“Its her fault! I know it! She’s always hated jaxine, my poor daughter, and now she’s lovcked her up somewhere…” I slowly blinked my eyes opewn to Jxaine’s father’s rant. And then I realized he was rightr under the tree where i was sleeping. I quickly tried to push my hair into a slightly presentable arrangement, but they were alreeday there, surrounding the tree. Axel was trying to calm Lerro down, but Jax’s afther was having none of it.
“Get down here, you kleif! Get down here and explain beofre I murder you!” Okay, THAT got my attention.
“And why should I come down now?” I replied, peering around the branch at him. His face was red and his eyes were srcunched, but I could detect the fear i his voice. Once again, a strong dislike of people overcame me.
“It’s all your fault! You’re to blame! Ohhh, daughter!” I glanced around at the crowsd, waiting for someone to please explain what i was being accused of.
“Hey!” I jerked my head up at the soud, and my stoimach turned. Carter Zelmonte. Kottek’s yerro. “What’s going on?” He arrived on foot, looking slightly disgruntled. His eys fell on me, and I jerked mine away, internally wincing as his stare lingered a bit too long.
“She kidnapped my daughrter!” Lerro cried, completely capabke of explaining now that spomeone who was suppoosed to be on his side was there. “I woke up this morning, but my little girl was GONE! Nothinjg was amiss! That girl,” he said, pointing to me, “Took her! You all know how agile and sneaky she is! There was no mess whatsoever!” I wqinced as all theoir eyes turned to me. It was common knowledge how fgood I was at spying and whatnot. However, I honestly doiubted Jax was really missing. She was probably just off with Yirlo Jerendol. I opened my muth to say so, and a small rock flew by my face.
“Hey!” Carter quickly grabbed Lerro’s arm before he could throw another, but the man’s angry eyes still held my form. “If you want me to help you., then stop attacking innocent villagers.”
“Innocent?!” Lerro’s eysws bugged at Carter’s word choice, but he slowly dropped his arm.
“Asa, come down from there.” Carter’s eye held me as I slowly sat up on the branch I had been sleeping on.
“Excuse me, yuou expcet me to want to come down when that man threatened to kill me?” A muscle in carter’s jaw jumped, but to his credt his voice stayed calm.
“It’s not a matter of ‘want.’” Watching Lerro carefuly, I slowly slid down the tree. Carte watched me with an undisguised stare. I met his eys, and he gazed cooly back at me, then at my body. I shivered involuntarily. His eys had changed. They flicked backj to Lerro, and he spoke firmly.
“Lerro, you have no proof Asa has anything to do with this. Axel, go see if Yirlo is home. Everybody esle, split up into pairs. Search the forest.” His gaze fell on me. “Asa will be my partner.” Without another word, he stepped foreward, letting go of Lerro, and grabbed my arm. His fingers curled arund my bicep as he started dragging me away. I stiffended as his figers grazed my arm, but he didn’t notice.
“You don’;t have any idea where she is.” It was a satement, not a question. Carter truly didn’t believe I hasd anything to do with Jax.
“Where should we look?” I asked, not wanting to follow him unless I knew where we would be going.
“I doubt anybody will start very far out of town, so we might as well.” I swalloowed at tht prospect, but Carter’s gaze was on me. His mouth twitched into a tiny frown. “Is that alright?”
“Mmm,” I mumbled. “Let’s go.” I steredt ahead of carter, doing my best to keep him far eougnb beind me that I could focus. The trees weren’t dense, but there was enoug fo them that it was easy to hide. I had donew it enough times before. Glancing back to make sure carter was far enougn back, I quickly pulled out a knife and made a tiny cut on the inside of my thumb and index finger. Slipping the knife away, I siucked on the wound as blood welled up.
I immediately caught Jaxine’s scnet.
“This way!” I caled. Carter looked up, suprised, but I didn’;t waiut for him. Did i like Jaxine? No. Did I care what happened to her? Hardly. But any chance I could get to prove thise villagers wrong, I would take it. Besides, it would be fun to spite Lerro by finding his daiughter when all mhe could do was run around and accuse random people. Her scent was steadiy growing stronger, so she didn’t go too far. I heard carter behind me, his string breaths permeating the air. I tried to not think of him as Jax’s scent grew. We were deeper in the woods. I picked up Yirlo’s centr and smirked. How perfect. I couldn’t wait to see Lerro’s face. I picked upo my pace, jogging quickly through the trees, following the scnetr trail, wqhich was mostly straight. I stopped so fast I almost tripped, and Carter caight up to me easily.
“What-” I don’t know what hesaw, but I know what I s,melled. Blood. A small movement caught my attention, but carter was already racing toward it. He dragged something out of the undergrowt, and then I heard a bgroan.
Not something.
Someone.
I immediatsly recognized Yirlo’s scnet, thouhgt it was barely distinguishable between the blood that covered him. His eys were half closed, his bvreaths sharp and ragged. He didn;t try to move as Carter poulled him into the open; he only moaned in poain. Trying to be discreet, I swiped my fingers in some one the blood on the leaves and quikly licked the clean. I pisked up the scnet of the perrpetrator and listened. The scent was frwsh, but they alreday had a good dtart.
“Asa! Where’;s Jaxine?”
I took another sniff. “Not here,” I mumbled, reality setting in.
Lerro mewas right. Jaxine hasd been taken.
Chapter 2
“Asa!” I didn;t stop. My lkegs folded and dstraighteend as I oused myslef throuhg the undergrowth. I didn’t remeber it being this thick. The scnet grew stringer, along woth Jaxine’s and more of Yirlo’s blood. Carter wasn’t following me, which I thought was odd, but he would only get in the way. I tripped, and that was when I heard it. It was shallow, almost impercepytible, but with the blood I could hear it: a cry. I froze, listeneing. It was coming from the way i was going. I took off again, fatster this time, pushing myslef. My lungs adjusted their breaths, giving me the best milegage., and my leg muscles were too busy to burn. The scnet greww stringer, and then suddenly I was falling, my legs lacking grounf to stand on. It ha[ppened so suddenly that at first i had no idea what happened, but the my sesne canme back and my eyes focused. A scream bulot and died in my throat as i hit somrthing cold and wet. My vidsion went blurry as cold surrounded me, anfd suddenly I couldn’t breath.
Wycor. A thin red steam billowed arpound me, and I twisted toward it. Wat way was up? I cast around desperately, and my hand grazed sharp rocks. I oushed off, and kicked desprately. My flailing limbs hit air, and I surged upward. The kknet my face broke the surface, strong hands appeared under my arms, pulling me upo and away from the wycor. The monet I saw land i lunged forward, couching up wyco and collpasing. I closed my eyes, only to jerk them open again when I realized the hands had to have had an owner. I looked up inot the eys of a boy a few years older than me, his brown eyes warm, dark hair messy in an I-don’t-care-but-I-really-do way. He stepoped forward, and i didn;t kiss how the wycor made his clothes cling to his usclular body. I shrunk against the ground, then glanced around wildly. Who was this man, and what did he want with me?
“Realx, sweetie.” His voice was soft, with a hint of amusement. I took a deep breath, and suddenly the smell of Jaxine, Yirlo’s blood, and their captor filled my nose. I jerked away. I stumbled to my feet, and then i heard a small cry.
“Asa!” I whipped my hea daround and saw jaxine, her wrists in shackles, straining against a tree trunk. Her hair was mussed, and her eyeliner was smudged, like she had been crying. By the sound of her voice, she had been.
“Hey, hey now,” the bo siad. “This isn’t what-” My knife whizzedc throuhg the air, aimed starihgt for his neck, but with inhuman speed he dodnged and caiuhgt the blade excatly in the center, his fingers a lkight touch on the smooth metal. I stared. He lowered his arm, and i flinched, ready for him to throw it back, this time headed for me. Instead,m he instepected it anf tucked it into a sheath on his belt. I backed away, desperately widhing for Carter, or Axel, or even Lerro. Anyone to save me. I felt my thoat closing in fesar and took deep, gasping breaths.
“Relax, sweetie. I’nm not going to hurt you.” Jaxine’;s whimpers said otherwise.
“The what about Yirlo?” I called, trying to buy time as I looked for a way to escape. The boy cocked his head.
“The boy? Oh, him. Got in the way.” He shruged, but his face took on a dark cast. I swsallowed. “I’m sorry but-” His eyes caught my gaze and followed it. I hadn’t noticed, but on his chest was s small, perfectly round stone. It had been a swirling mass of black and white before, but onc ehe was only ten feet away the stone turned gray. He picked it up and his eyews woidened. Then, ythey fell on me. I dodged, and the knife lodged in the doirt. The boy didn’ waste any time- he lunged, and I cried out and jumped away. Jaxine cried out as i started running away from him. I didn’t know where i was, but it didn’t matter. As long as I got got away from him. Something large hit my ankle, and I fell. Immediately, the boy was on ytop of me, his hands grasping for my arms, trying to pin me down. I twisted, trying to get away.
“Asa, stop!” I froze, shpocked at his use of my name, and he used my distraction to slam his fost into my head, dazing me. My feet lkeft the ground, and heavy weights attached tpo my wrists.
“Sorry, sweet,” he said, “but I can’t risk it.” A smooth, cool liquid poured down my throat, adn suddenly my head went fduzzy.
The last thing I heard was Jaxine saying, “Asa...”
I woke to another sharp pain. My hea dfelt fuzzy, but it was clearing up quickly. I blinked and looked around. Everything...was white? I rubbed my face and pushed myself up. The moent I opened my eyes, the white was gone, replaced with a clearing. It was surrounded by a tall cliff, with a small pond on one side. I could still feel the wycor against my skin, and it made me uncomfotable. I slowly pushed myself up and glanced around. Where was I? I tried to remeber. There was the boy, and Jax, and carter… I jerked my head up, sniffing deeply for thier scenrnt. I reached down to my boot to grab a knife, and that was when I reealized- I was in soe sort of strange clothes. Theye were marked with an emblem reminiscne tof a corwn, with jewels on each point. I fingered the fabric. It was smooth and stretchy, but durable.
I lunged out of the way as a knife whizzed past me. I looked up, into mthe eys of a girl with jet black hair and narrow eyes. Her lips parted into a smile yto reveal impossibly white teeth. My bReath caught when I saw the glint in her hand. It was much too small to be a knife- it looked almost lie a pin. She was perched on a ledge on the cliff, and once she saw she had my attentiuon she leapt down, just barely vlearing the pond.
“Hey, sweetie.” Her voice oozed with fake sweetness. “Ready to gewt started?” Withoiut waiting for an answer, she lunged at me, throwing the dart with impossib;le speed as I dodged. I jiust barely managed to roll out of the way befofe it hit me.
“Who are you?” I croed, trying to stop and assess the situation, but she wouldn’;t let me. She pushed off again and I ducked, psuhing mysefl under her. I pushed my legs up and they connected with her kiddle.
Bad move.
She quickly grabbed my legs and held on. We froze like that, me in handstand mode and her attahce to my legs, before I flipped forward, intedning to smash her on her back. She psuhed off, sending me off balance. Her pin grazed my torso, and that was when I realized it was a hairpin. The pain where it touched informed me that it was tipped with poison.
It was quick acting, and as I tried to get kmore ditance between us, I felt my limbs slowing. My breathing quickened, and I felt my blood pressure spike as my body tried getting rid of the poison. A sweat broke out on my forehead, and my vision started to blur. The girl dashed at me again, and at the last moent I dodged, loosing my footing i the process. I hit the ground hard, and suddenly a sharp pain ripped across my side. A fresh stream of bright red blood gushed from a wound that i had hardly felt. It was close enoug to the pin that it had hit my numb skin. I felt my hea datarst to spin and took a deep breath. I forced my hand to my side and gently coated my fingers in warm blood, the n brought them to my mpouth. Immeditsaely strenght flooded back into y limbs. My heart slowed, and my breathing lost its raspy quiality. I closed my eyes as the power flowed back through my veins, and sighed at the rush of feeling.
A scream broke my relief. I jerked my eyes open to see her on her side on the ground, rolling. She leapt up and looked around wildly, then saw me. Her face was a mixture of confusion, and then fury.
I rolled away, lighting quick, dodging the girls next blow. I used my monetum to leap up and dashed at her before she could react. My fist caught her jaw before sh could dodge, and I took her surpise to ram into her, sending her down to the ground. Blood spurted from her nose as I pucnhed her again, and again. Her eyess changed, a mix of shock and fear. I was too busy to notice. The smell of blood was making me light-headed. I wanted more. Suddenly, something rammed into me, sending me srawling away from the girl. I whipped around to come face to face with a boy my age, his ice-blue eyes fixed on mine, freezing me in place. His face was guarded as he gazed at me. A small circle around his pupil caiughjt my attanetion; it was red.
“Asag,” he hissed, and I blinked. He relaxed, and I took the opportunity to pounce on him. His blood smelled so sweet… He deflected me with surpising speed, and I landed on my feet before tunring him again. I swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
“Asag!” he said again, angrily. I lowered my head and growled, deep and guttrral in my throat. He glanced at the girl before shuffling sideys, away from her. Se remained on the ground, curled up. She wasn’t a threat. Her blood was sour, anyways, I noted as I liked my lips. His, however… Her lunged lightning quick at me, and I had juts enough time to ddge. He stopped in his tracks howveer and turned, his teeth cathing my shoulder I twiewtsed, and his grip was loose enough that i could roll on my back andnot take sanydamage. He was however, now in a dominant position. However, he didn’t attack.
“Congratulations,” he panted, and stepped off of me. I realxed. I knew I had lost, but next time...I blinked suddenly as all my sense cam eback. Including all the pain. I culred and a sharp whine escaped my lips; blood was flowing freely from my side. It rushed, warm and iron-tanged, pooling under me. My breath came in gasps, partly from the pain, partly from blood loss. The loss of blood caused my vision to flicker, and suddenly I was back in the white room. My vision swam, asnd I thought I saw the blue-eyed boy wqalk towards me. His mouth moved, I thought, but when his words reacged me they were and incomplrehensible jumble. The pain in my side flared, and i screamed. The movement was so painful that I passed out.
Chapter 3
I was in anther white room, but there was a faint humming soud as I came to. Mynsenses focused, and i reealized it was a woman’s voice, humming. I jerked up in shock and immediately cried out. I sank back inot the soft bedsheets i was laying on, and suddenly there was a hand on myt arm.
“Shush, dear, don’t move. You’ll be alright, but only if you don’t aggravate the wound.” I turned my head, thankful to realize that I could do it wothout pain, and a short, stout woman with her white-blonde hair piled on top of her head came into view. The room smelled too clean; it must have been an infirmary.
“Who are you?” I asked, or tried to, because my tongue felt large and fuzzy.
“Oh! Here, dear,” she siad, quickly getting me a cup of water. I drank greedily. She refilled it again, and once I was done she helped me back into the bed.
“Where am I?” I asked, aware that I wasn’t the leats bot worried that she might be an enemy. In fact, everything here seemed so srene...waht could posibly want to hurt me in a place like this?
The lady glanced past me before slowly answering. “...that’s not for me to say, but I can assure that right now, you are safe. What happneed in the cube is not commonplace here.”
“The cube?” I vaguely remebered a white surrounding, and a girl… My eyes strayed to my side. A thick white bandage was wrapped around my torso, but I could see the dark shaodw of blood slowly seeping through it. The lady follwed my gaze and quickly pulled the covers higher, shiedling it from my view.
“The cube is waht we use for simulations. Its dooesn’t actually create physical locations, but by using the right frequency or something we can sync it with your kind and assess your abilities using any terrain we want.”
I frowned, and glanced down at my side.
“The why am I hurt?” She pursed her lips before replying.
“U nfortunately, status effects in the simulation end up getting transferred to the person while in the simutlation. We haven’t yet found a way to cobat that. But enoyugn explanation; you need to rest.” She cut my next sentence off before it had even formed on my tongue and snapped her fingers. The light shut off in the room and she quivkly bustled out, leaving me alone to my thoughts.
I drifted asleep, but it was in no way peaceful.
I pused myself up. My dreamworld was dark, but I could see, not that there was anything to look at. My feet moved of their own accord, and I let them. A body materialized in front of me, and the boy turned his eyes on me. They were as blue as I remembered, and they fell on me with a soft gaze. His face broke into a soft, small smile, and i knew that it was only for me. I pressed y hand to his chest and closed it around his heart, beating stringly in my grasp. I opened my mouth, and said, “Sveren.”
“I’m back!”
“Airhyek, be quiet! She’s asleep!”
“Oh, right!”
“Shush!” I blinked blearily, my side throbbing dully. I swalloowed an drealized I was parche dgaain; there was cup of water on the side tabke and I grabbed it, drinking woith reolish. Quiet footsteps approached the door, and i froze, listening. My head felt kuch clearer now, Maybe I would be able to find out more about where I was. The door slid open a tiny bit, revealing a single, brown eye. I stared. Th eeye saw me, and the door opened more to reveal him.
My captor.
“Hey!” I screamed, glancing around wqidly for a weapon. Adrenaline rushed into kmy veins, dulling thre pain in my side. I rolled out of the bed and gritted my teeth as the oaiun flared again. I snatched the cup and sent it flying in his direction. He diged at the lkast moment, shock on his face.
“Hey, hey! Mom, she’s attacking me!”
“Dear!” The lady hurried in, and went pale wqhen she saw I was up. “Get back in bad, dear, before you hurt yourself!”
“No!” I cried, croushing low and trying not to show my pain. “Tell me where i am!” The boy and lady shared a look, and the boy broke her gaze to look at me.
“Right now, Asa, you are in my house. In Everglen.” I blinke dta the name, trying to remember my city names in Melcreed. Everglen didn’t ring a bell. My stoamch soured as i started going over forein cities outsode of Melcreed, but the boy was talking again, breaking my thoughts.
“You’re still in Melcreed, if that’s what you’re wondering. And don’t worry, I’m not going to attack you.” He chuckled, but his eyes didn’t stray from where i was on the floor. The pain had gotten progressively worse as the adrenaline wore off, but I wasn’t about to back down unless I absolutely had to.
“You should get back on the bed, thouhg, before you bleed to dewth on this floor.” A splash of red caught my vision, and I realized the bandage was now soaked through and leaking n to the smooth whitr floor. My viosn suddeeny swam, adn I was powerless as the boy caught me; I could hardly keepo from blacking out again myself. I drifted into ahalf conscipous state, and thought I say the blue eyed boy again. But mostlyt, my houghts were still.
The boy was panting when I finally realized what was happening, and my side was completely numb.
“Stop trying to die,” he scolded, but there was real worry in hids eyes. Hishands were covered in blood, and he quickly went to wash them.
“Wait,” I murmured, and I thought he didn’t hear me, but he turned around.
“What?” he asked, trying to inconsicuously keep his hands behind his back.
“Come here. Now,” I said, knowing subconsioucly what i had to do. I started pushing myself up, and he instinctively rushed forward to piush me back down. I garabbed his hand the moment I saw it and brought it to my mouth beofre he could pull away, shoving his blood covered fingers into my moiuth. Immediatly the sweet tang cosated my mouth, and energy rushed throuhg my veins. Once the energy supply was sufficient, I let go of his hand. Anbd looked into hius face. It was completrly red. His eyes were wide, and his mouth was open in shock.
“I-I should...wash then now,” he stammered, pulling away. He stumbled over to a sink and turned on the water. Whilke he washed, I looked around the room. Next to my bed was the bed stanbd table, and therw wqas a window facing my side. The curtains were drawn, so i couldn’t see outside. The boy was washing his hands in a sink in front of me, near the door. I stretched, feeling the vitality in my limbs. My siud ehardly even hurt anymore. Glancing at the boy, I slowly eased myself off the bed again. I toddled over to the windw and psued the curtains aside.
I blinked in the bright sunlight, and once my 4eyes adjusted I gasped.
“Hey!” A strong hand appeared on my shoulder, and I flunched. I ewould have hit him, biut he was too fast. He didged just as my fist sladshed out.
“Hey!” He grabbed my wrist before I could try to hit him again. “Relax. We aren’t trying to hurt you.” His eys strayed to my side, and then he quickly closed the curtain. “What are you doing up anyway? Your side-” His eyes widened as I tore off the bandage. It was coated and crusted in blood, some of it still fresh, but as we both stared at my saide no more came gushing out. Dazed, he grabbed a nearby rag and gently wiped the blood away.
My skin was completely fresh, smooth and white.
“Mom,” he cfried, steppin away from me. “Mom!”
“What is it, dear?” She stepped into the room, smiling, but then the smile fell away when she saw me. “Oh. Oh, my.” Disbelievingly, she slowly stepped forwqard, reaching her fingers out to brush against my side.
“It’s...healed.” She let her breath out in a rush of air, and then exchanged a glance with the boy. “Dear, go...sit down. I’ll get you some more...water.” Her eyes were jerky. I watche the boy. His face was solemn.
“What is it?” I looked each of them in the eyes, daring them to explain their behavior. The lady avoided my gaze, but the boy met it.
“Asa, please sit down. You must be tired.” He stepped forward, a hardness in his eyes. I stiffened.
“I’m not.” Frustration flashed across his face, and he suddenly rushed me, pinning me against the wall.
“Hey!”
“Mom, get it. Its for your own good,” he saaid to me.
“My owen good?” I spat at him. “Says who?” His eyes darkened, but sdomething in his expression softened.
“Just trust me. I’m not trying to get you killed.” I stared hard at him. He didn’t look like he was lying. Footsteps quickly approahced, and just as I turned my head, the lady stabbed something into my leg. The effect was nstant. I tried to move my mouth to shout in pain, but then there was no pain, and it felt like to mmuch of a chore to move my mouth. Or move anything. The boy’s eyes gazed at me saidly, and he hoisted me back into bed.
“Sorry, but the effects will last a while.” He was just pulling up the blanket when suddenly he froze.
“Yes,” he said hesityantly. “Yeah. Mmm. What?” His forehead creased. “Excusde me? Are you…? Yes, of course. No, I’m not. Yes, I’ll see to it.” His face fell into a freown. His gaze slipped oveer my body, and then suddnely I was on his shoulder, draped across his back.
“Try not to get to excited.” His voice was hard. The lady was just coming back into the room, but he oushed past her. Outside the house, there was laricon hitched to the fence. I huffed as the boy approached.
“Easy, G’Waw. I need you to not drop her.”
Once i was on the laricon, sitting up, which, even in my aktered state, I thought was a bit precarious, the boy led it downm the street. I looked around, taking in all the sight saround me. We were in a housijg complex. The buildings were all two floors, with most white or beige. A few were other wilder colors. Each house had a small yard surrpounded by a fence of any of numerous different materials. As I watched the houses, I thought i saw one flicker out of the corner of my eye. It must have been the drug. Whatever it wa,s i didn’t think it would wear off soon. It’s only affect was on my body, however- my mind was able to function completely normally, but my body was hardly able to move under my control.
Whereever I was, it looked like normal village. OI focurse, with what had already happened, it was not. I knew that I was still in Marixette’s territory, just not where. My gaze turned back to the boy. He was tall, and I saw his muscles, clearly outlined against his shirt. They rippled with eacj movement. Wherever I was, it would not be easy to escape. I looked up again, anbd caught a flash of orange air. My stkmach clenched.
I had forgotten about Jaxine. The building we were approaching was incredibly tall and large, it’s doors big enough for our laricon to pass throaugh, tal enough so I didn’t have to duck. Inside, it was kjuch cooler and darker. Flmaing torches linmed the walls, creating regular spots of light. G’Waw, the laricon, snorted, and I had to agree. I didn’t like being in this enclosed space any mkore thsan he did. The boy led us down a long hallway lined with doors, the scent of faint incense wafting lazily down the corridors. He stopped at an incrediubly large, decorated door. In its center was an insignia I didn’t recognize. It looked like a triple-pointed crown, with jewels on each point, but the bottom dropped into a long poiunt woith a teardrop-shaped jewel on its end. I didn’t get to look at it more, thiough, ecuase the boy rapped a pattern on the door and it suddenly opened. He led me into a large, round room, with curved pews made to fir the room and a raised platform on th far half of the wall. What looked oike a panel of elders sat, watching us. The man in the middle stood, and I noticed how tall he was compared to everyone else. His eyes landed on me with a glint.
“Welcome, Airhyek, Asa,” he said, his voice smoothe rthan I thoug iyt would be for an old man. “I see you;ve made it sfely.” Something in his wordsmade me hesitant to trust him. “Plezase, sit.” He gestured to the front row of the pews, and Airhyek helped me down from G’Waw. I almost collpased- my legs didn’t seem to be working- but he caught hee and carried me over to the pew, setting me down gently. He took his seat beside me, and the suddeenly the doors banged open. I couldn’t turn my head, but Airhyek did, and stiffened when he saw whoever it was. He scooted oer, so there wa a sace between me and him, ans patted it.
“Get down here, you kleif! Get down here and explain beofre I murder you!” Okay, THAT got my attention.
“And why should I come down now?” I replied, peering around the branch at him. His face was red and his eyes were srcunched, but I could detect the fear i his voice. Once again, a strong dislike of people overcame me.
“It’s all your fault! You’re to blame! Ohhh, daughter!” I glanced around at the crowsd, waiting for someone to please explain what i was being accused of.
“Hey!” I jerked my head up at the soud, and my stoimach turned. Carter Zelmonte. Kottek’s yerro. “What’s going on?” He arrived on foot, looking slightly disgruntled. His eys fell on me, and I jerked mine away, internally wincing as his stare lingered a bit too long.
“She kidnapped my daughrter!” Lerro cried, completely capabke of explaining now that spomeone who was suppoosed to be on his side was there. “I woke up this morning, but my little girl was GONE! Nothinjg was amiss! That girl,” he said, pointing to me, “Took her! You all know how agile and sneaky she is! There was no mess whatsoever!” I wqinced as all theoir eyes turned to me. It was common knowledge how fgood I was at spying and whatnot. However, I honestly doiubted Jax was really missing. She was probably just off with Yirlo Jerendol. I opened my muth to say so, and a small rock flew by my face.
“Hey!” Carter quickly grabbed Lerro’s arm before he could throw another, but the man’s angry eyes still held my form. “If you want me to help you., then stop attacking innocent villagers.”
“Innocent?!” Lerro’s eysws bugged at Carter’s word choice, but he slowly dropped his arm.
“Asa, come down from there.” Carter’s eye held me as I slowly sat up on the branch I had been sleeping on.
“Excuse me, yuou expcet me to want to come down when that man threatened to kill me?” A muscle in carter’s jaw jumped, but to his credt his voice stayed calm.
“It’s not a matter of ‘want.’” Watching Lerro carefuly, I slowly slid down the tree. Carte watched me with an undisguised stare. I met his eys, and he gazed cooly back at me, then at my body. I shivered involuntarily. His eys had changed. They flicked backj to Lerro, and he spoke firmly.
“Lerro, you have no proof Asa has anything to do with this. Axel, go see if Yirlo is home. Everybody esle, split up into pairs. Search the forest.” His gaze fell on me. “Asa will be my partner.” Without another word, he stepped foreward, letting go of Lerro, and grabbed my arm. His fingers curled arund my bicep as he started dragging me away. I stiffended as his figers grazed my arm, but he didn’t notice.
“You don’;t have any idea where she is.” It was a satement, not a question. Carter truly didn’t believe I hasd anything to do with Jax.
“Where should we look?” I asked, not wanting to follow him unless I knew where we would be going.
“I doubt anybody will start very far out of town, so we might as well.” I swalloowed at tht prospect, but Carter’s gaze was on me. His mouth twitched into a tiny frown. “Is that alright?”
“Mmm,” I mumbled. “Let’s go.” I steredt ahead of carter, doing my best to keep him far eougnb beind me that I could focus. The trees weren’t dense, but there was enoug fo them that it was easy to hide. I had donew it enough times before. Glancing back to make sure carter was far enougn back, I quickly pulled out a knife and made a tiny cut on the inside of my thumb and index finger. Slipping the knife away, I siucked on the wound as blood welled up.
I immediately caught Jaxine’s scnet.
“This way!” I caled. Carter looked up, suprised, but I didn’;t waiut for him. Did i like Jaxine? No. Did I care what happened to her? Hardly. But any chance I could get to prove thise villagers wrong, I would take it. Besides, it would be fun to spite Lerro by finding his daiughter when all mhe could do was run around and accuse random people. Her scent was steadiy growing stronger, so she didn’t go too far. I heard carter behind me, his string breaths permeating the air. I tried to not think of him as Jax’s scent grew. We were deeper in the woods. I picked up Yirlo’s centr and smirked. How perfect. I couldn’t wait to see Lerro’s face. I picked upo my pace, jogging quickly through the trees, following the scnetr trail, wqhich was mostly straight. I stopped so fast I almost tripped, and Carter caight up to me easily.
“What-” I don’t know what hesaw, but I know what I s,melled. Blood. A small movement caught my attention, but carter was already racing toward it. He dragged something out of the undergrowt, and then I heard a bgroan.
Not something.
Someone.
I immediatsly recognized Yirlo’s scnet, thouhgt it was barely distinguishable between the blood that covered him. His eys were half closed, his bvreaths sharp and ragged. He didn;t try to move as Carter poulled him into the open; he only moaned in poain. Trying to be discreet, I swiped my fingers in some one the blood on the leaves and quikly licked the clean. I pisked up the scnet of the perrpetrator and listened. The scent was frwsh, but they alreday had a good dtart.
“Asa! Where’;s Jaxine?”
I took another sniff. “Not here,” I mumbled, reality setting in.
Lerro mewas right. Jaxine hasd been taken.
Chapter 2
“Asa!” I didn;t stop. My lkegs folded and dstraighteend as I oused myslef throuhg the undergrowth. I didn’t remeber it being this thick. The scnet grew stringer, along woth Jaxine’s and more of Yirlo’s blood. Carter wasn’t following me, which I thought was odd, but he would only get in the way. I tripped, and that was when I heard it. It was shallow, almost impercepytible, but with the blood I could hear it: a cry. I froze, listeneing. It was coming from the way i was going. I took off again, fatster this time, pushing myslef. My lungs adjusted their breaths, giving me the best milegage., and my leg muscles were too busy to burn. The scnet greww stringer, and then suddenly I was falling, my legs lacking grounf to stand on. It ha[ppened so suddenly that at first i had no idea what happened, but the my sesne canme back and my eyes focused. A scream bulot and died in my throat as i hit somrthing cold and wet. My vidsion went blurry as cold surrounded me, anfd suddenly I couldn’t breath.
Wycor. A thin red steam billowed arpound me, and I twisted toward it. Wat way was up? I cast around desperately, and my hand grazed sharp rocks. I oushed off, and kicked desprately. My flailing limbs hit air, and I surged upward. The kknet my face broke the surface, strong hands appeared under my arms, pulling me upo and away from the wycor. The monet I saw land i lunged forward, couching up wyco and collpasing. I closed my eyes, only to jerk them open again when I realized the hands had to have had an owner. I looked up inot the eys of a boy a few years older than me, his brown eyes warm, dark hair messy in an I-don’t-care-but-I-really-do way. He stepoped forward, and i didn;t kiss how the wycor made his clothes cling to his usclular body. I shrunk against the ground, then glanced around wildly. Who was this man, and what did he want with me?
“Realx, sweetie.” His voice was soft, with a hint of amusement. I took a deep breath, and suddenly the smell of Jaxine, Yirlo’s blood, and their captor filled my nose. I jerked away. I stumbled to my feet, and then i heard a small cry.
“Asa!” I whipped my hea daround and saw jaxine, her wrists in shackles, straining against a tree trunk. Her hair was mussed, and her eyeliner was smudged, like she had been crying. By the sound of her voice, she had been.
“Hey, hey now,” the bo siad. “This isn’t what-” My knife whizzedc throuhg the air, aimed starihgt for his neck, but with inhuman speed he dodnged and caiuhgt the blade excatly in the center, his fingers a lkight touch on the smooth metal. I stared. He lowered his arm, and i flinched, ready for him to throw it back, this time headed for me. Instead,m he instepected it anf tucked it into a sheath on his belt. I backed away, desperately widhing for Carter, or Axel, or even Lerro. Anyone to save me. I felt my thoat closing in fesar and took deep, gasping breaths.
“Relax, sweetie. I’nm not going to hurt you.” Jaxine’;s whimpers said otherwise.
“The what about Yirlo?” I called, trying to buy time as I looked for a way to escape. The boy cocked his head.
“The boy? Oh, him. Got in the way.” He shruged, but his face took on a dark cast. I swsallowed. “I’m sorry but-” His eyes caught my gaze and followed it. I hadn’t noticed, but on his chest was s small, perfectly round stone. It had been a swirling mass of black and white before, but onc ehe was only ten feet away the stone turned gray. He picked it up and his eyews woidened. Then, ythey fell on me. I dodged, and the knife lodged in the doirt. The boy didn’ waste any time- he lunged, and I cried out and jumped away. Jaxine cried out as i started running away from him. I didn’t know where i was, but it didn’t matter. As long as I got got away from him. Something large hit my ankle, and I fell. Immediately, the boy was on ytop of me, his hands grasping for my arms, trying to pin me down. I twisted, trying to get away.
“Asa, stop!” I froze, shpocked at his use of my name, and he used my distraction to slam his fost into my head, dazing me. My feet lkeft the ground, and heavy weights attached tpo my wrists.
“Sorry, sweet,” he said, “but I can’t risk it.” A smooth, cool liquid poured down my throat, adn suddenly my head went fduzzy.
The last thing I heard was Jaxine saying, “Asa...”
I woke to another sharp pain. My hea dfelt fuzzy, but it was clearing up quickly. I blinked and looked around. Everything...was white? I rubbed my face and pushed myself up. The moent I opened my eyes, the white was gone, replaced with a clearing. It was surrounded by a tall cliff, with a small pond on one side. I could still feel the wycor against my skin, and it made me uncomfotable. I slowly pushed myself up and glanced around. Where was I? I tried to remeber. There was the boy, and Jax, and carter… I jerked my head up, sniffing deeply for thier scenrnt. I reached down to my boot to grab a knife, and that was when I reealized- I was in soe sort of strange clothes. Theye were marked with an emblem reminiscne tof a corwn, with jewels on each point. I fingered the fabric. It was smooth and stretchy, but durable.
I lunged out of the way as a knife whizzed past me. I looked up, into mthe eys of a girl with jet black hair and narrow eyes. Her lips parted into a smile yto reveal impossibly white teeth. My bReath caught when I saw the glint in her hand. It was much too small to be a knife- it looked almost lie a pin. She was perched on a ledge on the cliff, and once she saw she had my attentiuon she leapt down, just barely vlearing the pond.
“Hey, sweetie.” Her voice oozed with fake sweetness. “Ready to gewt started?” Withoiut waiting for an answer, she lunged at me, throwing the dart with impossib;le speed as I dodged. I jiust barely managed to roll out of the way befofe it hit me.
“Who are you?” I croed, trying to stop and assess the situation, but she wouldn’;t let me. She pushed off again and I ducked, psuhing mysefl under her. I pushed my legs up and they connected with her kiddle.
Bad move.
She quickly grabbed my legs and held on. We froze like that, me in handstand mode and her attahce to my legs, before I flipped forward, intedning to smash her on her back. She psuhed off, sending me off balance. Her pin grazed my torso, and that was when I realized it was a hairpin. The pain where it touched informed me that it was tipped with poison.
It was quick acting, and as I tried to get kmore ditance between us, I felt my limbs slowing. My breathing quickened, and I felt my blood pressure spike as my body tried getting rid of the poison. A sweat broke out on my forehead, and my vision started to blur. The girl dashed at me again, and at the last moent I dodged, loosing my footing i the process. I hit the ground hard, and suddenly a sharp pain ripped across my side. A fresh stream of bright red blood gushed from a wound that i had hardly felt. It was close enoug to the pin that it had hit my numb skin. I felt my hea datarst to spin and took a deep breath. I forced my hand to my side and gently coated my fingers in warm blood, the n brought them to my mpouth. Immeditsaely strenght flooded back into y limbs. My heart slowed, and my breathing lost its raspy quiality. I closed my eyes as the power flowed back through my veins, and sighed at the rush of feeling.
A scream broke my relief. I jerked my eyes open to see her on her side on the ground, rolling. She leapt up and looked around wildly, then saw me. Her face was a mixture of confusion, and then fury.
I rolled away, lighting quick, dodging the girls next blow. I used my monetum to leap up and dashed at her before she could react. My fist caught her jaw before sh could dodge, and I took her surpise to ram into her, sending her down to the ground. Blood spurted from her nose as I pucnhed her again, and again. Her eyess changed, a mix of shock and fear. I was too busy to notice. The smell of blood was making me light-headed. I wanted more. Suddenly, something rammed into me, sending me srawling away from the girl. I whipped around to come face to face with a boy my age, his ice-blue eyes fixed on mine, freezing me in place. His face was guarded as he gazed at me. A small circle around his pupil caiughjt my attanetion; it was red.
“Asag,” he hissed, and I blinked. He relaxed, and I took the opportunity to pounce on him. His blood smelled so sweet… He deflected me with surpising speed, and I landed on my feet before tunring him again. I swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
“Asag!” he said again, angrily. I lowered my head and growled, deep and guttrral in my throat. He glanced at the girl before shuffling sideys, away from her. Se remained on the ground, curled up. She wasn’t a threat. Her blood was sour, anyways, I noted as I liked my lips. His, however… Her lunged lightning quick at me, and I had juts enough time to ddge. He stopped in his tracks howveer and turned, his teeth cathing my shoulder I twiewtsed, and his grip was loose enough that i could roll on my back andnot take sanydamage. He was however, now in a dominant position. However, he didn’t attack.
“Congratulations,” he panted, and stepped off of me. I realxed. I knew I had lost, but next time...I blinked suddenly as all my sense cam eback. Including all the pain. I culred and a sharp whine escaped my lips; blood was flowing freely from my side. It rushed, warm and iron-tanged, pooling under me. My breath came in gasps, partly from the pain, partly from blood loss. The loss of blood caused my vision to flicker, and suddenly I was back in the white room. My vision swam, asnd I thought I saw the blue-eyed boy wqalk towards me. His mouth moved, I thought, but when his words reacged me they were and incomplrehensible jumble. The pain in my side flared, and i screamed. The movement was so painful that I passed out.
Chapter 3
I was in anther white room, but there was a faint humming soud as I came to. Mynsenses focused, and i reealized it was a woman’s voice, humming. I jerked up in shock and immediately cried out. I sank back inot the soft bedsheets i was laying on, and suddenly there was a hand on myt arm.
“Shush, dear, don’t move. You’ll be alright, but only if you don’t aggravate the wound.” I turned my head, thankful to realize that I could do it wothout pain, and a short, stout woman with her white-blonde hair piled on top of her head came into view. The room smelled too clean; it must have been an infirmary.
“Who are you?” I asked, or tried to, because my tongue felt large and fuzzy.
“Oh! Here, dear,” she siad, quickly getting me a cup of water. I drank greedily. She refilled it again, and once I was done she helped me back into the bed.
“Where am I?” I asked, aware that I wasn’t the leats bot worried that she might be an enemy. In fact, everything here seemed so srene...waht could posibly want to hurt me in a place like this?
The lady glanced past me before slowly answering. “...that’s not for me to say, but I can assure that right now, you are safe. What happneed in the cube is not commonplace here.”
“The cube?” I vaguely remebered a white surrounding, and a girl… My eyes strayed to my side. A thick white bandage was wrapped around my torso, but I could see the dark shaodw of blood slowly seeping through it. The lady follwed my gaze and quickly pulled the covers higher, shiedling it from my view.
“The cube is waht we use for simulations. Its dooesn’t actually create physical locations, but by using the right frequency or something we can sync it with your kind and assess your abilities using any terrain we want.”
I frowned, and glanced down at my side.
“The why am I hurt?” She pursed her lips before replying.
“U nfortunately, status effects in the simulation end up getting transferred to the person while in the simutlation. We haven’t yet found a way to cobat that. But enoyugn explanation; you need to rest.” She cut my next sentence off before it had even formed on my tongue and snapped her fingers. The light shut off in the room and she quivkly bustled out, leaving me alone to my thoughts.
I drifted asleep, but it was in no way peaceful.
I pused myself up. My dreamworld was dark, but I could see, not that there was anything to look at. My feet moved of their own accord, and I let them. A body materialized in front of me, and the boy turned his eyes on me. They were as blue as I remembered, and they fell on me with a soft gaze. His face broke into a soft, small smile, and i knew that it was only for me. I pressed y hand to his chest and closed it around his heart, beating stringly in my grasp. I opened my mouth, and said, “Sveren.”
“I’m back!”
“Airhyek, be quiet! She’s asleep!”
“Oh, right!”
“Shush!” I blinked blearily, my side throbbing dully. I swalloowed an drealized I was parche dgaain; there was cup of water on the side tabke and I grabbed it, drinking woith reolish. Quiet footsteps approached the door, and i froze, listening. My head felt kuch clearer now, Maybe I would be able to find out more about where I was. The door slid open a tiny bit, revealing a single, brown eye. I stared. Th eeye saw me, and the door opened more to reveal him.
My captor.
“Hey!” I screamed, glancing around wqidly for a weapon. Adrenaline rushed into kmy veins, dulling thre pain in my side. I rolled out of the bed and gritted my teeth as the oaiun flared again. I snatched the cup and sent it flying in his direction. He diged at the lkast moment, shock on his face.
“Hey, hey! Mom, she’s attacking me!”
“Dear!” The lady hurried in, and went pale wqhen she saw I was up. “Get back in bad, dear, before you hurt yourself!”
“No!” I cried, croushing low and trying not to show my pain. “Tell me where i am!” The boy and lady shared a look, and the boy broke her gaze to look at me.
“Right now, Asa, you are in my house. In Everglen.” I blinke dta the name, trying to remember my city names in Melcreed. Everglen didn’t ring a bell. My stoamch soured as i started going over forein cities outsode of Melcreed, but the boy was talking again, breaking my thoughts.
“You’re still in Melcreed, if that’s what you’re wondering. And don’t worry, I’m not going to attack you.” He chuckled, but his eyes didn’t stray from where i was on the floor. The pain had gotten progressively worse as the adrenaline wore off, but I wasn’t about to back down unless I absolutely had to.
“You should get back on the bed, thouhg, before you bleed to dewth on this floor.” A splash of red caught my vision, and I realized the bandage was now soaked through and leaking n to the smooth whitr floor. My viosn suddeeny swam, adn I was powerless as the boy caught me; I could hardly keepo from blacking out again myself. I drifted into ahalf conscipous state, and thought I say the blue eyed boy again. But mostlyt, my houghts were still.
The boy was panting when I finally realized what was happening, and my side was completely numb.
“Stop trying to die,” he scolded, but there was real worry in hids eyes. Hishands were covered in blood, and he quickly went to wash them.
“Wait,” I murmured, and I thought he didn’t hear me, but he turned around.
“What?” he asked, trying to inconsicuously keep his hands behind his back.
“Come here. Now,” I said, knowing subconsioucly what i had to do. I started pushing myself up, and he instinctively rushed forward to piush me back down. I garabbed his hand the moment I saw it and brought it to my mouth beofre he could pull away, shoving his blood covered fingers into my moiuth. Immediatly the sweet tang cosated my mouth, and energy rushed throuhg my veins. Once the energy supply was sufficient, I let go of his hand. Anbd looked into hius face. It was completrly red. His eyes were wide, and his mouth was open in shock.
“I-I should...wash then now,” he stammered, pulling away. He stumbled over to a sink and turned on the water. Whilke he washed, I looked around the room. Next to my bed was the bed stanbd table, and therw wqas a window facing my side. The curtains were drawn, so i couldn’t see outside. The boy was washing his hands in a sink in front of me, near the door. I stretched, feeling the vitality in my limbs. My siud ehardly even hurt anymore. Glancing at the boy, I slowly eased myself off the bed again. I toddled over to the windw and psued the curtains aside.
I blinked in the bright sunlight, and once my 4eyes adjusted I gasped.
“Hey!” A strong hand appeared on my shoulder, and I flunched. I ewould have hit him, biut he was too fast. He didged just as my fist sladshed out.
“Hey!” He grabbed my wrist before I could try to hit him again. “Relax. We aren’t trying to hurt you.” His eys strayed to my side, and then he quickly closed the curtain. “What are you doing up anyway? Your side-” His eyes widened as I tore off the bandage. It was coated and crusted in blood, some of it still fresh, but as we both stared at my saide no more came gushing out. Dazed, he grabbed a nearby rag and gently wiped the blood away.
My skin was completely fresh, smooth and white.
“Mom,” he cfried, steppin away from me. “Mom!”
“What is it, dear?” She stepped into the room, smiling, but then the smile fell away when she saw me. “Oh. Oh, my.” Disbelievingly, she slowly stepped forwqard, reaching her fingers out to brush against my side.
“It’s...healed.” She let her breath out in a rush of air, and then exchanged a glance with the boy. “Dear, go...sit down. I’ll get you some more...water.” Her eyes were jerky. I watche the boy. His face was solemn.
“What is it?” I looked each of them in the eyes, daring them to explain their behavior. The lady avoided my gaze, but the boy met it.
“Asa, please sit down. You must be tired.” He stepped forward, a hardness in his eyes. I stiffened.
“I’m not.” Frustration flashed across his face, and he suddenly rushed me, pinning me against the wall.
“Hey!”
“Mom, get it. Its for your own good,” he saaid to me.
“My owen good?” I spat at him. “Says who?” His eyes darkened, but sdomething in his expression softened.
“Just trust me. I’m not trying to get you killed.” I stared hard at him. He didn’t look like he was lying. Footsteps quickly approahced, and just as I turned my head, the lady stabbed something into my leg. The effect was nstant. I tried to move my mouth to shout in pain, but then there was no pain, and it felt like to mmuch of a chore to move my mouth. Or move anything. The boy’s eyes gazed at me saidly, and he hoisted me back into bed.
“Sorry, but the effects will last a while.” He was just pulling up the blanket when suddenly he froze.
“Yes,” he said hesityantly. “Yeah. Mmm. What?” His forehead creased. “Excusde me? Are you…? Yes, of course. No, I’m not. Yes, I’ll see to it.” His face fell into a freown. His gaze slipped oveer my body, and then suddnely I was on his shoulder, draped across his back.
“Try not to get to excited.” His voice was hard. The lady was just coming back into the room, but he oushed past her. Outside the house, there was laricon hitched to the fence. I huffed as the boy approached.
“Easy, G’Waw. I need you to not drop her.”
Once i was on the laricon, sitting up, which, even in my aktered state, I thought was a bit precarious, the boy led it downm the street. I looked around, taking in all the sight saround me. We were in a housijg complex. The buildings were all two floors, with most white or beige. A few were other wilder colors. Each house had a small yard surrpounded by a fence of any of numerous different materials. As I watched the houses, I thought i saw one flicker out of the corner of my eye. It must have been the drug. Whatever it wa,s i didn’t think it would wear off soon. It’s only affect was on my body, however- my mind was able to function completely normally, but my body was hardly able to move under my control.
Whereever I was, it looked like normal village. OI focurse, with what had already happened, it was not. I knew that I was still in Marixette’s territory, just not where. My gaze turned back to the boy. He was tall, and I saw his muscles, clearly outlined against his shirt. They rippled with eacj movement. Wherever I was, it would not be easy to escape. I looked up again, anbd caught a flash of orange air. My stkmach clenched.
I had forgotten about Jaxine. The building we were approaching was incredibly tall and large, it’s doors big enough for our laricon to pass throaugh, tal enough so I didn’t have to duck. Inside, it was kjuch cooler and darker. Flmaing torches linmed the walls, creating regular spots of light. G’Waw, the laricon, snorted, and I had to agree. I didn’t like being in this enclosed space any mkore thsan he did. The boy led us down a long hallway lined with doors, the scent of faint incense wafting lazily down the corridors. He stopped at an incrediubly large, decorated door. In its center was an insignia I didn’t recognize. It looked like a triple-pointed crown, with jewels on each point, but the bottom dropped into a long poiunt woith a teardrop-shaped jewel on its end. I didn’t get to look at it more, thiough, ecuase the boy rapped a pattern on the door and it suddenly opened. He led me into a large, round room, with curved pews made to fir the room and a raised platform on th far half of the wall. What looked oike a panel of elders sat, watching us. The man in the middle stood, and I noticed how tall he was compared to everyone else. His eyes landed on me with a glint.
“Welcome, Airhyek, Asa,” he said, his voice smoothe rthan I thoug iyt would be for an old man. “I see you;ve made it sfely.” Something in his wordsmade me hesitant to trust him. “Plezase, sit.” He gestured to the front row of the pews, and Airhyek helped me down from G’Waw. I almost collpased- my legs didn’t seem to be working- but he caught hee and carried me over to the pew, setting me down gently. He took his seat beside me, and the suddeenly the doors banged open. I couldn’t turn my head, but Airhyek did, and stiffened when he saw whoever it was. He scooted oer, so there wa a sace between me and him, ans patted it.