Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

I cleave a path through the darkness, through the night and rain and treacherous storm.

It's late. Too late for anyone to be out after the Caligo guards enacted their curfew.

They have already destroyed many Sidus homes under the guise of protecting them from the unlawful rebels. And even though many Sidus know the truth, the fear the Caligo evoke, the power they wield, and their abuse are more of a threat to them than attempting to provoke their wrath.

The heavy rain starts to ease as I slip into the shadows along the edges of the town to emerge near the river on the opposite side. The thick forest around it hides a peaceful small sanctuary, and among the darkness of night and threat of the guards, not another soul would attempt to visit it.

I move toward my hidden haven, the edge of a small riverbank, and think back to the last couple of hours.

With the first stage of my plan initiated, I can focus on how to deal with the more pressing fallout of my newest reckless decision: the captain and my mother.

They will not agree to what I just did, but there is no time left. With the dark creatures growing stronger and now the Caligo guards becoming more reckless, we need to move ahead with a plan.

The thick trees around the small river bring a small measure of protection from the rain, allowing me to pull my hood down and move closer to the water.

Taking a deep breath, I let my thoughts settle and my mind clear. A minute of serenity soothes my body and mind, giving me a fragment of peace in a moment of chaos. It aids my mental barriers, strengthening my will and intentions.

Our kingdom is struggling to survive, the bars on our cage tightening.

We cannot last like this. The Sidus people are already struggling with the rations of food we have. Jarek is right about one thing. We are all so busy trying to survive each day and minute that not one of us knows what it means to truly live.

I let my mind drift like the small current that seeps inward and attempt to shake my desolate thoughts.

My eyes trail across the glistening river as the moon above casts its light through the dark clouds and rain. My eye catches on something and I pause.

Stepping closer, I spot a sliver of darkness that coils and slithers through the river. More and more inky, dark strings appear, their origin seeming to be closer to the wall where the river seeps inward.

Moving around the edges of the river, I make it a couple of steps, noticing the dark taint growing outward, when I hear a terrified scream from somewhere behind me.

Turning around, I don't think; I move, running in the direction of the sound.

The wet tree branches snap against my skin as I rush forward. Another scream pierces my ears, and I move through the void without thought, coming out of it to the edge of a grove of trees and a small open center.

My eyes widen when I see the dark creature stalking toward an injured woman trying to escape it.

Reaching for one of my daggers at my sides, I shoot forward and catch it unaware, driving it into the back of the creature's neck and up into its head. It jolts as if hit by lightning before dropping to the muddy ground with a thump.

I look at the frightened woman now on the ground and reach out to help her up, but her eyes widen, focused on something behind me, the fear completely paralyzing her in place.

I spin around and my stomach drops as I watch a dozen dark creatures move toward us.

"Are you injured?" I ask her while keeping my eye on the incoming threat.

"A fff-flesh wound. N-nothing serious." Her voice trembles in fear, but there's strength beneath each word, convincing me she's in no immediate danger.

"When I tell you to run…" I don't finish my words as the group of creatures moves swiftly to surround us.

Unsheathing my sword from behind me, I wait for them to get a little closer before shooting forward and slicing the nearest creature's arm off as it reaches for me. Before it gets the chance to move, I behead it.

I remind myself of the Sidus woman behind me and pull back my shadows, which are trying to unleash and defend.

The creatures quickly surround me, caging me in. But I hold my ground and slam my elbow into the creature's neck on my right, dodging a claw from my left and grabbing the other dagger before twisting around to slice, stab, and cleave a path through them.

But more and more are appearing in place of those that turn to shadows and smoke. Their strength and movements are less staggered and sloppy than the last time I met with others like them, and there is a spark of light in their eyes, an intelligence that wasn't there before. It only makes my fears and doubts grow.

Dodging the next grasp from one of them, I use the nearest thick tree trunk as leverage to rise up and bounce off. Twisting, I land on top of one of the creature's shoulders. Using my weight, I wrap my legs around it and swiftly spin my body, breaking its neck before tumbling into a crouch beside it.

A cry rings out and I turn to find the Sidus woman scrambling backward. One of the creatures must have veered off and gotten past me.

I stand and turn to move toward her when a fiery burn slices down my back.

Gritting my teeth, I reel around and plow my dagger into the creature's stomach, ducking another clawed attack before turning and heading for the woman.

Ignoring the sharp, slicing pain down my back, I find my other dagger on the ground and pick it up, flinging it forward. My aim is slightly off, hitting the creature's shoulder instead, but it's enough to distract it and turn its attention on me.

My eyes land on a long vine on the ground, and an idea comes to mind. I pick it up and move quickly, wrapping it around the creature's neck, tightening my hold until it slumps and drops to the ground.

I head toward the woman when I hear movement from behind me. Whipping around, I find the last of the creatures moving toward us.

I try to think of another plan to get them away from her without using my shadows, when I tense up, hearing something rush through the trees.

Jarek appears, a sword in hand as if ready for battle, and a rush of relief fills me. His eyes widen when he spots me, and he rushes toward me and the creatures.

"Your sword!" I reach a hand out, and he throws it to me immediately, without question.

"Get her out of here," I shout to him as I twirl the sword in my hand to test the pain in my back and shoulder, wincing when the burn intensifies. But the movement is smooth, which means there is no serious injury. Stepping forward, I slam the sword into the nearest creature's head and yank it out before ducking and avoiding a claw to the face.

"What about you?" Jarek shouts over to me as I evade another creature.

"I need to draw them farther away from town," I tell him. If any of them make it through the small haven here, there will be more than one death tonight. I thrust the sword into another creature's head before spinning and slicing another.

"Ren—"

"Go!" I evade another claw and surge forward, my blade impaling the next creature in front of me.

With a harsh sigh, Jarek leaves, taking the woman with him. Once she is gone and no one is around, I finally unleash my powers, letting my shadows out to become a weapon of darkness. I evade claw after claw, attack after attack, this time with ease. Using my shadows, I slip into them and appear in front of creature after creature, lunging forward and striking with aim to kill.

They drop one by one before disappearing quickly.

I move to find Jarek and see if the woman is safe when two more creatures arrive as if from nowhere.

Ignoring the sharp blaze of flames now sliding down my back, I let rage fuel my veins. Rage for those that would have died tonight because the Caligo guards have twisted their power to do whatever they want instead of guarding those who are weaker than them.

How many more must die before they listen?

With a renewed sense of energy, I attack the last two creatures with fury, my rage and wrath not only for them but for every Caligo guard who sits idly by and watches on while the Sidus cry out for help. Every innocent person that has died because of their negligence. And every death that will come should they continue to live in that ignorance.

The creatures are destroyed within seconds. Each breath is harsh as I try to leash my rage.

"It seems your friend was right." A deep voice comes from somewhere behind me.

I spin around, ignoring the slash of pain in my back, to find an older man about Ryuu's age, with dark blue eyes and a shaved head, looking at me with interest. A group of men and women move through the trees to surround me, all with weapons in their hands and more strapped across their dark clothing.

Their guarded eyes watch me as if anticipating a fight from me. Something they will get should they attack first. I tighten my grip on the hilt of my sword, ready for round three, when a rustle of branches draws my attention to it, soon revealing a distressed Jarek.

He rushes straight for me, not stopping until he has me enveloped in a tight hug.

The tight hold presses down on my wound, and I gasp as a bolt of pain shoots up my back. Jarek jolts away from me as if burnt and glances down at his hands and the slash of blood across them.

"You're injured," he accuses me as his face pales.

"I'm fine," I tell him and roll my shoulders as I try to eliminate some of the sharp pain now making itself known as the rush of adrenaline leaves me.

"But—"

"How is the woman?" I ask him, hoping to distract him.

But the expression on his face tells me this conversation is far from over.

"She's fine. A little frightened but happy to be alive, thanks to you. What are you doing out here?"

I glance around at the men and women and relax a little when I see that their weapons are no longer in hand but strapped at their sides or back.

I frown as they glance over at Jarek as if waiting on something from him, and I find myself looking back at one of my oldest friends in a new light.

It is not hard to deduce who these men and women are. There is no true leader among them, although they give a small look of admiration to the man who spoke to me first. Their appearance is haggard, with dark, mismatched old clothing, and there is a hard, calculating look in every pair of eyes.

They're rebels. And from the concealed glances they're attempting to give Jarek, they know him. More than I would like.

"It seems you also have some explaining to do," I tell him with a raised brow, trying to invoke one of my mother's looks.

Jarek winces and the guilt seeps into his face, shadowing the worry he had for me a moment ago.

"I know. I'll tell you everything. I promise," he says with nothing but truth in his eyes.

"Come. Let's get out of here before the guards show up," a gruff voice sounds from behind me.

I turn to find a man with short, tight brown hair and a scar that runs down the left side of his entire cheek. His dark brown eyes stare at me, waiting for a reply. Eyes that have far too much knowing in them.

"This is Nikos. He is… a friend." Jarek dips his head to Nikos, sharing a look with him before he pulls me along with them as they move out.

I keep my eyes on the men and women around me as we move through the forest, most of them skittish, their eyes darting around them every couple of minutes. Jarek takes off his coat and drapes it across my back, covering my wound from the rain, which has lightened to a small haze.

"I'm fine, really," I tell him, more worried about the mess he seems to have gotten himself into.

"You're bleeding," he hisses, with a flash of anger in his eyes.

"It is a small flesh wound and will heal in no time." I keep an eye on the rebels as we pass through the forest. Although the wound is painful, it is not my biggest concern right now.

He opens his mouth, most likely to lecture me on my foolishness, but stops short, thinking better of it. "They have a healer. He will see to it."

"Jarek—" I start, more interested in knowing what his involvement with the rebels is than dealing with my injured back. But after knowing me for so long, he already knows what I am about to ask and cuts me off with a glance that's full of guilt.

"I know , Ren. Let's just get you fixed up and I'll tell you everything."

Pushing down my impatience for now, I stay close to him as we move through the forest silently before making our way toward the end of the mountains on the opposite side of the Sidus town.

No one comes to this side. It's too far out and the terrain is too barren, the sharp, jagged cliffs and stone too harsh. And when the bad weather comes, the jagged rocky mountains are too open to protect against the treacherous rain and storms. So it makes no sense why the rebels are leading us toward it.

I frown at Jarek, the question on the tip of my tongue, but his eyes ask me to try and trust him, and so I do.

Until we reach the end of the mountain and turn into a passageway with two long, jagged cliffs overshadowing it. Both look ready to crash and fall upon us.

I open my mouth to ask the question that has been burning at the tip of my tongue all throughout this little trek when Jarek pulls me sideways into the dark.

"Jarek…" My eyes slightly adjust, but I still can't make out anything. Silent seconds pass before light blares to life around me, flame after flame as the cave is dragged from the shadows to reveal a room full of small makeshift wooden beds and a long wall full of weapons.

"I don't have to remind you that anything you see or hear while here is not to be mentioned to anyone," Nikos says to the right of me.

The rest of his men pause, awaiting my reply. But I would never purposely do anything that would put another life in danger, nor ever put Jarek's life at risk.

"I can vouch for her," Jarek says, answering before I get the chance to reply.

Nikos looks to me as if waiting on some indication, but he must see something on my face, because he nods his head and leaves us be.

"Come on, let's get you fixed up." Jarek takes me through a series of passageways and narrow halls before coming to a small room with a small, raised bed at the center of it.

"Jarek, my boy. How did you fare tonight?" A man with short graying hair and soft brown eyes glances over at me. His clothes are less worn than the other rebels, his appearance well-kept and tidy. And something about the sincere smile that reaches his eyes sets me at ease.

"We fared well thanks to some help, but it seems she isn't as invincible as she would like to think." Jarek narrows his eyes at me.

"Ah, so this is the infamous Seren I've heard so much about." A glint of joy sparks in his eyes, lighting up his entire face.

Jarek shakes his head with a small smile. "Ren, this is Matthias, our healer, and now, it seems, our old gossip."

"Hey now, away with that old part." He gives Jarek a playful swat before looking to me with a warm smile.

"Come take a seat," he says, patting the bed, "and I'll see what I can do for you."

I shake my head, ready to back out of the room and leave as soon as I can. He may seem trustworthy, but I do not know anyone here. And I most definitely do not trust them with Jarek.

"Honestly, I'll be fine. I can?—"

"Nonsense. I have this gift for a reason," he says.

Some Caligo and Sidus have a rare ability to also manipulate the energy of the Sidus and Caligo. I've always been able to heal slightly faster than the norm, but I couldn't heal others, even with my dual nature. A Sidus with the ability to heal can also heal a Caligo, and a Caligo can do the same to the Sidus. I saw it with my own eyes when a Caligo guard managed to injure himself, and a Sidus healer came upon the incident. He healed him within minutes, but the guard only looked at him in disgust. It seems he would have preferred death over a Sidus' help.

Matthias steps closer to me, his manner telling me he isn't backing down on this anytime soon.

Keeping my sigh to myself, I move to the bed, and Jarek stands behind me and helps me take off his coat. He hisses through his teeth as he does.

"Why didn't you tell me it was this bad?" he snaps. But his voice is also laced with worry. It quickly halts any rising anger of my own.

I roll my shoulders, feeling the blaze of pain, but it has eased a little, my own accelerated ability to heal already kicking in.

It would have mostly healed over the next few days if I were able to cover it like every other injury I have had. But now that they've seen it, I will have to play along.

Matthias walks around the bed to take a look at my back while Jarek steps in front of me, his eyes filled with fear.

"It's not that bad," I tell him.

His eyes flash. "Your back looks like an animal has chewed on it. I can nearly see bone," he snarls, a panicked expression on his face. "I should never have left you. What kind of friend?—"

I reach out to grasp his hand, stopping his spiraling guilt. " I told you to get that woman out of there. For which I'm grateful. The only reason I got this was because I was distracted. It was my own foolish fault."

"I should not have left you, and that is all there is to it," he fumes as he gazes off to the side with a conflicted look. "What would have happened if I didn't make it back in time," he mumbles more to himself than me, but I still answer him.

"Apparently, your rebels would have shown up to save me." I give him a pointed look. One he mirrors with a nod.

"We still need to discuss why you were out there in the dark, alone ." He narrows his eyes on me.

"Only after you explain all of this." I glance around before my gaze lands back on his face… which is quickly losing its ire and shifting to guilt and concern.

A warmth brushes down my back, distracting me from our little disagreement. It quickly seeps into my sore muscles and tired bones, relieving each ache and pain. Within a couple of minutes, my back feels completely healed, no pain or ache left behind. I never experienced a healer's ability before, but it is not something I am ever going to forget. My entire body feels rested, as if I slept an entire night, and my muscles are relaxed and revived.

Matthias steps around me with an amused smile, and I wince. I had forgotten he was still here with us. I give him a sheepish look that only makes his amusement grow.

"Thank you," I tell him.

He dips his head to me. "Any friend of Jarek's is a friend of mine," he says.

I hop off the bed and move toward the door with Jarek.

"Don't be a stranger, Seren," Matthias says, wearing another warm smile.

"I won't," I tell him, meaning it. The type of involvement Jarek has with the rebels is more solidified than I had originally thought. I doubt it is something he would easily leave now. But the more I see and think about it, the less I would want him to.

I always thought the rebels to be nothing but misfits and troublemakers. But after tonight and seeing their willingness to help anyone in need, maybe it is time I stop judging people based on my narrow-minded experiences with them.

Jarek thanks Matthias and says his goodbyes before following me out into one of the empty hallways.

"How long?" I ask him as soon as we are alone.

Jarek swallows hard. "Three months."

I nod to myself, and he jumps to plead his case, as if he's afraid, thinking this is something that would break our friendship. But he is a silly fool if he thinks I would ever let anything like this come between us.

"I'm sorry. I should've told you. I just wanted to help, and they thought I would be of use. You're a league above me. You have the captain and Aloisia. I just wanted to find a place where I could fit in." His face is drenched in desperation, his voice full of dejection, making my heart clench.

"Jarek—"

A loud commotion quickly cuts off our conversation, drawing our attention to it. Sharing a look, we move through the stone halls to the main room we entered to find a group of men and women in a heated discussion spanned out across it.

"They are blaming those deaths on us," shouts a man who appears to be close to my age, his tawny eyes burning with anger. "My friend died, and they named us their killers!"

"We all know the truth," Nikos says, adopting a reassuring tone and a softer demeanor. "Every Sidus in this town knows who the real killers are, Andres." He gives Andres a look full of sympathy before turning to the others and continuing.

"We need to organize more teams to spread out throughout the day. I do not want anyone by themselves. The dark creatures are getting stronger and smarter. And we need to stay vigilant."

The others around him nod, waiting on his every word as he continues to set his rules. And from the admiration on their faces, it seems the rebels have a leader after all. One that sounds capable and fair enough to make deliberate and reasonable actions.

Once he's finished his speech, I set about asking some of my own questions, hoping they have some information that might help us.

"How long have they been getting through by the river?" I ask him directly.

The entire room turns to me with startled looks on their faces as if they had forgotten I was here.

"A fortnight," Nikos answers, not bothered by my interruption. "We've kept them at bay, but they're getting stronger," he reveals, only confirming what I have learned.

"But you and your men and women have been killing them?" I ask while glancing around at their wearied faces. "While making sure they don't pass into the town?"

Their eyes tell a tale of some of the horrors they have seen and have had to deal with. My chest tightens when I realize that they have been protecting us a lot longer than I assumed. Which means the dark creature problem is a lot worse than even I expected.

"Who else will protect the Sidus if not us? The captain and your mother and friends are a small group and cannot fight them all. There are too many of them getting past the shield now. We are not even enough anymore. At this point, we need an army."

I glance around at the group as they nod in agreement, each one of them weary and bone-tired, but with a spark of determination to help their people. Something I did not realize would happen. At least not anytime soon.

If only that spark grew among the people around them. Maybe we might stand a chance after all. A seed of that dream starts to form as I look to Nikos.

"Then make one," I tell him, and he gives me a questioning look.

"Train the Sidus in secret if you must. They should know how to defend themselves, if anything. It is the best way you can help any of us."

Someone who can wield a sword has far better chances of defending themselves than one who waits on another to protect them.

"Many will not fight," Nikos says with a somber look as he shakes his head. But I see a spark of an idea in his eyes too. I latch on to it, hoping I can make it grow.

"But some will," I tell him. "Some will want to protect their families and friends. And some is better than none. Maybe that, too, will grow over time." And maybe one day we will have our own army who can protect the Sidus or anyone who is weaker or in need.

"You should join us," someone shouts out from behind me, but before I get the chance to answer, another replies with a chuckle.

"The captain would never allow it, and I, for one, do not want to end up on Aloisia's bad side."

I don't turn around to see who answered, but I smile to myself at his reply. It would seem my mother's reputation is still firmly intact.

"I will continue to protect the Sidus like you all," I tell them before looking to Nikos. "It looks like we are all on the same side after all."

Nikos dips his head to me in respect as I turn to leave with Jarek by my side. Once we clear the mountain, he reaches out to stop me.

"I should have told you. I know." His face is dejected and full of despair, revealing how much he hates that he hid this from me. And although I also dislike him keeping this secret, I know I have no right to. I have been keeping more weighty and dangerous secrets from him and for much longer too. Something that makes me feel exactly how he looks.

"Yes, you should have," I tell him, and he glances at me with a wince. "But… you are not the only one that has been keeping secrets."

"Ren?" Jarek frowns, giving me a questioning look. But one filled with worry.

"You have no idea how much I want to tell you everything. But I…" I swallow hard, hoping he won't hate me. Hoping I will not lose my truest friend.

Jarek gives me a soft smile and pulls me into him, wrapping his arms around me. "You're my friend, Ren, my best friend and family. We may not always tell each other everything at once. But I hope you know that I will always be here for you, if or when you choose to tell me whatever you need. And even if you don't, know that I will still always be here for you. No matter what."

The complete understanding and easy acceptance unravel the tight knot in my chest.

I pull back from his soothing warmth and glance over at the mountain where I now know the rebels reside. "I'm sorry if I ever made you feel like you couldn't tell me. The rebels are not what I expected, and I feel foolish for judging them so harshly. Forgive me?" I ask.

A wide smile full of relief spreads across his face as he pulls me back in for another hug.

"There is nothing to forgive."

"Thank you," I tell him, grateful to have such a friend like him.

"Always," he whispers, his arms tightening around me before he lets go and takes a step back, a look of mischief lighting his eyes.

"So… do I get a hint to any of these secrets?" he asks.

I look at him, trying to find any resentment or anger but finding only warmth and happiness in his eyes, bringing me nothing but relief.

A small smile dances on my lips. "Come to the town center tomorrow and you might find out one of them."