Incubus I (UNDER EDITING)!!!

Chapter 22: We're Not Alone

Edda~

I arrived the foot of the mountain, mounted my horse and headed straight to camp. I thought about how the others would take the news, and my suggestion to move deeper into the island to get help and find the others. I knew it'll cause a division as every one would have different opinions, but it always came down to Levi's decision, Levi who has been on a streak of bad decision making. I determined within me to oppose him should he turn down the option to find the others, which he was very likely to do. It was in situations like this i missed Kelvin, he was the only one who could stand up to Levi and still have the backing of the others.

Every one seemed to stop what they were doing and were looking at me when my horse galloped into the camp. This wasn't an unusual thing anyways, just that it got annoying sometimes. I looked around to find a familiar face but i didn't find any of my colleagues, just the sailors. I turned and walked off to the captains tent, and there they were, all gathered round something i couldn't see, and were murmuring to each other, perhaps the scouting team had found something. My pace increased with my curiosity till i got there and broke through the crowd.

I arrived the middle to see Marcus seated against a crate, being attended to by Carina and Ava. I ran over and knelt beside him to examine his face, he wasn't unconscious, just exhausted, and wounded. I ran my hand along the side of his face and his eyes opened. He seemed relieved to see me, as his face lit up with a weak smile. He called my name breathlessly, and fell silent.

I tugged at his shoulders, calling his name again and again and his eyes came open. He tilted his head so he could see me clearly, he was bleeding from a side of his face and more dripped from his lower lip whenever he tried to say something. I turned to Carina to help me get him in, but he stopped us. He put his arm on my shoulder and looked me in the eyes and began to whisper audibly.

"Edda, you need find the others right now " he said to me before spewing blood from his mouth.
" we aren't the only ones on the island " he continued
I asked where he had been the past three days but he couldn't answer.
" where's Kelvin " he asked weakly. I turned to look at the others, and saw Levi standing a few feet away, not looking particularly bothered unlike the rest of us.
i pulled out the chain and showed him.
" we lost him the same day we lost you and a few others " i said in a low tone.
" Edda trust me, they are alive but you have to find them fast, everything that escapes hell lives on this island " he whispered breathlessly.

" how are we supposed to believe that" Levi asked stepping out of the crowd.
Marcus looked up at him for a bit, "i knew you wouldn't believe me" he said removing a bloody knapsack from under his shirt and threw it to his feet. I caught a glimpse of claw marks on his chest and stopped him from covering it. I asked how he got it, but his eyes closed before he could reply.

I tured to look at Levi who had opened the bag already and was holding a wooden mask and a pair of crude daggers in his hands. He shoved them back in, looked back down at me and then to Carina, "see that he gets attended to" he said before turning to go to his tent. I looked to Carina and she nodded her approval. I got up and followed immediately after him.

I called his name but he didn't answer, i called again and again, trying to catch up, i knew he could hear, but what i didn't know, was why he wasn't answering. I followed him into his tent, and watched him go round and sit at a table tossing the knapsack on it.
"Levi, i called you," i said approaching the table
"look, if you're going to go on and on about how right you are, you could well just leave, cuz i can see that" he snapped
I could do that, but there were far more pressing concerns, i bent over the table and asked why he had seemed so distant from me, why he was killing every bit of connection we had, but he just looked up at me like i was pretending, or i was making an act and he new the facts.

"look Edda, I've got a lot of work to do, i don't have time for this " the sentences hit me like a stab to the chest, I felt him notice it in my expression from the manner in which he looked away. I nodded my head with heavy eyes, as this feeling of loneliness crept into me, killing all my other senses.
" so what are we going to do" i asked,trying to sound as professional as possible.
"isn't it obvious? We need to speed up the reconstruction process before we get rounded up " he said interlocking his fingers.
" and the others? " i asked, my pretense, already beginning to falter.
" i cant risk the lives of the others going after just three people "

I eyed him with contempt instantly," just three?... what about the sailors. "
" they aren't bound by our course, i need to put the completion of my mission as the top priority here" he replied adamantly
"your mission? Not ours anymore?... Besides, These men left their families to get you across the great sea comfortably "
" that was their choice "
At this point, I felt a stong urge to punch him in the face, but i just piped down. i turned to leave, then his words came to me again.
" i can't jeopardize the mission because of the lives of eight men"
"just give me four men, and I'll bring them back" i said turning to face him.

He didn't say anything but his expression and silence had said it all. I knew he wasn't going to approve of it.
"i thought so," i said barely above a whisper, i turned and motioned to leave. "twelve" i said walking towards the entrance.
"what"...
"twelve " that's the number of men still missing i said and walked off

I stepped out of the tent and looked at the ship on the shore. And realized, it would take a couple more days to complete it with the speed at which they were working.
"hey" i heard someone call from my side, i turned to see Rava sitting on a crate by the tent. I wanted to ask if he heard all that we discussed, but he had already weaved a sign that he did. He promised to stand by me whatever decision i made.
"i trust you'll make the right decision " were the last words he said before disappearing behind the tent.
I heaved a sigh, as it dawned on me that the right decision would mean insubordination to Levi, but i had never been more determined to oppose him in my life.

At sunset, with the help of Ava i put my Armour on and took up my weapons. I made her promise me not to tell the others where i was headed, i hurried to where we tied the horses and climbed onto mine, but as i looked up to ride away, i saw some shady figures moving towards me.
"i told you i was with you on this " Rava's familiar voice called out.
He came along with Vulcan, Ivan, Leo and Ava. Who also picked horses for themselves. I protested but they made me understand that they were their friends as much as they were mine. I turned to Ava with a inquiring look. "and how do you intend to help us?" i asked perplexed.
"she's the deciding factor if we're going be successful in this mission or not trust me" Rava assured me. I had no idea what he was talking about, but there was no time for further explanation, as we needed to leave the camp quickly.

They saddled their horses and we were out of the camp in no time, galloping along the circumference of the island hurriedly. My mind wasn't on the trip, but back at the camp, i wasn't sure what had led to his recent attitude, but i thought it happened before we even reached the boarders of Blackheath, the night we saved the merchants, or before that.
Back at home, he was the person i discussed everything with besides Ava, the feeling i had when I was around him had somehow diminished, it was like i didn't know him anymore, i could feel the distance growing between us, but i convinced myself that he was cracking under pressure, and concluded to set the record straight between us immediately i returned.

I switched my attention back to the task at hand, and all the sounds came rolling to me at once. The waves beating against the banks, the sounds of multiple hoofs, the rushing cold night wind, it was then i realized how deep in thought i had been. Breaking away from Levi would hurt alot, and i knew it.
i hadn't even realized I had fallen behind till Rava yelled a halt command. He pointed in the direction of a clear path that led to into the island. He turned to us and we knew what he meant, whatever adventures we had ahead of us, it started when we went down that path, i knew i had to clear my distractions and clear them fast.

Kelvin ~