“Something weird,” I breathed, glancing around Shadow seeing
the town burned to the ground.
I tried to understand, make sense of what we'd witnessed and
experienced, but I couldn't wrap my mind around it. My stomach was in knots as
I moved through the rubble, pushing aside anything I could to find out what
happened. My feet burned from the ash. I coughed as the smoke filled my lungs
but the outside air was a welcome solution as I continued to search.
“You try and save Henry.” I glanced at his near lifeless
body on the ground. He was covered in soot and ash from the building. Henry
moaned though, just enough to tell me he was still alive. “Hang in there.” I
gripped Henry's arm, bending down to his level. “I still owe you for helping
me. You won't collect if you die on me,” I remarked, letting go before eyeing
Joshua. “I need to find Adelaide and Elsa.”
I didn't wait for an answer as I took off as best I could.
The streets were rummage and rubble from the recent explosions. Who could have
done this? The government of Cabal had fallen. Craynor was dead. What purpose
had there been for destroying our town, our home?
I pushed aside buildings and debris, not caring that the ash
was still warm and the fire could spark again at any second. “Adelaide!” I
screamed trying to find her. I started from where Cate and Aidan had been found
and stretched further into the small town. Stepping over debris I listened with
the wind for any hint of survivors, including the two I desperately searched
for: Adelaide and Elsa. Beneath the rubble I heard the slightest hint of a
groan. “Hang in there! I'm coming!” I screamed, prying my hands between
shingles and siding, a mix of what had once been a home I found Collins gasping
for air. “Chancellor!” I tried to unbury him as best I could. His body was
trapped, his chest crushed as I moved aside the bricks near his head.
“Olivia,” he gasped staring up at me, fully conscious though
struggling to breathe.
“What are you doing back here? You should be in Torv!” I was
astounded that he was back.
He coughed and his voice rasped and waivered as he tried to
answer me. “The girl. She's the key.” He coughed again, his lungs dying on him,
crushed in the ambush.
“Who did this?” My hands rested on his face, wanting to heal
him, but knowing it would only delay his death, cause him more agony and pain.
I couldn't save him from an entire house falling upon him.
His lips moved but I could barely hear him. Bending down
closer, I could make out his words. “By my hand, take it.”
“What?” I shook my head in confusion. I didn't know what
that meant! “I don't understand.” I breathed watching as his eyes moved away
from mine towards where his arms should be. I grimaced as I pushed away more
bricks and a shutter. I wasn't able to move the heaviest items but I found a
small metal box and flipped it open. Inside held four syringes. “What are
these?” I asked staring hard, my hand coming to his face. “Collins, wake up!” He
wasn't falling asleep, he was dying.
“Give it to the girl,” he whispered. “It's all you can do to
save her.” His last breath came out as a gasp as his life left his body. I
reached forward, closing his eyes and carefully stood up.
“Adelaide!” I called again, searching for her. She had to be
here somewhere. I pushed aside more rubble, digging my way through what had
once been the house. I felt like I'd spent hours at it, but only minutes passed
by. Digging deeper I found her lifeless form, cold and pale in the hot ashes. “No.”
I shook my head, the air rushing out of my lungs. I choked back a sob and
pulled the syringe from the tin box. I didn't know if it would help or be too
late. She was young, I'd have thought too young for the drug, but doing the
unthinkable seemed the only option. Pulling her body from the rubble, I laid
her cold skin against my own as I maneuvered her into my lap. “Wake up, baby
girl,” I breathed removing the cover of the syringe. I pushed her hair aside
and brought the needle to the base of her neck, pushing it in and administering
the only bit of hope left to save her. Done with the needle I tossed it aside,
cradling Adelaide as the first few tears came. “You have to wake up.” I didn't
think it had the power to bring her back from the dead. My fingers reached her
pulse point, searching for any indication she might be alive. I could feel the
faintest beat, but she hadn't died, not entirely. She was so close to death. So
cold and motionless. “Adelaide, wake up,” I whispered kissing her cheeks,
rocking her in my arms. “Please, wake up,” I cried, breathing my energy and
life force into her body. I was tired. So tired from all we'd done. My eyes
closed and dropped the softest kiss to her cheek. “I love you,” I whispered,
unwilling to let her go, it seemed too late to help her. “Joshua!” I finally
called aloud, wiping my tears with the back of my hand.
“What is it?” he asked finding his way slowly across the
homes and destruction towards me. I handed him the tin container with three
syringes remaining.
“Henry.” I pushed it towards him. “If he's still got a
pulse, you have to try and save him.”
Joshua took the box and disappeared with it, back over the
rubble to where he'd left a dying Henry.
“We found Elsa!” Cate called from thirty feet away. “She'll
be okay!”
How had they gotten separated? Had Adelaide needed
Mindonsiphan to travel through the portal? Obviously it was unstable, tossing
us in different directions, but I was the one to blame. I should have protected
her. I should have done more, been there for her. I wiped the last tear as I
held Adelaide in my arms. I didn't know if there were any other survivors
buried alive or dying. I didn't have the energy to sift through and search for
loved ones. I should have, but I was unable to move from the very spot with
Adelaide in my arms.
“Get up!” I heard a woman's voice, sharp and crisp,
commanding. I sniffled once, turning my head to see who it was. Her raven hair
and emerald eyes I could never quite forget, Isaura. Standing with her were six
goons as she carried a long blade. A sword of some kind. I recognized her.
She'd been in Torv at the representatives meeting. She'd spoken to me when I'd
come for help. When Joshua had been taken.
“I know you,” I breathed carefully putting Adelaide down as
I stood, holding my arms up in surrender. “Why are you here?”
“For you, dear princess,” she mocked and my eyes moved over
her men. Two of them I recognized as well. They'd been the outlaws who had
accosted us on our way to Haven, the other four I didn’t recognize. All looked untrustworthy.
“Come with us,” she demanded and I felt two sets of arms on me, one at either
side as they lifted me off the ground. I kicked and flailed.
“Put me down!” I demanded, my eyes narrowing as I whipped my
arm out and around knocking the one man to the ground before kicking at my
assailant. Two were down. It didn't take much until I felt the tip of the sword
at my throat.
“Try that again and I will slice you open. Orders were to
bring you in alive. They didn't say unharmed.” Her tone mocked me as her
emerald eyes glowed.
“What are you?” I hissed, watching as two other men grabbed
my arms and pushed me down onto the rubble on my knees.
“Your only ally,” she smiled wickedly. She gestured towards
the men as they lifted me to my feet.
“Put her down!” I heard the tiny, fragile voice, but it was
commanding and defiant. Little Adelaide wasn't afraid. For almost seven, she
looked a few years older. Adelaide came running at full speed towards the men who
held my arms tight. She ignored the ash and debris as she ran with bare feet kicking
down one man and the other, grabbing my arm but I was unable to move.
Isaura laughed, eyeing Adelaide. “Nice try, child.” She
smirked, stepping towards me with a dark smile on her face.
“Adelaide, run!” I screamed. I wanted to move, to kick and
scream and fight, but found my body incapable. Grateful I could still speak, my
eyes found hers. “Run!” I told her again, hoping Joshua could hear me and at
the same time wishing he couldn't. Isaura would likely hurt him, too.
Joshua,
this is bad. Get out of here, now!
I thought to him, hoping he'd listen to
me.
Adelaide's eyes widened in horror as she saw Isaura take
after her and she ran fast and hard disappearing further into Shadow.
Isaura smiled turning back towards me. “Very well. It's just
you and me, for now.” She beamed quite proudly.
“What do you want?” I asked, trying to move, but still finding
it impossible.
Isaura waved a hand and I felt my body no longer trapped. I
eyed my surroundings. “Don't even try it,” she warned me. “You may have been
given a drug to heighten your abilities, Olivia, but I've been given something
much more powerful.”
“What?” I asked not knowing if she'd confess what she was up
to and who she was precisely. “Why are you here? Why are you doing this?”
Isaura laughed. “You don't know?” She said. “I came for
Collins. I got what I wanted.” The smile grew on her face. “He's dead, as is
the rest of your pretty little town.” Her tone dripped with hatred and I felt a
shudder coarse through my body.
“What was it you wanted, Isaura?”
“You,” she smiled, staring at me. “You, Olivia.”
Olivia, where are you?
I heard Joshua's voice as
Isaura stood before me.
Just get out of here, Joshua! Make a portal to Spade.
I
wanted them to be safe. They needed to be safe.
I can't do that.
I heard his voice and shook my head.
“Damn it!” I screamed.
Please just do it! I'll be fine!
I doubted he'd
listen to me but what other choice did I have? I couldn't risk Adelaide's life
or Joshua's. If I was what Isaura wanted, she could have me.
“What do you want with me?” I stared up at Isaura, unafraid
and unwilling to let her scare me.
“It's not only you I want.” Her voice dripped like honey and
she pulled me closer. Her nails pierced my arm, certain to leave a mark. I
refused to flinch. I didn't want her to know she could hurt me. “It's what
you're worth.”
“This is because I can get pregnant?” I wasn't an idiot. The
world seemed to now know who I was by now.
She let go of me, studying the marks she’d left on my arms. “One
of many reasons. You are not the only one treated with what Collins referred to
as Mindonsiphan.”
I didn't say anything. Unwilling to attest that she was
right, that there were others. “You don't have to answer me, Olivia. I know the
truth. I'm one of them now.” The smile lit up her face. “It wasn't hard,
considering he had the syringes in his hand when the city had fallen.”
“You did this!”
She waved her arms around. “All of this, of course,” Isaura
boasted. “I'd hoped you'd come later when I could have glamoured the city, but
all worked out in the end for me. In fact, everyone thinks Joshua is dead and
soon they'll think Craynor killed you, as well. No one will have any idea what
I've been up to.”
I shook my head and broke free further from her grasp. “No.”
I took a step back, glancing around wondering where her goons had disappeared
to.
Joshua are you okay?
I'd told him to leave but had he listened to
me? “There are others who know the truth.”
Isaura laughed. “A legend you'll become, Olivia. That is
merely all. Now come with me before you cause any more harm to those you love.”
“Not so fast!” I heard Henry's voice and spun around.
Joshua stood alongside of him as did Adelaide. Elsa, Aidan
and Cate were coming along the other side, behind Isaura.
“Let her go!” Adelaide shouted.
Isaura laughed towards her men. “Take them out!” She didn't
budge as the fighting began.
With six goons surrounding us, Joshua pulled a blade,
throwing it at one and landing a blow with his fist at another's face,
barreling him backwards. Elsa stepped in, helping Joshua as the man stumbled
forward to retaliate only to get kicked in the groin and then the stomach
before falling to the ground in a heap.
Adelaide wasted no time as she slid between the first man's
legs unexpectedly. I didn't notice the piece of shrapnel she'd found, but she
shoved it into his leg watching him fall to the ground screaming in agony. Cate
grabbed a slab of wood, slamming it across his face, making sure he didn't get
up again. The second man took after Adelaide, but tripped onto the rubble, face
first into a brick. Had Adelaide done that intentionally? Henry defended
himself well. He used his fists and legs, kicking and punching, blocking each
blow as both men came at him at once. He wasted no time and though he'd nearly
been dead less than an hour ago, now he was up and moving as if he'd barely
been hurt. He reached down, finding a pile of ash and tossing it into one man's
face as Aidan buried a knife into the other man's stomach. Together they rolled
down off the rubble towards the street ten feet down.
Isaura's eyes narrowed. “You can't have Olivia.” She lifted
the long blade of her sword towards my throat. “I'll kill her before I hand her
over to any of you.”
“You won't,” Joshua retorted. “Not if you want to live.”
Isaura nicked my throat with the blade. The slightest bit of
blood scathed the metal and my eyes focused on the material watching it glimmer
in the light, realizing what it could become. I reached my hands for the blade,
ignoring the searing hot pain as it slit my hands. I turned it back and around
at Isaura the moment the tip touched her head she disappeared into thin air.
Henry's eyes widened in shock. “Where'd she go?”
“We don't have much time.” I dropped the sword to the ground
seeing her reflection as she was momentarily stuck in the sword. It wouldn't
take her long to learn to break free. Her goons were still alive and would come
after us. “We have to leave,
now
!” I demanded, gesturing for them to
follow.