What was it with shadow stalkers and eating bugs? "Sephir taught you this?"
"Yes. Eat, Auren. We'll never get to the shore if we don't have food."
I placed one of them as far back into my throat as I could and swallowed it whole. Shai was right about us needing to eat something, but that didn't mean I had to taste it. The second one wiggled too much and nearly lodged in my throat, but I managed to squeeze it down. By the fifth, my gag reflex had kicked in and swallowing became nearly impossible. That would have to be my last, and I'd just have to hope it was enough for the time being.
Shai had finished hers and from the sound of her soft snores, she was already asleep. As tired as I was, I expected to pass right out, but the throbbing in my leg had gotten worse. Instead, I lay there staring into the darkness. "This is pointless," I said to myself, when I noticed the sky was lightening. I sat up and covered my mouth to smother my cries.
"You okay?" Shai asked.
"My leg. It really hurts."
"Can you stand?"
"Do I have a choice?" I asked, reaching a hand up so she could help me to my feet.
Shai gripped my hand. "Yes. Actually, you do. You can shift and meet up with my father so he can heal you," she said as she pulled me to my feet.
I limped out into the open, feeling exposed without the cover of the forest. If there were any Galvadi nearby, they'd spot us easily now.
"Auren, your leg."
I followed Shai's horrified gaze. My calf had doubled in size overnight. I touched the reddened skin tentatively. It was on fire, and pus oozed from the wounds. It was safe to say it had gotten infected. I didn't have much time, but I wasn't ready to give up yet.
*****
"Auren, you're really hot," Shai said as she helped me to the stream.
I nodded. I had already guessed that I had a fever.
"You need to go to my father. I'll be able to move faster without you anyway."
Shai was trying to put on a brave face, but I could see she was terrified of the prospect of being left alone.
"We have to be getting close," I told her. "I'll stick it out."
The cool water felt good on my leg though it did little for the nausea. As Shai cleaned my wounds, I splashed some of the water on my face, hoping to bring my fever down.
"Is that the same moss you put on my feet?" Shai asked, pointing to a moss-covered tree in the distance.
"I think it is."
She gathered some and brought it back for me to check. I held it to my nose and sniffed. It had that familiar strong scent. That was the best way for me to tell since it was similar in appearance to other types of moss.
"Yes, that's it. We'll need something to tie it on though."
Shai washed the strips of cloth she had saved when we tied the moss to her feet. "This will have to do."
After tying the moss to my calf, we started walking again. I didn't think it would do much to help at this point, but at least it was better than nothing. If nothing else, it might bring down the swelling and relieve some of the pain.
Chapter 4
Our progress was slow as we made our way through the mountain pass. Worse, it was hard to tell if we were even still going in the right direction. The more we walked, the more I worried we had gone the wrong way and might be heading into a dead end. We had to stop several times so I could rest. Shai's worry for me grew.
"Auren, this is crazy. You could die."
"I'm fine, I swear. Just feeling a bit run down." I wasn't fine. My head spun, and I knew the fever was getting worse as the day drew on. I didn't know how much longer I would be able to cope with the pain either. If I didn't feel so disoriented, I'd hide in the shadow world, so I wouldn't feel it. But that wouldn't have stopped the progression of the infection.
By that evening, there was still no sign that we were any closer to reaching the shoreline. So far, we hadn't come to any more caves, but when we came across a small overhang, Shai stopped.
"Maybe we should camp here tonight. It might be the best we can get."
I nodded. My vision blurred while my head pounded. I didn't even remember lying down, but when I opened my eyes it was well into the next morning. Shai was already awake—or judging by the bags under her eyes maybe she stayed up all night—watching me.
I tried getting to my feet, but even with her help, it wasn't working. "I can't go any further, Shai. Just leave me here and find your father. I should be safe."
"Shift into the shadow world. Find him yourself," she told me.
It was beyond my ability at that point though. When I tried, I lost consciousness.
*****
Auren, I heard Kado's voice call to me. He was so far away. I couldn't see him. I couldn't see anything, and I didn't know where to look. It was like he was all around me and nowhere at the same time. I wanted to answer him, but I couldn't make my voice work. At least my pain seemed to be gone. No. It was still there, but it was a dull ache now. I called out, trying to reach for him, but he was no longer there.
Don't leave me, I begged. I didn't know where I was or what was happening to me.
I'm here. You're safe, a voice said. It wasn't Kado's.
I tried to open my eyes, to see what was going on, but it was as though they were glued shut. The pain was back too, but it was different now. It was more of an ache than a throb. I felt someone's arms around me, supporting my weight. I was being carried, but by who? My first thought was that it was one of the Dansig Troopers, and my panic rose. My eyes flew open, and I struggled to get out of his arms.
"Calm down, Auren," the man said, laying a hand on the side of my face.
Suddenly I felt as though I'd been covered in a heavy blanket.
"It's Sephir," Shai said. "He came to help right after you passed out."
Sephir? Where was Kado?
"Kado sensed you were in trouble," Sephir said, setting me down gently. "He needed to stay with the hydrocar, so he sent me to help you."
"How long was I out?"
Sephir put a steadying hand on my arm when I swayed. "You've been unconscious for about two hours. I gave you something for the infection, but Kado will heal you more thoroughly once we've returned to Appolia."
"How far?"
"Not far now. Just a couple of hours. You were traveling southeast, which is why you hadn't reached the shore, yet. I'll give you fair warning. Kado's not happy you were so far off course."
I groaned. "I blame it on the fever."
"And what's your excuse?" Sephir asked Shai, his eyebrows raised.
"I was following her."
Shai grinned when Sephir scowled at her, though it was obvious he wasn't really upset. He was likely too relieved to have her back. I limped ahead of them, anxious to get to Kado.
"Where do you think you're going?" Sephir said, sweeping me into his arms again.
"I can walk."
"You'll relax, or I'll sedate you."
I groaned. He was as bad as Kado, but I had to admit it was a relief to be off my leg. It was bandaged now and, from what I could tell, the swelling had gone down.
*****
I knew we were getting close when I heard the waves crashing on the beach in the distance. I could even smell the sea now. As we left the mountain pass behind us, we were back in the forest. Sephir moved faster and set me down at the edge of the forest. Sand covered the ground, and the sea was only a few hundred meters from where I stood. I took a step toward the beach, but Sephir grabbed my arm and pointed to a commotion on the beach.
Kado was there, surrounded by a group of soldiers. They must have been searching for me and Shai and ran into Kado instead.
"Both of you hide and stay out of sight. Do not come out of the forest until one of us calls for you. Understood?"
"Yes, Sephir," Shai said at the same time I nodded.
There weren't many places to hide without going back into the forest, and I wanted to see what happened, so I stood in the shadow of a tree, hoping it would be enough to keep
any of the soldiers from noticing me. They seemed too busy to notice me anyway. I scanned the shore to find Kado's hydrocar, but it was nowhere to be seen. I wondered if the soldiers had sunk it. If they had, we'd be stuck here. To keep the panic at bay, I reminded myself we had Kado and Sephir with us now, but I was anxious to get off Nadiria. I wouldn't feel safe until we left this island.
Taking on a dozen or so soldiers was nothing for the two of them, and I was sure the fight would end soon. But then I saw at least two vehicles approaching the scene. Not two. There were about five, and each one had been carrying a squad of soldiers. Sephir and Kado were now facing more than fifty men, with weapons pointed straight at them.
"There's no way they can defeat all of them. We have to do something," I told Shai.
She gazed at me as though I'd lost my mind. "Just wait and watch."
A few of the soldiers in the front threw spheres toward Kado and Sephir, but they shifted before the metal balls came into range and were now flanking the troopers. Kado snapped the neck of the closest one, then disappeared again. Sephir had his knife out and did the same. The soldiers didn't even have a chance to defend themselves.
Kado appeared again, but this time he didn't shift. The soldiers nearby must have had more of the spheres and it kept him from going back into the shadow world, but it didn't keep him from fighting his way, almost effortlessly, through the group of soldiers. More than a dozen of them now lay on the ground either dead or dying.
One of the soldiers stood back from the fighting, scanning the trees. As much as I wanted to hide at this point, I knew if I moved he'd see me. I stood as still as I possibly could, but Shai noticed him too and backed up. He must have seen the movement because he stalked in our direction.
"Hide," I told Shai, pushing her back toward the forest.
"What about you?"
"I can handle one soldier."
"Auren—"
"Go," I yelled.
Shai groaned and ran deeper into the trees. My leg still hurt, and my fever hadn't broken yet, so I was still a bit unsteady on my feet, but I felt more connected to the shadow world now. I could shift and surprise him. He'd never see me coming. I was about to go into the shadow world when I felt my connection slip and a knife was pressed to my throat from behind. At the same time, I heard Shai cry out and a moment later she was dragged beside me.
I was so focused on the soldier—no Dansig Trooper—as he approached, I didn't notice we were surrounded. I couldn't even call for Kado now. I knew this trooper. He was the same one who had allowed me to return the demon to the shadow world.
"I told you, you would not get away, girl," he said. "Release her."
I felt the knife drop from my neck, and the soldier pushed me toward the trooper who caught me by the arm then grabbed a fist full of my hair. I whimpered as he yanked my head back, so I was gazing right into his eyes. He released my arm and stroked my cheek with his finger.
"You really are a beautiful girl. I'd like to have some fun with you before I bring you to the Emperor, but I don't think we'll have time for that."
I shuddered as his finger traced the contour of my neck. "Don't you have to take us back to the reconciliation center?" I hoped if I stalled for time, Kado might realize we were in trouble. I tried to see if he and Sephir were still fighting, but the trooper blocked my view.
"They won't be able to help you. There are more squads on the way, and they can't use their powers now," the trooper said. "The Emperor is not happy that you helped the Foramar commit suicide, and he's curious to meet the young shadow stalker who managed to overcome our security and withstand the cleansing for so long. I will be taking you to see him. Your friends, on the other hand, will die here."
He turned me so I faced Shai and wrapped his hand around my throat. "Kill her slowly. I want her to suffer, and I want this one to watch."
"Ka—," I tried to scream, but he cut off my air supply with a squeeze.
"None of that, girl." He didn't loosen his grip on my throat until I stopped struggling.
Three other soldiers joined the one holding Shai. Two of them grabbed her arms while the other grabbed her legs. They pulled, suspending her over the ground. She kicked and struggled to get free, but they were too strong.
"If you keep struggling, I might cut deeper than I intend," the one with the knife said, moving the blade slowly down her neck, leaving a line of blood.
Shai whimpered and froze as the soldier continued to make shallow cuts down her arm.
"Please, not again," she whispered softly, tears streaming down her face. Her body shook involuntarily, and I imagined in her mind she was back in the cleansing room being tortured.
"You should have stayed in your room," the soldier with the knife told her. "Now you will be punished."
Shai started sobbing, but all the fight had gone out of her. I watched horrified, trying to think of something I could do to help her. I closed my eyes, trying to reach out to Kado, but I couldn't feel the veil at all. Then she screamed. I opened my eyes to find the soldier had pushed the knife through her palm. My vision blurred, and at first, I thought I'd pass out, but something was happening. The veil was all around me, but I couldn't feel it or reach it. Something blocked it.
Another scream.
Everything was black, and I pushed out, grasping the veil. Suddenly I was surrounded by the mist. The trooper looked around in confusion, and the soldier with the knife stopped his work.
"Where did she go?" he asked.
The trooper's face went white. "I think she went into the shadow world, but I don't know how it's possible."
I didn't either.
"Kill the girl, now."
No, I screamed and, at the same time, I felt energy gathering all around me. It filled me and just when I thought I'd burst, I shifted again and released it. A burst of scalding air shot out in all directions. Men screamed and fell to the ground.
"Shai," I cried out.
She was gone, and the men lay there, looking as though their skin had melted off.
Someone grabbed me from behind, and I struggled.
"Auren, it's me."
I whipped around and grabbed Kado tightly around his middle. I buried my face in his chest, sobbing, as one arm wrapped around my shoulder while he caressed my head with the other.
"We have to get going," Kado said after a moment. "More may come."
I nodded, but didn't let go. Then I remembered Shai and looked around, frantically searching for her.
"Shai is safe. Sephir has her." He took my hand and led me toward the hydrocar waiting on the beach.
Chapter 5
"Did I burn her?" I asked, the sight of those men still painted in my mind.
"No, Auren. Sephir protected her," Kado said, leading me to a hydrocar sitting on the beach.
It looked like the one he had stolen on Luten Isle, but I didn't know where it came from. It was nothing like the ones the soldiers had arrived in. Those were bigger for transporting several people at once. I could see Sephir in the back seat now, tending to Shai's wounds. If he hadn't been there, I might have killed her too.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what happened."
"It's okay. We'll talk about it as soon as we're safe." Kado lifted me into the passenger seat and closed the door, then ran to the other side.
"Are you okay?" I asked, turning in my seat to face Shai.
She nodded, but she looked wary and distant.
"She'll be fine, Auren. You should put your harness on," Sephir said
I nodded and did as I was told. Kado climbed into driver's seat and headed out onto the sea. Then he pressed a button, submerging the vehicle and set the autopilot. It was only then that he finally relaxed. He gave my hand a squeeze, and I felt his mind brush mine. Instantly, I felt calmer.
"Let me see your hands, Shai," Kado said.
She held them out for him. Both palms had been stabbed straight through with the knife. He closed his eyes and, suddenly, I could see the wounds closing
.
Shai cried out. "Dad it burns."
I remembered the way it had felt when Kado healed my wounds when the demon attacked me on Luten Isle. It was like having a red-hot brand pressed to your skin. Sephir stroked the side of her face, and her eyes drooped slowly until they closed. He caught her head before it lolled forward, and released her from the harness, laying her down so her head rested on his lap. It didn't take Kado long to finish healing her wounds, and then he turned to me.
"Lie down," he said.
"Kado, what did I do to those men?"
He reached over and pressed the button on my harness, causing the straps to retract, then pulled my arm while pressing my head toward the seat. I was too exhausted to fight him, now that the adrenaline rush had worn off, so I mirrored Shai and rested my head on Kado's lap.
"Close your eyes and sleep. We'll talk when you wake."
My eyes closed of their own accord, and I felt the heat building in my calf before I fell into a deep sleep.
*****
The first thing I noticed was a strange humming noise, like an engine. Then someone took a deep breath. A man. I sat up quickly, and it took a moment to remember all that happened. Kado had come for me. I was safe.
"How do you feel?" he asked, softly.
"Dizzy, but relieved." I looked at my calf, and it was completely healed. Kado must have done it while I slept. I turned in my seat to check on Shai, who was still asleep. I wasn't just relieved for myself. Shai was safe too. It would have been better if my father were with us as well, but at least I saved one person.
"I'm glad she's safe too, Auren, but you shouldn't have risked yourself. It was foolish and reckless," Kado told me.
I pulled my knees to my chest and hid my face. I didn't want to have this argument right now… or ever. "I couldn't leave her there."
"I'm not just referring to that." Kado sighed. "You should have come to me as soon as you were injured. That infection very nearly killed you."
"I didn't want to leave Shai alone. I—"
Kado turned towards me. "Look at me."
Shadow Stalker Part 2 (Episodes 7 - 12) Page 18
