Alliance of Blackbirds Page 3

  Chapter Three

  Alicia’s fate…weather she lives or dies depends on my memory of everything that happened in a flash. I wasn’t taking notes at the time and recalling exact details was especially hard since I was in awe of everything. I tried to force the images in my head, tracing each movement of not only my own, but Alicia’s as well.

  “Did the water turn blue or violet first when Alicia entered?” Pandora sat across from me with hands folded on the round kitchen table.

  I rubbed my forehead and closed my eyes trying to remember. I pictured Zach lying in the sunken hole as water poured in from the ground. My stomach churned and my mind scrambled trying to see the color of the water that surrounded Alicia and Zach.

  “I don’t remember!” I spat out. “I don’t know what color it was first. They all just blended together.”

  “What about the water? Did it boil or swirl first?” Pandora moved onto the next question.

  I looked at Zach remembering how Alicia laid next to him perfectly like they were two silver spoons fitting together as if meant to be and nothing could separate them.

  “Swirl,” I answered without taking my eyes from Zach.

  “Are you sure?” Pandora questioned.

  I looked at her. It was Alicia’s life that hung on my answers. “Pretty sure…no, I’m not,” I said rubbing my aching forehead in defeat.

  Pandora leaned back tapping her fingers on the table. “We cannot make decisions on uncertain answers.”

  I could feel Gabe come behind me and rub my shoulders gently. “It’s alright,” he said trying to comfort me.

  “No, it isn’t my handsome Blackbird.” Pandora’s dark eyes darted at him. “If you want your little Phoenix back then you can’t take risks to get her out.” She leaned back in the creaky wooden chair and set her eyes on me. “There is only one way to resolve this. Get an Alfheim to save her. It’s the only way now, and the only way to be sure.”

  “We can’t do that in time.” Karinna stepped from behind Abe.

  “You’ve got a portal maker son’s and the amulet don’t you?” Her eyes shifted to Karinna. “Then you have everything—I don’t even know why you called me. I’m risking my probation by just being here.”

  “Portals aren’t like doors,” Ian said leaning against the wall. “They’re erratic in how they work.”

  “Well,” Pandora looked passively at me. “The way I see it is you don’t have much time with Alicia or the amulet.”

  My hand went to it immediately. I now had a strong connection to it. It had belonged to my mother, but has been silent shortly after I came to Meropsis. It was a key, a connection not only to my mother, but to Eutopia and to the glass people.

  “They are coming,” Pandora stood up with her eyes steady on Abe walked slowly towards him. “The glass people want the amulet and this world as a prize. They can feel the magic that radiates from it and given enough time, they’ll eventually be drawn to it. The Alliance has chosen to ignore the issue and the Dragon clan goes unchecked,” she said right in Abe’s face. “Too many things are being swept under the rug and pretty soon someone is going to trip over it.”

  Abe put his hand to his chin rubbing it while looking at the floor. He walked away from Pandora pacing the floor. Pandora clasped her hands together and gazed at Abe. The room was quiet except for the constant rhythm of the clock ticking each minute away.

  “Thank you Pandora for coming,” Abe finally said with a slight nod of his head. “Gabe and Ian will take you back to your inn in Port Blue.”

  “I hope you do heed my warning.” Pandora stepped towards him.

  “I take everything in to account.” Abe reassured her in a flat tone.

  Pandora gave me quick glance as Ian and Gabe escorted her out the door and into the night.

  “The Alliance is having an emergency meeting tomorrow in Port Blue in light of what was taken from the vault.” Abe turned to me. “They have no evidence or proof pointing to anyone and they believe it was pirates since they escaped the guard.” His questioning eyes narrowed. “I plan on keeping the Alliance thinking that way, but Emily how did you and Alicia escape the guard? Alicia is cunning and strong, but no one has ever gotten past it.”

  I could feel everyone’s eyes on me waiting for a reply. I was small in size and obviously not a match for the creature. Also I knew it was David that saved us and everyone already thought he had some hold on me.

  “It was David,” I finally said. “I know you think he has affected me somehow, but it’s true, he saved us. He severed that thing in half and Alicia, I know she saw him too.” I turned to Gabe. “If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be here.”

  Everyone exchanged uncertain glances.

  “He’s trying to overcome it, but the power of the glass people will in the end be stronger. His humanity will deteriorate.” Quil who I didn’t know was in the room stepped forward and looked from me to Abe.

  “Who’s guarding him?” Abe snapped his question.

  “Thomas and his father are and I just came in to get something to eat for us. Alice said she’d have something ready.” Quil then set his amber eyes on me.

  “Here you go,” Alice came out with a tray holding three covered bowls. “They’re hot, so be careful.” Quil nodded with thanks.

  “How much do you know about the glass people?” Abe asked. “I’ve questioned Thomas and Caleb extensively, but you, I have not heard from.”

  Quil hesitated for a moment, setting his eyes on me.

  “The Wall is growing in strength,” Quil said. His voice entered my mind like a whispered warning. I hadn’t forgotten about the Wall that the Eutopians were building around their Crystal City in hopes of a perfect world. Caleb had told me it was my destiny to destroy it and was still on my to-do-list.

  “The amulet and the magic in it, attracts them,” Quil said standing like a statue holding the tray of food. “David has the poison of the glass people rushing through his veins. It won’t be long before he’s consumed. He along with the amulet, are like a beacon that will draw them here. Your Alliance is ignorant of the power the glass people possess.”

  Abe turned pacing the floor with his hands clasped behind his back. “With the amulet and David here it’s inevitable that they will come to Atlantis. And the Alliance,” Abe stopped and shook his head. “None of them will listen to me. They believe they aren’t powerful enough to break through our shield. Ulric claimed the missing implements are the result of pirate thefts and said David was killed in the line of duty right before you went missing.” Abe set his gaze on me then back on Quil.

  “Where is he now?” I asked. “Where’s Ulric?”

  “He confirmed his attendance at tomorrow’s council.” Abe looked at me.

  “But I saw Quil cut his neck—I saw him die.” Ulric tried to get me to help him contain the magic of the glass people and he needed me to control the amulet. He also showed me the true form of the Dragon clan.

  “He was in his bloodline’s image and that, Emily, made him next to impossible to kill. He healed, not right away, and he didn’t die.” Abe stepped closer to me. “The Dragon clan comes from a powerful line of Dragons mixed with that of the Alfheim. It is mostly Dragon permitting longevity of life with the power of the Alfheim. And if Ulric gains this power of the glass people—no world will be safe.”

  I rubbed the amulet between my fingers. “Emily …they’re coming…find Pandora’s Lock…” I could hear the voice of my mother. She had died when I was little and had come from Eutopia and was born within the Wall of the crystal City.

  “What did she say?” Quil asked motioning with his eyes to the amulet.

  I looked at him for a moment wanting to keep what my mother’s voice said private.

  “What do you mean by that?” Abe turned to Quil.

  Quil’s topaz eyes gazed at Abe. “The amulet is connected to Emily’s mother, Isadrel. She
was part of a secret organization called an Unseen that made sure nothing was in the way when the Wall expanded in Eutopia, and also, a distant lineage of a royal line long forgotten. Emily can hear her mother’s voice speaking to her from the amulet.” Quil gazed back at me. “What did she say?”

  “Find Pandora’s Lock,” I said.

  “Pandora’s Lock?” Abe looked between Quil and me. “I’ve never heard of it.”

  “David has. He told us it’s here in Meropsis.” I stepped in front of Abe. “I know everyone thinks David has some spell over me, but,” I looked over at Caleb, “I think he truly wants to help us and we should at least listen to him especially since he was working with his father. What he says may be a lie or the truth, but we should at least hear him out.”

  Abe let out his breath and raised his eyebrows looking at the floor. “I know Emily you had relations with David before and to trust or even to listen to David is out of the question. He could give us false information or lead us to ambush. I’ve already lost the mansion on Kangee to the Dragon clan.” His voice trembled. “The Blackbird clan hangs in the balance and I don’t know if I can sway the Alliance into believing us.”

  I stepped closer to Abe looking up into his weathered eyes. “All I’m suggesting is to listen to him. When he tried to take me earlier he could’ve taken me anywhere or hurt Gabe and Quil, but he didn’t.” I searched his eyes. “He mentioned Pandora’s Lock before and I know he hates his father for abandoning him and doing what he did. And that’s all the more reason for him to help his father’s enemies.”

  Abe lifted his eyes away from me and towards the door at Quil. He took a deep breath then glanced back down at me. “You do have a point. Have Thomas and James bring David in here,” he said to Quil. “I want to question him.”

  Sitting in the living room was me, Gabe and Abe. Everyone else had gone to another room as Abe requested.

  “You are going to be leader of the Blackbirds one day Gabe and it’s my duty to prepare you for it. All I can say now is that I hope our clan will stay intact during this trying time.” Abe sat across from us with hands folded in front of him. “And Emily,” he said focusing his dark eyes on me. “You are part of this world too, even though you are from Eutopia you have ties here now and I truly hope you think this as your home now.”

  I nodded as his words pinged inside of me. A home with Gabe and possibilities of a better life than in St. F, I was over joyed even though things hung in the balance.

  “I want nothing more than to see the Blackbird clan grow and become its former self—stronger than any of the other clans.”

  “The Alfheim are gaining strength. Don’t you think we should call them on it?” Gabe asked as Abe shook his head. “I know they control most of the Alliance, but the rules state that they would never exceed that.”

  “Rules change especially here and after what has happened, gives them that power and Alfheim don’t like to be called on things. They are not formal people that way. They like to handle things of that matter in more of a social setting.” Abe smiled slightly. “You’ve got lot to learn, especially how to handle the Alfheim, and I hope I’ve got the time to teach you what you need to survive.”

  Just then, the door opened with a rush of the cool night air. David, looking more human, was cushioned between Jimmy and Thomas. He was calm and kept his dark eyes on me. To my surprise he had both eyes that were nearly black. When David had kidnapped me, I stabbed him in the eye trying to get away. Now he had his eye back as though it was never gone.

  Abe stood up and pointed at a metal chair that looked like it was made out of silver vines. It wasn’t there before. Abe had Zach bring it in from where I didn’t know.

  “Please have a seat,” Abe said casually motioning towards the chair.

  David looked at the chair first then back at Abe. “The vines of Flora chair,” he said in a questioning tone. “How did you get such a prize?” His hands were bound but still ran fingers over the liquid-like metal vines.

  “It’s on loan and as far as that, none of your business. Now sit,” Abe said firmly.

  He sat as Jimmy and Thomas left like two shadows following one another.

  “I see you’ve gained your other eye.” Abe sat and turned towards David. “Is that some rejuvenation power you have now?”

  David smirked then set his eyes on me. “I really don’t know. It’s something to do with the poison of the glass people.” His voice was smug and demeanor arrogant. He wasn’t the David that begged me to help him, the one that struggled to stay human and wanted to help. Maybe he did have a spell on me.

  “I could rip both of you to shreds right now, if I wanted.” He looked between Abe and Gabe smiling. “But, I won’t because I want something just like you want something.”

  “There is no something for you,” Abe said. “There is only you helping us. Your father has abandoned you and you’ve got no one else.”

  David looked to Gabe. “What about you? What about the oath we agreed on?” His eyes were steady on him.

  “You broke that oath and went against the Alliance and tried to murder a member of the Blackbirds,” Gabe said coldly. “That oath has been dissolved.”

  David set his jaw, gazed between us and then curled his face into a snarl. His skin slightly paled and fire burned in his eyes as he stood and pulled at his restraints. He jerked his arms and looked down at his bound wrist with shock. His eyes lifted to Abe.

  “What…” His voice trailed off as he sunk to his knees and hunched over.

  “Still think you can rip us to shreds?” Abe asked standing over him.

  David whimpered staring down at his hands not strong enough to break the ties. Abe gazed down at him with a mix of pity and repulsion.

  “What did you do to me?” he yelled looking back up at Abe with silver tears rolling from his eyes.

  “You say you don’t want to be like the glass people. So I’m keeping you from turning into them—a little something from Pandora.” Abe kept his eyes on David.

  The corner of David’s lip curled upward and a low rumble vibrated from his throat. “She’s a witch!”

  “And a very good one,” Abe concluded.

  “You need me to stop the glass people.” Silver flames flickered behind his dark eyes. “I’m like a magnet to them and they will come and they will see me as their ruler.” He then chuckled gazing at Abe.

  “Fine, they’ll come and we’ll greet them when they do.” Abe’s voice was unmoving and filled with confidence. “Go get Thomas and James and take this piece of rubbish back outside.” Abe turned to Gabe.

  David let out a growl and then pounced towards Abe his hands like claws still bound. But before he could reach him, a long silver whip curled around his neck making David’s flesh burn. He was pulled back into the chair silver vines growing from it grasping like long fingers that held him down.

  David tried to resist it and then with his eyes now dark, looked at me. “Emily, make them believe me!” he pleaded. “It isn’t me! It isn’t me!” He lowered his head and wept.

  I sat mortified at everything. David came in here full of evil confidence and turned into a sobering mess.

  “Emily, look at me!” He begged.

  “She doesn’t have to look at you monster!” Gabe got up and into David’s face.

  I looked up at Gabe. His body was tense and his stormy eyes swirled with anger peering down at David. His hands clenched shut and I could see the thick veins protrude from under his skin. For that one moment, I think Gabe could’ve easily killed David.

  “Go and get James, Gabe.” Abe stepped beside him. “Now,” his voice was firm.

  Gabe glared down at David in an icy stare and David returned the stare before lowering his head.

  Abe motioned for Gabe to leave to get Jimmy and then with crossed arms looked down at me.

  “You see now Emily,” he said raising his eyebr
ows.

  I let my eyes meet Abe’s then glanced to David. He barely lifted his head. David did have a hold on me, but something still remained in him that was human and untouched by the glass people’s poison. I know I appeared taken for a fool by David, but I wasn’t totally convinced myself.

  Jimmy and Thomas took David as the vines uncurled and his body fell limp. They dragged him out the door and into the darkness.

  Abe watched them leave and when the door shut he turned to Gabe.

  “Don’t let me see you lose your temper again!” Abe’s eyes flashed at Gabe. “Even if you have personal stakes involved, you must remain focused. If you let your enemies see your weaknesses,” he pointed towards me, “then it will be an easy battle for them.”

  “David needs to be put in his place,” Gabe said calmly. “We should just kill him.”

  “No,” I said thinking my thoughts aloud.

  Both of them looked at me.

  “Em…” Gabe’s tender voice barely whispered.

  “No,” I stood up. “I know you think he has some poison hold on me, but he doesn’t. I see him struggle and I know the way he acted tonight didn’t support anything I’ve said, but I know something still remains in him—something still human. And there’s only a small piece left that he clings to.”

  “Even if there is, there’s no reasoning with him. He’s too far gone and a liability to the Blackbirds.” Abe gave me a sympathetic look as I turned away running my fingers through my tangled hair.

  Suddenly the door opened and Gabe like a flash pulled his dagger from his belt ready to throw.

  “Abe!” Karinna’s voice was frantic. “Come quick, its Alicia.” She could hardly contain her tears.

  Gabe shoved his blade into his belt as Abe quickly joined Karinna into the blackness of outside.

  I could see the gold light illuminate the rolling mist that hung close to the ground. The air was thick with moisture and covered my bare arms. Gabe ran beside me as Karinna and Abe stood gazing down at Alicia horrified.

  “She doesn’t have much time.” Karinna knelt beside the pool of water. “It’s already turning. Our window of opportunity is closing. We need to find an Alfheim to help us.” Karinna didn’t take her eyes from the pool.

  Alicia looked like she was sleeping in a pool of gold flecks. Her skin glittered and dark hair fanned around like it had been arranged that way.

  “We need to make a portal—it’s the only way,” Abe said joining Karinna. Both gazed down at her like they were mourning over Alicia.

  A growl followed thundering footsteps came from behind us. I turned to see a silver figure break over the crest of the hill. Mist followed him as he came closer. I didn’t have to see his face to know it was David and he’d escaped.

  Gabe pushed me behind him and drew his dagger throwing it like lightning at David. It struck him in the stomach and he stopped, bent over and then pulled it out. David came even faster towards us.

  “Em…” Gabe said as suddenly David vanished into thin air. It was like the darkness had swallowed him whole.

  Everything was quiet as we stood in silent horror looking in all directions.

  “Where’d he go?” I asked no sooner as an icy hand wrapped around my mouth and my head twisted until it snapped.

  “Emily!” I could hear Gabe yell as I tried to call out to him.

  My body became numb and useless. Blurred visions of Gabe rolling on the ground then looking down at me came and went, but the only constant thing I could hear was David pleading for my help.