Relentless

Chapter 86

It's time to test how well Lydia can use her new abilities. I ducked around one corner after another, getting myself lost deeper into the halls of mirrors.

Lydia followed my example almost too well. I quickly lost sight of her and I spun on my heels when I felt her presence appear behind me. She was out of sight but I knew she was there. She must know some passages that I don't.

I am careful to bend the light around the mirrors closest to me to hide me from direct sight. I then use mirrors down the hall to hide my true location and Lydia takes the bait.

I jumped at the first sound of breaking glass. Now I know have an idea of where Lydia is and she still has no idea where I am.

I'm not sure how long I can keep this up. Avoiding confrontation will only work for so long. Somehow I'm going to have to end this fight, and that's hoping that Lydia doesn't tap into Ashton's ability to detect thermal radiation and find me. As long as she's depending on her vision, I'm safe. I know how to play to my strengths.

"So tell me," I began, making sure to manipulate my sound waves so they don't give away my location. "What happens to your real body when you are hiding in someone else's skin?"

"Who says I'm hiding?" Her voice sounds closer than I thought she was so I decided to move farther away from her. "I find it refreshing, seeing from a fresh pair of eyes. It really give you perspective into someone else's mind. For instance, I feel more equipped to fight you because I can access her memories. She's the one that left this body behind, mind in tact."

"You didn't answer my question." I replied, sliding to the floor, carefully watching the mirrors nearby to keep watch.

"Oh, by now my other body should have died. Lack of oxygen to the brain, I'm afraid. That's why I usually suppress the host and only take partial control and remain in my given body. It is a gamble, I know, but still, it is worth it."

Now her voice is coming from the other end of the hall. I had just walked towards her. She must have used another secret passage. I glanced back and forth to the mirrors around me. She didn't show up on any of them. That's not good.

"Why would you do something so reckless if you have no body to return to?" I asked, keeping the conversation going. Every time one of use speaks, it gives away our location. I thought I was being careful but she must have figured out my misdirection trick. I had to come with a new tactic.

This time I decided to get closer to her, at least close enough to see her using the mirrors.

"You have no other body either, so what's the difference? Everyone lives like they have on life because most people do. Doesn't mean you don't take risks, does it?"

She had a point actually. I was surprised. I thought this was witless banter but she was actually putting thought into her answers. Maybe she thought. I was worth the effort. Or maybe it was a tactic to distract me.

"Anyways," she began when I didn't answer. "What would your little friends think if they saw you avoiding a fight? What? Scared you would lose?"

"Scared I would win." I replied, getting close enough to see her side profile in a mirror.

Got you, I thought.

"I'll tell you this, either your Divine allies aren't much of fighters, or you're trying to pull one over on us."

My eyes widen as I realize what she's doing but it's already too late.

"It seems to me by the way they seem to 'melt'  as my commander says, that they are fighting from a remote location."