“I just want it to be me and Kace,” Remi said. “In case there’s some serious danger.”
“You want us to hide?” Milo asked.
“I can’t afford to lose you,” she said, giving him a warm smile. “You’re the only one that can repair my limbs. And Alicia is too valuable. She has the knowledge they want. Casimir might not have tortured her to get to it, but I’m not so sure about the others.”
“But what about you?”
“I’m the most expendable,” Remi admitted. “Now that we’re back on Terra, it’s only a matter of time before the atmosphere gets to me and my health starts declining again. I’m on borrowed time as it is.”
“Then what part do I have to play in all this?” Kace asked.
“You’re the bait again,” she said, grabbing his arm. “Now come on. We’re about to have our last date together.”
“Don’t tease,” he pouted. “That’s just mean.”
“Take to the skies,” Remi said to Milo and Alicia, ignoring Kace’s comment. “It doesn’t seem like the Sorcerers know how to fly naturally so that’s your best bet.”
“Okay,” she sighed. “I just got dressed too.”
She and Milo walked off together while Remi led Kace over to the crater’s edge and sat down. Kace followed suit and they both waited, hearing nothing but silence as they waited.
“What caused this?” Remi said, pointing down to the crater’s bottom. “A falling star or something?”
“A falling star would cause a lot more damage than this,” Kace chuckled.
“Do you know?”
“There are stories, but no one really knows. It’s all one big mystery.”
“Kind of like the Sorcerers?”
Kace glanced over at her. “Fishing for information?”
“I don’t know. Are you aching for a bite?”
“I don’t know much. Casimir usually met with them alone, and that was a very rare occurrence at that. My job was to perform his bidding. Walk into towns and get supplies. Talk to certain people and ask questions without even knowing the reason behind them.”
“You were under his control,” she said. “And you were fine with that?”
“It wasn’t all bad,” he sighed. “It never is. He would reward me with a meal I loved or he would let me walk alone through the woods. Sometimes he let me mingle with others without restraint. I loved those moments, and it’s not like I knew what life was like without him. I was created fully grown so I didn’t have a childhood to base it on. He was all I knew, and essentially, he was my mother and father.”
“But you weren’t completely happy, right?”
“Of course not. I wanted to have a life of my own. But I also knew that that life wouldn’t be everything I wanted either. You can look around at everyone walking around and supposedly they’re free, but it’s all an illusion. They have puppet strings hanging from the pores on their body, and they don’t even see them. They long forgot how to feel them. That’s the Sorcerers’ power. They make you do what they want and they make it seem like it’s what you want.”
“So there’s no way we can trust them? Not even Casimir?”
“Not even him,” Kace said. “And it’s not like he’s given me a reason not to. It’s just…I know he’s playing a game just like the rest of them. I don’t know what his true motives are, and that kind of scares me.”
“Then what can we do?” she asked.
“Nothing.”
“I don’t believe that,” she said, closing her eyes. “Just exist and hope for the best. Wait and see which of the Sorcerers will be our master in the end. I don’t like it.”
“That’s the way things are though. What can you do?”
“Did you think we would be sitting here back when you met me?”
“No.”
“Then there’s your answer. I can do plenty.”
“This is different and you know it.”
“What do you care?”
“I do,” he winced. “Even if you don’t believe it. I wanted to save you from all of this. Remi, I really do love you.”
“No, you don’t,” she sighed. “We’re confused. That’s what it is.”
“I don’t understand.”
“It’s because I’m you’re first, right?”
“What does that matter?”
“You’re my first too,” she said. “And that’s why the feelings are so strong. But first love very rarely lasts. It’s because the foundation’s not based on things that are sustainable. It’s just raw passion and lust.”
“You sound like you don’t feel anything.”
“I do,” she said, taking his hands into hers. “I do. But that’s my body talking…because you’re so hot.” Kace laughed as she snickered and let go of his hand. “But that’s all that’s talking. My heart and mind are letting me know that you’re not what I need. I love you, Kace, but not in the way that you want. I want to be friends, but that’s it. And if you think about it, that’s all you want too. I’m the first girlfriend you’ve had, so everything’s intense, but you’ll see. I’m too reckless. I’m not that kind of girl you want.”
“You are reckless,” he admitted. “But I admire your spirit.”
“You need a nice simple girl,” she said, patting the back of his hand. “Someone who won’t go running head first into war and trying to take on borderline gods.”
“Yeah,” he laughed. “That would probably be better.”
“Yep,” she said, turning her head and looking out over the crater. “Yeah, that sounds nice.”
“Remi, I want you to know…I’m not under Casimir’s control. He’s deceptive, but he’s never controlled me completely. Do you get what I’m saying?”
“I hear you,” she said. “Casimir’s not making you speak and act.”
“Right. I do have free will.”
“I know,” Remi said. It was what she said, but not what she believed. If Kace was created by Casimir, there was no way to know for sure. And she was fine with that. It was another way to get closer to her goal.
Using Kace to get to that goal didn’t sit well with her, especially if he had good intentions, but she knew that those feelings didn’t matter if the Sorcerers had their way. If they survived it all, she could apologize later.
And in that moment, Remi realized why she hated Olivia’s betrayal so much. It wasn’t because it was a breach of their friendship like she previously thought. That couldn’t be it, for even afterwards, she went on another journey with her. And even when her friend joined Cimmerian, she understood.
No, the reason she hated the betrayal was because it made her realize how weak she was, and how she didn’t have the strength to do it first.
Not to say that she would have outright given up Olivia to the Langorans, but it would have been nice to have the option. At the time, she was simply at the mercy of her health and those around her. And perhaps that was why she fought so hard for the right to live life on her own terms. She realized that the Sorcerers were at the top of the mountain and they controlled everything and everyone. If she was able to reach that summit and topple them, then there would be no more battles to fight. No more wars but what the people created on their own. But at that point, she wouldn’t care. She could find a nice secluded place like Old Quietus and make something of herself.
But that was an option was impossible for as long as the Sorcerers were in power. In a sense, her actions were no different than Olivia’s, she was just taking a different approach. If Olivia was able to climb the ranks in Cimmerian and amass a following worthy of knocking on the Sorcerers’ door, then more power to her.
And if that happened, Remi already knew, that regardless of what happened between them—she would fight by her side once again. It was about the end result. That’s what she had to get in her head. Olivia did it so easily, why couldn’t she?
Remi looked at Kace out of the corner of her eye, watching him as he stared out into the distance. He was like a puppy dog,
so cute and strong, yet gentle and sensitive. He wanted to be loved, and he lived according to that simple, foolish notion.
Remi sighed and turned away from him. Could she accomplish her goals without sacrificing those around her? She recognized that Milo and Alicia treated her like their leader, and at first it bothered her, but now she accepted it.
At the same time, she realized how terrible having someone’s life in her hands could be. She could give them an order, and they would give their lives for her. That kind of responsibility was troubling.
“You think we’ll get out of this alive?” Kace asked, breaking the silence.
“I’d like to think so,” Remi said, raising one of her artificial arms. “But we might not be whole in the process.”
“You think there’s another world after this one? Something like Paragon or Cimmerian?”
“No,” she said and he shot his head toward her in concern. “why not?”
“Because what do we have besides a soul and its shell? There’s nowhere left for our essence to go?”
“Then if we die, that’s it?”
“Won’t know until we find out,” Remi muttered. A humming sound behind her caught her attention. Remi swiveled her head around and saw nothing but the leveled field behind her. She turned back to the crater and saw someone standing in the center down below. Remi stood up to her feet as fast as possible and Kace wasn’t far behind her.
The mysterious stranger below had a long starched cloak on her, bright orange hair where she wasn’t bald, and diamond gauntlets on her hands. Her emerald colored eyes twinkled in the sunlight as she glared at them.
“Ember,” Remi whispered her name.
Remi blinked, and then the Sorceress was gone.
Chapter 43 – Sweet Flames
“Happy to see me?” Ember said from behind her. Remi turned around and received a punch to her stomach. It felt like her body caved in and her organs had just avalanched down into her gut.
Remi nearly blacked out as she began falling backwards but Ember grabbed her collar and kept her upright. Kace cocked back a fist but Ember raised an index finger and wagged it at him.
“I wouldn’t,” she said. “Don’t worry. That’s the only blow I plan on inflicting upon your girlfriend. Just to show her who’s in control here.” Ember stepped back and pulled Remi with her, allowing her to fall down to her knees once she was clear of the crater’s edge.
“What are you doing here?” Kace asked, trying to sound as brave as possible.
Ember scoffed. “You’re the ones waiting for a Sorcerer to arrive. Now you have one.”
“We wanted someone else.”
“Like Casimir?” Ember asked, glaring at him with her piercing eyes. “Yes, where is your Master at the moment?”
“I don’t know.”
“I believe you,” she said, pointing one of her spiky diamond fingers at his face. “Because you know what I’m capable of doing to you. Lie once, and I’ll know it. Now tell me, what do you want?”
“Remi’s the one that wanted a Sorcerer,” he said, beginning to sweat.
“I guess I hit you a bit prematurely,” Ember addressed Remi, looking down upon her. “Can you speak?”
“I can,” Remi whispered.
“Can you stand?”
“Yes,” she said, putting one foot out in front of her and leaning down on one knee.
Ember’s eyes smiled as she watched. “You don’t have to stop bowing. Take your time.”
“I’m not bowing,” Remi grit her teeth and she stumbled onto both of her feet.
“You should be. You’re the one requesting an audience. I’m a very busy woman.”
“No, you’re not,” Remi whispered.
“Excuse me?”
“I said, you’re not!” she snapped. “You’re just like Casimir. Trying to find a way to get away from the kid’s table so you can eat with the adults!”
“How dare you!” Ember seethed, reaching out slowly toward Remi’s face with her fingers stretched out wide. “I’ll rip that smile right off your skull.”
“It’s your call,” Remi said. “But you’ll be missing out on having an opportunity to play on the field for once.”
“Say your peace, filth. Give me the reason your words are so bold.”
“I really was expecting to see someone else, and gain some real answers to what’s going on behind the scenes, but you’ll do. Because you’re in the same boat as Casimir. How do I know this? Because the other Sorcerers have enough power and resources to remain hidden. You two wouldn’t risk exposing yourselves to the worlds unless you had little to lose. When I first met Casimir, I was shocked to see that he would reveal himself to me, but I supposed that since I had found the Sorcerer’s dragon, he figured I would find the others and that could help his cause. But then I found out the truth—that the Sorcerer weapons are great resources but we don’t really matter. We’re not the end game. The end game is killing each other. The last Sorcerer standing will gain the power of the others and that’s when I figured that all of this—the stones of power, Bastion’s involvement, the Great Collision—it’s all orchestrated by the seven of you. It’s the culmination of your plans and the end is near. The war between Cimmerian and Paragon doesn’t matter. It’s the final battle between the seven Sorcerers.
“I thought of my friendship and rivalry with Olivia. She was like a sister to me, but she also betrayed me twice, and it’s because she is focusing on her end game. Our friendship doesn’t matter if we’re both dead. And so she’s doing what she has to do while I do the same. I assume that some of the Sorcerers are working together to further their goals, while secretly preparing to turn on each other when it’s the last two or three standing. And I assume that Casimir is alone because he’s resorting to collecting weapons that his enemies don’t care about.”
“And what about me?” Ember asked, listening attentively.
“You’re alone too. Because otherwise you wouldn’t have been so quick to attack Casimir back in Cimmerian, trying to steal what he’s found. And you wouldn’t have arrived to quick here. So don’t come at me like you don’t need us. You want to be the big, bad, powerful Sorcerer. Fine. But if you want our help then you better show us some DAMN RESPECT!”
“Watch your mouth,” Ember scowled. “You deserve no such thing. You are nothing to us.”
“We matter enough to gain your attention., and we’re more important than you think. If the other Sorcerers aren’t worried about the weapons, then we can be a secret force once we’re all together. We can infiltrate the Sorcerers and take them down before they see us as a threat.”
“You obviously have no idea how powerful we are. The Sorcerers think of everything. If you aren’t noticed, or you aren’t a threat, then they have already poured over every scenario possible. Your involvement means nothing.”
“Then why are you here?”
Ember had nothing to say at first. “It’s obvious we cannot work together. You’re too stubborn.”
“I’m coming at you strong because you need to know what I bring to the table.”
“And it’s something I would rather not deal with…where’s Alicia?”
“You don’t already know?” Remi spat.
“Tell me,” Ember asked. She crossed her arms. “Tell me or suffer.”
“That’s not how this is going to work,” Remi shouted. “You either work with us or we go off on our own.”
“You think I’m going to let you go?” Ember scoffed. “Especially now? When Casimir isn’t here to protect you? You’re mine now. My property.”
“I belong to no one.”
“Then you shouldn’t have tried to summon a Sorcerer.” Ember shot her hand forward and grabbed Remi’s throat. Remi tried to rip her fingers away but the Sorceress didn’t budge one bit. Remi tried to bring her arm down upon Ember’s arms, but nothing cracked, nothing budged.
“I will begin squeezing soon,” Ember said. “But you can prevent that. Where is Alicia?”<
br />
“Why do you need her?”
“Because she may have knowledge on the other Sorcerers and their plans.”
“I’ll never tell.”
“Let us discover the truth of that declaration.” Ember began squeezing slowly, cutting of Remi’s air as she fought against the Sorceress’ grip with all her strength. She summoned her eidolon and slashed at Ember’s torso. She called forth her white Sage robe to boost her strength and she tried to pry the fingers away. She activated her armor form, and even then, Ember was able to squeeze easily as if it was still flesh.
Remi’s eyes became bloodshot and she gasped her last breath as she tried to keep her consciousness intact, but there was nothing she could do. As easily as a candle’s flame, her life would soon be snuffed out.
When suddenly, the hand removed itself from her throat. Remi gasped and clutched her throat as she tried to find the source of her relief.
“I told you!” Ember shouted at Kace. “I told you not to touch me!”
Before Remi could come to his aid, the spikes on Ember’s gauntlets became long sharp claws, and the Sorceress slashed through the Quietus, cutting him into two halves.
“NO!” Remi half-gasped, half-shouted as she lunged at Ember’s back. The Sorceress backhanded her away and Remi went flying into the dirt as she watched Kace’s body fall with her. Ember stood over her handiwork with pride and then she spat at the fallen body of the Quietus.
“You killed him!” Remi shouted, clutching her fists. She didn’t care if there wasn’t a thing she could do. Ember would feel pain.
Remi leapt to her feet and charged at Ember, but Ember disappeared from her view. Remi skidded to a halt and looked around her until she saw that the Sorceress was back at the bottom of the crater. Remi leapt off the edge without hesitation and ran down the curved side at full speed. Ember waited patiently.
“Where is Alicia?” she shouted but Remi didn’t answer. Her white Sage robes fell over her like a blanket and her eidolon emerged from her right hand in a flash of light. She screamed in rage as she expanded the surface of the blade and swung it at Ember’s neck. Ember stretched it out for her and the blade shattered against her skin.
The Complete Seven Sorcerers Trilogy Page 41
