaar wanted, but he purposely blocked. Could this be the reason why he kept his distance from people? Was he afraid of what would happen to them if they were found to be close to him? Who exactly were those people, and why did they seem determined to destroy Anaar so completely? The had mentioned Anaar killing members of their organization, including their leader which made them angry enough to retaliate. Had Anaar been going on missions and not told him? There were definitely more clandestine missions available, but in what situation would a Freshman, despite how capable he may be, go on missions that would after the fact endanger not only his life, but the life of those around him?

  If Anaar was to believed, he truly did have more blood on his hands than imaginable, so potentially that was the cause. There was also the horrific witnessing of what Phavian could only presume what Anaar calls his ‘dark place.’ Cold, cruel, calculating, Phavian could literally see the darkness pouring from him, which was enough to send shivers down his spine. If that person he saw was the root of the issues facing them, he was not sure if he could exactly blame the Anaar he had come to know and love, because they did not even feel like the same person. This did not change the fact that whomever was responsible, it was growing increasingly dangerous to be associated with him.

  From the anger and confusion flooding his entire being, another feeling, one that felt more crushing than both of the others combined emerged. Phavian had come to accept that Anaar made enigmatic seem like full transparency. He even had begun to find it sexy and endearing in its own way. Being mysterious is one thing, it is like a game that is played to see if the player is worthy of the prize hidden deep away. What Phavian felt though was nothing short of betrayal.

  For months Anaar had been lying to him, to everyone, telling them that he was a Fire Affinity, acting like he understood what Fire Affinities went through, and what they had to overcome. All along he had be masquerading though. From what Phavian could tell, the face he showed the world could barely even be considered a fraction of his ability which alone was a staggering blow.

  Thinking back to when they first met, Anaar had healed him, not completely, but quite a bit, and explained it was a result of using his explosions. Now Phavian knew that was a lie. Anaar had been lying to him since the first day they met. Taking the punishment from JaMarkus Schrodes, as he pretended to be a Fire Affinity, seemed like a sick joke now that he saw everything Schrodes was, Anaar was, and so much more. Now Anaar’s devotion to protecting Merc, an overall terrible person, made so much more sense. They had far more in common than the two of them did. They were both lia
rs and Water Affinities. It made sense now he would have a desire to protect his own.

  Even with their workouts, there was the lack of Fire attuned strength for someone his size, combined with his almost boundless ability to be ready for the next set. How had he not seen any of this sooner? Why was it only when Anaar had said the words he wanted to hear since they met, that he decided to show his true self? Was that his way of saying he was coming clean about everything, his love included? What is love if it is built on nothing but lies? Did he even love Anaar anymore after finding out the person he thought he knew was nothing but a ruse? Did anyone else know? No one else indicated they knew anything about it, but if he had them sworn to secrecy maybe they were just as good of actors as he was.

  Everything was just too much. Maybe it was all just a horrific nightmare. Awakening might make everything go back to normal. Anaar would be a Fire Affinity, he would still be ignoring him, and the world could be easy again. He never thought he would be wishing for a world where Anaar would be doing everything in his power to avoid him, but at least that made sense. It was his fault. It was his mess to fix. What was he supposed to do if instead he really was the victim now?

  Jarred from his thoughts, he hears a knock at his door. Not sure if it was real or possibly just another hallucination from all of the weirdness of late, he waits until he hears it again. Realizing whether everything was a dream or not, relatively speaking not much time had passed since the whole ordeal, so no one would be privy to what had happened. There would be no need to give him the space he so desperately needed to come to terms with whatever all of this might be. Deciding that it would not be wise to raise suspicions, he walks to his door, opening it to find the source of all his current problems.

  “Hey…”

  Finding the initial feelings of rage reigniting, burning hotter than ever, Phavian sets his jaw, almost slamming the door in Anaar’s face. “What are you doing here?!”