by Jess Bowen
They entered the main chamber of the cave, which opened up considerably. The ceiling was at least three hundred feet above them, and the floor was a little over a hundred yards long and fifty yards wide. Torches were lit in ancient-looking sconces every few feet, and crude chandeliers made of twisted metal hung from the ceiling.
Their footsteps echoed in the cave as they came closer to what appeared to be the sleeping figure of Irena. Hector held everyone back as Ethan and Phoebe stepped forward to talk to her. Phoebe didn’t want to wake her, and it wasn’t necessary. The second she sat on the large stone slab, Irina’s eyes snapped open, and she turned her crystal clear blue eyes on Ethan and Phoebe.
Irena was thin and pale with wispy, white locks of hair. Her skin hung around her frame, showing where her muscles had deteriorated from lack of use. Deep scars and unhealed wounds covered every inch of her skin, undoubtedly from many years’ worth of torture. She shivered under ragged remnants of clothing. Even under all that, Phoebe could tell that she had once been pretty. She was obviously still alive, but only just.
“You made it.” Her voice was strong and clear.
Ethan didn’t say anything.
“Yes,” Phoebe replied. What else was she supposed to say?
Irina took a labored breath. “You have come here for the prophecy.”
It wasn’t a question, and this time, Ethan responded. “Yes.”
Phoebe could hear Hector and Evan pacing.
“I am going to give you that and more.”
The pacing stopped, and everyone closed in around them in a matter of seconds. “What do you mean?” Phoebe asked. What else could Irina possibly have to give them?
“I will show you. I need the two of you to take my hand.”
Phoebe looked down at the withered hand. It looked so breakable, but she took it softly as Ethan placed his hand on top of hers. “This will not take long, but I must tell you that what you are about to receive will burden you as much as it will help you. Knowledge is a great power and weapon, but it is also a terrible burden, as you will find out soon enough. I am splitting this gift in the hope that it will make the burden easier to bear.”
“Please, let us take you back. We can help you, heal you.” Ethan was at a loss for what to do.
Irena sighed agedly. “All in time, young one, all in time. I have waited a long time for this. It is good to still see hope. Love will save you all. I know, because I have seen it.”
Phoebe suddenly realized why this sounded wrong. Irena was saying goodbye. Before Phoebe could even try to stop whatever it was the woman was going to do, she grabbed Phoebe and Ethan’s hands with surprising strength and started muttering under her breath. White light shone around her body and then pulled into the center of her thorax and spread down her arm and into Ethan and Phoebe.
39. Caught
Image upon image exploded into Phoebe’s mind as Irena grasped her hand. Some were pleasant, but most painful. A field of flowers, fires burning, people screaming, children playing, Shamarian killing, and then it ended. Phoebe opened her eyes, which she hadn’t realized had been squeezed shut, to see a shimmering silver cloud hanging over the prophet’s body, and then it vanished and her hand went limp. Phoebe took several deep breaths when her lungs protested from lack of oxygen, but Irena’s chest didn’t move again. She was dead.
“Power Shifting?” Hector asked, sounding a little confused.
“What?” Phoebe asked; her head was spinning.
Hector shook his head like he couldn’t believe something. “I’ve heard of it once, but it’s very rare and causes instant death. Ethan was right; we could have helped her. Why did she do that?”
“What’s Power Shifting?” Ethan asked.
“It’s where someone gives up their power to someone else,” Hector explained, “but like I said, the consequence of that is death. I don’t understand…”
Phoebe broke in. “She didn’t want to be saved. She’s suffered enough for one lifetime. She wanted to die.”
“I can understand that,” Ethan said as he surveyed Irena’s lifeless body.
“Yes,” Hector agreed. “But apparently her power needed to be passed on. You have the prophecy, right?”
Phoebe quickly searched her memory and found it with ease. The rest of the prophecy had flitted into the Void as Irena was being carried to this desolate cave. Phoebe saw her writing the prophecy down. It seemed Irena had passed down her memories to Phoebe. Or at least some of them; there were blank spots.
“No!” Ethan shouted. “I mean, I can see her sometimes doing stuff and suffering.” Ethan winced. “But I can’t see the prophecy!”
Phoebe stood quietly, knowing she had the information they needed, but with a quick glance at Hector, she knew letting on about it was a really bad idea. It was too late to be careless now; they were in the lion’s den and they had to find a way out alive. If those laying a trap knew she had the prophecy, their chances of getting out would go down dramatically.
“She died too soon, before it could all get passed along,” Phoebe said lifelessly, leading everyone else to believe, even Ethan, that they really didn’t have the information they had risked their lives to come there to get.
Suddenly a loud bang sounded as figures erupted all around them. Ethan and Phoebe jumped up at the same time, bouncing into one another, causing them both to stumble. Dark creatures—metallic figures—were closing in, and then something grabbed Phoebe from behind. She heard her friends yell and knew that they had also been caught. Heavy chains clamped around her wrists before she could even think, and she was dragged into the middle of the room, a few feet in front of the others, and forced to her knees. Phoebe struggled against her captor as she tried desperately to use her powers, but they just wouldn’t come.
“I wouldn’t bother if I were you.”
A man had turned around from in front of the creatures gathered before her. Phoebe recognized many of them from descriptions in books she had read even before coming to this world, and others resembled the creatures she had learned about during her time at the Haven. The metallic-looking soldiers were also there.
The man smiled down at her maliciously He had a deep scar down the side of his face, and his eyes were black pits of hatred. His hair was surprisingly clean looking, although just as black as his eyes. He walked with a slight limp and had many weapons strapped around his waist and over his shoulder. He had thick shoulders and appeared to be very muscular. Phoebe was sure that even if she got the opportunity to fight with him, he would have the upper hand in strength. He walked around her as he surveyed her with contempt. She already knew who he was; Dorian’s memories had been colored with this face.
“You see those chains are not just binding your hands, but your magic and companions as well. Cloaking is such a useful talent. You all walked right in here, sure that you were safe.”
Phoebe had been expecting something of this very nature to happen, but she hadn’t been counting on the chains, and apparently, neither had Hector or he would have said something. Phoebe tried again to use her powers, but they wouldn’t come. At the same time, she heard a familiar buzzing in her head. Her Truth Seeking talent was still working.
The childlike whispering was back in her ear. “You can do it. Not all power requires magic. You know what you have to do. Do it for them; do it for Dorian. Go home to him.”
Phoebe understood. She knew how to win this battle, for all of them.
“Now, let’s get down to business, shall we? I am Zuriel, and this is only a small portion of my army, so even if you were to somehow escape your chains, you would die anyway. So, I get what I want, and I let you die quickly.” Zuriel smirked.
Phoebe used Zuriel’s pause while he waited for her answer to assess her own emotions. They were carefully controlled and nothing was too strong. She was angry about being caught, but the anger was at bay. She was afraid for her safety and the safety of her friends, but she was able to keep fear at a minimum as she tried to thi
nk of a way out. Great. The one time I need my emotions to be widely erratic, and they decide to be tame.
“I’ll take that as an agreement. Now, we have been waiting a very long time for that prophecy, and I know that you have the information we need. So, you tell me what it is, and then we leave.”
Phoebe was thinking quickly. She had to buy herself more time. “And suppose I lie?”
It probably wasn’t the best idea she had, but baiting him would definitely either cause him to become as angry as she needed him to be or make him take out his anger on her, which would make her angry.
“You won’t,” he said simply.
“How do you know?” Phoebe asked as she concentrated on her friends behind her. They had to know what was going on so they didn’t do something stupid.
“Because I can tell when someone is lying. It’s one of my talents,” Zuriel said triumphantly.
Phoebe could already feel her sarcastic side trying to break free, but she had to keep it in check just a little longer. She had to warn them first.
Listen to me! she thought as she concentrated on their minds. She could only get Evan, Jared, and Cynthia’s attention. Ethan and Lucy were as silent and impenetrable as ever, and Hector required too much effort. She had to conserve what strength and energy she had left.
Their thoughts faded as they turned their attention to Phoebe’s voice. I need you all to get very, very angry. I haven’t had my elixir, and this is the only thing that might get us out of here! This is the only power we have left to use.
Immediately a wave of protesting thoughts crossed each of their minds. No. It’s too dangerous. What if we can’t get you back? You can’t! What about the prophecy? The last thought had a valid point.
Phoebe shuffled through her memories and this strange new power—or whatever it was—quickly, and relayed the prophecy to them.
There, now you have the visions you need, and if you can’t get me back, then you leave me here and you get out. This is not up for debate right now. Just do it!
Phoebe retreated from their minds before they could protest any more. She was scared; she wouldn’t deny that. But if this would get them out, even if it meant sacrificing herself, then she had to do it. If she could save six lives by sacrificing her own, then that’s what she would do. She couldn’t let them die because she was too scared to die herself.
Zuriel had continued talking while Phoebe had given her silent instructions, and now he looked at her expectantly. He wasn’t angry enough; neither were the others. Evan was trying really hard, but even though he understood her reasoning, he didn’t want her to suffer. She needed to give them all a reason to be angry.
“What?” Phoebe said, glaring up at Zuriel.
“What did the prophecy say?” Zuriel asked angrily.
She let her sarcastic tendencies take over. “I don’t know,” she replied with an evil smile.
“Don’t lie to me,” Zuriel said, and his eyes flashed.
Phoebe laughed. “What are you going to do about it?”
She could feel a sudden surge of fear from behind her as anger built up in the man in front of her.
“Oh, don’t you worry your pretty little head. I’ll get it out of you one way or another,” Zuriel said, grinning evilly. “Petrozan gave me full authority to use any means necessary, as long as I didn’t kill you before you talked. And the Shamarian do love torture.”
The creature holding Phoebe laughed, and she turned to look at it towering above her with one hand holding onto the chain that bound her wrists. It had to be the most revolting being she had ever seen. All it wore were thick-looking black pants, and its exposed black skin was gashed and torn with dark slime oozing from the open wounds. Its eyes were completely black, and its hands were clawed, but the worst thing of all was its mouth. It had no lips, and all of its teeth were rotted with blood dripping from them. Then it shifted and became a formless shadow as it hovered above her.
“Then again.” Zuriel yanked on Phoebe’s chain to bring her to her feet. “It has been a long time since I was with such a pretty little girl,” he said, standing very close to her, grabbing her arms fiercely and pulling her up in front of his face.
That had done it; Phoebe felt a spark of anger from behind her. Now she just needed to build on it.
“You disgusting piece of slime. Let her go. I will kill you,” Hector growled.
Zuriel smiled down at Hector. “Oh, is she yours? Well, that will make this even more enjoyable.”
Hector struggled against his chains, and Phoebe could hear the clashing of his skin against the metal. Unfortunately, even though his skin was probably harder than the metal, his talent was cancelled out by the nullifying power of the chains. His strength was still only human, and he couldn’t break the chains on his own. But Phoebe could, if she could finish what she had started.
She readied herself for the consequences of what she was about to do. Zuriel turned his attention back to her. She felt his putrid breath. He was inches away from her face, and she spat on him.
He immediately threw her down on the cold stone floor. She was able to avoid breaking her wrists by turning and falling on her side, but her dagger added to the pain of the collision with the floor. Pain radiated from her hip, and angry tears sprang into her eyes, but they didn’t spill over.
Phoebe struggled to get back to her knees. The others weren’t angry enough yet. And neither was Zuriel. In fact, he was actually laughing as he wiped his face off.
“You stupid girl. Nothing you do is going to save you so you might as well tell me the prophecy now, and I’ll kill you quickly.” He still thought death threats would change her mind. She already knew she was dying. Threatening her wouldn’t do anything.
“Phoebe, no!” Hector yelled.
“Spare me the pity party, you pathetic excuse for a man, and just do it already! You want to torture me? Then do it. What are you afraid of?” Phoebe yelled angrily over Hector’s voice. Hadn’t he figured out what she was doing yet? He needed to let this happen. It was the only way out.
A fresh wave of anger went through her.
“You think I won’t?” Zuriel said dangerously as his eyes narrowed into slits.
Phoebe laughed openly up at him. “I dare you.”
He raised his fist, and it connected with her jaw. He knocked her over and she landed, once again, on her already sore hip. Lights flashed in front of her eyes, and she tasted blood, but it still wasn’t enough. Phoebe struggled back to her knees, breathing heavily.
“Is that the best you got?” she asked, smirking as her lip swelled up.
He grabbed hold of her chain again and yanked her back up to her feet. Her wrists ached from the pain, but that didn’t matter right now. She was close; one more push should do it.
“Tell me the prophecy!” Zuriel screamed in her face.
“Oh, please. You think one little weak punch is going to get it out of me? You’re going to have to do better than that. I was hit harder in training on my first week,” Phoebe spat at him again.
He smiled. “Feisty little one, aren’t you? I am going to enjoy breaking you. It has been a long time since anyone fought back. Grillan, if you will.”
A creature that very much matched the description of a grilock stepped forward. It had long, clawed hands and sagging green skin that made it look as if it had at one time shrunk several sizes, but his skin had remained the same size. Zuriel shrugged off his overcoat and handed it to the grilock, who then handed Zuriel a whip. Zuriel came back to stand in front of Phoebe and held up the whip for her to see. Fear coursed through her friends. Evan and Jared were already trying to think of another solution.
“Do you know what this is?” he asked softly.
Phoebe raised her eyebrow. “A whip? You think that’s going to do it?” she said, laughing at him.
She wasn’t really looking forward to getting whipped, but it had to be done. She could see the sharp edges and the metal shards attached that would rip through her
skin. It would be excruciating
“No, Phoebe, don’t!” Cynthia shouted from behind her.
Phoebe could hear a loud thud and a groan. She knew Cynthia had been hurt, and her anger built higher.
“Oh, I have no doubts.” Zuriel continued as if nothing had happened.
Then he lit the whip with his Fire power and went to stand behind Phoebe. He shoved her forward so she was within six feet of all of the other foul creatures in the cave, and they were all clearly enjoying the show.
“Last chance,” Zuriel said from behind her.
“Not on your life,” she replied as she braced herself for what was coming. “Oh, and by the way,” Phoebe added as an afterthought, “if you should make it out of here alive tonight, give your master a message for me. Tell him I think he’s pretty pathetic for not being able to take care of his own problems. You might have noticed that we didn’t send servants off to do our work. Then again, cowards always hide, and empires always crumble. His will be no different. You will all die.”
“I’ll be sure to deliver your message along with your body. I’m sure it’ll lighten his mood,” Zuriel sneered as the whip twitched in his hand.
Phoebe could hear it cutting through the air as it came at her and struck her back. Her skin ripped open, and the smell of her burned flesh was heavy as the creatures laughed in front of her. Tears ran down her face from the pain and anger that was building inside of her. The whip came at Phoebe again, and this time the force of the blow sent her to her knees, which collided brutally with the stone floor.
This time she didn’t feel it, though, because finally her blind rage had taken over. She felt her eyes turn black and her blood boil as she laughed with every strike he threw at her. Although, unlike last time, she knew what was going on and was able to control her actions to a certain point.
The muscles on her arms tightened as she strained against the chains binding her. The cold metal cut into her wrists, but at the same time, it didn’t hurt. The strikes from the whip continued to come, and she knew her back was being torn apart, but it didn’t matter. Slowly the chains started to give way. Zuriel didn’t even notice; he was too preoccupied with beating her mercilessly as she continued to laugh at him. Suddenly, the metal snapped, and Phoebe was set free from her bonds. Zuriel stopped hitting her when he realized that she had broken the chains.
