Fractured Truth

by Rachel McClellan

  I reached the door. Just beyond it was the sound of water sloshing against concrete. I moved onto all fours until I could turn the doorknob.

  Locked.

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  What a crap hole of a night. I tried the doorknob again. Still locked, and I didn’t have the strength to break it. A strangled sob burst from my lungs. I wanted to scream, to kick the door, shake it. This can’t be happening!

  As I looked up, something caught my eye. A shadow had shifted to my left, silencing my whimpers. I frantically glanced around, hoping it was just a trick of the light. The last thing on earth I wanted to face right now was the Shadow.

  I carefully turned over and slid my back into the corner. And watched. Very little light from the hallway reached the area near the door, but enough to see that I was alone. Unless the Shadow was hiding in the darkness, watching, waiting for me to make a move.

  My gaze slowly went to the doorknob. Maybe I could do the same light trick I’d done before. And fast.

  With a shaky hand, I produced Light and guided it into the doorknob, but the second it touched the metal, my Light evaporated. I tried several more times, tension in the air growing, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t create a tangible ball of Light. I simply didn’t have the strength.

  My anxiety grew when voices echoed from down the other hall. I only had one possible option left. And that was to connect with Liam. Tell him how many Vykens there were, to get help before coming. I only hoped he wouldn’t do what I thought he would: rush in here without waiting for backup. It would get him killed.

  The door clicked. I looked up at it, surprised. Did it just unlock? I reached up and turned the knob. How did that happen?

  The voices grew louder. One of them sounded like Christian.

  I scooted to the other side of the door and opened it. No one was inside. Just an oddly shaped concrete closet that smelled of rust and mold. A few steps down, dark water moved slowly from side to side. I quickly crawled in and closed the door, breathing heavily. A ball of Light ignited in my hand, illuminating the small space. A few seconds later it went out, but this gave me enough time to examine the cold room. It must have been some kind of overflow system for the canal, or maybe at one point the warehouse used the water for a purpose I would never know.

  Carefully and slowly, I inched my way down the steps until my feet touched water. A shiver erupted all over me, making my body ache. The water was freezing, reminding me of the time I fell through the ice at a bonfire party at Highland High School in Utah. I nearly died, but Christian had saved me.

  I pushed the memory aside and slid the rest of the way into the water, more like a bucket of ice. The water was colder than I expected. Maybe it would kill me. Whatever. There was no going back now. At least my bones didn’t hurt as much now that I was practically weightless.

  I dunked my head a couple of feet under the murky surface. As soon as I was submerged, I created more Light to look around. The bottom looked to be about ten feet down. In front of me I was surprised to discover a narrow tunnel also full of water. I couldn’t tell how far it went, which made me nervous, but it had to lead to the canal. And my freedom.

  I resurfaced. Time to contact Liam.

  I concentrated hard with what little Light I had left. The top of my head tingled, slightly warming my frozen skin. Liam, I thought and gasped. Just that one word took great effort. I took my time thinking through my next words, as I had to breathe deeply between each one. Escaping warehouse. Water tunnel leads to canal. Find me.

  I waited a full minute in the cold dark, hoping for some kind of response. Nothing came. Had he even received it?

  I tried one last time. Again I felt Light tingle my head. Liam?

  Nothing.

  Liam? Deep breath. Need you.

  Still there was no response. I was on my own.

  This realization terrified me, but there wasn’t time to feel sorry for myself. My limbs were beginning to stiffen because of the cold, and that’s the last thing I needed on top of my other injuries.

  I inhaled deeply until my lungs were full and then dove into the water at the same time I created Light. It shined through the darkness of the tunnel. I swam into it as hard as my limbs would permit. The tunnel was wide, but not wide enough that I could get a full range of motion with my arms. This hindered my progress, but I kept my focus on finding the end.

  Any second now.

  It should be here.

  My ball of Light dissipated. I created another one and continued to swim. Count to five. The end would come. Five came and went. My lungs began to burn. Where was the end? My Light flickered again. And then it went out. No matter how hard I tried I couldn’t bring it back.

  This is when I began to panic. I was alone. In the dark. And under water. Last time this happened it didn’t turn out well.

  I kept swimming and searching for an end, but only darkness lay ahead. Was I swimming toward my death? It sure felt like it, especially the way my lungs were burning. Too bad Tessa wasn’t with me. She’d saved me once before from drowning when I was trying to flee a Vyken. Her secret ability to breathe underwater could really help me about now. The last bit of air in my lungs bubbled from my lips.

  Liam, I thought. Out. Air.

  Instincts kicked in, and I sucked in, my lungs filling with water. In just a few more seconds my body would probably stop moving. I kept fighting. There was still a chance. I recalled how Light had kept me alive when I’d fallen through the ice on the lake. It had been a pleasant experience. My body was frozen in what looked like an underwater tropical garden, fish slowly moving almost as if they were flying. There’d been just enough light for the beautiful scene to comfort me as I drifted along until Christian came to save me.

  But this time, when my body stopped moving, there was no beautiful imagery. Only darkness, pressing against every part of me. If hell existed, this was it.

  Help me, I thought again, praying that my thoughts were making it to Liam.

  I closed my eyes as if to protect the last of my Light. I felt its smallness clinging to my most vital organs, protecting them in a warm embrace.

  “Liam.”

  A swooshing movement of water rushed over me, and I wondered if I’d finally reached the end of the tunnel. Then all was still. Except for the sounds. Most of them were unfamiliar and distorted by water moving in and out of my ears. I closed them off, leaving only my thoughts to Liam. A one-way conversation, but comforting nevertheless.

  You saved me, Liam. My soul. If you didn’t . . . I can only imagine the stain I would’ve left on this earth. The blood, the carnage. I would’ve enjoyed the power. I was rambling, but couldn’t stop. My thoughts were all that was left, and I felt it important to keep thinking, to keep sending out messages to Liam.

  And so I continued to think, whatever came to my mind. Some of it made sense, some of it didn’t. At one point I think I counted to a hundred. But my thoughts always came back to Liam.

  You’re coming. I know you are. I don’t doubt. We are connected.

  I couldn’t feel my body, no sensations, no smell, not even sounds anymore. My Light was fading, yet still I didn’t doubt.

  I want to go to New Zealand. And India. They have elephants that can paint. I would like to see that. You must promise to take me there. And May. She loves elephants. And then we must go to Ireland. To the Cliffs of Moher and sing an Irish tale. It would be a happy song. I would like that. We need—

  All of a sudden I was screaming at the top of my lungs. I knew it was me because I felt the air burning my insides.

  “I’ve got you,” Liam said, his voice hurried.

  I didn’t see him, but he was there. When all the air was gone, blackness returned. The last thing I remember thinking before I succumbed to it was, “I knew you would.”

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  Every second was a constant battle. I had to wake up, I told myself. I had to heal so I could go back and rescue the others. But if I woke up and retur
ned, I’d have to face Christian. And the Vykens who nearly killed me. Anger would consume me. As it was, it was already raging inside, wanting to kill every living thing. It told me that I would feel better if I did this. Maybe I would.

  Light was also there in that dark world. Its voice was quieter, reminding me of my potential, of all the good I could still do in my life. It showed me Uncle Jake, Sophie, my friends, and of course Liam. It was Light’s gentle persuasion telling me that if I didn’t wake up and face my fears, the people I loved would die.

  But this wasn’t enough to wake me just yet because I didn’t know how to save them. Our numbers were too few, and there wasn’t enough time to get the others ready for such a battle. Sophie had to know this. So why would she help me escape, then tell me to come back and sneak her and the others out? There had to be a way.

  I thought about this for a long time. Then, finally, an idea came to me. A really good one, and there was hope. My fears were still there, but there was hope and that was enough.

  My senses returned, starting with smell. Vanilla and smoke. Candles were burning. My hearing came next. Someone was in the room breathing softly. I thought they might be asleep, but every minute or so they shifted in what sounded like a leather chair. They were restless.

  I became aware of my body. I was lying on a bed. There was still pain, a deep ache that reached my bones. Starting slowly, I moved my left finger, followed by the others. Not too bad.

  “Llona?”

  It was Liam. I hadn’t doubted that it would be anyone else. I opened my eyes.

  I was in my own room. The window was open, letting in the cool night air. An IV bag was hanging above me, a long tube running from its bottom and into my arm. I turned my head to look at Liam; my neck was stiff.

  He was sitting next to me, leaning over the bed. There was wariness in his expression, a pained confusion lurking behind his green eyes. I opened my hand. He slid his cool fingers over mine. We stayed like that for a short while, neither of us saying a word.

  My silence helped gather my strength. I gripped his hand tightly and breathed in deeply as I willed painful memories away. He held my hand just as tightly, almost as if he was afraid I might disappear.

  “How long have I been out for?” I finally asked. My words felt like sandpaper in my mouth.

  Liam handed me a glass of water and helped me to sit up. My body was sore and stiff, but movable.

  “A week.”

  I choked on the water going down my throat. “A week?”

  Hopelessness washed over me as I imagined all the horrible things that could’ve happened to Sophie and the others during that time.

  “It was the worst week of my life,” he whispered and tightened his grip. “I heard you.”

  “Heard me?”

  “Everything.” He brushed his thumb across the top of my hand. “After you left with Christian, I got your first message saying you were in the car, but then nothing for almost two full days. I was terrified and was ready to storm the warehouse, hoping I’d find you there, but then you called out to me.”

  “You heard me?” I asked incredulously.

  “Every word. I tried answering you back, but after a while realized you couldn’t hear me.” He inhaled deeply, and I swore his eyes teared, but he blinked them away. “I’ve never felt so helpless in all my life. I couldn’t even comfort you!”

  “But you found me.”

  “Barely. As soon as you said you were in a water tunnel, I jumped in the car with Dr. Han and started driving. When you started rambling, I knew you were fading fast so I left the car and used wind to get to you. It felt like forever. I finally reached the canal by the warehouse and was frantic, running up and down the bank, jumping in and out at different points. It wasn’t until I stopped and really focused on your thoughts that I finally found you. Your condition . . .” He couldn’t finish the words.

  I looked away, unable to see the pain in his face. It mirrored my own.

  “Dr. Han came shortly after. He thought you were dead. I would’ve too, but I could still hear you, just barely. You started screaming when we finally revived you, and then you were just out. Gone. I couldn’t even hear your thoughts anymore. It scared me.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “No, I’m sorry. I should never have agreed to your plan.”

  “But it was the only way.”

  At this he looked down; his eyes focused on our hands. “Can you tell me what happened?”

  His jaw flexed, as did every muscle in his body. I turned away from his anger, but I still felt it radiating off him. I had to be careful what I said. “For now, Liam, just know that I found the others, and May and Sophie. Sophie managed to sneak me a knife, and I used it to escape.”

  “Then we’ll go get them. Today.”

  “It’s not that simple. The warehouse is full of Vykens—hundreds of them, and they’re all eager for a fight.”

  “Then we’ll give them one. The Deific has men—”

  “How many will they give us? A dozen, two dozen?”

  “I know a lot of humans: cops, military people. They will help.”

  “How? By blowing up a bunch of things? Wouldn’t that call a lot of attention to a world we’re trying to keep secret?”

  “Then we’ll ask the”—he seemed to choke on the next word—“Lycans.”

  “They would be helpful, but are there enough of them?”

  “And we have Auras.”

  “They’re not ready for something like this.”

  He shook his head. “I wouldn’t say that just yet. Something happened when they saw you a week ago. We brought you in while students were going to breakfast. We didn’t mean for them to see you, but, honestly, it was the last thing I was worried about.”

  I cringed at the thought of them seeing me so close to death. “What happened?”

  “Every single Aura has signed up to learn how to fight. There’s so many that classes go well into the night. More Guardians have been called in to train them. I’ve never witnessed a transformation like this. It’s remarkable.”

  “I would like to see it.”

  “It won’t be long now before we’ll have a group big enough to save the others.”

  I looked him straight in the eyes. “I have a better plan, one that requires no bloodshed. Hopefully.”

  Liam looked skeptical. “What is it?”

  “I’ll tell you, but there’s someone I need to talk to first.”

  “Who?”

  “Tessa.”

  TWENTY-NINE

  I waited alone for Liam to return with Tessa. The forest’s breath blew in from the open window, smelling of earth and pine.

  “You’re making a habit out of this,” Tessa said and hurried into the room to give me a hug. Liam walked in behind her but stayed back.

  Though it was still dark outside, the sky was just beginning to gray. The sun would come up soon. I glanced away from the window and to Tessa. “Thanks for coming so early.”

  “You look much better.” She sat in the chair Liam had been in moments before. “This one really scared me, Llona. It scared all of us.”

  “I’m fine now, though.” I wouldn’t ever admit how close I’d actually come to death. If Liam hadn’t heard me . . .

  “Can I get you anything? Water? Chocolate? A hot, shirtless Brazilian?” She looked back at Liam and winked.

  “Very funny. I’ll leave you two alone.” He walked out and closed the door behind him.

  I laughed and then grimaced. My ribs still ached. “I’ll take a rain check on the Brazilian, but first I need to tell you something before anyone else.”

  “What is it?”

  “I found the other girls, May and Sophie too.” Tessa’s face lit up, but I continued. “They’re in the basement of the warehouse where I was taken.”

  “The same one you went to with Liam?”

  I nodded.

  “Then let’s go save them! We can get them today.”

  “There’s
no way. The place is full of Vykens. If we go in there, someone’s bound to die, and I don’t think I can handle any more death, especially from people I love.”

  “So what do you suggest?”

  “Did Liam tell you how I escaped?”

  She shook her head.

  “Christian was there—”

  “He let this happen to you?” she said, her voice loud.

  “He did this to me. But he let me see Sophie,” I continued. “She told me about an underwater tunnel that led to a canal outside. It was a way to escape.”

  Tessa leaned back, understanding coming over her face.

  “I went into that tunnel, Tessa. And I ran out of air. It’s too long.”

  “That’s why you wanted me.”

  I spoke quickly. “I figure if we can get some of us back into that tunnel, then there’s a good chance we can get everyone out without Vykens knowing we were even there.”

  “You know what you’re asking me to do, right?”

  “I know.”

  “No one knows about Lizens’ ability to breathe underwater, Llona. No one. It’s the only thing we’ve managed to keep all our own. Besides, this isn’t just my secret. If it were, I’d gladly give it up. But the others . . . they’ve been keeping this secret for hundreds of years. I can’t just expose them.”

  “Then will you ask them?”

  Her eyes lowered. “Of course. I want May and the others back just as much as you do.”

  “And what if the Lizens say no?”

  “Then I’ll just take you. When you’re better, of course.”

  “That’s too dangerous.”

  She raised her hand in a stopping motion and stood up. “Let’s see what they say first before we tackle plan B. You rest, and I’ll go speak with the Elders.”

  “Elders?”

  “Just like Auras, we also have our leaders, but not many know this.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “I think there’s a lot we don’t know about Lizens.”

  She grinned, and I swore I saw the thin strip of scales on the side of her face shimmer.