Forbidden Entity: The Key ('The Key')

by Pia Philip

  Several hours later, the almost emptied nurses’ offices doors were flung open and in sauntered seven of the most powerful men in Latrex. He may not have known them but the air of importance and power that flowed around them gave him the impression that he was nothing compared to them. He slowly slunk back, cowering under their gaze. Their gaze flew over him and landed on Max who sat opposite him beside Alex’s bed.

  Alex lay motionless, if it wasn’t for the faint rise and fall of her chest he would’ve thought her dead. Her pale complexion didn’t help either. She looked like she was made of marble and half her body was covered in bandages. It had taken three nurses over an hour to stop the bleeding and fix her up. She was literally on deaths doorstep. If Thomas hadn’t ordered for the room to be evacuated unless an extreme emergency, she might not have survived.

  “Good evening sir,” Max said politely, his tone clipped. Although the men surrounding them exhumed an air of importance, Max neither coward or flinched as he spoke to them.

  “Would you mind explaining the situation to us in full detail,” Thomas asked politely. Sam had not noticed Thomas amongst the men that had walked in, but as soon as he spoke, the whole room acknowledged his presence, “Sam and Max had briefly told me about their story but not much. I would like if you told the whole High council of the circumstances we appear to be in.”

  Max seemed reluctant at first but when he saw the determination on Thomas’s face to find the truth. Alex had told him some things, he could probably be trusted. The rest of the High Council however he wasn’t so sure but he didn’t really have a choice in the matter. If they wanted to, they could rummage through his brain and extract the information by force. He decided to tell them by doses, to see how they would react to the information. He started to speak but before he was able to say a word, a high pitched scream sliced the silence in the room. Some cringed at the ungodly sound but all eyes averted to Alex who still lay in bed but with a terrified mask over her pretty features. She looked as if she was in pain. Sam reached out to touch her but she jerked from his touch as if she could sense him. He quickly withdrew his hand. Max leaned over her to see if anything was hurting her. Suddenly her body lurched forward as if something inside her was trying to escape. Everyone exchanged worried looks, some stepping closer to examine the patient. She was jerking awkwardly all over the bed her face screwed in agony. Sam felt a twang of a pain in his heart as he watched her suffer but have no idea of how to help her so he opted for her hand. Thankfully she let him hold it second time around. She gave pain filled shrieks as her body started to rise slowly but surely off the bed. She flipped her head from side to side as if she was getting slapped. A golden glow started to envelope her, almost immediately everyone stepped back. Sam let go of her hand and followed everyone’s actions as they took several steps away from the bed. Sam still remembered what happened the first time the lights had appeared. She had destroyed the one thing most thought indestructible, Water. He sneaked a glance at the other men in the room and saw a mixture of awe and confusion plastered on their faces.

  “Do you know what’s happening?” Thomas asked quietly. He watched as the glow completely engulfed her and stopped her jerky actions, “And what is that?”

  All eyes averted to where Thomas was pointing. Every face broke out in astonishment. Alex’s mark was out for everyone to see. It was glowing a golden heavenly color on her arm. It was transfixing to watch as the circles started to rotate around the symbol. One by one, the symbols engraved in the symbol started to change. As they watched the transformation, all the symbols that were printed on the walls started to change as well. It created a word, the word Angelonian.

  Gasps escaped from numerous mouths in the room.

  “She’s an Angelonian,” someone mused, “But how can that be, they died out even before the Ancients.”

  “Just who is she?” some asked, the same question racing through everyone’s head. Everyone turned their attention back to the mysterious girl.

  Alex was oblivious to the commotion she was creating around her. She was stuck in her mind. In her nightmare that she couldn’t escape no matter how much she wanted to. She was in a place with no light; no sense of hope was visible. Someone had reached for her hand but she pulled away, only to find herself shackled suddenly petrified at the idea of being defenseless she struggles against her bindings to no success. In a last bid for help she starts screaming for help until her throat was raw and her voice broke. Defeated, she let her body crumble to the ground and she shed silent tears. Just then, the doors were flung open and in sauntered her twisted father with a sickening smile on his face. He was enjoying her discomfort and pain.

  “If you had only listened to me Alison you wouldn’t be here now would you?” he asked. Alex could tell it was a rhetorical question so she didn’t reply, “If you had just joined us, you wouldn’t have been treated like a prisoner but the princess that you are.”

  Alex let out a bitter humorless laugh.

  “Well first things first, Father, my name is Alex not Alison,” she growled, her voice rough like she had sand paper lodged down her throat. “And second, there is no way in hells path that I would ever side with you.”

  Almost instantly, Lucifer’s face contorted in anger and Alex felt a hot white searing pain shoot through her body. She let out another scream of pain.

  “See, little Alex, I’m no longer giving you a choice, I am demanding you give me the key now or I will torture it out of you.” He said, evil dripping from his voice. She should’ve been scared. It was only logical to be scared but she wasn’t. She felt a strong surge of defiance.

  “What exactly is the key may I ask?” she said coolly, slightly arching an eyebrow. The symbol move brought on Lucifer’s anger. He struck her face and began unleashing his fury on her.

  “I will get the key!” he spat, “mark my word, even if I have to kill your precious little mother!”

  At the mention of her mother her own temper flared but before she could reply, he vanished and she was brought back to reality. Still groggy from what had just been her worst nightmare yet. Still groggy from sleep, Alex slowly sat up, resting on her elbows and the first thing she noticed was that she was no in her won. And she was not alone. Creating a semi-circle around her bed but staying a reproachful distance away were seven of the most powerful men she had ever sent. Even their presence was overwhelming. But they had to be there for a reason, didn’t they?

  “What’s going on?” She asked as she rubbed her eyes before fully sitting up. Something wasn’t right. They were all staring at her as if she had just grown two heads. She began to feel nervous as they scanned her face assessing her. Her eyes landed on Giorgio and Alex consciously stiffened before her eyes landed n Thomas’s familiar grey/bluish ones that sent warmth through her. Standing in front of him was Max and Sam who both looked perplexed. At what she had no idea but by the look they gave her she knew it was bad and instantly she banged down her mind shield, putting all effort into keeping it strong. She could feel someone or some people trying to get in and she didn’t appreciate the breach of personal space. She scowled at the seven men before they finally gave up their attacks on her brain. If they wanted answers they could have just asked her. She was ready to spill but she didn’t know how much and she was only ready for Thomas to hear out of the group. She sent Thomas a pointed look, trying to convey what she was saying in one look. He stared at her for a moment before nodding and motioning for the others to follow him as he left the three friends to themselves.

  “Where’s Zara?” Alex asked as she realized Zara wasn’t among her friends.

  “She wasn’t allowed to stay with us because she wasn’t considered close enough, they barely let Sam and me through,” Max complained. Alex took on the new information with a small nod, she knew that Zara would be waiting in the room anxiously for her return.

  “Is there anything else you might want to tell us, like you know- oh yeah, your ANGELONIAN!”

  Sam flinch
ed at the increase of voice but Alex frowned in disapproval.

  “What are you on about?” She asked genuinely confused.

  “Look at your arm Alex,” Sam said softly as he sat at the edge of her bed. Slowly, Alex lifted up her arm and saw that her marked arm was free of all bandages and that her mark had somehow changed. It took her a moment to realize what. Where the ancient runes used to be engraved inside the mark now sat English letters. And it said one word. Angelonian.

  Alex didn’t make the connection until she looked up at Sam’s mix matched eyes that showed understanding.

  The writing at the back of Crolonian.

  “OMG!” she cried out, her eyes widened with alarm, “you don’t think that I could be one. Do you?”

  “Oh, no, the fact that it’s branded on your arm doesn’t signify anything at all,” Max drawled sarcastically. Good to see the old Max back. Alex was going to reply with an equally sarcastic retort when the door was edged open. Instantly her defenses went up.

  “Who is and what do you want?” she asked scowling. She hated people who repeatedly breached her privacy rules.

  “We would like answers Miss Sondey,” Giorgio’s cold voice rang as he stood by the now ajar door. Alex could see several curious faces behind him as they tried to take another look at her as if she was an animal on display.

  “Well so do I,” she growled, “But I’m not going to say a single thing to anyone but Thomas.”

  “I’m sorry but we can’t do that, this is top priority and all the High council need to know,” He growled back as he narrowed his eyes.

  “Well too bad, right?” Alex said stubbornly. She knew she was being mean, but she really did not want to have a conversation with Giorgio Alexandra, especially one that could mean the end of her life.

  “Alexis dear, please try and co-operate with us,” Thomas’s soft voice nearly pleaded as he stepped into the room. He gently walked towards her and took one hand in his and smiled at her, “What about if you let two other members of the council come with me so that it won’t solely be me who has heard what you have to say because I’m afraid we can’t do that.”

  Alex regarded it for a moment before finally conceded. She found it hard to say no the old man.

  “Okay, but I get to choose who can come, “She said meekly, “I’ve got a lot to say and I don’t want anyone annoying or distracting me.

  Thomas looked at the others before finally nodding in agreement. Thomas took Alex’s hand as if she was a child and helped her out of the nurse’s office. She looked at Sam helplessly. He grabbed her hand and gave her a small reassuring squeeze. He had her back. They walked in silence, the High council following behind them.

  Alex grimaced as she anticipated how the scene would unfold with the news she was about to break

  Hell was about to break loose.

  Chapter 17

  “Can you please repeat that?” Thomas asked bewildered. Alex was grateful that he hadn’t killed her on the spot like she had expected. Thomas sat behind his desk with two others. Alex had chosen the friendliest looking of the high council. The fact that they happened to look like Santa clause and Zeus was complete and utter coincidence.

  “Erm, my father is Lucifer?” Alex replied meekly. She had tried to explain to them what was going on for the past half hour but they were still going over the first fact. The fact that she was Lucifer’s daughter proved hard to get through their thick skulls.

  “But how can that be? You’re an Angelonian,” ‘Santa clause’ look-a-like said.

  “Well her mum was Nikola Colin,” Max said as he rolled his eyes for the umpteenth time.

  “No, my mum’s name is Kate Sondey,” Alex corrected confused.

  “No Alex, your mum’s real name is Nikola Colin’s, she changed it to Kate Sondey when she left because she didn’t want to be traced and found although the electric mana that surrounds here was a give a way,” Max explained, “She ran away with you because she thought you would receive extreme prejudice from society but I don’t think she knew you were an Angelonian or she would’ve stayed in Latrex where you could be protected.”

  “Oh, like an identity change,” She said as she tried to understand what he was saying.

  “You’re Nikola’s child?” The Zeus look-a-like spoke for the first time, “Why that’s remarkable to think that two of the strongest bloodlines are flowing through you. But why on earth would Lucifer want you now when he had 15- sorry sixteen years to do so.”

  “I don’t know,” Alex admitted, “All I know is that they want the key that I supposedly hold and if my dream was correct, Lucifer said that he would torture it out of me if I don’t give it to him. He might even kill my mum.”

  Alex’s voice broke as she thought of her mother’s lifeless body on the cold floor of the dungeon.

  “You have to have more faith in Nikola Alex, if there was anyone who could beat death it would be your mother,” Thomas chuckled before growing serious, “We need to protect you. You have no idea how extraordinary you are, if the Dark side got hold of you, it could mean the end of us.”

  “I know, and I’ll do anything to help you,” Alex said bravely as she tightened her hold on Sam’s hand. He had stayed quietly beside her through the whole conversation but just his presence calmed her down. He ran his thumb over her knuckles and Alex gave him a thankful smile.

  “Well that’s good to hear, “Thomas said as he watched their interaction, “No all we need to do is come up with a plan to defeat the Dark Angels and keep them away from you.”

  Alex cleared her throat as she tried to force the words out.

  “I’ve actually got a plan but you might not like it.” She said as she avoided everyone’s gaze. She heard everyone groan in unison. By now everyone in the room was well aware of her stubborn streak and how she wouldn’t be budged from her decisions.

  “Let’s hear the train wreck,” Max muttered with a sigh. He was already thinking of several ways her plan would go wrong even though he hadn’t heard her yet so he was surprised by what came out her mouth.

  “I think you should use me as bait,” She said quickly as she shut her eyes tension building as she waited for their reaction.

  “WHAT!” everyone cried horrified at the idea.

  “I mean, they want me, so why not give me to them but you could like totally plan an ambush or follow me or something,” She said rushing to explain before they flat out refuse.

  “Alex, I think you’ve gone insane,” Sam said appalled at the idea. He could only imagine the things Lucifer would do to her, even if she was his daughter. From what he had been told, he was not a very nice person and got everything he wanted by any means possible and he would do every single one of them.

  “No, I haven’t, I mean, I think this could actually work,” Alex insisted in her usual stubborn manner, “When I was in the forest, I was captured by a group of people and this guy, Nick, I heard him say that they were going to take me to Lucifer to find out where his hide out was and then double cross him somehow.”

  Everyone looked at her doubtfully, they knew there was a chance that her plan would work, and they knew there was a really good chance actually, but the small percent of their mind that was against the idea held their tongues. They had too much at stake to gamble with her, if she was captured then there was no way they would win the war.

  “Don’t be like that; give it a chance, please.” Alex begged them.

  Finally, Thomas conceded as he saw the desperation in her eyes,

  “We’re going to have to speak with the rest of the High Council about this, the decision could either save us or destroy our civilization you’ve got to understand what this could do,” He said. He saw her whole body stiffen at the mention of the High council then relax as Sam gave her a look. He was grateful that Sam was there, he wasn’t sure how Alex could’ve acted if he wasn’t there to reassure her.

  Within seconds, the rest of the High Council poured into the room. They must’ve been close by. P
robably eavesdropping seemed habits didn’t skip generations or species. Thomas took the fastest route to briefly explaining their situations. Through the whole exchange, Giorgio kept his eyes trained on Alex who did not lift her face from Sam’s. She was trying extremely hard to not acknowledge Giorgio, why however evaded Thomas. He had tried to get in her mind, but her mind block was extremely strong.

  “I agree with the Angelonian, I think the plan could actually work if there were few adjustments,” Giorgio said surprising everyone present. He was known for his cold façade and tendencies to argue over everything.

  “Like what?” Max asked as he narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

  “We could use her as bait but we have to have a special task force created and she would have to be trained extremely because if she is to be bait, she has to be able to defend herself when the rest of the team come or they could easily recapture her,” Giorgio said as he explained his plan, “We would also need for her to have minimum contact with the other Angels, we don’t know who could find out about her and decide to do something irrational.”