by S A Edwards
“Quick,” someone called. “Through the hall. We can get out the back.”
People fled up a wide set of steps and through a large oak door with children in their grasp.
The creature threw back it arms and slammed its fists on the roof.
The hall collapsed.
A strangled gasp escaped my throat.
Amicus’ eyes flashed electric blue, and clouds gathered overhead. Lightning burst from their midst, striking the head, the arms, and the armour of the Hellion.
It jerked and whirled to face us, face twisted with anger.
Lux and Umbra clasped hands, eyes closed. Light and shadow swirled around them, stretching toward the clouds.
The Hellion’s narrowed eyes locked on me. Its fangs bared, its lips stretched into a distorted grin, and it swiped at me.
I pulled on my Shade gift. Purple smoke engulfed me, and my surroundings dissolved.
Black replaced the village square, and whispers hissed through the warm atmosphere of the Shadow Realm. In the distance, white figures of the approaching dead drifted, but there was no time to help them now.
The thinning, purple smoke thickened upon my concentration, and deposited me back in the village behind the Hellion.
It hesitated, hand held out, and then slowly, it turned until its eyes rested on me. It blinked.
I let slip a satisfied smile. “Surprised?”
He snorted and swiped again.
Calling my Shade gift once more, smoke engulfed me, obscuring my vision. When it cleared a moment later, I stood on the Hellion’s other side.
It punched the ground. Stone cracked, and the cobbles shook.
I staggered and fell, pulling back on my smoke before I hit the ground. I emerged behind the Hellion once more.
Lux and Umbra stood beside a swirling vortex of light and shadow, their arms raised. The strain of their power drew the colour from their faces, leaving them unusually pale under the silver moonlight.
The temporary prison.
I focused on my desire, building pressure within me, determined to blast the Hellion through the surface. It was evil. It deserved to be trapped. It would not keep its freedom.
It turned to face me.
I screamed, unleashing the pressure in a wave of warmth, just as I had in the past.
The Hellion’s hair wafted, but it didn’t move any closer to the prison.
11
My mouth turned dry. I stared at my shaking hands. The Hellion should have been forced inside the prison. Why hadn’t it worked? Had travelling through the Void affected my gifts somehow?
The air shuddered, and a strange energy welled in my chest.
The Keepers exchanged exhausted glances, their hopelessness clear in their frowns.
Then their prison juddered and fizzled out.
Their Gate had failed.
The Hellion twisted and struck out with a chunky arm. It knocked the Keepers aside with one sweep and then swung for me.
I reacted too late.
Its hand collided with my torso, slamming me against a cottage wall. I dropped hard. Stone crumbled under the impact and fell, cloaking me in a burst of rubble and dust. I coughed and spluttered. Pain pounded through my body.
Thick fingers rummaged around the blinding dust-cloud, grasped me around the middle and hoisted me into the air.
My stomach lurched, and then the beady eyes of the creature glared at me.
I dangled helplessly, unable to free myself from its grasp despite my struggle. Its lumpy flesh beneath my fists didn’t relent to my tiring beating.
From this angle, the revulsive details of the Hellion became clear. Old scars distorted its face and stretched down its neck where its armour didn’t cover. “You … are … different,” it grunted.
I stopped struggling in my shock. “You speak?”
“Of course, … I speak.” It pulled me closer. “What … are … you?”
“What do you mean?”
Its grip tightened, and I cried out. Pulling back on my focus, I called my smoke once more and reappeared beside the Keepers on the cobbled path.
“Get out of here,” Umbra ordered. He steadied Lux, weakened by the use of his power, and shoved me out of the square. “The villagers have passed on. There’s nothing more we can do for now.”
“But it should have worked,” I said. “I don’t understand why it didn’t.”
“The Gate failed,” Umbra said. “We can’t make another. Not yet.”
“But how?” I asked. “You just made it. It should have held a little while at least.”
“Go. Now.” Shadow rushed around them, and they disappeared.
I reached out to the rubble from the demolished hall, feeling for the pain of survivors.
Nothing.
Amicus grabbed my arm from behind.
“Can you sense anyone?” I asked. “Is anyone alive?”
“No. Now, move.”
A warty foot stepped between my view of the rubble, and the Hellion’s face emerged over the roof.
With a sinking heart, I shot a weak stream of flame at it and panting, fled from the destroyed street, back toward the forest.
The grunts of the Hellion grew dim and the crack of breaking houses pierced the air. The narrow pathways must have prevented its pursuit. Still, we didn’t slow until we were several minutes within the woodland and the scent of burning faded.
“I should have saved them,” I panted. “It should have worked. Why didn’t it work?”
“Their Gate failed,” Amicus said.
“But I could have forced it through before that. It should have gone through.”
“Why do you think you can force anyone through a Gate?” he asked. “It’s not possible.”
“But it is. Or was. I’ve done it before.”
“So you said.”
I stared at him, “You don’t believe me?”
“You’re different, that much is clear. But what you speak of is impossible. How do you explain it?”
“I …” I couldn’t. Once, for whatever reason, it was possible. Perhaps I lost the ability when I passed through the Void. Though the thought increased my worry. What else about my gifts had been affected?
My mind whirled. How could it fail so quickly? Three Gates all together, and in less than a day. Were any more failing? Were more Hellions escaping right now? Or were they going in some kind of order? No, that couldn’t be right. We had doubled back to get to this village. The temporary prison was set between the two that failed before. What other reason could …
I gasped.
“What’s wrong?” Amicus asked.
The camp stood a few metres ahead. The shelters were up, and firelight flickered on torches in intervals.
“It’s my fault,” I said.
“What is?”
“It’s my fault the Gates are failing.”
He stopped and frowned at me. “What makes you think –”
“The Keepers told me the balance was thrown off when I arrived. The first Gate failed after I passed through it. Then, the second when I approached it. And the third, the one back there, with me in its proximity. There’s no way that’s a coincidence.”
“Have you forgotten that I was there each time? I could be the one –”
“No, that wouldn’t make sense. This only started after I got here. The Keepers said as much by the river after I arrived. I don’t know why or how, but this is happening because of me. It’s the only explanation that makes sense.”
Kyne emerged from behind a tree. “That’s an interesting theory.”
“Listening in again?” I snapped. “Really?”
He smiled. “I’m simply saying it’s interesting.”
I balled my fists. “Well, have you got a better thought?”
“Actually, yours are in line with my own. I’m surprised it took you so long to come to the conclusion.”
“Wait, you agree with me?” I asked.
“I suspected after the second Gate,
” Kyne said.
“And you didn’t say anything?” I swallowed back my frustration.
Amicus’ lips tightened.
“What?” I asked. Amicus’ look suggested more than disbelief. “You thought so, too, didn’t you?”
“I wondered, but then I also wondered about other ways.”
“Then, why didn’t you tell me?”
“I needed confirmation.”
“I agree,” Kyne added. “We need to go to a third Gate. If it fails, then we can assume our theory is correct.”
“I can’t do it,” I said. “I can’t go near any of them. I can’t let anymore Hellions loose.”
“We have to know –”
“No.” I stepped away from Kyne. “This isn’t a game. Lives are at stake.”
“You can’t stop this from happening,” Kyne said. “The balance is off. They’ll keep failing eventually, whether you go to them or not.”
“Then I’ll stay away as long as possible. It’ll give me time to figure this out.”
His expression darkened. “What about Charlie? You’re just going to leave him in the Underworld?”
“Of course not, but I can’t just go the Gate if it’s going to break, can I? I must do this a different way. I just need to think.” And I needed to put right my wrong. “Amicus, do you think you could help me get a blade or a sword?”
Kyne snorted. “What do you want a Mortal weapon for?”
“The first part of my plan. I’m going to kill the Hellion.”
12
“A
re you out of your mind?” Kyne demanded. “You can’t kill the Hellion.”
I turned my back on him and focused instead on Amicus. “When it had hold of me, I could see where his armour ended. There’s an area on his neck that’s open. Vulnerable. Magic won’t penetrate it, we saw that, but if we could get a blade long enough and get it in just right –”
“It’ll kill you,” Kyne said.
“I didn’t ask for your opinion.”
“Kyne’s right.” Amicus nodded. “It’s very risky. There’s no guarantee any of us could get to that area.”
“We have our gifts to help us. I just need the weapon.”
Kyne grabbed my shoulder. “You’re not going.”
I pulled away. “I wasn’t asking. I may not be able to go near the Gates, but I can at least try to fix the problem already caused. Amicus, will you help me?”
“Yes.”
“Amicus.” Black flashed across Kyne’s eyes.
“We can’t stop her,” Amicus snapped. “We might as well help.” He bustled into the camp.
Kyne glared at me.
“I don’t know how you came to be this way,” I said, “but surely you understand why I have to do this.”
I followed Amicus with a scowl, worried about why Kyne seemed so bothered about me leaving. We didn’t have any kind of friendship. I didn’t believe it was as simple as protecting me because I was Mage.
Amicus emerged from a shelter with Hanrel close behind. Both wore packs on their shoulders. “You ready?” Amicus asked.
“You’re both coming?”
“Aye, better to have a Healer there, don’t you think?” Hanrel winked.
“It’ll be dangerous.”
He waved a hand. “That’s my point.”
“If you’re sure. Thank you.” I struggled to raise a smile. Thoughts of him getting hurt played on my mind.
We headed back toward the village, feet crunching on dry leaves and broken branches.
My stomach rumbled.
Hanrel chuckled and flung his pack at me. “Help yourself.”
Inside, lay lemon-corn, bread, and a variety of fruit neatly wrapped in brown parchment. I plucked a piece of lemon-corn with a sigh. As tasty as it was, and long-lasting – perfect for a long journey – eating the same food all the time grew tiresome. Even so, the citrusy scent made my mouth water and intensified my hunger.
“So, your turn,” Hanrel said. “Tell us about your gifts. I know you have more than two.”
I peered at him. Had he seen me use the others against the Hellion? “I’m a Refiner and a Healer,” I said.
He nodded. “And?”
“A Preserver.” Snow leapt from my outstretched palm, swirling like a miniature storm above my flesh.
Hanrel’s eyes widened.
“No fire can melt the ice of a Preserver,” I added, although, somehow, the Hellion broke it. I bit my lip. The differences here unnerved me. “Then, I’m a Seeker,” I said. “We hunt the Corrupted and bring them to justice. I’m a Shade. I help the dead to move on to the other side.” A sudden longing to return to the Shadow Realm and feel the peace and joy of those who pass on hit me, and I fell silent for a moment. Calling on my next gift, I gathered a blinding cloud of darkness.
Amicus and Hanrel froze, lost in the blackness, but the effects didn’t bother me. As a Dark Mage, I could see through the cloud. “And I’m a Dark One.” I retracted the darkness and restored their sight.
Hanrel blinked repeatedly, his face paler than usual. “Woah, that was quite the gift.” He cleared his throat. “What’s the point of that one?”
“I can see the future. Just snatches, and rarely does it make sense. More like images. Riddles, I suppose. I have to figure out what they mean before acting on them.” Though, come to think of it, no visions had appeared since I arrived here. Had the void affected that gift, too?
“See the future,” Hanrel mused. “That’s … impressive.” He swallowed and rubbed his cheeks, probably against the cold that accompanied the cloud. Then, he trudged on through the undergrowth. “Six gifts, then.”
“Seven,” I said. “I’m a Beast, too.”
“A Beast?”
“I’ll save that one for now.” The cloud had enough of an effect on him without terrifying him with my Beast form. Plus, the only way I had managed to alter my form before was by letting in my anger – not a decision I was keen to do again.
The village became visible across the field, but there was no sign of the Hellion. Smoke curled from the crumbled houses, and an eerie silence stretched across the flattened crops. Images of the dead from the previous village returned to my mind, and I hugged my arms to my body.
I paused and closed my eyes, allowing the enhanced hearing of my Beast gift to take over. A deep grunt sounded a good distance away. Heavy footfalls on stone.
I opened my eyes. “It’s gone farther through the village. We should be all right near the border while we search for a weapon.”
A bush rustled behind us, and Kyne emerged, black cloak waving with his movements.
Rickson followed close behind, and a sudden desire for more of his fluff set my mouth watering.
“All right?” Rickson grinned.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
Kyne raised his hands as though in surrender. “I thought about what you said, and I decided you’re right. Something needs to be done.”
“Really? You’re helping us?”
He flashed a smile. “Don’t sound so surprised. I fight for freedom, same as you.”
I huffed. Unlikely.
“So, what’s your plan?” he asked.
“Find a weapon near the border, and then go after the Hellion. Unless anyone has a better idea?”
Amicus stared at the village with a grave expression.
“Sounds all right to me,” Hanrel said.
Kyne offered me a flask.
“No. Thanks.” He knew about my Healer gift now. I could get my own.
“You should drink,” he said. “Build your strength before we go.”
“I have strength enough.”
“Kyne’s right,” Rickson said. “Hanrel cleansed it earlier. It’ll do us good.”
He had a point, though I wasn’t sure why I agreed. Before I knew it, I accepted the flask from Kyne and took a long sip. Healer-treated water always gave extra strength and invigoration to the drinker, though I’d never tasted it so sweet
before. So different. Still, considering the craziness of my plan, I would need it.
My lips tightened. There was no denying this was risky, but my mind was set. I couldn’t leave things as they were.
“Okay,” I said, “let’s go.” Dizziness washed over me, and I staggered, grabbing a branch for support.
Amicus’ focus transferred to me. “You okay?”
“Fine. I just –” A wave of light-headedness overcame me again, and my knees buckled.
Kyne caught me before I hit the ground. “Easy there.”
“What’s going on?” I gasped. My gaze fell on a clump of bushes behind him. Tiny, red berries clung to the leaves. Deepwood. “You drugged me.”
“It’s for the best,” he said. “You’ll get yourself killed, and I can’t let that happen. Not yet.”
Spots flashed before my eyes, and I slipped into unconsciousness.
*
“Won’t be long now.”
“How many know about this? You can’t keep her –”
“I’ll do whatever it takes to get my people home.”
I focused on the muffled words, aware of flickering candlelight despite my closed eyes. My head ached, and a groggy hold fought to keep me in the dark.
I forced my eyes open.
The thick fabric of a shelter rustled above me, and the doorway flapped against a breeze.
I clambered warily off the low, wooden bed and shuffled to the entrance.
Nothing about the clearing outside appeared familiar. The moons shone brightly over an abandoned field, and torches dotted the spaces between the dispersed tents.
“You’re awake.” Kyne stood by a flaming torch, his arms folded. I gazed around, but there was no sign of the second speaker.
“Where are we?” I asked.
“A long way from the village. The Deepwood knocked you out far longer than I expected.”
“Why did you do that? You had no right –”
“I have every right,” he growled and shoved me back inside.
“Get your hands off me.” I pulled away, but his grip tightened.
“Just sit down and let me explain.”
“No. Get off.” I pushed him back. Slight dizziness clung to my head – after-effects of the Deepwood, I guessed.
He retreated, hands held up, but kept himself between me and the door. “Listen. I’m not as heartless as you think. I’m just trying to get home.”
