The Veil (5 page)

“Perks of the job,” she said in a teasing tone.

There were a few beats of silence. “Are you okay about what happened with Iralia?” I said eventually.

She sighed. “No…but I guess I understand. It’s just so awful, though. I mean, we’ve seen the clash between Pandemonian species on Earth, but xenophobia to such a scale that an Alliance Succubus has to be locked away for her own safety in a supposedly civilized city? I found that difficult to swallow.”

“We always knew things were going to be bad over here.”

“I don’t think we knew anything…not really. We’ve only ever seen the fallout of an alien war happening in a different world. We’ve formed opinions from record books and secondary information. But what we just witnessed was species persecution
first hand
…and we’d be stupid to think that it’s the only injustice we’re going to see over here.” She bowed her head slightly. “I’m the child of two different species…literally the result of two supposedly unmatchable people joining together, despite everything. How can I just accept that this is a world full of so much hatred that segregation is the only solution?” She shrugged. “I’m probably being stupid, and maybe its because I’m so far from home, metaphorically speaking, but what happened with Iralia really got to me.”

It was a struggle to find words. I always took Gabriella’s strength and resolve for granted. She was such a strong person – the compass that always pointed Orion and me in the right direction – that when something shook her, it was hard to hear. Especially when what she was saying served to reinforce the growing doubts I had about even being here in the first place.

“Gabriella, you’re not being stupid. What happened was shit, and like you said, it’s their city, so it’s their rules. But don’t forget that you’re not alone here. None of us are. Orion is a team, and whatever happens, we deal with it together.” I wrapped my arms around her waist and gave her a gentle squeeze. “I’ll tell you what, after we’ve been to check out the festival, lets all go and visit Iralia, make sure she’s okay. Will that make you feel better?”

Gabriella turned around to face me and gave my cheek a soft kiss. “It would, yes. Thanks,” she said with a smile.

I took her hand in mine and she ran the finger of her other hand down the supernatural tattoo on my arm, which glowed in the dim light. “Everything has been so crazy since the whole Yeth thing and now this…we haven’t had much of a chance to really talk.” She cleared her throat. “How are you finding it?” she asked.

“It?”

She tapped my tattoo. “This.”

“It’s fine.”

Gabriella narrowed her eyes. “Really?”

I gave a lighthearted chuckle. “Really. Honestly I don’t feel that different. After I first took control of the Darkness it was quite overwhelming, but now everything has settled down. I’m not worried about it. In fact, it might be a good thing.” I knew I wasn’t being completely honest with her about how I felt, but she was already feeling vulnerable. Now wasn’t the time to share my concerns.

A pause. “Can I tell you how I feel about it?”

“Sure.”

She glanced away. “It frightens me.”

“Really?”

Gabriella took a deep breath and turned back to face me. “Yes. What’s inside you…that power…it’s terrifying and unnatural. I almost lost you to the Darkness, and then when you came out of the mind merge you were something else entirely. I watched you move faster than my eyes could track and tear through thirty Yeth’s elite in seconds, as though they were made from cardboard. You were able to bring eighty Guardians back from the
dead.
At that moment I thought I’d lost my Alex for good.”

“But you didn’t lose me, Ella. Okay…look I’ll admit when I first woke up I had this insane energy and clarity that was overwhelming to say the least, but after that initial burst on Atlantis, it’s settled down. Now it feels more finite – a reserve that I can tap into but have to be careful not to drain too much, kind of like a battery. You remember how knackered I was after the strike on Yeth’s Army to take back the Warren.”

“You slept for a whole day.”

“Exactly.”

“Okay, you managed to find a holster for that power – thank god – but that’s not the main issue.”

“What is?”

“The fact that the Darkness is still inside you somewhere, waiting. That thought petrifies me. I feel like we’re just waiting for the guillotine to drop.”

My heartbeat doubled as I listened to her words. I wasn’t surprised that she was sharing the same concerns as me – after all, we were soulmates, but it was difficult to hear  her voice my innermost fears out loud. I took both of her hands in mine and gave them a squeeze, trying to look as relaxed as I could.

“I don’t feel under threat any more. Nothing like when the Darkness was trying to possess me. I don’t even feel it in there; it’s locked away somewhere deep and dark…trust me. There’s no more evil thoughts, no terrible actions I can’t control. Sure I can feel the power it once held…but it belongs to me now. It kicks in when I need it and goes away when I don’t.” I gave a smile. “Otherwise, I just feel like regular old me.”

Gabriella nodded. “I…I just worry about you.”

I pressed my forehead against hers. “Please don’t worry, Ella. I’m not going to lose control again. I won’t allow it.”
Can I really make that promise?
I wasn’t sure.

Gabriella was silent for a moment. “Okay. But the sooner we speak to the Elders and find out what exactly it was that decided to use you as a vessel, the sooner we can figure how to get it out of you.”

“Yeah, sure,” I said, staring out into the room.

Gabriella narrowed her eyes. “Alex, you
do
want it out of you, don’t you?”

I gave a halfhearted nod. “Of course.”

“Alex…”

“I don’t know,” I sighed, scooping up a handful of water and letting it pour between my fingers. “Hades isn’t going to stop trying to win this war, Ella. And when he succeeds – which he will – there’s no question that he’s going to invade Earth next. You heard what Sage Faru said during that Guardian gathering before we came through the Veil. I’m the best chance the Alliance has of stopping him. We’re biological weapons. You said those exact words to me the night the base got attacked, not long after I first joined the Alliance. Do you remember?”

“I do, but I shouldn’t have said that,” she said shaking her head. “We’re people, not killing machines.”

“We’re both. To deny that is just lying to ourselves. Its what our souls decided when they evolved; we didn’t get a say in the matter. And now, through this screwed up series of events, I’ve become some kind of WMD. Why would we want to disarm ourselves when using my abilities is the best chance we have of stopping the Ageless War for good?”

Gabriella’s eyes dampened as she stared at me. “You are
not
a weapon Alex. Not to me. You’re my soulmate and I don’t want you to get hurt.”

I shook my head. “But it isn’t about what we want is it? It’s about what’s right.”

“Alex, you’re scaring me. Listen to what you’re saying. This is your life…it’s
our
life. It’s not something you just throw away to be the hero.”

I felt my expression soften. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to scare you. I’m not trying to be a hero either. It’s just that I told you that I would do anything to keep you safe. I couldn’t bear it if anything to happened to you, or anyone else I care about, and if the only way to ensure that you all survive is to put myself in front of everyone so that I can act as both the sword and the shield, then it’s something I have to do.”

The tears that had been welling up in Gabriella’s eyes started to slip down her cheeks. “I can’t agree with you, Alex, but I understand why you would want to do that…I would probably do the same. You see yourself as a weapon? Fine. But you know as well as I do that a weapon is only effective when you know how to use it properly. Otherwise it’s as dangerous to those wielding it as it is to those who are being targeted. And the truth is we don’t really know anything about what possessed you. Sure, you might have some control over it now, but no one knows for how long. So I want you to make me a promise. If we discover what this thing is, and find out that it has the potential to harm you or any of us, we get it the hell out of you. Agreed?”

I thought about her words for a moment and then nodded. “Agreed.”

Gabriella looked satisfied but far from happy. She wiped a hand across her teary eyes. “I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what the Elders say tomorrow, then.”

We sat in silence, the only sound coming from the bubbling water and the chirping of some cricket-style creatures outside. The atmosphere was tense, like the fallout of an unresolved argument. After a while, Gabriella stood up and walked over to the door.

“No point in moping about here. Let’s go and see what Fenodara is all about.”

The twin suns were still high in the sky as we made our way back down the lake boardwalk, but already I could see the faded outlines of Oboro – the largest Pandemonian moon – hanging in the distance. It was blisteringly hot, but the material of our Fenodarian robes did a great job of reflecting the rays.

“There are the others,” said Gabriella, pointing ahead. “What are they doing?”

I followed her gaze and saw the rest of Orion. They were all dressed in Fenodarian robes and hanging out at the point where the walkways ended and the courtyard began. Apart from Aran – who was leaning over the railings and staring quietly into the lake – each of them had their heads tilted back, laughing and cheering at something in the sky. I shielded my eyes against the glare of the suns and caught size of two smallish objects rising upwards.

“I have absolutely no idea.”

As we neared I realised that the rising objects were rocks fished out of the lakebed and under the control of Delagio and Troy, who seemed to be battling it out in some kind of competition. They both stood with their arms raised at the front of the group, who were positioned around them, clapping and shouting words of encouragement.

“So what’s the deal?” I asked Danny as we reached the group.

He finished a sharp whistle and then turned to look at us as the others kept cheering the pair on. “Grey just asked Troy and Delagio who the better Kinesist is. No one would take sides, so Grey suggested a bet to decide.”

“Why am I not surprised?” said Gabriella, rolling her eyes.

“What’s the bet?” I asked.

“Troy challenged Del to a telekinesis competition. Reckons he can lift a rock higher.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, which earned me a grunt from Troy. “I’ve got this,” he hissed through gritted teeth.

“The only thing y’all gonna get is a nosebleed,” laughed Del next to him.

“So what’s the prize of this bet?” said Gabriella.

“The title of best Kinesist in Orion,” said Grey, peeling own gaze away from the competition for a second and giving us a wide grin. He flicked up one of the currency cards. “And quarter of whatever is on one of these.”

“Idiotas,”
muttered Gabriella under her breath, but her lips had turned up into a slight smile.

We watched as the rocks kept rising upwards; we kept watching until they were difficult to see properly – even with Chosen eyesight. The pair kept straining, thrusting their hands upwards as they forced their own rock higher.

“Wait…how are we going to know who wins?” said Hollie, squinting against the bright glare of the suns in an effort to see.

Grey glanced at her. “Uh…I guess I didn’t really think about that.”

Gabriella gave a mock sigh. “Guys, if you’re going to do a challenge, at least do it properly.” She walked right over to Danny and tapped him on the shoulder, who had busied himself with watching the competition again. He glanced around and she pointed a finger skywards. His expression was one of utter confusion for a second, which then broke into a smile when he understood.

“Ha, oh yeah.”

He widened his stance, and he balled his fists together as he stared down at his feet. With closed eyes he took a deep breath and then extended both arms at his sides. With impressive speed he levitated off the ground, slicing upwards through the air until he had joined the rocks high in the air. Once he had reached the apex of his gift, he craned his neck backwards and stared upwards.

“Del’s rock is higher!” he shouted.

Del gave his competitor a piss-take nudge with his shoulder. Troy let out a growl and stretched his arms higher, straining until a little trickle of blood spilled out of his nose.

“Oh nice! Troy has caught up!” Danny called down.

The new recruit let out a satisfied snort and stretched his arms even higher as he tried to capitalize on his gain. More blood seeped out of his nose, slipping down his face and dripping off his chin as he attempted to take the lead. He stumbled slightly, clearly getting lightheaded. Del turned around and looked at his competitor, and a slight frown slid across his face.

“Oh wait…we were bein’ serious? You should have said!” He shrugged and then thrust his arms upwards.

“Holy shit!” shouted Danny. “I can’t…I don’t even know where Del’s rock has gone! It’s completely vanished!”