Текст книги "Reckless Magic"
Автор книги: Rachel Higginson
сообщить о нарушении
Текущая страница: 16 (всего у книги 24 страниц)
Chapter Thirty
“Eden, there is someone here to see you,” Aunt Syl’s voice whispered softly but firmly in my ear.
My room was completely dark, and I was comfortably wrapped in my comforter, surrounded by feather pillows. I groaned a response and rolled over. She patted my back maternally, before standing up to open my bedroom door and allow whoever was here to see me, inside.
I heard Avalon’s familiar voice and a wave of nausea swept over me. He was speaking to my aunt about accommodations or a spare room or something I couldn’t quite make out. I heard my aunt turn the lamp on, creating a soft glow of light not strong enough to hurt my still sleepy eyes. I peeked one eye out from the pillow I had my face buried in and saw Avalon fidget tentatively in the doorway.
“Well you might as well come in; you have a lot of explaining to do,” I struggled to lecture through a hoarse whisper. In the last twenty four hours I had begun to accept the fact that he was my brother. This was the first time he had tried to speak to me himself since he told me, but I decided it was something I always knew deep within. At least I understood there was something internal that tied us together, although I was unable to put a word to it. Much like when Principal Saint came to explain my Immortality to me, Avalon was now here to explain our connection.
“You’re not mad at me?” he asked quietly and walked to the end of my bed, standing awkwardly and playing idly with the bed frame.
“I wouldn’t say that. But at least I’m not planning on turning you over to the authorities,” my voice grew stronger than a whisper, but maintained its’ hoarseness.
“Would you like some tea, my dear?” Aunt Syl offered from the doorframe.
“Yes, please,” she gave me an encouraging smile and disappeared down the hallway. “We’ll be down in a second.” I called after her, feeling suddenly awkward with my brand new brother alone in my room. Who knew what I had lying around on the floor?
I crawled out of bed stiff and sore. My knee and shin throbbed dully from the bloody gash covering them. My hair was tangled and wild, I had yet to shower; and my skin was filthy. Aunt Syl was kind enough to let me sleep through the day; I supposed sleep was how I emotionally healed.
I staggered out of the bedroom, but not before grabbing a hair tie that I worked my human-kind-of-magic with; pulling my tangled locks into some type of vice grip on the top of my head. I noticed the green dress from last night in a crumpled heap by my door; I glanced down quickly to make sure I was actually clothed. Thankfully I had an oversized sweatshirt and shorts on. I didn’t remember putting them on, but it didn’t really matter at that point, at least I was dressed. I grabbed the dress off of the floor with full intentions of burning it when I got to the bottom of the stairs.
Avalon followed me silently. On the way to the stairs we passed the guest bedroom and I noticed suitcases in the middle of the floor. I was not sure what to think of them, but was completely focused on the warm cup of tea waiting for me in the kitchen.
I tossed the dress into the fireplace casually as we walked by it on our way to the kitchen island. I lit the wood with a flick of a switch positioned on the wall next to the fireplace and glanced back to make sure the dress worked as kindle for the flame.
Once in the kitchen, I pulled out a stool and impatiently waited for the water to boil on the gas stove. Avalon followed my example and sat down on the stool next to me. Aunt Syl brought out a plate of fruit and cheese and crackers; some of my favorite munchies. I gratefully grabbed some grapes and shoved them into my mouth. I was starving.
“Amory is bringing over some Chinese food…. King Fong’s,” Aunt Syl explained tentatively and then smiled sympathetically. Great. Although I was excited for the lo mein en route, I wasn’t especially ready to rehash the rooftop battle for Principal Saint, especially when it indicted Avalon.
“So.… spill it,” I commanded of Avalon, giving him a sideways glance before reaching for some more grapes.
“I don’t even know where to begin,” he replied almost nervously, running his hands through his long locks. I realized now that our hair and skin were the same color; our noses nearly identical and our smiles the exact likeness of each other. Only our eye color was different; mine almost black like our hair, and his green like the color of emeralds.
“Start with why you have tried to kill me…. twice,” I inquired casually, holding up two fingers before grabbing some Wheatables and gruyere cheese.
“I have never tried to kill you!” Avalon nearly stood up defending himself. “I’ve only ever tried to kill him; you just give us good opportunities to attack, I guess,” he calmed down a bit and flashed an amused grin. “You always get him alone, where he is unprotected. Unfortunately you’re still fighting on his side. But I’m hoping that will change.”
“I don’t think it will,” I disagreed. “There will never be a time when I can just sit by and watch you kill Kiran,” I nearly choked on my words; realizing my brother’s true intentions for a person I had strong, but indefinable feelings for. Albeit I was not sure what those feelings were, but without a doubt they were definitely not murderous.
“We’ll see,” he argued back and when I opened my mouth to say something, he continued quickly, “Like I was saying, I have only done everything in my power to protect you; that includes doing my best to keep you away from him,” Avalon refused to use Kiran’s name.
“Everything in your power… does that include throwing me off a building?” I rubbed my sore bones to prove my point.
“Eden, you don’t have to be in pain. It’s called magic. Why don’t you try using it?” he nodded in the direction of my cut up leg and I felt like an idiot. Oh, yeah. I focused my blood, allowing the magic free reign to flow. The electricity pulsed through my veins, heating my blood and healing my body. Instantly I felt restored and rejuvenated. The gash on my shin and knee completely disappeared in seconds; and the bruises that moments ago painted my skin, vanished.
“Thanks,” I mumbled.
“I didn’t throw you off any building. Jer– my companion got a little overzealous. He was just pissed that he was getting beat by a girl. He fully expected you to recover, but you, I think, forgot to use your magic again,” I blushed, realizing that my fall from the top of the gymnasium didn’t have to be fatal. I had had the power to be just fine. “We all were shocked when you just kept falling. I don’t know what would have happened to you if that half and half hadn’t Time-Slowed to catch you; but then again Jericho got a little too excited. And if it weren’t for you, he could have finished the job, but you absorbed the majority of the blow, protecting him,” Avalon just used so many words that I didn’t understand and I had so many questions now I didn’t even know where to begin.
“Half and half? Time-Slow? What do you mean absorbed the blow? Speak English; and for goodness sakes, who is Jericho?” I squinted at Avalon confused, but he only laughed at me.
“I forget that you were raised human,” Avalon laughed again. Aunt Syl gave him a side glance, disapprovingly. It’s not like I was raised by wolves, give me a break.
“Explain,” I demanded simply.
“Ok, let’s see. Half and half is like a slang word we use to describe someone like Kiran. Someone who is half Witch and half Medium; his family specifically breeds this way in order to ensure their bloodline and their power. They think if they use the two dominant Immortalities they will stay more powerful than the rest of us minions,” his voice dripped with sarcasm and irritability. “Time-Slow; that’s like something only Mediums can do. It’s one of the things that separate Witches and Psychics. Kiran has the ability to slow time down without slowing himself down. He caught up with you in air because he slowed you down. They can only do it for a limited amount of time, but you can see why it would be useful.”
“And Jericho?” I asked, mentally ticking off my list of questions.
“I shouldn’t have used his name. But anyways, he is part of the Resistance,” Avalon grabbed a handful of crackers and shoved them into his mouth like he was suddenly hungry.
“The Resistance?” I asked; a looming feeling of foreboding washed over me. If a Resistance was involved, there was no such thing as an easy solution.
“Yes, the Resistance. The only people left brave enough to stand up to this tyranny,” Avalon exclaimed patriotically, cracker crumbs flying out of his mouth. He smiled apologetically, and swallowed quickly. After washing it down with a long drink of tea, he continued, “A lot of Immortals are unhappy with the King and have been since they instituted the Monarchy. Lucan has done nothing but divide us up and kill us off. And your boyfriend is the next executioner in line for the throne. We plan to change that.”
“Ok, slow down again. So who is in this Resistance? Are you only trying to kill Kiran? Or the whole royal family? What exactly is the purpose of this… Resistance?” my list of questions just grew longer and longer the more Avalon tried to explain.
“I can’t tell you who is in the Resistance until you join it,” he paused to wink at me and give a suggestive raise of the eyebrows. “It has to be kept completely secret otherwise they would hunt us down and execute every last one of us. I’m serious Eden, me telling you this is a gigantic risk; even saying the word ‘Resistance’ is enough to get us thrown into a Romanian prison. You can’t just run off and let your boyfriend in on all of our secrets. I mean it: mental lock-down,” he looked at me with such distrust that I felt ashamed.
“I’m not an idiot Avalon; I understand that,” I rebuffed, defensively.
“I know you’re not an idiot; I am just not sure whose side you’re on,” when I gave him a dirty look he answered more of my questions. “And yes we are going after Kiran. But it is mainly to send a message to his father, who would, of course, be our next target. The kid can’t do much damage yet, especially when he is so distracted with you; but one day he’ll hold the keys to this Kingdom and I refuse to leave the fate of all Immortals in the hands of a Kendrick,” I blushed at his reference to me; completely in denial that I could be that much of a distraction to anybody.
“Avalon you haven’t answered her last question. What exactly is the purpose of our Resistance?” Principal Saint entered the kitchen arms full of brown paper bags. The smell of Chinese food filled the room and as soon as he set the bags down on the counter I snatched one and pulled out a paper parchment filled with Crab Rangoon. I tore the legs off of the crab shaped pastry and devoured the fried goodness.
“Why don’t you do the honors Amory?” Avalon addressed Principal Saint with a strong familiarity, and slid a box of fried rice over to himself, digging in with a set of wooden chopsticks.
Chapter Thirty-One
“So you know about the Resistance?” I asked Principal Saint tentatively, not sure where he stood on the issue. He entered the kitchen uninvited, and made himself at home to no one’s objections, his arms laden with paper bags of hot Chinese food.
“I believe I was the founder,” Principal Saint smiled at me widely when my mouth dropped open from disbelief. As the principal of my high school, I found it hard to imagine him plotting the death of one of its most prominent students. “That was a long, long time ago however. I’ve been able to take somewhat of a backseat position for quite some time,” Avalon rolled his eyes and I could tell that Principal Saint was not being entirely truthful with me.
“Sure, sure,” Avalon mumbled, shoving more rice mixed with Mongolian Beef into his mouth.
“Well, at least for the last sixteen years. You kids have been quite time consuming,” he grinned again. I was a little taken aback by his casual appearance. His black hair seemed a little looser; and instead of the double breasted suits I was used to seeing him in, he donned a pair of jeans and navy blue polo.
“What?” I asked, my disbelief growing.
“That has been my task since you were born: to make sure you both survived. So far, so good, but I think Eden here is bent on destruction,” I gave him an acerbic squint of the eyes, but half wondered if he was right. “In truth however, it has been the greatest task I’ve ever been given,” his expression turned serious, and something in his eyes gave me a foreboding anxiety that I couldn’t explain.
“Why is that?” I choked out.
“Well, let’s just say that you two are very important to the survival of our species,” I opened my mouth to ask him to explain further, but he continued quickly. “Back to your question concerning the King, or Lucan. He’s the same as his father and his father’s father, and the King before that. They are all tyrants. They care only for the survival of their bloodline and have been chasing Immortality since the day they lost it.”
“So we really can’t live forever anymore? Kiran could have died last night?” I asked quietly, afraid of the answer.
“Anything is possible. Some of us have definitely lived longer than others,” he smiled almost humbly as if he were embarrassed of something.
“And we all live longer than them,” Avalon said “them” with such disgust that I had no doubt he was referring to the Kendricks.
“You haven’t lived longer than anyone yet, Avalon,” Principal Saint addressed him with authority and I saw Avalon look down at his food with a half-smile on his face; as if he didn’t quite take Principal Saint seriously. “But it would have taken a lot more than a long fall to kill Kiran Kendrick. He’s just fine Eden, you’ll see him at school tomorrow, I’m sure.”
“So what can kill us?” I asked, once again afraid of the answer.
“Only another Immortal can kill us and in very dire circumstances,” Principal Saint shook his head as if refusing to say more. “And then there is something we call the King’s Curse; but so far it seems to only affect a person after a long life. It is much like dying of old age, only a little more gruesome than that I suppose.”
“Why is it called the King’s Curse?” I asked reaching for an egg roll.
“Because that is exactly what it is,” Principal Saint’s voice hardened. “It is a curse brought on our people by the first King, Derrick Kendrick, and grows stronger after every consecutive Kendrick that rules,” when I gave him a curious expression, he continued. “You see before we had a King our people had never experienced death. For a couple thousands of years we had walked the earth without death. Nothing could be done to us that we could not heal from, and no sickness or plague affected us. We simply lived, our powers growing stronger every year longer we survived. Finally, however, there were too many of us, we outnumbered the humans, and we were spread across the globe. Instead of thanking God for our blessings, the people grew complacent and cried out for a King. The Immortals wanted to live like the humans; even though we lived with abilities the humans couldn’t even comprehend; even though the humans lived in war and hunger and under oppression, still our people called for a King. So they elected one. One of the strongest Immortals to ever walk the earth; and how did he thank them? By destroying them. First order of business, he hunted the Oracles down and executed them.”
“Not all of them,” Avalon interrupted.
“All of them died that day,” Principal Saint growled back.
“Avalon has mentioned the Oracles before, but I guess I still don’t get it. And how did he execute them if no one had died?” I asked naively and confused.
“The Oracles were elders who guided the people before the King. They acted as a referee for disputes, and other issues that arose. They were one of the first and strongest of our species. But at that time, every kind married each other; there was no distinction between races. Because of that, the magic was much stronger than it is today. You see a Witch could marry a Titan and together they could have a Medium for a child. The magic was mixed; but each individual would display certain attributes defining what they were capable of. Derrick killed them by first draining their magic and then they were easily murdered just like any normal human being would have been,” I thought for a moment Amory was going to be sick. A look of pure nausea passed across his face, but then it was gone and he continued, “The second thing Derrick did was to cut off the magic from mingling. Each race, by King’s edict, was henceforth forbidden to intermarry. This singled the magic out, not only weakening its power, but cursing us for generations to come. The King’s Curse spread wildly, destroying most of the older generations first, and then working its way down, cutting our numbers by millions. It hit the King’s household the hardest however. And to this day every King we have dies young comparatively, and worst of all they are only gifted with one male heir. It has been like this for King after King after King. Yet, they continue to oppress us, enforcing the rules even more harshly these days.”
“So that is why Kiran has to marry a Psychic? Because he’s a Psychic?” I asked, thinking very selfishly of my own problems.
“Well, in order to prolong their lives and strengthen their powers the royal family is both Witch and Psychic. They alternate what type of wife they take. Lucan took a Witch, and now Kiran must take a Psychic in order to ensure the equality of magic,” Principal Saint explained this as if it made perfect sense, but I found this entire history lesson a bit confusing.
“So if the royal family is responsible for all of this, how come the Resistance has to be a secret? Why don’t we all just rise up against them and take over peacefully?” I asked, hoping for a better solution than murdering Kiran.
“Because of the f-ing Guard,” Avalon shouted out impatiently.
“What Avalon means, is in our weakened state, most Immortals wouldn’t stand a chance against the Titan Guard. They are too skilled in battle; the community as a whole understands that we would all die. Their combat skill is what sets them apart, what defines them as Immortals.”
“And the Titan Guard is Ok with how things are being run?” I asked thinking of Talbott and his utter loyalty to Kiran.
“Well, if they aren’t there’s nothing they can do about it,” Avalon interrupted again.
“When Derrick was first crowned King, the Guard gave a blood oath to protect the royal family as long as there was any living heir. If the Guard breaks their oath they will also all die. They have no choice,” Principal Saint looked grim and tired. The lines in his face had become more pronounced, making him look ancient.
“But they definitely are the bad guys? I mean the royal family?” I didn’t really need to ask the question, I knew the answer; but I was having a hard time accepting it.
“Of course they are!” Avalon nearly exploded. “They are the reason we are dying, they are the reason we live in fear, and they are the reason your friend Lilly is in jail!”
“Lilly?” I asked in a small voice.
“Yes, Lilly.” Principal Saint replied with more control than Avalon. “When Derrick took the throne, he exiled all Shape-Shifters. He made their very existence illegal. If they were found in hiding, they were lucky to only get a prison sentence. After Lucan took the throne, their circumstances worsened extremely. They can barely call their existence living. Lilly was not hiding; she was very much out in the open. And to add circumstance to conviction she was not only attending the same school as the Crown Prince, but happened to be nearly alone with him in the middle of the forest, isolated. Thankfully for Avalon, the King currently blames her for the attack on Kiran’s life. They have not even tried to look further for more details. In his mind, she was the traitor and the orchestrator of the attack.”
“Thankfully for Avalon, but what about her?” it was my turn to get fired up and I stood up out of my stool, knocking it over behind me. My face flushed red and I turned humbly to retrieve it before sitting back down to listen to the answer.
“I don’t know, my dear. I have been called to testify, but I’m sure my testimony will only feed the jury more evidence of her crimes, since I genuinely had no idea of her true identity either,” Principal Saint looked truly distraught.
“But why? She fought against Avalon, she tried to help Kiran! It doesn’t make sense that they would blame the attack on her. Kiran and Talbott were both there, I was there, can’t we testify?” I struggled to understand what was so difficult about this. Lilly hadn’t done anything wrong.
“I know that and you know that. But my standing in the community is very precarious; I have to be careful of the battles I choose. And you Eden, are absolutely forbidden to go anywhere near that trial. You’re very fortunate Lucan hasn’t discovered you yet. I can’t say much for Kiran, but he seems to want to keep you a secret just as much as we do. I am afraid of his motives however,” Principal Saint looked down at the counter he was leaning up against and said his last few sentences quietly, as if he were talking to himself and not to us.
“Why? Why can’t I go?” I asked stubbornly.
“The simple answer,” Principal Saint looked up from the counter straight into my eyes and said simply, “They would kill you without hesitation,” I swallowed loudly, afraid to ask his reasons. By the look on Principal Saint’s face, and the tone of his voice, I understood without any doubt that he was serious.
“Amory….” Aunt Syl rejoined the conversation and gave him a concerned glare. “She’s just a child. There’s no need to frighten her,” as soon as she finished her sentence, Aunt Syl’s cell phone buzzed and she flipped it open to read a text message. I watch her expression turn from concerned to disappointed. “They need me at the hospital. Avalon, make yourself comfortable, there are clean linens on the bed and I laid out fresh towels in the bathroom. Keep her safe,” she winked in Avalon’s direction and gave Principal Saint a kiss on the cheek before exiting the kitchen. I cringed a little at the familiarity between Aunt Syl and Principal Saint, not only because he was my principal and she was my aunt, but there had to be like a huge age difference.
“Well Ok, but what about Kiran and Talbott?” I stood up and began to put the leftover Chinese food back into their respective containers.
“Talbott is not allowed to testify because of his position in the Royal Guard. By law, Titans must remain loyal to the Crown under every circumstance. Since Lucan already has charged Lilly, Talbott’s testimony would be in direct opposition to Lucan’s charges, therefore making Talbott a traitor to the Crown. And Kiran has no backbone, no sense of responsibility; the last thing he would do, is to stand up to his father,” Principal Saint accused Kiran like he was heartless and foolish. I flinched a little, refusing to believe the accusations were true.
“It’s not like he would stand up to him anyway,” Avalon yawned in the middle of his tirade. “There’s no way in hell the Crown Prince is going to stand up for a Shape-Shifter like Lilly Mason. Trust me on that,” Avalon slammed his hand on the kitchen counter to make his point.
“But why? Why do they hate the Shape-Shifters so much?” I asked out of ignorance.
“Lucan, like all of the royal family and much of the Kingdom, believe they are manipulative and untrustworthy. But even more, Lucan is extremely paranoid. He truly believes they are after his crown, and after his life. I don’t think he’s wrong to believe that now; but they weren’t always. After Derrick outlawed them, he had hundreds of them executed in the worst ways to prove his point. Things settled down for a while, but during Lucan’s reign they have escalated almost to the point of extinction. During the first several years he was on the throne, his main goal was to hunt every last one of them down. I don’t think he would have stopped killing them either, if it weren’t that….” Principal Saint suddenly cut off his sentence and shut his mouth as if he had said something he hadn’t intended to.
“If it weren’t what?” I asked hoping to glean more information.
“If he hadn’t found the one Shape-Shifter he was looking for,” Principal Saint coughed into his hand and walked over to the sink to work on the dishes. I gave Avalon a curious glance, but he shook his head as if he was just as confused as me.
“Well, you two, there is school tomorrow, so why don’t you head off to bed. I’ll finish cleaning up the kitchen,” Principal Saint moved around Aunt Syl’s chef’s kitchen as if he knew exactly where everything was. He must have been using his magic.
“Goodnight,” Avalon yawned again, raising his hands far above his head to stretch. He turned to leave and something finally dawned on me.
“You’re staying here?” I blurted out, suddenly putting the random suitcases and Aunt Syl’s instructions together.
“Yep,” Avalon barely acknowledged me before making his exit. I heard him on the stairs and then into the guest bedroom where he slammed the door shut behind him.
“We thought it best if someone stayed here with you Eden. I think it’s best that you have some protection,” Principal Saint turned to look at me, and I found it strange that we are alone in the kitchen together.
“Why? Now that I know it was Avalon behind all of those attacks I’m not afraid anymore,” I crossed my arms and fought back my own yawn.
“Yes, I know. But you should be afraid. Kiran could be very dangerous; you don’t really know him, do you?” I held back a snotty response, realizing that they were the ones who didn’t really know him. “It’s just a precaution anyways,” Principal Saint waved it off as if it was no big deal, “Besides wouldn’t you like to get to know your twin brother a little more? I’m sure the two of you have a lot to catch up on,” he gave me a genuine smile and I relaxed. After all of the information I just received I had almost forgotten that Avalon and I were twins…. actual twins…. actually related.
“I guess you’re right Principal Saint,” I conceded, sending him my own version of a genuine smile.
“Amory, please,” he implored. “I’m so much more than your high school principal.”
“Amory…?” I tried his first name a bit uneasily, “My first question never got answered. So what is the exact purpose of the Resistance?”
“Ah,” Amory, took a moment to look out the window that sat above our kitchen sink. “Well, it has many purposes, such as to completely wipe out the royal line so that the Titans may have their freedom back. Also, to protect as many Shape-Shifters as possible so once we do have freedom again, our magic will not be missing anything and can be restored to its full glory. And then finally I suppose, to protect you my dear,” he smiled at me gently, but also a little sadly. I took his reference to me as a general idea to protect the Immortal population as a whole.
I smiled again and nodded my head; but suddenly I had a very uneasy feeling about the true meaning of his words. I remembered back when my life as a human was so simple; all I had to think about was myself. Sure, I lived in fear of what I would blow up or burn down next, but even that seemed so much simpler than now. This whole fairy tale Kingdom came with a lot more baggage than you read about in Disney books. Not to mention the super powers; they had a different playbook all together. I stalked up to my room, exhausted and overwhelmed, hoping to forget it all in the sweetness of sleep.
