THE SILVEAN

CHAPTER 7

The man in grey didn't move just stood in the doorway, rain behind him, light around him like he was the only real thing in the world.

'Eira Liora', he said again voice soft like my father's 'I'm not here to hurt you'. Kael's arrow didn't droop, Perry's sword didn't drop.

'Then leave', Kael said as the man smiled 'I can't do that'. He looked at me 'Not when the stone is calling me', the necklace burned and the voice 'Liar'.

- - - -

'Who are you ?' I asked, 'Someone who wants to help you' he said.

He stepped inside and closed the door his movements slow, 'May I ?' he gestured to the floor and sat down legs crossed his hands open, no weapon.

Kael moved in front of me 'Don't'. 'I'm not going to touch her', the man said 'I'm going to talk and then you'll decide'. Perry laughed 'Decide what ? if we hand her over ?'. 'No' the man said, 'If you let me save her'.

Silence.

'I'm part of the council' he said, 'But not like them, I'm the one who disagreed', 'The one who voted No, when they decided to kill your mother'. My breath caught 'Her name was Loren', he said 'She was a good friend of mine', 'And yet I failed her'.

The book in my lap was hot as the pages flipped on their own to a page with a drawing, a man in grey standing next to my mom. Kael looked at it then at me 'Don't believe him'.

The man held out his hand, palm up, on it a folder. Black. Sealed with wax, 'This is everything', he said 'Proof. Names. Orders. Who gave the command. Who pulled the trigger'.

He set it all on the floor and pushed it towards me, 'It pulse', Perry said his eyes narrowed 'Like a heart'. 'Because it's alive', the man said.

'Its bound to a Liora's blood', 'Only she can open it'. Kael grabbed my shoulder, 'Eira its a trap'. Maybe. Probably. But my mom was in there her voice, her truth and I reached.

- - - -

My fingers touched the wax as it melted away, no heat, just....gone like it was never there. The folder opened as a blinding light enveloped everywhere. White. Not black. Not Ash. Just white.

Pictures, documents and a letter on top. In my mother's handwriting.

If you're reading this my baby,

then I'm gone and he found you.

Don't trust the grey man,

he's the one that signed the order.

The man in grey was still smiling, 'She was scared' he said 'Of me. Of what I could do', 'But I'm here to make it right'.

Kael stepped between us 'She's not going anywhere with you' the man sighed 'Then we do this the hard way'.

He stood and the lights died.

- - - -

Dark again. But this time was different, this time cold. I couldn't see but I could hear. Steel. Grunting. And Kael's voice 'Get down !' his hands on me pulling me. 'Move Princess' Perry yelled as we ran.

Through the church, out the back and into the rain once more. Behind us the man in grey laughing enjoying every moment 'Run little stone, Run !'.

We didn't stop for 20 mins, through the alleys, through mud, through pain until we collapsed completely in another safehouse. Smaller. Darker.

Perry slammed the door 'That was him', 'The head watcher', 'The council's personal dog'. Kael was bleeding from his side caused by a knife wound.

'Are you-' I started, 'I'm fine' he cut me off wrapping himself up with bandages, hands steady. Too steady. I looked at the folder still in my hands, the letter still there.

Don't trust the grey man

But underneath it, another page, a new writing. Not my mom's

He lies, I didn't write this

-L

L. Loren. My mom 'The folder is real', I whispered 'But the letter isn't', 'He forged it', Kael stopped then looked at me.

'Are you sure ?' I nodded, held up the page. 'My mom's L's loop is the other way', Perry cussed 'So he's been playing us'.

The voice 'Told you'

I closed my eyes tired, so tired while Kael sat next to me. Didn't touch me just.....close. 'He'll come again', he said 'And next time he won't talk'. I nodded 'Then we don't let him', I said. 'We hit first', Kael almost smiled.

Perry whooped. 'Now that's my Princess', he said. That night no sleep just planning. Maps, weapons, names and at 3am a knock, soft, three times then paused, one time.

Kael opened the door and froze standing there was Vivian from the academy soaked crying.

'Please, they're going to kill me, I didn't do anything. I swear pls help me' she said.

Behind her nothing. No guards. No watchers just rain. Perry looked at me, Kael looked at me.

And the voice 'Don't'