The Lotus Effect (Rise Of The Ardent) (35 page)

“You okay?” he managed to ask in a gruff tone, though I knew he was way worse off than I.

I coughed again, rolling myself off of him. “Yes, you?”

“I’ll live. Seriously Lily, feel free to dissuade me from crazy ideas like this in the future,” he said, propping himself up onto his elbow and grabbing at his sore ribs.

I narrowed my eyes and shoved him hard, making him fall back onto his side. “Do not
ever
do that again! You could’ve killed us both!”

Xander gave a sniff and smiled weakly. He absently reached over, ruffling my hair in response as if to appease an aggravated pet, before peering through the haze of devastation we’d caused.

His eyes could never fool me: he was worried of what we’d find.

Swatting his hand away, I looked beyond the crater. Margie and Damaris both lay motionless, faces down in the dirt. From our position I couldn’t tell if they were even . . .
intact
.

Licking my lips to moisten them, then immediately regretting that decision, I looked up to Xander, afraid to ask the obvious. “Did we . . . are they . . . ?”

“If they are, know they would’ve done the same to you. Or worse.”

“No. I’m fairly certain
no one
decides to projectile themselves out of the sky for
any
reason,” I said sourly as I spat again and tried to brush away the film of dirt that covered my brow and mouth.

Ignoring my jab and using his arms to stand, Xander then reached for my hands and lifted me on shaky legs. He cupped my dirty cheek with his hand and gave a reassuring swipe of his thumb before walking over to kneel beside their prone bodies. Reaching down with bruised fingers, he felt beneath each of their chins.

He looked to me. “They both live though their pulses are weak.”

I sighed and slumped towards the ground in relief—my back propped against the wall of the crater we had created, reveling in the shadowed privacy. With nerves shattered and wary, I found I could no longer hold back the frustrated tears. They forced their way past the specks of dirt that clung to the tips of my eyelashes. Sniffing angrily, I wiped at my face only to bring away a handful of wet grime.

I didn’t hear, nor care, that Xander had approached and was now watching me.

Placing his hand under my arm, he helped me stand again. He brought me close to his armored chest, the surface cool against my cheek. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder, hand resting lightly in my hair. He held me like that for I’m not sure how long, his gaze far off in the distance. I didn’t object as he did so, my body simply numb and uncaring of what the repercussions of this might become.

“It looked like you could use a hug,” he said softly near my ear, his presence not demanding, only comforting. He pulled back slowly, his gray eyes piercing.

“One more down. One to go. Stay brave. Stay strong.”

I sighed and did the only thing I could think to do.

Biting at my lip in exhausted frustration, I nodded.

I nodded my acceptance, because knowing deep down that
even if you’re crawling, you’re still moving forward
.

Chapter 36

A Look To Match ~ Dress To Impress

After a horrible night of restless sleep, both Xander and I were roused early by the constant rippling of the force field. I sat up in bed and looked around groggily, blinking to try and clear the haze of lost sleep from my eyes. It was just before sunrise. It still shone darkly through our little window—the gray light filtering weakly through the gaps in the door.

“Who is it now?” I asked gruffly, watching as Xander leapt barefoot from his bed to assess the situation. His tunic’s sleeves were rolled into bunches at his elbows, and his shirt hung askew above his trousers. I wasn’t sure why I found myself staring. Maybe it was the way he was acting towards me that had me seeing him differently now. I wasn’t sure, but maybe this wasn’t a good thing.

Closing my eyes, I massaged my throbbing temples with bruised fingers. My eyes were sore and swollen being that I had cried away most of the night, thinking of my mother. And Xander—being that he slept only ten feet away—had noticed. Could no longer comply with my request to be left alone.

He had approached my bed like the shadow that he was and gathered me into his arms, soothing down the worst of the wracking sobs with his comforting hold—my back only ever resting against his chest. He didn’t need to sense my emotions to know what this pain felt like.

I blushed, thinking of the kindness he’d shown me and returned my glassy stare towards the door. The tension dropped from Xander’s shoulders as he stepped away from the small window. “It’s Cormack.” He turned to me in disbelief. “He’s throwing pebbles at us.”

My brow creased, not understanding. “What in Prosper is he doing?” I swung the warm covers from me and treaded barefoot towards the door.

Xander stood with arms crossed, head leaning against the wall. Judging by his face, he found Cormack’s aggravated energy amusing.

“Blood and bones! If you two weren’t so paranoid and would just be
normal
like the rest of the fighters, I wouldn’t have to be throwing rocks to—Get. Your. Attention!” I heard him call out, huffing as three successive rocks collided with the force field on each angrily punctuated word.

I tried to hide the small smile that escaped me, but it was so difficult, when even stoic Xander was smirking at his discomfort. Xander nodded to me—I opened the door, trying to hide the humor from my face.

A rock flew straight for me. My arm darted out, catching it easily before it would’ve hit my face. “And a Good Morning to you too, Cormack.” I smiled, nodding his way sleepily.

Cormack’s face hung askew. “I . . . nice catch Ma’lady Emerson.” Cormack dressed in his best butler attire, still looked a bit disheveled.
And when I say a bit disheveled, I mean a lot
. His hair—I would guess from the effort of rock throwing—was untidy and sticking out in odd places. Much unlike his usual kempt appearance.

Cormack cleared his throat at the sight of Xander and casually dropped the handful of rocks by his side, carefully patting down his untamed hair. His tone remained formal though still held a bit of annoyance along the edges. “I am to inform you, Xander and Lady Emer—my apologies—Mistress Emerson, that today at noontime, the Council requests your appearance at the Stadium to announce the location and hour of the final round. Attendance is not optional.”

As was required, Cormack bowed slightly and turned before huffing off in the direction of the next fighters’ hut to deliver a similar message.

Xander turned to me, crossing his arms. “I get the feeling he still doesn’t like me very much.”

“You really were quite dreadful that first day.” I chuckled, but not feeling the lightness reach my sorrowed heart. The tips of my fingers ran across the rock still in hand, the contours sharp and angular.

Xander sighed before closing the door behind us.

The sudden quiet stillness allowed me to awaken some. “He regarded me as
Mistress
. Does that mean my mother’s death has now gone public? A notion I thought for sure Briggins would’ve wanted to keep in the dark.”

Xander sobered, leaning back onto the small squeaky table positioned close to the door. “Perhaps that’s what Briggins was hoping for, but somehow it managed to leak? All are not loyal to him and word of mouth travels quickly in Prosper.”

“So it’s official then. I am now
Mistress
of City Prosper,” I stated with an unsatisfying sigh, the thought of such responsibility clotting and drowning me from within. I brought my chilled fingers to my swollen eyes to try and ease the puffiness and strain. “I have no idea how my role will play out, when even I have been cast out of the Estate.”

“You don’t know that for sure, Lily. You only assumed, because of your—”

“—defiance to the Council? Challenging of the Law?
Of course
they’ll never allow me to return to the Estate. Briggins will find any opportunity to eliminate me from his equation of power. Barrage or not, my life is always going to be threatened.”

Xander tilted his head, weighing his thoughts. “You cannot invest your worries into upholding traditions of the past. Everything will be different when we’re done with this. The title, the place of your rule . . . these do not make a leader. Wherever you are, whoever you’re with,
you
are Mistress. If you fight for the benefit of the people, then they will follow.”

At his words, the overwhelming sense of responsibility moved from my chest and coated thickly in the back of my throat.
Would they follow us to the Outlands?
Trust that there was no future left for them here?
Looking down at my hand, I swirled the rock between my fingers.
Such an ancient thing
, I thought. How long had its presence gone unnoticed? Untouched by human hands. What history had it seen that we had not?

I walked to the table, placing the rock on its surface which was cool beneath my palm. I removed my hand. Despite the rock’s edges being slight and uneven, it still sat tall, unshaken.
 
   

“I sure hope so Xander. I really do.”

For the sake of Prosper’s future, I had to believe they would.

~

“Why has this become so difficult? Being a girl?” I groaned to myself.

Later that morning, I stood debating what I should wear to the final Stadium Ceremony no doubt like many of my female counterparts. Reaching into my satchel, I grasped the edge of my green silk gown, the same one I wore to my Coronation, the one Mrs. Fawnsworth loved so much, the one my mother had chosen for me.

I grunted and dug deeper, searching for my brown trousers instead. I shifted the fabrics around some more before finally coming back upon the green dress.

Fingering the lace edging around the interwoven corset, a thought came to mind. If I was now the Mistress of Science, I should at least
look
the part. Let the citizens know that I was up for the task. Let Briggins know that I wasn’t afraid of him. That if he wanted to downplay my title, make him aware that I would
not
. I rose from my crouch, dress held firmly to my chest—my decision made.

Using the washroom I cleaned myself up as best I could, making sure my hair was tamed into the usual braids and knots of a Mistress. Luckily, sleeping in my dampened braid had given me sufficient enough curl to pull off the look. A full bell later, I finally deemed myself presentable with a nod to my mirrored self—the gash across my eye being the only visible change to my appearance since the night of the Coronation. The real change, however, was underneath—an all-consuming presence that enveloped me in its powerful caress, taking its first true hold upon me the night I had learned of my mother’s murder. And unlike the time in the Outlands . . . this time, I accepted it. Accepted its existence.

Maybe I
was
Abnormal.

Maybe, now, I didn’t care.

I opened the door to find Xander’s back towards me. He turned, feeling my strong presence encompass the tiny room. The look of sheer admiration that gleamed brightly upon his face would’ve melted any girl’s heart where they stood
.

I held my head high, remembering the persona I was to be exuding today.

“Let’s get this over with.”

Chapter 37

An Important Announcement

“Dex, stop pretending to look so surprised. I am a girl you know? And it’s perfectly acceptable to dress like one on occasion.”

Dex walked beside me in near open-mouthed bewilderment.

“Of course I know you’re a lady. It’s just that in my
experience
—” He cleared his throat experimentally. “—ladies who dress like
that
. . .” He waved his hands in the air around me. “usually are looking to get something they want. And well, they usually get it.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Xander roll his eyes skyward as we three continued our hike to the Stadium.

“
Excellent.
Exactly what I wanted to hear.” I nodded Dex’s way as I casually scanned the cobblestone street ahead of us.

Dex picked up the ruffled side of my skirt, looking just beneath, and frowned. —I slapped at his hand, making him jump back apologetically.

He stifled a laugh. “I will say however . . . not many ladies I know pair up a nice dress like that with boots like
those
,” he said in regards to my partially hidden, mud covered, knee-high laced boots—which were quite capable of holding their own should they need to.

I shrugged, rubbing my hands over the front of my skirts to straighten them. I cleared my throat. “Yes well, the boots are practical,” I retorted sheepishly. “I can only take so much . . . feminine appeal. Next thing you know, I’ll be wearing ribbons in my hair to the next match. First it starts with the boots. Then it’s all downhill from there.”

Dex stared at me. “
Bones
no.
Ribbons?
”
He made a disgusted noise at the back of his throat. “Now we can’t ever allow that to happen.” Then he laughed. “You are quite an odd box of oats I tell ya, Lily.”

Xander peered around me towards Dex with an incredulous look. “What does that even mean?”

“Oh, I dunno. Just made it up. Sounds fittin’—Ya’ know there’s always that one box you get from the Warehouse that’s all misshapen and warped and it always leaves ya thinkin’, ‘
an’ what the hell happened to this one
?’ But then you get to thinkin’ some more, ‘
Well at least I bet it’s got an interestin’ story unlike the rest of the lot.’
So in my mind, with its unique history, it’ll probably end up tastin’ better—
that’s
what I’m tryin’ to get at, I guess.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “So now I’m misshapen and warped, but I also taste good? I’m wholeheartedly confused yet slightly flattered. Thanks, Dex.”

Dex tilted his hat with a smile. “Anytime.”

Xander’s forehead creased. “Yes,
Lily
is the strange one.” His eyes were wide with sarcasm, but then dropped to give Dex his best disapproving eyebrow. “Dex, I’m not really sure why it is I keep you around.”

“For laughs of course! You got laughs? I’ve got jokes,” Dex said, reaching around me to punch Xander on the shoulder.

Xander grunted in response, returning to his casual stride beside me, his long jacket trailing out behind him, his dark hood concealing most of his face again.

Dex accompanied us until Xander and I were directed down a side entrance that led into the Stadium’s center. Dex tipped his hat towards me and winked before disappearing into the crowd.

While we stood in the dim musty hallway, I glanced from one of the small square windows, its hazy glass allowing me a partial view of what was taking place in the Stadium’s arena. The usual dusty stage stood front and center, but now with an added platform that rose above the usual dais. When both Xander and I arrived in front of our door, we were informed that we would have to wait until all other fighters were announced before we would be called for our own approach into the Stadium.

Readjusting my sight to the shadows of the hallway with its dim flickering gas lanterns, I caught eyes with Afina who stood further down the curved hall to my right. As she turned, the lantern behind her illuminated her face; she smiled at me weakly before turning her attention to the door ahead of her.

Seeing her face, my heart plummeted. The entire left side of her jaw and neck was puckered pink with tightened skin—patterned much like a net. Her cheek was badly bruised and her eyes sad. Affery was not at her side.

Shocked, I turned to Xander. “What happened to Affery and Afina? Did Dex tell you?” Dex had told me that Bubbles and Harnister had been defeated by Percival and Fin—but nothing about Afina and her brother.

The edge of Xander’s hood brushed the side of my cheek as he tilted my way. “Scottie and Giles tried the same trick on Sector 1 as they did with Hugo and Gerald. Luckily, Affery caught on quickly and saved his sister from the net, but not before Giles broke both his legs. Afina forfeited before they were both killed.”

My jaw clenched in anger. I looked remorsefully towards Afina. I understood how difficult it was to lose a partner . . . a family member. Afina made the right choice. Forfeiting was her only option—she saved her brother’s life in doing so. Pride of victory would have to wait for another day.

“Afina and Affery are said to have the greatest talent with a blade. To be the greatest of skilled fighters . . . how did Scottie and Giles even have a chance?” I asked in a whisper, looking back towards Xander, his gray eyes reflecting the golden flame of the lanterns.

“Affery and Afina fight with honor. Scottie’s a coward. He fights dirty.”

I sighed, shaking my head and hating what happened to them.

Since there was only a final round to go . . . that could only mean one thing. “So what does that mean for us? We now fight Scottie and Giles, Percival and Fin Hughs?
All at once
?”

Xander crossed his arms and shifted his weight to his other leg. “So it would seem.”

“Well,” I said dryly. “Lucky for us.”

Xander arched his eyebrow at me, but didn’t say a word. An action I now knew held more meaning than I previously thought. I knew he was reading me.

Scottie being my rival, and Xander being Percival’s longtime nemesis from a friendship turned sour . . . this was going to be a good fight. And when I said good . . . I meant bad. Very bad.

The announcer’s familiar voice beamed overhead, somewhat muffled by the thick stone roof above us. “Please help us welcome this year’s Barrage Tournament fighters!”

I readied myself to walk out the door, but remembered we would be ushered in last. An oily haired and mustached attendant approached just as I stepped forward some, gesturing to me to remain patient.

Shifting my weight to my other foot, I waited for the announcer to continue his speech.

“Before we continue, please give a moment of silence to those whose lives have been lost, and for those who are not able to attend tonight’s assembly.”

 
With a quick look of surprise to one another, Xander and I both bowed our heads in reverence to the loss of Hugo Miller and to the severe injuries sustained by his teammate Gerald. To Sir Norbert, and Affery; to the blatant murder of both Mrs. Fawnsworth, and my mother. Before I could hardly finish taking a deep breath in thought, the announcer cleared his throat. “Yes, yes, very good. Let us continue.”

I looked up at Xander with a scowl, but found him still honoring those with his hood still hanging low, ignoring the screech of the announcer’s amplifier. He then slowly raised his head and opened his piercing gray eyes. They looked like steel, forged within the flames of the casting light.

I wished I could see into his thoughts, see what it was that motivated him. Before it was absolute revenge, but now? I wasn’t sure.

Retaining the seriousness in his face he then looked at me.

“It’s time.”

~

The crowd went silent when Xander and I walked into the Stadium. All eyes directed our way and hushed whispers floated around like the brewing of a storm.

Xander and I were the second pair called to the Stadium after announcing the arrival of Percival and Fin Hughs. We were ushered onto the center stage and then up to the second, higher dais, which seemed only just long enough to fit the length of the three remaining Sectors.

I tried not to cringe as I stood next to Percival. The slimy cold darkness that emanated from him made me feel nauseated, almost as if his nearness was gouging a black hole into the depths of my stomach. It was uncomfortable to be standing so close to someone who you knew would try their best to kill you the next day. It was the feeling the Council intended for us as we stood shoulder to shoulder with our adversaries.

Smothered
.

Glancing down from above, I noticed the vacant spaces where many of the others used to stand. Bubbles McGee caught me staring and winked, his massive mustache gesturing its own greeting as he did so. There were scratches, or what could possibly be claw marks, all along the side of his neck. I’d assume the beasts both Percival and Fin created had something to do with that. My mood not matching my expression, I smiled back weakly before searching the rest of the platform.

To my relief, Margie and Damaris stood at the end in their usual brooding manner, but otherwise visibly uninjured by our aerial assault. Margie chewed at her thumb and spat a loose piece of skin out behind her. She caught eyes with me as she did and scowled before quickly returning her attention to the announcer.

The familiar skinny announcer opened his mouth—to what I presumed to be an introduction of Scottie and Giles into the Stadium—but found the amplifier getting grabbed from his hands. “Good Evening everyone!” Briggin’s voice boomed throughout the Stadium.

“As representative over the Council, I think it fitting if I were to introduce the next pair of brilliant young fighters.” Briggins smiled, not waiting for a response. “Please welcome the Council Sponsored Sector 7, my brave son, Scottie Briggins, and his teammate Giles to the stage!”

The door to our left opened with a creak and I watched Scottie strut across the dry dust-filled arena floor dressed in an outfit suitable for an Estate held Ball. A few girls in the Sector 8 section giggled and gossiped among themselves. I rolled my eyes, wondering briefly if Cousin Annette was among the whispering crew.

Giles slithered in behind Scottie, grinning slyly despite the fact some of his teeth were now missing.

“Now isn’t that a bold looking group of young men? I wonder
where
that strapping young blond fellow found such good genes?” Briggins said garishly. Briggin’s laugh grated at my nerves, though I was somewhat pleased to see that not all in the crowded Stadium shared his feelings.
They were the ones forced to watch the unveiling of Scottie’s cruelty after all.

Scottie bowed to the crowd and winked at the giggling group of Sector 8 girls.

Briggins coughed, clearing his throat to compose himself, and his son. “As many of you may already know, tomorrow’s round will consist of a battle between the three remaining Sectors. The victor will be decided based upon their ability to recover the hidden key to the Vault of Laws.”

An outraged thought sprung to mind, forcing me to speak. “If the Magistrate is indisposed . . .” I shouted across the Stadium towards Briggins, “who then has supervised the hiding of such a Key? We wouldn’t want anyone to have an unfair advantage, now would we?”

I didn’t need to look. Everyone knew who I was referring to.

Briggin’s eyes went wide in surprise, but he chuckled nauseatingly into the amplifier. “I’m sorry, my dear, but you have no authority to make such statements at the present time.”

Ignoring Xander’s forestalling hand, I stepped forward on the small dais. “Whether you only see me as a Barrage fighter or not is irrelevant.” I paused, wanting to match eyes with every person present. “I can, however, tell you with great certainty that I am Lily Emerson,
Mistress
of City Prosper now, and I have
every
authority.” My stare fixated to one person alone. “
You
Briggins, on the other hand, do
not
.”

I took a moment to let everyone’s shock soak in before I continued, “And as your Mistress . . . I will say and do whatever it is I wish on behalf of the citizens.” I looked to the crowd. “City Prosper, I offer you hope. And when that time does come—be ready to receive it.”

It wasn’t much of a warning of the Outlands, but enough of a declaration to get their heads turning, eyes questioning. My own eyes shot back to Briggins. “You’ve acquired a great deal of presence since the Barrage began Briggins . . . .
 
Is this due to sheer luck or is it of your own doing?” I added, raising my chin to effectively test his patience and that of the Council’s.