Auras

Chapter 22

"Who goes there!" a guard yelled.

"Really? 'Who goes there?' Come on we live in the twenty first century, I know we use swords and stuff but seriously?" I replied.

"Who's there?" another guard said.

"Who do you think it is? Take me to your leader," I replied. And then I laughed a little.

"What's so funny?" the first guard asked.

"Take me to your leader," I repeated. They didn't get it. "I know we're basically in a war against each other, but seriously you guys need to chill every once in a while."

Two other Watchers appeared behind me and grabbed my arms. I wonder if they know I could totally get out of this if I wanted to. They took me inside where I saw the Chief.

"Of course you're here," I commented.

"Hello Artemis," she replied. "I was surprised to hear that you were here."

"Take me to see Ashley. I know she's here," I demanded. I wasn't here for chit chat.

"You still mad about Neil and that girl?" she asked.

"That girl was innocent, she was new. You killed her," I replied.

"She was an Abilitor and you know how we feel about you. Besides Neil killed her," she argued.

"You controlled him! He didn't have any control over his actions! You used us against him!" I yelled.

"That was easy, but I did feel bad about using a human," she replied.

"We're all humans!"

"You're inhuman. You have unnatural powers."

"Who put that stupid idea in your heads in the first place?! We're as human as anyone else we just happened to be born with a special ability! You were all born with a natural affinity to magic! Why are you so different?! And why do you hate the Protectors so much when they have the same affinity as you?!"

"We don't hate them because of their magic, we hate them because they willingly protect unnatural things."

I took a deep breath to call down. "I'm not here to talk about this. Release Ashley."

"Don't wanna."

"If you release her, I'll stay."

"We let your friend go and you will willingly stay here?"

"Yes, but let me see her."

"Right this way," she replied and I followed her. I saw Ashley in a cage.

"Ashley!" I yelled as I ran over to her.

"Artemis? What are you doing here?" she asked.

"Open it up immediately," I demanded and the Chief complied. "Are you ok?"

"Why did she do as you said?" Ashley asked.

"Don't worry about it. Your arm, it's bleeding," I pointed out.

"Why can't I heal it? I tried, but it didn't work."

"I'm sorry I lied to you."

"When?"

"You asked about if I knew your weakness, your limit. Healers... Healers cannot heal themselves. It's their weakness. That's why my brother couldn't heal himself, that day. It wasn't because he was injured, it was because he couldn't heal himself."

"You should have told me."

"I know."

"Ok, you're time is up," Chief said.