“Did that hurt?” I fake-pouted.
He barked laughter in my face. In retaliation, I hit him in the stomach. The Hunter bowed over and I pushed my advantage. I shot in aiming to kick his knee but he grabbed my shoulder and pulled me down with him. We managed to fall half on the mattress. I scrambled to gain a better position but he tied my legs up with his and straddled my hips. When I lashed out, he grabbed my hands and pinned them beside my ears. I kicked and bucked to no avail.
The anger began to simmer and was replaced with shame. My arm was definitely broken and Luka’s face was covered in blood. He wore a mask of calm when he looked down at me. There was no condemnation in his eyes.
“You’re lucky I woke up when I did. I’ve never felt your Magic so…” He searched for the right words, the anger sliding off him. “So uncontrolled. I thought you were in trouble.”
I took a deep breath, letting the sweet smell of his Magic fill my lungs. I had lost my temper so easily.
“Don’t do that again. I could have killed you.”
He rolled his eyes. “You wouldn’t have.”
He was always so confident in my control. I wasn’t. If I had used my power he would have been dead. I had tried to leave my monstrous side back in Dunlap, but it seemed I could never be free of it. He let me up and I retreated to the bathroom. The rage had left, and in its place was an icy sadness. I splashed my face with water to clean the worst of the blood. I had hoped Luka would have left the bedroom but he was still sitting on the mattress. I couldn’t ignore him forever.
His face was badly bruised and blood had dried on his cheek.
“You shouldn’t have taunted me.”
“I didn’t want you doing something you would regret later.”
“Let me heal you.” I took his hand in mine and he handed me his dagger. I sliced it across my thigh.
I dipped my finger in the blood and drew the rune on the back of Luka’s hand. With barely a second thought, the shape flashed to life and the bruises disappeared from his face. He seemed to sit straighter and breathe easier. I repeated the process on myself before crawling back into bed.
Luka left me to my misery.
I couldn't leave the room the rest of the day, the thought that the others secretly felt the same as Judas left me with a rolling nausea. I counted the cracks on the ceiling and daydreamed about a life I could have lived if I’d not been born an abomination. At some point Luka had brought me food, but it remained untouched on the floor.
Judas had been so terrified of me and he was right to be. I was a murderer.
“Arina?” Loral’s familiar voice came from the entryway.
He had returned. The thought brought me from my stupor momentarily and a ghost of a smile crossed my lips.
“Are you ill?” There was concern dripping from his words and the sound of his shuffling feet as he moved closer. I shook my head.
“Noah told me what happened with Judas.” It took me a moment to realise he was talking of Luka. “What an ass. He’s lucky you didn’t punch him in the throat.”
I had done much worse than punch him. Did Loral know how close I had been to turning into a monster? Luka wouldn’t have told him.
“You’ll come with me on my next mission. Some fresh air will do you good. Plus I could use the extra protection.”
“Can Noah come with us?”
“He’s the one who came up with the idea.”
Of course he had.
“Thank you, Loral, I can’t wait.” My voice sounded hollow and I turned my face so he couldn’t see my eyes.
“Would you like to join me for dinner?”
“Noah already bought me food. Thank you.”
Silent accusing stares were something I couldn’t face today. Loral hovered by my mattress. We had never been the type of friends to comfort each other. He placed an unsure hand on my shoulder before leaving.
I wasn’t certain how many hours had passed until Luka came and sat beside me, his large frame jostled the bed. “We’re going with Loral on the next mission. He needs protection.”
I murmured my consent. At least I could look forward to the fresh air.
“Come with me.”
I shook my head. The thought of leaving the bed made my bones ache.
“It’s late. No one is awake now.”
When I sat up to face him, our light was no longer on and we sat in complete darkness.
“Where are we going?”
“I want to show you something.” His tone left no room for argument and I reluctantly took his outstretched hand.
Our bare feet were silent as we hurried through the corridors. It made me nostalgic for my bounty hunting days. I missed the adrenaline of the hunt and the simplicity of a target. I had felt fleeting happiness for the last two years. I wished I had savored it more. We wove deeper through the caves. I didn’t dare ask where we were going. The further we travelled, the lighter my mood seemed to get. I could almost imagine I was back on the hunt. Luka and I would have been a formidable team.
The silence was suddenly broken by a soft bubbling of the underground springs. Luka summoned a ball of flames that illuminated the cave in warm light. I was careful not to fall into any of the running streams. There was a reason I had not joined in on the swimming. Luka led me to the deepest section of the caves, and to a dead end.
To my complete surprise he begun undressing.
I spluttered. “What are you doing?”
The ball of flames was quickly extinguished as it neared the fabric of his shirt. His control was astonishing to watch. He seemed perfectly at ease with his Magic, the same Magic that was now illuminating his expectant grin. I turned away.
“When I was exploring last time, my clothes were destroyed. I only have three sets left. I can’t risk another.”
When I turned back around he was down to his briefs. I tried, and failed, to look at anything other than his distracting body.
“Are you going to stand staring all night?” He grinned at me and I motioned for him to turn around.
He turned, extinguishing the light. I looked at my favourite sweat pants. I weighted the choice of ruining my pants or Luka seeing me in my underwear. I stripped down quickly.
“Where to next?” I grumbled. The caves were freezing. Luka didn’t turn and stare like I had.
Instead he motioned to a high up ledge that I hadn’t seen earlier. “Up there.”
The entrance looked barely large enough for him to fit through and it was at least a meter above his head. There was no way I was getting up there alone. He motioned me forward and rested his elbows on his knees, creating a platform with his hands. I stood on him and was quickly propelled to the lip of the stone. The sharp rocks cut into my fingers as I hung there for a second.
“Too much time off?” he taunted as I wiggled up and over the edge.
“Come on then, Hunter,” I scoffed over the ledge.
I waited for him, arms crossed over my chest as I scooted back so that he could join me. He scaled the ledge much easier than I had and somehow managed to keep the flame alight. I didn’t give him the satisfaction of a grin, instead I motioned for him to lead the way. The cave floor slid steadily downward and I struggled to not slip on the wet stone. The thought of the teasing I would have endured if I had fallen on my ass was enough for me to keep my balance. I would have killed for a pair of boots. We made our way lower and lower, I couldn’t see where we were going. Eventually we came to a tight crevice. Luka shoved himself through the tiny space. If he was wearing pants they would have been ruined. I followed, the rocks scraping at my skin.
I hope he knows where we are going.
I squeezed my way through to the other side. The sound of the springs became louder and louder. The further we travelled, the lighter the passageway became. How had they gotten lighting in here? Luka dropped his firelight. A large pool was bathed in cool light. I looked around to see where the lamp was. Luka didn’t wait for me, he dived headfirst into the navy water. H
e popped back up a second later, his hair looked black in the cool light all traces of the red hidden. Luka waded in the seemingly bottomless water. Anxiety shivered up my spine.
“What are you waiting for?” Luka shouted back at me.
I hesitated, my weight shifting. “I can’t swim.”
The revelation was met with silence. At least it wasn’t laughter. Luka swam toward the edge and motioned me forward. I wasn’t about to get into freezing water.
“What I want to show you is just up ahead. But we need to swim there.”
I sat on the edge, my legs dangling in the tepid water. It was surprisingly warm, like a giant bath.
“Hold on to me. You’ll be fine.”
His confidence was infectious. I had never shied away from a challenge and I wasn’t about to start now. Sliding into the water, I kept a death grip on the ledge. Luka managed to pry my hands and wrap them around his neck. I could feel the fire under his skin where we touched.
My kicking wasn’t in sync with his. I had never been in open water before. The feeling made me uncomfortable. Luka dragged me along until we reached the other side. I was huffing from exhaustion by the time we reached the ledge.
I crawled out and laid flat on my back, struggling to catch my breath. Luka sat beside me. He breathed easy despite carrying me across the lake.
“I wouldn’t think a Fire Mage could be so comfortable in water,” I groaned. The sound of Luka’s deep laugh filled the cavern.
“There’s not long to go now. It’s just up here.” He reached a hand out for me and I took it. Immediately I was yanked to my feet. The light was stronger here. I could make out his face.
“What are you showing me?”
He simply rewarded me with a smile. After walking for a while longer we reached a circle enclave. There was a flat rock sitting in the centre which Luka perched on. I sat beside him, his body warming mine.
Why did he bring me here?
“Look up.” He leaned back and lay against the rock. I did the same.
My breath hitched.
There was a large opening in the top of the cavern, through which I could see the pitch black curtain that had draped over the sky. The stars were milky speckles spattered in random patterns. A smile tugged at my lips. Nothing in life could touch me here. I studied the silver glow of the moon. The night had always brought me peace. It hid my flaws, my imperfections. Sweet-smelling rain started to fall through the hole and I relished the feel of cool air blowing on my face for the first time in months. It was cleansing.
A laugh begun to bubble from within me and I couldn’t hold it in. I wanted to dance in the rain. Luka’s knuckles brushed against my own, his fingers grabbing gently for mine. I sat up, my laughter vanished.
“What are you doing?”
He looked confused. “I’d never heard you laugh before. I…”
“Don’t touch me.” I scrambled from the stone bench. What was I doing? This was my enemy. We had touched before plenty. This felt different. The gentleness of the contact had sent goosebumps along my flesh and my stomach squeezed in protest. My body knew this was my enemy, even as my mind forgot.
“I’m sorry, Rina. I wo--” He sat up, blustering with his words.
“—You don’t call me that, Hunter,” I sniped.
“That’s not my name.” He stood, his face returning to the sneer I hated.
“But it is who you are.” My words were cruel, I knew it, but I could not stop them.
“If I am to be reduced to my worst parts then so shall you, Sorceress.”
My fists clenched and unclenched in rapid succession. My eyes burned from unshed tears. “I hate you.”
He was too close to me now, his hot breath tickled my cheek. “I don’t think you do.”
I scrambled backwards, my back hitting the cool stone. He stared at me a moment longer, his eyes drinking me in. I must have looked pathetic, pressed against the wall. He left the clearing without another word.
I sunk to the ground and wrapped my arms around my chest. When he left it had felt like the warmth had been sucked from the space. Tears squeezed from the corners of my eyes and fell onto my knees.
I sat in the dark for hours, Luka did not come back.
Eventually, the small cavern was filled with the yellow light of morning. I raised my hand and let the sun rays filter through my fingers and onto my face. The yellow gold light kissed every crevice in the cave. It wouldn’t be long until someone came searching for me.
I unfolded my stiff muscles and made my way past the entrance.
It was a walk of shame and I hadn’t even gotten laid.
The pool of black water stretched out forever in front of me. It was much larger than I remembered. To my relief, a rope had been secured from one end to the other. My chest felt tight.
“Stupid rope,” I muttered. It seemed solid enough.
I slid into the tepid water and clung to it for all my miserable life was worth. Fist over fist I eventually made it to the other side. The rest of the way was easy enough to get through. I shoved myself back through the tiny crevasses and climbed back uphill to the ledge where we had first entered. There was another rope strung from the top. I ignored it and hung from my fingertips. The drop to the ground below jolted my bones but nothing broke.
My clothes were still dry when I redressed. I set off to find Loral, to pick another fight.
Chapter Fifteen
“How does it feel to be out in the real world?” Loral grinned at me from the front seat. I couldn’t keep the smile from my face, the fresh air was like a drug. I never wanted to go back to the cramped space of the compound.
“So what are we doing on this mission?”
It looked like we were on our way to Ka or maybe Nexus. Loral had still not told us what exactly the plan was, just that we were required for protection. It seemed silence was the way of the rebellion just as it was the Elect. There were a number of large duffel bags sharing the back seat with me. Loral had warned me not to open them. Apparently the contents were volatile.
“We need money to survive,” Loral eventually mumbled.
I shared a pointed look at Luka from the back seat that he dutifully ignored. “So we’re working?”
“The hard works done. We’re just going to deliver this package and collect the cash.” Loral tightened his fingers on the wheel.
I wondered, not for the first time, why he needed protection. Loral didn’t know about my old reputation, but he did know I could fight. I was just hoping we weren’t doing any deals in Dunlap.
“What’s in the bags?” Luka asked nonchalantly.
“Potions.” Loral shrugged and flashed a worried look between us in the back seat. We had been frosty to one another since leaving.
“No doubt they were created by the best.” I raised an eyebrow in his direction. Loral just laughed me off and turned up the music.
He was leading us right to the rebellion’s source of income. All Luka and I needed to do was to find a way to cut them off from the money. It sounded deceptively easy. The rest of the journey went too quickly. I focused on the passing houses and dimming light. We had yet to even pass a single Enforcer. The road was unsealed and not well travelled, but Loral seemed to know where we were heading.
Loral must have been nervous, I couldn’t remember the last time he had stayed silent for so long. With Luka and I not on speaking terms, the road trip went very slowly. When the sun was on its way back down again, Loral decided it was time to stop. He had eventually told us that we would reach Dunlap tomorrow. My teeth gnawed at my cheek. Loral unlocked a small shed off the road. We all trundled into the small room. There were two twin beds. I was in half a mind to force Luka and Loral to share. Loral stuffed the duffel bags under a bed and Luka put our bags on the other.
“Keep watch. I’m going to go hide the car. The bags are heavily warded, so don’t even try, Rina.”
He didn’t bother with my fake name when it was just me and Luka. Pfft, like a little
warding, had ever stopped me before. I stood awkwardly in the room waiting for him to leave. He gave me one last warning glare before making his escape. As soon as Loral left I ignored his warnings and pulled a bag from under the bed. Luka hovered above my shoulder. The bags looked unassuming enough. No one would spare them a second glance. I kneeled over it.
“Can you break the wards?”
After the incident with Judas I was terrified to use my Blood Magic again. It was clear I had been using it too often with Stella. I had nearly lost control and killed him.
“Yes, but it might take a while.”
“I’ll keep a look out.”
He gave me an encouraging nod, at least he was speaking to me now. Retrieving my dagger from its sheath on my thigh, I leaned the tip of the blade against the ward. It was stronger than his usual work. If I hadn’t been so experienced with Loral’s Magic they would have been impossible to break. I forced my will into the dome of power, searching for a weakness. It would have been easier had I spilled blood, but it seemed unwise to tempt fate. Loral was a skilled wardcrafter, but no one was perfect. I knew where the tiny imperfections in his signature lay. I found a tiny opening. Anyone else would have missed it. I pressed my knife against it until the ward fell. Salty sweat fell into my eyes and trickled down my back. Luka wasted no time in ripping open the bag.
I was lost for words. A gasp escaped Luka’s usually stoic expression.
Inside the bag lay hundreds of vials containing a bright red powder.
Traxxy.
The drug had flooded the streets of Nexus and Dunlap for many years, had destroyed people’s lives and families. It was insanely addictive and destroyed a Mage’s power to the point where they lost their minds. The wolf packs were the main traffickers. They fought over territory constantly. My time as a mercenary had often placed me in the middle of the drug wars, killing for whatever pack payed the most. A shiver ran down my spine. It wasn’t a time in my life I wanted to relive. I moved to the tiny bathroom.
Loral is making traxxy.
Even though I had made it my life’s work to break the Elect’s rules, there was something distasteful about dealing in traxxy. A sick feeling entered my stomach. How many lives had been destroyed at the rebellions hands? The line between good and bad was not as clear as I had thought. Luka didn’t seem shocked at the turn of events, how much was he keeping from me? I plastered a pleasant expression on my face and perched on the other bed. I locked up my feelings of mistrust. I would study them when I had a moment to myself. Loral came with our pre-packed bags of Elect approved rations from the car.
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