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  "Would you calm your nerves, boy? I'm not going to rat you out."

  "Why?"

  "Just because I'm an Elder, doesn't mean I always play by the rules. My husband has denied me my right to search for a friend. I decided that the only way to achieve what it is I want, is to bend the rules." She took my hand in hers, holding onto it. She was very touchy, but I didn't have it in me to tell her to give me my personal space back. "You remember Jan, do you not?" She said this all the while placing a pill in my palm. "Kalmia, your dear father, was sea sick too. I had an inkling. Take it and you'll find yourself less sick in a matter of minutes."

  She had said dear... I swallowed the pill and then nodded at her question. "I do remember Jan." But I wanted to know something else first. "You didn't hate Kalmia?"

  She sighed, giving me a sad smile. "He was a prankster, but I loved him very much. One of my best students." She said proudly. "He accompanied me on many a mission before he-" She looked uncomfortable. "Well, you know about that. I will not let Jan be abandoned as Kalmia was. I won't give up like I did with your father."

  "I'm sure they both appreciate your determination," I said gently.

  "As Solenum appreciates yours." Rose returned. "Did Vervaine tell you how she found out about the barriers?" I shook my head. "I taught her several things behind her father's back. Aram is... Well, quite radical. He doesn't see that some of her powers are in fact, handy."

  I realized what she wanted then. "You want to use me to get past security?" She smiled, letting me know that was exactly what she wanted. "But you are Reed's superior. Can't you make him cooperate?"

  "Have you forgotten that Reed and Cypress are my sons?" I had, actually. She grinned at my dumbfounded expression. "Those silly boys forget sometimes I am their Elder and believe me to be frail. If I were to order Reed to help me track down the most feared assassin, he'd lock me up and scream for his father." I could just imagine the District Leader going, 'Daddy!'.

  "How are you going to force the invisibility barrier out of me?"

  "You did say it was a matter of heightened emotions, didn't you?" I grimaced as she solemnly nodded. "Let’s practice somewhere more private."

  * * * *

  I had never broken out a sweat quite as heavy as the one I was sporting now.

  "Hold it, Calycanthus!" Rose demanded, her sweet voice when I'd first spoken with her no longer present.

  She was standing in front of me, looking just as tense as I was even though she wasn't trying to produce a barrier. We were in the boat's parking level where all the cars were kept. Passengers weren't allowed down here, but we'd managed to slip through the cracks. If I was able to hold an invisibility barrier for longer than five minutes, Rose had every intention of testing the ability on the security within the boat itself first, before risking it on actual Blue Bloods in Iodin's harbor. So far, I'd only managed to create one big enough to hide the top of my hands and it had held for about ten seconds at the most. That had been two hours ago. I'd expected to spend the two day long boat trip worrying about being sea sick and possibly dying by cause of dry heaving, but here I was, far too busy to be sick.

  "You have immense power, now use it before you let Solenum die!" Rose shouted.

  That was taking it too far! Screaming out in anger, but also in frustration because of the situation and how much energy she was sucking out of me, I clapped my hands together and felt a wind break free when my palms connected. It was like a surge of power pushed through me and catapulted its way out, knocking Rose backwards.

  The anger I'd felt washed away the moment the barrier released me and traveled forcefully outwards, and as I saw the Elder slide back over the metal floor of the boat, unable to fight it, I gulped and quickly tucked my hands behind my back.

  "Hey!" Sitting up, she blew her disheveled hair out of her face. "That was great!" I chuckled at her cheer and was grateful she didn't hold it against me, as I truly hadn't done it on purpose. "Now that you know where to tap in to and create one, try to go past the anger instead of allowing it to take over. If you can push past it, I believe you'll be able to focus the barrier and morph it into what you want it to be." Right. No more angry outbursts. "Position." She instructed. Nodding, I did as she asked, preparing myself to try again. "How about we tackle the subject of Datura this time around? See if that is more effective."

  I couldn't stop it. She didn't even have to spell anything out, the moment she said his name, I could sense it. But unlike earlier, when the barrier burst out of me, its target once again Rose, I remember what she'd suggested and tried to see past the anger.

  "Rose!" I shouted, thinking hard of how I could stop the barrier from knocking her backwards again. I blinked when she was suddenly gone.

  "I knew I should have started with the Keeper." I heard her laugh come from somewhere on my right. "Rumor has it he knows how to trigger a certain amount of passion out of you."

  "Yes." I growled, the barrier fading from around her. "And let’s keep it as a rumor. The enemy doesn't need to know what my soft spot is." I sighed then. "And neither does Solenum."

  I could see Rose again. "If she were in your shoes, you wouldn't be her trigger either, Calycanthus. But, you'll only believe that when you ask her about Galax."

  "Do you think I'll get the chance?"

  "If you believed her to be dead, would you really have risked going to her?" Rose patted my cheek. "Trust the Seer inside of you. It'll guide the way."

  * * * *

  By the time the boat settled in Iodin's harbor, I still didn't have absolute control over the barriers. Sometimes nothing happened and at other times I didn't get the wanted result. But Rose continuously reminded me that neither of us had any other way to get past security. If I didn't manage, it meant that the Blue Bloods would instantly know and either detain or kill us, which was very stressful. Rose hoped that it would motivate my powers more strongly, helping me along the way. To make the situation a tad less pressuring, she had decided to make our way out of the boat by climbing down off the side, landing us in the water and then we'd circle it to land.

  We'd only needed to rely on my barrier at the parking lot, and I'd come to learn that everything I touched would become invisible with me, meaning that the car did too when we'd made our way into it.

  I had been terrified about the entire plan as Rose explained it while we'd spent the last night on the boat before it reached the city. But as we executed it, I found out it was easy. Rose made things easy. It had gone by so fast, I wasn't entirely able to grasp the idea that I'd slipped past Regius security once she drove my car out of the parking lot and straight into the forest.

  Immortalis Silva hugged Iodin City tightly and I could instantly release the barrier since we wouldn't risk running into anyone once inside.

  "You can still return, if that is your wish," Rose said, leaving the engine running as she stepped out of the driver's seat. Getting out as well, I closed the door and looked back, seeing that I could indeed still return without getting lost. "Although not certain, we believe in roughly five minutes, the forest will turn into its wretched labyrinth." She made her way to me, ruffling my hair and placing a soft kiss to the side of my head. "You did very good, Calycanthus. Your father would be very proud."

  "Because I'm breaking all the Altor laws in the book?" I grinned and taking her hand so I could place a kiss there, showing her the respect I felt.

  "That and other reasons." She waited for me to get behind the wheel. "Good luck finding Solenum and thank you for giving me the location of the Regius base. I am giving you three days before I report it back to Pieris."

  "Thank you for that. And good luck finding Jan." I closed the door and waved at Rose one last time before driving my way deeper into Immortalis Silva. There was no way I'd turn back now. Rose had been right. If Solenum had died, I would have felt it, and I hadn't felt anything yet.

  * * * *

  The red dot that was the locator and my destination was still glowing brightly despite
it having died. Thankfully the tracking system had memorized the location, not needing the actual locator anymore to track. It had taken me a great while before I'd been able to convince myself Solenum was still alive, that she hadn't died along with the locator. I'd concentrated on silly little details, keeping myself as occupied as I could manage while driving. Somehow, the Palliums had come up with and put together this technology, I had no idea how, but it was really amazing. Every time I so much as got off the path it wanted to go onto, the computer yelled at me, telling me I was doing it wrong. Not in those words exactly, but Agnes, my computer's voice, didn't like repeating herself.

  I'd been worried to get through about the getting lost part. None could get through Immortalis Silva without getting lost, but apparently the rule that said 'if you know your destination, then you can make your way out' wasn’t fake.

  I never stopped driving. I'd stocked up on snacks in the ferry and I wouldn't be able to sleep even if I tried, so I didn't. To make sure my worry wouldn't end up being the death of me, I'd turned on the music, making it blast through the car as I sang along with the songs. Datura wasn't here to tell me I sounded like a duck, so it was all good. A bottle of soda lay nestled in the passenger seat loaded with the caffeine I needed to give me the occasional kick of energy.

  The road was intensely boring. Probably due to the fact that all I'd seen so far were trees. A never-ending amount of trees. And they all looked the same. It was as though you had a row of them that went on for maybe one kilometer and then instead of new trees continuing the landscape, the exact same kilometer of trees had been glued on after that first one. So it gave me the impression I was constantly starting over.

  I took a break every two hours or so, and at one of my stops, I'd looked through the bag Rose had apparently left in the back of my car. I knew she'd left it on purpose. There was a compass, Rose’s port phone, a rope, some sandwiches, an extra pair of socks, a scarf and three bottles of water. What with how Ilex’s watch was acting up in this place, I hadn’t put too much hope in the compass and phone, trying them anyway, but not surprised to find out neither was in working order.

  The compass, I could shake it all I wanted, the thing just kept spinning, as confused by the landscape as I felt. Knowing the compass didn’t work, I tried out the port phone, even if I was rather certain the thing would connect me to either Pieris, Aram and maybe the district leaders too. Not exactly the people I could have a chat with right now. All I got though was the sound of a disconnected phone, like how Acacia would unplug the one at the boarding house when Holly had been calling her girlfriends for too long.

  As for Ilex’s watch, it stood still so I had to guess how much time went by.

  Later on I'd panicked when my gas tank had started to empty. A gas station in Immortalis Silva? Not gonna happen. If I ever got out of this place and back to the Coliseum, I'd have Ilex teach me how to use my brain and remember that cars aren't magical. They need to be fed just like people.

  The plan had been to stop the car, drown in self-pity and see what happened next. Palliums though, they expected Altors to be idiots. So when the little arrow had landed on a red bar informing me my tank was officially running on reserve, Agnes snipped, "You may find gas cans underneath the floor board of your passenger seat."

  * * * *

  I estimated that I had been traveling for nearly three days and was starting to feel worse with every second that passed by. But finally, Agnes kindly informed me I was nearly there. I'd stopped the car instantly, knowing that with a car I would be noticed if I got too close. If I wasn't detected already that is. I'd really thought nothing out. I had no idea how to approach this. What was I going to do? I couldn't just barge in and demand that they give me Solenum back. They'd laugh then slit my throat. Or slit my throat and then laugh. In any case, I'd end up dead. It's like I'd been expecting to have Agnes tell me, "You have reached your destination. Welcome to Blue Blood Territory. A guide will show you shortly how to proceed onwards."

  I dug the weapons out from the car, again admiring the blade called the Extraxie, given to me by Datura, which Rose had told me used to belong to my father, and the other plain sword I'd grabbed from the armory. Using the weapons, I'd cut off some branches and torn apart some bushes, concealing the car as best I could. I'd found a tight spot between some huge trees, helping me hide it.

  Immortalis Silva in this region were in full bloom, although the leaves were an icy blue color and the wind flowing through the trunks somewhat brisk, it looked like the trees were in their prime time. Would I find it again if I ever got out? Shrugging, I steadily strapped my weapons on my back and then continued on foot.

  The longer I walked, the more my initial worry about getting lost faded. I didn't feel scared anymore and a sense of peace was settling over me. The map had shown I'd needed to go straight onwards, but the trees could move as the labyrinth demanded it and make me lose my way. Yet I had never felt so confident. Maybe it was the Seer in me. I remembered Vervaine's words on feeling a sense of home when around another Seer. I could feel it right now, or at least, I felt the way I used to feel when I was close to Solenum. I could only assume I was getting closer to the Regius base and that she was still alive. Or I hoped it was that, rather than wishful thinking as I wandered through the trees.

  As my walk was starting to be longer than I’d expected it to be, I realized that I might have gotten lost after all. I’d been about to start panicking, freaking out, worrying, possibly scream in frustration, maybe even kick a tree or two while I continued to move away further and further from my car, yet I didn't have the chance to burst as the scenery changed abruptly.

  Careful of my surroundings, I reached up and slipped Extraxie out of the straps that were tied in a cross over my back and chest. There was a circular shaped opening in the forest, and while this was curious compared to the relatively monotone view it had offered so far, it was the large hole in the middle that had me frowning. The trees hugged each other closely, barely leaving space to pass through as they framed the edge of the large hole. What was this place?

  “It’s the end of an exit that starts from within the castle.”

  Snapping my gaze over to the voice, my body followed, the sharp end of my blade pointing at a girl not much older than myself. She looked Altor at first glance, yet her clothing suggested Regius and she was definitely not afraid of me. Actually, she looked very happy to see me. As I took her in, my weapon became heavier all of a sudden, the tip of it landing harshly on the ground and eventually I was forced to let go of the blade, leaving me staring at it in surprise.

  My eyes snapped back to her when she laughed softly. "You and Solenum do react very similarly. Galax was right to think that when he first observed you." Slightly upset and frightened with the situation, I grabbed the hilt of my Extraxie and tried pulling it off the ground. "You can't hurt me."

  "Clearly." I panted out, tugging some more but soon realized I'd only lose energy over this. "What's your deal?" I deadpanned as I ignored my stubborn weapon.

  "Would you look at me properly?" She requested, stepping closer. As the words registered, I instantly knew who she reminded me of. Vervaine. Although the hair and skin tones weren’t alike at all, their faces... They could have been twins. She offered me an uncertain smile, reaching up to smooth the side braid she was sporting and then tugging on her sapphire dress before allowing herself to step away from the large tree that had given her a shadow to hide in. She didn’t seem intimidated at all, the fabric of her dress flowing gently around her, not long enough to hide the fact she was barefoot.

  “I’m very happy to finally meet you, brother.” I inhaled sharply as she said what I'd been thinking, but hadn't dared to utter. "Please." She murmured, reaching out with her hand to touch my cheek. I wanted to flinch, but I couldn't. That sense of peace made it impossible. "Don't mistake me for something I am not." When her fingers connected with my skin, I instantly grasped her wrist, just holding it loosely, not forcing her to
pull away.

  "And what exactly should I think of you?" I asked, my eyes fixed on her golden ones.

  "That is not for me to say." Her smile was watery and she was obviously overjoyed to meet me. "I hope you will see that I only have your best interests at heart."

  “You made me follow you, with the connection that Seers share.” I murmured, clenching my other hand. “You knew I’d trust it and that I’d let it guide me.” I stopped myself from leaning into her touch. “Why?”

  She bit her bottom lip, retrieving her hand and tucking it behind her back. “Because I knew you would not had I asked you to follow me.” That was probably very true. “Although Sage has many flaws, she has made sure to keep me away from Xania. I have not been in the same room with that man since I started having visions."

  “If you’re trying to tell me you don’t side with the Regius, then-”

  “That is what I’m telling you.” She interrupted.

  I crossed my arms. “How will I know you’re speaking the truth? What do you want from me?” I tried to keep my voice calm as so far, she hadn’t really done anything to put my life in peril or truly destroy the mission I was on. She’d just steered me away from the castle.

  “Xania doesn’t want Galax to return to the Regius so that he can be king. He wishes to obtain the royal mark and then use the Keeper of the Dead to rid Zinc of its population.” At least she didn't beat around the bush. “Datura Lovelace is a fragile creature. His power is a very unstable one, much like the Seers. Like any form of magic, it is neither good nor bad; it all truly depends on how you wish to use it. What you do with it is what will define whether it is evil or not. Datura has many dark sides and he must battle them every day to hold onto the faith and vision the Altors carry. To this day, you, Cali, are the one that makes this easy for him. If Xania gets his hands on you, Datura will do whatever it takes to get you back, even go as far as giving into the temptation the ghosts haunt him with ever since their voices became clear in his mind.” Not what I was expecting, and far from what I’d imagined my first talk with my sister to go like.