Relentless

Chapter 30

As much as I want to lay my doubts to rest, I'm not sure if I want to know the truth about who has been leading us. I understand that if he is Kane that he is probably leading us into a trap, which is why I must learn the truth tonight.

I know with a busted leg that I'm vulnerable but it is a risk I am willing to take. Besides, my ability can protect me.

"Hey, Kane?"

"Yes," he turned his attention to me.

"What will we do once we regroup?"

"Why plan to win the war of course."

"Yeah, right, but I mean, what about my parents? Or Ashton?"

He shrugged. "I'm sure you'll figure something out and Katrina will probably help you."

"Just us? But why?"

"Celeste, I know this may be hard for you to understand but the council has more pressing matters, like ending the war, than saving one girl's family."

His words sting and I momentarily forget my purpose. "What? Maybe you haven't noticed but my parents are very important people, and not just to me. I don't know why but my mother had a great influence in the Divine community."

He snickered at me.

"What?"

"Why so many questions all of a sudden?"

"Just curious, I guess. I don't know... I guess, I just realized how little I know you."

"So you're asking me questions to get to know me better?" I nod. "One problem with that excuse."

"And what is that?"

"None of your questions have been personal about me."

"Peter, are you..." I'm not ready to accuse him yet so I play along for a little longer. Although, I'm not sure how much more I have to because he clearly knows I suspect something.

"Am I what?"

"Are you okay? I have just been worried about you."

"And why is that?"

"Well, I know you've been through a lot, being away for weeks fighting, and I know that your powers put a lot of strain on your body so I was just wondering how you're holding up. You haven't used your powers since you got here and it worries me."

"That they're gone?"

"No, that you have been weakened. I just care about your well being." Why would he even mention that he didn't have his powers anymore? Is that even possible?

He laughs to himself. "You know, I don't think I ever told you about my ability."

"That's because Katrina told me, Peter."

"No, not Peter. You already slipped up calling me Kane. And so did I in responding."

My eyes widen. I thought he was falling into my trap, but this whole time, he was in control. He has been manipulating, but for how long? How long has he known that I know the truth?

"Kane. I should have known it was you. So it was all a lie? The Institute still stands?"

"Well, not all of it was a lie. We did destroy your precious Institute and slaughter all of your weak friends so don't bother calling them for help because they can't help you. You're alone and weaker than they were."

My mind is reeling from this new information. I am horrified. It's worse than I thought.

The next thing I know, Kane launches himself at me. I tense, shooting a bolt of lightning at him but he dodges it. The bolt strikes a tree behind him, causing the tree to split and both sides to come crashing down, separating us from Katrina. I hear her shout on the other side but I can't make out her words.

My attention returns to Kane who momentarily stopped his pursuit as the tree fell. He turns back to me, rage in his eyes. They turned blue. Then his appearance alters back to his original form. I'm just lucky that shifting into a Divine doesn't give them their ability.

My attacks become more frantic. He morphed his hand into an odd substance that absorbs my lighting. It appears to be rubber. Now, my attacks hardly slow him. I call out to Katrina in vain knowing that I can't run with my injured leg.

Kane pins me down by my arms. He's on top of me trying to grab at my bag at my side. I try to wiggle out from his grip but he's too strong. He is forced to free my hand to grab at my bag and I take the opportunity to punch him in the throat.

He starts to cough, blood spurting from his mouth. When he recovers he shouts, "Why you little brat! Stop moving!" Then he stomps on my injured leg. I cry out in pain.

He took the opportunity to swipe Ashton's pendant out of my bag. As I cower, in too much pain to react to him, he places the pendant around my neck. Then proceeds to bind my hands behind me.

The fallen tree was lifted into the air by Katrina. She launches it at Kane, careful to throw it high enough that it doesn't hit me, but before it connects with Kane, It catches flames, and quickly turns to ash.

I am still overwhelmed with pain. My ears are constantly ringing as I watch the fight unfold before me. The one thing that my eyes will focus on is Ashton, who stands over the pile of ash. I can't believe my eyes. I mumble her name but she ignores me and races toward Katrina.

Katrina moves the other part of the tree in front of her, but Ashton destroys it just as easily. By the time the ash falls, Katrina is over the boulder and out of sight. Ash flew after her.

Between the boulders I catch part of the action as my vision grows sharper. Katrina uses her telekinesis reverse Ashton's decent and send her up into the air. Before she gets far, Ashton sends out concentrated flames that meet Katrina's hands. She screams out in pain and her hold on Ashton falters.

Katrina tries to flee as Ashton is returning to the ground. She lands one one knee with a hand for stability. She can't climb well with her burnt hands, nor can she use her powers. She still somehow manages to scurry back up the boulder. Why she is returning to me, I'm not sure.

"Going somewhere?" Ashton taunts.

Katrina glanced back, to see Ashton hovering behind her with flames holding her up. She gasped as she lost her balance and fell. I subconsciously lift my hands as if I could catch her. My arms jerk to a stop as they reach the end of their chain and the reality of our situation floods my head. She hits the ground with a loud thud and crack of bone. She stopped moving and her eyes stared into nothing.

"Is she dead?" Kane asked.

"Assuming that that crack was her neck, then yes. She is dead."

"Uh! You imbecile! She wasn't supposed to die!"

"It's not my fault she had bad balance!"

I ignore their bickering and look at Karina's still body. Her soft ears are limp and the expression on her face makes her look surprised. I try not to look at her charred fingertips.

A tear runs down my face as I cry silently to myself. When my last tear is shed and my two captors are done bickering, my gaze meets my sister's. When my sister turns toward me, fiery rage in her eyes, all I see is a monster. I don't know her at all. I just can't believe that my sister is gone.