Valerian
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Leaning against the railings overlooking the ocean, I waited. When Elek called, I didn’t think anything of it. I thought he wanted to ask about Theia, but it turned out it was something that required personal approach.
I didn’t know why he chose this human city in particular, but here I was. It didn’t take me long to telport here, I just hoped he’d be on time. I had things to do at the academy.
„Good. You made it.“ I heard him behind me. Just in time.
„What is it that required we meet all the way out here?“ I was curious. Only time I’ve ever heard Elek joke was with Theia, so this was bound to be serious.
„We have a huge problem. The Unit didn’t want me to contact you; they say they’ve got it under control, but I’m not so sure.“
I really hated it when people didn’t get straight to the point. Closing my eyes for a moment, I prepared myself for bad news. „What’s happening Elek?“
„There’s been quite a few disappearings like Melinda’s. If there’s a pattern to the kidnappings, I didn’t find it. Only thing I noticed that connects them is strange odor I keep smelling everywhere near the places they disappeared from.“
This was not what I wanted to hear. And knowing that Unit didn’t want me to know about this didn’t sit well with me. I was never offically in their ranks, and I know they didn’t like that. But I need to know about things that were out of the ordinary. „I supose we’re visiting another disappearing site here?“
Elek nodded and indicated to follow him. „Do we know any of the kidnapped people?“ I asked.
„Yes. One of them.“ He replied.“ Liander Noran, he used to work for the Unit. One of the missions went wrong and he wasn’t quite himself since.“
Elek stopped and smelled the air, trying to find the right direction. „When did we found out he was missing?“
„A week after Melinda disappeared.“ We turned right, into one of the allies and went all the way to a small door at the end corner.
It was interesting timing. Too convinient. „Were the rest of them taken after her, too?“
Elek stopped in his tracks and slowly turned his head to look me in the eyes. „You don’t think...“
„I think our dear Melinda knew something. And to make things worse, she talked.“
We were quiet as we went through broken door and up the steps. We entered a rather filthy looking apartment; the walls and floor were made of bare concrete, few windows that the room had were stained with grease and dust, and the furniture, or what was left of it, was filthy and ripped.
„Do you sense anything?“ I asked. One of Elek’s gifts was hightened sense of smell which allowed him to pick up clues we otherwise couldn’t have.
„Same as at the other places. Strange mix of rotten apples, coal and resin.“
My brows pulled in confusion. Only one breed had that scent and they didn’t work well together. What on earth could make them do that? „Darklings.“ I whispered to myself.
„Did you say something?“ Elek asked.
„Darklings.“ I repeated louder. „They were once nature pixies. I don’t know exactly what happened to them but they managed to infuse demon blood in themselves. Now, they’re mix of two, yet neither of them. It’s not in their nature to work together.“
I proceeded to inspect the apartment but there was no clues indicating why they took the person. „Was the person powerful?“
„No. It has nothing to do with it. Everyone had different levels of power. I already checked that.“ Well, this just got a lot more complicated.
I didn’t know when it started, but I noticed the room got warmer then it was. Beads of sweat started to form on my forehead and I looked at Elek to see if he felt it too. It didn’t seem like it. I felt my heartbeat starting to work faster and deep, dark satisfaction arose inside me.
What the...but then it clicked. It wasn’t me at all. It was Theia; and her demon side was present in some dangerous levels. „Shit.“
Without thinking, I teleported myself instantly to the academy. Everything seemed peaceful and undisturbed, but my gut told me differently.
Sprinting into the Crystal Tower, I colided with Nerine. That was easier than I thought. „Where is Theia?“ I asked hurriedly.
She looked at me closely but didn’t say anything. „Nerine, speak. Now.“
Shock covered her face at my barely restrained voice. I felt the darkness in Theia rise in delight, and I didn’t like it at all. I wasn’t worried for her life, I was worried for whoever caused it to arise.
„Uh, she left the class earlier. I was just going to find her, we were supposed to go to the libarary.“ Great. I didn’t have the time for search party. There was only one thing that might work.
Taking in a deep breath, I let down my shields. The cord inside me pulsed with energy and I concentrated my mind on that connection. I felt it reach her, and then, I let her dark power enter my body for real this time. God, it fucking hurt. It burned my every organ as it filled my veins.
Fortunately, I was right in my thinking. I was able to see her clearly in my mind. And what I saw wasn’t pretty at all. I used my new knowledge and teleported myself instantly to her. But, unfortunately, I could go no further.
We were in the old, abonded castle, deep inside the caves. The castle was more of a ruin then anything else; once upon a time, it was used as a hiding place. Now, it was on fire.
I watched Theia as she stood in the middle of the raging flames, with her both eyes the color of deepest, darkest black I’ve ever seen. A hint of wicked satisfaction glowed in them. She played with the ropes of fire so easily, so effortlessly.
I might’ve stood there longer, entranced, if it wasn’t for the shriek of terror that echoed against the cave walls. That brought me back to reality and for the first time, I saw Theia’s demon half in its full force. If I hadn’t seen everything I did in my life, I might’ve even be scared.
I tried calling her name, but I could feel she was too enraged to hear me. The demon half was too powerful for her to break the trance she was in.
Gathering my power, I started to pump it through the cord and into her. If I wanted to have a chance of calming her down, I needed her demon powers lowered. Minute after minute, I could see no effect. I was beginning to think it won’t work, but then the magnificent red flames ebbed slightly.
I noticed her one eye returned to its natural gold color, which made me sight in relief. „Theia?“ Her eyes fixed me and for a second I thought she saw me as another threat, but then recognition flashed in them. „Theia, it’s fine. You’re fine. Bring down the flames, you don’t need them anymore.“
It took her awhile to understand what I was telling her, but she did. Her eyes were wide with disbelief. She looked so lost and fragile as she watched the scene around her. And it was something, alright.
I approached her and she was in my arms within a second, shaking uncontrolably. „What did I just do?“ it was so weird to hear her usually strong voice so broken.
„It’s alright. Shh.“ Minutes past in silence, and her head finally turned to look up at me. „What happened?“
„I don’t know. I was in the forest completely fine, then I started to get dizzy and I couldn’t move from the ground. I think I was unconscious for some time. I woke up here...“ I could tell she was thinking about not saying something and that didn’t sit well with me.
„I want every detail, Theia.“
„Fine. I heard Zoe and...“ her gaze flicked to the burned body on the ground, her eyes closing with regret. „Someone was supposed to come for me. I don’t know who, I was too angry to listen further and then...well, this happened.“
Suddenly, the slight pity I felt for the pile of burned flash on the floor disappeared. I would’ve done worse, if I could. As for Zoe, that would need to be dealt with more carefully. „We need to go.“ I said. „I left Nerine at the front lawn of the Towers. She was looking for you.“
„But what about him? Who was he?“
„I’ll take care of everything. No one will find out about this. I promise.“
And no one would. As for those who planned to come for her, they wouldn’t like what will happen to them when I find them. That was for sure.
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