by Sophia Sharp
“You’re not changing your mind about any of this, are you?” Hunter said dangerously.
“What? No! But I sometimes wonder if we’re going about it the right way.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, look. The elders are after me, and me only, right? They don’t know about Madison or Alexander. They definitely don’t know about Jacob. And they might not even know about you.”
“They know about me,” Hunter said.
“Fine. So they—”
“I’m tied to you, you know.”
Nora smiled weakly again. “I know. Thank you.”
“And no matter what happens, I will never let them do anything to you.” He took her head between his hands and lowered his forehead to touch hers. “I’m here for you, Nora, and you can’t forget that. Everything we do, we do together. There’s no turning back. And the only way forward – the only way any of us will get to live our lives as we want – is to keep going forward.”
“That’s what we’re doing, isn’t it? Trying to go forward? But we never know if we’re actually succeeding or not. Three weeks of searching have yielded nothing. Are we really moving forward? Or are we just running in place?”
“You can’t give up hope now. We’ve accomplished so much together—”
“And yet done so little. We’ve managed to run away, Hunter, and nothing more. We’ve delayed the inevitable, maybe. But who am I to think I can somehow influence the structure of power within the Vassiz?”
“It’s been prophesized.”
“I know. But that hasn’t been enough. Has it? I’m prophesized to bring down the elders. Or am I? Maybe we’ve misunderstood it all along. Maybe the prophecy is speaking of someone else. Maybe—”
“It speaks of you, Nora,” Hunter said, with immense conviction. “I am sure of it. You will lead us against the elders.”
Nora nodded. “I hope so. But it’s just…”
“A little overwhelming?”
Nora nodded, and Hunter laughed. “I know. You’re not going at it alone, you know. We’re all here with you. We’re all doing our best.”
“But what if our best isn’t good enough? What if we never find the repository? What then?”
“Then we will think of something else,” Hunter replied. “And if that doesn’t work, we’ll think of something else yet again. We can never back down. You swore to the angels to seek revenge. There’s no turning back for us after that.”
“For me, there isn’t,” Nora corrected. Then she added softly, “For you, there might be.”
Hunter stared up at her. “What are you talking about?”
“I’ve been thinking. It’s me the elders are looking for, not any of you. If you leave now, maybe all of you can get to safety.”
“You’re not serious?”
“I swear it.” Nora took a deep breath. She dreaded saying the words, but it was time Hunter heard them. “You’re only linked to me because you’ve been seen with me, Hunter. The elders aren’t worried about you. It’s me they’re after, and every day you stay here is another day for you to get caught. For any of us to get caught. I just don’t… I don’t want to see anybody get hurt because of me. If you leave, and take Madison and Alexander with you, I can keep searching here. At least that way, I’ll know all of you are safe. You can get on with your life and forget about me. If the elders do find me, then I’ll be the only one to suffer. But if I am really the one the prophecy spoke of, what difference will it make if I go at it alone or not? If I’m destined to succeed, I will. If we’re all wrong about the prophecy, well, at least I’m the only one who gets hurt. I’ll feel better knowing you’re safe.”
“Nora,” Hunter said gravely, “if you’re taken away from me… I will suffer. I don’t know what’s gotten into your mind lately, but I am not leaving you. No matter what you say. Madison and Alexander will feel the same way.”
“I thought that’s what you’d say,” Nora said. “But think! If—”
“No. Nora, do you understand me? No. I will not leave you here alone. None of us will. We’re all in this together. And nothing you can say will change that.”
“I just thought—”
“No! I’m not leaving you. Can’t you get that through your thick skull? I am staying here with you. I love you, Nora.”
Nora smiled sadly. “And I you, Hunter, but…”
“Just stop thinking,” he said simply. “Come here.” He took her in his arms and brought her close. Being held like that made Nora feel safe. Uncertain about the future, yes, but still safe.
“At what point do we decide we’ve searched long enough?” Nora asked after a few minutes of silence. “Maybe the repository isn’t even here. Maybe we’re just wasting our time.”
“That could be a possibility,” Hunter said slowly, “but I do not believe it to be the case. I think we’re getting closer every day.”
“To me, it seems like we’re going around in circles.”
“That’s not true. Today, I—”
“Found nothing, just like the rest of us.”
“No, that’s not true. I think… I may be getting closer.”
“You are?” Nora exclaimed. “Why didn’t you mention anything?”
“I didn’t want to raise false hopes until I was sure.”
“Oh.”
“And I can’t be sure until I see the repository with my own eyes. But I’ve heard some of the locals say the same thing too many times for it to be a coincidence. They all mention a building…that has stood in place for the entirety of their memory.”
“You think that might be it?”
“It may,” Hunter said carefully. “Rafael would not lead us astray. He believed it was here. So, despite how little progress you may think we’ve made so far, I think we’re getting closer.”
“What you found makes you believe that?”
“Yes. I’m going there again as soon as Jacob returns.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“No.”
Nora was taken aback by the harshness of his reply. “No? Why not?”
“It is too dangerous.”
“Too dangerous? What are you talking about? I’ve faced everything with you, Hunter, and proven my worth. I’m not afraid of what we might find there.”
“It’s not that, Nora.”
“Then what is it?”
“If we go together, we can attract unwanted attention. Especially if many of the locals know about the building. I remember what you told me about Selaine. How she kept guard over the archive? Perhaps there are similar people watching here. We don’t want to raise any suspicions. If I go alone, I can stake out the building, maybe even get inside, unseen. And while I don’t doubt your ability, or willingness, it’s easier for me to do this on my own.”
“Fine,” Nora grumbled. “But be careful. You’ll go tonight?”
“That’s the plan. And then if I find anything, I’ll be back to report it in the morning.”
Chapter Three
~A Little Drink~
Jacob hadn’t returned by the time Nora and Hunter got back to the tent. While that was somewhat worrying, Nora was thinking more about Hunter’s potential discovery. What if the building he found actually contained the repository? All the weeks of frustration and futile searching would be made worthwhile. And they would know as soon as the morning.
Despite the rule of waiting for everybody to return before setting out again, Nora let Hunter go before Jacob came back. There was no point in waiting now that they may have found the repository. Either way, the sooner they knew definitively, the better.
A few minutes after Hunter left, Nora nearly succumbed to the desire to trail after him. It didn’t matter that he made her promise not to – for her, the anxiety of not knowing was too much. After a watchful look from Madison, Nora thought better of the idea and remained in place.
So it was her, Madison, and Alexander together in the tent, waiting for Jacob to return. Usually, such inactivi
ty would have driven Nora crazy, but she knew Hunter was on the best lead they’d had since getting here. If anybody could find the repository by himself, it would be him.
Nora wondered what would be in the repository. Based on what Rafael said, there would be torrial there. Torrial, the mystical devices that drew upon the powers of the dream realm to grant the user supernatural power. Nora had used one herself, before she even knew what it was, when she opened the vault door together with Alexander in the mines. It was only later, when Rafael showed them his single torrial, that she realized the danger that came with using them unguided. The torrial formed a connection with its user, but if something untoward happened, whoever was using it risked losing their mind forever. It was not a pleasant thing to think about.
Unfortunately, using the torrial was essential. Without the devices, they would have no chance against the elders. With the devices in hand, they stood a chance at victory. A small chance, but it was there.
The uncertainty, of course, was in not knowing what kind of torrial they would find. What kind, or how many. It was entirely plausible that even if Hunter found the repository, none of the torrial inside would be of use. Or, even worse, nobody would know just how to use them, or what for. They were searching for a mystical weapon that might not even exist.
Now that they were potentially so much closer, Nora could wait. There was nothing else to do. She sat in the tent, patiently waiting for both Hunter and Jacob to return.
The sun had started to climb out from the horizon when Nora’s ears picked up the sound of someone approaching. She sprang out of the tent in an instant. In the distance, she saw two shapes approaching. One looked like Hunter, and the other…Jacob? But he was leaning over strangely, using Hunter’s shoulder for support.
“What do you see?” Alexander asked beside her. He had come out right after her, but his vision was not as sharp as hers. Neither was Madison’s. Nora had the best eyesight, and the most highly tuned senses, because of her recent feeding.
“It’s Hunter,” she said. “And Jacob’s with him. But it doesn’t look like he can walk on his own.”
“Is he hurt?” Madison asked, worry filling her voice. Jacob had been like a father to her once, and she trusted him with her life. She also cared deeply for him.
“No, it’s not that,” Nora said slowly. Now that the two figures had gotten closer, Nora thought she had a better understanding of what was going on. Jacob was leaning on Hunter for support, yes, but the way he walked was not like he was injured. Rather, it was like…like he was…drunk! Jacob stumbled from side to side, barely able to keep his head up. He kept motioning with his free hand at something in the distance, and Hunter looked like he was struggling to keep Jacob on course. “He looks like he’s had too much to drink!”
Alexander stepped beside Nora. “Yes, I think you’re right.” He squinted once, looked over to Madison, and gave a curt nod. “Yes, that’s definitely Jacob. I would recognize him in that condition anywhere.” With that, he turned around and promptly entered the tent.
“What was that about?” Nora asked curiously.
“Never mind,” Madison said. “Come on, Hunter looks like he could use some help.”
Madison hurried over to meet the two men, and Nora followed her. When they were within earshot, Hunter gave a cruel laugh.
“I found this one getting drunk in the pits,” he said. “The damn fool could have given us away!”
“I…away?” Jacob muttered. “Ha! I would not…either if I…wanted could…to you!”
Hunter rolled his eyes and hefted Jacob’s arm onto Madison’s shoulders. “He’s been talking about you the whole way back. Figured you might want to see him.”
Madison snorted. “In this condition? Hardly!” Despite what she said, she put her arm carefully around Jacob’s side and helped him forward. He was big, so he nearly toppled her over, but she steadied herself quickly. “Come on, Jacob, you’ve got to sober up.”
Jacob looked at her but didn’t seem to recognize what she said. Instead, he started going on about where he’d been. Madison led him away as Nora stood back with Hunter.
Once Madison and Jacob were a safe distance away, Nora turned to Hunter. “So?”
Hunter raised his eyebrows in mock indignation. “So? That’s all you have to say? I rescued our dear friend over there, and I don’t even get a thanks?”
“You can ask Madison for the accolades,” Nora said. “You’ll only get them from me if you found what you thought you would.”
“Well, then you’d better get ready to start singing my praises,” Hunter countered. “Because right before stumbling upon Jacob, I had a chance to check the building out.”
“And…?”
“And I think it’s exactly what we’ve been looking for.”
Nora gasped. “That’s amazing! So you...went inside? Checked it out? What was it like?”
“No, no, nothing like that,” Hunter said quickly. “The building is locked up. I could have gotten in, but it would have been impossible to do it without attracting attention.”
“Then how do you know it houses the repository?”
“Precisely because of the fact it was locked up,” Hunter said. “It’s in the middle of the slums. A really dirty part of town, filled with vagrants and cutpurses. All the buildings there are falling apart, but that one more than any other. However, it was the only one with a lock on the front door. Not only that, but the windows were all boarded up. I snapped the padlock on the front door easily, but behind it was another set of heavy, concrete doors. I couldn’t get past those by myself. From the looks of it, nobody had been there for generations, and yet, it was still heavily protected. Why? Who would lock up a dilapidated old building in the middle of the worst part of the city? No, there’s definitely something inside, and I would bet apples to gold it’s the repository.”
“That’s great,” Nora said. Her enthusiasm had dropped only slightly when she realized Hunter wasn’t one hundred percent sure it was the right building. Still, it put them in a better position than they were in yesterday, or any time before. “When can we go see?”
“We can go right now, if you want,” Hunter said. “Although I think we should let the others know, first.”
“Of course,” Nora said quickly. “That’s what I meant.”
They walked briskly to the tent, catching up to Madison and Jacob before reaching the entrance. Nora held the flaps open while Madison brought Jacob through. Hunter came in next.
“As I expected,” Alexander said unkindly, when he saw Jacob. “See, Madison, that’s why I did not want to involve him!”
“Okay, so he can sometimes have too much to drink,” Madison said exasperatedly, “but that does not mean he’s given us away.”
“I didn’t say that,” Alexander said levelly. “Just that the potential for him to do so is there.”
“Of course it was there,” Madison snapped, “just like it’s there for you, or me, or any of us! What matters is that he didn’t do it.”
“You can’t be sure of that,” Alexander replied coolly.
“I am! I trust him. He wouldn’t give us away!”
“Nobody can guarantee what comes out of a man’s mouth when he’s had too much to drink.”
“And nobody should raise false suspicions!”
Nora had had enough. “Stop it!” she yelled out. “Can we get away from the petty fighting? Please? Hunter has made a breakthrough!”
Alexander and Madison both stopped and looked at Hunter.
“Have you?” Madison asked. In a flash, her face become pure composure. “Is it what you thought, then?”
Hunter nodded. “I believe it is. I managed to get close enough to the building to inspect it.”
“And?” Alexander asked.
Jacob sat slouched over on the floor, leaning against one of the tent’s poles. “What did you find?”
“I believe what we are looking for is inside,” Hunter said. “Although the building is w
ell secured. It will take a few of us to break in.”
Alexander whistled through his teeth. “Three weeks of searching, and out of the blue, you come up with this? Remarkable!” He clapped Hunter on the back. “Well done!” He turned and looked at Nora. “When shall we go?”
“Right away,” Nora replied without pause. She had been waiting for this moment for an excruciatingly long time and wouldn’t let anything delay her.
“I do not think Jacob is in the proper condition right now,” Madison put in.
“You can stay with him,” Nora said. She thought Madison raised a questioning eyebrow in response, but it was gone as quickly as it came. Perhaps she imagined it. She was the one who was supposed to lead them, after all. “Alexander, you will come with Hunter and me. Madison, you’ll stay here and make sure Jacob is alright. How long do you think until he recovers?”
“Vassiz blood is strong,” Madison said with a grin. “It’s nothing like human blood. I’d say the effects of the alcohol will wear off completely in an hour. Two, at worst.”
“Good. We should be back by then.” She looked at Hunter to see if he agreed with her estimate, and he gave her a confirmatory nod. “If not, I don’t want you to come for us. Stay here. If we’re not back before nightfall, you’ll know something is wrong. I want you to take Jacob and get out of here.”
“I will not stand by while you let this rotten fool risk his life for you,” Madison said emphatically, with a glare at Alexander. Despite the words, her tone held a tiny bit of…mirth. “Neither will I run and hide should you find unexpected danger. We are in this together, Nora, and our wellbeing is our own responsibility, not yours.” She shook her head. “No, I will not leave with Jacob. I will wait till nightfall as you want, but should you not return, we will both go after you.”
“Do not be foolish,” Alexander began, but Madison spoke right over him.
“You would do the same for me, would you not? There is no honor in cowering in the shadows.”
“Fine,” Nora agreed quickly, not wanting to spark another of their congenial disagreements. “You can go if we don’t return by nightfall. But I doubt very much things will take that long. Right?”
