The Magi (The Magi Series) (35 page)

He put his head down on the hard, stone floor and looked at the darkness, knowing there was a wall in front of him even though he couldn’t see it. He was exhausted physically, but his mind was racing, making it hard to fall asleep. There were too many things he wanted to think about and too many questions that he needed answered. He tried to blank his mind and think about peaceful things. He thought about the water from the lake that Olivia had shown him the first day of elemental training. He thought about spending time with Hannah in the library when they had to do some research for their discussion class. He thought about his friends. He remembered how Isaac could always make him laugh, even during a serious situation. He thought of Adam, and how he always knew the right thing to say at the right time, despite rarely opening his mouth. He thought of Becca’s wit and Paul’s courage, and how they worked together to get where they were. It really was quite amazing how far they had come without any help. He was proud of his friends, and he hoped they were okay. He had to believe they were.

Before he knew it, Elijah was being awakened by a light at the door. It was opening, and Elijah shielded his sensitive eyes with his hands. He sat up and noticed a figure walking into the room.

“Ten minutes,” said an adult male voice on the outside. Through many blinks and double takes, Elijah saw that Samuel had entered the dark room. The door stayed open a crack and let the daylight in from the outside. Elijah felt like hugging Samuel, but his concern and questions overpowered his urge to show affection.

“Hi, Elijah,” Samuel whispered. His tone suggested that he was trying to be secretive. “Or should I say Isaac?” He smiled at Elijah. “I’ve been given permission to see you just for a few minutes, so I need to be fast. What are you doing here?” It wasn’t much, but Elijah noticed a slight change in Samuel. There was a confidence about him that wasn’t there before. He seemed to be more sure of himself and less jumpy.

“What are
you
doing here Samuel?” Elijah asked defensively. “I came looking for you at the prison to rescue you. When I heard that the Maliphists took you, I was sure you would be taken there. What happened?” Samuel shifted his position to get more comfortable as he recollected the past few weeks.

“I wasn’t taken to the prison. I was taken here,” he explained. Sensing Elijah’s discontent, Samuel shifted the conversation. “Elijah, the Maliphists aren’t who you think they are. They’re not bad.”

“What do you mean they’re not bad?”

“I thought that when I came here they were going to just throw me into the prison and keep me there. But they didn’t. They brought me here. Elijah, in just a few weeks they have taught me more about the world than I have ever known! They gave me a family that really cares about me, and they’ll never leave me. They love me here.” Samuel was so sincere that Elijah couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. All Samuel wanted was a family to accept him, and now he had it, or at least he thought he had it, in the most unlikely place.

“Samuel, we care for you in Savenridge,” Elijah argued. “You have friends there that want to make sure you’re okay.”

“I know,” admitted Samuel. “But it’s not the same as here. I have friends here that care about me too.”

Elijah rubbed his head in frustration. Samuel was not understanding. He was blinded by being accepted, and there wasn’t enough time to convince him otherwise.

“How is this place so different than Savenridge? What does it have that Savenridge doesn’t?” Elijah asked, feeling himself start to become irritated.

“You should see what the Maliphists are able to do,” Samuel said dreamily. “Do you remember what Roddick did when he saved me from that guy at Saint Phillip’s Academy?” Elijah nodded wanting to tell Samuel that the guy he was saved from was probably a Maliphist. “Well, the Maliphists do that here every day. They can make the world do whatever they want it to do. It’s amazing! Whoever can do that can’t be bad, right?” Elijah gaped at Samuel in disbelief. Samuel didn’t understand the point that Roddick and the council tried to tell him about using the elements. He was drawn to the power of the Maliphists more than the appreciation of the world. Elijah finally understood why the council was so apprehensive about Samuel when they first questioned him. He was easily manipulated.

Elijah didn’t give up. “What about your promise? You swore never to leave Savenridge.”

Samuel shook his head. “I didn’t know what I was promising, Elijah. And neither did you. I wish I could make you understand what it’s like here.”

“They killed my parents!!!” Elijah said, beginning to lose his temper.

After remaining silent for a moment, Samuel talked in a calmer, quieter voice. “I know you don’t see the same things I see, but some things happen that we can’t explain.” Samuel was grinding on Elijah’s nerves. It seemed as though he had bought into the teachings of the Maliphists without thinking for himself.

“Well, I came here to save you, and I don’t want to stay here. I came here to take you back with me, but it looks like I risked my life for nothing!” Elijah said angrily.

“I know you meant well,” said Samuel. “I’m sorry I can’t go with you, but I will do what I can to help
you
leave.” Elijah raised his head, shocked that Samuel would help him. “I wish you would stay and learn from the Maliphists, but you need to go where you feel you belong.”

“Won’t you get in trouble?”

“Maybe a little; if I get caught,” said Samuel with a smirk. Elijah caught a brief glimpse of the old Samuel. “I have a friend here who gets thrown into the detention room quite often, and I’ve learned how to get him out during the night pretty easily. The guard likes to get up and take a stroll every now and then, and the door can be opened from the outside. Besides, I’ve been caught before, and it’s not so bad.” Elijah wondered if Samuel knew that he was taken by the Maliphists to get to Elijah. So comparing his friend’s escape to Elijah’s escape was probably not a good gauge how they would react when the Maliphists found out. But he kept that to himself. He no longer trusted Samuel.

“Okay,” Elijah said. “How do you plan on helping me?”

“I can get you out of here tonight,” Samuel said in an even quieter voice, “but as soon as I do, you’ll have to hurry. It won’t be long before they notice that you’re missing. They’ll probably send Master Scott after you since he’s in town, so you won’t have much time to escape.”

“I really wish you’d come back,” Elijah said, making every effort not to make a disgusted face at Samuel calling Detective Scott a Master.

Samuel smiled. “Thanks, Elijah. But I’m happy here. When you get back, tell everyone that.” They both stood up and Samuel gave Elijah an awkward hug. “I’ll see you tonight. As soon as I let you out, run. We won’t be able to waste time with goodbyes then, so I’ll say it now. I will always be grateful for the friendship you showed me since we met six months ago. I would never be where I am today without you.”

“We’re all going to miss you, Samuel,” Elijah said. “I hope to see you soon.” Samuel gave him a little wave goodbye and walked out the door, closing it behind him. Elijah heard the giant iron lock seal him inside his temporary tomb, and he was once again alone with his thoughts.

Samuel delivered on his promise. Elijah woke up to the metallic creaking noise of the lock being opened from the outside. He cautiously crept out of the door and saw Samuel jogging away quickly. Elijah immediately bolted for the front door of the academy and sprinted his way through the fields, toward the city center of Malpetra.

The atmosphere of the city was much different at night than the last time Elijah traveled through. It was still pulsing with activity, but Elijah was much more leery of the Maliphists that were out now in the middle of the night. They were loud and foul. Many of them were drunk, and on one occasion, Elijah ran into a staggering Maliphist.

“WATCH WHERE YER GOING!” the drunken man yelled as he plowed into Elijah, practically knocking him over. Not wanting to draw attention to himself, Elijah ignored the man and continued on his way. He drew a few glances and stares from many people as he tried to find his way through the maze of streets. A few of them tried to taunt him by throwing fire, obviously their element of choice, as close to him as they could without touching him. Elijah was terrified as he fled through the winding, narrow streets.

It wasn’t long before he suddenly began to feel warm. He threw his head around just in time to see Detective Scott and a couple other Maliphists from the school, not fifty yards behind him, questioning a local man. Samuel wasn’t kidding! He had no time at all to get a head start, and now Detective Scott was right on his trail! Elijah wanted to run, but his instincts told him that hiding would be better right now. He turned a corner into a small alley and ducked behind a long wooden flower box. It was hidden well in the shadows, but if Detective Scott or any of his men decided to investigate the area, Elijah would be spotted. He waited, crouching as low as he could beneath the darkness of the shadows.

Soon, he saw the flame of Detective Scott’s torch outlining his figure as he came into view. He paused for a moment, looking right in Elijah’s direction, holding the torch out in front of him. Elijah froze in fear. Detective Scott seemed to linger in the area as though he sensed something. Just then, to his horror, he sent one of the men down the ally where Elijah hid, to take a more detailed look. Elijah’s heart began to race, and he knew soon that he would be caught. He thought about running for it as the man approached, but that decision would inevitably result in his capture. He wished he was able to use the elements more than moving a single drop of water. At least then, he would have a fighting chance.

The man held his torch out in front of him, walking slowly down the ally street, coming closer and closer toward Elijah. He looked left and right, shining the light of the fire in every nook and cranny. He continued to creep closer still, and Elijah slowly laid flat on the cobblestone street, cramming his body as close as he could to the flower box next to him, knowing that in moments, the light would shine on him. Suddenly, without warning, the man gave up. He turned around on his heels and jogged back toward the main streets. Elijah let out a massive sigh, and gave himself a minute to catch his breath before he moved from the spot. His body was aching from the tension, and he was shaking from his unsettled nerves.

When he was able to control his nerves again, Elijah walked to the end of the ally and peered around the corner, making sure he wasn’t going to run into Detective Scott again. As soon as he thought it was clear, Elijah calmly walked out into the bustling streets of Malpetra once more.

Keeping a close eye in front of him, he returned to his pace as he attempted to flee the city center. He found that getting out of the city was much harder than he thought, frequently running into a dead end or an uninviting-looking street, which would force him to turn back and retrace his steps. He felt like a mouse in a giant maze.

On one particular street, Elijah began to recognize some of the buildings he passed from his trip into the city. The familiar area encouraged him, and he picked up his pace, sensing the end. He turned a corner, seeing more familiar sights, and knew he was headed in the right direction.

Elijah knew he made it to the edge of the city when he recognized the large statues and buildings he saw before, and he was able to view the thick forests up ahead, next to the river. He threw back his head and ran as fast as his tired body could go.

When he made it into the trees and was surrounded by darkness, he let his body fall to the ground to catch his breath. Deep, choking breaths fought their way into Elijah’s lungs as he lay on the ground panting. He wanted to lie there all night and let sleep take over, but he knew he didn’t have much time to rest, and there was a long journey still ahead of him. He must get out of Malpetra as fast as he could if he wanted to avoid capture. When he felt like he could walk again, Elijah slowly got up, feeling rather wobbly, and forced his legs to continue moving. For a while, his mind didn’t register that he was moving at all, but after a minute or two, he found a rhythm and continued his journey toward the prison.

A while later, he took a break and quenched his parched throat with water from the river. The liquid felt wonderful as it filled in the cracks on his lips and ran down the sides of his face. After splashing his face with water and taking a few deep breaths, he took off his Maliphist robes for the rest of his escape and continued on his way, running through the thick forests. He made sure to keep close to the water because he knew that the river could be seen from the place Becca had climbed down, and he didn’t want to lose his way.

It was a funny time to think about his friends as he fled for his life, but as Elijah continued his exodus, he thought about Paul and Becca. He again wondered if they made it out of the prisons. He thought of Hannah, Adam, and Isaac as they attempted to return to Savenridge. Elijah hoped they made it back safely to their families. He thought of the Maybury family and how excited they would be to see their daughter rescued from the Maliphists. Tears of joy would certainly be shed by more than one family as their children came home. Elijah knew he would have to believe that his friends were okay if he was caught and thrown into the prison. It would be all he would have to go on.

He continued these uplifting thoughts until a noise to his right—about where the river was—interrupted him. The noise sounded like splashing water followed by fireworks, and as soon as he heard it, he halted abruptly, clinging to a nearby tree.