Adakon

Chapter 6

I woke with a start, the haunting dreams from the night before me causing me to shake and hyperventilate. Nova, who was lying a few feet away, started to stir. Slowly she came to and faced me, her hands wiping the sleep out of her eyes.

"Chronos?" Nova said, her voice slow and clumsy, "Are you alright? You're shaking like I've never seen before."

"I'm...fine..." I replied in between breaths. "I just...have to... slow my...breathing."

I started to take deep breaths, and slowly, I started to calm down. Every second yielded better results and soon, I was mildly shaking in my hands and fingers.

"See?" I said, "I have been combating nightmare shocks for quite some time now."

"How long?" Nova asked.

"Since the time when I showed up at Deverdon."

"So, about five years ago?"

"Yeah." Silence fell between us. "Well, we should probably get going. I think we should try and get to the palace today."

Nova's face twisted into confusion. "Why? What do you need to do there?"

"Well, I believe it is time I try taking on Erebus. I need to take back the kingdom. I can't live hiding and running whenever there is danger. I need to stand up."

Nova looked down. "I figured that you would want to try something like this some day, but I can't. I have to get back to my mother. I have no idea if she is even alive. You understand, right?"

I felt crushed. I had spent five years, getting to know her, and I had hoped she would stay. I tried to protest, but all that came out was: "Yeah, I understand. I don't blame you for wanting to go to her. I hope you find her safe."

"Thank you. Well, let's get out of this cave. I am getting sick of it here."

We started our ascension to the top of the cave. I reached the top first, admiring the beautiful morning before reaching down to help Nova out. I grabbed her hand and as her eyes scanned the area, they started to grow wider. I turned around.

How did I miss that? I thought, How could I miss a whole squadron of Kuzen?

Then I remembered, that the Kuzen have the ability to be invisible, and now it was too late to run. Within seconds, they were surrounding us and were shoving us in shackles. I glanced up to see the Kuzen part, revealing a short, plump man.

"Svend Leth?" I said, "Why? Why would you rat me out?"

"Well, you, your highness, were useless to the country, before, and you're useless to the country now. I never really liked your family. It was a miracle when you walked into my shop, five years ago. I was thrilled to help out the new regime."

"But why wait five years? You could have tipped the Kuzen earlier, saving everyone a lot more time?"

"Well, you remember my wife, Sophie?"

"Yeah."

"Well, that traitorous hag kept me from turning you in. She wanted to wait for the right moment. Wasn't until about four days ago when I heard her mention in her sleep she was stalling me, trying to keep you alive for some resistance she mentioned.. Well, after that, her stalling didn't last long. I soon got rid of her, and since then, life has never been more freeing."

"By getting rid, do you mean-?"

"Killed? Yes."

Nova spoke up, "You monster! How could you murder your own wife like that?"