The Lotus Effect (Rise Of The Ardent) (41 page)

Who knows? That skin might’ve even belonged to Fin, Percival’s late partner. A vile shutter ran the length of me.

Xander unconsciously ran his hand along the back of my hair in comfort, not caring what nasties may have once been pressed up against it. Dropping his hand, he moved away, searching out the danger with both his Sense and eyes. The few moments of rest did allow me to gather my strength to a level in which I could outmaneuver Percival if I had to. I ignored the twinge of pain that flared in my wrists with every twitch of my fingers.

“My gear is in the level below us, but the Key is on the other side of the roof. Let’s forget my stuff and just grab the Key,” I commanded with my best reserved composure.

The adrenaline was slipping away from my body and all that was left was a shell of angry and exhausted numbness. If determination alone could carry me across to the other side of the roof—to the Key, then by all accounts, no one was going to stop me. Not today.

“You need to lay low,” Xander said as he turned his head, his armored shoulders pressed against the wall of rubble. He must’ve read my determined energy. “While I’m not about to leave you here alone again, I’m almost certain the Key is a trap and I don’t want you going in there without anything to—”

I stared at Xander, hard, irritated and wanting to end this. Percival expected us to retrieve my weapons. I wasn’t falling for it.

“Forget my axes. We’re doing this
now
.” Ignoring Xander’s disapproving stare, I stepped past him and away from our cover—walking in the direction of the Key. The sun shone brightly from behind me, casting my armored shadow directly in my path.

“Lily,
stop
. Do you
want
to die?” he asked. “After coming so far, simply because you let your anger get the best of you?” He gripped the armor at my neck from behind, making me look over my shoulder. “Your energy is
off
. . . something is different.” He gave me a shake when my eyes didn’t quite meet his. “Lily, look at me!” His voice lowered to a serious tone, “Something, I fear, is
manipulating
you.”

I waited for him to remove his hand before I continued walking. One step. One breath. I was fuming, seething with an irrational energy. An energy that pulsed over my sore body, giving the strength that I needed to carry on.

Xander mumbled a series of curses at my back. I heard the scraping of metal as if he was removing one of his swords from its sheath.

“Here, at least carry my other blade.”

“Don’t need it,” I replied curtly.

From the corner of my eye I saw him step to my side and spin his blades around in a perturbed fashion. He was done trying to convince me otherwise and accepted the fact he needed to destroy every obstacle that came into our path.

The object that I was looking for lay a few feet ahead.

The E.M. device.

As I neared, I reached down and brought it to rest on my hip without so much as a halt in my step.

“
This
is all that I need.” I turned my attention to Xander for the second time since I decided to make a stand and end this. “You can have Percival, but the Imp . . . it’s mine.”

Xander frowned, his eyes narrowing, but he didn’t argue. He looked unsure of this new Lily. Unsure, but trusting the fearless conviction that I was now exuding.

I looked behind me again to call the order to split up, but Xander had already disappeared, vanished so he could find the most opportune location to lay waste to his victim.

No matter how bold I may become in my anger I would never be as ruthless and deadly as he. I was strong now, but Xander made me stronger. He solidified my purpose in life, bringing out the tenacity that I needed to become a great leader. A bold Mistress.

I turned openly past the damaged corner of the encased stairwell and saw what we’d been fighting over this entire time. The Key glimmered as it hovered over the rectangular pedestal with Newt, unsurprisingly, crouched menacingly at its base.

Percival was so invested in his revenge he cared nothing for the Key. His mind was so clouded in his vengeance he would forgo the most powerful item that one could possibly possess.

The power over the Law.

The Key unlocked the Vault. The Vault contained the Law—a notion that always seemed unsatisfactorily simple if you asked me. Something that caused so much grief and disparity was simply locked away like a favored bit of jewelry.

That Key was
mine
.

I hit the power to the E.M. device and approached Newt. The vibrations of the device coursed through my hands and wrists as I advanced on the creature.

Newt anxiously began dancing on his clawed feet, screeching with an unnatural sound.

I blinked. It was screeching at me, preparing to lunge. Blinked again. It was flying—claws extended towards my exposed throat and head.

Not today.

Raising the E.M. device, I held steady just before ramming it into the imp’s stomach. The imp slammed to the ground in front of me, the E.M. device still connected to its middle.

Keeping a tight hold, I ignored its jerking movements. It screeched louder than before as its body locked and jammed against its will. On another occasion I might’ve felt pity for something such as this and the helpless noise it created.

Not today.

Its lament: now only a nuisance to my ears—the racket of an angry automaton that needed to be put down. Edging my body closer, I one-handed the E.M. device so I could deploy my Defyer. I didn’t have to wait long for the heaviness of the gravity to build before I released it.

Clenching my teeth—I drove my armored knee through the screaming creature’s neck, effectively decapitating the beast.

The action was satisfying, but what was more agreeable was the look of outright horror plastered across Percival’s face as he stepped from his hiding.

“Not what you were hoping for I take it?” I asked.

I tossed the E.M. device to the ground—the twitching imp, malfunctioning and emitting sparks—still connected to its base.

“It’s over Percival. You can’t win this,” I warned.

Percival’s bloodshot eyes tore away from his broken creation and darted to mine. “How dare
you
. . .” he spat furiously, his words augmented oddly by the voice box at his throat.

“My companions can always be repaired.
You
on the other hand won’t be so lucky,” he snarled as he approached me, fingers curled in his rage.

I didn’t flinch, stood unmoving as he came towards me. Maybe this was the carelessness that Xander feared I had earlier.

Good thing it wasn’t.

I almost pitied Percival. Almost.
But.
Not. Today
.

—I
didn’t like to be the judge of another’s worth, to decide whether they lived or died. Though, I’m afraid, I cannot say the same of my partner.

In a flash of metal and whirl of dust, Xander appeared, striking Percival down.

Not even a cry of denial lifted from his tongue-less mouth as he slumped lifelessly to the ground, a pool of dark blood circling from his middle. Xander stood resolutely and without remorse over his decumbent form.

I held firm, never dropping Xander’s gaze as I vacantly stepped over Percival’s limp body and felt the warmth of the Key fill the void of my long awaited grasp.

Chapter 43

Champions Of The Forgotten

“As possessor of the Key and Co-Champion of the Barrage I, Mistress Emerson, hereby declare that the Law of Prosper be rewritten in its entirety.” I paused, allowing myself to linger in the sweet justice of the words that Prosper so long needed to hear.

“Furthermore, those currently presiding over the Council will be disbanded until their successors—those individuals voted in by each and
every
Sector—will subsequently take their place. These changes are to be made immediately as compensation for our victory,” I announced loudly from where we stood, not a moment after securing our triumph.

It felt a bit strange proclaiming this into the air with no one other than Xander at my side, but I knew Prosper could hear us. Voice and image recorders were positioned all around the ruined Sector for them not to.

There were no sounds of rejoice, no triumphant cheer that surrounded us over the loud speakers. At our current location it was difficult to hear any actual celebration. Though, I must admit a new feeling of dread began to gather its way into my chest. Just like how Xander had felt about my energy, something about our victory didn’t feel right. Something was indeed
off
.

We left the rooftop after I adjusted my armor so the Key now rested safely behind my breastplate. Xander, careful of my injured wrists and shoulder, flew us down to the street after having retrieved both my shield and axes for me. My helm, unsurprisingly, was nowhere to be found.

We had won and yet it did not feel like a victory. And no matter how I tried—I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease.

“Something doesn’t feel right. Can you sense it?” I asked, turning to Xander as we walked the last half-klick to town. I refused his offer to fly us the rest of the way. I wanted to walk the remaining distance back to the city as we were—not to be honored as untouchable heroes, but be remembered as individuals, ordinary citizens who resisted defeat through our own humanity and strength.

Xander’s gaze held steady to the road before us as he considered my inquiry. He tilted his head as if listening to a distant sound. “I’m not sure—though I am picking up traces of . . . fear and panic on the wind.”

He turned. “You’re right, something’s wrong.” Instead of taking up the position in front like he usually did, Xander fell back so he could walk by my side, our steps now perfectly in stride. “Let’s just keep moving.”

As we neared the exit of Sector 9, Xander and I both froze. We heard the frantic shuffling of a small group approaching.

Xander withdrew his blades and cautiously spied around the corner of the gate. He immediately re-sheathed his blades and stepped around the metal frame with palms outstretched in a nonthreatening manner.

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” I heard him call out assuredly as though he was coaxing a wild animal from its terror, his arm extended before him. “I mean you no harm. What’s happened? Why are you fleeing?”

I hurried past the gate, coming face to face with a family, disheveled with a look of terror written on each of their faces.

“Walka’s . . . so many of them!” one of the little boys cried out.

“Walkers? What do you mean?” I asked, looking to the boy’s parents.

“We have nowhere to hide! We’re trapped. Please let us pass. They shouldn’t have come this far yet,” the mother pleaded to both Xander and I. Her face was stricken with dirt and tears. “It’s our only chance.”

“Slow down,” Xander urged as she ran into him. “Tell us, has Briggins released these Walkers?”

The mother nodded solemnly and squeezed her little girl tight against her hip as she held her.

“Why? What provoked him to do this?” I asked, coming towards the mother, reassuring her with a soft squeeze upon her shoulder—the only way I knew how to comfort her. The little girl looked down at the bandages at my wrist with curious eyes.

The father stepped forward, his hands trembling. “It started shortly after you knocked that . . .” His face contorted with disgust. “that
creature
from the roof,” he spat, his eyes frantic. “Briggins was furious and knew you would win. He accused you of cheating by using the E.M. device—that it wasn’t a sanctioned weapon.” The father’s eyes teetered nervously before stepping closer to me, a gash faintly visible beneath his hairline. “In his outrage he announced that on your return, the both of you were to be executed on the spot.”

Xander and I both looked to one another. The father sucked in a worried breath. “That’s when all hell broke loose. The crowd was shocked and outraged . . . and a good majority of them surged into the Council member’s box, trying to dispose of Briggins on your behalf. He escaped somehow and has ordered a . . . a Purge of the entire city.
Every
Sector.” He grabbed at my shoulder, holding firm. “The people love you Mistress.” The father’s voice lowered, aware his frightened children listened close behind, himself barely containing the panic hidden within his tone. “We stand up for your beliefs, but now we’re dying. We cannot fight against a foe such as this. He will not stop—not until all resisters are dead.”

My eyes watered as I looked into his. I reached up, squeezing the man’s tense shoulder in sympathy. “I’m grateful for your loyalty.” I said softly. “We feared something like this would happen.”

A moment passed before I could speak again. “Thank you for this information. We will try everything in our power to stop Briggins.” I looked to Xander. “But where should they go? Deeper into Sector 9 to hide? Sector 9 is a danger in itself.”

I ran my fingers through my tangled hair, quickly sweeping it into a braid and out of my face. “I need to find my father. Only he would know of a way to reprogram the Walkers.”

Xander withdrew his swords again, trusting the family to not flee at the sight of them. “I’ll go find your father.” Xander stepped closer, his eyes only seeing me. “First, I need to fly over each of the Walls to detonate the charges.” He looked to the mother and father. “Today the Walls come down. Do not go further into Sector 9. Head to the West Wall with Lily.” He paused. “Let everyone you meet on your way know that they can escape through them once they blow. There is a man named Teizel who will help lead you to safety once you’re out of the city.” He looked to the three children clutching at their mother. “Do not be afraid of the Outlands. They’re not what the Council would have you believe.”

The mother and father nodded fervently at his instruction, both their faces tight with worry. The last place they wanted to go was back into the city.

But somehow they trusted us. Trusted us completely.

“I’ll detonate the locket once I know your father is safely out of harm’s way. It’ll at least give them something to fuss over.”

“So were splitting up again?” I stated carefully.

Xander looked at me through his helm. His chest rose before he reached up to slowly remove the metal that separated us.

He placed his battle worn hands behind my ears, bringing his face close. “This isn’t a goodbye.” His lips hovered over mine hesitantly as though he was unsure of how to proceed. With his decision made, he finally closed the distance—his touch light as a feather. A promise of return sealed within the sweetness of such a kiss.

Slowly lifting, he held his forehead to mine. He looked at me carefully, placing both hands upon my cheeks in his urgency. “You help these people get to the Wall.” He brushed a ribbon of hair away from my scarred eye. “Once you do that, make your way to the Outlands with the others. You’ll be safest there.”

I shook my head against his. “No. You know very well I won’t do that.”

He closed his eyes, his voice a whisper. “It was worth a try.” He looked at me again. “Then meet me at the abandoned guard’s post behind the Estate. Remember the one you spoke of earlier?” His voice was steady but I could tell he was fighting the thought of never seeing me alive again.

I nodded my head against his, my nostrils flaring as my face fought off the same fear for him.

“Next time you see me, I’ll be standing next to your father. I’ll find him, Lily, I will.” Xander unwillingly surrendered his face from mine.

I swallowed hard, not ready to be separated from him. With both hands, I seized the sides of his face, bringing his lips back down to mine. Xander seemed shocked at first by my aggressiveness but he soon softened, a smiled upturning and crinkling the sides of his closed eyes. He splayed his hand across the small of my back, bringing me closer. The passion that brimmed hotly within our embrace infused me with a fresh determination.

Accepting that victories were hard won and never arrived when you expected them, I dropped my hands and pulled away. “I’ll meet you there,” I whispered with more conviction than I felt, my breathing heavy.

Xander had a new lightness in his eyes. He reached down to my hands, taking hold of them gently—my bloody and bruised fingers squeezing involuntarily around my axe handles as he brought them up into a defensive position.

“Don’t get caught.”

Xander let go, and began to back away, placing his helm back over his face. “After this is all over, just think. You’ll be deserving of another compromise,” he winked, masking the true fear in his eyes before deploying his wings and soaring upwards towards the clouds of the eastern sky. I tried to ignore the pang of remorse at letting him leave without so much as a fight, but I knew he was right.

We had no time and I had to get these people to safety. My duty as Mistress required it of me. My responsibility as a person of good moral fiber required it of me.

I had to let him go.

~

Shortly after Xander had disappeared into the city I sucked in a deep breath, gathering as much courage as I could. I looked at the little girl who, though obviously scared, appeared unruffled on the surface. She believed in her family and she believed in me.

“What’s your name?” I asked trying to insert some calm back into the situation.

“Emma,” she replied with a mousy voice.

“It’s very nice to meet you and your family, Emma. Once this is over I’ll make sure to announce how brave you all were today.”

“Thank you, Mistress,” she said in that small voice of hers.

I smiled and rubbed her dirty cheek with the side of my finger. “You can call me Lily.”

Emma grinned shyly and burrowed her face into her mother’s shoulder. I smiled again and patted her hand affectionately.

“Shall we start heading West? Xander should have enough time to detonate the Wall before we get there. Is everyone ready?” I asked, receiving relieved nods of agreement.
 

I paused as I turned the corner of the alley.

My body stiffened as an unfamiliar siren whined out a foreboding warning. It was a long drawn out noise that rose in pitch, soaking dread down into the marrow of my bones.

“What is that?” I asked, looking around to the others. I held my shield out behind me, stopping them.

The mother and father both shook their heads, even at their advanced age; they didn’t know what to make of the alarm either.

I didn’t have an opportunity to think on it too long for a Sonic Walker appeared from the corner of the crumbling building one street over. It crashed through an arched footbridge, sending boulder sized stones flying mere feet from where we stood.

“Go. Keep heading west,” I commanded the family harshly, watching in fear as the little girl clung to her mother’s hip. “Quickly!”

As I motioned for the family to run, I myself ran out into the center of the street, hoping to draw the Walker’s fire.

I skidded to a halt as I heard the raw inhale of its blaster preparing itself. The Walker had me targeted.

 
Quickly gauging where it was aiming, I dodged, diving to the ground, hoping I hadn’t misjudged its trajectory. As I fell, the shot rang out. A whistling zing flying just above my head.

—I slammed onto the ground into a tumbling roll as bits of rubble and broken cobblestone rained down all around me. I had barely managed to cover my face and head with my shield, protecting myself from the largest of the falling stones.

Ignoring my bleeding wrists and aching shoulder, I pushed myself
  
back to my feet—just in time to hear the engines of the blaster rev itself up again.

I didn’t have time between shots to be caught flat-footed so I lunged myself behind the closest concrete slab that’d just fallen. The Walker stepped closer, cracking the cobblestone beneath its massive weight.