16. Watcher
Watcher
What do we do, Fifi? Mirryr’s voice was Tanis’, but still it had Mirryr’s own cadence. Or Charlie’s, Eyros supposed. Charlie continued, Can you teleport us?
Wyvern–or Fiona–stared up at the black crystal that gleamed overhead. Not with that working on my powers.
She jumped up and tried to smash it with her fist. But before her knuckles had even skimmed the surface there was a zap of electricity and Fiona was sent flying across the room. Only Seeyr’s quick actions saved her from slamming into the wall.
T-thanks! Fiona looked at her gratefully.
It seems that teleporting is not the way you will escape this place, Seeyr said with a small smile.
Fiona lifted an eyebrow. Don’t you know how we do?
But Seeyr shook her head. I know vaguely how you return, but not all the details. And even then… Her eyes went unfocused. I sense there is still uncertainty.
Uncertainty?! Fiona was on alert.
What do you mean, Seeyr? Charlie asked.
In the end, whether you get back or not is not up to the two of you, she answered softly.
So Grayson and Ryder are going to save the day? Well, I wouldn’t be surprised about them getting us out of this mess! Fiona grinned.
But they said they were going to meet us at the gate to Nightvallen, Charlie pointed out. They aren’t coming back to the Spire. If they did, that would lead Legion right to us.
Fiona frowned. You’re right. And it’s not like they’re going to know we’re in trouble. Unless the alarm reached them.
The blaring noise was no longer shaking the Spire. It was strangely silent. Seeyr stepped back into her cell and reached for the door to close it.
Seeyr! Fiona grabbed the cell door and almost immediately released it as the material burned her skin. She shook her hands to stop the sting. You don’t… don’t have to close it. Yet. Just yet.
Seeyr smiled. I am afraid if I leave it open I may be inclined to try to escape.
Fiona swallowed deeply. So you aren’t completely unafraid of what’s coming?
Oh, no, dear. I’m not afraid of what’s coming.
I’m afraid that I won’t be strong enough to do my part to get us there, Seeyr explained.
Each of us has this role to play and it is so hard.
Seeyr’s eyes seemed to focus on Eyros for a moment and he nearly withdrew, but then he stayed.
But I believe in us. I believe in all of us.
We will make the right decisions in the end.
Fiona and Charlie exchanged worried looks. They clearly wondered what she meant and who she was talking to. Eyros could have simply linked his and Seeyr’s minds to know her thoughts, but he did not. He just stared at her mentally and she stared back at him.
What are our right decisions now, Fifi? I could pretend to be Tanis. I can make this one look like a random Vampire. Charlie toed the empty body that had held the Kaly slice.
I think that’s our best play. I can’t teleport us until we get out of the dungeon. Maybe not until we get out of the Spire to be safe. Imagine being teleported back in there. Fiona tipped her head to the still-open cell.
Charlie winced. Yes, that would be bad. So very, very bad.
It isn’t there in the future, Fiona mused. I know. I brought Julian here to see Caemorn.
That is likely because I will be too weak to withstand it in the future, Seeyr answered and moved slightly stiffly.
Both Fiona and Charlie flinched at her words.
He did, too, but pretended he did not. He firmed his resolve.
He was watching. He was doing nothing more.
Besides, if Seeyr wished to be saved she could bloody well walk right out of that open cell door and help Fiona and Charlie escape to this miraculous future!
If she wanted to suffer here as a pretend prisoner why was he to care? It was absurd!
I suppose… I suppose that may be right, Fiona answered carefully.
It is all right, my dear. I know most of what happens, Seeyr said with another grimace. You mustn’t suffer for me.
I–I wish I could, Fiona said suddenly. I so wish I could do something to take some of that suffering–
You already paid your price, Fiona, Seeyr said gently. And you’ve come back here to do more. No, this is my task. My task alone.
Fiona’s shoulders slumped. I know, but…
I am grateful that you think of me so kindly as to care, Seeyr murmured.
Fiona tensed. I can only imagine how we left things. You and I. If I was at odds with Eyros then I’m certain I was at odds with everyone else.
You sensed that things were heading in a dangerous direction, Seeyr admitted as she drew her arms around her chest. You just couldn’t figure out where safety was. Or if there was any.
There wasn’t. Fiona’s eyes drifted to Tanis’ body. I’m glad I wasn’t around to experience much of this.
Seeyr said nothing. There was likely a lot more to experience that would be mostly unpleasant. But Fiona and Charlie were going to run off to the future while the rest of them… Well, it didn’t matter. Eyros was safe. His people were safe.
Mostly.
If we aren’t going to teleport our way out of here then we must leave the old fashioned way, Charlie stated. Through the door and those two guards. If there are just two up there right now. I’m surprised that they haven’t stormed down here after that racket.
Fiona lifted her eyes upwards and he knew that she was listening carefully. Despite the alarm, I don’t hear more heartbeats, but I’m not sure… The alarm… someone must have heard it.
Why would the Kaly-slices have an alarm though? They don’t want any of their lackeys coming down here and seeing Seeyr, Charlie pointed out, forehead creasing.
Yes, well… Maybe it’s an alarm that only certain people in the Order are to respond to, Fiona offered with a shrug. There were many things like that in the Order when I was a member. We were all to play our roles and nothing more.
Yes, so a Spire-shaking alarm was supposed to be ignored? Charlie’s eyebrows lifted impossibly high.
Fiona sighed. You’ve no idea of the stupidity that we all agreed to. It was like we had no imagination or curiosity at all. Those things and critical thinking were discouraged at all costs.
Religion relies upon faith, not logic. Belief without facts.
I imagine if you started to dissect it at all then you would feel unfaithful, Charlie offered and shivered.
I stayed out of sight really until Caemorn became Preceptor.
Under him, things were a little less Inquisition-ist. Until the last part, anyways.
Yes, when he was requiring Vampires without faith to join the Order, creating Blood Slaves and worse, Fiona said and curled her arms over her chest. But that wasn’t what he wanted.
No, it was Artemis’ plan, Charlie agreed. One wonders what Artemis is doing now.
With one last glance up at the ceiling, Fiona said, I, personally, don’t want to find out. We should go. Pick up Tanis and glamour her if you would. I will take out the two guards if they try to stop us. Then we head the hell out of here to the gate.
Right! Charlie nodded and leaned down to pick up the lifeless body.
Fiona turned back to Seeyr who was standing there, still looking at him with such kindness and understanding in her eyes.
Eyros was not moved. In fact, his anger grew.
How dare she look at him like that? She might want to be a martyr, but he had no intention of going into that good night!
It was ridiculous! To sacrifice oneself!
For what? A future that he would not see?
All right, maybe he would see it, but he’d be someone else.
And what was the price of that, the cost…
Seeyr, we truly need to know now how to use the gate to get back to our time, Fiona said.
But Seeyr was shaking her head. I know what you are going to ask, but I’ve already told you what I can and what you need to know.
But you’ve told me nothing! Fiona’s frustration and fear bubbled over a moment. Then she corralled her emotions and said more gently, I’m sorry but I’m not understanding.
And I am sorry that I cannot be more clear. But I have done what I can and I can do no more without dire consequences, Seeyr said.
She was finally looking at Charlie and not him. Charlie blinked a few times and opened his mouth to speak, but then stopped. Understanding seemed to flow over his expression for a moment and then he nodded briskly.
Ah, Fifi, uhm, let’s take Seeyr at her word. I think we really need to go. We’ve been here too long already, Charlie said.
Fiona was going to protest again, but then a quick glance between the other two Immortals stopped her.
All right. I understand. Or I don’t, but I’ll accept this.
She took a few steps away from the open cell door, but then stopped herself.
She grabbed a hold of it and shut it. The lock clanged.
She flinched and he did not think it was from the burn of the metal.
So you don’t have to do it yourself. That’s too cruel.
Thank you, my dear. I do appreciate it. Seeyr did appear more relaxed and at ease not that she was locked away and had no chance of escaping.
Seeyr, I wish I could do something for you, Fiona repeated her desire to help.
Seeyr moved towards the bars. She smiled again. Just live, Fiona. Live that beautiful life you have ahead of you. With all its dangers and wonders. That is enough for me.
Fiona smiled back. But he could feel her agony at leaving the other Immortal in that cage.
She wanted nothing more than to use the key to unlock the door–damn the alarm–and drag Seeyr with them.
But she also knew that when they returned home, Seeyr would be there.
Waiting for them. And not just her. Everyone.
Daemon, he whispered.
Fiona’s forehead furrowed and she glanced around as if she’d heard something. He was getting sloppy.
Don’t delay any more, you two, Seeyr said, as if to dissuade them from noticing him.
When we see you next, Seeyr, everything will be as it should be, Fiona said with a large swallow.