Chapter 19

CHAPTER 19

N o further questions are asked as my mother and Ryuu immediately start planning and discussing the best place to find a dark creature at this time.

While they are distracted, I pull Jarek aside to find out what they have been keeping from me.

"Tell me everything, now," I demand.

He looks at me, and whatever he finds makes him relent instantly. He is well aware of how stubborn I am and knows only too well that I will not let this go.

Jarek sighs, his face aging in minutes. "Ryuu and your mother joined us a few days ago. But most of the people in the town have already moved up here. We work in shifts, and it has worked well for now. A handful of people stay in the town, and all are trained, but the guards are no wiser. Nor do they seem to care. Though, that was to be expected. The Caligo guards have never cared about us. Why start now when we are all dying?" Jarek shakes his head, his eyes burning with rage but also pain.

"Jarek…" I move in front of him to force him to look at me.

He glances down at me, his anger slowly loosening to become a wearied frustration.

"The dark creatures now slip through the shield in multiple places at the same time. It is no longer predictable, but it is a certainty they will show up." He glances away from me as his eyes glisten with despair.

"They're strong. They have killed so many already that I…" He shakes his head, stopping himself as if just realizing something. "You shouldn't be worrying about this. You have enough on your plate." He says it with more worry for me than him. But I was the one who left them. I left them just when everything got worse, and they have suffered. I can see it in his eyes, in my mother's and everyone else here. I can feel the despair and hopelessness that seems to be slowly draining them all.

I've wasted too much time with a plan that may not yield anything. The royals may already be aware of all of this and still not care, and then my time away will have been for nothing.

I glance around the room, seeing nothing but my doubts and fears. Maybe I could have been here fighting instead. I may not have been able to stop what has happened, but I would have been able to fight. To protect. Maybe so many lives might not have been lost.

"I would never have left. If I had known, I would?—"

Jarek shakes his head, taking my hands in his and giving me a look full of resolve. "No. No. This is why they didn't want to tell you, Ren. They knew you would try to blame yourself. And although I hate that you are in that wretched palace with all of those loathsome guards, I can now see that you are well capable of taking care of yourself."

I narrow my eyes on him. "You should have known that well before I went into the palace."

He chuckles and it lights up his entire face, quickly clearing the sadness and despair. He pulls me into him, pressing a kiss to my head.

"I know how strong you are—envy it, in fact. And how you are able to face any issue head-on. But I also know you are not invincible and need reminding of it daily."

I lightly punch him in the stomach and step back as he chuckles harder. His laughter and good humor bring me a sliver of relief, easing the tightness from my chest and limbs.

"You have to go back, Ren. You have to because you give us all hope. Hope that maybe this will not last forever. That we will not have to fight each day just to survive the next. You give us hope for a future, and it is something we all desperately need right now."

I swallow hard at his intense look of complete faith and trust. Something I do not feel I deserve. But I will do my best to ensure his trust in me is not unwarranted.

"You will watch out for them?" I ask, not needing to tell him whom I speak of. Although my mother and Ryuu are extremely capable fighters, they still need someone to keep them on their toes, to distract them from the heaviness of their daily tasks and the things they try to shoulder alone.

He gives me a soft smile, his eyes full of warmth. "It is not something you ever need to ask. Aloisia has always been like a mother to me, and the captain…" He squints, as if thinking. "A disapproving uncle who likes to frequently remind me of all my faults and flaws."

A laugh ripples from my throat. "That makes two of us, then."

Jarek gives me a strange expression, but there is something soft and longing to it that makes me give him a questioning look.

"He tried to go to the palace soon after you left, to check on you."

My spine straightens as amusement quickly falls away. Jarek gives me a sad half smile.

"They wouldn't let him in. He may or may not have insulted a few higher-ups. He has been placed on leave and was told his privileges are stripped until they deem otherwise."

I try to let Jarek's words sink in, but I still can't wrap my mind around it.

"He considers you his daughter, Ren. In every sense of the word. He loves you, but I suppose that isn't a hard thing to do."

"I love you, too," I tell him, reminding him that he is part of that family too.

"As you should." His eyes narrow on me.

I shake my head at him, a soft smile on my lips. If anything were to happen to him…

My hand falls against my side and the small bulge there, my eyes widening when I remember what it is. Reaching into my pocket, I grab Jarek's arm and open his hand to place the small stone in it.

"What is this?" he asks, opening his palm.

"A healing stone."

"A healing—" Jarek looks at me with wide eyes. "How did you manage to find one?"

"It was a gift." Asra might not be happy that I gave it away, but Jarek needs it more than I do right now. He might be able to use it, with everyone here.

He inspects it in awe, turning it over in his hand before something snaps him out of it.

"No, you keep it. You will need it." He tries to hand it back to me, but I close his hand over it.

"They have fancy healers in the palace. Please take it. Keep it on you at all times, and be safe while I am gone. Give me this small measure of peace," I plead and mean it. I need to know they will be safe once I go back.

Jarek scoffs but gives me a small smile, pocketing the stone before pulling me into a hug before releasing me.

"Now off you go. Catch a nice big, ugly, dark creature for whatever you have planned in that strange mind of yours. But don't keep it."

"Worried I might replace you?" I jest, trying to get a rise out of him just to see some light back in his eyes once again.

He doesn't fall for my joke, but he does smile, and it lights up his entire face.

"There is nothing in this world that can replace me," he says.

"I didn't realize big, ugly, and dark was not so easily replaceable."

"You little brat." He reaches for me, but I sidestep him and spin out of reach, laughing to myself.

He shakes his head with a soft expression on his face. "I've missed my friend; come home soon, Ren."

"I will," I promise. With one last hug, I turn and leave with Ryuu and my mother.

She walks with us until we reach the start of the forest before stopping with a harsh sigh.

"I should be going with you both," she says.

"You're needed here," Ryuu tells her.

"I should be here too," I tell them both. I didn't think this through before I left. I didn't realize how bad it would get for them. Now they are all left here to struggle while I play games in the palace.

My mother turns to me, a determined glint in her eyes, one that is filled with endless love.

"Do you know why I called you Seren?" she asks. "Because the minute I laid eyes on you, I found serenity among the chaos and turmoil. You brought me peace and hope in a moment of darkness. And I truly believe that the gods sent you just for me. You are doing something none of us can. You are giving us hope for a future. And that is more important than anything else." She scans every inch of my face as if trying to memorize it before pulling me into another tight hug. "Please be safe. Both of you. And come home to me soon, Seren." She gives me a warning look as if demanding I do so, before placing a kiss on Ryuu's cheek and turning to head back.

We both wait until she is out of view before we start moving through the forest.

"I haven't seen Warrick or Theon. Did they choose not to join the rebels?" I ask, trying to make some small talk to fill the silence.

Ryuu's body grows tense beside me "They're dead."

I stop in my tracks, and time seems to slow down. Ryuu stares down at his empty hands, but I see the anguish as it seeps across his face.

"It happened a couple of nights after you left for the palace. There were too many of them, the dark creatures. We didn't realize…" He releases a harsh breath, shaking his head. "Many have fallen since. And the guards…" His somber expression disappears as anger rises up to slash across his face.

"Is that why you joined the rebels?" I ask.

He clears his throat before looking at me. "They at least listen and try to help. Though their ability to follow rules seems to be lacking."

"Under your guidance, I'm sure they will become great fighters." Ryuu is one of the best fighters I have ever seen and also has an innate ability to teach others. The rebels will be better fighters because of him.

He gives me a small smile, something not many are privy to.

"Let's find you a dark creature." He turns and moves to the forest and town with stealth.

With his keen senses, it doesn't take us long to find one. It just happens to be right beside one of the guard stations. I glance around, but there don't seem to be any guards about.

"The guards abandoned it days ago under the guise of moving to a better one. But…" Ryuu gives me a look. One filled with fury and violence.

A look I agree with.

They knew… The guards knew either that the creatures would come or that there was a possibility of them breaking through the shield right here. And instead of staying and helping or even warning those closest, they left it to the Sidus people and moved aside.

"Prepare yourself," Ryuu warns as he scans his surroundings.

My gaze finds the wall and the dark smoke that forms around it as if on fire with blackened flames.

My stomach drops when I realize what it is. But surely not…

"How are they moving past the wall?" I ask, hesitant to hear the answer.

Ryuu nods his head toward the black smoke. "They move through it now. They no longer need a break in it to get through. Once the shield is down near it, they can enter."

My hand tightens on my daggers as I focus on the wall, but instead of one or a couple of dark creatures forming, an entire group spills through all at once.

Ryuu dips his head to me before rushing forward. I follow him and as soon as I'm close enough, I behead the nearest one.

Ensuring Ryuu's back is covered, I spin around and attack any who get too close. But we quickly get overwhelmed with more coming through the wall to attack us. Surrounded, with a group advancing on us, I let go and attack without limitations, the only restraints left on my powers.

Without any confines, the fight is exhilarating. Instead of tiring me, it refuels me, feeding the part inside me that craves battle and bloodshed.

Ryuu snags one of the dark creatures and pushes it against the wall before pulling out his iron chains to secure it. With his back turned, another comes up behind him.

Twisting the dagger in my hand, I throw it, my aim directly hitting the middle of its head. I catch Ryuu flinch, but my focus turns back to the handful of creatures around me. I duck a clawed attack before twisting and sliding my other blade across its neck.

I quickly move through the rest, slashing across their bodies and using the wall as leverage to twist and rise, slamming my body weight into my next target before moving on.

Before I know it, they're all gone, disappearing into the black smoke they formed from.

Ryuu stands off to the side, a creature at his feet already wrapped in chains and covered.

"I don't think I was needed," he says with a small smile on his face, and it mirrors my own.

"A fine compliment from one who helped train me."

"I only added to your already large skill set, nothing more." He turns around and picks up some more chains, handing them to me. "Should you need it."

I take them with thanks.

"How will you get it inside the palace without the guards finding out?" he asks.

With my eyes firmly on the chains, I answer him as best I can without revealing something that would only provoke further questioning and a possible lecture.

"I have something arranged," I tell him and glance up to catch his frown.

"I don't think I want to know," he says, but his frown deepens as he looks at my wrists.

I glance down to see what has caused the look and find my sleeves pushed up, revealing my cuffs. I quickly pull them back down, but from the worried expression on Ryuu's face, he has already seen them.

"What are those?" he asks carefully.

"A little… gift ." Technically, they were given without payment, so it isn't exactly a lie.

"Seren—"

"Trust me?" I whisper, needing to leave soon and not wanting to fight. Tonight was a good night, seeing them all.

"I do," he says quickly.

I look at him, shocked to hear the sincerity in his voice.

"I should have trusted you long ago when you first asked to join our fight. Trusted your capabilities and strength. I trust you now even when my instinct is telling me to keep you here, safe and away from anything that can harm you."

He steps forward, moving in front of me. "I know that I have not been the best… role model to guide you, but I will always be here for you, Seren. Sometimes I… worry."

"It is a father's right to worry," I tell him. And mean it. Jarek was right. And only now, when I am not so blindly absorbed in my own thoughts and perspective, do I see it too.

He swallows hard, his eyes widening a fraction before he nods his head.

"Be safe, Seren."

Grabbing hold of the chain, I use it to pull the dark creature along. With one last nod to Ryuu, I turn to head to the palace, forcing myself not to glance back and knowing that if I do, I won't ever want to go back.

Once I'm far enough away and with no prying eyes, I shadow to the cavern and find a place to hide the dark creature until it is time.

Once it is tightly secured with the extra iron chains Ryuu gave me and hidden, I move back through the caverns, the gods chamber, and up the tunnel to the entrance in the cell.

Pushing the brick to close it, I stop for a moment and listen for any sounds. Finding none, I head to my cell and undo the cloaked body of dirt before sitting down and letting my mind drift to thoughts of today.

The third and final trial starts soon. A trial meant to test our powers. Powers I have not used in so long that I am beginning to forget the warmth of them.

But seeing my mother, Jarek, and Ryuu today helped. It fills me with a warmth that only fuels the quiet rage now burning throughout my veins.

There is more at stake now. More lives that count on me. I need to get through this trial and be in the top three, no matter the cost.

There is no other choice.