CORRUPTED FILE [Lumina Chronicles Past Drafts]

Level Thirty-Six: One Man Rescue Crew

I watched from the window of Faye's workshop as Blondie's carriage disappeared into the night, headed for Lumina. If Seraphim's plan went as it was supposed to, that conversation in the hallway would be the last time I ever spoke to her. And I'd never even told her I loved her.

"What now, Kindle," Faye sighed, joining me at the window. She chewed her lip nervously as she stared out at the empty road. "You're plan failed, so what are you going to do?" She looked up at me with tear-filled eyes, "Will you let her die?"

I looked away from her as my own eyes started to sting. "I don't know what to do. I did everything I could to get her to leave without endangering her by telling her what Seraphim's real plan was." " I shook my head, pressing my bandaged fist against the glass of the window. "It wasn't enough. She's still going to die because of me!"

"Faye, Kindle," Serpina knocked lightly on the door behind us. She let herself into the room and leaned against the door with a worried expression.

"What is it?" Faye asked the other mermaid.

"Seraphim's gathering us all in the ballroom," Serpina's face was pale. "He says the war is starting tonight."

Faye shot me a look of surprise and fear, which I'm sure was echoed on my own face, and then the three of us bolted from the room and down the hall to the ballroom.

There was chaos inside. Once Faye, Serpina, and I entered, all thirty-eight members-- thirty-seven actually, because Marcellus was on his way to the ball with Blondie-- were gathered in one room. No one was entirely sure what was going on, and everyone chattered and whispered in different intensities.

The only two in the room who were calm were, of course, Seraphim and Lydia. They stood on a table that had been pulled to the center of the room and watched the crowd with calm expressions. Although, I couldn't really call Lydia calm. She looked about ready to burst with glee at any moment. Was it just me, or was she more excited about this than Seraphim was?

"What's going on?" Inari murmured, sliding through the crowd to Faye's side. She tugged nervously on her fire-red hair. "Is it actually happening?"

"I think we're about to find out," I replied, nodding toward Seraphim, who was standing up on the make-shift stage with his arms raised.

Everyone fell silent.

"Five years ago," Seraphim began, his voice echoing off the high ceilings, "I became your king on the promise that I would avenge our families, our villages, our species. I promised to you that we would overthrow Jareth and take Lumina for our own. And tonight, my dear friends, that promise reaches fruition."

Some people cheered, stomping their feet and shouting Seraphim's praises.

His lips twitched into a smile. As if his ego actually needed any boosting.

"As we speak, Marcellus is on his way to the Palace of Lumina, where he will initiate the assassination of Queen Amaranth and take both the Prince and Princess hostage." Seraphim explained, "With no alternate ruler available, King Jareth will be forced out if his hiding and into our waiting attack."

Take the Prince and Princess hostage? I thought, my mind racing with a growing panic. But if Casimir is gone, he can't defend Blondie from the accusations... She'll be executed without a doubt!

Faye must have been thinking the same thing as me, because she grabbed my hand, squeezing it tightly. "Save her." She whispered.

Lydia smiled, snuggling closer to Seraphim's arm before calling out herself. "Emrys," She shouted, "what news do you bring?"

Emrys stood at the corner of the table, her arms wrapped around herself. "The tree's murmur of the coming war. The news is spreading far across the Shadow Realm. Jareth's tyranny will end and the humans will learn they are no match for us." She spoke softly, as usual, but in the intense silence of the room she could be heard clearly.

"I can't believe it's finally happening," Inari shook her head in awe, "We're finally gonna do it."

My heart thudded in my chest. Blondie. I have to get Blondie before it's too late.

I didn't have long at all to come up with a plan. I didn't have a horse, and Lumina was two hours away. If I saved her, I would be betraying the people who had been my family for the last eight, nearly nine years. I would have to leave the Order.

"And now, my Abandoned Order, prepare for war!" Seraphim shouted.

Everyone erupted into cheers, shouting and screaming, and stomping their feet as Seraphim and Lydia soaked it up.

Inari transformed into her fox-form and barked out a loud howl of approval.

Faye clapped softly, not feeling the emotions half as much as the rest of the crowd. I grabbed her arm and pulled her out the door, into the empty hall.

"We have to leave." I informed her, not leaving any room for argument. "Grab a duffle bag, have Serpina grab one too, fill them with as much as you can. Clear the kitchen of all nonperishables." I said quickly.

Faye nodded. "What about Inari? Emrys?"

"Tell the people you're sure you can trust, but no one else." I hurried down the hall as I spoke, and Faye took quick steps to keep up with me. "Go to my room and get clothing for Blondie and I as well. I'm going to get her."

"Like I said, save her or I'll kill you myself," Faye smiled, despite her panicked breathing. "But Kindle," she added as we ran toward the castle door, "How are you going to get there in time? And where do I meet you once you have Maggie?"

I pursed my lips and slowed to a halt. A meeting place. A safe hiding place. I hadn't thought that far.

After a second of thought, I nodded to myself. There was only one place to go, the place I never planned to return to:

My home.

"To the South of here, the Ruins of Ignus." I told her, "Meet us there by sunrise."

"Ignus..." Faye murmured, then her eyes went wide as she put two and two together. "Kindle you... You're a...?"

I didn't wait to hear the end of the sentence before I burst into a sprint down the road.

It had been nearly nine years since I last acknowledged my species. I didn't deserve to be one of them, but now I needed their power more than ever. I prayed to the heavens that they wouldn't fail me now, that I could save Blondie.

And then I released all the fire I held within me, letting it pour from my veins unhindered. I had almost forgotten what a transformation felt like.

My limbs extended and bulked, and I switched onto all fours as I ran faster, my talons digging into the dirt and propelling me further as my flames swirled around me and my skin turned to scales of onyx. My wings unfurled, catching the wind and lifting me upward into the starry night sky.

I set course for Lumina, rocketing in that direction. Flying, at least, was like riding a bike. I hadn't done it in years, but it still came as naturally as walking on two legs.

I was flying. Fast. And I was headed straight for Blondie.

I would save her, no matter what.