The Heroes of The Elemental Academies Book 3 The Tides of War

Chapter 26: Pain and Guilt

Seth

   Seth didn't even get the chance to fight. He raised his hand and put it over the handle of Sonfang where the Water gem was hidden. The only way out of this was to use it. But a soft voice reached his ears it was directionless and seemed to be coming from everywhere. Seth's eyes flashed to Orion but he showed no sign of hearing it, he just stood there with his curved blade smirking. He strained his ears to listen. He was burning with anger. Anger at himself for allowing this to happen. He should've known that they could know they were coming. Then he heard it again soft, almost like a whisper on the wind.
   "Trust in me and stand down. My plan will guide you forward." The voice was calm and serene, with a hint of warmth. Seth's anger melted. Thoughts raced through his head. Had that been God? Should he even listen to a voice he randomly heard. Even as he stepped forward to give one last final struggle, a scrapping sound came from the cliff behind him and before he could even turn to face it, something hard hit him in the back of the head, and his vision went dark.

     The dreams came then. Most of them were confusing and dark. At some point he became aware of himself sitting on a hill topped by a single tree. The sun was high but under the shade of the massive oak it was nice and cool. A soft wind blew over the hill making the green grass flutter and bend a crowd bowing to a king. But there was something more on this wind... a voice. At first Seth couldn't make out what it was saying so he strained his ears. For some reason he was pretty sure he needed to hear what it was going to say. After what felt like Several minutes of this he was able to make out what it was saying.

"Worry not for even in the pain I am here. Listen to your heart and remember... I made all things both the Darkness and the Light." The voice was gentle and smooth like glass. He got the distinct feeling that it wasn't speaking the same language as him. but somehow he understood its meaning. Then like lightning it struck him. It was God!!! God was speaking to him. A swift calmness settled over him the likes of which he had never experienced. He was going to ask him what he mean but before he could. Cold pain ripped him from his dreams.

Seth immediately came back to his senses and quickly noticed several things. First: he was in a cell. Second: he was underground, it was dark and he couldn't really tell from the scant lighting but the cell seemed to be made of a dark flowing substance. Surprisingly the third thing he noticed were the two thin looking demons that were crouched before him. One had his arm extended holding the rusty steel rod that had just been stabbed into Seth's exposed shoulder.

The pain came then, fierce and relentless. A scream beat at the back of his throat but he managed to push it down. The demon's took note of the fact that he was awake by flashing him with toothy grins. They said nothing however and Seth was sure that they couldn't speak. With a jerk they ripped out the piece of steel and with a flash they stabbed it into his leg. He couldn't hold it back this time. He howled, as thick red blood began to run down his leg. It was at this moment he realized he had been stripped down to his shorts and chained to the wall.

"Well,, this sucks," He mumbled through clenched teeth. The demons made a sound that sounded like someone was banging pans and It didn't take him long to realize that they were laughing. They were have fun. This was pure joy to them. It was so backward. So foreign a concept he vomited there right on the spot. It was either that or the sight of his own bleeding leg caused him to hurl.
  "Are you having a good time? You know I charge          
thirty dollars per minute," he said dryly. In response another piece of metal was produced which they promptly stuck in his other leg. A scream tire from his throat but this time he managed to keep his eyes open. His mind kept flashing back to the dream he'd had before waking up. And about the voice that had told him to trust God and lower his weapon.
  "Why the hell had he listened?"  Now not only was he imprisoned but he was also being tortured. What was the point, God had said.
  "I will be with you through the pain and the darkness,"  Then where was he? The pain was unbearable and it only got worse as the demon scampered around him pulling out the metal rods before shoving them in some place new. Seth screamed so long his voice became hoarse and his eye began refusing to work. They seemed to be purposely avoiding anything vital. And they alway laughed when he screamed either particularity loud or when he'd thrash around. However there was little he could do. It seemed like an eternity but eventually the demons stopped and began wrapping his wounds tightly with what looked like strips of muddy cloth. The cool mud seems to smooth the fiery pain of the wounds they had just caused. Seth didn't care anymore though. His thoughts had long ago left. He couldn't even muster the strength to look around his cell. He hoped he would pass out soon. The fire building in each wound was getting worse despite the muddy bandages. His eyesight dimmed, but before he could pass out completely, he heard a voice.

   "You didn't kill him did you?" The deep voice echoed in his brain, He was fading fast. He could hear no audible answer but the voice continued.

   "One of you stay, the other one go and tell the Commanders to begin readying the troops. The time for the invasion is almost upon us." Who were they invading now? He had thought that Durindal had been their target. He didn't get the chance to give it more thought as everything went black.

    Rylee

  Her eyes snapped open and for a moment she couldn't remember where she was. The soft wind being carried through her tent flaps soon reminded her of her location. She lifted her heavy woolen blanket so that it would cover her head and maybe she could go back to sleep. Metal tapping metal continued to ring throughout her tent until she threw back her covers and stood. in two hopping steps she was at the front of the tent.

   She ripped open the tent flaps to find a middle aged man with a sandy beard. He was one of her messengers. "What is it?" She snapped. The look on the man's face sent and icy chill down her spine. Instinctually she wrapped her robe tighter around herself.
"What happened?"
"Ma'am Lord Malcovitch has been cap..." she cut him off ducking back into her tent to throw off her robe. She was wearing her nightwear underneath. Without hesitation she willed her armor to form around her along with a grey cloak. Songbird appeared at her side with a flash.
   She pushed passed the startled messenger motioning for him to follow her but not turning around to see if he actually did.
  "Tell me all about it as we go I need details and send for Charles tell him I need to speak with him immediately."
  "The report we got from the scout Karta was choppy and unclear but it seems that Seth ordered him to stay behind in case something happened to them. But he didn't stay he followed at a distance, he said he felt something was wrong and he was right. He told us that right after Seth, and two of his squad mates got to a vantage point so that they could see the city they were surrounded by what he estimated was over five hundred demons and the massive General Seth had dueled in the battle." Guilt flooded into Rylee and her knees began to shake.

   Why did she allow Seth to take on such a dangerous task?   He had been so intent on proving himself, she had just wanted to distract him. But now, one of the most important people in the academy. Not just because of his power or position as the elves' prince. But... because of how much he meant to her. She stopped in her tracks. Her thoughts were swirling and a rush of emotion flooded her brain as she realized and perhaps for the first time accepted that she liked Seth. Probably more than she would like to admit.

   It had been hard after Joseph's death and in the beginning she had blamed Seth, even though it wasn't his fault. The last year and a half had been strange, she had grown to understand and eventually like him. She shook her head, this is not the time to be thinking of this. She had to figure out a plan to get him back. She turned and began heading toward the Headquarters, she had a operation to plan!