Keepers of the Moon

Chapter 13. The King (6)

We jumped behind a pile of rubble and were pulled to safety by heavily armoured men and women. They wore dark blue protective gear and had stern looks on their faces. They were armed to the teeth and carried the Caledonian symbol on their chest. They just pushed us out of the way and kept on assaulting the men invading the castle. Inside everything reeked of burning wood and gunpowder. The entire hall was destroyed, but guards and security personnel were pouring in from every opening or door.

‘You two, get out of here, we won’t hold them for long!’ A woman with a coarse voice, but with soft green eyes grabbed us by our collars and started dragging us toward the back of the hall. We had to climb over bodies who all carried familiar faces. Hatred burned in my chest. The feeling was so strong that I couldn’t run from it. It was just there, like an angry poison tearing me apart.

I wanted to kill him.

I wanted to end Einar.

With every vein in my body. He didn’t deserve to walk this planet.

He didn’t deserve Hlér.

That thought knocked the wind out of my lungs. Because even through all this I wanted to see Hlér for something other than he was. But could I still see him… as him? Could I still see him separate from his father? He knew about the attack! He knew and he didn’t tell me. He let me go! He didn’t even truly fight against Tane!

What if he couldn’t?

Tane was not normal, there was something about this man that gave me goose bumps every time I saw him. He was powerful.

Like Mo Bhean was. Or she used to be.

Maybe he took her power? Or was I imagining things? Was it just that I wanted them to be powerful, because that could explain my fear?

Questions, doubts and anger filled my head with too much. Now that we were out of range of the enemy, my head was no longer clear. Survival was no longer key. The chaos just collided.

Both the girl and I just stood there inside a deserted corridor. We still had our hands clasped around the weapons, but I didn’t want to let go. It felt safe, to have some way to fight back. We looked at each other.

A silent understanding had formed between us.

Her dark brown eyes softened and tears started to glisten in the corners. She too was covered in white dust and there was blood on her left shoulder where pieces of debris had bombarded her. Through the dust I saw that she had a lovely dark brown skin, with black freckles around her nose. She was a little shorter than I was and her hair had been pulled back into a bushy bun on her head. There were still bits and pieces of concrete in it.

She nodded toward the end of the corridor, away from the fight. I nodded to and we started walking side by side. The sounds of guns firing was falling toward the background and I could finally breathe again. The smoke was less present and the smell not so penetrant.

‘The children got out. They are safe.’ I said it more to convince myself, than her. We had done it. Abi was safe, Wells was with her. She would have a future.

‘I know, I saw the bus pull out. Thanks to you.’ I just shrugged, I had done it without thinking. I almost killed myself. I knew I would do it again. I wouldn't even hesitate.

‘You saved my life.’ She just nodded in agreement, but didn’t say anything. I somehow knew that she too had just acted on instinct. I was grateful for that. Maybe, just maybe I could see Abi again. That little piece of hope was thanks to this nameless girl, who looked like Mere.

My Mere.