by Ania Bo
It didn’t find its mark. Instead, it grazed the cheek of his target, leaving a nasty gash, and now all four Readers were aware of their presence. Violen and Dwade charged forward as Dwade reached for his Zaend sword, but he didn’t get far. He suddenly felt a terrible throbbing in his head, as if something were crawling through his skull and trying to push its way out. He held his head in his hands and fell to the ground as he writhed in pain. Unsure if she could take on four Readers alone, Violen stayed close to Dwade to protect him as she maneuvered her sword with certain and short swings. The Readers ganged up on her and took turns throwing her heavy blows, hoping to tire her out.
Shasta stayed in her hiding place and watched as Violen and Dwade failed to take out the Readers. Her Hikar diamond glowed, and she released her double-edged sword just when Violen dropped to her knees, ready to fall. She calmly walked into view, and the Readers stopped, unable to determine whether she was friend or foe. Using their indecisiveness against them, she twirled her sword above her head then threw it. It took only a few seconds for the spinning sword to decapitate all four soldiers and return itself to Shasta’s hand. Pulling Dwade up by his arms, Shasta started for the pyramid without a word to her companions.
“That was helpful,” Dwade commented dryly.
Violen only shrugged, not wanting to know where the timid Shasta had learned the art of decapitation. She reached down for one of the Reader’s helmets and threw it for Dwade to catch. “Put it on. The Readers won’t be able to control your mind while you wear it.”
Dwade looked at the blood dripping from the armor with disgust but put it on anyway. He didn’t want a repeat of what just happened. It was very similar to what that little reader did to him in the base.
When they entered the Glass Pyramid, they traveled down the corridor which led to the elevators. There, two soldiers blocked their path, but since they only saw two Readers and a soldier wearing his war helmet, they had no reason to sound an alarm.
Violen took advantage of this and spoke to them with an authoritative voice. “I have brought the Visionary Reader and the Protector. I need to take them to Chancellor Amel immediately to protect them from attack.” She was quite certain the Chancellor never announced her main aim and declared the Visionary Reader and Protector as enemies, otherwise the blind and loyal people of Atlantis would question their great leader.
One of the soldiers shook his head rapidly after examining Violen’s dirty and battered looking clothes. “The battle,” she said to relieve his concerns.
“Yes, commander. Even Zaends became enemy of the balance. The Chancellor is in her room. We have not yet formed a secure route to take her to the shelter.”
“Don’t worry,” Violen replied with the happiness of being right about the deceiving woman. “I will personally see to it she is escorted to the shelter straightaway. She will be safe with the Protector and Visionary Reader.” She confidently led Shasta and Dwade into the lift that would take them to the upper floors.
When they came to the secret lift that would bring them to the Chancellor’s room, the lift’s panel would no longer approve Violen’s identity. Just as the alarm was about to go off, Shasta brushed Violen aside and moved her hand over the identity validation panel. A spray of sparks leaped from the machine, and the lift soared upward faster than it should have. It was so fast they lost their footing.
With a mad smile, Shasta said, “I didn't know these things could go so fast.”
Violen and Dwade flattened themselves on the floor, hoping the lift wouldn’t shoot through the glass roof.
Thankfully the lift eventually slowed and stopped once it reached the Chancellor’s quarters. The doors opened, and they emerged into a short corridor. Dwade’s heart dropped as he saw who stood before them.
Han guarded the Chancellor’s door, just as a loyal soldier would. For a moment they froze in place. Dwade looked at Shasta from the corner of his eye, waiting to see her reaction. He hoped the sight of Han would somehow snap her out of her strange, hypnotic state. But he was severely mistaken.
The Visionary Reader walked forward with icy eyes and passed Han as though he wasn’t there at all. His trembling hands betrayed his anxiety. He made ready to follow Shasta. He drew his sword, and his eyes, glowing with love, searched Shasta’s face desperately. Agreeing with only a glance that it would not be prudent for Shasta to confront Han, Dwade and Violen accosted him and put themselves between the two.
While Violen drew her sword and attacked Han, Shasta continued to make for the door. Han didn’t hesitate to engage in a fight with them. He knew he was in a battle he wouldn’t win. Violen was a greater soldier than him, yet he was loyal to his duty. Shasta waited there without turning even after the sounds of metal on metal echoed around the hall. Han glanced at Shasta while fighting against Violen; he had words to say but wasn’t sure his old friends would listen to him after his betrayal. He raised his sword to stop Violen’s attack, and the two old comrades came eye to eye. Han saw the anger and sadness in her eyes, just as if the moon and sun had been dancing together on the last day of existence. If there would ever be a moment, that was it, so Han took his chance.
“Please, forgive me Violen. I had to stay loyal to Atlantis. You must understand.”
His words stabbed into Violen’s heart. She stepped back.
The confused look in her eyes told Han she was questioning herself. But then the look got lost, and their swords continued to clang as Violen resumed her assault, and Han began to lose heart.
“You are not loyal to Atlantis, you are loyal to a monster!”
Violen’s strength increased along with her tone. She jumped in the air and swung her sword for one last time above Han. Although he managed to stop her sword from cutting him in half, he collapsed to the ground beneath the weight of her blow. He threw a pained look to Shasta, who continued to stare at the door. Realizing he didn’t mean anything to her anymore, a sadness clutched at him, and the strength of his arms vanished as his will to live slipped away. “Forgive me,” he sadly said.
Violen saw he wasn’t talking to her, but Shasta.
Dwade watched all this from the side of the corridor. He was aware of how hard it was for Violen to confront Han. He respected her need to see this fight through to the end and didn’t involve himself. But as he heard Han saying sorry to Shasta, a pain stabbed his heart. It was obvious Han wasn’t begging for forgiveness. It was a sincere apology from one lover to another. He turned to see Shasta’s reaction, hoping Han’s tone would soften her heart.
Shasta glanced over, her amber eyes finally finding Han, but there was no love or feeling within them. “Do what you must,” she calmly ordered Violen.
Upon Shasta’s words, Violen raised her sword and stared into Han’s eyes with a strong resolve. Han smiled with acceptance and closed his eyes, ready for his end.
As Violen brought down her sword, Dwade shouted in protest. He tried to stop her, but her sword plunged deep into Han’s chest. His pained expression only lasted a moment until his blood pooled underneath him. Violen retrieved her sword from Han’s chest slowly. She did not look proud or angry but studied Han’s body with a doleful look.
“What have you done?” Dwade asked. His mouth was dry as he tried to suppress the bile that threatened to rise.
“He broke his oath of serving the Balance and betrayed the existence. If you don’t serve and bless it, you can’t deserve to exist.” She turned to face Dwade. “I did not take pleasure in this,” she said as she pointed her sword at Han’s body, “but it had to be done.”
Dwade couldn’t argue with that, and they turned away gravely from Han’s body.
Shasta let go of a great surge of energy that rose up inside of her. The force threw the door off its hinges, allowing the three of them to enter into the Chancellor’s quarters. Inside they found Amel sitting in an armchair by the window as she watched the battle rage outside. She seemed neither concerned nor apprehensive when they walked into the center of the room.
She was as calm as Shasta. Dwade and Violen were surprised to see she didn’t even stand to defend herself. Dwade instantly scanned the room searching for the Regenerator. The pregnant woman had taken refuge in a corner where she curled up as best she could. She looked terribly uncomfortable, and her belly seemed even larger than when they had last seen her.
Violen didn’t know what to do. Her leader was right in front of her. After respecting, believing in, and loving her for so many years, she was now the enemy. Although she was disappointed, somehow Violen didn’t want to confront her. She had no idea what to say. She turned her head, not coming eye to eye with the Chancellor. She ran to the Regenerator with Dwade and tried to comfort her as she pulled her up from the floor.
“You don’t actually believe I’m just going to let you take her? You should have listened to my orders and passed through Dvay land. There the death would have been faster and painless for you. But smart Zeorgan interfered like always.” Amel finally turned her attention to her unwanted visitors. “Unfortunately, you have to pay for his mistake now.” A slight movement of her hand created a strong energy flow that threw Dwade and Violen to the other side of the room.
Shasta watched her friends hit the glass walls like flies smacking into a window but made no move yet to interfere.
As Dwade and Violen found enough strength to look at each other, Violen signaled to Dwade to take the Regenerator, and she extended her hand to reach her sword. But Amel’s hand moved a second time, and it yanked the blade from Violen. It skittered across the room and far out of reach.
Dwade looked to Shasta, waiting for her to do something. He turned his attention to the Regenerator, needing to get her out of there, but Amel whipped around and as if driven by a strong wind, flew across the room. She wrapped her hand around his throat, cutting off his air. He scratched at her arm, fighting to get free, but she was far stronger than he ever imagined. Black dots filled his vision and his lungs screamed for air. The Protector’s soul was about to leave his body. Violen ran to help but a simple flick of Amel’s fingers was enough to send her back to the glass wall, and this time it cracked beneath the impact. One big piece of glass stuck in her shoulder. She yelped in pain and tried to pull it out as blood oozed around it.
Shasta stood still and stared out the window, watching the dragons fly by. The Regenerator was so afraid she trembled. She was just an innocent, pregnant girl. Dwade wished the Zaends didn’t leave the job to the Balance and came with them to get the Regenerator. But he knew no Zaend would want to interfere in the Balance’s plans. They would simply say, “If it assigned Dwade as the Protector, nobody could ever protect the Regenerator better than him.” They were trying to stall the Readers while Dwade was dying at the hands of Amel. However now Dwade couldn’t do anything more than wish the Zaend people hadn’t been so fatalistic. As he was about to give his last breath, he thought, Maybe that’s what the Balance wants.
Amel looked at Dwade’s eyes and followed his hopeful gaze watching Shasta. She laughed at the desperation on his face. “I wish you could live long enough to see my great power and how I rule the Balance when I have the baby in my hands. Don’t look at her for help. She’s already lost her mind, Protector. That’s what happens once the Balance decides you are unqualified for it. She can’t be a help for anyone, neither can you.”
Shasta’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “I believe I am more than that.” Her voice sounded as if someone else spoke. She cleared her throat and explained, “We will take the Regenerator, and I will kill you!”
Violen was relieved to see that Shasta was still in the game. Dwade’s eyes were closed already; he’d lost consciousness. Amel threw him away, and his body fell limp to the floor. Shasta turned her back on her friends to confront the true enemy. As the two Readers’ eyes met, Amel made a slight hand movement and Violen’s sword came to her. Leaving the glass in her body, for now, Violen crawled across the room to reach Dwade. The Regenerator was next to him, holding his head in her hands.
As Amel held the sword, Shasta created a Hikar Sword and the two Readers charged each other with furious yells. Their moves were so fast it was like they danced in the air. As Violen reached Dwade, she hoped he was still alive. There was no pulse at his neck and fear gripped her heart. She gave him the kiss of life and started compressions on his chest, fighting to bring him back. His pale skin slowly returned to normal and his purple lips to pink. He shot upright with a harsh cough after Violen grew so desperate she pounded her fist hard on his chest. He sucked in a deep breath as if he were pulled from the water. The Regenerator smiled at Violen and pulled the glass carefully out of her shoulder. Her touch was filled with healing light, and she stopped the blood from flowing, just like Zeorgan did before.
“She has magic,” the Regenerator whispered to Violen and Dwade, indicating the Chancellor.
Shasta noticed Dwade and Violen near the Regenerator and readied to take out Amel. After one more sword move, she yelled, “Enough!” Her eyes were dark and filled with anger. Her sword disappeared, and she saved herself from Amel slashing her blade down. Shasta extended her right hand and twisted it in a half circle, causing Amel’s body to spasm. It was so strong the sword fell from her hand and Shasta forced her to the floor, the left side of Amel’s body paralyzed.
Shasta, keeping her arm extended, approached the treacherous woman and whispered in her ear, “You know what I realized yesterday? I have all the powers of the twelve races. I can steal away energy like the Cizan or know anything like an Ilih. It is fun to see how generous the existence can be, isn’t it?” She turned her head slightly to look at Violen and Dwade, her mouth next to Amel’s ear. “Run,” she said with a harsh laugh. She seemed scarier and more insane than before.
Amel was forced to watch as Dwade and Violen took the Regenerator
The three sprinted as fast as they could, making it out of the Chancellor’s quarters to the lift—which strangely no longer required any form of identity—and rode it down to the lower level. They were about to walk out, but stopped short, not wanting to face the many Readers around. They stepped back into the lift and out of sight, watching through the glass. They needed a break, just one break to make a run for it. But it seemed none would be found anytime soon.
“We have to make a break for it,” Dwade finally whispered. He clutched Violen’s hand and she, in turn, held onto the Regenerator. “Ready?”
Neither of them nodded, but then they were keeping low and moving as fast as they could for the exit.
“Zeorgan!” Dwade shouted once he was outside, hoping the old Zaend and his dragon were close. Thankfully, they were. They needed to get the Regenerator to safety.
Upon hearing his voice, Zeorgan’s dragon turned its head to let him see who approached. As soon as he noticed Dwade, he turned his dragon around and landed. “Thank the Balance. You have her.” Seeing a familiar face, the Regenerator rushed to Zeorgan, and he placed the young woman on the back of his dragon. “Where’s Shasta?”
Dwade nodded toward the pyramid. “She’s still up there with the Chancellor.”
Zeorgan gave a curt nod. “Then let us go. It will be safer for you in the air.”
Just as he spoke, one of the Zaend dragons flew above the Glass Pyramid just before it was hit by a flaming ball of fire launched from the Readers’ sentry tower. The wounded dragon slammed into the side of the pyramid, breaking the glass before it disappeared inside.
An important detail they had overlooked occurred to Violen as she watched the destruction of the great symbol of Atlantis. “The Kamas! They’re our only record of the entire history of civilization. We cannot leave them behind.”
Zeorgan and Dwade looked at one another. Dwade took a deep breath and let it out with an aggravated yell. A Reader was always a Reader. He knew she wouldn’t leave without the Kamas and she was right to do so. All this great technology and knowledge, their history would be lost without Kamas.
“She is right. Take the Regenerator and find Kajleh�
��s ship. He’ll be able to keep her safe. We will retrieve the Kamas and then meet you here,” Dwade instructed.
Zeorgan approved of Dwade’s decision with a nod of his head. “I’ll return to pick you up shortly. Don’t take your time in there,” he said and took off once again.
Meanwhile, at the top level of the Glass Pyramid, Shasta and Amel were locked in combat. Shasta’s spell had worn off, and Amel regained control of her body. Finding themselves evenly matched, their conjuring gave way to swordplay again. Shasta rapidly drew on the full power of the Hikar diamond, her sword sharper and more powerful than any Hikar sword before it, and the two fought ferociously, battling for more than just their own lives.
The two swords locked as the Readers were inches apart, feeling each other’s breath. Amel gave Shasta a satisfied smile. “It is surprising the Balance chose to put so much power in you, but soon it will all be gone, little girl.” She pushed Shasta back with a thrust and took up her guard again after whirling around. “You know they won’t be able to take the baby away from me, don’t you?”
Shasta kept looking at Amel with emotionless but fiery eyes as if she heard quite clearly what she was being told but did not care.
“The baby is already gone. You fight for nothing,” Shasta claimed.
As the two women jumped and clashed in the air, a wave of energy exploded out from them, making the glass walls of the pyramid tremble. Shasta landed lightly on her feet and whirled her sword above her head and rapidly made for Amel, hoping to catch her before she regained her footing. As if the Balance had pumped additional strength into Shasta’s arms, she brought her sword down against Amel’s with a tremendous force, causing her to drop her blade.
Now unarmed, Amel moved to the other side of the room with great speed. She opened her arms wide, and the objects in the room levitated off the floor. Amel gave a wicked grin then launched the projectiles toward Shasta. She was able to dodge or block most of them, but a wooden chair slammed into her side, knocking her over. Her eyes burned with fury. She dismissed her sword and a knife appeared in its place hidden from Amel’s view.