A Hero in the Dark: 2nd Edition

Chapter 35: A Deal, Is It?

I've been flying over buildings and fields for hours, the entire time staring out the window and wondering where it is we're going or when we'll get there or if the others are following. I never expected this; a car or a truck, maybe, but this?

I'm in a helicopter with three Mogadorians, all of them holding alien weaponry in their laps; swords, cannons, daggers... I try not to look at them—the weapons or the Mogs. I'm restless, and I refuse to sit. Are they even safe yet? Has the deal been made? Or are they waiting?

"Where're we going?"

"We're almost there."

Sooner or later, we land in a field next to a mountain and the door slides open. They jump out ahead of me while I stay rooted in place, trying to figure out where we are, at least until one of them grabs my arm and yanks me out. I nearly fall to the gravel. Gravel... This looks like...

West Virginia. No.

It's quiet, nearly dusk, and a soft wind blows through my hair.

Two Mogs begin forward; the other flanks me. "Onward!" he shouts. It smells of death; foxes, birds, raccoons, all of them lying motionless in the grass like they've been poisoned or drugged. Pixie squirms and suddenly, I fear for her life too.

I focus on my pocket and whisper so none of them hear, "time to go, girl." She seems to understand, and in a few seconds, a moth flies out of my shirt; none of them even notice. "Where are they?" I mutter on the threshold, but they don't answer. I freeze. He pushes me but I plant my feet. "I'm not going in there until I know they're ok."

Then, ahead, marching down the dark hall like the alien monster that he is, is Setrákus, but it isn't him that sends shockwaves through my chest; it's the three following his lead: mom, dad, brother; they hobble a few paces after, looking desperate to run to me, and they try to. But Setrákus Ra holds his cane to his side, blocking them. I don't think I've ever seen dad so scared.

"Emily," the tyrant yells, and I grit my teeth just by hearing him speak my name in front of them. "Do you agree to a life of new reason? A life born out of the ashes and from the depths of despair?"

My fists and teeth clench. I don't have the slightest idea what he's talking about, but still, I know the answer. "I do if you let them go!" Only if you let them go, you freak.

He brings his cane down, and they run faster than I expected. They embrace me tighter and more lovingly than I thought they would. I thought they'd be furious. My head hangs over their shoulders as tears flood my eyes. "I'm sorry," I say. "I'm so sorry. I never wanted you to get involved."

Then the questions come: What's going on? Where have you been? Why'd you leave? What are these things? I don't know how to answer any of them.

"Emily, you need to tell us what's going on," dad demands.

I mean to reply, but before I can, a large hand pulls me by the collar. Setrákus holds me by the shoulder, but as soon as I know it's him, I shake off his hand. "Don't touch me!" I snap.

He pays little attention to my impulse. "She and I have an agreement," he says, speaking to mom and dad. "You are free to go."

Dad hobbles forward. I'm afraid he's going to fall. "I won't leave my daughter with you. Get your hand off her." But he doesn't. "Get away from him, Emily." I don't. I can't; I know I can't.

Setrákus Ra lets out a short condescending laugh and nods to a nearby Mog, and the soldier unsheathes his sword. "Stop!" I shout. "We had a deal! Don't hurt them!"

They need to go; I know they do. None of them stand a chance if they stay, not here, not against this many, or their leader, or their swords. I can't see them get any more hurt. "No, dad, you need to go," I tell him, as calmly as I can manage. I gloss over at the three of them, one by one, and back again to him. "Go somewhere safe, just don't go back home." Setrákus is watching me like a hawk. I know he won't allow me to take a single step forward like I know he won't allow me much more time to convince them. "I'll be ok, just go."

"Not a chance, Emily," he says and takes in a strangled breath. He stands up straighter, straighter than he can, I think. "Not. A. Chance."

"I knew this would be no success," Setrákus states then. "Kill them. I cannot have them in my way, and I have wasted much time already."

It's not surprise that grabs me by the throat, but fear. We had a deal, a goddamn deal! He said he'd leave them alone. How dare he betray it!

Setrákus takes me by the bicep and drags me into the cave, and panic spikes in my chest as fear kicks up, fear of being held captive again. Rage boils under my skin, and I know without checking that the Legacy has been triggered. A fury surges in my veins, like a hungry electricity. His grip, the terror of having them kill my own... I let it all in. I breathe it, welcome it, let it fuel me like it did when I escaped. I don't fight it; it takes over on its own.

Colour fades to light blue then dark blue that dims with the waning sunlight. My palms glow, my left brighter than the right, not that I care. I don't care to question it or wonder if I'm strong enough; I know I need to be. I'm alone and on my own and they need me—because no one else will be coming to save them; not the police, or FBI, or government, or any random passerby, and most likely not the Loric either—who knows where they are. Pixie's probably long gone, which means it's just me. I'm their only hope of survival, and I need to do something.

My palms begin to concentrate. My heart pounds, beating in the flow of the Legacy's vitality, and just before a soldier swings his sword down on mom, I reach out to her and yell, "NO!!"

I hardly believe what I see. It's hard to see anything at all; everything's blue, so the ray that shot out of my palm is no different. But it's there; I feel it. Setrákus's surprise allows me to pull away, his hold loosening by the tiniest bit, and I run back the way we came.

As soon as my feet touch gravel again, something smacks hard into my back. I trip and fall with a drastic drain. Colour returns with a blink and in my exhaustion, the other Mogs seem to dissipate. I shake my wrists to bring the blue back, but they fade back to normal again, my regular tan.

"Spectacular." Setrákus is over me in a flash. "You really do possess it. I'm beyond impressed."

Dad hurries to my side, takes hold of me, loops an arm around my shoulders, says, "we need to go." I agree but can't get out a word; my breath is too short.

I look back when we get to the thicket of trees. Setrákus merely stands there, staring at me, lips pursed into a twisted smirk. I don't know what's more frightening: the thought of him calling on a battalion of soldiers to chase us down or his dark eyes watching me with cold malice. Dad pulls on me 'till I take a step, and another, until we're gone.