Defiance Rising (25 page)

“How is this possible?” Aminah chokes out.
 
“We knew our parents, were raised by them in the caverns.”

“You were brought to Earth as very small babies.
 
You would have no memory of your true parents so all that you know is your adopted parents.
 
After we arrived, I’m sure many children were adopted by those who survived.
 
Whole groups of adults were rounded up and slaughtered in the streets, leaving countless children left to fend for themselves.
 
You were among them.”
 

“My guess would be that the adults in your group divided each of you into specific families and never felt it necessary to tell you the truth.
 
The parents you were originally selected to be with probably didn’t survive the invasion.”

“And me?” Bastien challenges.

“You are different.
 
Your adoption remained intact.
 
The parents you knew got you when you were only a few days old and kept you safe all those years.
 
They had no idea who, or what you are, but I can promise you that your memories of them are quite genuine, Bastien.”

The tenderness in Kyan’s voice surprises me.
 
I can hear sympathy mingled with pain for Bastien’s loss.
 
“How did we come here then?”

“Soulmates are created in a lab on Calisted and births are predicted to the exact day.
 
They are planned and widely celebrated.
 
Your births were no different, but you six were special.
 
The Oracles knew you must be protected from Aloysius so you were sent here, along with Guardians.”

“Guardians?” Toren questions, pausing in mid-step.

“Their sole purpose was to get you here safely and place you with loving families. After that, they were free to assimilate into the human race.”

“What about their eyes?
 
Weren’t they noticed?” I ask.

“Of course some of them were.
 
Aliens have always been a source of great interest on Earth.
 
Your government seized those that failed to hide their identity well enough.
 
No doubt when we arrived in your air space they were tortured and put to death.”

“How horrible,” Zahra whispers.

“It’s no worse a fate than what this scum has done to our people over the years,” Bastien growls, eliciting a glare from Zahra.
 

Toren gives him an approving glance before addressing Kyan once more.
 
“So what is Illyria’s role in all of this?
 
Or ours for that matter?”

“Each of you has been given an ability, a gift if you will.
 
On Calisted, each child is given a gift, but only the best and brightest are trained.
 
Those that grow up able to make flowers bloom at will don’t make the army’s cut, but there are those whose gifts can be used for tactical purposes.
 
Aloysius exploited that and created a strong army.
 
You six are among those who would’ve been trained and, as such, pose a threat to Aloysius, but none pose a threat greater than Illyria.”

His gaze softens when he glances at me.
 
“Illyria is special, unique.
 
She falls into uncharted territory and once Aloysius discovers she is alive, he will stop at nothing to get her.”

“Like Drakon?” Bastien asks.

“Oh no.
 
Commander Drakon is a kitten compared to Aloysius.
 
Drakon wants Illyria because of what she can bring him…favor with the king.”

“So he wants me for this Shadow thing within me?” I ask.

“Yes and no.”
 
Kyan clears his throat, looking very uncomfortable with this line of questioning.
 
“There is another reason he will want you.”

“I don’t like the way that sounds,” Eamon mutters, slipping his hand through mine. I squeeze his fingers, grateful for his support.
  
I would never admit this to a living soul, but all this talk of the future is starting to creep me out.
 
I just want to go back to spending my days hunting, when life was hard but normal.
 
When I was in control.

“Your parents were forbidden to be together, Illyria.
 
They broke Caldonian law when you were conceived.
 
As such, your birth was uncontrolled and unsanctioned.
 
The results were…unfortunate.”

Bastien bristles next to me, but Kyan raises his hand.
 
“Peace, Bastien.
 
Let me explain.”

He strokes his chin and his brow pinches as he fights for words.
 
“Illyria’s parents were the descendants of a specific lineage that was meant to be kept apart by those who fear the Oracle’s prophecy.
 
When you were born, you were given the DNA that matches Aloysius’ previous wife.”

“Hold on a second,” Toren throws out his hands, interrupting Kyan’s story.
 
“So you’re saying that Illyria is somehow related to your king’s dead wife.”

Kyan winces.
 
“In a way, yes.
 
Illyria is her own person, but she is the spitting image of Aloysius’ former wife.”

Bastien blows out a deep breath.
 
“So once he sees Illyria, she’ll be a perfect match for the woman he lost plus she’s powerful on top.
 
That’s messed up, but in a way sort of brilliant.”

“What do you mean?” Eamon asks, his tone ripe with warning.

“I’m saying what Kyan is obviously not wanting to.
 
Illyria is bait.
 
That’s why he’s here.
 
To train her so that when she’s presented to the King, she will be able to take him out.
 
‘Cause let’s face it, her presence here has made some pretty big waves among the Caldonians.”
 
He glances back to Kyan.
 
“Am I right?”

The instant Kyan’s head dips in agreement, shouts of protest rise around me.
 
Toren throws his hands up in the air as Aminah jumps to her feet.
  
Zahra looks like a spitting viper at the thought of my lineage to the throne.
 
Eamon’s bellowing protests ricochet over the circular stone walls, but I sit in numb disbelief.
 
Only Kyan and Bastien remain silent, both watching me with great intensity.
 

I slowly rise to my feet and silence falls all around.
 
All eyes zero in on me as I fight back the panic rising within.
 
Eamon tries to step toward me, but I hold up my hand.
 
“No.
 
I just…I need a minute.”

“Take all the time you need,” Bastien says, motioning for everyone to sit back down.
 

I turn and walk toward the stone wall that towers nearly three feet above my head.
 
When I leaped into this pit, I didn’t really stop to think about how I would get back out, but now I leap without thinking, easily spanning the top of the rock and landing ten feet on the other side.

“Guess we can add freakishly long jumps to her list of gifts,” Zahra mutters from below.

I lean forward and run.
 
I have no idea where I’m headed, all I know is that I need to get away.
 
I eat up the ground with ease, running faster and faster.
 
I sprint around downed trees and across icy steams, never slowing, not even when my heart feels as if it might burst in my chest.

I head east, straight past the edge of the lake.
 
I pass Bastien’s cave and leap down to the valley below, running full out, as if Drakon himself were chasing me.

Finally, spent of energy, I collapse to the ground.
 
I don’t recognize this part of the woods.
 
The trees are taller, growing at odd angles, as if weaving a living quilt through the space before me.
 
I can see smoke rising in the near distance and tangled heaps of metal dotting the landscape.
 
I sink back onto my knees and gulp in air, realizing that I’ve run a distance equal to four hours of walking in only a matter of minutes.

“Guess I can add Toren’s speed to the list, too,” I mutter to the empty woods.

I pull my legs up to my chest, resting my chin along my right knee as I rock.
 
My mother used to rock me as a child.
 
With a sharp pang, I realize the woman I knew wasn’t really my mother, not by blood at least.
 
My mind wanders, wondering what my real mother might look like.
 
Did she have wild blonde hair like me?
 
Were her eyes violet too or do they resemble a true Caldonian’s eye color?
 
Did she share my laugh or the dimple that appears on my left cheek when I grin?

My heart clenches as tears begin to form.
 
I swipe then angrily away.
 
I won’t cry.
 
I can’t.
 

Your mother loves you, Illyria.
 
Never doubt that.

I look up, not the least bit surprised that Kyan can still reach out to me.
 
Do you know her?

Yes.
 
He offers nothing else.

Will you tell me about her?

Someday, I will take you to meet her.
 

Twenty-One

As the sun begins to sink toward the western horizon, dipping low behind the mountain, I slow to a jog.
 
The run back to the camp took longer than earlier.
 
I approach the blackberry tunnel at a slow walk and collapse down onto the damp ground.
 
I tuck my legs into my chest, trying to hold myself together.
 

I’d thought an afternoon alone in the woods would be enough to deal with the flood of emotions Kyan hit me with earlier, but the closer I get to camp, the more panicked I feel.
 
I don’t know what to say to my friends, or even how to begin to fathom Kyan’s claims that we are all Caldonian.
 
I feel human, look human, but then again, so does Kyan.
 

I never wanted to be singled out, to be labeled special.
 
All I want is to be left alone.

What was Kyan thinking by hitting me with all of that destiny crap?
 
He knows I’m most volatile when I’m emotional.
 
He should have known better.
 
I could’ve lost control, hurt someone.
 

The question ‘why me’ is set on an irritating loop in my mind as the long shadows of the towering trees begin to recede across the ground.
 
The heat of the sun fades from the crown of my head and I can see my breath in a cloud before me.
 
Evening is coming and I feel no better than I did a couple hours ago.

My eyes are swollen and red and my head aches, with the fierce pounding of metal against stone.
 
I feel like I can almost hear it, a tangible hammering that echoes through my mind.

“You ok, Princess?”
 
I whip around, searching for Bastien, but he is nowhere to be seen.
 
“Up here.”

I crane my head back to see him perched high in the tree above me.
 
“How long have you been spying on me?”

Tucking his head, he dives head first off the limb.
 
My breath catches as his body curls and he lands gracefully on his feet at the last second.
 
“Show off,” I grumble bitterly.

“What’s eating you?”

“Nothing.”
 
I drop my head to my knees again and focus on the pounding in my head.
 
It feels stronger now that Bastien is here.

When he drops down before me in a crouch, I refuse to acknowledge his presence.
 
“Come on. Talk to me.
 
I know you’re freaked out by what Kyan said.”

“Am not,” I grumble, turning away.

“Fine,” he says, wiping his hands.
 
“Just so you know, I covered your chores for you this afternoon.
 
Probably going to have blisters for an entire week now.”

“I didn’t ask you to do that,” I snap, lifting my head to glare at him.

To his credit, he doesn’t back down.
 
Instead, his gaze narrows and I can feel him doing it, that weird seeing into my soul thing and I break eye contact first.
 
“You didn’t have to.
 
I wanted to do it.”

“Why are you helping me?”
 
I glare at him.
 

He opens and closes his mouth, his expression shifting from surprise to frustration.
  
“Because I care about you, ok?”

I snort and duck my head.
 
“You care about me?
 
How sweet.”

“Hey!” He yanks on my arm, forcing me to look at him.
 
“I don’t care how hard you try to push me away, I’m not going anywhere, so deal with it.”

“Why?” I croak as my throat clenches.

Looking down at the tight grip on my arm, he releases his hold and sinks down heavily beside me.
 
“I’ve tried to tell myself that it’s nothing, a stupid whim, but no matter how hard I try, I can’t stop thinking about you.
 
Trust me, I’ve tried to forget about you, but you’re just as stubborn in my mind as you are in person!”

“Now
that’s
a great pick up line.”
 
I laugh bitterly.

Bastien’s brow furrows and his jaw clenches.
 
“I came out here to see if you were ok because I was worried.
 
If you don’t want me here, fine.
 
I’ll leave.
 
I’m not going to stick around and be your punching bag.”

Leaping to his feet, he turns and marches away.
 

“Wait!” I call out before he reaches the path.
 
He stops but doesn’t turn.
 
“I’m sorry.
 
I’m just…it’s been a really bad day for me, ok?”

His shoulders rise and fall as he fights to control his frustration.
 
I can feel it pouring off him in nearly visible waves.
 
Guilt stabs at me and I drop my head.
 
Every time he gets too close, I shove him away, like it’s a reflex.

I hear Bastien’s approach and look up.
 
His expression is guarded.
 
“I’m worried about you, Illyria.
 
Hearing that destiny stuff was hard to take, more so for you, I’m sure.
 
I get that, but that doesn’t mean I like having my head bit off.”

“I know,” I whisper.
 
“I didn’t mean to.
 
It’s just that I’m scar”

A loud cracking noise sends birds scrambling to take flight overhead.
 
The ground rumbles beneath us and my blood runs cold.
 
It wasn’t just a hammering in my head I was feeling.
 
“The Grounders have found us!”

Bastien yanks me to my feet as the ground quakes again.
 
I fall against him, struggling to remain upright as the earth pitches beneath me.
 
“We have to get everyone out of the caves.
 
Can you run?”

“I’m not sure.”
 
My legs are beyond spent from my earlier run.
 
“You need to go.
 
Warn the others!”

“I’m not leaving you.”
 
Bastien’s grip tightens on my arm.

“I’ll go through there,” I point to the brambles.
 
“It’s a back entrance.
 
I’ll get there much faster than taking the long way around.
 
Get back to the Temple and get everyone out.
 
I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

Bastien lingers, distress pinching his handsome features.
 

“Go!
 
I’ll be fine!”
 
I shove him away and dash for the brambles.
 
The thorns tear deeply into my flesh but I ignore the pain and the pounding right below me.
 
I look back over my shoulder and breathe a sigh of relief that Bastien has obeyed my orders.
 

My chest clenches at the fact that I might never see him again.
 
If he had known my plans, he would never have left me here, alone, with the Caldonians digging machine right below.