Greylith, page 16
She’s going to sick Niko on me! What the hell? How am I supposed to fight a Spirit? I don’t know if my abilities can touch Niko.
“She’s sending Niko to me,” I tell Xander. “I don’t think I can take her.”
“Niko is a part of this reality, anything you want to do, you can do,” Xander says confidently. “Now, get down from that tree and face Lyric like a real fighter.”
He’s right. I’ll have to fight Spirits and Shadows at some point, I might as well do it now against someone who wants me to get better and is not trying to kill me. I hop off the branch and slowly lower myself down to the ground.
“Where’s your dog?” I taunt Lyric.
“You’re going to wish you didn’t call her that,” Lyric gives a slight grin.
I hear a shuffle in the woods behind me and see Niko walking toward me, showing all of her teeth.
I turn sideways to have better control of the situation and to study who will attack first. It’s Lyric, she charges at me with a knife, I wield my abilities and twist my hand, causing her arm to do a very unexpected jerk and make her throw the knife. She keeps charging though, balling a fist to throw a punch, but she misses because I throw myself off the ground and back into the air.
Niko sees me and breaks out into a run. She jumps up at me, but I throw my hands into a push, feeling the rush of energy in the palms of my hands and Niko gets thrown, hard, into a tree trunk. She yelps as her body slams to the ground.
“Niko!” Lyric yells, running over to Niko.
I land on the ground and run over to Lyric and Niko, who is lying motionless, breathing heavy on the ground, “I’m so sorry.”
“What the hell, Phoenix!” Lyric spins and pushes me. “Why the fuck would you do that?”
“I was doing what I was taught in my training!” I yell back. “I didn’t know I could hurt her, I was just defending myself.”
“Whoa, whoa! Calm down!” Xander says, as he and Wren run over between us breaking us up.
“Defending yourself? Do you really think Niko would’ve killed you?” Lyric screams.
“Phoenix was doing what he was trained to do, that’s it,” Xander repeats. “You would’ve done the same thing.”
“Lyric,” Wren puts her face close to her’s. “Niko is going to be fine. Let her go rest in the Ethereal Realm and she’ll be okay in a few hours.”
“How the hell would you know?” Lyric shouts at her.
“Because Spirits can’t sustain any long-term injury’s due to organic material in our world,” Wren tells us. “The only thing that can truly hurt a Spirit is another Spirit material.”
“Or your brother,” Lyric says to me, leaning forward.
“I didn’t mean to!” I shout at her. “Get that through your head!”
“She’s right though,” Xander says.
“You’re agreeing with her?” I snap to him.
“I’m not agreeing with anyone,” Xander says cooly. “But she’s right when she says that you could hurt or kill a Spirit. You weren’t physically the one that hurt Niko just now, you pushed her into a tree. However, your power was able to touch her, which, by theory, means, you could hurt a Spirit or Shadow.”
There’s a few moments of silence in the air where none of us want to talk, but Xander breaks that.
“Let’s all just take a break until after breakfast, we’ll continue then.”
“Fine,” Lyric says. “Niko, go to the Ethereal Realm. Rest.”
Niko lets out a slight sigh and then fades into nothingness.
Lyric storms off and Wren follows behind her.
“Tell her I’m sorry!” I connect to Wren.
“Stay out of my head!” Wren shoots me the finger. “But I’ll tell her.”
“Come with me,” Xander says, pulling my arm toward his tent.
We walk past the tent and down into the abandoned bunker and down the long hall to the room where I almost ended my life.
“Why the hell are we here?” I jerk my arm out of his grip. I turn my back and try to walk out the door.
“Wait,” Xander walks closer to me. “I need this.”
He walks over and wraps his arms around me.
“Need what?” I say into this shirt.
“A minute alone with you,” he mutters.
Xander grabs the bottom of my shirt and lifts it off, throwing it on the old chair in the room. He runs his fingers through my hair and pulls my head backward. My neck cranes so my lips can reach is, but he taunts me, “You want me to kiss you?”
“Yes,” I beg.
“Good.”
Xander pushes his lips on to mine, his mouth opens wide as his tongue finds a home in my mouth, gently massaging my tongue with the tip of his. He throws me on the bed and gets on top of me, a position I’m very comfortable with.
Just as Xander begins thrusting himself on me, he jumps off me and pulls a knife from his thigh pocket.
“What is it?” I ask.
“Get up,” Xander whispers.
Before I can, the door bursts open and Wren and Lyric charge in, knives drawn.
“So, you were going to surprise attack us?” Xander smirks.
“Well, we figured when we saw you walk into the bunker, you guys would be slightly distracted with each other’s… physicalities,” Wren laughs.
“Surprise attack?” I ask.
“Another rule for training, an ambush could come at any moment, so always be ready,” Wren says.
“How about we call this even? Because we all know I can put both of you on the floor without breaking a sweat,” Xander smirks.
Lyric starts putting her knife away while Wren still stares at Xander, “I’m gonna beat you one day,” she says seriously.
“And that day isn’t today,” Xander laughs.
Lyric stares at me with a very serious expression, and clearly Wren and Xander know it.
“Why don’t we leave you two alone for a few minutes,” Wren says, opening the door for Xander. “We’re gonna go make breakfast. Come join us when you two figure your shit out.”
Wren and Xander leave, and the door latches behind them.
I get off of the bed and grab the shirt that Xander pulled off of me, “Lyric-,”
“Phoenix, just listen,” Lyric interrupt. “I owe you an apology. I’m sorry for snapping at you. I know you wouldn’t ever mean to hurt Niko, I should know that. I do know that.”
“I seriously wouldn’t,” I confirm. “I know how important she is to you and the bond you two have is instant, so I get it.”
Lyric continues. “Honestly, it’s just been hard. You’ve been at Camp Laith for almost three months now, and so have Wren and Xander. I was just super alone and depressed at Fort Weave without you guys. I don’t have any other friends, no one I could really talk to. I would go to training, but other than that, I would eat in my room, talk to Niko, and sleep. Other than the occasional visit here, I was by myself.”
I never thought about that. Lyric has been alone this whole time without any of us. Wren is here because she’s my sister, but she’s also been sleeping with Lyric, and Xander is here because he’s chosen me over everyone. “I’m sorry, I should’ve thought of that and had Wren and Xander go back.”
“No, Phoenix, it’s not like that. I know they both care for and love me and I love them, but they also are doing what they can to keep you alive as you’re the key to finishing this war. I’ve mostly missed you. You get me more than the two of them. I just, I can’t sit back and not see you,” Lyric begins to cry.
“I get it. Lyric, I do. You’re here now, and every move I make from here on out will involve you,” I place my hands on her shoulders, like Xander does for me. “You’re my best friend too, you’re stuck with me.”
Lyric smiles and we hug.
“Also, there’s something else I should tell you. I’m not a fan of being called ‘the key’.”
“So can I call you, Xander’s sex toy?” Lyric laughs.
“You bitch!” I grab the pillow off the bed and throw it at her.
“I’m kidding!”
“Alright, let’s get going, I’m starving and I need to get out of this room,” I say, taking her hand.
“Yeah, but we’re locked in,” she points to the door.
“Umm, no we aren’t.” I use the surge of energy in my hand and rip the door off its hinges.
“After you,” she laughs.
I pause and turn to look over my shoulder. “Wait, you love my sister?” I start laughing.
She rolls her eyes and starts pushing me out of the room.
We walk down the hall toward the exit when Lyric stops me, “P, you said you needed to get out of that room, why?”
“Oh, I guess I should tell you that,” I pause.
“Tell me what?”
“A few weeks ago, I tried to take my life in that room,” I choke.
I look over and see Lyric’s eyes instantly are glossy from her tears.
“I’m okay. If it weren’t for your brother and my sister, I don’t know where I’d be right now, but they’ve helped a lot, and having you here only makes things even better,” I smile.
“Good,” Lyric smiles. “And if you ever feel like that again, please tell me. I’ll always be here for you.”
* * *
It’s been six weeks since Camp Laith was deserted by everyone, except for the four of us who have been training at all times. Morning, midday, and night. I have built some muscle and my agility and stamina have gotten much better than when I first started at Fort Weave.
I’ve instructed all of them to attack at random times, and I’ve been actually doing well. Lyric and Wren love attacking at night, especially when Xander and I are fucking. I can take Lyric on with almost total ease. Wren is still stronger than me, but for the most part, I can keep up. Xander on the other hand refuses to give it his all.
“You’re learning,” Xander says, as I glide past the slow swing of his knife.
“Stop holding back!” I yell, as Xander lets my right fist collide with his face.
“I’m not!” he yells back, giving a slight laugh while rotating his jaw.
His laugh, along with the throbbing in my fist tells me he’s lying.
“Don’t lie!” I say, rubbing the pain out of my knuckles.
“None of you, individually or all together, can take me,” Xander says confidently.
“I think I could now,” Wren says. “Why don’t you let me have another go at you?”
We hear feet shuffling outside of the woods.
“Later,” Xander says, slightly adjusting the grip on his knife.
“That must be members of Fort Weave coming for us!” Lyric shouts. Just as she’s about to run, Xander jumps over and cover’s her mouth.
He closes his eyes and pauses. “It’s not Fort Weave.”
“Then who is it?” Lyric steps back.
Xander doesn’t say anything.
“Nightingale?” Wren steps in.
He still is silent.
“Hey,” I lower my voice, placing my hands on his. “What is it?”
“They’re here for you,” Xander says. “They know you’re here.”
“Who is it, Xander?” Lyric looks up to him.
“It’s the Shadow Army,” he says, turning around, drawing a second knife from the sheathe on his back.
“How do you know that?” Wren steps forward, looking oddly at Xander.
Xander stops, and shifts his eyes to mine.
“You can trust them,” I nod at him.
He lets out a sigh and begins to speak, “I know it’s the Shadow Army because I saw them coming,”
“What do you mean you saw them coming?” Lyric starts. “That’s not possible.”
“Yes it is,” Wren interrupts with a quiet voice.
“How?” Lyric turns to Wren.
“Because I’m a Chronomancer,” Xander replies. “I was instructed by Ironleaf to not say anything during my first year at Fort Weave.”
“That explains so much,” Lyric snaps. “How you got to the Colosseum during War Drill! You can time travel!”
“Yes, but only slightly,” Xander starts, before Lyric interrupts.
“So then just bring the four of us to the future so we can skip fighting them,” Lyric starts.
“Lyric,” Wren says. “It doesn’t work like that. Chronomancer’s can only see glimpses of time, past or future, as well as travel themselves through time. Xander can’t take us with him.”
I didn’t even know that. I don’t think I’d want to skip time with Xander, but it’s just odd that I didn’t know these things. I need to start asking more questions.
“Okay then,” Lyric starts. “I guess we’d better prepare to go out there and fight them.”
“No,” Xander says.
“Why not?” Lyric snaps.
“Because they’re coming to us.”
Suddenly, there are quick movements coming from the north side of the woods, fast steps indicate that the Shadow Army is enclosing on us and about to ambush us, we need to think of a way to get the leg up on them.
“Up!” I shout, “That’s it! Do you guys trust me?”
Xander, Lyric, and Wren all nod.
“Okay, don’t scream though,” I say smugly.
“What do you me-,” Wren starts.
I raise my hands and begin to lift the three of them up into the trees, out of sight from the ground. I place Lyric down on a branch, close to the trunk of a tall oak tree. Wren struggles as I set her down, losing her footing, but catching herself and hanging on to the branch. Xander lands gracefully on a wide pine branch and looks down at me.
“Get up here!” he snaps down to me.
But it’s too late. Ten Shadow Walker’s break through the tree line into our training area. All of them followed by a Shadow Puppet.
“Everyone stay put, nobody move,” I connect the three of them in the trees.
“Well, well,” a nasty pitched man says. “You must be the Reality Weaver. We’re here to collect you.”
He’s tall and gangly. His cheeks are sunken, and he’s got dark rings around his eyes, like he hasn’t ever seen good sleep.
I hear movement coming from Xander’s cluster of branches, “Stop moving!”
“Oh, are you?” I ask with a cocky tone. “Because I’m not quite sure how you’re going to do that.”
“Well, you’re a new Weaver, so, you can’t be that strong, and on top of that, the price on your head is far worth the risk,” the tall one says.
“Price on my head?” I ask. “Who sent you?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” a sharp voice comes from behind me. She’s got curly black hair, her Shadow Puppet looks just like a wolf, very similar to Niko.
“I guess you’ll have to try to kill me because I’m not going with you.”
Just as I speak, two Shadow Weavers emerge from behind me and pin my arms, pulling me down to my knees.
“That shouldn’t be too hard,” the woman from behind holds a knife to my throat.
“Okay, now would be a good time to intervene!” I yell upward.
Instantly, Xander jumps from his branch, landing firmly on the ground, he lowers to his knees and drives knives into the chests of the two of the Shadow Walker’s that were holding me. They crash to the ground, lifeless. Still on low on the ground, he spins around. Damn, he’s fast. I didn’t see him take a third and fourth knife out of its sheathe, but he does and slashes the calves of another Shadow Walker.
“Ahhh!” Wren screams from above, followed by the screech of Cleo who drops her on the ground in her infamous roll. Wren lowers her head and mutters in the Ethereal language, “Spirit Warriors, fight with me.”
Instantly, two warrior spirits run out from behind her and start taking on the emaciated female Shadow Walker and her wolf.
I turn around and see that Lyric has joined us and is fighting a Shadow Puppet while Niko is chewing on the head of a Shadow Walker, who’s face doesn’t have any recognizable features left.
“Move and I’ll kill you,” I hear the leader of the group whisper in my ear as I feel a sharp point press up against my back.
I freeze. Panic sets in and I forget how to get out of this situation, one that I’ve been in before during training with Wren in the same position as my enemy. I look around and see my loved ones all fighting and defending me. I reach for Xander, “Help!”
Xander swings around, just after a loud snap of the enemy's neck he was holding. “Trust me.”
I nod at him, because I would trust him, more than anyone, with my life.
Before I finish my nod, Xander hauls a knife from his hand, soaring through the air faster than I can blink. The blade of the knife finds a home in the shoulder of the leader of this gang of Shadow Walkers. Before he can drive his knife into my back, I fall forward as to not get stabbed.
“Travys!” the zombie-like woman says. “Release my husband!”
“I’m fine, Calista,” he snaps back. “Do what we are here to do!”
Calista quickly runs over to me, with a long sword in hand and swings down. She misses, but power still surges through me in fear, in anger, in love. I extend my right arm and I grab Calista with my power to freeze her in place, paralyzed by my abilities. All the fighting around us ceases as I turn Calista and I to face Travys.
“Call off your beast,” I order, nodding to her wolf.
“Daythar, rest.” Calista growls.
“Who sent you?” I ask, turning to Travys
“No one,” Travys hisses.
“Don’t lie, or I’ll kill her with ease,” I ball my hand slightly and see Calista squeeze together and she screams, like her entire body is being crushed, which it is. “You said there was a bounty on my head, who put it there?”
