All Things Eternal (The Last Light Book 2) Page 9

  Omari stood by Silas’s grave deep in thought until the sun finally showed its face. He knew at dawn the others would be awake, if not sooner. With the implications of what the day held, a full night’s sleep was all but impossible to achieve.

  Ever since the attack, an air of doubt permeated the group, making the last three days a period of reflection rather than action. After the initial hours of the attack, reinforcements came to secure the city, helping the wounded and burying the deceased. Skye wanted to reopen the doors of the church and use the extra space as a care center, but the others refused because of the risks. With panic at all time high for the city, too much was at stake to invite unwanted attention to their domain. With the newly instated martial law protocol, all residents were to be indoors after sunset. If the church did reopen, the injured would inevitably become their guests, and that was not needed. Too many injured in one place would be a liability, especially if that place was their center of command.

  “I thought I’d find you out here. Couldn’t sleep?”

  “You’re as quiet as a mouse, Skye. You know that?” Omari chuckled. “But, no…I couldn’t.” Skye emerged from the walkway of the church leading to the garden, draped in a black blanket that covered her sleepwear.

  “I couldn’t either. It’s hard to sleep with everything going on. The people are scared. Everyone is tense. It’s difficult to separate myself from it all, especially when I feel the same way.”

  “Are the others up?”

  “Emil was out on the balcony last time I saw him, and Marona was in her room getting dressed.”

  “I see. In about an hour, I’ll call a meeting and we can discuss our plans for Arius’s public address.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” Skye’s eyes drifted downward and away from her brother as she focused on the dew-filled grass that swayed in the wind.

  “Everything okay?”

  “No. It’s not,” Skye responded, her voice, distant and soft. “Omari, what do you think will happen today? I’m scared.”

  Chapter 11: The Other Side

  Somewhere in Everrmore

  “So he really did take the bait? Excellent.” The rouge Abnormal grinned mischievously as he confided in his other allies. “A little scuffle and a little smoke and the king finally comes out of his quarters to play. Arius is fool. His confidence lies in his army, but they’re no match to those of our kind. Let him bring as many men as he wishes. Numbers mean nothing to me, or to either of us. To be so young, and to be called king of this land…the power must have made him arrogant. The brat underestimates us. That will be his downfall.”

  “Sage,” a female voice interrupted. “That may be so, but it would be even worse on our part to underestimate him. Arius is the youngest in our nation’s history to lead, and has transitioned into his father’s role with near flawless execution. He may be arrogant, yes, but for his age, he is doing remarkably well.”

  “Overseers are a thing, Luna. His council, I’m sure are held in the highest regard.”

  “Perhaps. But even the public knows that Abnormals were involved. His personal force, Legion, will be sure to accompany him on his trip today.”

  “Is that so?” Sage said with a chuckle. “I wonder where their allegiance will be when their beloved king falls?” Sage’s chuckle erupted to a full blown laugh as he rocked back in the wooden chair, tilting its front legs into the air.

  “A little too early to celebrate, isn’t it?” Luna said calmly as she brushed her straight, dark hair away from her eyes. “It’s not even noon and you’re already drinking.” From against the wall she leaned on, Luna casually flicked her wrist and a gust of wind shifted Sage’s chair back on all fours.

  “Drinking, but not drunk!” Sage said as he raised his glass into the air.

  “Whatever,” Luna scoffed. “You would think that he would be more serious at a time like this. This is your end-game, isn’t it? Act like it.”

  “Luna, you’re so uptight. Relax. Take a lesson from Grim over there.” Sage tilted his glass at the brooding stocky man on the opposite corner of the room.

  “Grim never speaks…but it’s obvious he’s focused on what’s to come. You should be the one taking lessons.”

  “From you, most certainly. From Grim, not so much.” Luna extended her hand and sent another gust of wind Sage’s way. Instantly, he fell back from his chair and was pushed along the ground until his neck was aligned with the underside of Luna’s black heel.

  “You may want to rephrase what you just said while you can still speak!” Sage looked up at the beauty as she applied pressure to his neck and remembered why it was worth the trouble of getting her riled up.

  “Luna, your aggression is best saved for those who deserve your wrath.” From the corner of the room, Grim spoke. He was in a chair, arms folded with one leg over the other, passing the time by silently waving his foot in the air.

  “Of course,” Luna said as she raised her heel from Sage’s windpipe. “I just wanted to reinforce the idea that now isn’t the time for games.”

  “I’m aware,” Sage said as he cleared his throat and propped his chair upright before sitting down. “That stuff doesn’t even do anything for me, or for any of us. It might as well be water.” Sage’s hand reached for the pitcher to refill his glass but a gust of wind blew it to the other side of the room before he could grasp it.

  “Well then drink water. I don’t want to leave anything up to chance. If we kill the king today, everything changes.”

  “Yes…that is true. A lot is at stake,” Grim agreed. “If we kill King Arius, our nation will be thrown into chaos. Being so young, Arius has no next of kin to inherit the throne, which means one of his council men will be the one to claim the crown.”

  “And which one is that, Grim?”

  “I unfortunately have no way of knowing. His council is often kept in the shadows…but that is irrelevant. When King Arius falls, the three of us will rally against his forces and take the throne in its time of discord.”

  “Exactly!”

  “But what if we fail? What then?” Luna asked.

  “Must you be such a downer, Luna? If we fail, we die. Nothing else to it. Yup. We die and the world moves on. Most likely, they’ll butcher up our bodies and run experiments on us.” Sage shrugged. “Or maybe not. It’s hard to tell. It’s not exactly public knowledge of what happens behind closed doors with Legion. Legion, itself, is a mystery that few understand.”

  “What about the other Abnormals…the ones you saw at the execution?”

  “What about them? Mere nuisances at best.”

  “Are you saying they pose no threat? Humph. Even when you’re not at full power, you’re still as cocky as ever.”

  “I prefer the term confident, love. The difference is no greater than dark and light,” Sage said as he examined the contents of his cup. “Nonetheless, it doesn’t matter…really, it doesn’t. All that matters is that today we follow through on what we are supposed to do. Anyone or anything that interferes will be on the other side of a string of events I’d rather leave up to imagination.”

  Chapter 12: King and Court

  In Transit to Everrmore

  “Is there anything else I can assist you with, my lord?”

  “No, that will be all. I only require silence in my coming travels, thank you.”

  “Very well, my lord.”

  The heavily guarded carriage shook on the rocky road that was chosen as the path for the king’s voyage. With his eyes closed, Arius heard the rhythmic step of the infantry that surrounded his mode of transportation. Twenty-five men to escort him into the city and twenty-five more to accompany him during his speech.

  “Actually…” Arius opened his eyes and parted his long black hair that shrouded his vision of his fortified pod. “It would be to my liking if you were to read the latest status report as a refresher.”

  “Most certainly, my lord.” Arius’s assistant fumbled through his satchel at his side until a slew of papers m
arked with the king’s insignia found their way between his fingers. Arius tilted his head back against the cushioned headboard and folded his arms as before, closing his eyes once again. “Twenty minutes into the scheduled execution of Eric Crane, a band of three Abnormals made their way into the square, seeking to rescue the convicted conspirator and retaliate against the Vanguard of Everrmore in contempt for taking one of their own. Despite heavy reinforcements, Eric Crane escaped, leaving heavy casualties from both citizens and official forces. Heavy structural damage also reported and observed throughout the time square. Of the three Abnormals, two were reported as male and one as female. One of the males seems to have the ability to cloak himself and reappear at will, while the other seems to be able to manipulate his life energy. Witnesses claim that the female Abnormal has the ability to spontaneously heal aliments and other injuries, but status on the credibility of the source remains unconfirmed. Physical descriptions of the alleged Abnormals are also unavailable due to the black uniform and masks they wore at the time of the assault. A possible fourth Abnormal was also present at the square, but his whereabouts and origin remain inconclusive. No information about his abilities were recorded.”

  “Hmm, I see…so the Saint of Everrmore was involved.”

  “That is correct, sir. He announced his appearance shortly before his siege of Eric Crane. His abilities also match the profile of what we have gathered on him so far, so there is a consistency in his claims.”

  “What else do you have on him? Description, possible location, anything of use?”

  “Unfortunately, no. Nothing outside of what you currently know.”

  “And what about the people of Everrmore? Did they say anything over the course of the interrogation period?”

  “No. Despite our efforts, we came up empty handed no matter how hard we pressed.”

  “Humph, those people sure do love their Saint, even if it means their own lively hood is threatened.”

  “Sir, If I may, can I ask you a personal question?”

  “I’m listening,” Arius responded as his head coasted on the headboard, still relaxed and well into his train of thought.

  “With the current events, are you not worried? The destructive capabilities of the three Abnormals and the potential of a fourth nearby is unsettling to the soldiers, but yet you remain at ease, not shaken in the least.”

  Arius’s head sunk from its elevated position and fired a gaze that shot directly at his assistant in front of him. “Are you implying that you doubt my judgment?” Through Arius’s dark eyes, he saw the beads of sweat begin to form on top his assistant’s head. He was shaken, afraid that he crossed the line that only Arius’s most trusted lightly treaded upon only on occasion.

  “N-no. Not at all, Sir. Your logic is infallible. I apologize if my question offended you. It’s just that your father wou—”

  “My father is dead. Long gone and buried. We are not to be compared,” Arius interrupted.

  “Understood, my lord. It is to my disgrace that I even mentioned his name.”

  “It is indeed. Never mention my father again for a long as you live.”

  “Yes, my lord.”

  “Is there anything else you wish to add to this conversation?”

  “In fact, there is, your highness. It worries me that your personal guard is not at your side.”

  “Three is more than enough. The others are throughout the land on private assignments.”

  “Yes, of course, but why are they outside rather than inside with you?”

  “I am more than capable of handling myself. If any attack was to come before our arrival, it would happen from beyond these four walls, that is, unless you are foolish enough to try to take my life.” A coy smile crept onto Arius’s face, further unnerving his assistant. “I appreciate your service and your recent transfer to my squadron on such short notice, but there is clearly much you do no not know. I forgive you for your ignorance and applaud you for your concern. Relax. The greatest mysteries often reveal themselves to us in time. Until then, enjoy the ride.” Arius leaned back into his seat and crossed his legs before shutting his eyes.

  It’s been far too long, brother. Far too long.

  Chapter 13: Before the Storm

  Inside Silas’s Church

  “I can’t believe that he’s walking straight to us. What exactly does he hope to accomplish by doing this?” Marona asked as she sat in the lobby with the others who were equally puzzled.

  “I don’t know, Marona. Perhaps it is a display of power. By now, he knows that Abnormals were involved in the incident and yet he still chooses to show his face so soon. His actions confuse me,” Omari said as he paced around the round table in the center of the room, stroking his chin in speculation.

  “Does it matter? He’s right where we want him, hand delivered. We kill him now and everything is over.”

  “I’m afraid it’s not that simple, Emil. If we kill him in a slaughter, then what? Our name is maimed and one of his advisors is next in line.”

  “And? We’ll just kill him, too. The only way to change everything may just be to destroy his régime, and I’m more than ready for that.”

  “Is that how you want to be remembered? A warlord? A tyrant, just like your brother?”

  “What other option do we have? If that rouge Abnormal shows up, a fight will break out anyway. He wants the same thing that we want, remember? We all want Arius dead, as well as God knows how many others who are too afraid to voice their opinion.” In his heart, Omari knew that Emil was right. Now wasn’t the time for cowardice. This was the opportunity they were pushing for. Now was the time, if ever, for action. “We’re revolutionaries,” Emil continued. “We aren’t just doing this for us, but for everybody. If it were up to me, I’d rather not be viewed as a soulless tyrant or a bloodthirsty warlord, but if that is what’s necessary for all this to end, so be it. Just know that I did it for the right reasons. This is bigger than me. Bigger than all of us, and I’m willing to make any sacrifice that needs to be done. I told you before. I’m done hiding.”

  “What about the civilians in the square? Aren’t we just going to put them in danger again?” Marona asked.

  “It can’t be helped. Unless we isolate him, there will always be people around. The best we can do is focus our attacks on him and try our best to minimize civilian casualties. If the people are smart, I imagine they’d run as soon as they see that a potential fight is underway.”

  “If that’s the case, I can fall back and help them evacuate,” Skye said.

  “You can, but it will only make things worse. Remember what happened with the rouge? You’re the only one who can see his attacks, Skye. Omari and I will need you with us. Ultimately, we’re going to protect the people, but in order to do that, we need to gain control of the fight. If you tire out too quickly from healing the civilians, you’re less of an asset to us. We know that you can stop the rouge’s attacks, and you may be our only protection against my brother’s, as well. I’m not sure, but you are our strongest option. You’re also the only one out of the three of us who can sense other Abnormals. If the rouge shows with friends or alone, we need to know as soon as possible. You mentioned that he feeds, right?”

  “Correct,” Skye responded. “He mostly gets his fighting strength by stealing the energy from those around him. The last thing we need is for him to cause another riot at the expense of the people.”

  “I agree. That’s why we need you to locate him before he makes the first move.”

  “Emil,” Omari interrupted. “If the rouge’s abilities can go undetected, what’s stopping him from assassinating Arius from afar?”

  “His eyes...he may be able to see it.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Not long after he first acquired his powers, he used them on me, but I resisted. He ultimately won but not before I saw the shade of his eyes begin to turn purple…I don’t know. It could be coincidence, but it’s almost like how Skye’s hands glow when she
overexerts herself. Skye’s hands seem to be the major conduit of her power, maybe there is a link between Arius’s eyes and his power, as well. I know…it’s a long shot, just a random theory, but it’s something.”

  “If he can’t see it, then that just makes things easier for us. He’ll just collapse on stage,” Marona said.

  “Wouldn’t that be amazing?” Emil chuckled. “But we can’t count on the rouge making the first move…even if he does, I doubt my brother won’t be prepared. He has information on all of us now, however big or small. It doesn’t matter, just assume he knows our abilities from what happened three days ago. That means that he should have members in his personal guard to fight us directly or even counter us. Of the three of us, Omari is the most known from his work as a vigilante. Being that this is your hometown, it’s a given that he would have a counter for you. He knows you can warp, meaning a speedy assault is something he considered before making this trip. He also knows about me. With him being my brother, he’s seen my abilities first hand.”