Chapter 28: Sixine
1819 Words
I find it hard to open my eyes, my eyelids weigh so heavily… My body is nothing but pain, and when I imagine myself moving, I have the terrible impression of being frozen, a prisoner of my swollen flesh. Is that possible? To suffer when one is dead?
My eyelids finally opened in a dimly lit room. It’s not so bad, even if it doesn’t tell me much more about my situation. In the half-light, I can make out flickerings of varying intensity, as if traversed by an electric current: protective stones. A tangle of malachites, emeralds, turquoises and shungites, the perfect mineral combination to absorb the magic. Impossible to use my powers in their presence, an old trick of wolves to ward off spells from sorcerers. This is certainly what explains my sorry state.
A few rustles break the sepulchral silence, there, right next to me. A threat? With painful effort, I turn my head and find that Elinor and Neeve are lying there, on basic beds, perfectly parallel. There is something reassuring about this order in the chaos of our lives, all the more so now that I recognize the room that welcomes us: our jail. All these setbacks to return to square one. Joyful.
I sink. Again.
I can still see this room, with the dim lighting, almost warm, if we disregard the bodies of my friends stretched out by my side. In a dazzling flash of suffering, sounds, and flashes come back to me, buried memories that rush to the portal of my unconscious. Why do I have to remember?
After a few quick knocks, Cooper walks in and spontaneously walks over to Elinor’s bed. I close my eyes; apparently, these two have things to talk about. I don’t want to interfere in their already complicated conversation. Between their icy words, a silent debate is palpable, a kind of tension that I have trouble understanding.
"I sentenced Jaxson to death."
What?
Everything that happens to Jaxson is my fault! How could I be so stupid? It was obvious that when his peers understood, they would punish him for helping me. So now that the wolves know that I’m also a witch...
My heart races, my muscles tense painfully under my bruises, and in spite of myself, a few tears escape from my eyes. My surroundings blur, I can barely make out the voices of Cooper and Eli anymore. When he slams the door on leaving the room, I understand: my friend’s tearful apologies weren’t enough to convince him.
I suddenly opened my eyes. We haven’t left this room. Have we ever? Maybe this was all just a stupid nightmare. Yes, the wanderings of my sick mind...
And yet, a wave of despair washes over me.
It’s all my fault.
If only I had stayed still, I would be alone in this cell. If I had waited as agreed, the girls wouldn’t be lying next to me. If I had pushed my thinking a little further than this immediate need for freedom… We would be in a better position. And Jaxson… wouldn’t count his last moments!
"Six?"
Eli’s arms tighten around me. It hurts. Not just physically. I’m so sorry for messing up like this!
I cling to her comforting arms. She’s there. And I feel that she doesn’t blame me.
"Sorry," I blurted out.
"It’s not your fault. None of us would have stood in your place. This place is… dismal."
"I didn’t want…"
I choke on my sobs. What can I say anyway? Nothing of any interest. It won’t help us any more.
I feel Elinor pull away a little. Neeve’s lacerated and trembling arms add to this unexpected embrace.
"We’re here, Six," she breathes in a soft and enveloping voice. "We are here. All three together."
The arms of my friends embrace me and support me. Little by little, my sobs become less frequent, until they completely stop.
"Feel a little bit better?" Eli worries, slapping a kiss on my forehead.
I nod my head, my nose running.
"What will happen to Jaxson?" I ask, my heart tight and ready to let myself be swallowed up by distress again.
"They’re going to execute me in an hour or two."
Jaxson! He’s with us! In the cell next door...
"You’re here!" I cried between two grunts of pain. "I’m sorry. I’m so sorry."
"I regret nothing."
How can he say such a thing? He’s going to die because of my bullshit!
"I knew what was coming, Six. One day or another, my position as Omega would have cost me my life. And my closeness to Cooper – however relative – wouldn’t have changed that."
"How can you accept this? It’s unfair!"
"This is how it is. I told you. I’ve lived in this pack forever. I know the rules, and I don’t regret having bent them."
"Because of me…"
"For you. And if I had to do it again, I would do it again. I’m glad I tried, but I wish you had got away with it."
"You sacrificed yourself for me while ignoring my secrets."
"Now that I know them, I’m even more proud of them, because…"
A silence. I feel him hesitate. Then as if lowering his arms, while death awaits him, he says:
"I would have liked a life with you, Sixine."
Why must the only time in my life where someone declares his love for me, it is a convict – through my fault – with whom no future is possible? If we escape this nightmare, the guilt of killing him will haunt me forever.
The door slams loudly, bouncing off the stone wall and making the hinges scream in slow agony.
It’s Jake entering the hallway, a tray of food in his hands.
"Poor thing," Neeve breathes, oddly sympathetic.
"For what?" I ask. "What’s happening to him?"
"Masha, his companion, was killed in the attack," she explains to me in a whisper.
So he too must be angry with me. Like all the others… Besides, it’s obvious, as written on his face puffed up with grief, the menacing expression of his jaw confirms it to me. He stares at me. If it wasn’t for those silver bars between us, he’d cut my throat, I’m sure. Without a word, he slips us the dishes, omitting to distribute any to Jaxson.
Jake backs away, his vindictive gaze still locked on mine. He is now only a metre from the door.
"Hold on."
He seems surprised to hear me calling him that.
"What?"
"I request an audience with the Alpha."
"He’s busy."
"I don’t doubt it for a moment, but it’s important."
Still staring at me, he grabs the doorknob and slams it so hard that the shock ripples through my bones. How to attract Cooper’s attention from these dungeons?
"But what the hell are you doing?" the girls ask me.
"I don’t know, but I have to try. Do you trust me?"
OK. It’s a bit bloated to ask this question after all I’ve done, but I need their consent in this last-ditch attempt to get us out of this mess.
On these words, the door opens on the fly, and Jake appears again in the frame.
"Come here. The Alpha is waiting for you."
I didn’t expect him to come back so quickly! I give the girls a confident look and follow in his wake as he opens the gate. Jaxson sits up suddenly and looks at me, worried. I can’t explain to him what I have in mind, it’s too late. Without stopping, I slide my fingers over his, careful not to touch the bars. I feel them shudder and walk away, determined to carry out my plan.
We cross the deserted and silent corridors as if after the terrible tumult that has affected us all, everyone had returned to their apartments to collect their thoughts and think about what’s next. Jake’s bracelet jingles on his wrist. The same combination of stones as installed in the dungeon. They have thought of everything...
"He’s there."
With these few words, Jake throws me into a surprisingly bright room. It has a huge bay window, dug into the cliff and offers a grandiose panorama of the forest bathed in sumptuous colours, from the lightest yellow to the darkest red through all the shades of orange. The majesty of a sunset without even having to go outside. It’s a strange change from our underground cellar.
Behind a desk crumbling under piles of files stands Cooper, from behind.
"What do you want from me?" he says in a weary tone by way of greeting.
"I want to make you an offer which I am sure you will understand the benefits."
He growls halfheartedly, his face still turned the other way. It must mean that he authorizes me to continue my demonstration.
"I’ve heard of your pack’s difficulties with vampires…"
"Jaxson," he cuts me off before sinking back into silence.
"Never mind. In exchange for our freedom and Jaxson’s grace, I pledge to help the wolves in their fight against the vampires.
He remains silent. Is something escaping him or is he having fun watching me struggle?
"The powers of three witches in the service of the pack of Bretton, recognize that this is a great opportunity," I tried to convince him.
He then turns to me. His features are drawn, his skin pale, his gaze absent.
"Is that your offer?"
"That’s it. Believe me, you would have to be crazy to refuse."
"I must be then …" he sighs. "No, I can’t accept this kind of deal, especially from a creature that has already tried to fool me!"
"It’s just a matter of ego, then?"
"Wisdom. Jake!" he finally said. "We’re done."
I was no more convincing than Eli on this one. Yet I was convinced that it would interest him. I hoped so, at least. I have no more cards to show. What am I going to tell the girls? What about Jaxson? Once again, I fail miserably, and terrible consequences lie ahead. Will Jaxson still be there, for that matter?
Jake’s hostile grip tightens around my arm. He pulls me unceremoniously towards the door.
As he is about to close it, Cooper’s voice rings out like a clap of thunder:
"Hold on."
Surprised, Jake lets go of my arm.
After an interminable silence, he starts.
"It’s my turn to reveal my counter-proposal."
Does he think he’s negotiating a contract? What could he require of us that we’re not already offering him?"
"I accept your proposal if Elinor stays with me and agrees to become my companion."
What?
I stare at him, in disbelief. He’s testing me, that’s all I see. Jake’s attitude shows that I’m right, he too is amazed.
I don’t want to submit the idea to my friends. But do I have any choice if I want to save Jaxson?
- Writer
