The Lotus Effect (Rise Of The Ardent) (26 page)

After a brief search into the courtyard from the small window, I set firm my jaw in acceptance and went to work applying my armor. Both physical
and
emotional. Being caught up in everything that was happening as of recently, I never put thought into
that
ever happening between us—but now that he had expressed his feelings towards it so bluntly . . . .

Xander was my partner I realized now and that’s all he would ever be.

Chapter 27

Bittersweet Reunions

So this is it. The time has come.

I took a deep breath before stepping from the hut.

Alone.

Xander had removed the force field presumably so I could leave without getting electrocuted.
How thoughtful of him.

Oh shut up and stop being a twit
, I argued with myself and to my more Annette-like sensibilities.

My heart clamored in my chest as I took another step forward. The walk down the trail to the Requiem would be a lonely one. I understood that once I committed to this path, there would be no turning back. But, in truth, I’d already overstepped the point of no return during the night of my Coronation and the decisions I had made then. Today was only just a small stepping stone that led down the rocky terrain of what had become of my choices.

Knowing that I had no other choice, that this was what I had wanted . . . I continued forward, expecting to come upon another fighter along the trail, but never did.

Where had Xander run off to?

I didn’t want to admit to it, but even in my frustration, I wished he were here walking this path with me. I wanted to apologize to him for the words transgressed between us. He was right after all. I had no room in my head to be carrying around immature hopes and wants.

What I needed to do was my duty.

The trail ended suddenly, making me stop short, my armor hardly making any sound even though I was practically drenched in metal. Craning my neck, I took in the immense sight before me. A large concrete wall loomed above with a marginally smaller door standing below: the fighter’s entrance.

I looked around hesitantly. There was no one else here. Choking back my disappointment, I walked closer to the door to inspect it.

An old stagnate brass hand reached out in greeting in place of the door knob. Intricately carved patterns circled outwards from its wrist, detailing vivid images which depicted moments from Barrages past. I trailed my finger across them, stopping short on a spear-readied figure who appeared to be fighting off a ferocious striped beast. Enthralled, I continued to trail my finger along the carvings and across the expanse of the door until I caught sound of approaching footsteps.

“So eager aren’t you?” a familiar voice said to me. I turned to find Dex strutting towards me with Xander walking armor-clad by his side, helm propped under his arm. Relief flooded me at the sight of the two.

This was the first instance I had seen Xander wearing his armor. He looked resplendent, deadly. He smiled a sad, remorseful smile towards me in greeting. I managed to not shy away from his gaze, and gave a hesitant nod in return.

I hugged Dex cautiously as he approached, aware of my axe and shield combination at his back. Grunting at my poor effort, he hauled me up, armor and all into the air, spinning me in a half circle before unceremoniously placing me back onto my feet.

“Apparently, I cannot even defend against hugs.” I smiled, thankful my nerves had diminished some, even if only just a little. “And why is it that I shouldn’t be so eager?” I asked, smiling curiously into Dex’s sweat covered and dirty face—which distracted me. “And why are you so . . .
grimy
?”

Dex had an impish look about him. “I got in a bit of a tussle back there in the bidding room. Looks like you’ll be making me some credits when you start winnin’.”

“Because you’re the only one betting on my account?”

Dex shrugged. “It seems they think you’ve led too groomed of a life to be lastin’ for very long. They however, don’t know you like I do, so—”

“—so you got into a fist fight while trying to defend my honor?” I asked with a disbelieving smile.

He nodded, a grin upturning his cheek. “Pretty much. More like a bottle to the head, head to the now-broken-table kinda’ fight. You know, the best types.”

Resting my sweaty palm on my temple, I sighed. “Well it’s good to know I’ve got a friend at my back.”

Xander, who leaned against the concrete wall, listening with distant eyes, uncrossed his arms and approached us. “Tell her what you told me about the first fight.”

Dex’s grin diminished and his eyes became sad. He sighed. “Hugo Miller is dead. Scottie’s net got to him.”

My heart faltered. “
What
? What happened?”

“You wouldn’t believe it, Lily,” he said, shaking his head. “The Council has
spoiled
their Sponsored Sector this year. It wasn’t pretty. I would rather spare you the details if—”

I stood in front of him, rising myself to my toes to reach the height of his face, my eyes serious. “Tell
me what happened.” The thought of the little boy from Sector 3, Hugo’s nephew, brewing a new batch of anger within me.

“Scottie and Giles have Walkers that are so massive they nearly reach two stories in height. The nets they shoot are made of carbonite theriurum, a hard flexible metal that with a push of a button . . .” He stalled, disgusted by a thought. “. . . retracts upon their victims, allowing no escape.”

I grimaced. Horrible images of a trapped Hugo flooding my mind. My stomach twisted and I barely managed to keep my breakfast down.

“Hugo and Gerald gave them a good run for their money though. They teamed up against Giles in his Walker, trippin’ him up with their lassos and had him crashin’ to the ground in quite a flourish.” Dex smiled, remembering the moment, pride filling his face as he thought of the determination of his own Sector.

“Giles came climbing out, hollerin’ all kinds of curses.” He snorted briefly before his smile faltered again. “That’s when Scottie decided to show, landin’ down beside Gerald. He picked up Giles’ fallen Walker, showcasing his strength, and slammed it on top of Gerald, crushing him beneath. He held him pinned like a shoe to a bug.” Dex’s eyes trailed to the wall of the Requiem. “Hugo was busy fighting Giles when . . . when he saw what was happening. He went to stop him. He got his lasso around Scottie’s Walker and began climbing his back. Nimble bastard he was,” Dex said with a sad smile, shaking his head. “He managed to remove the helm protecting Scottie’s face, but that’s all he could do before Scottie flung him.”

My cheeks flushed hotly when I saw the look in Dex’s eyes.

“That’s when he shot the net out on Hugo. Hugo already lay on the ground, knocked senseless, but still aware.” Dex’s jaw shifted in anger. “They didn’t even stop the fight. They knew he couldn’t continue, and they said nothing.
Nothing.
They watched him die. They made
us
watch him die.”

My eyes threatened to fill with tears. My voice wavered and I found it hard to swallow. “How is Gerald?” I risked asking, hoping to hear some good news.

Dex shook his head. “He’s in hysterics with two broken legs, broken ribs, ruptured spleen. There was enough give in the ground to not kill him outright though. Having a friend go like that while you watched, trapped, and knowing you couldn’t do a thing about it. Situations like that can change the best of men.”

I glanced at Xander who stared back with a cold determination set into the stern angles of his face. Something transpired between us then—something that made me nervous. I broke the contact and turned to Dex. “I’m so sorry you had to witness that. Thank you, for everything. We couldn’t do this without you,” I said gratefully, grasping his forearm in the brotherly way, the only way I knew how to comfort him.

Xander approached us and gestured towards the door.

“It’s time.”

Only moments after he said so, two low drawn-out horn blares sounded, vibrating the ground beneath us. A film of dust dislodged itself from the sides of the concrete wall from the ominous sound.

I glanced over my shoulder and smiled wearily to Dex who tipped his hat and nodded.
 

After the thirteen years of collected dust had cleared, I breathed in heavily, grasping the hand that would open the door, a contract sealed within the action. My hand shook involuntarily as I attempted to shake hands with this fate.

I looked sideways to Xander for reassurance.

That’s when I felt it: Xander’s warm calloused hand covering my own, helping me turn the handle. His armor gleamed as his eyes held mine. “Partners. For now and always.”

~

A musty cold darkness welcomed us beyond the precipice. We walked slowly down a dark and narrow corridor, finding ourselves reaching the end quickly, our progress halted by another slatted door. The smell of wet dirt drifted through from beyond its exterior, and though my skin turned clammy and my heart raced so quickly I thought I would be sick, the smell was somewhat comforting. It reminded me of the Outlands.

“This door is the final stop before the Requiem. The fighting starts once it opens,” Xander recited to me calmly, but with warning.

I nodded shakily, almost ready to be out of this claustrophobic space.

“Remember your shield and stay out of their reach. Skirt around them for as long as you can. Bubbles and Henry are large so they tire easily. Whatever you do, keep your distance, Lily.” Xander’s calm face turned to me. “Hide if you must.”

I looked at him skeptically. My nerves making me say things that I probably shouldn’t. “We have weapons. They only have their fists. It hardly seems fair.”

Xander grabbed the top of my shield, lowering it until he held my full attention. His voice was low and dangerous as he stepped in front of me, blocking the slanted light from the door. “
Do not
underestimate them. Their reach is far greater than you would think. Do not feel pity for them.
Do
what you must.”

Xander relinquished his grip upon my shield, keeping his eyes locked upon mine. “I will
not
allow what happened to Hugo to happen to you.”

I swallowed. “Xander be reasonable. You cannot make a promise like that.”

“Watch me,” he said zealously, his eyes now focused on the door before us. This battle ready determination of Xander scared me. The savage look in his eyes told me he would do whatever he needed to do to survive, to keep us both alive. This was the Xander that forced a girl, a girl who couldn’t even swim, to the bottom of a water well only to help prepare her mind for a fight. This was the Xander who didn’t blink when admitting to killing the men who had murdered his parents. Didn’t blink when he slit the throat of the guard on the East Wall.

He was hard, cold, unforgiving.

Once satisfied his words had taken some effect, he stepped back to my side. We stood in silence as we waited behind the door, the sunlight again filtering through the gaps. I watched the golden rays as they reflected off my shield, erratic light blooming and filling the small space. It was beautiful, a moment of calm before the immanent storm.

Xander cleared his throat, drawing my attention away from the display of lights before me. “Remember what you’re fighting for. We can do this,” he encouraged this time without the gruff savageness from before.

Xander positioned his helm down over his face, making me think to do the same. His intense eyes were all that I could see behind the protective layer. They were the same eyes I remembered when he’d shut the small slat, locking me in with the training droids. His helm’s copper surface lowered into a point above his brow with a hinged overlay obscuring his mouth and nose. The topmost part from his forehead to the back of his neck, curved to form two spiked ends. He had transformed before me into a deadly weapon, a tool of destruction. I took in the refined and yet savage design of the young man standing at my side. It was like looking at something that you know you shouldn’t—that the act of staring alone would sire a fatal outcome.

This was what Xander was best at. What he lived his life for—and here I was, trying only to play the part.

I hoped I could hold my own.

Just then, the crowd erupted above us. My knuckles tightened around my axes in anticipation as the door started to rise. I shielded my eyes as the sunlight flooded into the small room, blinding me momentarily.

Opening my eyes again, I saw that Xander was nowhere near me.

He was gone.