Mythic (NaNoWriMo14)

Chapter 35 - Celebrations

"Brothers and sisters!" boomed the djinn. "Tonight, we celebrate our victory tomorrow!" 

The crowd of Unbounds, larger than Allegra had ever seen it, roared in response. Tails, wings, claws and horns were on every body, each one unique in their own way. Though she'd walked among these Mythics exhibiting her own half form daily, the sight of it still caught in her throat. Mythics, not afraid to embrace who they were. 

"Tomorrow, we reclaim all the humans have taken from us! The ley that they stole, the portal that they seek to keep from us, but no longer!" Pride swelled as the djinn flung his arms wide, settling yet another cloud of ley over the Unbounds--the hundreds of Mythics, each one ready to lay down their life for the djinn's purpose. "Tomorrow, the reclamation begins!" 

As yet another wave of ley settled, absorbed into the keys of every Mythic, Allegra retreated to the corridors, to her room where she could be alone. It was clever, feeding them this ley now. Tomorrow, when they needed it, the ley would still be stored in excess in their keys, but their minds would not be clouded by euphoria the djinn's ley induced. 

A voice called after her as she reached the doorway. 

"What's wrong, sister?" asked a mer Mythic Allegra didn't recognise. "Are you not joining us in the celebration?" 

"I'm tired," Allegra lied with a smile. "I'm the lead scout, and I've been run off my feet in the last week. You can imagine how much running it took to wear a centaur out." 

The mer's face instantly changed as she nodded away. "Your efforts will help ensure our victory, sister, and for that, I thank you." 

Allegra inclined her head as she excused herself. "Enjoy the celebrations, sister."

Her footsteps were lonely down the corridors. Inside her room wasn't much better. She felt isolated in the same place she'd once felt safe by... what even by? She was closer to the djinn than ever. Unbounds were on the verge of being able to walk in open society without fear of the Order. Why was she so reluctant to embrace that? 

Allegra's hand was on the second chain looped around her neck when the door opened. 

She froze, her tension melted a few seconds later as Kiou came through the door. 

"You scared me," she muttered, lifting Rena's key out of her tunic.

Kiou closed the door. "Saw you slip away, thought I'd check on you."

Rena's key sat on the flat of Allegra's palm. There was no ley inside it anymore, no glimmer of light. For all she could sense in it, Rena's key was a chunk of carved crystal, like some expensive replica. 

"How are you feeling about the reclamation?" asked Allegra. 

"I'd feel better about it if the archangel wasn't involved, but I suppose he's necessary," said Kiou. "My anti-chaotic team is ready to go. Everything's in place." 

"That's not what I meant," said Allegra. 

Kiou sighed. "I don't know, Allegra. All I know is that what the Order's doing is wrong, and that we might not get another chance to act before they corrupt the rest of the portals."

"It just doesn't make sense," said Allegra. "Why would they be corrupting the portals? They use the ley just as much as us, even if they don't need it to survive. What do they gain out of killing us off?" 

"Maybe we'll find out tomorrow," said Kiou. "How's Rena's key?" 

Allegra held it out. Kiou hovered a hand over it and swore. 

"It's a dead key," he said. "She's feral." 

Allegra replaced it inside her tunic. "We still have to try. She'd do the same for us. It's the heart portal--if anything can fix it, that will." 

"Just... don't get your hopes up, Nia," said Kiou, using the nickname from when they'd been kids. Before she'd changed her name. "I'll see you tomorrow. Don't get yourself killed and stay near the djinn, okay?" 

"Same goes for you, dragon breath," she said, poking her tongue out as he left through the door. "If you die, I'm going to hunt you down when I get there. Got it?" 

Kiou rolled his eyes and left. 

Allegra's brief smile faded. She rolled under her covers, pressing both keys close to her chest, hoping that somehow, her own would keep any flicker inside of Rena's alive until she could return it. If she didn't, Allegra knew she'd hold herself forever responsible. Though she hadn't been the one to keep the key, she hadn't intervened, either. It made her as guilty as the djinn. 

Sleep came uneasily. When she woke, the dawn of reclamation was upon them. 

*+*+*+*

A/N - Miiiight have another chapter posted within the next few hours. If not, it'll be this time-ish tomorrow. Little burnt out from the 5 billion words a night writing thing, but trying to get Mythic done before I have to get back to Indigo. 

Yada yada cliffhangers yada yada pitchforks grab one from the pile over beside the subway cookies. <3