Forged Immortals - A Prequel

by A. C. Nicholls

  It seemed to take forever, but he finally nodded.

  “Good.”

  Footsteps echoed down the hall now, coming in our direction. There wasn’t nearly enough time to make it through the front door. All we could do was push open a nearby door and head inside until the people passed.

  Inside was an empty room, save for the two dusty dining benches against the far wall. A single cobweb-covered circular table held a candle with a dim, flickering light, and a white cloth of some sort dangled from it, unmoving.

  “This is fine,” I told Jasper. “Open it up.”

  As I had seen him do a hundred times by now, Jasper wound his fingers in a circle, a red light emanating from his fingertips. Before him, a large glowing ring burned into the air, and in the middle, the famous Cloud Gate sculpture lay waiting in the nighttime.

  “Go,” Jasper said.

  I glanced at the door. Underneath, shadows moved. I saw the doorknob begin to twist, and knew that I had to act. “Take care of yourself,” I whispered into Victor’s ear, and helped him through the portal. Although he was weak to a point that he likely couldn’t cross the road by himself, I had little choice but to lay him on the sidewalk and return.

  Just as the door swung open, the portal sealed behind me.

  Victor Kronin was gone.

  I turned back to face the door, and as I saw Francis coming into the room, with Dalton and the Elders mere steps behind him, I fumbled for an excuse. Only, the harder I thought, the less able I was to come out with something that made any sense. By the time I thought up an explanation, it was too late.

  “This is…” I stammered.

  Francis, his hand still resting on the knob, looked to Jasper and then back at me. It was the second time I had seen that expression of shame on his face – the first time being when he had caught Victor and me in the Dark Room. He didn’t have to speak. I knew everything he had to say just from the way he looked at me.

  I had done something tremendously wrong.

  Chapter 7

  Francis escorted me back to the Grand Hall, where I had once stood among the flames. Where I had once stood as a promising young woman. Now, I was little more to them than an irresponsible traitor. I could see the judgement flickering in their eyes.

  “Child,” said Dalton, the hooded man from the middle of the Elders. I tried not to cringe at being called a child, and listened in silence. “You were caught assisting a prisoner in his escape. What say you?”

  I glanced over at Jasper, who licked his lips with nervousness. He had the look of a man who had done wrong and was awaiting punishment. I, on the other hand, did not. “What do you want me to say, sir?”

  Francis stood watching from the distance, shaking his head.

  “Let us hear your confession of guilt, followed by your apology. Only then can we decide what to do with you.”

  What to do with me? I suddenly got the feeling that Victor’s execution had only been transferred over to me. And if that were the case, I’d go down swinging. “Fine. I helped him escape. Is that what you want to hear?” I looked around at the faces in the room. Although not a single person looked happy to be there, one thing could be said: they were willing to hear me out. “Victor Kronin was incarcerated for a crime against the Vault, right?”

  Dalton remained motionless. “It is not that simp–”

  “No, it is that simple! He brought down the cellar and nearly killed us. That was wrong. He did it while showing off, and I can’t make any excuses for that.” I raised my hands and swept the hood away from my face. Finally, I could breathe. “But you guys all seem to be forgetting something from long, long ago; magic is tough.”

  Nobody spoke, but I caught Jasper nodding from the corner of my eye.

  I went on.

  “You all seem to have been doing it for a number of years. Am I right? I am right. It comes naturally to you, while we still have to give all of our effort each day. Are we not entitled to make a few mistakes? Can it not be forgiven to cause an accident while using one of the most powerful forces we’ve ever seen?”

  As usual, Dalton spoke on behalf of the Elders. “It wasn’t a mistake.”

  “What, you think Victor deliberately caused damage to the Vault?” I shook my head, readying myself to ditch the robe. “I helped my friend avoid his own murder. And if I have to suffer his fate on his behalf, then so be it, but I won’t stand here and be spoken to like a useless piece of –”

  “Keira.” Francis joined the circle around the fire, the flames licking up and lighting the curves of his face. “I’m sorry to say that Victor lied to you.”

  Jasper glared at me.

  “What?” I said.

  “Victor was never for the rope. In fact, his arrest wasn’t for the purpose of punishment, but for the safety of the Vault and everyone in it. We were only keeping him in there until we knew what to do with him.”

  I shook my head, unable to believe. “What are you talking about? I saw him. He could barely move. I had to help him off the ground and–”

  “What you saw was what he wanted you to see,” Dalton butted in. “He knew you had a weakness for him, and he exploited that. I really am sorry, Lady Keira, but Victor used you to help him escape.”

  “And that’s not the end of it,” said Francis.

  I swallowed, fearing what truth might come.

  “Some nights ago, when you broke into the Dark Room, Victor got a taste of the Chaos card. Most people are unable to hold onto that power, but those who can tend to never look back. It becomes them, raging chaos before bringing the mage to his knees. Hence the name.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “It means that darkness has touched his heart. Your friend is merely a puppet of evil now.”

  My heart pounded inside my chest. My knees shook. I felt a lump in my throat and stepped back, looking around at each solemn face in the room. “No.”

  Francis nodded. “It’s true. I’m sorry.”

  While I took the time to let the information sink in, a flood of questions poured through my mind. How was I supposed to believe this? I confess, Victor had seemed different these past few weeks, but he would never sell me out… would he?

  “I don’t understand,” I said. “If he wanted to do us harm, why would he want to leave?”

  “Because,” Dalton took a couple steps forward, and the Elders followed behind him in perfect sync, “he took the telekinesis magicard with him.”

  “But… how? Surely you must have stripped him of it?”

  “Let us just say that he is light on the finger, yes?”

  I shook my head. “This is wrong. Surely he wouldn’t do this.”

  Dalton let out a sigh, produced a pellet from under his robes and tossed it into the fire. Smoke hissed, and rose up in black funnels. I watched the sparks dance, the flames engulfing them with their bright, auburn tips. I stared helplessly, until the image of Victor’s face appeared inside the fire, the faces of fearful citizens surrounding him.

  “What is this?” I moved toward the pit, still staring.

  “This is exactly what you see. Victor is not unwell. In fact, he is better than ever.”

  “What I’m seeing is… in real time?”

  Francis nodded and took the floor. “The second you let him go, he stood up and made his way down to Navy Pier. Now he is testing the power, using it to harm innocent people.”

  I gasped in outrage, over Victor’s heinous actions and my own selfish ones. It was my fault Victor had gotten away, and I was going to put things right. I had to, even if it meant going toe-to-toe with my friend. I only had to remind myself that he was no longer my friend. “Sirs, forgive me. I’ve been careless and lax. Please give me the opportunity to make this right.”

  “How do you propose to do that?” Dalton asked.

  “By stopping Victor Kronin.” I looked at Francis, who quietly nodded approval. “If I succeed, I would continue to accept responsibility for what has happened, and any punish
ment that might come with it.”

  Dalton didn’t move, and neither did the Elders. I could hear a faint whisper, as if they were consulting each other, but it sounded different – more like an echo. More like magic. When the whispers stopped, Dalton spoke up. “Go, then. Sir Francis will assist you.”

  Francis unfolded his arms and began to walk. “Come, Lady Keira. We must hurry.”

  I was shown out of the Vault, Jasper left behind to suffer his own punishment, and I felt awful for getting him involved in this. I tried to make myself feel better by knowing that I wouldn’t feel bad for much longer.

  Guilt, after all, was wasted on the dead.

  Chapter 8

  I fell through Francis’s portal and, for the first time in weeks, arrived back in Chicago at the Navy Pier. Night time. Plenty of innocent bystanders, all running around in a blind panic. In the distance, police sirens wailed. When I turned to face the water, I could see why.

  Victor.

  Francis appeared behind me and I heard his portal close. I didn’t spare him a glance. I was too focused on my friend – no, my enemy – watching him as he stood atop a stone statue, throwing around everything in sight with his mind.

  “We must stop him,” Francis said, and took two paces forward before I put out an arm to stop him.

  “Let me talk to him.”

  “He’s beyond reasoning.”

  “But I want to try.”

  Francis sighed as two women dashed past us, screaming at the top of their lungs. “As you wish. Remember, he may be mortal again, so his defenses are low, but his attack is more powerful than you have ever known.”

  I nodded and began to move, but this time Francis stayed me with a hand.

  “If he makes a move against us, I’m taking him down.”

  As you wish, I thought, but kept it to myself. I ran toward the swirling cloud of debris, which Victor was slowly turning into a tornado. I didn’t want to get caught in the middle of that, but ran alongside it to catch his attention, flagging him down by waving my arms.

  When he saw me, the storm slowed.

  The pier grew quiet.

  “You tricked me,” I said calmly, appealing to his former self.

  Victor’s grin widened as if he’d taken delight in duping me.

  I looked around at the mayhem. People scurried away like ants from boiling water. I couldn’t blame them either; magic still surprised me, and I hadn’t even been on the wrong end of it. Yet. “You need to stop this. There’s no execution for you. Dalton and the Elders just want to–”

  “Dalton and the Elders want to keep everything to themselves!” Victor yelled, anger turning his eyes into tempests that could rival the one he’d created with his fingers. “They saw what I could do, and rather than praise me or employ me for a higher purpose, they only want to keep me away from the good magic.”

  I shook my head, lost for words.

  “Tell me, Keira Poe, how is it fair that you are allowed to continue your practices, while I’m condemned to imprisonment?”

  Francis stepped up to my side. “It’s because you’re stronger than even you realize, Victor.” He spoke calmly, professionally, attempting to settle him down. “Look at this madness. Look at the harm caused, and imagine it twice as strong.”

  Meanwhile, I tightened the hood of my robe. It was plain to see that something might happen here, and if I had to use magic, I would rather do it without being recognized. I still had to live in this world, and didn’t want scientists at my door every day for the rest of my life, clawing at me like their favorite lab rat.

  “I know exactly how strong I am,” Victor remarked, grinning that demon’s grin in the yellow light of the statue’s bulbs. “Let’s see you do this!”

  The ground began to shake. I spread my feet apart, finding my balance. Around me, signs, food carts and bicycles began to topple onto their sides. The people who were still standing ran for their lives, while the ones who had fallen scrambled to their feet. I had to get them out of there, and fast.

  “Handle him?” I said to Francis.

  He nodded. “You get the people to safety.”

  My thoughts exactly.

  As I sprinted along the water’s edge to the nearest group of civilians, everything in sight lifted from the ground. It was like a zero-gravity zone, and Victor pulled the levers. All I could do was avoid any incoming threats and focus on taking the hits for these people.

  I reached a couple – a man and a woman, both around my age – and offered my hand. The woman, who would have been pretty if her mascara hadn’t stained her cheeks in teary streaks, hesitated and then took my hand. The man took her other and we ran together. Each time a projectile came our way, I knocked it away with my arm, ensuring a bruise. For those out of reach, I would use my own power to deflect it.

  When we gained a safe distance from the storm, I accepted their thanks and sent them away, then turned back to the scene. Francis dashed around, lighting up the area with that pink hue from when we had first met. Victor, on the other hand, continued to throw objects at him while he rolled and dodged them all. I wasn’t sure how long he would be able to keep that up, but I continued with my task.

  Within minutes I had moved several people out of the danger zone. The police stood aside now, but their hands only rested on their holstered pistols. They loitered and stared in confusion, shaking their heads with their eyes glazed over.

  Moments from returning to the fight, I saw one more civilian.

  A young girl. Trapped between two fallen motorcycles not far from the statue where Victor stood, creating havoc. I couldn’t leave her – these people were my responsibility now, and I was determined not to let anyone down, least of all a child.

  I made my way toward her, using my telekinesis to bash aside rocks and kebab skewers and all other foreign objects coming my way. Although it looked like I wasn’t going to make it, I finally found myself kneeling by the girl’s side, reaching out a hand.

  The girl, clutching her teddy bear to her chest, shied backward and refused to take my offer of protection. Tears rolled down her dirtied cheeks and she shook her head with refusal.

  No. Damn. Way.

  “I’m here to help you,” I said, but the girl just continued to sob. “What’s your name?”

  An explosion sounded behind me. I craned my neck to see the burning pink light zapping around a fiery boat. Victor and Francis were nowhere to be seen, but the magic announced their presence. I could smell the danger envelop the area.

  I turned back to the girl. “My name’s Keira. Your mommy and daddy are probably looking for you, huh? You love them very much, don’t you?”

  Still sobbing, the girl gave a curt nod.

  “Then let’s get you out of here, eh?” I reached out my hand once more. This time, the girl took it, and I heaved her up into my arms, holding her tight. Whatever happened, I couldn’t let anything happen to this kid. I would never forgive myself.

  I held her closer, counted to three, and then sprinted through the battlefield as fast as my legs could carry me. My immortal strength granted me the ability to run faster than I could have possibly imagined. I soared over the littered ground as if my heels had grown wings.

  Finally, I reached the crowd safely, where police and citizens all swarmed me. A crying woman took the girl into her arms and the girl hugged her. I guessed it was her mother, and before I could be stopped by Chicago PD, I turned back toward the action to offer Francis support.

  When I saw him, I froze and hissed in a ragged breath.

  My trainer fell to his knees, a pinkish-purple light shooting from his hands. Victor smoothly and effortlessly deflected the streams of light with one hand, and with the other, he controlled his environment. When I saw the broken iron bar, my breath caught in my throat.

  “Francis!” I screamed at the top of my lungs.

  But it was too late.

  The bar soared through the air, finding its target in my friend’s back. Francis’s twisted expr
ession became a fixed mask of horror, as his powers stopped and he glanced down at his chest. An iron bar protruded from between his ribs. Trickles of dark blood ran down to the floor, and then his body sank to soak in it.

  My limbs wouldn’t move. Fear locked me down. I was alone now, left to fight someone who not even my superior could beat. I wasn’t sure that I could make it out of this alive, but if I could take Victor down, then I was damn well going to try.

  Chapter 9

  Only Victor and I remained. Friend versus friend. Student versus traitor.

  Victor began by leaping from the statue toward an open area. He seemed to know that his biggest chance for victory lay out in the open, while mine was to weave between objects, avoiding anything I could.

  I saw Francis sprawled across the ground, that awful iron pole still spiking from his chest, like those creatures from Aliens. It hurt like hell to see him that way; still alive and hanging on for those few extra moments, fighting for his life.

  But he wasn’t the only one.

  As much as I wanted to run to him, my mind focused on staying alive. I dove between two concrete roadblocks, using them as cover while my foe rained his attacks against them. I covered my head, keeping the dust from spewing into my eyes.

  Think, Keira, think!

  The assault stopped for only a moment, during which I popped my head up and eyed my surroundings. Possible weapons littered the area, but I feared I would be outmatched. Anything I threw at him, he would be able to take from me and launch back twice as hard. He was, after all, far stronger than me. I wasn’t too shy to admit it.

  “Are you not up to the challenge?” Victor yelled, taunting me.

  Screw you, Victor. Once I figure things out, you’re going down! I had helped this son of a bitch escape, and he’d used my goodwill against me to murder Francis. If that wasn’t enough, this entire side of the pier was terrorized by his evil magic.

  It had to stop.

  He had to stop.

  Taking him by surprise, I leapt to my feet and reached out to focus on a nearby motorcycle, willing it to move. At first it only budged a little, but then I gave my entire soul to the mage within my magicard. Before I knew it, the motorcycle throttled through the air.