by Bryan Cohen
"You came for us. If we're mortal enemies, why didn't you leave us out there to die?"
Ted turned to walk backwards for a few paces. Razellia seemed to struggle with the answer.
"I didn't know I was saving a murderer."
Ted's eyes grew wide. "Is that what they've told you? I'm a killer? Do I look like I'm dangerous?"
Razellia stopped, so Natalie and Ted did as well. The woman with the gun shook her head. "Looks can be deceiving."
Natalie stared deep into Razellia's eyes. "This so-called killer would be in a worm's stomach if it wasn't for you. Does that seem like someone who should be on a wanted list?"
Razellia looked up to the sky as if she was saying a silent prayer. She withdrew her gun. "No." Razellia gave an almost imperceptible shake of her head. "There are a lot of lies here with truth mixed in. I don't know whether to trust you two or him."
Ted furrowed his brow. "Him?"
Razellia's attention was caught by something in the distance beyond Ted and Natalie. When he turned to see what it was, he couldn't help but be just as drawn. In the near distance, a pillar of smoke rose up into the air. Ted couldn't tell what the source was, but if he squinted his eyes enough, he could almost make out buildings.
"What's that?"
Razellia didn't speak, but Ted could tell she was holding her breath.
Natalie narrowed her eyes. "Razellia?"
She snapped out of it and began to run. "It's my village… Vella!"
As Ted watched her go, he thought he heard a scream in the direction of the smoke. He looked to Natalie for guidance.
She growled. "We should help."
Ted gave her a sidelong glance. "Are you sure?"
Natalie shook her head. "No." With that, she started running toward the source of the smoke. Ted followed suit.
As they got closer to the front gate, Ted spied just how thick the column of smoke actually was. Fire and ash spread through the air. The smell reminded him of the night the Go Home Alien movement bombed his house. Ted pushed down the images of his mother's burns and picked up his pace.
As they passed though the village's main archway, Ted noticed two guards slumped on the ground. They were motionless and lay in puddles of blood that seemed darker than the substance that coursed through his own veins. His efforts to catch up to Razellia and Natalie failed when his stab wound opened up again. He pressed his hand against the bandage and watched the others run out of sight.
The village slanted down from the point where he'd stopped, which gave him the perfect vantage to the carnage that was unfolding. He could see several men in the distance using a flamethrower of some kind to spread fire from house to house. At first, he thought they were riding horses, but a few blinks showed the truth.
"Lychos." His eyes grew wide. "They're riding Lychos."
Sure enough, he heard one of the creatures howl as his master whipped him in the side. The wolf-like beast ceased its rebellion and ran forward, slashing one of the villagers with its claws as it went. Ted shuddered. Without even meaning to do it, he felt his feet lift up off the ground. Ted looked around in every direction. He saw a broom standing up on the side of an untouched house. With a flick of his wrist, the handle toppled to the ground.
"None of them are looking at me." Ted clenched his fists. "Time to get to work."
He reached out with his powers to one of the fiery rooftops. Ted watched as three coconut-sized fireballs floated into the air. As he spread his fingers, the fiery projectiles slammed into three of the four raiders who were causing havoc. Their clothing caught on fire immediately, sending two out of three to the ground.
Ted smirked. "You're fired."
Free of their masters, the Lychos shook off their harnesses and dashed away. The third attacker and his noble steed were struck down by villagers who saw the tide beginning to turn. Surrounded by a pack of six farmers with sharp implements, the bandit didn't stand a chance. The remaining attacker galloped his Lychos at full speed toward the village's exit. As the man approached Ted's location, the living soul used his mind to lift the attacker about two stories into the air.
"I think it's high time you got outta here."
All of a sudden, Ted plummeted back to the ground. While his drop was only a few feet, the attacker and his beast fell straight down. The scream was higher-pitched than Ted had expected. The stone cracked beneath them, accompanied by the sound of bones shattering. Neither the attacker nor the Lychos survived the impact.
Before the pride could warm his body, Ted realized that dozens of people had gathered around him. They looked at the dead attacker who lay in the middle of the town market. Then they stared at Ted. He forced a smile and felt his body go cold.
Ted supposed that despite the good deed he'd just done, an enemy is an enemy.
Chapter 6
Natalie couldn't help it. When one of the villagers grabbed her by the arm, she reared back and clocked him in the face. The dark soul hadn't expected it in the slightest, and the wallop sent him to the ground in a hurry. Her pride overcame the stinging of her hand. She slammed her fist into two more villagers before they'd finally gotten her under control. Ted went much more quietly as they were led into a cell that barely gave them enough room to breathe. It reeked of sweat and rust, but at least it got them out of the sand for a little while.
Natalie forced Ted to sit in the corner so she'd have room to pace. She flexed her hand, which still ached from the blow she'd given the farmer who was unfortunate enough to lay his hands on her.
"So, let me get this straight." Natalie felt like steam was about to come out of her ears. "You realize you're going into a town where they want to kill the living soul, which is you. In case you've forgotten."
Ted rubbed at his nose. "I haven't."
Natalie continued her pacing. "And you go around showing off your powers in front of the whole freakin' town?"
Ted raised his eyebrows. "They were in trouble, Nat."
Natalie wanted to punch the wall, but she had a feeling she'd need her fist in top condition if they were going to get out of this one.
She growled. "Nice famous last words, Ted."
A few minutes later, several guards led them to a cavernous room with high ceilings that reminded Natalie of an old, stuffy church. It was large enough that all 200 villagers could sit inside. Natalie realized that this was a sort of public court and that they were the ones on trial. As they entered the room, any sort of chatter or conversation fell away. She hoped the eerie silence wasn't damning, as their footfalls echoed throughout the chamber. When the guards gestured for them to sit down, Natalie turned back for a moment to see Razellia in the front row. She supposed the little girl beside her was her daughter. Nobody in the room mimicked the girl's massive, gap-toothed smile.
When Natalie turned back ahead, she saw three unforgiving-looking men sit down in the front of the room. They looked like judges, and from their demeanor, Natalie guessed they'd given their fair share of death penalties. Ted tapped her on the shoulder. She suppressed her desire to rip his finger off and turned slightly toward him.
"You realize, anything you say can and will be used against you–"
"I'm sorry." He took a deep breath. "I'm gonna get us out of this."
Natalie's brow furrowed. "And how exactly are you going to do that?"
Ted grinned, showing off his dimples. "I'll just use my wit and intellect."
Natalie slumped back into the chair and tried to keep down her grumble so it wouldn't echo. "Great. We're screwed."
The man directly in front of Natalie held up his hand. It was calloused and covered in soot. She supposed he hadn't had much time to wash up between the attack and what she assumed was a trial.
"The tribunal seeks order."
As Natalie sat up straight, Ted mimicked her.
"Ted Finley and Natalie Dormer. You have been accused of crimes against the people."
The man let the words hang in the air for a few moments. Ted looked over at
Natalie, asking with his eyes if it was their turn to speak. She gave a light shake of the head.
The man continued. "If we were to treat you as the light souls have treated us in the past, then you'd already be dead."
Natalie chewed on the inside of her cheek.
"But, instead, we'll let you plead for your lives."
After several more seconds went by, Natalie gestured to Ted. "Better be some good intellect and wit."
Ted straightened his shirt and stood up. "Honorable tribunal, thank you for letting us speak." He swallowed. The sound reverberated throughout the room. "We implore you to let us go. After all, we've done nothing wrong."
Even Natalie couldn't have expected the violent outburst Ted's statement caused. Boos filled the room. When she turned, she saw several men and women spit with frustration. The only two people in the crowd who didn't seem to want to rip Ted's face off were Razellia and her daughter. A few more beats of anger went on until the man in the center of the tribunal restored order.
"Mr. Finley. The living soul has been responsible for hundreds of crimes against our people."
Ted cringed. "But, sir, I've only been on the job for a year."
More boos spread through the room. They didn't spread nearly as far before the judge put up his calloused hand once again.
He shook his head. "Can you honestly say that you've never attacked a member of our race?"
As Ted's eyes went down to his shoelaces, Natalie thought back to the battle in the caves. While she could argue self-defense, they were at least partly responsible for the deaths of three dark souls in that fight alone. Natalie never expected their reckoning day for those events would come.
The judge sighed. "Your eyes alone give it away, Mr. Finley. I'm afraid we'll have to sentence you to–"
"Tribunal, may I speak?"
Natalie turned around to see Razellia stand up. The woman's hand was still grasping the fingers of her daughter. Natalie wondered if Razellia was doing so to muster up the courage to defend them.
The judge gave an almost imperceptible nod.
"Thank you." Razellia let go of her daughter's hand and walked to the front of the room. "Nobody is questioning the crimes of the living soul."
Natalie sunk back in her chair.
I hope she's going somewhere with this.
"But Ted saved my daughter. And your children. The raiders will be back and with five times as many men." Her voice broke. "And we'll be powerless to stop them." Razellia pointed at Ted. "But with him, we stand a chance." She walked up to the center judge and put her hand on the podium. "Let him live so that he can protect us. When the bandits are dead, we can reconsider his sentence."
Natalie looked back to see what kind of effect Razellia's speech had on the other villagers. While most of them remained in the execution camp, a few parents nodded their agreement with Razellia. Natalie faced Razellia again and mouthed the words, "Thank you."
When the court adjourned without a decision, Natalie and Ted were placed back into the same cramped holding cell. Natalie knew that one or the both of them would've been put to death if it weren't for Razellia's intervention. A dark soul who'd had her gun pointed directly in their faces earlier in the day was now their greatest supporter in the village. Natalie wondered what other surprises were in store.
Ted tapped his fingers absently against the wall. The sound echoed throughout the tiny cell. The rhythm was more than annoying.
Natalie took Ted by the wrist. "Could you stop that? Things are bad enough as it is."
Ted frowned. "I thought I was fighting the forces of evil."
Natalie gave him a stink-eye. "With your fingers?"
Ted turned away from her, which was quite a feat in the box of a room. "Nigel. The Torellos. The gatekeeper. They were attacking innocent people, and I had to stop them."
Natalie nodded.
Ted took a deep breath. "But to hear that judge and those villagers, I killed their war heroes or something."
Before Natalie could process her thoughts on the matter, a knock came from door to the cell. Something unlatched and a small rectangular hole opened up on the door.
"Are you two alright?" Razellia's voice sounded more than hesitant.
Natalie wondered how much the mother was risking by sticking up for them. "We're okay. Though I wish we had a little more leg room."
Ted put his face closer to the door. "Has there been a decision?"
Though they only had a view of Razellia's mouth and chin, they could see her shaking her head.
"Soon."
Natalie was no fan of waiting. She cracked her knuckles. "Why'd you help us?"
Razellia let out a laugh that said she was either nervous or borderline crazy. "For the same reason I went out into the desert. As much as I hate to say it, I can't protect Vella alone. We need help, and despite all the bad blood, you two might fit the bill."
Ted raised one eyebrow. "So it wasn't because of our charming personalities?"
Razellia's mouth formed a smile through the door's opening. "My daughter thinks you're funny."
Natalie scrunched up her face. "Funny in the head?"
"Pretty much."
The sound of a large metal door opening echoed through the room. Razellia shut the opening before either of them could see what was going on. Natalie's fight-or-flight instinct kicked in, but there was nowhere to let the energy loose. If the court's decision went the wrong way, she and Ted wouldn't have even lasted two days on the other side of that portal. Ted must have sensed or shared in her nervousness, because he took her hand. While instinct told her to fling it away, she gripped it tighter instead. His hand was the only warmth in a cold situation. The latch to their door gave way and it opened outward.
Razellia looked disappointed but not devastated as she stood next to a scrawny jailer.
Natalie's heart did jumping jacks. "What did they decide?"
The dark soul's face reverted to neutral. "The decision has been delayed. After we've stopped the threat of the raiders, you'll be re-evaluated."
Razellia gestured for them to follow her. They walked toward what seemed like a back entrance. Natalie imagined not everyone in town was pleased with the tribunal's ruling.
Ted let go of Natalie's hand. "What are we supposed to do until they come back?"
Razellia sighed. "You'll live with me and my daughter. There's not going to be a lot of room."
Natalie looked back toward the cell they'd come from. "Believe me, it's an upgrade."
They came to the exit and Razellia looked both ways before taking the first step.
Ted tapped her on the shoulder. "Razellia, how am I going to stop the raiders this time if they're looking right at me? I'll be powerless."
Razellia let out a small huff and looked at the two of them. "Don't worry. You shouldn't have a problem. The raiders are light souls."
Chapter 7
Razellia had to ask six different neighbors before she found one who was willing to lend her the cots. She wanted to tell the fellow villagers who gave her dirty looks that this wasn't about her befriending the living soul. It was a matter of keeping their children alive.
Maybe they've already given up on that.
Ted and Natalie seemed grateful for her help. Aside from the lies about Ted's true identity, she hadn't detected a false note from them. Did they truly believe they were innocent in all of this? This was the line of questioning she had planned for their first dinner, but like most nights, her daughter Vella took center stage.
"So you're saying you can fly?"
Her eyes were like full moons, beaming their excitement out into the rest of the room. There wasn't much to their kitchen, or their house for that matter. Aside from a few craft projects involving dried husks and scrap wood, there was little in the way of ornamentation inside. It felt cramped with just the two of them Razellia imagined the problem would compound with four. But Vella was so happy to have company, Razellia opted to let go of her concerns about the close q
uarters.
Ted smiled. "What do you think?"
Vella stroked her chin like she had the longest beard of all time. "I think you've gotta show me!"
Ted gave Razellia an inquisitive look. She nodded.
"Alright, Vella. Close your eyes. And no peeking!"
Vella squeezed her eyes tight. Ted gestured for Razellia to do the same. She hesitated. Razellia still wasn't sure what he was capable of.
Natalie leaned toward her. "Don't worry. He's just going to do something stupid."
Razellia relented and closed her eyes.
Ted's voice filled the room. "Now, we're going to count to three. One, two, three!"
When she let her eyelids open, Ted was hovering about four feet off the ground. It looked as though he was suspended in time. Vella's mouth was wide open when he plummeted back into his chair. She could hear a slight cracking sound when he landed.
Vella clapped wildly as Ted put on an apologetic face.
"I'm so sorry, Razellia, I didn't think the chair would–"
Vella's laughter trumped any negative reaction Razellia could've had. She wondered when the last time was that she'd heard such happiness within these walls.
Razellia smirked. "I'll add it onto this month's rent."
Ted and Natalie grinned back. Maybe this arrangement would work out much better than she'd hoped.
Over the course of the next week, Razellia found a lot of things to like about Ted and Natalie. The strong-willed girl wouldn't let anybody push her around. During a short walk through town, several men howled at her and asked her to show some of that fiery spirit. They got way more than they bargained for. After Natalie broke one man's foot with a precisely-placed heel, the catcalling stopped for good. Natalie had also been instrumental in planning the counterattack against the light soul raiders. It all seemed like a game or a sport to her, and it was good to have a new set of eyes on the problem that'd been plaguing them for months.
Ted surprised Razellia. Being the living soul, she would've assumed he'd be in the thick of things as far as attack planning went. Instead, she saw a lot more kindness than cunning from him as his injuries healed. Seeing how much Razellia's daughter Vella enjoyed his company made her realize just how isolated the girl had been. No wonder she had an overactive imagination.
