The Sanctuary

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

Over the next few days, the Riders came by and congratulated me furtively. Madame Widow had said she would make the announcement to the larger group soon and finally give me the pendant that I had longed for since the moment I had laid eyes on it.

For some reason, I wasn’t happy. I had fought tooth and nail to become part of the group that would fight for my people. That would get back our rightful home. And yet, there was a tugging in my chest, a cloud over my thoughts that darkened any sort of happiness I could possibly feel.

I don’t feel like the good guy.

Jonrick’s words echoed around my mind, rattling through it like loose rocks. Something wasn’t adding up to the puzzle that I had formed, the pieces I was collecting before everything could finally make sense. There was a piece missing that I wasn’t sure of, something that confused me.

From the time I was born, all I knew was that the Farsarian kind wanted me dead. Anyone who looked like me. Silver eyes, ridged skin. They thought we had powers to hurt them, thought we used that power to kill and maim. They drove us to this place, underground but we had the right to stand back up and get back our rightful place. We were about to start a war.

I never really thought of Farsarian people as real people. People like the crown prince, who laughed and smiled, was hurt and sad, was angry and furious. He should’ve been the embodiment of my enemy, the very face of the person I had been raised to hate.

I could hardly begin to understand anymore.

Only a few days after I had beaten Edward and had been announced a Rider, Madame Widow called an emergency Rider meeting. I was included, which made me swell with pride.

“They have gone too far!”

Madame Widow was nearly crackling with anger. She stood at the front of the room, in front of the entire Rider troupe. I had never seen Madame Widow like this. Her sleek black grey hair was frazzled, her eyes frantic and her body, nearly trembling with anger.

The Riders passed looks to each other in confusion, as Madame Widow began to pace back and forth.

“Farsarian filth, they are disgusting, malevolent, foul creatures, this time, this time is it!” The words sounded like insane babble, so much so that I felt fear gripping my heart.

What was going on?

“Respectfully, Madame Widow…what happened?” Michael ventured, piping up from the crowd.

Madame Widow whirled towards them, facing the crowd with furious eyes. “The ones we don’t save, what happens to them?” She growled.

Jonrick somberly answered, “They are captured by the Farsarian Kingdom. They are tortured for information on our powers.”

Madame Widow murmured, “Exactly. But in the last five years, they have not been able to capture a single Saiyaran soul. We have made sure of it!”

She was clenching her fists. The room had an odd stillness to it as everyone waited for bated breath. My heart was in my stomach and my skin prickled uncomfortably. Why was Madame Widow so rattled?

Madame Widow scowled darkly, and then lowered her eyes. “Five have been caught. Five children.”

A collective intake of breath. Eyes widened across the room.

“No,” I breathed out.

“Those fools sent two bodies back on a frightened horse, charging through the forest. Samson found them on a scouting trip.”

She let out a hissing breath, suddenly seeming very old.

“Headless.”

I stiffened. Next to me, Jonrick froze up.

“There was a note.” Madame Widow’s expression took on a haunted look. “The other three children are still alive. But they will be dead unless we return Prince Rayden.”