Abel's Tale

XIII. A Rebellion Born

The rock of The Invicta on the open waves was the first thing Abel noticed upon waking. And then the warmth of another body beside him in bed. Elise. Oh how he missed Elise. What just happened? How was he there?

It was only now that it occurred to him that it was night, that Elise was asleep beside him. What was he like when he was away? Was he ever really there?

Malachi was able to visit him in the forest, when he was just learning his powers. Had he just done the same thing? Without meaning to? But why? How? He certainly hadn't willed it, nor did he want it. But this was so strong, their bond had never been greater. No, something had to have bridged them together, and Malachi was as shocked as he was. Then who, or what, did this?

Or maybe it was just fate that decided so. Abel was content with the fact he may never know, but he knew one thing now, having seen what he had, he must, now more than ever, make it to the throne. He heard bits and pieces of Malachi's conversation in the drift back to his body, and if it were true, and not just hallucination, Malachi was about to become something terrible.

Elise rolled over, candlelit brown eyes meeting ocean blue, "Abel?"

"Elise," Abel said, a word so naturally rolled off the tongue, "Oh, Elise!"

"Abel!" Elise hadn't smiled this wide in years. "What happened to you?!"

"I'm not sure," Abel said plainly, "I'm really not. One moment I was here, and the next, you're not gonna believe it."

"Abel, we've been hunted by mysterious knights from the capitol, I've seen you and Malachi change the world around you with nothing but your minds and willpower, and we discovered an artifact that can destroy the world. I won't believe it? Try me."

"Malachi is my brother,"

Elise's smile dropped and her gaze hardened.

"Thanatos has the stone,"

Elise took a step back.

"And Isaiah is about to die. We need to make it to the throne, now!"

Nina rushed into Abel's quarters!

"Forgive my intrusion, But sir, we're quickly nearing port." Nina said.

"That's great!" Abel said, relieved for the change of topic.

"We've spotted soldiers on the docks, but we set course correctly, Thanatos's Kingdom is in sight."

"Then we need to begin preparations, when we dock they'll search the ship. They know we're coming," Abel held his hands behind his back and paced, thinking, plotting. "The crew has to abandon ship before we make port. I can't risk your deaths."

Nine stepped forward, "We're in this fight with you, Abel. You can't do everything alone, and we're not going to let you."

"When we make port," Elise said, "You and I will surrender ourselves to the Emperor's will under the condition that the crew be set free. The crew will maintain the ship, and should we not return, storm the temple in search of us."

"Why? Why for me? I didn't do anything." Abel said.

This time Nina spoke, "You saved us from the monster who was going to turn us in for execution. You saved our lives, and we all want our revenge. You have our support, before you we were destined to die. You gave us a second chance."

"They're willing to die for our cause, Abel," Elise said. "Willing to sacrifice and suffer so others don't have to anymore. But they need someone to lead them. I can't do it, but you can. You can lead us all."

"I can't accept this responsibility, this position," Abel said. "I haven't earned this. I'm just as lost and confused as everyone else."

"You have a singular purpose, one we can all rally behind," Elise said. "This Empire must fall, Thanatos's time on the throne must come to an end. Our cause is true," Elise stepped closer to Abel and spoke, her voice barely a whisper, "Maybe when this is all over, we can pick apples from trees and jump from rooftops again, like we did as children."