An Unexpected Surprise

Chapter 6

Mare POV

I time my movements carefully. I say goodbye to Cal, and as soon as I see him turn the corner at the end of the hallway, I close the door and start to get ready for battle. Having no real armor of the physical kind of my own, I decide to put on one of the training suits that I brought with me from home. It is plain black with purple trim to match my lightning and a lightning bolt on the top left side of my chest to indicate my ability. It may not be perfect, but at least it will keep me somewhat protected from certain abilities, and it is lightweight, which means that I won't have to worry about it weighing me down.

I can't help but think that I'll outgrow it in only a few months.

As I continue the mundane task of physically preparing myself for battle, putting on my training suit and boots, and tying my hair back in a quick, messy braid, I try to mentally prepare myself as well. But thoughts of Cal and our conversation keep flooding my head.

Part of me feels guilty for lying to him, even though it was for good reason. We both promised to be honest with each other, but here I am, breaking yet another promise. What surprised me more was how easy it was. I thought it would be harder, lying to Cal after everything we have been through. I haven't had to lie to him in so long. But the lie just slipped out so easily.

Am I doing the right thing by lying to him, by fighting in the battle at all? After all, I am doing it for his protection. Without me at the battle, there would be no one else there to make sure he stays safe, no one else there that will look out for him. I know it will hurt Cal when he finds out, but isn't it worth it if I can help them win the battle and help Cal keep his life?

Besides, Cal isn't the only one who has lost people that he loved. I have too. Images of them flash through my head, their ghosts. I know the feeling of loss all too well and it is not something I want to experience again. That is why I have to do this. I can't risk losing Cal, Kilorn, Farley, or anyone else that I care about. I know that it might put the baby in danger, but I will protect it as best as I can too.

I won't lose anyone in this battle, I will make sure of it.

I quickly finish pulling my left boot over my foot and start to walk up to the door. I take a deep breath before turning the handle and stepping into the hallway.

Here I am, once again walking towards a battle, towards danger, towards what could be my doom, or worse, my death. But I don't care. I can't lose anyone else.

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I walk out into the courtyard and am shocked by what I see.

The battle has not only begun but it has been raging. The smell of blood is everywhere. Bodies, Silver, and Red lay across the ground, and there are soldiers everywhere. Some Nortan, some Lakelander, some Red, some Silver.

I quickly scan the faces of the fallen bodies, hoping and praying that I don't see anyone I recognize. Relief floods over me when I don't see anyone I know, but it doesn't last long. Bullets and abilities fly around me, and I have to rely on my swift feet to keep me out of harm's way.

I make my way through the mess of bodies, scanning the crowd to find a familiar face that can give me some guidance as to what the plan is.

I start to call to my lightning, but it flickers as a sudden, suffocating, and heavyweight surrounds me. A familiar weight that grows stronger by the second. Fear and panic course through me as the weight of the silence crushes me to my feet. I can't breathe. I can't fight. I can only feel. I feel the hard ground beneath my body, as I fall to the ground. I gasp, struggling to breathe not only because of the silence but because of the memories it brings back. Images of Arven guards, stone walls, ice-cold blue eyes, and heavy manacles flash through my mind. My hands loop around my wrists, and the brand on my collarbone burns at the thought of Maven.