by Peach, Hanna
“Is there something you were after? Or are you just enjoying the view?” Jordan’s voice rang out clearly. He didn’t sound breathless at all and he hadn’t stopped his precise movements. Israel could swear he could see a small smile teasing Jordan’s lips.
Dammit. He hadn’t been as inconspicuous as he thought he’d been. Well, he had been caught, so he might as well do what he came here to do. Israel stepped forward, trying to insert an air of confidence in his step by holding his shoulders higher than usual.
“Do you win any fights using those ballet moves of yours?” Israel said.
“Come closer and I’ll show you.” Jordan still hadn’t missed a beat in his movements. Speckles of early morning sun caught on the twirling blades of his weapon.
Israel placed his feet on the ground in a fighting stance, his fists clenched at his sides. If this Rogue wanted to attack him, he could try. Israel would make a real good go of it, weaponless or not.
Jordan laughed. “Relax, mortal, I don’t want to fight you. Not that I think it wouldn’t be an interesting fight, no matter how short it would be for you...”
Israel bristled and his knuckles cracked as his fists gripped tighter.
“... but our fighting is best saved for our real enemies, don’t you think?” At this Jordan pulled out of his last position, a side lunge with his weapon above his head, and stood, resting his weapon against his shoulder, in a casually confident stance.
Israel didn’t care about real enemies or not. Right now this cocky bastard was his enemy and needed to be pulled down a peg or two. He began to calculate how many punches he could throw in before the Rogue could react.
Jordan raised an eyebrow at him. “I’m sure Alyx would be disappointed in us both if we wasted any blood because of each other.”
Alyx. Her name caused a release in him. All the fight drained from him and left behind a cold prickly feeling. Alyx. He had messed that up, hadn’t he?
“Yeh,” Israel said, “I didn’t come here to fight you.”
“Why did you come?”
“I wanted talk. Man to man.”
“You came just to talk?” Jordan sounded amused. That irked Israel. He didn’t see why this damned Rogue should be amused.
Alyx. Think of Alyx. Don’t knock this guy’s head off − she wouldn’t like it.
Israel loosened his fingers from their grip. “So your magic powers, your DreamWalker powers. I know that you guys can put up defenses to stop someone from attacking you with them...”
Jordan nodded. Go on.
Israel didn’t like that he was about to ask this Rogue for help. He didn’t want to give him the satisfaction. But Israel only had to remember how Alyx had used DreamWalker to put him to sleep for him to change his mind. Alyx had done this so that he would stay behind. So she could leave him behind. Because she thought he wasn’t strong enough to defend himself.
“It’s too dangerous for you”, she had said.
If Israel could fight against their magic, he would be better. He would prove he was useful and that he didn’t need to hide behind her. Even yesterday she was all over him like a child who couldn’t take care of himself. He didn’t want to be a child in her eyes. He wanted to be a man. He needed to be the man.
“So,” Israel said, “could I learn to defend myself against your magics?”
“Interesting.” Jordan made a small noise in his throat. “Could a mortal raise a defense against the magics?” Jordan began to pace. “Your only option against the elemental magics – fire, water, earth, air – is just to get the hell out of the way. But the Seraphim don’t need magics to defend themselves against mental magic attacks. DreamWalker and MemorySong can be deflected by using the defender’s own will, his or her inner power... theoretically, if a mortal’s mind was strong enough, they may be able to learn to raise their mental defenses in the same way.”
It sounded like this Rogue was issuing a challenge. “I’ll do it.” Bring it, Rogue-boy. “What do you want me to do?”
Jordan stopped pacing and spun so that he was facing Israel. Jordan looked at Israel in silence for long enough that Israel began to feel uncomfortable. There was almost a leer to Jordan’s stare. The side of Jordan’s lip tilted up. “Are you asking for my help, mortal?”
This cocky prick was going to make him say it. Israel grumbled a little before acquiescing. “Yes, Rogue, I am asking for your help.”
Jordan’s face broke into a grin. Israel didn’t have a good feeling about this.
“On the basis that I think this will be… an interesting experiment, I agree to help you.”
“Great.”
“On one condition.”
Of course there had to be a condition. “Which is?”
Jordan pursed his lips and stepped up to Israel. The Rogue was a few inches shorter than Israel, but he had something about him that made him seem bigger, taller than he actually was. Israel lifted his chin higher.
“Which is?” Israel repeated. He wasn’t intimidated by this Rogue, magics or not.
“You’ll do exactly as I say, when I say it.”
“But—”
“And no arguing with me.”
“You said one condition.”
Jordan narrowed his eyes. “And no arguing with me.”
Israel growled deep in his throat. “Fine. I accept your conditions.”
“Excellent.” Jordan lifted and swirled in the air. “Let’s begin.” He began to float off through the trees.
“Now?”
“No time like the present, don’t you think?” Jordan called out behind him. “Don’t fall behind.”
Israel had to run to keep up.
* * *
“Tell me again why I’m standing on this rock?” Israel eyed Jordan as he stood on the bank of the river. Actually, the river was more of a deep creek, meandering along one part of the Tara farmlands, the smooth pebbles of the creek bed clear through the running water. The air trapped under the canopy of trees was cool and filled with aqua-colored dragonflies and speckled emerald bugs. Dandelion seeds hovered in the air and sunlight danced across the water.
The curved rock underneath Israel’s bare feet was cold, having seen no sun overnight. He had to fight against the dull ache still in his legs in order to keep himself upright. Israel crossed his arms. He didn’t have to get any closer to know that Jordan was grinning.
“No situation where you will need to lift your defenses will ever occur on solid ground where you have no other distractions. You need to be able to lift your defenses at any time under any circumstances. Plus,” Jordan raised a corner of his mouth, “you look cute when you’re trying to concentrate.”
Israel lowered his eyes and grumbled under his breath. But he stayed on his rock-island. If he didn’t know any better, he would have said that this Rogue was flirting with him.
“I’ll go easy on you to start off. Remember what I taught you?”
Israel nodded. They had already spent the last hour or so going through the basics. Finally, Israel had been able to grasp the defenses within. And finally, Jordan had said that he was ready to try it out against some real magic.
Israel uncrossed his arms and steadied himself.
“Don’t pull until you see the pulse coming. You won’t get any warning in real life.”
Israel nodded.
Jordan flexed one palm out to Israel and a pulse of DreamWalker came at him. He could see the shift in the air as it travelled towards him, but more importantly he could feel it. Israel yanked at his self on the inside, tried to puff it out like a shield as he had been instructed. He felt it draping out like empty sails against an anorexic wind. It won’t work.
It didn’t. Israel felt the pulse of DreamWalker hit him square in the stomach. He felt his lids start to close as Jordan tilted in his vision. Israel tried to fight against the sleep, he tried to concentrate solely on remaining awake, but it was all too much. The imbalance of the rough rock under his feet caused his concentration to slip. He began to tip. His legs
buckled under him.
The cold water shocked his body back to consciousness. Israel drew in a large audible breath of air as he pushed his head out of the water. He grunted as he pulled himself up onto the bank. Standing up, he shook himself and droplets fell off him like rain.
“Oh dear. You’re all wet.” Israel could tell that Jordan was trying not to laugh.
“Think that’s funny, huh?”
“One of us, at least, should be having fun.”
Israel saw red and a rush of blood filled his head. Fun? He would have fun with his fist against Jordan’s face.
Israel leapt out towards Jordan, arms outstretched, to tackle him to the ground. Before Israel could reach him, Jordan soared up out of reach. Israel’s arms closed around nothing and he landed on the ground with an ungraceful thump.
“Really? Is that necessary?” Jordan asked, his voice infuriatingly placid.
Israel rolled to his back and sucked the air back into his chest. He needed a second. Just a second. He would get up when the sky stopped spinning.
“Did you stop to think,” Jordan continued, “that I may be deliberately goading you?”
“’Cause you’re a bastard like that?” wheezed Israel.
“Because you need to learn how to control your temper. The littlest thing seems to set you off. And that doesn’t bode well for your ability to prevent mind magics from affecting you.”
“Whatever, Rogue. Admit it, you’re enjoying this.”
Jordan floated down to land near Israel’s feet. From this distance Israel could see that Jordan’s lips were pressing into a thin line.
“Listen up and listen carefully. I am helping you for Alyx just as much as for you. She will put herself on the line for you because she is your Guardian and because that is who she is. I don’t want to see her get hurt. And, under all this bravado you seem to be so intent on displaying around me, I believe that you also don’t want to see Alyx hurt either. You need all the training you can get to make sure that you can at least help in your own defense. So, when you’re quite finished messing around in this one-sided pissing contest, I’ll be waiting to help you train again.” With that, Jordan turned and began to float away.
Israel closed his eyes as Jordan’s words sank in. If Alyx was hurt, or worse, because of him... he would never forgive himself.
“Wait,” he called out. Israel opened his eyes and pulled himself up to a sitting position. Jordan had stopped floating away and was watching him over his shoulder. “I want to train. I’ll take whatever you dish out, just... help me train.”
“There’s something blocking your shield,” Jordan said. “You almost had it, I could see it growing around you, so it seems that it is possible for you to block against DreamWalker, but... something was stopping it.” Jordan tilted his head. “What do you think that is?”
Israel shrugged and tried to keep his voice from being too sarcastic. “I don’t know. Aren’t you supposed to tell me?”
Jordan lifted an eyebrow. “Get back on the rock. Try again.”
Israel thought about protesting but instead he clamped his lips together and did what he was told.
The rock was slippery this time, having been splashed with water after his dip into the creek. Israel gripped the stone as hard as he could with his toes.
“I’m going to send a smaller pulse this time. It should just be enough to make you drowsy. I just want to see your shield again.”
“I’m ready.”
Jordan faced his palm out at Israel. Again Israel pulled from within him, his lips pressed in a gritty determination. He had to do this. He had to do this to prove himself. To prove himself to her.
His shield spilled from him, but again it collapsed without substance. The DreamWalker pulse drew into his body.
“Dammit,” Israel growled as the energy began to slip from his limbs. True to Jordan’s word, this time the pulse wasn’t enough to cause him to fall asleep and slip off the rock.
“Interesting,” Israel heard Jordan say.
There was that damned word again. It was enough to wake him up a little more.
“What’s so damned interesting?”
“I have a theory about why your shield isn’t working.”
“Enlighten me.” Israel tried not to snap.
Jordan laughed. “Even half asleep you manage to find the energy to be angry.”
Israel heard a low growl then realized it was coming from his own throat. He forced himself to take a deep breath. Through gritted teeth he said, “Please, oh great teacher of mine, tell me why you think my shield isn’t working.”
“Your shield isn’t working, my dove, because there is a part of you that doesn’t want to be saved.”
* * *
Later, when Israel and Jordan returned to Tara, Israel was huffing with frustration and grumbling under his breath. They had repeated the exercise countless more times after that, but he had still not managed to pull up his shield. In fact, his ability seemed to have gotten worse.
A part of him that didn’t want to be saved? What the hell did that mean?
Jordan pushed open the front door of the Tara farmhouse.
“Jordan,” Israel heard Alyx call from the living room. He may have gotten angry that she had called Jordan’s name out and not his. But the fear that he could hear in her voice overruled it. Israel’s muscles tensed as he sprang forward through the house as fast as his aching body could go. He hated hearing fear in her voice. It scared him. Alyx was always so strong, so fearless – his warrior angel. Whatever could have scared her?
“What’s wrong?” Israel and Jordan both spoke at once as they ran into the living room. Israel glared briefly at Jordan before turning his attention back to Alyx.
Alyx was standing next to Marin who had obviously just returned from Aradale. Alyx’s hair looked even more tousled than usual. Israel knew this meant that she had been running her hands through her hair. Her face was pale and stricken. What was going on?
Marin’s face also looked distressed, his eyes rimmed with red. At the sight of Israel, his eyes widened, then his nostrils flared wide.
“You,” Marin pointed at Israel with a single finger that seemed to shake with rage. “This is all your fault,” he yelled. He advanced, his clawed hands aiming for Israel’s throat.
Israel jumped back with his fists at the ready just as Alyx grabbed at Marin’s hands. “Stop it, Marin. It isn’t his fault.”
“Marin, stand down,” Jordan said as he stepped forward to block Marin’s path to Israel. “What the hell is going on?”
“That godforsaken mortal is going to be the death of us all.” Marin yanked his hands from Alyx’s grip and glared at Israel.
“Marin, this is a tense time for all of us,” said Jordan, placing his hands on Marin’s shoulders. “But I need you to keep your head about you, otherwise you are no good to me. Go for a flight until you calm down. If this mortal really is to blame for something, then I shall make sure that he is detained and tried. But we will not have any trials by fists. We are not like them.” Jordan’s voice remained firm but without evidence of aggression, despite the tension and heat in the room.
Israel felt a little bit of respect growing for this Rogue; he could keep his cool. Jealousy bit him when he realized that Alyx was looking at Jordan with the same air of respect. Israel involuntarily clenched his fists. He forced himself to look away from Alyx and back to Marin. Marin’s jaw was working back and forth and he hadn’t taken his eyes away from Israel. But at least, Israel noticed, his breathing had become steadier.
“Fine,” Marin said. “But you make sure that mortal doesn’t go anywhere.”
“I will,” Jordan said.
Marin stormed out of the farmhouse, glaring at Israel as he left. The door slammed behind him, making the whole house reverberate. The tension seemed to have sucked out of the air.
Alyx’s shoulders slumped and she collapsed into the closest chair. Israel leapt forward, his legs protesting. He slammed his
knees into the floor as he fell to her side. She wouldn’t look at him. What had happened? What had he done?
Israel reached out instinctively to put his hand over hers. His heart dropped when she didn’t move to clasp his fingers.
“What happened, Alyx?” asked Jordan, who crouched at Alyx’s other side.
There was a moment before Alyx spoke. “They found a body. A FreeThinker...”
Israel remembered that “FreeThinker” was what the Rogues called themselves.
“Her name was Zia,” Alyx continued. “Marin said that you knew her. I’m so sorry, Jordan.” Her voice sounded hollow, heavy with responsibility.
“Go on,” Jordan said, his voice still eerily calm. “What has this to do with Israel?”
“Her body was left out in Remembrance Park in Saint Joseph…” Alyx’s voice broke. Israel’s stomach dropped. He was beginning to see where this was going. “It was the Darkened. They killed her and then they carved Israel’s name across her stomach.”
A message. For him. Like the one he had left Adere. Oh God. They were using the Seraphim to get to him.
“This is my fault.” The words dropped, hollow and wooden, from Israel’s lips.
“No,” Jordan said. “This isn’t your fault. It’s Samyara’s. You didn’t kill Zia. They did.”
“Jordan is right,” Alyx said softly.
“But I need to stop them,” Israel said, feeling the guilt weighing down his shoulders.
“We,” said Alyx. “We’ll stop them.”
Jordan nodded. “But now we know that they want to smoke you out. We need to get you somewhere safer. We travel to Aradale tonight.”
* * *
For the moment, Alyx sat in her room on the edge of the bed, staring out the window, rolling the soulglobe absentmindedly between her palms. Mini was chittering incoherently behind her, having obviously picked up on the disjointed and excitable energy that had marred this place since Marin had arrived with his news.
Alyx barely registered Mini. She was thinking about how this all started with the first body in Saint Joseph being a sign of the prophecy. Her mind was working over the last things Mayrekk had said to her: “The prophecies talk about a Seraphim and a demon-mortal that fall in love.”
