Run To Earth (Power of Four)

by Mazhar, S

  Ryan’s expression darkened. “He chose to forsake his purity,” he said. “He consented to change. It’s what made all the difference. He wanted to become a demon.” He straightened up, looking like he was making an effort to keep calm. “For normal mages, though, it’s pretty straight forward. You get bitten by a Lycan or a vampire, you’re going to die – unless you have a friend like Kyran and a girlfriend like Zhi-Jiya who’ll get you to an Empath in time.”

  “How do they help?” Sam asked. “I mean, do the Empaths have, like...like, an antibiotic to fight the virus?”

  It was Ryan’s turn to look confused. “Antibio-what?”

  “He means like an antidote,” Aaron explained. “Something that kills the virus.”

  “Oh.” Ryan smiled wryly. “Yeah, I wish.” He took a sip from his mug. “Nah, it’s the old painful way of flushing the virus out.”

  “Drinking lots of water?” Sam asked.

  Ryan frowned at him. “That’s painful for you, is it?” he asked. With an annoyed shake of his head, he continued, “The virus has to be drained out of you.” He grimaced. “Trust me, it feels a whole lot less fun that it sounds.”

  Aaron didn’t want to even imagine how a virus would be flushed out of a body. “Sorry, Ryan,” he said.

  “It’s fine.” Ryan smiled back. “It’s not the first or last time that I’ll be having deadly viruses pulled out of me.” He winked at Aaron. “Occupational hazard.”

  Aaron smiled, until he caught sight of his mum, standing talking with his dad and Drake. They seemed engrossed in their discussion. Aaron stared at his mum, watching as the lines deepened on her brow and the corners of her mouth dropped. He couldn’t hear what was being said, and lip reading was never a strong suit of his, but Aaron could tell the conversation was a sour one. His mum held up a hand, objecting to whatever it was Drake had said. Drake, Aaron noticed, kept going regardless. With clear agitation, Kate looked away, rolling her eyes and pressing her lips together to bite back her words. Her gaze caught something and, in an instant, her expression changed. Her eyes widened and slowly the colour drained from her face. Her mouth opened in a breathless gasp. Aaron followed his mum’s gaze, to find it on Kyran as he sat talking quietly with Ella. Aaron turned back to his mum, to see her gaping at Kyran with disbelief. She even shook her head a little, as if in denial.

  “What’s wrong with your mum?” Sam asked.

  “No idea,” Aaron replied.

  He looked back at Kyran, to see him nod to whatever it was Ella was saying. Kyran turned his head and that’s when he saw Kate. For the second time that day, Aaron saw that strange, unnamed emotion flicker in Kyran’s eyes. Slowly, Kate began walking towards the table, her eyes on Kyran the whole time. Chris and Drake followed behind her.

  Time seemed to have slowed down, for it took Kate ages to get to the table. Kyran, Aaron noted, kept his attention on the approaching trio, his eyes growing fiercer with every passing minute. They finally came to sit, taking seats across from Kyran, ignoring Aaron completely. When Kate spoke, her voice trembled – something Aaron had never before witnessed. “You...you must be...Kyran,” she said.

  “Kate Adams,” Kyran said and she bristled, as if his voice had pricked her skin with needles. “You couldn’t possibly be anyone else.” Kyran smiled but, to Aaron, it seemed like an awfully empty one.

  “My husband mentioned...” Kate paused before shaking her head, her brows knitted. “You seem...very familiar.”

  Kyran raised his eyebrows but the smile that twisted his lips was an ugly one. “Oh? How’s that?”

  Kate didn’t answer right away. She took her time, studying every inch of Kyran’s face. “You remind me of...of someone.”

  “I would have to agree,” a deep voice said. Everyone turned to see Neriah approach the table but the leader of the mages had eyes only for Kyran. “The resemblance is uncanny,” he said. He pulled out a chair and sat down. “I believe we’ve not met,” he said to Kyran. “Neriah Afton,” he introduced with a nod.

  Kyran smiled too, but his eyes remained cold. “An introduction is hardly necessary,” he said. “I don’t think there’s a being in this realm who doesn’t know who you are.” He held a hand to his chest. “Kyran.”

  “I’ve heard a lot about you, Kyran,” Neriah said, unfolding the napkin to lift out the cutlery. “Scott speaks very highly of you. He’s told me about some of your impressive hunts.”

  “They’re nothing compared to the legends of Neriah,” Kyran replied. “I think it’s safe to say you still wear the crown.”

  It was the tone with which Kyran spoke that made his words sound more like a jibe than praise. Neriah didn’t miss it either.

  “A thirst to prove yourself?” He nodded. “It’s good – makes you work harder.”

  “Isn’t it fools who waste time working harder?” Kyran asked. “I thought it was the ones who worked differently that secured success?”

  Aaron heard his dad’s choked gasp but he kept his eyes on Neriah, watching as his expression stayed the same but something flickered in his violet eyes. He tilted his head a fraction and pointed his fork at Kyran.

  “What did you say your surname was?”

  “I didn’t,” Kyran replied.

  “And why is that?” Neriah asked calmly. “Are you not proud to bear the name of your father?”

  Kyran’s expression grew colder. “Pride has nothing to do with it.”

  “Quite the contrary,” Neriah replied. “It’s always about pride.”

  “It’s a personal decision,” Kyran bit out, visibly angry now. “One that I would appreciate you respect.”

  “Respect comes with understanding,” Neriah said, “and right now, I don’t understand your need for secrecy.”

  “No secrecy,” Kyran insisted. “I just don’t see the point of telling you. You wouldn’t have known my father anyway.”

  “There isn’t a face or name that I don’t know,” Neriah said. He sat back in his chair, staring at Kyran. “And your face reminds me of someone, but your demeanour is of another entirely. So, I ask you once again.” His eyes cooled. “What is your family name?”

  “My name is mine to divulge,” Kyran said with quiet fury. “And I’ll do that when I see fit.” Aaron could see the tension in Kyran’s shoulders and the muscle twitch in his jawline as he leant across the table to look Neriah in the eyes. “And if that’s not okay with you, just say the word and I’ll walk out that Gate.”

  “Kyran?” Ella gasped.

  Neriah didn’t say anything but continued to stare at Kyran. With a last glower, Kyran got up and walked away from the table.

  33

  Regrets

  Lunch wasn’t even finished when Chris and Kate left, looking too distracted to eat. Aaron watched, waiting for the moment they would beckon him over, so he could have the promised talk. But his parents got up and walked to one of the sanctuary cottages, closing the door behind them, not sparing him a single glance.

  Aaron remained seated as the others steadily went through their lunch, whispering about Kyran’s open defiance. Aaron stubbornly kept his eyes on his plate, which he had hardly touched, but it was no use. Eventually, his anger won and Aaron got to his feet. Sam looked up at him with surprise, opening his mouth to speak, to ask where he was going. Aaron’s expression must have given him the answer, because he didn’t say a word and just nodded at Aaron with silent encouragement.

  Aaron hurried towards the green-doored cottage. He didn’t knock on the door, but pushed it open, heading straight into the living room. He stopped at the sight of his mum sitting inside alone.

  “Where’s Dad?” Aaron asked.

  “Upstairs,” Kate replied, looking slightly thrown by Aaron’s sudden appearance. She straightened up in her seat. “He won’t be long. He’s taking a shower.”

  Aaron wanted answers, but he wanted them from his dad. He was the one that promised him an explanation. He glanced at his mum, but knew she wouldn’t give him anything other than
instructions. He was about to leave when Kate called to him. “Aaron?”

  He stopped, turning to look at her. Last night’s discussion came back to him, but unlike with his dad, Aaron didn’t feel guilty for yelling at her. Kate stared at him, her gaze raking him from head to foot before she smiled.

  “You look very different,” she said. “With your hair that long, you look like your dad when he was your age.”

  Aaron nodded. “And Kyran? Who does he look like?”

  Kate’s smile vanished. Her face blanched and she quickly looked away. “It’s...it’s a long story, Aaron–”

  “Oh really? A long story?” Aaron cut her off, so angry his hands were shaking. “How long is it, Mum? Is it that long that you can’t take time out of your busy day to explain what the hell is going on?”

  “Aaron.” Kate’s voice cooled at once. “Watch your language. This isn’t how I raised you.”

  “No, no you didn’t,” Aaron said. “You raised me to keep quiet and not ask questions. You raised me to do what you asked, and I always did. I’ve always listened to you, did as I was told, and what did that get me?”

  Kate looked shocked. She raised a hand to quieten him, swallowing heavily. “You’re upset right now,” she said. “We’ll talk when you’re calmer.”

  “We’ll never talk!” Aaron yelled. “Never! You and dad will just keep pushing me back, promising answers when you know you won’t give them!”

  “That’s not true,” Kate objected.

  “The first day we came here, Dad told me he would sit me down and explain everything,” Aaron said. “I wake up the next day and he was gone. You and Uncle Mike – gone. What happened to that promise?”

  “You don’t understand,” Kate started. “We had to go. We had to–”

  “Find Neriah and explain to him, yeah, I get it,” Aaron interrupted. “I get all that and right now, I don’t even want to know what your reasons were for running away all those years ago. I don’t want to know why you left your friends. Why Dad, while being a Hunter, left the rest of the mages to their fate and ran out on them. That explanation can wait. Right now, I want you to explain why you left me behind.”

  Kate was staring at him in shock, stunned speechless.

  “Tell me, Mum!” Aaron demanded, stepping towards her. “Explain why you left? Why you didn’t take me with you?”

  “It was too dangerous,” Kate said. “We needed you to be safe.” She shook her head and her eyes sharpened at once. “But you? You didn’t listen, did you? What were you thinking going out of Salvador, to go hunting no less?” She stepped towards him. “Didn’t I tell you specifically that as long as you stayed in Salvador you were safe?”

  “Yeah. Safe but totally clueless, right?” Aaron said.

  “What’s got into you?” she asked. “This isn’t you, Aaron. You would never speak to me like this.”

  “’Cause I was scared of you, Mum,” Aaron admitted. “I’ve always been afraid of you. But that was before you showed me what fear really was. That was before you left me alone in a world that I had just walked into the night before. You walked away without even telling me why.”

  “That’s not true,” Kate objected, her eyes filled with pain. “I left you a letter–”

  “A letter. A letter, mum?” Aaron shouted. “You couldn’t have told me in person?”

  “You were sleeping.”

  “You could’ve woken me up!” Aaron raged. “I was asleep, not dead!”

  Kate’s mouth dropped open and her face drained of colour. For a moment, Aaron thought she was going to faint. Reaching out to the back of the sofa, Kate steadied herself. A trembling finger was lifted in warning. “Don’t,” she warned, her voice barely above a whisper. “Don’t you ever, ever say that again.”

  Aaron stared at her. “You don’t want me even suggesting it?” he said. “But you don’t care if I thought the same about you?” He stepped closer. “I spent almost every night imagining the worst. I watched that Gate every day, waiting, just waiting for you, Dad and Uncle Mike to come back and when you didn’t, what do you think I imagined had happened to you?”

  Kate’s face crumpled. Her eyes welled up and she let out a pained gasp. “Oh, Aaron.” She stepped forward, her arms stretched out for him but Aaron stepped back, out of her reach. Kate stopped, staring wide-eyed at him, hurt with his rejection.

  “I’ve spent every moment, hoping and wishing that you were okay,” Aaron said. “Do you have any idea what that feels like?” he asked. “I spent months worrying about you, praying every damn night that you were still alive! Asking myself again and again why you hadn’t returned. Why you hadn’t made any contact if you were okay.”

  “We sent you letters–” she started.

  “That I never got,” Aaron said. “Just take a moment and think about that, Mum. I never got any of your letters. I waited months without knowing if you were okay. I had given up hope that you would even come back.”

  “That’s impossible,” Kate said, hurrying forward. She held on to Aaron’s shoulders. “We’d always come back for you, you should know that.”

  Aaron pulled away from her. “I thought I did know you,” he said. “I thought I knew exactly what my parents were like. I thought my mum wasn’t the type to ever leave me alone in a strange place. I thought my dad was brave and courageous and he would always fight to protect–”

  “He is,” Kate interrupted. “Your dad has always fought to help others.”

  “Then why did he run?” Aaron asked. “Why did he leave his realm?”

  Kate went very quiet. Her eyes shadowed and she looked away, pressing her lips together to fight back tears.

  “It’s not what you think,” she started.

  “Doesn’t matter,” Aaron said. “It’s what every mage here thinks. Everyone I’ve met has told me you and Dad ran, leaving the rest to their fate.”

  “Aaron.” Kate looked at him. “I...I can’t...this is not how I wanted to tell you–”

  “Did you even want to tell me?” Aaron asked. “If that car accident had never happened, if we were still in the human realm, would you have told me what I really was?”

  Kate didn’t give an answer but Aaron wasn’t expecting one. He already knew. He slowly shook his head. “Admit it, Mum. You hid this from me because you didn’t want me to know what I was. You were happy to keep lying to me.”

  “Yes, I was lying to you!” Kate snapped. “I lied to you! I would have lied to you every day for the rest of your life if it kept you safe!”

  “Safe from what?” Aaron shouted. “From demons? Lycans? Vamages? What, Mum? What are you trying to protect me from?” he yelled. “Or is this just a way to keep me under control?”

  Kate’s mouth fell open in shocked disgust. “Aaron!” she yelled.

  “That’s all this is,” Aaron cried, lost in his anger. “You don’t want me here doing my own thing, choosing what to be, because you want to keep making my choices for me! It’s not about keeping me safe. You just don’t want to lose your control!”

  “Aaron!” Kate raised her hand but stopped, her tear-filled blue eyes widening with horror.

  Aaron stared at her, at the hand she had lifted but not struck him with. His angry green eyes moved to stare at his mum’s shocked expression. She lowered her hand.

  “A-Aaron,” she gasped. “I...I didn’t...I...I’m sorry–”

  Aaron tore his gaze away, turning to wrench open the door and walk out.

  Kate chased after him. “Aaron! Aaron, wait!”

  Aaron pushed her hands away and continued down the street.

  “Please, I...I didn’t mean...Listen to me.” Kate tried to stop him, but Aaron pulled himself out of her grip and stormed down the path. “Aaron! Aaron, please, stop!”

  Aaron spotted Kyran sitting on his bike. The Gate was sliding open, Ella and Skyler already racing towards it. Aaron bolted towards Lexi, ignoring his mum’s calls from behind. He climbed on after Kyran.

  “Ace?” Kyran
turned to him with a frown. “What–?”

  “Just drive,” Aaron bit out.

  “Aaron!” Kate yelled, running after him.

  Kyran looked over at Kate before glancing back at Aaron. Without another word or question, he kicked Lexi into gear and rode out through the Gate, leaving Kate to yell after them.

  ***

  Aaron had no clue where they were, just that it was another one of Neriah’s zones accessed via the portal in the forest. Kyran had parked Lexi next to a tree and sat down at the bank of a wide river next to Aaron. Ella and Skyler had ridden on, going off to complete one of the Hub’s assignments.

  “You don’t need to go with them?” Aaron asked quietly.

  “It’s not a biggie,” Kyran said. “Just a pick up. Ella and Skyler can handle it.” He fixed Aaron to the spot with an intense look. “What’s going on with you?”

  Aaron shook his head but gave up on resisting halfway. For the next hour or so, Aaron talked and Kyran listened. Aaron let out every thought, accusation and blame against his parents. He told Kyran everything, from the first argument he had at the age of six to the fight with his mum today. He talked until his throat was hoarse, but somehow, even that didn’t extinguish the fiery rage in him.

  “She thinks I’m just stupid. That I’ll sit around and not ask questions.” He shook his head in a mixture of anger and hurt. “She doesn’t care how I feel, neither does Dad. They only care about what they have to go through.”

  “That what you really think?” Kyran asked.

  Aaron snorted. “It’s what it looks like,” he said. “Did they care they were leaving me in Salvador? They must have known the others would ask me questions. Did they care I didn’t have the answers? It didn’t bother them that I knew nothing about mages. They didn’t care that I would get laughed at and ridiculed for not knowing anything. I didn’t even know who Aric was and that’s a bedtime story for young mages!”

  Kyran ducked his head to hide his smile. “Yeah, that was kinda pathetic.”

  Aaron let out a frustrated sigh, staring at the water glistening under the sun. “They didn’t want me to know about the mage realm,” he said. “Drake let it slip that my dad wanted it like that ’cause he didn’t know if we would be allowed to stay here.” He paused for a moment. “I lived my whole life in the human realm, but I didn’t really live there. My mum and dad didn’t let me be a part of it. I went to school until I was eleven, then they pulled me out and kept me in the house. I didn’t go out. I didn’t get involved in anything. My friendship with Sam and Rose was the only thing that saved me from going insane.” He closed his eyes, pushing all the bitterness down. “My parents stopped me from being a part of the human realm and now they’re gonna do the same here.” He opened his eyes and looked over at Kyran. “Which world do I get to live in – really live in, and be a part of?”