The Legacy

Kain walked down the halls, looking at every face and keeping to herself. She didn’t feel like greeting anyone and she didn’t feel like talking to anyone. Irritation and exhaustion made her groggy but all the lies and secrecy made her grumpy. Two of the emotions which made her extremely dangerous today. She found Gavin outside of the Academy. He was busy training in the yard. To her relief, she found him to be alone. She looked out towards the rest of the yard, watching each and every face, for any sign of spies working for Abbadon. Especially after what she overheard in Abbadon’s office. Kain caught sight of Sophia was standing underneath a tree just a little way ahead and she was looking straight at her. Scowling was more like it. Kain stood a little taller, staring back at Sophia.

Kain hadn’t been able to get the chance to talk to Sophia yet either. She needed to warn her to keep an eye over her shoulder. Kain looked from Sophia and back towards Gavin. She needed to choose with whom she needed to speak to first. Her time was limited and someone was watching. Always watching. Looking towards Gavin one last time, Kain turned towards Sophia and walked down the small hill. Sophia straightened up as Kain came closer, “I was hoping to talk to you,” she said as Kain reached her. Kain kept staring around, looking for any eavesdroppers. “Funny,” Kain said underneath her breath, trying to look natural, “so was I,” she breathed, finally turning her attention towards Sophia.

“How are you?” she asked, studying Sophia’s face. Sophia’s scowl deepened, “seriously? How am I? Funny you should ask Kain, since I’m in my situation because of you!” she hissed between her lips. Some passer-by hunters glanced towards the two of them. The girls waited until it was safe to talk again when Kain gave a heavy sigh.

Sophia shook her head, closing her eyes, “I’m sorry. That wasn’t fair. You’re only trying to help,” she said shaking her head once more. She pressed her lips together before continuing, “I’m fine,” Sophia said then added underneath her breath, “for now anyways.” Kain wondered if Sophia suspected something. How much did she figure out? How much did she remember now that she was better? Kain kept her focus on Sophia.

Sophia’s eyes were staring past Kain’s shoulders, the deep scowl back on her face. Kain turned her head and saw Greg standing against the low wall of the Academy. His friends talking around him and to him, but his eyes were on the two of them. “I don’t know what you have caught yourself up in Kain, but whatever it is, I hope it’s worth the trouble,” Sophia said, also watching Greg. Alert, Kain turned back towards Sophia. Something dark and knowing glinted in Sophia’s eyes. Kain frowned, stealing a glance back towards Greg, who was subtly pretending to talk to one of his friends but Kain could tell he was still watching them.

“Has Greg or anyone else said anything to you?” she asked below her breath. Sophia managed to find the words unspoken in between. She stared Kain straight in her eyes, “no, but I think they know something is up. Gods, I know something is up,” Sophia answered, thankfully keeping her voice low, “but Kain,” she added and Kain could swear she heard Sophia’s voice break. Kain stared back towards Sophia, who was shaking slightly. Sophia’s scowl now replaced by a pale gleam of panic, her dark eyes now wide and glossy.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” Kain asked, her words nearly a whisper as she placed a hand on Sophia’s arm. Sophia blinked several times before a visible shiver ran through her, “I don’t think I’m going to live very long. I have this feeling inside of me. Like a fawn getting blocked in by a pack of wolves and there’s nothing I can do but wait until one of them rips out my throat.”

Kain nodded, “so you know something too?” she turned to see if Gavin was still training in the field. She watched as the sun bounced of his naked, sweaty torso. “Look Sophia, you better watch out. Abbadon isn’t who we think he is. You know that ring that looked so familiar to us?” she asked Sophia. Kain waited for a nod but the sense of dawning on Sophia’s face was more than enough of an answer, “I saw it on Abbadon’s hand and I found the murder weapon in his office.”

Sophia’s head whipped towards Greg. Her eyes growing wide before she turned them towards Kain again, as if she wanted to confirm that Greg couldn’t hear them. “You were in Abbadon’s office? Kain, you shouldn’t have trespassed!” she whispered shakily. Kain shook her head to stop Sophia from talking. “He doesn’t know or suspect anything. Besides I had to know the truth. Don’t you too?” Kain asked Sophia quickly.

Sophia looked at Kain with glossy eyes then let her shoulders fall with defeat. “So, what now?” she asked, barely hard enough for Kain to hear. “I need more answers. More evidence. I need to know what’s going on, but for now you just need to be careful and if you can, avoid everyone. Do you hear me Sophia? Do you understand?” Kain asked, shaking the girl slightly by the shoulders, “don’t trust anyone but me!” Kain stared over her shoulder, back at the space where Greg had stood just a minute ago. He was gone.

“We can’t trust anyone anymore,” She whispered underneath her breath. She turned back towards Sophia and watched as the girl heeded her warning, “be safe Kain! Abbadon is a dangerous man. I don’t need to tell you that,” she said. Kain squeezed Sophia on her shoulder once and gave her a weak nod. She did know that.

After talking to Sophia, Kain felt less confident with talking to Gavin. She knew she had to. He had answers to the questions swirling in her head. Gavin turned towards her as she approached him. “I saw you talking to Sophia. What did she say to you? The both of you looked like you lost someone,” he said when she reached him. “Oh, nothing much. I just wanted to know if she was feeling better,” Kain breathed, putting on her best acting face. Gavin swung his sword at the practice dummy, his muscles bulging with the effort.

“I wanted to know if you found any more details about Collins’s case?” she asked, swaying back and forth on her heels while watching the other hunters walking around on the Academy training grounds. Gavin stopped swinging, his chest moving with the breaths of a full days training. His eyes wandered to a distance as he thought for a moment. The frown growing on his brow as he looked back towards her, told Kain that he was suspicious about her interest. “Not much really,” he said, “other than what you already know, we don’t have any other new or relevant information yet,” he continued then paused for a moment, sucking on his bottom lip as he continued staring at her. “Why do you want to know?” he asked curiously.

Kain dragged a hand through her unbound hair, crushing her light velvet red curls underneath her palm, “I’m just wondering about what really happened that night. Aren’t you at least a bit curious about the way Collins was killed?” she asked. Gavin shook his head and shrugged, “not really,” he said a little bored at the thought, “he was killed by fae. Isn’t that all that matters?” he asked, looking at her intently.

Kain sighed, “sure, I suppose,” she said a little disappointed. She had hoped that Gavin could provide her with more answers. But he wasn’t as much help as she thought he would be. could it be that he was concealing information from her? Or was he just as unaware of the dark secrets the Academy seems to keep these days?

“Gavin!” Greg called as he approached them, “Abbadon’s sending you and me out scouting. We leave in ten!” he said, his eyes flexing towards Kain repeatedly. Kain glared at him until he finally turned his full attention towards Gavin, “he’s sending us east,” Greg instructed then turned sharply on his heel and headed back towards the Academy. Gavin took a deep breath, “see you later?” he asked, taking Kain into his arms.

“yeah, okay,” she breathed, watching as Greg disappeared over the small hill. Kain squeezed Gavin tighter as he embraced her, before letting go. “After you took a bath. I don’t want to be cuddling up with a bag of sweat all evening,” she teased, giving him a friendly punch on the arm. Gavin chuckled, “so there would be cuddling then?” he mocked with his eyebrows wiggling up and down and a foolish twist of his eyes. Kain clucked her tongue at him and gave him a shove towards the Academy. With another chuckle, Gavin headed back to the Academy with a whistle on his lips and a sway in his step.

“Be safe!” she called after him. Gavin turned slightly back towards her, just enough for her to see his cocky smile. “Always!” he shouted back towards her. That wasn’t what she had meant. With all the secrets she was keeping from him, how could she explain to him what it was she had meant. He was scouting the woods with Greg. She had meant that he should be safe as in watching his back constantly. As in keeping an eye on a guy who would easily stab him in the back. As in staying alert while Abbadon’s spy is several inches from him. As in knowing that Greg knows how much he means to her and that he would use him as leverage to keep her in check. Be safe! Two small words, and yet they carried such a big burden. Be safe! How is it that everything she knows are the things that is becoming dangerous, not only to her but to those she knows. Her friends. Her loved ones. Be safe! Kain growled as she turned towards the woods. This sucks!

The trip through the forest didn’t give her much time to think through everything as Kain reached the hidden building faster than she had intended. She had to wait a few hours before she could go into the woods. Just in case someone was still watching her. She had been on her guard and was almost positive that no one saw her sneak out of the Academy grounds. Still she kept her ears alert for any sound. She didn’t want to be the reason for Breezes to be discovered by the other hunters. Kain tugged the cloak she was carrying, tighter around herself. She wasn’t cold but a shiver ran down her spine all the same. She brought her cloak with her to conceal the items she had taken from Abbadon’s office just in case she bumped into unwanted company.

“Breezes?” she called once she was through the door, but no one answered. Kain placed the cloak on the table and looked around, “Breezes?” she called a little louder but still no reply. Kain felt her heart sinking, wondering if Breezes has been caught or that she decided to leave. Even after everything she had said to Kain, would she really leave without saying goodbye? Kain turned back towards the door then stopped. There were two figures standing in front of the door. The first was Breezes who smiled brightly at Kain but the other was unfamiliar and unkind looking. “Hi Kain, I’d like you to meet Wison. He’s a good friend of mine,” Breezes said walking toward Kain even with Wison’s objective notions, “a good friend who refused to believe me until he saw you for himself,” she added, directing her smile towards her scowling friend. Kain stared at the second fae. She could tell that he was a water fae by just looking at his skin. He had pale sapphire coloured skin with seaweed wrapped around his wrists. He had a shell-like breast plate that was strapped tightly over his chest. There was a pearly white sword strapped to his belt, its pommel made from what looked like coral stone.

“It’s Kainun actually. My name is Kainun Bloodleaf,” Kain corrected. She turned hesitantly towards Breezes. Her senses still focused untrustingly on the fae who was now glaring at her. “You were right. I just didn’t want to believe you, but now,” Kain broke off. The name sounded strange yet comfortable on her lips. Breezes blinked a few times then took Kain by her shoulder, squeezing it lightly, “you believe the truth then?” she asked in wonder, her wide eyes looking wider with excitement.

Kain nodded, looking down at her cloak. She took a deep breath before retrieving the items concealed within, “I found this in my headmasters office,” Kain said, handing Breezes the golden crown, “that and a letter from my mother. She mentioned an enchantment placed upon me that supresses my memories. She also mentioned that it wasn’t meant to last forever and that is why I’m having blackouts. She also mentioned that if I can’t learn to control the power within me it might definitely consume me.” Kain said, looking at the ring glittering in Breezes’s hands. Wison moved closer, looking at the ring as Breezes turned it this way and that, causing light to catch in flashes now and then as it bounced off of the crystal stones embedded in the gold.

“I think that belonged to me when I was a child,” Kain added in a whisper, a shudder threatening to escape from her body. “It is still yours,” Wison said, speaking for the first time. He took the ring from Breezes and inspected it closer.

“Once you truly accept who you are it will grow to a size which fits you again. This is enchanted Sorian gold, made specially for the Blood circle members. The ring is passed down from generation to generation. Sometimes the new Bleeder is only a child and then the ring shrinks to fit the chosen one,” Wison explained, admiration lacing his voice. He looked up towards Kain, “I never thought I’d see another Bleeder ever again,” he said mesmerized, handing the ring back to Kain with a low bow of his head, his glare now replaced with wonderstruck.

Kain took the ring back hesitantly, “what is a Bleeder?” she asked, her eyes moving between Wison and Breezes. Breezes laughed as she hugged Kain, “it is what we call those connected to the deities. If connected, their power bleeds into you and you bleed the power into everything around you in turn,” she explained, as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. Then Breezes giggled at the horror on Kain’s face, “don’t worry, you don’t actually bleed. It’s really hard to explain but once you feel it, you’ll understand,” Breezes explained, giving Kain a sideways hug.

Breezes turned towards Wison, “for now, we could try and remove that enchantment,” she said then turned her gentle eyes back towards Kain, “what do you say?” she asked her quietly. Kain nodded but the words her mother had written in the letter came echoing back into her mind. Her mother had said that it would hurt a lot and get worse as the last of the enchantment dissolves. “Wison here has the ability to remove any enchantment, using his water magic. Thanks to your magic pulses he has just enough power to pull this off,” Breezes said, standing up and holding her small green hand out for Kain to take. “But we will need to go into the water for it to work,” Breezes added with a reassuring nod of her head. Kain hesitated a little before taking her hand.

Breezes led Kain outside, Wison following close behind. They walked around the concealed building. Kain’s eyes scanning the wood for any suspicious movement. She didn’t feel comfortable being out and about with two fae standing right beside her. not just because she was betraying all that she had grown up to be but also because she didn’t want hunters killing the fae who had caused her no harm. Behind the building was a low dip of the ground and at the foot of the dip, was the babbling river. They made their way down the dip, careful not to slide and gathered on the river-bed.

Wison turned towards Kain, his eyes serious and his face set in stone, “ready?” he asked quietly but his voice sounded strong non the less. Kain glanced towards Breezes one more time then turned towards Wison before nodding slowly. She walked past him and into the cold water. The flowing of the river fought against Kain’s thighs as she walked in deeper. The splash of water behind her told her that Wison is close behind. She stopped walking and turned towards him. He had caught up to her. The water now fought against her chest as she stood and waited.

“I just want to warn you that this might hurt more than it would have if the enchantment faded naturally. Forcing magic before it’s time is dangerous and can cause dangerous effects,” Wison warned with darkened eyes. Kain nodded, “I understand. But this is the only way. I don’t have much of a choice,” she said then breathed in a deep breath before letting it go heavily. Wison closed his eyes and held out his hands towards her. He started chanting before he had reached her completely, his chanting growing louder as he paused in front of Kain. She began to feel the water around her growing warmer and when she looked down, she saw that the water around her began to glow a warm blue colour. Kain whipped her head up, searching for Breezes as her heart began to pound in her chest. She found Breezes standing on the edge of where the rivers’ water touched the riverbank, her toes dipped into the cold water and her head bent back with her eyes closed as she took in the sun the same way a flower would. She must have sensed Kain’s distressed gaze because she straightened her head and gave Kain a reassuring smile. Kain turned her gaze back towards Wison and watched his moving lips as the strange words he uttered echoes around her.

His hands reached for her head. Kain froze but didn’t pull back when Wison’s fingers locked onto her temples. She closed her eyes against the pressure of his fingers. His chanting words sounding ancient and frightening. She tried to distract herself by trying to hear the words Wison chanted, trying to understand the language he was using, but once she did, she felt herself slipping away.

The screaming of agonised voices swirled around her. The heat of burning flames glowed hot against her skin. She heard her mother speak to her. She listened as the voice of her mother repeated her words over and over again. There was a name her mother mentioned a couple of times. Kain had heard the name in a previous vision before. Both familiar and strange to her. She saw flashes of the cause of all the agony and terror. Her responsibility became clearer as did her fate. Everything really did fall to her and yet she doesn’t know what to do or how to do it.

Her memories began to swirl faster and faster, the images falling together, and the missing blanks filled in by the blocked memories until every memory began to flow smoothly together. Then she remembered. She remembered everything she had forgotten. Kain heard someone singing in a divine voice. She tried to focus on the voice, but she couldn’t find where it came from. That is when she saw a glowing orb appear in front of her, its light bright yellow against the now surrounding darkness. The orb popped and a beautiful woman appeared in front of her. The woman was tall. As tall as a giant and coated in warm yellow light. Kain stepped back, craning her neck to find the woman’s face somewhere above the towering buildings.

The woman kneeled in front of Kain, allowing her to see her face better. She was smiling at Kain with a kind of motherly smile and her eyes gleamed with pride. Kainun Bloodleaf, the last of the Blood circle. Kain heard the woman say with a strong feminine tone and a motherly edge to it, but her lips hadn’t moved. Kain frowned in bewilderment as the woman continued to speak into her mind, I have been waiting for you! The woman bended forward, bringing her face closer to Kain’s. Kain watched as the woman’s eyes blinked slowly. It is time, she said nodding her head slowly as she closed her eyes. Her every movement seemed like it was happening in slow motion. Her eyes opened again and stared at Kain once more, time to come back home and back to the circle, the woman continued. With that the woman stood up and flooded back into an orb before popping and leaving no sign of light behind.

Kain opened her eyes, her breath coming fast. She was hunching towards the water, her nose barely brushing the river’s surface. Something red stained the water in front of her, flowing away along the current. Kain straightened up and wiped a wet hand across her nose, a line of bright red smeared on her hand and mixing with the drops of water that clung to her skin. She looked towards Wison who breathed just as hard as she did. His pale blue skin looking even paler. He stared at her with curious eyes, “are you okay?” he asked between breaths. She nodded, “you?” she asked, arching her eyebrows. He nodded in turn.

“Did it work?” they heard Breezes call from the riverbank. She was sitting on the damp rocks with her legs drawn up, her eyes wide and full of worry. Wison looked towards Kain, wondering the same thing. Kain breathed in, her nose itching from the blood, “yeah.” She said looking from Wison towards Breezes, “it worked. I remember everything!”

They heard a loud scream from somewhere near the building. Kain straightened her back, every nerve in her body on alert. Breezes sprang up and swirled around, looking for the source as well. They heard the screaming again then Kain realized it wasn’t screaming at all. It was a hysterical calling of her name. Kain rushed out of the river as fast as the high waters would allow her. Wison close on her heals. Once she reached the riverbank she jumped into a sprint and ran up the dip and around the hidden building. Her soaking clothes making it difficult for her to move. Kain barely made it around the bend when she saw Sophia stumbling through the woods, looking frantically around, searching. “KAIN!” she called again then caught sight of Kain, stumbling to a surprised stop.

Sophia rushed towards Kain, remembering why she was clambering through the woods in the first place and grabbed Kain by her shoulders. Kain frowned as she grabbed onto Sophia, “Sophia, what is it?” she demanded. Sophia began to whimper, “they are coming! Abbadon and his pets are coming to kill me!” she cried hysterically. Her eyes moved past Kain’s shoulders and saw the two fae standing behind Kain. “He knows about you and your fae friends. He knows that I know something!” she stared back at Kain, “we’re all dead!” she whimpered.

Tears streaked freely down Sophia’s cheeks as she fell into Kain’s shoulder. “Wait. How did you find me?” Kain demanded to know, pushing Sophia away from her. Sophia tried to catch her breath, “I overheard Greg talking about it to the others. Kain, Abbadon has spies following you around. I came as fast as I could to warn you but,” Sophia fell silent, slowly turning around. Her eyes were wide and glossy with fear as she stared into the trees. Breezes and Wison moved closer to Kain, eyes following Sophia’s gaze into the forest.

The silence of the forest broke with the sounds of shouting men, moving closer with speed, finishing Sophia’s line of words for her.