To Overthrow the Guardians

Chapter 23: Wielder of Light

Haven watched as Fiona continued to work on the time travel device. The black-haired woman was at her table piled high with tools and notes, her diagram that she glanced at every once in a while in the air right next to her and showing all of the different parts and pieces of the device. There were a lot.

Haven had just checked the Indicator before coming to Fiona's lab, and the white needles were over halfway to the glowing black line. Matt was still in the office, working. After all of these meetings that had gotten nowhere, someone needed to.

Whisper stood in the corner, watching as well but from a greater distance. She remained silent, her eyes trained on Fiona's hands with an unreadable expression on her face.

"How close are you to finishing, do you think?" Haven asked Fiona.

Fiona shrugged. "I think I'm close, but I don't know for sure. It depends on how long it takes me to finish doing certain things. It could take quite a while, for all I know." Well, that was certainly comforting. At least Fiona might be close. That was better than nothing. "Please don't talk to me while I'm working."

"Oh yeah. Sorry," Haven said.

Fiona nodded and continued to work.

"The more you leave her alone, the faster she can go," Whisper told Haven.

"I guess that's true," Haven whispered back, and walked over to the Prophecy Person. "Hey, we think you might be immune to the darkness because of your darkness power." The words struck Haven's heart with jealousy and fear, though. Why couldn't she be immune as well? There were actual physical reasons, sure, but why did Whisper have to be the one who remained sane? Why not, for instance, one of the CEOs of the Lunar Eclipse Resistance?

Whisper's lips pulled up in a smile. "How so? My darkness is different than the curse's darkness. Mine is neutral. It has no side but the wielder's. The curse's darkness has a will of its own, an evil one." Whisper's glowing face betrayed her words, however. She clearly wanted to believe that it was true.

"Well, you're the only one who hasn't shown any symptoms yet," Haven said.

"How do you know? Perhaps some of the other cured children have yet to show any as well."

"I guess, but...I'd like to think that you're immune. Wouldn't you?"

Whisper frowned. "Not if it isn't true. I don't want to believe any lies, Haven. Or even hear them."

"But this isn't a lie. It's a possibility."

"I know. I just don't want to get my hopes up."

A minute of silence passed between the two.

"Wouldn't you like to know that there's someone who's going through the same thing as you?" Whisper asked.

"You're feeling guilty?" Haven said, furrowing her eyebrows.

Whisper shook her head. "Not guilty, just...too privileged. I'm grateful to have the chance to be immune to the darkness, but it feels like I am leaving you and Sneak alone."

"You're not abandoning us." But the twinge of envy in Haven's chest was still there, even though she tried to silence it. She didn't want to feel jealous of Whisper's possible immunity, though. "It's okay to be safe."

"I guess." But suddenly, Whisper's eyes went wide, and her eyebrows raised through the roof. "Haven. What are you holding?"

"Huh?" Haven looked down at the hands resting at her sides, but had to hold them up for a better view. On them was covered in what looked to be light the color of fire. It didn't move like flame, though; it was stationary, like some sort of gel coating her hands. And her nails were blood red, like one had been back after having her "doomed souls" dream. "What is it?" But as she said the words, she remembered her good dream she had had a couple nights ago. All hail Eclipse, defender of children and friends alike! Wielder of light! All hail Eclipse!