Ascension (3 page)

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, look.  The elders are after me, and me only, right?  They don’t know about Madison or Alexander.  They definitely don’t know about Jacob.  And they might not even know about you.”

“They know about me,” Logan said. 

“Fine. So they—”

“I’m tied to you, you know.”

Laura smiled weakly again.  “I know.  Thank you.”

“And no matter what happens, I will never let them do anything to you.”  He took her head between his hands and knelt his forehead to touch hers.  “I’m here for you, Laura, and you can’t forget that.  Everything we do, we do together.  There’s no turning back.  And the only way forward – the only way any of us will get to live our lives as we want – is to keep going forward.”

“That’s what we’re doing, isn’t it?  Trying to go forward?  But we never know if we’re actually succeeding or not.  Three weeks of searching have yielded nothing.  Are we really moving forward?  Or are we just running in place?”

“You can’t give up hope now.  We’ve accomplished so much together—”

 “And yet done so little.  We’ve managed to run away, Logan, and nothing more.  We’ve delayed the inevitable, maybe.  But who am I to think I can somehow influence the structure of power within the
Vassiz
?”

“It’s been prophesized.”

“I know.  But that hasn’t been enough.  Has it?  I’m prophesized to bring down the elders.  Or am I?  Maybe we’ve misunderstood it all along.  Maybe it’s speaking of someone else. Maybe—”

“It speaks of you, Laura,” Logan said with immense conviction.  “I am sure of it.  You are the one who will lead us against the elders.”

Laura nodded.  “I hope so.  But it’s just…”

“A little overwhelming?”

Laura nodded, and Logan laughed.  “I know.  You’re not going at it alone, you know.  We’re all here with you.  We’re all doing our best.”

“But what if our best isn’t good enough?  What if we never find the repository?  What then?”

“Then we will think of something else,” Logan replied.  “And if that doesn’t work, we’ll think of something else yet again.  We can never back down.  You swore to the angels to seek revenge.  There’s no turning back for us after that.”

“For me, there isn’t,” Laura corrected.  Then she added softly, “For you, there might be.”

Logan stared up at her.  “…What are you talking about?”

“I’ve just been thinking.  It’s me the elders are looking for, not any of you.  If you leave now, maybe all of you can get to safety.”

“You’re not serious?”

“I swear it.”  Laura took a deep breath.  This is what she’d been dreading to say, but it was time for it to come out for Logan to hear.  “You’re only linked to me because you’ve been seen
with
me, Logan.  The elders aren’t worried about you.  It’s me they’re after, and every day you stay here is another day for you to get caught.  For any of us to get caught.  I just don’t… I don’t want to see anybody get hurt because of me.  If you leave, and take Madison and Alexander with you, I can keep searching here.  But at least that way, I’ll know all of you are safe.  You can get on with your life, and forget about me.  If the elders do find me, then I’ll be the only one to suffer.  But if I am really the one prophecy spoke of, what difference will it make if I go at it alone or not?  If I’m destined to succeed, I will do it anyway, and if we’re all wrong about the prophecy, well, at least that way I’m the only one who gets hurt.  I will feel better knowing you’re safe.”

“Laura,” Logan said gravely, “if you’re taken away from me… I
will
suffer.  I don’t know what’s gotten in your mind lately, but I am
not
leaving you.  No matter what you say.  Madison and Alexander will feel the same way.”

“I thought that’s what you’d say,” Laura said.  “But think!  If—”

“No.  Laura, do you understand me?  No.  I will not leave you here alone.  None of us will.  We’re all in this together.  And nothing you can say will change that.”

“I just thought—”

“No!  I’m not leaving you.  Can’t you get that through your thick skull?  I am staying here with you.  I love you, Laura.”

Laura smiled sadly.  “And I you, Logan, but…”

“Just stop thinking,” he said simply.  “Come here.”  He took her in his arms and brought her close.  Being held like that, Laura felt safe.  Uncertain about the future, yes, but still safe.

“At what point do we decide we’ve searched long enough?” Laura asked after a few minutes of silence.  “Maybe the repository isn’t even here.  Maybe we’re just wasting our time.”

“That could be a possibility,” Logan said slowly, “but I do not believe it to be the case.  I think we’re getting closer every day.”

“To me, it seems like we’re going around in circles.”

“That’s not true. Today, I—”

“Found nothing, just like the rest of us.”

“No, that’s not true.  I think… I may be getting closer.”

“You are?” Laura exclaimed.  “Why didn’t you mention anything?”

“I did not want to raise false hopes until I was sure.”

“Oh.”

“And I can’t be sure until I see the repository with my own eyes.  But I’ve heard some of the locals say the same thing too many times for it to be a coincidence.  They all mention a building… that has stood in place for the entirety of their memory.”

“You think that might be it?”

“It may,” Logan said carefully.  “Rafael would not lead us astray.  This is where he believed it to be.  So, despite how little progress you may think we’ve made so far, I think we’re getting closer.”

“What you found makes you believe that?”

“Yes.  I’m going there again as soon as Jacob returns.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“No.”

Laura was taken aback by the harshness of his reply.  “No?  Why not?”

“It is too dangerous.”

“Too dangerous?  What are you talking about?  I’ve faced everything with you, Logan, and proven my worth.  I’m not afraid of what we might find there.”

“It’s not that, Laura.”

“Then what is it?”

“If we go together, we can attract unwanted attention.  Especially if the building is something many of the locals know about.  I remember what you told me about Selaine.  How she kept guard over the archive?  Perhaps there are similar people watching here.  And we don’t want to raise any suspicions.  If I go along, I can stake out the building, maybe even get inside, unseen.  And while I don’t doubt your ability, or willingness, it’s something that is just easier for me to do on my own.”

“Fine,” Laura grumbled.  “But be careful.  You’ll go tonight?”

“That’s the plan.  And then if I find anything, I’ll be back to report it in the morning.”

Chapter Three

~A Little Drink~

Jacob hadn’t returned by the time Laura and Logan got back to the tent.  While that was somewhat worrying, Laura was thinking more about Logan’s potential discovery.  What if the building he found actually contained the repository?  All the weeks of frustration and futile searching would be made worthwhile.  And they would know as soon as the morning. 

Despite the rule of waiting for everybody to return before setting out again, Laura let Logan go before Jacob came back.  There was no point in waiting now that they may have found the repository.  Either way, the sooner they knew definitively whether or not that was the case, the better.

A few minutes after Logan left, Laura nearly succumbed to her desire to trail after him.  It didn’t matter that he made her promise not to do it – for her, the anxiety of not knowing was too much.  But, after a watchful look from Madison, Laura thought better of it, and remained in place. 

So it was her, Madison, and Alexander together in the tent, waiting for Jacob to return.  Usually, such inactivity would have driven Laura crazy, but she knew that Logan was on the best lead they’ve had since getting here.  If anybody could find the repository by himself, it would be him. 

Laura wondered what would be in the repository.  Based on what Rafael said, there would be
torrial
there. 
Torrial
, the mystical devices that drew upon the powers of the dream realm to grant the user supernatural power.  Laura had used one herself, before she even knew what it was, when she opened the vault door together with Alexander in the mines.  It was only later, when Rafael showed them his single
torrial
, did she realize the danger that came with using them unguided.  The
torrial
formed a connection with its user, but if something untoward happened, whoever was using it risked losing their mind forever.  It was not a pleasant thing to think about.

But using the
torrial
was essential.  Without the devices, Laura knew they would have no chance against the elders.  With the devices in hand, they stood a chance at victory.  A small chance, but it was there.

The uncertainty, of course, was in not knowing what kind of
torrial
they would find.  What kind, or how many.  It was entirely plausible that even if Logan found the repository, none of the
torrial
inside would be of use.  Or, even worse, nobody would know just
how
to use them, or what for.  They were searching for a mystical weapon that might not even exist.

But the repository did exist – Laura was now sure of it.  If it didn’t, why would the angels insist on holding off meetings in the dream realm before the repository was found?  In fact, the angels seemed to
know
where it was, but, alas, could not bring any of them to its location in the dream realm.  To travel wide distances like that, one had to know the destination perfectly, and since none in her group had ever been to the repository, travelling it in the dream realm would have been impossible.  Although, Laura sometimes wondered if they wouldn’t have been better served by conducting the search in the dream realm itself.  Time flowed differently there, and it would have eased the pressure she felt by taking advantage of that quality.  A week’s search in the dream realm may have only resulted in a day’s passage in the real world. 

Of course, that option was outside the realm of possibility for both her and Logan.  Madison and Alexander could have done it, but Laura would not have felt right leaving them both asleep, and vulnerable, while she and Logan continued the search in the human world.  No, the way they had gone about things was the
right
way, Laura knew.  It was just the frustrations of the past three weeks getting to her that made her question herself.

But, now that they were potentially so much closer, Laura could wait.  There was nothing else to do.  So she sat in the tent patiently, waiting for both Logan and Jacob to return. 

The sun had started to climb out from the horizon when Laura’s ears picked up the sound of someone approaching.  She sprang out the tent in an instant.  In the distance, she could see two shapes approaching.  One looked like Logan, and the other… Jacob?  But he was leaning over strangely, using Logan’s shoulder for support. 

“What do you see?” Alexander asked beside her.  He had come out right after her, but his vision was not as sharp as hers.  Neither was Madison’s.  Laura had the best eyesight, and the most highly tuned senses, because of her recent feeding. 

“It’s Logan,” she said.  “And Jacob’s with him.  But it doesn’t look like he can walk on his own.”

“Is he hurt?” Madison asked, worry filling her voice.  Jacob had been like a father to her once, which is why she trusted him with her life.  She also cared deeply for him.

“No, it’s not that,” Laura said slowly.  Now that the two figures had gotten closer, Laura thought she had a better understanding of what was going on.  Jacob was leaning on Logan for support, yes, but the way he walked was not like somebody injured.  Rather, it was like… like somebody drunk!  Jacob stumbled from side to side, and could barely keep his head up.  He kept motioning with his free hand at something in the distance, and Logan looked like he was struggling to keep Jacob on course.  “He looks like he’s had too much to drink!”

Alexander stepped beside Laura.  “Yes, I think you’re right.”  He squinted once, looked over to Madison, and gave a curt nod.  “Yes, that’s definitely Jacob.  I would recognize him in that condition anywhere.”  And with that, he turned around and promptly entered the tent.

“What was that about?” Laura asked curiously.

“Never mind,” Madison said.  “Come on, Logan looks like he could use some help.”

Madison hurried over to meet the two men, and Laura followed after her.  When they were within earshot, Logan gave a cruel laugh.

“I found this one getting drunk in the pits,” he said.  “The damn fool could have given us away!”

“I… away?” Jacob muttered.  “Ha!  I would not… either if I… wanted could… to you!”

Logan rolled his eyes, and hefted Jacob onto Madison’s shoulders.  “He’s been talking about you the whole way back.  Figured you might want to see him.”