THE SILVEAN

CHAPTER 6

The safehouse smelled like rust and old coffee, maps on the walls, weapons on the table and me.

Sitting on a crate with the word MATE still burning on my wrist, Kael hadn't still let go of my hand until we were inside, now he was by the window watching like he expected the council to come through the walls.

Perry shut the door and locked it three times, 'So' he said grinning 'That was so dramatic, I'll give it a ten out of ten I would love to watch it again'. 'Shut up' Kael said annoyed 'Make me' Perry tossed me a bandage 'You're bleeding', I looked down at my palms it was a cut from the roof with ash in cuts. The book placed on my lap was still warm, still pulsing.

'Is that the Liora journal ?' Perry asked his eyes serious now no smile etched on his face, I nodded and clutched the book tighter.

Kael finally turned 'She needs to sleep and eat we then move in six hours'. 'Bossy' Perry mumbled but he was already pulling out bread, water and a first aid kit.

He sat across from me 'Let me see your wrist', I hesitated 'Please', he said voice softer and I held my wrist out, the word MATE. Silver, glowing faintly like it was breathing

Perry whistled 'Well that complicates things', Kael's jaw was tight 'It was an accident'. 'Sure' Perry said 'Accidents happen' he bandaged my hand his fingers careful not like Kael's. Kael's were shaking

Past midnight and I still couldn't sleep, too loud, too many eyes, too much. I slipped out to the library corner, one shelf stood with dusty books and a window.

That's were I saw him across the street in the library, the academy's library. A man in grey no face, I could only see just a cap and eyes on me, the stone went ice cold.

'He sees you' the voice said 'Run'

I dropped the book and ran back to the main room 'Someone's watching', I whispered, Kael was on his feet a second, Perry, his sword drawn 'Where ?'. 'The library across the street'. They went to the window, looked and found nothing just empty and dark, 'There was a man in grey' I said, Kael's face was blank 'Describe him'. 'I couldn't just....eyes'

Perry and Kael looked at each other 's**t', Perry cussed 'That's bad'. Kael pulled me away from the window. 'Listen, the council has watchers who are men in grey. They don't blink, they don't sleep and just report everything'. 'And if he saw you ?' Perry asked, 'Then they know where we are', Kael said 'And they know about....' he nodded to my wrist as the mark throbbed.

'They're coming' the voice said

'We have to leave', Kael said 'Right Now'. 'But it's 2am' I said. 'Exactly', Perry said 'Less people to see us'. He started packing fast, daggers, GPS maps and the book.

Kael grabbed my arm gently 'Can you keep up ?' I nodded even though my legs shook.

We went out through the back into the alley, into the rain. Cold, and across the street, the library window a shadow silently watching everything unfold.

We ran two blocks then we heard whistles behind us, the council guards. 'Split up !' Perry yelled, 'No', Kael said 'Stay together'.

He grabbed my hand again and we ran faster. My chest hurt as the stone screamed, the necklace choked we turned to a corner dead end. A wall laid before us 10 feet high and guards directly behind us 'Stop !' Kael looked at me, 'Do you trust me ?' I nodded as he picked me up and threw me over the wall.

I landed hard in pain as he jumped after, landed on his feet grabbed me and we ran. An old abandoned church smelled like mildew, we collapsed behind the altar breathing hard.

Perry slid in two minutes later grinning while his arm bled 'That was fun', he said while Kael checked me. Eyes. Hands. Wrist. 'Are you hurt ?'. 'No'. 'Good' Silence.

Then footsteps outside slow and deliberate like a hunter patiently waiting to catch its prey. A voice muffled through the door 'EIRA LIORA', 'We know you're in there', 'Come out or we burn the whole place down'.

Kael stood, pulled his bow. An arrow nocked in ash, Perry stood too his sword out they both looked at me 'Stay behind us', Kael said.

The door creaked open as light spilled in and in the doorway stood the man in grey, cap low, hands empty but his eyes.

Silver. Just like the stone, he looked right at me and smiled

'Hello Princess', he said 'I've been waiting'.