Beyond the Between

by Anna Webb

  “I couldn’t care less what you like,” Allyra said, getting to her feet and reaching over to rub her shoulder. She grimaced—he’d hit her hard and it hurt.

  “You’re actually not too bad,” Jason said conversationally.

  “Was that a compliment? Because, if so, you really need to work on it.”

  The grin dropped from Jason’s face, and he changed gears abruptly from amused to serious. It was like one mask slipping off and another taking its place. The ease and practice with which it happened made Allyra feel unbalanced and uncomfortable. She had to wonder: which mask was the real one?

  “I’m serious,” Jason said, a little annoyed.

  Allyra let out a huff of laughter. “So am I.”

  Jason shook his head. “Why do you always have to be so obstinately pigheaded? I’m trying to help here.”

  For a moment, Allyra could do nothing but stare at him in silence, her eyes widened incredulously. Then she started laughing—sarcastically. She pointed a finger at herself. “Me? Obstinate? Maybe take a look in the mirror before blurting out nonsense. How does the saying go? People in glass houses… Besides, I haven’t heard a single helpful thing come out your mouth yet.”

  He glared at her before throwing his baton across the room with uncharacteristic frustration.

  Allyra threw her arms up in exasperation. “And—there’s my proof. You’re just a stubborn child throwing your toys out of the cot.”

  He rounded on her, and she saw just how furious he was. It was quite an accomplishment for her—Jason usually had his emotions under tight and rigid control. “You are the most infuriating, obstinate—”

  “Said that already,” she interrupted cheerfully.

  “Obstinate, mulish person I’ve ever had the bad luck to come across. I don’t want you as a partner any more than you want me, but by some sadistic twist of fate, we’re stuck with each other. I’m just trying to make the best of it.”

  His words served only to help her cross the line from annoyed to angry. Now every bit as furious as he was, she shouted, “If you want to help, then help! Stop just talking about it!”

  “Fine!” he bit out, continuing to glare at her, his entire body taut with anger, like a cobra coiled and ready to strike. She met his eyes unflinchingly, refusing to give even an inch.

  Abruptly, the tension drained from him. “Fine,” he said again, softly this time. He backed away from her, never breaking eye contact until he was at the other end of the room. He leaned back against the wall, crossing his legs casually, now the very picture of cool nonchalance.

  “You aren’t too bad,” he said. “You’re quick, your strikes are mostly accurate, and your defense is pretty solid.”

  He paused, and his eyes narrowed as he studied her. She remained stoically silent. Why interrupt this wildly uncharacteristic delivery of compliments?

  “You’ve definitely improved,” he continued, his words slow and considered. “maybe due to your late-night excursions?”

  Allyra tried not to flinch—he’d known all along. So much for her efforts at sneaking around. Obviously, he’d mastered the art of faking sleep.

  “Maybe,” she replied dismissively, refusing to give any more away.

  “I don’t care who you spend your nights with. In fact, if it means you getting better at combat, then I’m all for it.”

  “Good to know,” she replied lightly. “Even if I didn’t ask.”

  “Regardless of how you might be achieving it, you are getting better. But there’s two things you are shockingly bad at.”

  Allyra raised her eyebrows but didn’t interrupt.

  “One,” Jason said, holding up a finger. “You are ridiculously naïve. You think everyone is playing by some set of honorable rules. And when they don’t, you stand there—all shocked and outraged, gaping like a fish, just waiting for your opponent to squash you.”

  “Not everyone who wins needs to fight dirty,” she retorted.

  “Oh, grow up, Allyra,” Jason snapped. “What do you think this is? Fencing at a gentlemen’s club, sipping tea and nibbling cucumber sandwiches? Weren’t you listening? There are no rules here, no judge, no jury, and no appeals. The Five Finals isn’t some honorable, civilized test of skill. It’s an underground fight club, a brawl to the death. And the sooner you realize it, the less likely we are to die.”

  The idealist in her wanted to argue, but the realist realized the truth in his words. The conflict was short and decisive—the realist won. She nodded. “Okay,” she said, short and simple, and moved on swiftly. “You said there were two things, what’s the second?”

  “You don’t know how to take a hit.”

  “Care to elaborate?” she asked, confused.

  “Winning a fight isn’t just about striking the final blow. You could be the fastest and the most accurate, you could even have the best defense, but none of it will matter if you don’t know how to take a hit. And you’ll definitely never win The Five Finals.

  “There are no weak Competitors here, we are the strongest of the Gifted. That means there’ll never be a fight where you won’t get hit. Someone will get through your defenses—that’s a sure thing. So, when it happens, you can’t let the pain paralyze you. Which, by the way, is exactly what you tend to do.”

  This time, she couldn’t resist the urge to argue. “Nonsense. I’ve been hit plenty of times and I don’t ever allow it to paralyze me.”

  “Yes, you do,” he replied emphatically. “There’s always a moment, after you get hit, when you stand there, all wide-eyed, like a deer caught in the headlights. Like you can’t quite believe anyone would have the audacity to actually strike you. In that moment, you offer your opponent the perfect opportunity to finish you off. And, trust me, if you give any of The Five Finals Competitors that opportunity, they’re going to take it, and once they do, you probably won’t be around to regret giving them the opportunity in the first place.”

  “Even if you’re right, it’s human instinct to react to pain.”

  “I agree,” Jason said lightly. “But right now, you react to pain like it’s your enemy.”

  “Yes, because I’m not a masochist. Like every other normal person, I generally try to avoid pain.”

  “Except you’re not just some normal person. You’re Gifted. And pain is not your enemy. Pain is strength, embrace it and allow it to feed your rage, your vengeance. Let it be the adrenaline rushing through your veins, make it your greatest weapon.”

  “That is an incredibly dark and rather twisted outlook on things.”

  “Do you want to win or not?”

  “I don’t want to turn into a sadistic psychopath like Don or Clara.” Or you, she added silently.

  “You’re still holding yourself apart, like you’re a visitor in this world. Like it or not, this is your reality now. And we all do what we need to in order to survive. By now, you should really know that better than most.”

  * * *

  There was still a memory of Alex waiting for her in the Council Chamber.

  The corridors were deserted, but Allyra wrapped silence around her like a cloak, using all of her Gifted stealth to get to the Council Chamber unseen. The Council Chamber was the only restricted space in the Training Grounds, and getting caught would surely earn her a few more laps around the Training Room or worse.

  Probably worse.

  As expected, two Sentinels appeared as she arrived at the door. Allyra offered her hand, palm up, waiting for them to go through the ritual of testing her blood. But instead of a dagger, the Sentinels drew two massive swords and crisscrossed them at her throat.

  Shocked, Allyra tried to back away but found the sharp point of a dagger digging painfully into her flesh, directly over her left kidney.

  Just as she was considering whether or not to panic, bright words written in flames seared across her vision.

  Speak.

  “I don’t know—” she started to say.

  Only those whose names are spoken may enter alone
. Now speak.

  As if to make their point, the point of the dagger pushed deeper into her.

  It was quite the dilemma. She’d walked into the Council Chamber without issue for the challenge, but that had been in the company of the Council Members. Obviously, it was the alone part that was currently the issue.

  “Hmmm, it looks like you’ve gotten yourself into a little bit of a bind here.”

  Allyra looked around and found Alex looking at her, an amused smile pulling at his lips.

  “What are they doing?” she croaked out, her neck stretched back uncomfortably to avoid the sharp edge of the Sentinel’s blade, which felt all too real against her throat.

  “They’re protecting the Council Chamber—it’s what they’ve been tasked to do. Only Council Members, Five Finals winners, and selected others are allowed access to any of the Great Halls without an escort.”

  Allyra took another shallow, careful breath, doing her best not to move, but her heart seemed to have taken up residence in her throat. And every adrenaline-fueled beat seemed to tap her throat against the sharp edge of the Sentinel’s blade. It didn’t help that the quick, shallow breaths she was forced to take were starting to make her feel lightheaded.

  “I’m not a Council Member, nor have I won The Five Finals. So, how do people get into the final category?” she asked, trying not to let the desperation seep into her voice.

  His mouth twitched with barely suppressed laughter. “I’m afraid that you’re not going to like the answer. Only an Elemental High Master may grant special access to someone. But that happens rarely, because why would just anyone need to get into any of the Great Halls unaccompanied?”

  He raised an eyebrow at her, studying her carefully. “For that matter, why are you trying to get into the Council Chamber alone?”

  “Can we get into the details once I’m out of danger of getting my throat slit?” she whispered, her sarcasm significantly dampened by her current circumstances.

  Alex took pity on her. “Just speak your name. If you’re supposed to be here, they’ll allow you in.”

  “And if I’m not?” Allyra asked, a sinking feeling in her stomach.

  “Then you’ll be here until one of the Council Members comes to release you.”

  That was going to be a fun explanation. Marcus was sure to enjoy seeing her squirm. She tried not to think of the type of punishment he would inflict upon her—it was sure to involve an immense amount of pain. On the plus side, she was probably going to have the whole night to come up with a good lie.

  “Allyra Warden,” she croaked out.

  Swiftly, with supernatural grace and speed, the Sentinels stepped back and bowed to her, the sword at her throat dissolving like mist under the midday sun.

  She slumped with relief, almost hyperventilating as she gratefully breathed in great lungsful of air.

  “How?”

  She looked up and found Alex studying her intently.

  “I know you’re participating in The Five Finals. That means you’re young. It also means—for lack of a better description—that you’re unimportant. So, how do you have access?”

  Her mind ran through the possibilities. She only knew two Elemental High Masters, and it certainly wasn’t Marcus who’d granted her this privilege—the last thing he’d want was for her to roam around, possibly discovering whatever secret he was trying to hide. Which left only one real solution, and as she looked into Alex’s inscrutable, fathomless blue eyes, Allyra knew it to be the truth. Sometime in this Alex’s future, once he became the Elemental High Master, he would speak her name and grant her this unprecedented access. The Sentinels were unbound by time, and therefore, her name and this privilege had been waiting for her for a hundred and fifty years.

  It was the real answer, but she couldn’t share it with Alex. This Alex, who was still haunted by his visions of the future, struggling to come to terms with his powerful Gift and who certainly didn’t trust her yet. He didn’t need the added pressure of knowing he would one day become the Elemental High Master. There was still a spark of youthful exuberance and carefree joy in his eyes, a spark that would be gone by the time he rescued her in the Between. She didn’t want to be the one to extinguish that fire, and she hoped fervently that she wouldn’t have to see the moment it was snuffed out.

  “Guess there’s an Elemental High Master out there that likes me,” she replied blithely.

  His mouth quirked into a half-smile as he continued to watch her thoughtfully, waiting for a more serious answer. When none were forthcoming, he shrugged gracefully. “So, want to tell me why you are trying to break into the Council Chamber?”

  She blushed, embarrassed, but forced the truth out. “I saw you before, in the Council Chamber, watching me. I wanted to find out why.”

  The half-smile turned into a real one, lighting up his face. “I’m flattered.”

  “Don’t read too much into it. I was also bored and restless.”

  His smile turned into a smirk. “In my world, the first answer is the only answer.”

  “Selective hearing—never a good trait to admit to.”

  He laughed, and she raised her eyebrows at him. “You’re more cheerful than usual,” she said. “Why are you here?”

  He grinned. “Come and see.”

  He offered his hand to the Sentinels, and once they had performed their check, the two of them walked through the open doors—

  Into a celebration.

  Applause surrounded her.

  The Council Chamber was filled with people, perhaps as many as twenty, all on their feet and applauding.

  She glanced at the front of the room, at the dais, and saw the five members of the Council. Four of them were applauding, the fifth accepting their congratulations. But before she could get a better look, the crowd surged forward, obstructing her view.

  Alex hung back with her, leaning against the wall, both looking toward the dais.

  “What are you celebrating?” she asked.

  A genuine smile crept across his face, chasing away the darkness that seemed to cloud him all too often. He’d never looked more handsome, and her heart clenched at seeing him so happy and carefree.

  “It’s my brother Thomas. He’s just been chosen as the new High Master of the Terra College, the youngest one ever chosen into the Council.”

  She smiled. “You’re proud of him.”

  “Yes,” Alex replied simply. “And grateful that I wasn’t born the eldest son. Thomas is much better at living up to my parents’ expectations.”

  Allyra turned and looked at him. In time, he would outshine his brother in every way, becoming not only the youngest chosen into the Council but into the lofty mantle of the Elemental High Master.

  “Isn’t this what you want?” she asked quietly.

  He huffed out a quick laugh. “No,” he said emphatically. “I want to see the world. I want to go to the ends of the Earth and know what true silence sounds like. I want to know if I can truly disappear.”

  Allyra wanted to tell him that he burned far too brightly to ever disappear.

  “I have to go,” Alex said quietly.

  She nodded.

  He started to leave before suddenly turning back. “Which Final?”

  “The First.”

  He hesitated for a moment. “You need to understand your fears. To survive the First Final, you’ll need to understand what it is that makes you afraid.”

  He gave her a final, wry smile, then turned, and walked away.

  Chapter 11 – Allyra

  The redwood trees towered over Allyra, so tall that the tops of them disappeared into the morning fog. She took a deep breath, relishing being in the fresh air after almost a month deep underground at the Training Grounds. It was still winter here at the Terra College, and the air was cool and damp with a wonderful earthy scent.

  It was time for the First Final, but Allyra couldn’t help but savor the sudden feeling of freedom. Her heart soared like a bird darting through the tre
etops, breaking through the wisps of mist and fog. She grinned.

  “What are you so happy about?” Jason snapped from beside her. He could always be counted on to put an instant damper on her good mood.

  “Would it kill you to take one moment to enjoy our magnificent surroundings?” Allyra retorted sarcastically.

  Jason shot her an incredulous stare.

  “Obviously not,” Allyra muttered under her breath.

  “Get your head in the game,” Jason demanded. “After this, they’re eliminating ten pairs, and trust me, even with our added advantage, we’re not exactly favorites to get through this.”

  And as far as she was concerned, the advantage they’d won from the challenge wasn’t much of an advantage at all. They hadn’t been given much information about the First Final beyond the fact that they would have to make it through a huge swath of the redwood forest. All the Competitors would be guided by their connection to the Wellsprings of their Elements located in the Combat Arena of the Terra College, but she and Jason had the added and rather dubious advantage of a map showing the geographical features that lay between them and the finish line.

  Except a map didn’t really make much of a difference when the purpose of the First Final was to examine a pair’s ability to survive mentally.

  * * *

  They hadn’t been in the forest for more than a couple of minutes when Allyra heard it—the fluttering of wings. Thousands upon thousands of wings coming together to form a single, constant sound. It filled her ears, her mind, and her body, brushing aside everything else.

  She knew what was coming.

  Phobias didn’t always make sense, and sometimes they might not have any logical point of origin. But more often than not, they took root in some childhood incident. And she knew exactly when her fear of wasps had taken root.

  It had been a warm spring day. She was eight years old, lying beneath a massive jacaranda tree waiting for Emma and Jamie. The funny thing was, she remembered the most incongruous things about that day—the early morning sunlight filtering through the branches of the jacaranda tree. The blue, cloudless sky and the pale lilac jacaranda blooms floating down to her. Most of all, she remembered feeling happy and content, up until the moment the peace was shattered.