THE SILVEAN

CHAPTER 5

The roof was ice. Wind cutting through my uniform, the knife cold in my hands and the book heavier than it should be I heard footsteps behind me, I spun blade up in the air inches from Kael whose hands were in his pockets, no weapon just golden tired eyes.

His hair wet from the fog 'You came', he said

'You're note said I'd die if I didn't'. 'It wasn't me'. My blood ran cold 'Then who-'

'Me', a second voice from the shadows another Pinehurst. Taller. Older. 19 maybe with the same golden eyes, same sharp jaw but his smile wrong.

The other Pinehurst brother, Derrick. On top of the roof, Derrick stepped into the moonlight a council sigil pinned on his coat, hands in his gloves.

'Little stone bearer', he said, 'Running already ?'. 'Don't call me that'. 'Why ? its what you are', he looked at Kael.

'Brother, you shouldn't have warned her', Kael didn't look at him instead he turn towards me 'Run',

'Too late for that', Derrick said, he flicked his wrist and the air moved. The knife ripped from my hand, floated, pointed at my throat.

The voice 'Burn' but I didn't not yet. Kael moved fast between me and the knife 'Don't' he said 'She's just a kid'. 'She's a weapon', Derrick said 'And father wants her Alive or Dead'.

Kael turned to me 'Listen to me, the council knows what you are. They've known since your mom died, they killed her and your dad to get to you' the world tilted, I was fully aware that they were behind my father's death but not my mother's 'That's a lie'. 'Its not', he said 'And they're coming tonight, to take you. To cut the stone out of you', my hand flew to my chest, then my necklace. It burned.

Derrick laughed 'Cut it out ? No, we're going to use it to open the vault to wake the myths'. What myths ?

Kael grabbed my wrist as pain and heat gush in like fire and on my skin were words burning silver. MATE. I jerked back questioning him 'What did you do to me ?' Kael stared at the mark on my wrist, his eyes wide with shock 'I didn't- it just-' Derrick stopped laughing 'Oh that's really interesting, the stone chose and it chose you brother'.

Kael let go like I burned him 'Don't touch her' he said voice low and dangerous 'Or what ?' Derrick asked 'You'll defy father ?, you'll defy the council ?, just for her ?' Kael looked back at me. Really looked, at the ash on my cheeks, at the book in my hands and at the mark on my wrist. 'Yes', he said.

Derrick moved first, wind again knocking Kael back towards the edge. I screamed as the book flew from my hands, its pages opened as light poured out. Black light then ash. The voice 'NOW'.

I didn't think just reached for the stone, for the pain, for the fire and I pulled. The roof cracked, the wind died and Derrick stumbled.

Kael grabbed me and pulled me to him 'Don't', he whispered in my ear 'Not yet, not like this' I was shaking, crying 'They killed them, they took everything from me'. 'I know' he said 'And I'm sorry', footsteps from the stairs, from guards, dozens of them.

Derrick smiled 'Well this is awkward, guess we're all getting arrested'.

- - - -

Kael looked at the stars then at me, then at the edge. 'Can you jump' he asked 'What ?'. 'The lower roof, its three stories down, can you make it ?'

The voice 'Yes'. I nodded 'Good' he said 'Because I'm not letting them take you' my heart warmed, he was willing to risk it for my sake.

He picked me up like I weighed nothing and ran, we jumped and hit the lower roof in pain but alive. Behind us were shouts, Derrick's voice echoed 'After them !' Kael set me down and handed me the book 'Can you walk ?' he asked and I nodded 'Then run'

- - - -

We ran across roofs through alleys, through the city that wanted me dead until we stopped in front of a door, old and wooden with no number.

Kael knocked three times then paused, two times before the door opened and there Perry stood grinning while holding a sword.

'Took you long enough', he said then looked at me 'Welcome to the rebellion, princess'. His eyes then landed on my wrist, at the silver word. 'Oh' he said 'That's new', Kael didn't let go of my hand 'She's with me', he said and slammed the door shut behind us.