Page 2 of The Dark Rising
I grunt as I push what little power I have into his barrier, and though it wavers slightly, it still stays strong. “Let him go!”
“Your power is dwindling, Heir of Zahariss. I just have to wait a little longer until you’re all dried up,” he smirks. “I know better than to challenge an Heir with its counterpart in the same room.” He lets out a low laugh, and it’s cold, filled with malice. “When you are in my grasp again very soon, shall I make you watch as Kade runs off to his family, turning his back on you?”
“He’s not going anywhere near them,” I snarl, looking down at Kade sprawled on the ground beside his feet.
“Why ever not? You enjoyed your training, didn’t you?” Charles murmurs quietly, and the other Highers standing behind him don’t react to his words, his confession, letting me know they already knew and are involved.
My power falters at the reminder of his training, with how often he would come to my cage to deliver his pain, to deliver his evilness. I slump into the barrier, feeling pinpricks of pain from it as more shouts scream around the room.
“No,” I gasp, my heartbeat echoing in my ears. Is that what he wants to do with Kade? “I didn’t, and you know that, you sick bastard. Now let Kade go.” Digging my fingers into the shimmering violet and black, I whimper from the pain, refusing to let go.
Charles tilts his head at me before turning and walking over to Kade on the floor. He roughly grabs him by the back of his t-shirt, hauls him up, and stands him in front of me. Kade wavers on his feet, his eyes unfocused as he looks through me.
“Carzan,” I whimper, digging in harder.
“Kaden,” Charles purrs, and I tense, my heart hammering. “Do you want to go with Lasandrhea? Even though there is no way out of here for a traitor? It is a fool’s game to even try and attempt it, no?”
Kade shakes his head back and forth, eyes still bleary. “No, don’t make me go with her.” My stomach drops at his words.
“See, he wants nothing more to do with you and your twisted ways. Haven’t you done enough?” Charles sneers, then he smiles at me over Kade’s head and tears fill my eyes.
“Carzan, please,” I try. “You know me, your memories aren’t right, they did something to you, I vow it. What they are saying and what your memories are showing you aren’t true.” A roar comes behind me, and I turn my head to see Darius on the floor, hunched over as black mist coats his whole body. My eyes go wide with the feel of his power as he stumbles to his feet. The Elites circle him, speaking all at once, confusion in their voices. “Carzan, quickly, we’re running out of time,” I plead, desperation making the words come out in a rush.
“Stay away from me!” he cries, and then brings his hands up to his head and clutches his hair.
“Rhea, there is no time.” Josh grabs me from behind and starts to drag me back down the steps. People are still running and scrambling to exit the great hall, pushing, and shoving each other and downright fighting to escape the room.
I try to shrug Josh off, shouting for Kade to come to me, to fight, to run. He doesn’t hear me. My hands leave the barrier and the last of the power I held within me dwindles away. “No!” I scream, flailing in Josh’s arms, trying to get him to release me, but his arms hold firm. “We have to get him; he can’t stay here.” Taylor appears beside me and helps Josh take me away as I wriggle, and hit, and kick at them, trying to get them off me.
“There is no time, Rhea, if we want to get out of here alive, we need to go now!” Taylor grabs the leg I was kicking out at him as we reach the bottom of the steps. The rest of the guys huddle around me, and Anna fiddles with something in the pocket of her pants.
“Don’t you dare!” Charles bellows, and I look up and see him push Kade to the side. He falls to the floor, his head smashing off the stone, and I yell out to him, still trying to get my tired body to get them off me. Charles waves a hand, and the black and violet barrier drops. He charges straight for us, for me, his hand glowing violet.
I swallow roughly as the other Highers rush after Charles, paying no mind to Kade who is now bleeding from his head. He doesn’t move, but his eyelids twitch and I try even harder to get Taylor off me, biting into his arm as he maneuvers me to restrain me better. Shouts bellow around us, and I turn in Josh’s arms as the Elites come for us. Darius growls a menacing sound, his eyes boring into mine.
“Quickly,” Hudson rushes out as he grabs a hold of Colten and touches a hand to Josh.
“Kade!” I shout, squirming in Taylor and Josh’s hold on me to try and see him. Charles bellows orders to his guards who are picking themselves off of the floor. Taylor grabs my hands and holds them against my chest, pinning them. I need to move; I need to get to Kade. We can’t leave him here.
My eyes fill with anger as Maize saunters over to Kade and leans down, touching a hand to his head. Azure light shines from her palm as she rubs his temples, and Kade yells out in pain, his body tensing before he slumps to the floor. I see the smile on Maize’s face as she pats his head, and I want nothing more than to remove hers.
“No,” I call out, and Maize turns to me, her smirk chilling me as she moves her black hair over her shoulder, not a care in the world.
I’m suddenly closed in on all sides by my pack. Anna briefly catches my eyes before she grabs a hold of my shoulder and I tense, noticing how we are all connected. No. No, no, no. She brings her hand up and I see the square gray stone in her palm.
“Wait,” I plead, “don’t.” But Anna rubs her thumb over the stone with her free hand and closes her eyes. “We need to get Kade, just wait. We can’t leave him,” I cry.
Anna opens her eyes, sad and watery as I start to feel the port stone working. “I’m sorry,” she whispers.
My eyes go to Darius just as my body compresses and we port out of the hall.
Leaving them all behind.
Leaving Josie and Danny’s bodies behind.
Leaving Kade behind.
Two
