Chapter 39 #2
"You guys don't understand—I love you all—I've been keeping you safe," he pleads, as Willow looks desperate to believe him.
Our friend. Our family. Deacon turns to me.
"Maple, I love you. I'm in love with you.
I have been since we were kids, but I never wanted to take it further because you didn't know the full truth and I couldn't tell you.
.. but now you do!" He looks at me, hopeful.
"That's why you..." I scoff. This is hysterical. "Wait, you never pursued me because you felt guilty about taking away my only surviving parent? Do you want a reward?!" I scream at him, and he recoils.
My attention is torn from Deacon to Tane, who's standing a few feet away. Tane is vibrating with hostility; his whole body looking coiled as he marches over to Deacon.
"Tane, no!" I yell, but it's too late.
Tane takes the butt end of his gun and clocks Deacon in the head, hard. Deacon crumbles to the ground, unconscious. Willow lets out a sob, and Linden pulls her into him, arms wrapping around her protectively.
"He doesn't deserve to breathe the same air as you," Tane growls, chest heaving.
Tane and I stare at each other for a moment before I am suddenly aware that the entire group is still and silent, eyes bouncing between us.
"Well, this is a shit storm," Leo says letting loose a big exhale.
"Maple... if he betrayed us, Tane's right," Farra whispers.
I turn to Hollis.
"I am going to need you to explain, everything. Honestly: no lies, no bullshit," I point to my friends and family. "To everyone here. Because whatever you tell me, I'm just going to tell them, anyway."
There's no room for argument in my tone. So Hollis sits down, and begins to talk, but Lachlan interrupts, pointing his finger at the twins.
"These two can't be trusted," he says, no malice in his tone, just fact.
"That's garbage," Briggs grumbles.
"They're with us. Take it or leave it. Everyone deserves to know what they're getting into," I say firmly.
Hollis ignores the tension and starts.
"I'm one of Tane's legionaries. Not long after we worked our way up, I was sent out to your district to keep an eye on things—" A thought strikes me, so I shamelessly interrupt her.
"Where's the other one? Fallon?" I ask.
"Not here," Tane grunts, and Hollis gives him a warning look, before continuing.
"Anyway, I was supposed to keep an eye on things.
Rebel activity, intel on the Games…" Her eyes flick to Tane again, so briefly I might've missed it if I'd blinked.
"It worked out perfectly because we actually are the rebels, and we needed contact with someone in the area who'd uncovered some major information.
Your father… was figuring out a way to drop the barrier before he left.
Along with a few other vital pieces of information: about our world, and your family. "
"Excuse me?" Linden objects. "Why would he want to drop the barrier? What do you mean by our family?"
I cringe—Linden's head might explode—maybe, I should have had this conversation without them.
Too late now.
Hollis takes a big breath, and continues.
"The barrier is not what we think it is.
The Council created it; as a conduit of sorts, absorbing and funnelling magic out.
It acts as a barrier, but what it's keeping locked on the other side we're not entirely sure yet.
We know the wielders didn't create it to keep us out.
The Council created it to lock something in.
We believe if we can take down the barrier, magic will return to the land.
" She peers around the circle, everyone now sitting comfortably, listening intently to her confession.
All except Deacon, who lays on the ground, and Tane who stands brooding behind him.
"So, where are all the wielders? They all died out, or...?" Linden asks.
I look over at Farra and Leo. Leo has a gentle hand on his canteen, like a pregnant woman would her belly.
I give him a nod, as if to say it's up to him.
I do not know if we can truly trust the people around this circle.
How can I trust my intuition? The only thing I've ever felt confident about was my ability to read and assess people, and that's utterly shattered.
I glance at Deacon on the ground and my insides twist. It's better to let someone else call the shots.
Leo and Farra are giving each other several looks, a silent conversation.
"Not exactly," Leo starts slowly unhooking the canteen where his sprite is probably snoozing.
The legionaries tense, as if he's about to pull out a weapon and not a glob of water. Leo whispers something to the canteen, leaving his hand patiently below, waiting.
Danu slumps out of the hole, with far more grace and grandeur than I've seen him previously achieve.
The thick water swirls, and then stretches in Leo's hand.
Straightening up, the sprite somehow looks older than the first time I met him.
He's got the impression of clothes on, they're made up of variations of transparent blue liquid.
It does the trick. There's less sloshing around in Leo's hand, less water flying everywhere.
The sprite stands proudly, hands on his hips, water glittering in the moonlight.
Willow lets out a squeal of delight—I smile at the utter wonder overcoming her face. She topples over our brother in an attempt to get closer. For a brief moment; I remember why I'm doing all this.
"This is Danu. My... guide," Leo says, with a crooked grin.
I look around the group. Everyone is silent, shocked.
"Ho-ly shit," the twins say in unison, both leaning forward like they want to get a closer look.
"Praise Nephrani," Vera mutters under her breath.
Willow is now right in front of Leo's hand, crouching. Linden tries to pull her back, hissing something like we don't know what this thing is, as Leo corrects him.
"He's my guide—he's good," he says protectively, nervously pushing his golden curls out of his eyes.
"Hello Danu, I'm Willow. It's nice to meet you," she says, and the sprite beams at her outstretched hand. He touches it, sending sparkling droplets of waters zipping around her fingers, and she giggles.
"Show off," Leo mumbles.
"So, you have magic?" Tane says cooly.
"Honestly, I'm not sure. I would guess, yes, some weird stuff has happened. But so far nothing concrete, and I wasn't about to practice at the base. Danu is the only real evidence," Leo says as the sprite nods his head encouragingly.
Tane and Hollis exchange a concerned look.
"How have you been feeling?" Hollis asks cautiously.
Leo shrugs. "Honestly, great. Better than before, even."
Lachlan scrubs his face as if this is not great news.
"What?" I demand.
"Well, I'm just not sure how this is happening..." Lachlan says, concern lacing his tone. And I know what he's going to say before he says it.
"Normally, if you have any significant magic in New Providence, you get really sick."
Linden's head snaps to me, and I press my eyes shut for a moment. I had pushed this bit of information far, far down. Willow turns slowly. Her blonde hair almost white in the moonlight.
"Sick... like how I'm..." Willow mumbles softly, and it's not a question. I know the pieces are clicking into place for her too— my sweet sister, so smart.
All I can do is nod.
"Sick, like how mom was sick," Linden confirms, gears turning over in his mind as his eyes pinch with a painful realization.
I nod again—the hurt that flashes across their faces makes me want to crawl inside a hole. Tane saves me from having to explain.
"Anyone with wielder blood, who isn't able to find an outlet for their magic, gets sick.
Another clever way for the Council to weed out magical families.
Sometimes though..." He nods to Leo. "Something will trigger a trickle, so you may not have access to your full powers, but there's an outlet at least."
"Why wouldn't they just kill anyone who got sick?" Linden asks.
"Because, what they didn't anticipate was the fact that a lot of our population is ill. Most are simply sick because of poor nutrition and air quality," Lachlan responds bitterly.
Leo looks puzzled, Danu seems to sense everyone’s worry and starts to try and distract Willow with more party tricks.
"This is all good and dandy information, but what's the game plan here?" Mack asks.
I'm sure he wants to know how many people he's going to have to try and smuggle into Zaphira.
I feel like the crumbling walls of this concrete building are pressing down on my ribs. Exhaustion, mixed with dread and grief, completely overwhelming me.
"I need a few minutes," I manage to get out, trying to hold my composure until I'm out from all the eyes burrowing into me. Wanting answers and direction.
I find a building that used to have a second floor, and sit on steps that now lead nowhere. If it collapses under my weight and buries me whole, I'll welcome it.
Rubbing my temples, I try to steady my breathing.
I hear footsteps come around the corner, and rear my head to snarl at the person who's followed me out here.
Tane appears with his hands up in the air. I put my face in my hands. Of course, it's him. Tears prick the backs of my eyes, because I'm tired. I am so fucking tired.
"I'm sorry. I know you need time. You've had an awful few days, but..."
"An awful few days doesn't even come close," I interrupt with a cruel laugh.
He nods, his eyes softening as they roam my face.
"We're running out of time. The sun’s going to be up soon. There's a lot to figure out." His words are gentle. "There's so much to tell you. So much you don't know. But we can't stay here long."
I stand up now, exhaustion turning to irritation quicker than I can blink.
"Let me make this very clear; there is no "we", there is no us. As far as I'm concerned, both groups can go their separate ways. Take Deacon with you while you’re at it. Our plans haven't changed, and we don't need help," I spit out.
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
I fold my arms, narrowing my eyes in what I hope will display how unwilling I am to budge on this.
I want a clean break. I want Tane, and his legion, and whatever ties they have to the rebellion, to leave us alone.
I want to find some quiet spot to hide out—keep my family, and friends safe—beyond that, I want nothing from these people. Especially him.
"Well, my little menace, I think you might change your mind," he muses, stalking closer, a smirk on his lips. "Don't you want to see your dad?"