Little Lightning

Chapter 12

"A deal?" Lyrical crossed her arms, very obviously suspicious.

"Yup." Zyan leaned back again, a smile on his face. But this wasn't a smile of joy, or even of intimidation. It was a smile of knowing that he knew something that Lyrical else didn't. Anger sparked in her. She did not like that this chained up boy who was set to die knew something that she didn't. "Heres the thing. I don't want to die. You want to keep your secret under wraps. It works out!"

"What are you talking about?" She furrowed her brow, confused.

"I'm saying you get me out of here, and I'll keep your secret." Lyrical laughed, then realized he wasn't joking. Her grin disappeared.

"Me, help you escape? No way. Not in a million years." She glared at him.

"If I weren't set to die, I wouldn't be asking for your help. Besides, it will prevent you're secret from getting out." She didn't respond.

"And how, pray tell, would my secret get out when you are in chains?"

"I have my ways. Do you really want to risk it?" She looked down, deep in thought. He was right, as much as she hated to admit it. There was no telling how he'd be able to get her secret out, but she had no doubt he would find a way. And that would make it ten times harder to get off of this planet.

"Whats in it for me?" Lyrical asked, looking at him again. His grin widened.

"You mean besides me keeping your secret?" He shrugged. "Geez, you're one tough lady to please." He thought for a moment, then looked up at her. "I'll take you with me."

"What?" Lyrical blinked, unsure that she heard him right.

"I'll take you with me to escape off this planet. I have a feeling you want to get out of here as much as I do." Lyrical suddenly found it very hard to breathe. Her chest constricted like an iron band had wrapped itself around her ribs and tightened, and she had to consciously remind herself to inhale, exhale. 

She was so close.

The goal of the four years she'd been stuck here. She needed to get off. And she hadn't been able to manage it yet. The ship she had crashed on had been completely destroyed beyond repair when they crashed, and there were no other ships on the planet, as far as she knew. Besides, she knew Kirtash would never let her leave.

And now.... he was just offering it to her? He was just offering to get her off the planet?

Without another word, Lyrical strode to the door.

"Just think about it!" Lyrical heard Zyan call before the heavy door shut behind her with a boom. 

Two shadows escorted her out of the Consilium. When Lyrical asked where the Loram went, they told her that the Loram had things to attend to, and that he had told them to help her out when she finished. She thanked the two shadows once she was in no more danger of getting lost. They bowed respectfully and left. 

Lyrical winced as she stepped out of the building, the bright sunlight a sharp contrast to the dim light in that room. She walked through the town, slightly dazed. One of the suns, the smaller one, was almost directly above her. She hadn't known she had been in the room for so long.

One of townsfolk came up to her. 

"Lyrical?" Lyrical jumped and turned to the older man.

"Yes?" At this point, it wasn't odd for everyone to know her name. After all, she was the prodigy of the famed Kirtash, and favored pupil of the villages high witch, Yia. It was kind of hard not to know her name.

"Do you know that the young man and his friends are looking for you?"

"Kirtash?" Lyrical asked, surprised. The man nodded. He was probably just mad that she had left after curfew. His friends must be Azalea and Lucas. "Thank y--." She stopped herself, frustrated that she could never express gratitude. Even after four years, her polite responses hadn't left her yet. "Do you know where they are now?" The man pointed to the small fountain at the end of the street, just barely visible in the bustle of the market. She nodded and stopped herself before another thank you left her mouth instinctively. The man smiled and went back to where he had come from.

Lyrical walked towards the fountain, and as the crowds of people thinned, Lyrical spotted Azalea with Lucas in her arms, Kirtash right next to them, talking to a shadow.

"Lyr-lyr!" Lucas called, pointing to her. They turned so simultaneously, it was almost comical. Azalea put Lucas down, and Lucas came running towards her. He rammed into her legs with almost enough force to knock her over, burying his face into her calf.

"Lucas? What's wrong?"

"Why did you leave again, Lyr?!" Lucas cried, looking up at her with tears in his eyes. "We thought you had been kidnapped!" Lyrical stared at him, then remembered that she had snuck out in the middle of the night. So that's why they were looking for her. She hadn't been there when they had woken up, and she hadn't returned until several hours after dawn. 

"Sorry, Lucas. I just had some stuff to take care of."

"Like what?" Azalea's sharp voice penetrated the conversation. Lyrical looked up to a very angry girl. Her tan arms were crossed, her green eyes narrowed with anger. "What was so important you take care of that you left in the middle of the night and didn't come back until four hours after dawn?!" Her voice rose as she spoke, and by the end of the sentence she was yelling. Lyrical winced. She had never seen Azalea this mad. Sure, she'd seen Azalea plenty mad, but this was an all time record.

But before Lyrical could even begin to explain, her stomach rumbled so loudly everyone in a five foot perimeter could hear it. Lyrical doubled over, suddenly realizing how hungry and tired she was, the adrenaline that had kept her alert during her conversation with Xyan draining away. Her body felt as if she was carrying hundred pound bricks while having someone jump up and down on her arms.

She stumbled, her body sluggish.

"Lyrical? What's wrong?" Azalea asked, but Lyrical was too focused on staying awake to respond. "Kirtash!" Azalea called, her voice becoming more and more panicked.

"It looks like she's just tired and hungry." Kirtash's gruff voice responded quietly. Lyrical felts strong arms sweep her up, bridal style. "Sleep, Lyrical. You can explain later." He whispered in her ear. Her head rested against his collarbone. She barely had the strength to respond.

She nodded slightly, knowing that he would see it. She closed her heavy eyes and slipped off into a profound and deep sleep.