by K T Quinn
Sarah and Beau, Mom's second and third in command, my right behind her helping clear the way. Their eyes were hard and their jaws were set in grim determination. I knew that expression. They were going to get me out of here no matter the cost. The dark haired stranger hurled his energy sword towards Dante forcing him to let go of chain. He ran at Dante and they collided with a sickening crunch trading blow after blow. I saw my opportunity and I took it. I began to untangle the chain from my legs. I tried to wriggle and slide out of the chain but it was very heavy. I was scared and frustrated and embarrassed all at once. I hated public speaking anything in the limelight but here I was on stage, with a few hundred people watching both me and the battle beginning to wage on the stage. My wings hurt, my back ached and my head was beginning to pound from all the emotions in the room that I could feel as if they were my own. Disorientated and in pain I looked to Gabriel and the Shadow King for help. Somebody needed to stop this madness. Dante had managed to manoeuvre himself on top of the dark haired stranger who smelled like oranges and chocolate. He was pounding away at his face and body laughing like a deranged serial killer at the serial killer candy store.
“Do something” I shouted at Gabriel since the Shadow King was looking like he was having the time of his life. Was I the only one who was concerned that there could be a murder here? Gabriel looked at me & pointed a single finger at me.
"Only you can do something here child." What! That man is certified crazy! What can I do? Gabriel smiled knowingly at me. "The accords child." Oh my God! I am an idiot! Of course Gabriel can't do anything, which means my Mom can't do anything! I have to stop her! I have to stop Dante! We are at a mutual place, the Accord state neither the bright side or the dark side can war at any time. If either side begins an attack directly at the other side the accords will be broken. There will be no safe haven for anyone. It will just be an all out war. There will be no bright side, no dark side. Only wall. Even the fight going on between Donte and the dark stranger is walking a thin line. The only reason it has been allowed is because Dante has tried to intervene with the my ascension, my choice of a side. Although I know he will claim it is in self defence, and that I was a threat. All the jigsaw pieces began to creak in place. This is just another political game that my Mom was about to be caught up in. I had to think fast. I looked around the hall looking for a way to end this fight before it even really began. The crowd had begun to move back away from the stage. They all seem to be looking on in a mix of excitement and trepidation. I am pretty sure I even see a bookie taking under the table bets. Probably on who was going to come out winning between Dante and the dark stranger. I could see mind-reading Blondie still standing there with the fire extinguisher that he had just aimed at me marmots before. He was standing just behind Gabriel ready to defend him if it should come to that while looking on at the fight going on in the stage.
"Hey Blondie" I called out. Mind-reading Blondie looked over at me startled as if he forgot I was there.
"You planning on dousing me again anytime soon, or can I borrow that?" Mind-reading Blondie just grinned at me. He winked at me knowingly before throwing me the fire extinguisher.
"It's all yours gorgeous." I caught the fire extinguisher almost falling over, wincing in pain. My injured wing was throwing me off balance even more than before. I stumbled over towards Donte and the dark haired stranger and took aim. I sprayed Donte in the face. I would be lying if I said I didn't take pleasure in that on some level.
Dante fell back desperately wiping at his eyes trying to get the white Foam out. The dark haired stranger just glared at me through the thick foam and blood that streaked his face.
"You are welcome" I said with a curtsy. "Can I pick a side so we can get on with this. I would love to get change." I am motioned to my corn and dirty clothes as I turned around facing Gabriel and the Shadow King. I looked over at Mom, she had stopped about six rows from the stage with her second-in-command and nodded at me. Her mouth had been set in a green line and an expression I didn't recognise on her face.
I slow clap found that out around the hall. It was the Shadow King. Who stood from his seat and began to walk closer to me still clapping. I am going to do this step back towards Gabriel. I didn't like the vibe that the Shadow King was putting out.
"Mikki, you won't need to pick a side. You were born on the dark side, so you belong on the dark side." The Shadow King said, spreading his arms out in the air. "It would be a terrible shame to leave your best friend and your mother, not to mention those twins behind wouldn't it?" If the comment had been made by a friend or member of the family I probably wouldn't have been worried. After all it was true, I did think it would be a terrible shame to leave them behind. But coming from the Shadow King, it just sounded like a threat.
"Mr Shadow King, or is it sire? Anyway, as I was telling Gabriel here earlier" I pointed my thumb towards Gabriel, "I do have a choice. That is the whole point of this Ascension Day is on it? That each of us" I now gestured to the people who were sitting in rows by the stage waiting for their turn, "get to choose a side. We choose. Not you."
Some people in the crowd gasped in shock. No one ever dared to speak to the Shadow King like a mere commoner. No one would dare cross the Shadow King. I knew that I was treading on thin ice and would probably be thrown in a cell somewhere. But I had a really strong moral compass. I knew that if I couldn't make the choice, then what about the rest of us? Would they then be forced to stay on the side they were born? This is not the way it was meant to be. We are meant to have free will. We are meant to have a choice. This is why the war has not ended, and why it will probably keep waging on for years to come. One side believes in free will, the other apparently does not-unless it suits them.
"Mikah Harper. Do you dare question your King in front of all of these people?" The King smiled icily.
I gulped involuntarily. I looked over at my Mom who was shaking her head at me, worry all over her face. I silent gesture warning me to watch my step. Mom is one of the Shadow King's fiercest warriors, but even she would not dare to cross the King in any way.
"No sir, I am not questioning you at all. I know that we know best" I said sweetly to the King trying my best not to piss him off further. "I was simply making sure that anyone who may have question need not ask again. I know that you are fair, and wise, which is why I know that you will give me-and all the others-a choice in which side we want to live on." I hoped that my comments sounded sincere and not as forced and fake as they felt. I also made sure that my words could be interpreted in a few different ways. I had come to the Ascension wanting to choose the dark, as the King pointed out, my friends and family side. I had nothing on the other side to go to. But I had this little nagging feeling inside of me that there was some truth to that Dragon warned me about. If both sides were trying to cage me, cage us. I needed to be on the side that actually had some kind of moral compass.
You will see. We will not be safe until both sides see us as their equal not their subject.
Dragon, we have never had the choice. We are either the dark or light. There is no in between, not for us for any other being. We either fight the darkness or we serve it.
No girl. You are wrong. There cannot be light without the dark. There can not be the shadows without the bright.
I sighed internally. Yes Dragon we all know that we are all fundamentally both dark and light. Although, there are some that are truly evil. I looked at Donte staring at me maniacally, my skin breaking out in goosebumps. I felt a tiny ripple of fear in the pit of my stomach and looked away. I looked at my Mom wondering what she would do if she was in my position. I had always looked up to her and I had hoped to join her one day in the dark army. I was meant to be a fury like her, but instead I was... This. Whatever that was.
Dragonkin.
What does that mean Dragon? You are going to have to explain this to me, just not now. I felt so frustrated. Why couldn’t I just have Ascended normally like everyone else! My eyes darted around
the room. I could see Donte moving in towards me and the Shadow King staring at me with just a hint of menace in his eyes.
"Well child, what say you " Gabriel asked. "Do you choose to go home with the Shadow King? Or would you like to try something new perhaps?"
I look at Gabriel who was staring at me with kindness in his eyes. I wasn't so sure about the dark haired stranger who was still glaring at me and half covered in foam. Or mind-reading Blondie for that matter. Although, I had the feeling that he and I could be friends if we were on the same side that is.
No Dragon. I am going to have to choose to believe that we can do okay in the dark. I think maybe just maybe you're being a little paranoid. I don't want to leave my family. I thought of the twins and all of their mischievous pranks that i would miss if I chose the other side. I thought of my Mom, who counted on me to be there for her and to help her with our family since dad had passed away. I thought about my best friend. My very best friend in the whole wide world is like a sister to me. I couldn’t leave her behind. What would I do without them all? I couldn't leave what I knew to go across to the prissy side of town where they thought everything was all sunshine and rainbows, it wasn't. Life was hard, it was even harder if you aren’t born into privilege like most of the Bright siders were. I didn't choose to be born at the dark side, i didn't choose to be what i have turned into. but what i could choose, was where my loyalties lie. I could choose my family and my friends, and make do on a side that wasn't so kind or who’s moral compass was slightly blurred. What difference could one person make anyway?
It only takes one person to change the world.
Even so Dragon we need to make a choice and I would prefer to make the choice where I am not all alone. My Mom needs me, the twins need me. Then there is Bri, she ascended into a Djinn! A freaking badass Djinn! I can't leave her to figure all of that out by herself! Besides Dragon I have no idea what I'm doing, I need my bestie to help me figure out my way through this. I'm talking to myself and people are staring, I have turned into a crazy person. Everybody else ascended into something cool yet here I am crazy Mickey talking to myself.. I may as well be the crazy Dragon lady on the Darkside where most of us are all a little nuts anyways!
A hand roughly grabbed my arm, yanking me forward.
"Answer your King" Dante growled shoving me forward. I tripped over my wings falling to my knees. Pain shot down my legs and up my back. Gritting my teeth I held in the cry of pain that was begging to be released. I wouldn't give Dante the satisfaction.
"I choose the..." The wall behind the stage exploded. For Brie rains down on everybody. Small canisters of smoke were thrown through the gaping hole. The room quickly is filled with smoke and screams. Masked assailants stormed through the gaping hole and began to open fire wielding both weapons and magic. People panicked and began to surge towards the singular exit pushing and shoving in a desperate attempt to escape. Instincts took over and I jumped to my feet uneasily thanks to my injured wing. I pulled out the small rusted blade from my boot that I always carried with me and held it out in front of me. The smoke was so thick and dark I could barely see anything. I began to edge towards the edge of the stage where I thought the stairs might be. I stumbled and tripped over a body that was still and unmoving. The poisoned it daggers on the bout gave away but it was Donte. I nudged him with my foot to see if he was alive kinda hoping that he wasn't. He was almost as frightening as the Shadow King. His body rolled over his eyes closed. Blood trickled down the side of his face from a large gash where he had been hit by some of the flying debris. I quickly stepped over him trying to escape whatever was in the smoke. His hand grabbed my ankle in a vice -like grip. His claws dug into my ankle drawing blood. I gasped in pain and kicked my foot trying to free myself before he fully woke up.
"Where is she" a man called out across the stage.
"She was over there by the Shadow King" another voice sounded out across the darkness.
"No I have got the King contained, this side is clear."
"Quickly find the girl! She needs to be taken out to before she kills us all!”
I could hear them moving across the stage towards my direction. I needed to hide. It sounded like they were here to kill me. They must have the wrong person. I couldn't kill anybody. I rushed forwards frantically looking for the steps that were meant to be here. I tripped on a chair and it fell with a loud bang.
"She's over there!" Shots began to fire in my direction. I through myself to the ground as a bullet clip my already injured wing that was now mangled. Footsteps were now running towards me followed by more bullets and fire. I crawled forward desperately looking for the edge of the stage. I was dizzy and disorientated. Darkness crept at the edges of my vision and I began to blackout. I felt a pair of hands picked me up gently and carried me away from the battle.
"Through here MCL I. I will hold them off you get her to the car and back to the Academy."
"Make sure Gabriel makes it out alive. I couldn't find him, only her" was the last thing I heard before the blackness overtook me.
“What is she, Gabriel? She must be extremely dangerous for the rebels to have made such a brazen plan,” a familiar voice said.
“She is,” Gabriel said solemnly.
“Are you kidding Gabriel? She is dangerous, and you've brought her here! To the Academy! Are you insane?!” the familiar voice spat. “Who cares if she is this Dragonkin thing. We haven't seen one in centuries! For all we know it was her kind that started the war!”
“She is the last of her kind, which is precisely why she should be protected not killed. Dragonkin only appear when there is something fundamentally wrong with the universe. They are tasked with protecting all life equally, and restoring balance to the world. It is a heavy burden to bear. Normally we would have found her by now but she was not foretold by the Oracle” said Gabriel.
Something soft and wet landed on my face. I tried to discreetly wipe it off without letting on to whoever was in the room that I was awake. I peeked out of my eye closest to the voices in the room. I could see Gabriel & the dark haired stranger but felt another presence. I quickly wiped the glob off my face and moved my hand back hoping no one saw.
“Everything is foretold by the Oracle! He sees everything! How can he have not seen her?” the dark haired stranger whisper-shouted. The distaste for me was written clearly in his voice.
Splat. Another sticky wet glob landed on my cheek. I peeked out of my eye again, and quickly wiped away the grossness.
Splat.
“Rowdy stop shooting spitballs at our guest. Mikah, would you like to join the rest of us?” I opened one eye. Gabriel was standing by the big double paned window looking outside. The man must have eyes in the back of his head.
“Empath abilities, remember Mikah? And no, I cannot read your mind,” he chuckled before I could ask my next question. “But he can,” Gabriel motioned to Mind-Reading Blondie who had emerged from his hiding spot behind the antique chaise lounge.
“You know it’s rude to talk about other people’s abilities,” Mind-Reading Blondie said grinning, clearly not offended. “I can also fart the alphabet,” he said proudly walking over to me with his hand out. “Name’s Rowdy little lady, Rowdy Parker.”
“Mikah Harper.” I shook his hand smiling. Rowdy had already begun to feel like an old friend. “I’ll get you back for those spitballs,” I said with one raised eyebrow and a smile.
I’m counting on it little lady. I heard Rowdy’s voice inside my mind. Mind Reader! I knew it! Rowdy grinned raising an eyebrow at me in return.
"She can't stay here!" The dark haired stranger said forcefully. Who the hell did this guy think he was? He was acting like I was some sort of serial killer. When all I am is just a girl who may or may not be crazy, considering I am hearing voices inside my head.
"Don't mind him," Rowdy chuckled. "He's just jealous of our love connection."
"No… no I'm not!" The dark haired stranger sputtered, going red in the face.
"J – E – A – L – O – U – S,” Rowdy saying dancing around the dark haired stranger like a five-year-old.
The dark haired stranger punched Rowdy in the face, knocking him to the ground. Rowdy just jumped up laughing.
"Boys that's enough," Gabriel said firmly his mouth set in a thin line. "That," Gabriel said pointing to the dark stranger "is Titan. He is the one that got you out safely away from your shadow King, and the rebels."
Titan snorted. “Only because you ordered me to, at risk of your own safety, sir.” If I didn’t dislike Titan before I definitely did now. “She was going to choose the Dark. Why can’t we just return her to where she belongs?” Titan said staring at me like I left a bad taste in his mouth, like I was just a piece of Darkside scum. Bloody prissy Brightsiders. I ignored Titan, and turned to Gabriel. He didn’t know what I might have chosen, I didn’t even know for sure.
“Why am I here?”
“The rebels disrupted the Ascension ceremony in order to capture or kill you. I’m not sure which one yet...”
“Yes I know, but why am I here,” I interrupted gesturing around me. “And not the Nightrealm?”
“Because no one saw you coming. Which means that there is a shadow spreading across this land that can, and will affect all of us. You were hidden somehow, that cannot be good.” Gabriel turned to stare out the window again, drumming his fingers on the windowsill.
