Feudlings

by Wendy Knight

  "She's more powerful than me," Shane pointed out.

  "Not more powerful. She's a better fighter, but I’d bet you are a better healer," Hunter said.

  "So okay, thanks for the history lesson, but what does that have to do with the Carules standing by Will and Ari?" Charity sighed. She glared at Hunter, clearly still mad at him. But her eyes softened, unable to hold a grudge.

  "So she's ill. And you said the Carules seemed to be there willingly?" Hunter asked again.

  Shane looked up as Charity nodded. "They looked almost as worried as Will."

  Shane burst to his feet, then stumbled and almost fell as understanding smashed into him. Hunter caught and righted him. "It's a Renegade colony," Shane exclaimed.

  "No way. The Prodigy and her Guard at a Renegade colony?" Hunter shook his head, his face skeptical.

  "Charity, can you see anything else? There are dozens of colonies in the United States alone. Can you see anything else that can help us?" Shane asked, dropping to his knees beside her again. She closed her eyes, trying to concentrate. She frowned, her whole body shaking with the effort. “Charity, I know how bad you want to find her. I know she’s your best friend and I know you want to ask her to forgive us. But you can’t focus on that now. Focus on Ari. The person.” Charity bit her lip, nodding once as a tear snaked its way down her cheek.

  Then her phone rang.

  She jumped, nearly swallowing her tongue. "Holy crap!" she gasped, digging the phone out of her pocket. She didn't recognize the number. Glancing uncertainly, first at Hunter and then at Shane, she hit the talk button and put it to her ear. "Hello?"

  "Charity? It's Will. I got your message… and I'm willing to talk to you… because I think Shane is the only one who can save her. If she doesn't kill him first."

  Chapter Twenty

  “Will wants to talk to us, but he won’t let us in his colony. He’s setting up a safe place to meet,” Charity said, hanging up the phone.

  “Colony? So they are in a Renegade colony!” Hunter exclaimed. “I can’t believe it. The Edren Prodigy and her Guard hiding with the Renegades.”

  “No, they aren’t in just any Renegade colony. It’s Will’s colony. He founded it.” Charity stood up, dusting her pants off.

  “Okay, but what’d he say about Ari?” Shane leaned forward eagerly.

  “He said… that we’re the only ones who might be able to save her. But he doesn’t sound hopeful.” Charity looked away, refusing to meet his gaze.

  Hunter’s phone rang and he jerked it out of his back pocket, groaning when he saw the caller ID. “It’s the Council. Again,” he said. “Hello?” After a pause, with Charity and Shane watching anxiously, he said, “Lewis. I told you we can’t come in. Shane’s injured.” Then his face darkened as his eyes swept the park. “You’re where?”

  Shane and Charity both glanced around the playground, although neither knew what they were looking for. Then Charity saw it. “Shane, look!” From across the park, dark shadows snuck closer, trying to stay near the trees.

  “What do you think you’re doing, Lewis?” With an infuriated growl Hunter hung up the phone and turned to Shane. “Either we go with these guys now and talk to the Council or they’re declaring us Renegades.”

  Shane looked over at the approaching figures. Carules warriors wearing shrouds. “Charity, when are we supposed to meet Will?” he asked, turning to his cousin.

  “Half hour.”

  Hunter turned to Shane. “You have a decision to make. Either we go and continue to fight this war the way we’re supposed to, or we fight and—”

  “And make our own destiny,” Shane finished for him. He faced the shrouded warriors, sparks tingling from his hands. “I never did like that prophesy.”

  As the warriors came closer, one of them stopped to yell in that weird, disjointed voice that comes from being shrouded, “Come with us, Mr. Delyle. We aren’t here to fight you.”

  “Then why is it you’re all shrouded?” Shane asked. Fighting the Prodigy had been scary. Fighting other Carules wasn’t.

  “Charity, run. Get as far away from here as you can. I’ll find you when it’s safe.” Hunter’s voice was urgent as he stepped close to her. She just shook her head. “I’ll wait right over there. I’m not running away.” Shane almost smiled. Charity was stronger than he had always given her credit for.

  “Hunter, I’ll be fine. Protect the Prodigy.” Whirling away, she sprinted for the safety of the trees so she wouldn’t get hit by a stray spell. Hunter watched her go, and then faced the warriors with Shane. Shane felt the flames race through his blood and warm his fingertips.

  It was a face-off. No one was throwing the first spell, but they were all ready to. The voice called again, “We just need to know where the Edren Prodigy is. We know he’s injured. We just want to help you finish this.”

  Shane looked over at Hunter. “Are you ready for this? We could just run.” But the thought of running didn’t appeal to him at all. Hunter just nodded, his scowl dark and frightening.

  Shane threw his hand up, burning a spell into the air. The one Ari had used to take out several people at once. Shane moved so fast the warriors were just raising their hands when he shoved the spell toward them; it bloomed wider and wider, engulfing them all. Neither Shane nor Hunter were prepared for the screams. “What have I done?” Shane’s voice was hollow as he watched the flames die, but the warriors still stood, batting out the remainder of the sparks clinging to their clothes.

  “Clearly, you’re not as good at this as Ari,” Hunter yelled as sparks burst to life from his fingertips. He threw flames at the Carules warriors who seemed bent on attacking their own Prodigy.

  “Hunter, I don’t want to kill them if I don’t have to,” Shane called and Hunter met his gaze over the flames burning around them.

  “I kinda don’t see a way around that, Shane!” Hunter dove to the side as a spell flew past his face, hitting the ground and rolling to his feet. “Just like football,” he muttered, and got ready to throw his next spell, searching for a target.

  Beside him, Shane raced forward, leaping up onto the bench they had been sitting on just moments before, burning a spell as he ran. Whirling, he shoved it toward the warriors; it was that weird spell again. The spell once more enveloped all of the warriors, but this time they were ready and some managed to dodge around it, running at Shane. They were burning nidibs that would catch and entrap into the air. Shane swore as he leapt backward off the bench, landing nimbly on his feet and sprinting out of the spell’s reach. The bindings dissolved into sparks that fell, harmless, to the grass. Hunter threw another spell, smashing it into the Carules nearest Shane.

  “Hunter, look out!” Charity screamed from the trees, and he spun just in time to see a Carules throwing a lirik.

  He leapt out of the way, hurtling the bench and racing after Shane. “Things are serious Shane! They’re throwing liriks!” he bellowed. Shane jerked around, and Hunter was shocked to see the blind fury on his face.

  Shane was done playing nicely. With an enraged roar, he turned on the Carules.

  His hands moved so quickly the warriors couldn’t see what he was burning into the air before he shoved it forward, and by then there was no escaping the spells hurtling at them. Shane attacked the warriors one after the other, and didn’t even cast them a second glance as they lay screaming on the ground before he went after the next.

  The warriors realized they were losing, and the few remaining turned and ran. Hunter stood behind Shane, his chest heaving, “Yeah… you’re kinda scary,” Hunter muttered. Shane could only answer him with an exhausted look.

  Charity approached, her steps cautious as she neared them. “Shane? Are you okay?” She glanced from him to Hunter.

  Shane nodded. “We need to go meet Will and end this stupid war.” He stretched his fingers, not used to the feeling of flames roiling under the skin. Frowning, he searched the park. “They aren’t going to give up that easy. They’ll go get help and be bac
k as fast as they can draw a saldepement.”

  “Then we’d better get moving, right?” Charity tugged on Shane’s arm. She turned and sprinted out of the park, and Hunter followed her. Shane cast one last glance behind him.

  The Carules were back.

  “Hunter, Charity! Run!” he screamed. Charity glanced over her shoulder, saw the figures, and lengthened her stride until she was flying over the grass toward the road. But Shane should have known better than to warn Hunter. His best friend skidded to a stop and started to turn back. Swearing under his breath, Shane raced forward. If he didn’t stop to fight, Hunter wouldn’t either. As Shane got close, Hunter spun on his heel and chased Charity toward the road.

  Behind them, the shrouded warriors had also broken into a run. “We have to lose them!” Charity screeched as she darted into oncoming traffic.

  “Charity! Are you insane?” Shane bellowed. He stopped and whirled around, throwing a ward up behind them. “That’ll slow them down a bit.” He grinned, momentarily satisfied, as he jerked around again.

  Hunter hesitated at the edge of the road. If tiny little Charity could dodge through traffic like a rabbit, they could, too. He and Shane both jumped off the curb, leaping out of the way as cars flew past.

  Once safely across the road, Shane glanced back again just in time to see the warriors slam into the ward. His face lit up in a triumphant grin before he turned around, trying to catch Charity before she lost them both.

  He caught sight of her before she raced around the corner of a building. “When did she get so fast?” Hunter struggled to speak and breathe at the same time. Shane didn’t answer, but barreled around the corner after her in time to see her dart through a back door.

  “Does she even know where she’s going?” he asked, not waiting for an answer. Without hesitation, they followed her through the door and into the back of an office building. People in cubicles were all staring at them, shock obvious on their faces, but Charity had already left through the front doors so Shane and Hunter had no choice but to follow her. Shane was sure he heard someone calling the police, but he didn’t have time to stop and explain.

  They burst out of the building and into the bright daylight, both blinking rapidly, trying to see. Shane’s vision cleared just in time to see Charity scrambling into the front seat of a little red car.

  Nev’s car.

  There was no time to hesitate, Shane shoved Hunter into the backseat and dove in after him, slamming the door behind him just as the Carules exploded out of the building behind him. “Go go go!” Charity cried. Nev floored it and the tires squealed as the little car leapt into traffic.

  No one said anything as Nev, her hands so tight on the wheel her knuckles were white, wove in and out through traffic, going way too fast. “Where am I going?” she asked, voice shaking, as she came to an intersection.

  “The library on Park Avenue. Nev, you can slow down. I think we’re okay,” Charity said, and for the first time Shane realized her eyes were glowing. She had been following a vision the whole time.

  “This is some freaky stuff you guys got yourself into,” Nev said, her whole body trembling.

  “I know, Nev. And I’m so sorry to involve you. I don’t know how you got here so fast.” Charity apologized between gasps as she struggled to fasten her seatbelt while Nev wove in and out through traffic.

  “I lied. A lot.” Nev sighed. “But that’s what friends do, right? And you said this could help Ari. So here I am.”

  Hunter leaned forward. “Nev, after you drop us off, go straight back to school where you’re safe. Do you understand me?”

  Her eyes met his, briefly, in the rearview mirror before she turned her attention back to the road. “Got it. But one day you guys are going to tell me exactly what is going on here. Do you understand me?” she asked. Hunter nodded.

  She dropped them off at the front steps of the library and peeled away after making Charity promise to call and let her know they were safe. “And tell Ari I love her,” Nev said, her voice breaking as she waved goodbye.

  There was no time to watch her go, and they sprinted through the front doors.

  “I was beginning to think you didn’t care enough to show up.”

  Shane spun toward the voice, his hands poised to throw a spell. Will stood in the shadows, leaning against the wall with his arms folded across his chest. His glare was menacing as he pushed away from the wall and started toward them. “We need to talk about how you tried to kill my sister,” he said, his voice cold as ice.

  ****

  Ari heard voices coming up the stairs and looked toward the living room doorway from where she was laying on the couch. She was used to people coming and going. Healers were here constantly, trying to save her, and Dani stopped by as often as she could to offer moral support.

  Then the world slowed as Shane came around the corner, Charity and Hunter following. They stopped short when they saw Ari, frozen in either fear or disbelief. Probably fear.

  Ignoring the horrible pain from her wound, she struggled to her feet, sparks crackling from her fingers, ready to fight.

  "Ari! Ari! Wait!" Will said, running in behind them, his hands raised toward her. Ari said nothing. She forced herself to stand tall despite the pain, glaring at them all.

  Shane's face was white; Charity's was streaked with tears. Hunter was inscrutable, as always. She moved her gaze to her brother, "You betrayed me."

  "No." Will shook his head vehemently, hands still raised, standing between her and the others like he could protect them. "Just listen to them, please? They can help you."

  "No," she answered flatly. She wanted to sit down. The pain in her stomach and side was worse when she stood, but she refused to show them she was weak. She doubled her hands into fists at her sides and ignored the pain, but even then her face was pale, her cheeks flushed and her eyes bright with fever.

  Will came over, put his hands on her shoulders, and leaned his forehead to her forehead so she could see nothing but him. "Ari, you know I love you more than anything in the world. I would never do anything to hurt you. Please, just listen to them. When they're done, if you don't like what they say, I'll be happy to let you blast them with whatever you want."

  Ari stared into his dark brown gaze, so like her own, for several seconds and gave up. Sighing, she straightened, trying to ignore the sharp pain that sliced through her whole right side as she did. "So talk," she cried when they just stared at her.

  Shane cleared his throat and stepped forward, cautious, as if he expected a bomb to be hidden in the floorboards, waiting to blow his foot off. "Ari, it was an accident." His voice was hoarse and didn’t sound like him at all.

  She didn’t care. "You tried to kill me. You set a trap to catch me so you could kill me! How can you call that an accident?" Her voice, though weak, was deadly.

  "That's not what was going to happen. We didn't know it was you!" Charity said with a whimper from behind him.

  "You're a Seer, Charity. How could you not have known?" Ari asked.

  "I can't see the Prodigy. You know that!" Charity said.

  "Yes. I do know you tell everyone that," Ari said, her gaze narrowing. Will stood near her, offering as much support as he dared without making her seem weak. She knew it was a fight for him to even let her stand this long.

  "No Ari, it isn't like that. We didn’t know you were Edren at all. You knew about us but we didn't know about you. I don't know how we missed it. And I can't see a lot of people, Ari, not just the Prodigy. I'm not a good Seer, remember?" Charity cried. Gone was the cool, calm, always serene Charity that Ari remembered. This new Charity was a mess.

  "Oh come on, Charity. You're one of the best. You're just so used to people telling you that you aren't that you use it as an excuse, but you saw what was going to happen to Taylor before the Council's Seer did. And you saw the battle at Adlington when no one else could. Explain that!" Ari was yelling again. Yelling hurt, at least physically, but she didn’t care. Yelling made
her heart feel better.

  Charity opened her mouth and then shut it. "That's what I thought," Ari said, sparks at her fingers again, growing so that they caught fire and miniature flames reached toward the ground. It was a frightening sight.

  "Ari, she didn't see you. Not until it was too late." Shane stepped forward again.

  Ari ground her teeth together and hissed like an angry cat. "Back up, Shane."

  He stopped moving but didn't back up as commanded, either. "Just… listen to me. Please," he begged. His face was still white and she realized with shock that his hands were shaking.

  "We knew the Edren Prodigy was in the school. We wanted to catch him… or her…we thought it was a him… and, and kill him. So your Seers could watch like ours did when the Edrens killed Taylor."

  "We don't have Seers!" Ari shrieked. Probably not an important point, she thought after the fact.

  Shane pulled his chin in and his eyebrows rose in surprise. "I didn't know that."

  "Anyway?" Hunter injected behind him, speaking for the first time. Ari glared at him, but he met her gaze mildly and said nothing more.

  "Anyway, we set the trap. No one can escape my traps, even the Council members. But you walked right through it. We didn't have time to think, Ari! We couldn't see you, it was dark, remember? But we saw that you walked through the trap and I knew what you were. So I attacked." If possible, Shane's face went even whiter and he swallowed, hard. He took a step closer.

  Ari glared harder and the flames shot further from her fingertips.

  "We thought you were there to kill Shane, Ari. We didn't know it was you. If we had… we never would have done it,” Hunter started, as Charity cut him off with, “Of course we wouldn't have!” With a pointed look at Charity, Hunter finished, “How could you not have more faith in us than that?" Charity was sobbing now, tears soaking her cheeks.