It had to be true. He could now see the droplets of water that still clung to her brow, just below her damp hair. He noticed too how her clothing stuck in just the right places due to the moisture still lingering on the skin beneath.
“Well, it looks like your fine.” She shoved the paper into the pocket of her jeans and shook her head, sending a chilly drop of water from her hair flying until it found a home on his cheek. “He had me worried about you. Said your mind was distressed more than before. And don’t give me that look, you know he wasn’t in your head. It’s not his fault you broadcast your feelings like the evening news.”
“Why didn’t he come then?” Sky looked passed her and half expected to see the whole gang behind her. But no, she was alone.
“Because he knows I can handle things.” She took a step towards him and he defensively took a step back. “More people only complicate things when dealing with Furies.”
The word sent a firestorm into his stomach. “Well, I’m fine.” And he had been, but now, with her standing there, he could feel a pull in his veins, like his blood was too thick to flow. Zar was being quiet, but that scared him even more. “I just need to relax, and right now, I think I just need to be alone.”
She stepped closer yet again. He tried to back away, but his back was already up against the wall. “You look pasty. More then usual.” She squinted her eyes and advanced closer.
“I’m just really tired.” Images flashed into his mind, or were they memories? It was Sara that he saw, but it wasn’t. She was clearer, but with less detail. She was covered in blood, but it wasn’t hers. “I really think you need to go.”
Sara’s head tweaked to the side, her eyes trained on his, as if waiting for something. “Why?” Her hand landed on his chest, but retracted instantly, “You’re burning hot.” She resettled her hand and spread out her fingers, “Your heart’s racing.” Her brow furrowed in concern and concentration.
The sensation of her touch on his bare skin was what tipped the scale. The visions of pain flooded his mind again. Iko’s, thousands of them, screaming in anger and fear, humans were dying, writhing in agony as the Furies attacked their mind, body and soul. “Sara, go.”
“I can feel it.” She whispered, pressing her hand harder against his chest. “I’ve never heard of anything like this.” Her voice was a mixture of fear and intrigue, “It’s not a central point. It’s like, it’s a part of you.”
He meant to shove her back, to run away from her. It was her presence that was giving Zar power over him so all he had to do was run. He just needed to get away from her. His arms felt like lead as he lifted them, but he was able to wrap one hand around her shoulder and position the other one around her waist. His muscles tensed, ready to push, but her hand came up and touched his face.
“Sky, I can help you throu-”
Her words were cut off by his lips on hers. The switch had been so seamless he hadn’t even realized that he’d lost control…except for the fact that he would have never, ever kissed her. He knew the feeling of her fist in his face and wouldn’t have been one to invite it, but the punch never came. Instead, her hands held tight to him and pushed him back into the wall.
He expected the worst. He suspected the only reason Zar would keep him this close to his own consciousness was so that he feel every last bit of pain she inflicted, but her hands slid down his body gently until they rested delicately around his waist.
In an instant his senses were magnified to the point of near insanity. The slightest movement felt like an earth shattering event. He could feel the beat of her quickening heart through her skin, hear the shortness in her breath, he could even smell the water in her hair.
Fight it. He thought. He had to regain control.
All thoughts of pushing back against Zar were temporarily put on hold as Sara let out the slightest of sound that thundered in his ears when she pushed her body into his
Stop! He wanted to scream. What a marvelous plan this Fury had, using his feelings for Sara as a shield as he took hold of his body. Sky could feel it now. The fire in his blood.
He felt as his arms wrapped around her and she let them. Her hands slid up his back and he walked her back a few steps.
Open your eyes Sara! She should have been able to see that it wasn’t him, but there she was, staring at him and not seeing. Or, maybe she did know. Maybe she was just playing with the Fury.
Another kiss, gentler, teasing her. Lightly on her mouth, then her cheek, settling into her neck. “He likes you.” His voice, that wasn’t his voice echoed through his head.
Her face was so serene, with eyes closed and the slightest of smiles as his kisses danced around to the front of her throat. “Who? Lee? It’s not like that with him.”
The laughter that made its way out of his throat was enough to make her back up a step.
She would see him now, she had to. He could see the seal peaking out of her pocket. All she had to do was grab it.
“Sara, sweetheart,” He said slowly, stepping towards her. His hands cradled her face, forcing her to look into his eyes. “You’re far from home.”
Sky didn’t understand what that was supposed to mean, but the way her face dropped and her eyes widened he could only assume that she certainly did.
**********
What a fool she had been. Sara backed away slowly, her ice cold stare was betrayed by her shaking hands. How could this be? How could she have let this happen?
“Sara.” He said again, so smooth, so loving. “I have to admit, I’m a little jealous.” His hands reached out for her again. “You really liked this boy.”
“This can’t be.” She shook her head and squeezed her eyes shut, trying to get a bead on what a rational explanation would be. She felt his hands again, gently pulling at her arms. “You’re not real.”
“I am very real, sweetheart.” He breathed to her, “I’ve always been real.” He smoothed her hair back gently, kissing her forehead, kissing her cheeks. “Since I have him, we can play again. And now that you’re older, we can play big kid games.” He laughed, but there was an edge of disgust behind it.
“It wasn’t real. You were just my subconscious.” Was Sky playing a cruel trick on her? But how would he have known her old dreams? Maybe Lee was in on it too. “This isn’t funny.”
“It is a little bit. I mean, not, ha ha funny, but, you know, strange funny.” He backed away from her with a light step and a quick turn he sat himself down on the bed. “We were best friends, weren’t we sweetheart? Wasn’t I the one who listened to you, comforted you, made you laugh –“
“You were just a dream.” It had only been a few times, after her parents had been taken. She had cried herself to sleep outside of water.
“I was there for you when no one else was.” He stood and walked towards her, “You were so lost and afraid,” He circled around her like an animal closing in on its prey. “I’ve missed you.” He came up behind her, encasing her in his arms
“Why are you doing this?” She said weakly.
“Because, sweetheart, this is how it’s meant to be.”
She leaned back into him, remembering the nights that seemed like days, when nothing else mattered but never waking up.
“This is what he was made for. This is why you’re here, my little star.”
“I don’t understand,” She whispered, “What do you want from me?”
The body against hers became rigid and she felt the shift in the air. The energy around them became heavy and the hands that were once holding her gently tightened around her roughly. “Run, Sara.”
“Sky!” She stepped forward and turned, dazed and startled as if she was coming out of a dream.
“Please, just go.” Sky’s voice was strained and his face was twisted as he fought for every word.
“Fight him Sky.” She was an idiot. A weak, foolish idiot. “I’m so sorry.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about sweetheart.” He smiled smoothly at her, his voice calm and
steady. “But wow. He was getting pretty mad in there.” In a strange move, he actually backed up a step, away from her. “I’m sorry prince, but I’m afraid you can’t stay here any longer if you can’t be quiet.”
“No!” She screamed when she realized he was talking about Sky. She couldn’t lose him, not after she had sworn to protect him. She formed her hands into the only seal she could remember although her father had taught her so many. She never understood the things, she had thought seals and hand signs were just a silly waste of time.
It was only out of her own desperation that she could form any energy at all. She channeled it, formed it and shoved it in his direction, shouting, “Te solvo.”
She saw his eyes change for an instant, he was fighting so hard. She couldn’t let him down, not when he needed her. She formed her hands again, shifting her fingers into a more exact replica of what her father had shown her.
“Stop it Sara, you don’t know what you’re doing.” He had his hand clutched to his head, bending slightly with a look of struggle on his face.
She ran at him, not about to let the opportunity disappear. She shouted the words again as she shoved her formed hands against his chest. “Te solvo!”
His head snapped back and cracked loudly against the stone as he hit the wall. His body slid down slowly, his eyes rolling back.
She ran to his side, “Sky?” There was blood on the wall where his head had hit. She may have over done it.
Sky’s eyes came wide open, crazed and wild. She tensed, not sure who was in control. If she could only remember more. Why hadn’t she prepared for this?
He lunged forward, before she could react. His hands latched onto her waist. For a moment it was panic, Sky might have been lost, maybe forever. His hand went down into her pocket, but it was a second too late as she realized what he was going for.
“Sky don’t!” She screamed and tried to stop his hand from crushing the sloppy seal into his body.
His scream was probably the loudest thing she had ever heard. She wanted to yell for help, but his voice would be enough to bring all of the ships inhabitants.
She tried to hold him down, tried to stop him from thrashing about. The back of his head bled freely, the bones in his hands must have shattered as he slammed them repeatedly into the ground.
“You idiot!” She screamed into his face. “I didn’t use that for a reason!” She had written it so quickly, it couldn’t have been right. Would it do the trick, maybe, but at what cost? “Zeph!” She finally screamed, but it was lost in his shouts of agony. She wiped furiously at the tears that had started falling down her face, backing away from him.
Al was there at Sky’s side before she even realized she wasn’t alone in the room. “Skyden.” Al’s hands held Sky’s head to the ground and forced him to look at him. “Calm down.”
She couldn’t see it, but she could feel how Al had changed. His Telic powers flowing out, filling the room with a powerful tranquility that out weighed the terror.
Sky’s body tensed, but was still. His eyes blinked repeatedly as he fought for focus and his jaw was clenched so tight it was a wonder his teeth didn’t shatter. “It hurts.” He managed.
“Zeph’s coming. Just hold on.” Al’s voice was steady and deeper then she had ever heard it.
Sky inhaled sharply, but Al re-adjusted his grip on his head, dropping a hand to his chest, circumventing another outburst.
“Hang in there.” Al’s voice wavered just slightly, but not enough for Sky to notice.
Lee and the Captain were in the doorway next, pushing past her to claim their places at Sky’s side. Zero shoved his way in a few seconds after, placing a strong hand on Al’s back.
Her hands clenched, then released, and then clenched again. This was her fault. It didn’t have to be like this, she could have stopped it the second she saw him in the bathroom. She knew he was struggling, but she hadn’t wanted to face the actual reality of dealing with a Fury. And not just any Fury…why did it have to be him? Was she the reason the Fury had attacked Sky? Just to get to her? A hand clamped down heavily on her shoulder.
Startled, she turned to face Zeph. He looked at her, but said nothing. His look could have been taken as reassuring, but for all she knew, it could have been disappointment.
“Zeph,” The Captain pleaded, “Please.”
Everyone dispersed, giving Zeph plenty of room as he knelt beside Sky and brought him up into his arms.
Lee and Al gathered by her side. She wanted to run, “It’s my fault.” She swallowed hard, needing to face the blame.
She didn’t know whose arm went around her first, but before she realized what was happening she found herself surrounded by the comfort of Lee and Al.
“He’s stronger then you think. He cries like a baby, but it’s just how he copes.” Al smiled up at her.
“We all know you did what you could.” Lee nodded with a soft smile, “I know you do not realize it yet, but you did save him.” Lee looked back to Sky and she hoped it was true.
“Lee,” Zeph called over to him. “I need your brain poking skills. Roland,” He looked behind them to where Roland stood hovering in the doorway, “Find the infirmary. We’re gonna need to set up an IV with whatever sedatives we got on board.”
“Yes, sir.” Roland nodded and was back out of the room.
Sara and Al edged closer as Zeph lifted an unconscious Sky onto the bed. The Captain and Zero hovered near-by, but they gave Lee a wide birth as he approached.
“You need to remove whatever memories he just made of this last incident.” Zeph stared down intensely at Sky, holding tightly onto his shoulder.
Sara was as much relieved as she was horrified. “Why do you have to do that? If you want to know the trigger, it was me.” Al had two hands on her arm and was holding her in place, “You don’t have to erase his brain, I’ll just stay away from him.” She pleaded. It seemed so barbaric. But really, shouldn’t she be happy he would forget how weak she had been?
“No, that’s not it.” Zeph gestured for Lee to begin, “He was completely infiltrated. The next time the Fury comes calling he’ll have a direct rout to the center of Sky’s consciousness unless we erase his tracks.”
“Can you do that?” She asked to Lee, dreading the fact that he would see what had transpired between them.
“I just have to search for the darkness,” Lee let his fingers fall gently onto Sky’s sweat covered forehead.
Sara backed out of the room. She had failed at the one thing she was born to do. Granted, it wasn’t until a few hours ago she even believed Furies were still relevant, but that didn’t excuse her complete lack of usefulness.
“Hey,” Al stepped out after her, “Are you okay?”
“I did this.” She hugged her arms around her, staring into the room, “I had the chance to stop it…” her voice cracked.
Al shook his head and came towards her, “Stop blaming your self. You didn’t do this. Soul did.”
Back in the room Lee was stepping away from the bed. The Captain swooped in and pulled up the blankets around Sky, but left the arm nearest Zeph exposed. Lee’s eyes drifted over to meet hers, and she shrunk away from the questioning look he gave her.
She turned and started down the hallway, needing to get out of there.
“I’ll come with you.” Al was at her heels.
“I just want to be alone.” But he was still following her. Wasn’t he supposed to be Sky’s best friend? Shouldn’t he be at his side at this time of need? “What?” She turned with a bit too much anger.
Al stood behind her with a look of cold determination.
She retreated back, the way he stared at her was making her uncomfortable. “What?” She asked more desperately.
Al handed her the crude seal she had written. “Rinten is a genius when it comes to charms and seals, but he’s never dealt with a Fury before.” Al grabbed onto her hand as she took the paper from him. “Maybe you should give some thought to brushing up on what you know
. You might be the only one that can save him.”
Did he really believe that? She let him hold on to her hand a bit longer and took in his intense and determined air.
He did believe that.
Sara let herself stand up tall, feeling a surge of confidence flow through her veins.
Roland flew by them with an armful of clear bags.
“You have my word Al. I’m going to make this right.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
He didn’t know if it was day or night. It took him a long time just to figure out that he wasn’t in his room on Achaios, but on the Regan Fortuna.
Sky tried to blink, but he couldn’t actually feel his face. His vision was a dry blur without anything to focus on. His thirst was burning in his throat and his head was pounding.
“Calm down.” There was a soothing, melodic voice echoing in his ears and his mind began to relax.
There was a boy sitting by his bed, but he didn’t think he had been the origin of the voice. This boy, no older then twelve, he had never seen before – with dull reddish brown hair, ashen skin and deep set eyes that were highlighted by dark purple and black circles.
“It no use.” The little zombie boy said. “His memories been wiped.”
“Why are they doing this to him?” That deep, soothing voice went bouncing through his skull again. It was a voice he almost recognized.
“Because, Zar went too far. I should have used a weaker one.”
Sky wanted to bolt upright and scream. That last voice was most certainly was the voice of Soul. He tried desperately to move his head to confirm his suspicion, but his body might as well been made of lead.
The zombie boy was suddenly gone from his line of site which sent a trill of fright up his spine. Were they really there at all? Was he dreaming…or had he finally lost his mind?
“Can you teach him?” Soul’s voice came again.
“I can try. I don’t know how much he’ll retain with the amount of crap their pumping into him right now.” Was it Con? Yes, the voice with the calming edge, it had to be Con.
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