by Deanna Chase
Chapter 29
I never realized how fragile life was until it shattered before me. Hope dissolved, satisfaction decomposed, and nothing remained but hollow victory.
Samil was dead.
The rain tapered off and a pool of blood mixed with the wet earth. There was complete stillness among the Council.
“Adam,” I cried, running to his side. There was no hug, no kiss of victory, not even tears. My only concern was his injury. I knew that Mage could heal each other, but I did not know if our magic worked on humans.
Adam pressed his palm where the knife had gone in to stop the flow of blood. His life was escaping him with each beat of his heart. My hands went to cover the opening in his chest.
“It’s okay, I hardly feel a thing.” His ragged voice chuckled. “S’not so bad.” He lightly touched my lip with his thumb and tenderness filled his smoky brown eyes.
“You’re going to be fine; you just need a doctor.” I sobbed. Composure was no longer something I could hold—it was as heavy as a glacier and all my emotional walls tore down. He smoothed away my wet hair and fell to his knees.
“Adam!”
My arms cradled his head as I looked to Justus. “Help him!” My frustration spiked as Justus and Simon stood motionless, eyeing the Council. Adam’s breathing sputtered out, a mixture of air and blood.
Turning to the Council, I begged. “Please help him…” My eyes streamed with hot, salty tears that ran into my mouth and I could taste the pain. I looked down again. “Adam, hang on—do you hear me?”
Hannah sighed impatiently. “Mage, let your mortal die, it is his time.”
“Yes,” Merc said. “Do not let the wailing of a woman be the last thing he hears.”
I shut them out, because if I allowed myself to entertain the idea of truly hearing their words I would have literally snapped out of my skin.
That beautiful masculine face cupped in my hands was the only thing that anchored me.
“You shaved,” I said, stroking his jaw, attempting a smile as tears spilled.
He smiled and looked up. “You’re always telling me and I never listened. I clean up pretty good, huh?”
Adam leaned on me when I brought my lips to his head and cried through my whisper, “Please hold on; it’s not supposed to end like this.”
My grip on him became possessive as I stood there with the first man who ever truly cared for me, bleeding out his life all over me.
“Silver,” he said softly against my jacket. His face peered up and I wiped away the mud on his cheek with my thumb. “You’re free now. It was worth it.”
All tension released in the lines of his brow; it was a look of relief, a look of someone who had reached the end of a long journey.
I wanted to yell at him, to tell him that I would have taken it all back if it meant that he would live. But I knew that would take away his honor, and if he was going to die in front of me, I wanted him to have that, if nothing else.
“The human has won the challenge.” Hannah moved forward with the rest of the Council closing in to surround us. “He fought remarkably well.”
“Can he be healed?” I shouted, more than asked.
“I’m afraid our healing powers do not transfer to humans, it would kill him, to be certain.”
Adam slipped through my arms and fell to the ground. Every breath was a struggle but his eyes were alert as he watched. He was drowning in his own blood, and I had to sit and watch while the Council toiled over their formalities of conversation.
“Does the victor gain nothing?” I boiled in anger.
“We cannot transfer Samil’s energy to him.”
“He was willing to die for my honor, no strings attached. Adam had nothing to gain from this; he wasn’t trying to acquire power, or even me. He is a man of worth!”
My voice cracked as I screeched out the last bit. I shut my eyes as my mouth broadened in pain, a pain I could no longer shovel away with a hardened face. Random drops of water fell into the puddles, the wind blew, and a small rabbit poked his head out from the tall grass.
“I would like to know, Learner, how it is you moved that blade.” Merc stood with folded arms and a thought flashed in my head of driving that knife into him.
“What are you?” he whispered in my head.
Tension filled the air, sending tiny needles over my entire body. I could almost feel Samil’s power rolling through Merc, and he was reveling every moment of it, for as long as he had it. I don’t think he was even aware that he put his thoughts in my head, something only Samil could do. I only hoped he and Sasha hadn’t conspired, I couldn’t help but distrust political figures and wouldn’t put it past them to work together to become all-powerful. Frankly, what was to stop them?
“Council, if you would—”
“Silence, Justus. I was not speaking to you.” Merc’s shoulders went back in a show of authority. “So tell us, Learner… are you a hybrid?”
What kind of question was that? Who gave a shit?
I heard Adam draw in a gasp and all focus shifted.
“There must be something you can do!”
“No, Learner. That is the price for taking the life of a Mage.”
“But he is not a Mage, it is not his law, and none were broken! His death should not be a punishment. If you removed the core light from Samil, then he was human and not Mage. They fought as humans.”
“And they shall die as humans,” Merc stated with little feeling. “We have lost one of our own tonight—a Creator. That is not a loss to be taken lightly.”
“Fuck your loss,” I snarled.
“Novis,” an English accent spoke with genuine respect. My head cocked around to see Simon focused on the youngest member of the Council. “Do you not find Adam to be a… worthy warrior?”
His question was pointed, and there was subtext that I couldn’t see.
Novis raked his sparkling eyes over Adam, quiet in his thoughts. He brought his smooth hand up to his chin pensively; his eyes had such a reflective quality it reminded me of moonlight on a river. He took a couple of steps and turned to address his peers.
“We set a challenge and a door was left open by not defining our rules more explicitly. That aside, a winner prevails and we are not able to fulfill our obligations to reward him. I have considered all that has been discussed, and what I have witnessed. I see a great potential in the human; how rare it is to challenge to the death for principle and honor without seeking any personal gain.”
Novis looked over Adam with admiration. How young he seemed. His eyes were free-spirited but wise. I couldn’t imagine how old he was. Twenty years? Two thousand years? Did it matter?
“His loyalties are strong, as are his skills. It has been a long time since I have witnessed a worthy battle and one against a man with years of acquired technique under his belt.”
There was a pause as Novis nodded his head. “It is my decision, as a Creator, that I would offer him the life of a Mage, should he choose it. While we have lost one of our own this night, perhaps a renewed life will be a fair trade.”
“He cannot do this!” Merc raged.
While Novis was dwarfed by Merc’s overwhelming physique, he faced him directly.
“You have no say in this Merc, and you know it. This is my decision alone to make.”
“Novis, you are a fucking fool if you do this. It is irresponsible to bring in a new Mage without knowing his character.”
Sasha snorted and shuffled her feet.
Samuel waved a hand. “It is within his right. He may be Council, Merc, but remember that a Creator retains certain rights and thus—we cannot interfere. As for his character, I think we have seen enough of it tonight to know it is not in question.”
I let out a shocked breath that one of the Council members was also a Creator.
But Adam, a Mage? This was not the ending I had imagined. They were asking Adam to choose between life and death, and life also meant death, the death of his former life. My head wa
s spinning. The offer that Adam was receiving was to become the same thing that killed his sister—his enemy.
Novis approached Adam and knelt before him. Adam propped himself up, short on time but long on bravery. Novis crouched to look at him more directly.
“Human, I give you a choice. If you are willing to accept a gift I have to offer you, then you will be granted the life of a Mage. As such, you would be a Learner under my custody and therefore obedient to my teachings and rules. There are no exceptions to this. You will only be independent upon my approval, and that time will only be of my choosing. Until then, you remain in my care. We have laws, a way of life that will become your way of life. This will mean your former life will be no more. You will sever your attachments and relations to others as you will not be able to expose them to our world.”
Novis watched Adam for reaction but the only movement was the blood that ran between his fingers.
I felt sick.
Whatever he chose would be of my doing. Whatever regrets he had—I would be to blame. Justus and Simon watched with bated breath. Simon shot a satisfied glance at Merc, who looked ready to snap.
“Your time grows short, human. This gift is a great honor, not to be taken lightly or with haste.” He laced his fingers together and tilted his head. “Breed life is a difficult one, far beyond anything you have experienced. I see potential in you, rarely seen in that of your kind. A Creator chooses wisely—there is nobility within you I find most appealing. It is evident there is a military background, which has shaped you with skills, obedience, and leadership.”
While Adam didn’t reply, he gave a single nod.
“This is a choice selection. However, consider that your life as you know it will no longer be—you will be crossing the Rubicon. If you lose consciousness or die, it ends. As you are willing to die before us for honor alone, I see you as a man who would not take his choices lightly. Think a moment, and let me know how you decide.”
Adam motioned me over and I crawled to wrap my arms around him. His lips pressed to my ear, whispering words so softly they were only meant for me.
“Of my own free will I do this, Zoë.”
Zoë. He said my human name, a person I was no more. Those would be the words to forever haunt me. Part of me knew what he meant, that he wanted to give me peace of mind not to blame myself that he chose this life because of me. And yet, there was something else in the undertone that stilled me.
No one could ever know what a difficult choice this truly was for Adam. He was choosing to be something that literally smashed his life apart when the other half of him was murdered.
Someday I would ask him about this, and the meaning behind his words.
Adam offered me peace. It broke my heart, every last bit of it.
“You’ll make a fine Mage, Adam,” I whispered.
Then I walked away.
“I accept,” he sounded clearly.
“Then it shall be done. You will be formally introduced to the Council in due time.”
Novis sat down on his knees and commanded Adam to lift his palms.
It is a rare thing to be witness to the creation of another Mage, and I was seeing it with new eyes. Novis joined their fingers and poured his power into Adam until he fell back. Adam was winded, but his breathing had improved. It was a familiar process I remembered all too well.
Marinating, Samil called it. I suspected the transference was a calculated exchange of energy prior to the actual insertion of core light. There were two more exchanges before it was done.
It ended with a loud crack that ripped through the night, through my being—the sound of the first spark. One that sent chills up my spine, and Justus placed a calming hand on my shoulder.
It was done. As it was meant to be—willingly.
Their hands remained clasped, fingers intertwined; it was a moment between Creator and progeny that was quite beautiful. Adam was rich with the new power, saturated in it.
A delicate smile crept across the face of Novis as he gazed down into his progeny’s soft eyes.
Adam’s eyes resembled his Creator’s—sparkling light.
***
Novis rejoined his position beside the Council with Adam following obediently behind—healed. While Adam did not die this night, the part of him that I loved so much did. The Adam I loved: barefoot on his rickety porch feeding the birds, the photographer… the human. My Adam.
Adam leaned in behind Novis and whispered quietly. Novis was brimming with pride as he stood beside his progeny, listening. A pride I had never seen, nor felt, upon my own making.
Novis spoke. “As Silver is now without her Creator, her care will transfer over to her Ghuardian until such time as he chooses to release her.”
Justus placed his hand across my back but did not speak. I felt like I owed Novis. Whether I liked it or not, he saved the life of someone I held close to my heart.
“The Council will order her back to measure her abilities. Justus, we hope that you will nurture her talents to draw out any special gifts she may have. All Mage must be documented in our books within the first year with any discovered abilities. Should any new arise after the fact, we will require you to provide that information to us. This also includes the display we saw this evening. If there is anything you have not revealed, you will do so at such time. To conceal from the Council in the official record keeping will result in severe consequences.” He shifted his gaze to the Council.
Hannah gestured toward the body in the field. “We will have a ceremony. Collect his remains, Merc.”
Merc threw the body over his shoulders and followed behind the other members. When they reached the edge of the clearing, Adam looked over his shoulder and a smiled curved up his cheek.
And then he was gone.
Justus snatched my hand and I knew I was in for another scolding. As my Ghuardian, it was his duty to learn me, train me, and reprimand me. But I jerked free and ran a few long strides before falling on my hands. I choked, coughed, thought I was going to be sick, but I just stared down at the mud. Adam’s blood was all over me.
“I didn’t want that for him. Why Simon… why?”
“Because it was the only way he could live, and I know you would have regretted it more if we had not given him that choice. We had discussed this as a possibility, Silver. It came as no surprise this evening. You mistake our lives for a punishment, and that can be blamed on your maker. It is a blessed life we live.”
I rubbed my nose on my sleeve, disgusted with my pitiful display. I stood up, took a calming breath, and walked to the car. I was covered in mud and rainwater, so it was a relief that we took Simon’s car, which was an old, black, two-door GTO. I would need to be wrung out like a wet sponge before I got in one of Justus’s cars, if not strapped to the hood.
Oh, and I’m sure he would have liked that too, given the way I defied his orders this evening.
I jumped in the back behind the passenger seat and cursed as I melted into a comfortable position. Simon and Justus got in and the engine revved up.
“We’re cracking open your oldest bottles and we’re all going to get pissed! The bastard is dead; I cannot bloody well believe it!”
He slammed his fist on the wheel and screamed out a victorious cry as the car flew into reverse. “He moved well, didn’t he? Just like I taught him. Cept’ for that little bit in the end where he got himself killed, but overall I think he put on a damn good show.”
Justus, on the other hand, was a little more reserved on the enthusiasm. “I want to go to his house to collect her things later; we might find clues to the identity of the other Mage. I want to know who he is and what he’s up to.”
“Agreed,” Simon nodded. “But I have one rule tonight and that is we’re not discussing anything depressing. This is going to be a night of celebration, so unpop that cork from your arse and put on your party dress, you morose bastard.”
Simon cocked his head excitedly and winked at me.
“Simon, t
urn the heat up will you?”
My jacket was made for warmth but not for rain—it was more of a sweatshirt, which was now soaking wet. Water and mud covered my legs and ran down into my shoes. I felt the squishing as I wiggled my toes and my feet were starting to itch.
Screw this.
“Ghuardian, roll down your window. Please.”
He minced me with his look but complied. The icy air blasted across my wet body and, not able to stand it any longer, I peeled my jacket off and tossed it out the window. Next came the boots—one at a time. The second one bounced off a tree and hit the side of the car.
“What the bloody hell, Silver?” Simon gave me a curious glance. “You realize someone is going to find those and think there was a murder.” He paused and laughed like a hyena. “On second thought…”
“Silver, I bought those,” Justus said. I knew he was disappointed that his thoughtful gestures were now draped across a bush. He liked buying my clothes; it was the one way he knew how to show his affection for me.
“If you want ’em, go get ’em. They’re covered in blood and I don’t want any bloody thing on me that reminds me of this night. No pun intended, Simon,” I added as I caught his humored eye in the rearview mirror.
“Are you done or will you be stripping off more?” Justus asked.
“Please say yes,” Simon murmured.
Without my response, his window rolled up with a squeak.
I was numb. Not just emotionally, but my skin was so wet and clammy that I rubbed my arms fiercely to generate warmth. They were still slick with water and when I looked closer in the interior light I saw dark streaks. Blood.
I dropped my forehead against the seat in front of me, teeth chattering. “Heater?”
Had I known it was going to rain I might have dressed for it, or maybe not. For some reason my lack of planning when it came to attire really provoked Justus, and I enjoyed my petty torments.
I groaned in misery as the vent was blowing cool air over my already frozen body.
“Will I see Adam again?”
“Yes. Novis is a respectable chap. We do not imprison our Learners, do we Justus?”
“How did you know Novis would do it?”
