The Blade of Dawn

Chapter 29

I am not sure if I should be relieved or angry.

A million questions jostle in my mind, demanding priority. "Are you a spy for Kronos?" I sputter.

"Yes and no," Xander replies.

"Which is it?" I fume. For better or worse, I trusted Xander. I feel betrayed.

"I work as a spy for Kronos to keep my sister alive. Kronos has her imprisoned at the Capitol. But I am not loyal to Kronos. I only do what I need to do to keep my sister safe."

"Why should I believe you?" I challenge.

"I get it. I'm not a saint. I've made mistakes." Xander's expression darkens. "But this time I'm doing the right thing. I have the stone that fits within the Blade of Dawn. My sister was able to steal it from Kronos, replace it with a fake, and smuggle the stone to me."

Hope blooms in my chest. I hold my wrists towards Xander. "Ok. Help me get out of these bindings."

Xander cuts the ropes that bind my wrists and then releases my ankles.

I rush to retrieve the Blade of Dawn that hangs from Ryker's belt.

"Where is the stone?" I ask once I have the dagger.

Xander reaches into a pouch on his belt and hands me a beautiful yellow stone.

I press the stone into the empty setting on the hilt of the sword. It fits perfectly. The room glows with a warm light.

The metal in the setting comes to life, stretching itself over the stone and locking the stone into place on the hilt.

Ordinarily, I would have been awestruck by both the beauty of the stone and the magic that pulses from it, but there is no time to waste. My chest still burns from the poison and my skin feels fragile and hot, as if I have a bad sunburn. I need the antidote, but with Ryker unconscious I don't know how to get it.

"Ready to go? Kronos and his soldiers are outside of the cave." Xander says.

"I will go, but I need you to stay here and watch Ryker. Let me know when he wakes up." I reply.

"Why? Ryker doesn't matter." Xander's brows knit together in confusion.

"Please. I am trusting you. I need you to trust me too." I say. I'm not ready to tell Xander about the poison. If he is still somehow working for Kronos, I don't want him to know I've been weakened and compromised. I need to find Easton and Sarah and tell them what has happened. They can help me get the antidote.

I am prepared for an argument, but Xander does not protest any further.

"Ok. Go," Xander replies.

"Thank you." I rush out of the room and down the dark tunnel with my fingers wrapped tightly around the hilt of the Blade of Dawn.

By the time I reach the mouth of the cave, my skin is burning and sharp bursts of pain rake down my spine. The poison is working its way through my veins.

I rush towards the opening, where the burnt orange light of dusk cuts through the darkness.

There is no turning back now.