Twin Mages Book 2: Deception

Chapter 14: The Great Divide

Lily appears from the smoke in a long, dimly lit room. She looks to Fox, who begins walking forward, prompting her to follow. "After me, my liege." Lily nods, walking through the room until she reaches an ornately carved seat at the far end. Sitting in the throne is a man with piercing green eyes and hair black as night. His facial hair frames his jaw in dark stubble, his smile seeming friendly, yet confident.

The man stands, his robe flowing behind him as he steps down away from his throne. "Welcome home, Lilith. I've been waiting fifteen years to see you again." Lily notices Fox kneeling before the man, his head bowed low. She pokes him, waving him up. "Stand up Fox, you're embarrassing yourself."

Fox stands, a slight blush on his face. "Yes ma'am." Lily walks up the stairs to the throne, standing directly in front of the man. "Hello, father. Thank you for saving me." The man wraps his arms around Lily, hugging her tightly. "Of course! You're my daughter. I couldn't stand you being locked up like a zoo animal."

Leo wakes up, a migraine pulsing relentlessly in his head. He sits up, noticing his bandage wrapped torso and the cast on his leg. "Damn, that sucks." He looks around, seeing every bed in the infirmary occupied. Leo hears the moans and cries as people suffer from their wounds. Suddenly, he feels someone wrap their arms around him from behind, squeezing his neck. The familiar touch comforts him. "Hey, Kei."

He turns around to see her in tears, frowning at him. He's confused, not sure why she's so upset. "What's wrong, babe?" She punches him in the arm, tears rolling down her face. "You promised me you'd be careful! When we found you, you were passed out in a crater in the ground. In what world is that careful, Leo?!" He nods, taking her hand. "I'm sorry, Kei. I promise I'll be more careful."

Kei looks at the boy in the bed next to her, carrying bad news. "Leo, we went to check on Lily, and she wasn't in her cell." Leo nods. "I know. She was the one who knocked me out last night. She left Sanctuary with Fox." Leo sees the distraught expression on Kei's face, her eyes showing her disbelief. "What?!" Leo tries to get up, falling to the ground. "If I was stronger, I could have made her stay. She was too strong. Nothing I could do was strong enough to stop her."

Kei helps Leo to his feet, giving him a set of crutches to walk with. "Zephyr called a meeting for all mages. We need to go." Leo nods, hobbling out the door and down the halls, analyzing the damage. The halls are covered in rubble, rocks and wood planks littered across the ground, strewn about with no care. Holes in the ceiling let the light rain inside, reminding Leo of a sprinkler system. "How many have died?" Kei shakes her head. "I'm not sure. They haven't finished counting yet."

Leo and Kei reach the Mage Hall, walking in to see multiple empty seats, but a lot of familiar faces gathered. Venus, Landry, Frost, Dew, and multiple other Masters are present, along with a few other handfuls of Captains and Apprenticed Mages. Next to the doorway, Leo notices Zephyr. He looks at Dez with a mourning, serious gaze. "We need to talk, Leo."

Kei gives Leo a peck on the cheek, pointing to the rest of the group. "Go ahead, babe. Come find us after you're done." Leo smiles, walking out of the hall with Zephyr. The Master looks down to his pupil, sighing as he begins. "I have been holding some information about you back. It's one of the reasons Lily left last night." Leo looks at Zephyr, startled. "How did you know that Lily left?!"

"Because your father was here last night. Your real father." "My real father?" Leo asks, finding a seat, both of them sitting outside the Mage Hall as Zephyr talks. "It's time you learned the truth about your family."

After Zephyr finishes explaining, Leo can't even begin to find the first question he wants to ask. He manages to string some thoughts together, sounding extremely unsure as he speaks. "So you're my uncle, my dad is the Dark Master. Verglas is my grandma, and my dad killed my mom trying to kill you?"