Infinity

Chapter One

"Patrol with me tonight?" The voice is right next to my ear and as I turn around, I see Lucas standing there, a small smile on his angelic face. "You're one night behind for this week."

I sigh. "Yeah... I guess. I don't have anything better to do, anyway."

"Good. Think of it as a date?"

I glare at him. "No. I don't think so."

I start to walk away and he follows me, his long legs easily keeping up with my fast stride. I don't like Lucas. He's always up everyone's ass, trying to know every bit of information he can get. I don't trust him. "Why not? It'll be fun. I'll buy you an ice cream or something." His flaming eyes are inches from mine, and had it not been for the fact that my eyes are also flames, and that my entire body is basically a bonfire that doesn't burn, the skin on my face probably would've melted off from the intensity.

"One, I don't like ice cream, two, I don't like you, and three, I've been saved."

He stops and stares at me. "Saved? For who?" He seems a little mad, and I smile as his eyes turn a dark purple color. Red--rage--and blue--jealousy. That's the thing about my people. The thing that gives us the most trouble. When an enemy can tell what you're feeling--know that you're scared--they will look for any way to use it against you. But, for the past 50 years or so, we've been taking out the enemies that know, taking back our secret.

"Terry. Haven't you been saved yet?" I ask, my smirk widening. My eyes turn a brighter green as pride wells up inside me. Being saved is a right of passage only warriors that are deemed worthy have the right of. Only those who are worthy to carry on the bloodline of the Infinites are allowed to continue living. Those who are decided to be unworthy are killed. Of course, if they beg for their lives they're allowed to live. But our people don't beg. If you beg for your life, you are turned into a slave, your eyes are doused, your tongue cut out. For most, death would be preferable.

Lucas glares at me. "No. I'm not getting saved. You know what I've done."

"I do. But, what are you going to do? Fight your way out of being killed? It's five to one, myself as one of them. And even if you do kill us all--which you won't--you'll still be a target for everyone else here. Everyone will try to kill you."

His eyes turn almost completely back to the normal green color now. Only a hint of yellow in them to show that he's scared. I almost feel bad for him. Almost.

When we were both 11--just four years ago--he'd betrayed our secrets to an Extra. She'd tricked him, made him think that she loved him, and used him to find out the Infinite's few weaknesses. She and her people had then invaded our land, slaughtering thousands.

They'd killed everyone they could. Men, women, and children. The scene was devastating and the military of our land had charged them, the heat of their fury like a wave. It was my first battle, and I'd been injured badly. Our leader at the time, Commander Slake, had also been injured, much worse than I had. He took a spear to the stomach while protecting his wife and daughter. His wife had killed the Extra that had impaled him, but he still died in her arms.

He looks around for a minute, then says, softly enough to where only I can hear, "What if I don't give them the chance?"

I narrow my eyes at him. "What do you mean?"

He looks around, his eyes turning a bright orange. He's nervous, and I feel my stomach clench. "Meet me at the circle rocks in the woods tonight at 3:00 A.M., if you really want to know. But, if you're not there by 3:15, I'm going to assume you're not coming. And don't go on patrol. It won't be safe."

"But--"

"Just meet me then." He turns without another word and half runs away.

"Shit," I mutter, running a hand through my long brown hair. "He better not drag me into another war."