Beyond the Rift ✔ (Completed)

Chapter 38: The Traitor

"What do you mean the stone's gone?" I snap back at Nick who seems just as clueless as us. It's 4 a.m. and an hour of chaos.

 "I don't know. When I woke up to get some water from the night stand, I noticed Marty's bed vacant. His stuff was missing, along with the stone. I tried to call him, but his cell is out of range. The tracking we put on the crystal has been disabled too."

"He played us." I hear Ethan say as he jams his weapon in his back-pocket. He is furious, so is everyone. Elvira and Halitus too, couldn't believe the fact that Marty was the inside man the whole time. Although, I did see him messing around in Nick's room the other day. I feel a hot stab in my chest, Marty did act suspicious, but never in a million years did it cross my mind that he would betray us like this. Everything was going fine. After all that happened yesterday, we had stopped the tridents. Elvira was home. We could finally return to our normal lives. It was a victory for us. Why did he act in such a way? Why did he lie to me? I feel a small tear escape as I look over at Nick.

"Are you sure? Did he really do it or is this some misunderstanding?" I ask Nick. 

"I don't think Marty was ever on our side. He knew, the tridents are unable to extract the crystal by themselves as the Qareen only shows herself to humans. And, the only way to find the stone was through you. He was just waiting for the right moment to strike." Nick explains, although, it isn't the answer I desired. "I still don't know his motive, though." Nick adds.

"I do." Elvira states firmly. What does she mean? Is she going to expose Marty? I thought she still trusted him. "Marty's real name is Skylar; Mathew Aldersky's only son." 

The room falls silent, no one utters a single word. Some are baffled by her statement. The rest of us already knew what is coming next. Elvira doesn't look at us and continues.

"That's right. The infamous Aldersky, who sold his loyalty for a few ounces of gold; betrayed us all and gave Asmodeus the location of the rift. The one who left his son and ran away. Only Ethan and I knew the truth. And, I trusted him. What I didn't see coming was that he has been preparing himself for this day. He was holding his grudge against us. He was avenging his father." 

Elvira is stirring with rage. At this point, her faith in Marty has been torn down to shreds. And, why shouldn't it? Elvira gave him a second chance and he toyed with her feelings.

My gaze travels across the room and lands on Ethan. He stands quietly with his head bowed down. Ethan always alleged Marty for being with the tridents. But, today he is as disappointed as me.

 "What do we do now?" Halitus breaks the uncomfortable silence.

"Alexis stays here with Nick, while we go hunt him down." Elvira's tone is firm as she leaves the room with Halitus in her wake. 

The intensity of the situation is terrifying. The hate for Marty has skyrocketed. By running off with the red Beryl, Marty signed his death warrant. This is not how I want them to deal with him, but my opinion won't be considered. With all the ongoing racket, I feel a strange intuition in the pit of my stomach. Something seems off, I can't put my exact finger on it. What if this is another trap set by the tridents? But, that doesn't explain how the stone or Marty went missing from the room. 

"Ethan." I stop Ethan on his way out. By the look on his face, he too doesn't appear to be sure of this plan. "Shouldn't we wait?"

He walks up to me and holds my face in his hands. His touch heats up my skin as I try not to burst into tears. My heart thuds between the ribcage as I peer into his hazels. The look sends jolts of current, however, at the same time, the warmth from them gave me an anticipated comfort. Melting the worries, they make me want to drown in them forever. 

"I know what you are thinking. I'll try my best to keep him alive. I just want you to be safe. Stay here, until we return." He pauses for me to respond, "Okay?"

I nod soundlessly. 

"Come back." My voice almost passes as a whisper.

"I will."

He gives me one last look before backing away and leaving the room.

...

 "I still can't believe Marty did this!" I rapidly pace around the room. The anxiety is giving me a severe migraine. While I'm having my nervous break-down, Nick casually leans against the wall. He has been quietly observing my rant, other than ordering me a glass of lemonade to cool my nerves.

"I mean, he did tell me that he is a runaway and that he hates his father. Regardless, he helped defeat the leviathans too, who he himself had hired. Then, why?" I stop and take a seat at the foot of the bed. It's been only 30 minutes since Ethan and the others left and I'm already having doubts about the whole situation. If Marty really was double crossing us, why was he being so helpful? The genuine concern for Elvira or me was a bit too far-fetched for a traitor. "He can't be the mole." I blurt out.

 "You are right." Nick speaks for the first time. "He is way to flimsy to be a traitor, but, his absence and the missing stone was enough to convince the lot that he is the Judas in the midst." Nick speaks vaguely as he starts to walk around the room.

"What?" My thoughts begin to scramble at his words. 

"I mean he can't possibly handle the most powerful siblings of all. Nor can he tamper with a warding of that kind; back at the first base. For a moment, he almost had me convinced that he was working with the tridents, but it turned out to be that silly hag; Rowena. And, don't even get me started with disabling the tracker on the stone. It was my personal hex, no one can crack that."

"Nick, what are you talking about?" I slowly rise to my feet but almost stumble as I try to regain my balance. The world around me suddenly begins to spin. 

"People really do underestimate me and that's quite beneficial. You are never suspected for anything even remotely shady. On the contrary, fools like Marty come to our aid; impulsive puppets. Just wind the key, and watch them go." I hear Nick chuckle. Oh! How much I hate him! I feel like someone pushed me off the tallest tower in the world or, as if the ground beneath my feet instantly vanished out of existence. 

"Where is the crystal Nick?" I try to keep my voice stern. "Where is Marty!" 

"You see, Marty's father, Andrew returned to his son, over a year ago. All he wanted was forgiveness. Also, because he had contracted a disease and needed medical assistance. And, Marty being the sappy lad, agreed to heal his father. Now, the only people who creates the elixir was me. So, he would occasionally sneak in my room or go through my stuff for the Verdant Elixir. I first noticed this when he went missing at Havelocks' place, I guess I could use a schmuck like him."

What? Andrew Aldersky has returned? That was why Marty acted strange, he was searching the healing potion. He was only trying to save his dying father. Why didn't he tell me? Was he ashamed of his father? My vision turns blurry and a piercing headache slams my thoughts shut.

I feel the blood draining off my face and reaching my feet. Staggering ahead, my body falls like a sack of potatoes onto the motel floor. My hands and feet turn limp. Numbness spreads though my body. My essences as well as my senses are beginning to fade. My mouth turns dry as I sense the aftertaste of lemons. 

"Awe, sweetheart, was the lemonade a bit too much for you." His husky voice echoes in my ears. My insides feel like they are on fire. 

"What did you.... put in the..... drink?" My speech slurs. I feel my tongue weigh as if someone has stuffed ice-cubes in my mouth.

"Don't worry, it's just a tranquilizer, it will paralyze your essences, that's all."

My insides are being vacuumed out of existence. Blackness seals my vision. My brain shuts and the world goes blank.       

...

This Chapter is dedicated to a loyal reader; @Constant_Grief , Whose engagement always motivates me to work hard and keep writing. Thank you for keeping up with the adventure.