45: We Will Join Cyr

"When?" I said.

"Tonight."

I stood, hiding the eruption of emotions beneath as best as I could. "I will inform my sister."

He nodded, standing as well. He walked me out and left me at the foot of the bridge. I nodded a goodbye, turning away, allowing myself to breathe. I was a walking bomb just waiting to explode. Every second with my back turned to him I knew he watched me, he studied me, he didn't get to this point without trusting everyone. But even more than that, the confidence in all he did. Self-assured and composed, he had calculated all his moves and was sure they'd work out.

Was it all a bluff or had he actually assembled a team strong enough to take down the heads of Kreatier's army? Was he testing me, tricking me into slipping up? Or had he actually planned it and was he actually going to do it? The answer didn't matter though, not yet, false or not, I didn't have the privilege of doubting such a man.

With stiff steps, I passed the bridge and entered the elevator. Was it just me or was the air up here thinner? I was struggling just to take a breath. The tree tops seemed so close though still a great distance away, just a little more and I'd be above the trees, up in the sky, touching the stars. The stars. They slowly grew brighter as the sky around them grew darker. And Philip, Rowan and Lucius still hadn't made it back yet, according to Mars who'd be the first to see them.

I rushed over to Brise immediately. She was sharpening her knives which were arrayed on our dining table when I arrived, slamming the door open. Without glancing my way she said, "you're not usually so inconsiderate, what is the matter?"

"Cyr is planning to attack the military heads," I let out in one breath.

Her gaze snapped my way.

"When did you hear this?" She placed the knife in her hand into the arrangement.

"Barely five minutes ago." I paced the miniature living room. "He wants us to join them, in the attack, tonight."

Brise remained silent for a moment, her gaze glued to her knives. Then she stood calmly, collected her knives and placed them into her baldric which she usually wore under her dress. I watched her quietly, waiting for her reply.

"What are we going to do?" I asked.

She fixed the baldric over her shoulder and met my expectant gaze. "We listen to Cyr, we earn his trust."

"But we need to warn them, send a message."

Her eyes downcast she shook her head. "It'll never reach them in time. If not some then all. Have the others arrived yet?"

"Not yet." I let out a rough breath, flames erupting from my mouth without my will. "There must be some way to warn them. Something to bring a message across to them."

Brise sighed, raising her head, her steely gaze meeting mine. "Lock the doors and windows. Plug your ears and no matter what happens and what you see don't stop until I tell you to."

I got to work, securing the doors and windows shut. When I returned, Brise had gotten to her knees, holding in both her hands a crooked ebony dagger, which had been strapped across her heart.

"If ever you hear them," Brise said carefully, "do not take their whispers to heed, you hear me?"

I nodded, plugging my ears, having no clue of what she meant, trusting her blindly.

She spoke so softly, I could only watch her lips move. Her lips difficult to read. No, even if I could make out the words I never would have understood. As she continued to whisper, the room seemed to grow darker, heavier, suffocatingly tense. It was just her and I but it suddenly felt like there were a hundred more people occupying our already tight space. Shadows abound, surrounding her, though not passing a certain point that encircled her.

I found faces in the shadows. Teeth that glinted. Eyes that glowed red. Claws that scratched against the invisible wall that separated Brise from the darkness.

They surrounded me as well, but like Brise I was protected by a field of light that warded of the shadows. Though I could still hear them. Though muffled I could hear their screams and moans, their whispers and callings, I heard it all. I forced my fingers further into my ear canal.

Brise raised the knife over her head and brought it down in one swoop, tearing open the barrier of light. Her hair rose into the air and the white of her eyes darkened till they were as black as night. She gripped the knife across her chest defensively, and whispered- spoke to the darkness that slowly seeped through the cracks.

The noises around me only grew louder. Forcing me to listen, to obey. But just watching Brise, made me realize, how futile that'd be. I had no experience or knowledge of such power, I'd never stand a chance.

She swiped at the tear and the darkness retreated back into their space. Then slowly but surely the room grew lighter till the shadows were no more. Only then did I realize how much my muscles ached. But if was in pain then Brise was utterly defeated, unbelievably so.

Her hair sticking to her face, her eyes sunken and her skin paler than usual.

"What," I breathed, "what was that?

She heaved a breath and stood. "Souls that escaped the pits of hell."

She replaced the ebony blade into her baldric and made for the door as I watched her quietly.

"Are you alright?" I asked. She halted.

A knock at our door interrupted her. Her hand flew to a blade strapped across her chest. I stepped towards the door, not quite knowing who to expect.

"Tobias?" I blurted.

Tobias smiled. "How are you girls? December, Vanut-still trying to stab me aye?"

Brise grunted and dropped her hand. "What do you want?"

He shifted uneasily. "May I come in?"

I stepped aside and made way for him. "Is something wrong?"

"I hear Cyr called for you?" He said, "he asked you sisters to assist him."

I nodded stiffly. "What about it?"

"I just"-he looked from me to Brise- "you girls don't have to do this if you don't want to."

Tobias had built this place with Cyr but had he not agreed to this rebellion?

"No," Brise replied, sharply. "We want to do this."

Tobias held my gaze, asking me silently, what I thought. But I had no right to speak my mind. "We will join Cyr."

Brise and I met the others at the community hall. The others being a group of young men and women, including Xon, Rapio and Nareem.

"The time has come," Cyr began, "for us to act. Kreatier's army is large and proficient, and has long been envied by kingdoms beyond. The army is without a doubt the most powerful tool in the king's possession. But just as one cannot function without a head, thus the army cannot function without its minds. Tonight we will disable the army, starting with its leaders. However, you are not to end their lives. Your mission is simple, capture them and bring them here."

Hoku stepped forward from beside Cyr. "Listen closely, for your teams and for your opponent. Matu, Nareem and Dolce, you are tasked to capture General Dimitri."

Nareem, Matu-a tall dark skinned boy, whose skin cracked like the earth, an amber glow emanating from the thin spaces between his flesh. According to Brise, who'd met him, he was a volcano troll. And Dolce, an empty-eyed, gangly young man who seemed of all things uninterested and bored. Three young boys, taking on one of the most skilled warriors in Kreatier. What was Cyr playing at?

"December, Vanut and Rapio, you're opponent is General Bao."

Rapio found Brise and I in the crowd, bouncing on the soles of her feet as she came to stand before us.

"You guys ready!?" She asked excitedly. "I know I am!"

Hoku went on to list the 9 other groups before he announced his own team. "Philip and I will take on Councilor Sol."

"Councillor Sol," I repeated the name, and looked to Brise. She had on a hard countenance, shaking her head, avoiding my gaze. Then I knew who the named was. "No..." I searched the crowd.

Then I saw him, coming my way, by Hoku's side. His eyes wide in surprise and filled with hesitation.

"We do what we have to do," Brise said and tugged me back by the hand.

I could only watch as they walked past me. I wish I had taken his hand then, told him he didn't have to do this. But I was a coward and a fool. "Philip won't, no...not Lance."