The Monsters Within

Chapter 6

Veronica Madrigan opened her eyes. As she collected her wits, she caught the dank scent of mildew and heard the slow drip of water against stone. 

A faint light glowed at one end of the chamber, a soft green light that the nature lamps used throughout school gave off. 

One such light--shaped like a mushroom with an orifice at the top--sat next to the cell door at the opposite end of the room. It was the only source of light in the musty cell.

Soft sobs drifted over from Veronica's left. 

She turned her heard and noticed a shimmering pair of mismatched eyes.

"Tirisa?"

"Madame!" Tirisa cried.

Veronica heard the shuffling sounds of movement and soon felt the presence of another beside her. 

A pair of arms wrapped around Veronica in a powerful embrace.

She reached up and found the back of the girl's head with her hand, and gave it several affectionate pats.

"What has happened? I thought you made it out?" Veronica said, as the events leading up to her incarceration replayed in her mind.

Tirisa hiccuped between several more sobs before responding.

"I tried. I was so sure they wouldn't see me. I don't know how they did," Tirisa said, her words pouring from her mouth as she spoke.

Veronica went rigid, her hand freezing on the back of Tirisa's head.

"It was Lun. I don't know how he did it. He could see me. Not at first. But his eyes went all red and then he just looked right at me," Tirisa said.

"Red like the stone we found on the dead elementalist?" Veronica said.

"Yes. At least I think so. He shouldn't have been able to see me," Tirisa said, her voice quivering with guilt.

"What of Krin and the exam?" Veronica asked. She did her best to keep the worry from her voice though it made her rampant heart beat faster.

She felt Tirisa shake her head in the darkness.

"I don't know. I never made it that far. I was captured shortly after you were and brought here. I thought--"

Tirisa hesitated, taking several deep breaths.

"I thought you were dead when they first brought you. Dead or mortally wounded." She let out another sob and her breath became ragged.

"Shh shh shh. There there, child. I am well," Veronica said, stroking the girl's hair.

Footsteps echoed in from beyond the cell door. As they drew closer, they were accompanied by the sounds of clicking armor and a body being dragged.

"Toss him in with the other two," came Lun Darfin's voice. 

"Should we, I don't know, hit him again or something? What if he loses control?" a second man said. Another one of the guards.

"I doubt that will be needed. The cells anti-magic countermeasures will keep him in place. Besides, I doubt the boy has anything left to use. They really put him through it," Lun said.

The cell door clicked then opened. 

Veronica and Tirisa both went rigid. They shuffled backwards and placed their backs against the wall farthest from the door and the guards.

They could see the guards throw a body to the ground just inside the cell door. 

The figure groaned in pain but remained motionless.