The Double Bladed Sword

Chapter 16: The Boy and the Alliance

Percy's voice called out to me as I ran down the hall. I heard his voice echo through the hall in wordless cacophony. I heard the whispers as students stared at me. I felt tears burn my eyes, the hot blade of betrayal wrenching the inner workings of my clockwork chest. I could sense the eyes on my back as Percy ran after me, his long legs crossing the distance between us with each step. 

I found the nearest door knob and nearly ripped the door off its hinges, hiding my face and body in the inner sanctum that I had claimed as my own. The window hung open, as if sensing my need to escape. The clear magic that flowed through the window marked the scents and images I saw as nothing more than cherry-picked lies meant for the weak minded.

I collapsed at the foot of the bed, burying my head in my hands, trying to push the thoughts of the man who cared for me out of my brain. 

He killed my family. He killed thousands of innocents. He ruined even more lives.

The smiling face of the apothecary and his wife flashed through my mind. I pulled my hair and cried out in frustration. I felt the energy ripple through my body, stirring up the fabric in the room. With each heartbeat came a surge of energy and a different memory.

The blackberry fields. I felt the sheets turning an onyx black as my power flowed through room. The poultice when I broke my arm.  I felt the darkness spread like a wave up the bed posts through the sheets which hung over the bed. The first notebook. I felt the bed shake in agony as my strength filled it to the brim. The flask where he kept his wine.

Percy. 

I felt him pushing against the magic that held him out. The dimensional magic that held this castle together could feel me pushing him away. The magic was obeying my commands, the castle listened to my power out of respect. It bowed to my will. I was the king of this castle, and it would soon be time for change.

"What happened back there?" Percy asked, pushing his way into the room. "Did you lose your mind?" He was genuinely worried, his attempt at humor, an attempt to lighten the mood.

"Honestly," I started, pausing thoughtfully, "I think I've finally made it up." I watched the anger cool into rage, the fire in my chest tempering the steel of my nerves, the bellows filling my lungs with the sweet relief of malice.

Percy looked at me curiously, waiting for me to finish my thought. I waved my hand, and the doorway opened into Kara's room.

"Hey Kara," I called, pushing myself to my feet.

Kara poked her head out of the door frame, doing a double take on the door which bridged two rooms without opening into a hallway. Her hair was frizzed and she smelled of soap and wildflowers. "Do I even want to know?" She said timidly.

"James is a Sarin." Percy said quietly.

The comb held in Kara's hand dropped with a resounding thud, her eyes glistened and phased over slightly. She raised her hand to her mouth slowly, rubbing the soft skin around her lips absentmindedly. "That would explain the control of magic." Her voice was halting and fragmented, as if her mind was digging deep into her memories looking for something that was lost. 

"I'm going to restore the Sarin throne, and if you want, you guys can help me." I said resolutely.

Kara squeaked quietly to herself, and crossed out of her room. "When do we leave?" She asked. Her hands shook like a thin sapling in the relentless gale of fear.

"The Sarin castle is a myth!" Percy said, running a hand through his hair, his face heavy with a look of exasperation.

I paused for a second. "I've seen it. I know it's real. It's out there, we just have to find it."