Defying Equilibrium: Book II

Chapter 9: Observance

**I know I've started saying this every time I post, but I really am sorry for taking so long! I've been so busy with school and stuff. Anyway, I hope posting a couple of chapters at once makes up for it! I will also be editing Book 1 for a while. When I've finished editing, it will probably be pretty different, so it might be worth rereading. Up to you guys. Thank you for being such faithful readers thus far though! You guys rock. Anyway, back to the story now.

xxCinda

P.S. Oh I almost forgot, I'm also going to start attaching my drawings to the chapters too. Check out this first one of Ahmed.**

Ahmed watched the scene around him unfold with a deep sense of, for lack of a better word, weariness. He hadn't expected to be back here so soon, and the familiarity of brutality was grating. If worst came to worst, he would offer his own life in exchange for their freedom, but he doubted very much that it would come to that. Fate has a way bringing an escape when one is needed, as it did for him all those years agowhen Dakora melted the bars to his cell and opened his path tofreedom. In truth, he could have escaped many years earlier had heaspired to, but he saw little gain in it then. It took the fury of ayoung girl to show him that there was work still to be done in freedom.

Although, he did worry for Riess. All of this shock must be quite a strain on the poor boy's heart, and if Riess was who Ahmed thought he was, then hecouldn't let him die. He looked at Mayard, and wondered if the red-haired man felt anything as he took them in with such cold eyes.Mayard wasn't the type to be sadistic, or even unnecessarily cruel.He was just calculating, and was trained not to let his emotions show. A useful skill for someone in his position.

In this way, Mayard saw no further use in Riess. The other two boys were his targets, the ones that Marcella told him to get information from. If Marcella ordered it, then he would do as she said. Her word, to him, was law.

Oscar didn't have to try hard to muster the courage to meet Mayard's icy stare. He could feel the hatred roiling in the pit of his stomach, and anger can look very much like courage in certain circumstances. Mayard left the spot where he stood leaning over Silas, and crossed the room to where Oscar and Dare were shackled to the wall, side by side.

In all honesty,Mayard always disliked this part. Obviously, he understood that itwas necessary, as they could not allow their enemies to question the rule. The Rule of Equilibrium was the one thing that kept this world in balance, and if there were fools enough to try and change that, then they must be dealt with. And if these boys could lead them to the Malachi rebellion, then it was his duty to see that they did. Buteven so, he never enjoyed this part. He crouched slightly so that he was eye-to-eye with Oscar, and with his wine-red hair, grey eyes and tall frame he cut an intimidating figure. Now that he was closer,Oscar could see that Mayard had a scar that ran down across his right eye. He wondered dimly how the young man got that scar, but it wasn't a pressing concern right now.

"I'm going to make this plain and simple for you," Mayard said levelly. "You can refuse to tell me what you know, and you can cry and scream, and all of you will die. Or, you can tell me everything you know about the Malachi, and I might let you live."

Oscar may have been brave, and angry as anything, but he wasn't stupid. What could he do but tell the truth? This was much, much worse than the time they were attacked in the forest, because this time there was no adrenaline or primal instinct that told him what to do. He was thinking clearly now, and that thinking led him to cold fear.

"I've never heardof the Malachi in my life," he replied honestly, trying to keep his voice calm and level. "I would tell you if I knew, but I honestly do not know anything about them." He hated how desperate he sounded, but he was past pride.