Soul Chains

Chapter 9: Déjà Vu

The next day, Reine, Nathan, Melantha, and I slip out of school at a quarter passed nine in order to be sure we make it to the train station on time. The way to the train station is silent and grim with Reine occasionally glancing around suspiciously and quickening her pace. We find Renee and Renji standing outside the station near the stairs to go down, Renee holding a dark green and tan backpack slung over one of her shoulders as she waits while Renji leans against the wall.

"I guess we're doing this, huh?" Renee's eyes flicker between all of us.

"Yes," Reine sighs, "we must. Follow me, please."

The five of us follow Reine down into the station and all the while I feel as if someone is watching us, making chills run down my spine and my shoulders tense up.

"How are we going to get there through a train station?" I ask.

"You'll see," Reine says, and as I'm walking beside her I can almost sense the hint of a slightly impish smile curving up at her lips as she sends me a sidewards glance.

"Can't wait," Nathan sighs.

We finish descending the stairs and head down beyond the trains, passing all of them until we're in the empty tracks area and I furrow my eyebrows in confusion.

"Uh?" Melantha wonders aloud, "where are we going exactly?"

"Over here," Reine says, hurrying her pace and descending further into the darkness.

Renee and I exchange skeptical glances before we all continue following after Reine in the tunnels. After about ten more feet, Reine stops us as she holds out her arm.

"Back up," Reine orders and the five of us shuffle behind her, watching as she summons her katana and twirls it around in her hand.

Reine puts her left hand behind her back and summons a rose colored orb filled with glowing bright red energy before she tosses it up in the air behind her, whirling around and slashing her katana through it as she spins. My eyes widen as I watch Reine move elegantly and it's almost as if her lavender eyes flash as she cuts through the orb, making a sound of glass shattering echo throughout the tunnels as shards and rose petals fall to the ground, a portal of the same color forming in its place out of energy.

"We must go now," Reine says, sheathing her katana once more, "the portal will close in approximately twenty more seconds and that is when my spell will activate."

"Let's go then," Renee says, grabbing on to Renji's arm and dragging him through the portal.

"Ren--" Renji gets cut off as he disappears through the portal.

Nathan sighs before he lazily walks through the portal and Melantha eyes it wearily before stepping through. I run into the portal at the same time that Reine does, and as I do so I feel someone grab ahold of my shoulder from behind, making my eyes widen in shock.

"Reine!" I shout frantically.

Reine's head whips around to look at me and her eyes widen as we land next to the others in a field of goldenrods by a giant oak tree, the portal closing behind us. When I turn around to see who's gripping on to my shoulder, I find myself being startled to see Ayette standing there, her eyes just as wide as mine.

"What...the...hell..." Ayette breathes out, her eyes boring into mine.

"Uh oh..." Nathan trails off and Melantha's breath hitches as she notices Ayette.

"Well, that can't be good," Renee frowns and Renji simply watches Ayette, studying her quietly.

"What...the...hell...Gabriel..." Ayette trails off.

"I could ask you the same thing," I retort, wondering why or how she's even here.

Ayette simply glares at me in response as if to say that this is much bigger than her sneaking around and I sigh in defeat.

"Yeah, okay, you win..." I sigh.

"She cannot be here," Reine says, pointing her finger at Ayette.

"Hey, I complimented your style!" Ayette pouts, crossing her arms, "and just what the hell is here?"

"Why were you not affected by my spell," Reine narrows her eyes in a calculating manner, marching up to Ayette and scanning her up and down.

"Spell? What the hell is going on here?!" Ayette snaps.

"She has a relic," Renee says and all of our heads turn towards her.

"She has one of the relics?" Renji asks, realization dawning on him, "that would make sense..."

"A what now?" Ayette's eyebrows furrow in confusion as Reine's eyes dart to her chain necklace that has an opal crystal wrapped in wire hanging from it and she reaches out to touch it.

Upon touching the crystal, it glows a bright white against Reine's hand and she instantly drops it, a hum passing beyond her lips.

"I can't believe I didn't notice this before," Reine sighs.

"Hang on," I start, "what's a relic?"

"A relic is a spiritual item that has supreme magical abilities," Renee explains, placing a hand on her hip, "there are only four of them in existence and they all have different properties and are different items. The one she has must be the one that cancels out any Iegashyia's abilities on the wearer. It acts as a physical, emotional, mental, and internal shield. It's the relic of defense and purity."

"Can somebody please explain what's going on?" Ayette sighs.

"How did you even get here?" I narrow my eyes at her and she rolls her eyes.

"I had a suspicion that more was going on than you were admitting. When I saw you sneaking out of school as I was on the second floor, cleaning the lab room tables and looking out the windows to pass the time, I decided to follow you," Ayette explains, "clearly, I was right."

"Wait," I wave a hand, "you just left Darian and Vivian behind?"

"Okay, in my defense, this is some crazy shit," Ayette looks at me pointedly and I scowl.

"I suppose we have no choice but to explain," Reine sighs tiredly, "I guess it'll be best to recap everything once we arrive at our destination anyways. I can then explain where we'll go from here and what our next moves are."

"Where exactly are we going to be staying, Queen?" Renee asks, raising a brow as she clutches on to the strap of her backpack, shifting from side to side boredly.

"Queen?" Ayette groans, "do I even want to know?"

"Probably not," I sigh.

"Well," Reine's expression shifts to one of slight discomfort, "we'll be staying at my family's estate for the time being. It is...best suitable for our purposes."

I frown as I notice Reine's change in mood and her discomfort, thinking of how all of her unease seems to come from something relating to her family from her previous reactions and conversations. It's just then that I also finally begin to take in my surroundings in further detail and my eyes widen when I notice that this is the same field from my dream, minus the tire swing.

"No way..." I breathe out, aimlessly walking over to the oak tree in a sore of dazed manner.

"Gabriel?" Reine questions, worry evident in her voice.

I brush passed Renee and Renji, the two of them turning to watch me in confusion and curiosity as I walk up to the tree, pressing a hand against it.

"It's just as I remember..." I breathe out and I hear Reine's breath hitch in her throat.

"You...remember?" Reine breathes out and everyone else stays completely silent as the wind blows through the field, making the goldenrods sway.

"I..." I turn around, my gaze growing sullen as I look from Reine to the field, "nevermind...let's just...go...to Reine's estate..."

Renee sends me a weird look and raises a brow as I walk passed her again and Renji's face shows sympathy as I walk off in still somewhat of a trance, the others still seemingly confused as Reine seems sad and I assume I'll be corrected by Reine if I'm walking in the wrong direction.