A Revolution In Shadow And Blood

Benjamin

I weave through them, destroying as many as I can, earning blue marks for my effort. Shouts erupt from the crowd, as they catch glimpses of the Spirits as they die by my hand. Focusing back on the fight, I duck under a fist just as another Spirit hits me in the gut. At the same time, my hand catches a third one, and it explodes. I spin and dodge and throw my own kicks and punches as the shards of their remains fall all around me, blocking my vision.

A foot hits my spine and I crumple against its weight. My hands are too weak to hold me, and I curl into the tightest ball I can manage. I use my arms to cover my head, desperately trying to stop the Dark Spirits from hurting me. They still explode around me, but only the ones that make contact with my skin. The other Spirits learn quickly and only attack the clothed parts of my body.

Their beating lets up.

I look above me.

Ben is standing above me, using his body to shield me and at the same time, fighting off the rest of the Dark Spirits with his sword. Anger hardens the lines in his face as he fights viciously. I want to stand and help him, but I don't have the energy. I have no choice but to stay on the ground until all of the Dark Spirits have gone. I can hear him panting as he sheathes his sword. He crouches down next to me, and gently helps me sit up. "I never expected to come back to you like this. I can't leave you on your own, can I?"

I laugh because I don't know what else to do. My ribs ache as my lungs and abs heave, sending sharp pain through me. I wince, and wrap my arm around my torso. "I guess not."

Ben scowls down at my arm. "Com'on. Let's get you inside."

I nod and he picks me up bridal style. I hold tightly to his shoulder with the arm that isn't around my stomach. The knot eases in my chest, letting warmth in for the first time in months. He strides past the crowd, who part like the red sea, and follows my directions into the girls dorm building. I lead him to my bedroom, where he places me on the bed, then walks into the bathroom and comes back with a wet towel. Ben pulls out a small black bottle, and pours a few drops onto the towel. Once that's done, he kneels down next to the bed and gently grabs one of my arms. He turns it over so my palm is up, then goes to work, swiping the towel across the blue marks. His potion goes to work, and when he removes the towel, the light and pain is gone. I sigh with instant relief, and tension leaves my body, allowing me to sink down into the blankets. I close my eyes as Ben gets to work, healing all of the cracks the Spirits caused.

Ben has barely finished with one of my arms when Guanyin, Luke, Conner, and Jessica file in. Once they're all in the room, Guanyin sits down on the end of my bed, and Jessica sits on her bed to make more room for the boys. All four of them watch Ben and me, and Guanyin shoots me a questioning look.

"This is the guy you told me to call?" Conner speaks first, folding his arms across his chest.

"Yeah." I try to sit up, but Ben pushes down on my shoulders. I glare at him as I'm shoved back into the fluffy blanket. He looks as innocent as an angel. "He's the only reason I survived today," I continue as if the interaction hadn't occurred at all.

"What happened?" Guanyin asks, taking my hand.

Still glaring at Ben, I can see when he lifts his head, soft red staring into me. "I'd like to know that as well. There were at least two hundred dark spirits on you when I showed up."

"Wait, you can see them?" Luke asks.

He nods, not turning away from me, silently telling me to talk.

"I ran into an insane person, and-"

"WHAT?" Ben explodes, standing up to tower over me, "You know they like to flock around people like that! Why would you even risk it?"

"Ben, calm down! I had no idea that he was even there!" I yell at him, standing from the bed.

"Really? Was he wandering the halls and you just happened to bump into him?" he yells back, glaring down at me from his head-taller-than-me advantage.

"No! I was feeling exhausted so I needed a bit of a re-charge! The basement where he is being kept is one of the only places here without a window!" I yell, throwing up my hands, "No matter what you might think, I don't just run head first into danger."

We both stand there, neither of us moving, glaring at each other. At least until Guanyin clears her throat, "Are you ok, Freya?"

My eyes close, and I shake my head, "Yeah. Sorry. I just need a little bit of this magic potion."

I grab the towel out of Ben's tanned hand, and work at finishing my arm, then do my face. Then I drop the towel on the nightstand. I'll have to check on my physical injuries later.

"I don't mean to pry, but...who is he?" Guanyin says, pointing to Ben.

I glance at him, taking in his tall stature, brown tanned skin, light red eyes, and brown hair, then turn to Guanyin, "This is Benjamin. He's a friend of mine. He's also a demon, which is why he could see the spirits, and kill them like I can," then I turn to Ben, "Are you going to leave or am I?"

He doesn't budge, and I can see he doesn't look happy at my question, so I take the decision into my own hands, and walk out of the room, grabbing a jacket on my way out, and tossing over my shoulder, "I'm going for a walk."

I pull on the jacket, and walk outside, thankfully finding the area empty. The sun sets as I walk around the grounds. I find many out buildings that I didn't know existed, and explore the outsides, but don't bother to go in. As I'm about to round the corner of one of such buildings I hear quiet voices, and instinct tells me to stop. I recognize one of the voices as the man from the office. He must be talking to someone over the phone, because I can't make out any words from the other person.

"-talking to him, but he wouldn't listen. Lark is convinced no one will go to Bolst for guidance."

A pause where the other person talks.

"None of the ones on the list. Someone else here might be promising, if I could just talk to-"

He's cut off by the other person.

"Alright. I will. How's your search going?"

Another silence.

"Don't say things like that. You're going to jinx it. The Queen is our last hope."

The Queen? That term is familiar. After the war, people took to calling Mom that, in hopes she would continue leading them, and not just the soldiers; all of the Enhanced. She never took the 'crown'. I'm so lost in my thoughts, that I don't hear the rest of the conversation. The man's footsteps fade away in the opposite direction of where I am.

I plunge under the tree cover that surrounds one side of the school grounds, and spend the next few hours in the dark of the forest, alone with my thoughts. When I become aware of my surroundings again, I find myself back at Enterprise, and hundreds of stars shining above me. I walk back into the building, and make my way back to my room. I hesitate, then open the door, praying that no one will be inside. My wish is granted. I close the door behind me, and hurry through my nighttime routine. Before I clothe myself in my pajamas, I pause to evaluate the physical wounds, and find that I'm covered in bruises and scrapes, but nothing is broken. I find that Ben left the bottle on the nightstand, which I puzzle at. This stuff is super rare and expensive. I didn't think he would leave the bottle of Light Spirit essence alone, where anyone could take it.

I shake my head, then dress and climb into my bed for some needed sleep.