The Sharp Edge Of Steel: Part 3

III
Pieces of me

“Varu? Can you hear me?” I opened my eyes to see the relief flooding around Sife’s face. “You’ve lost a lot of blood but you’ll be okay. One of the arrows did some damage to the left Scapula bone but it’s just cracked, you’re lucky it didn’t shatter. Your arm should also heal fine. The rest is deep bruising, some minor internal bleeding, nothing that won’t heal given some time and some high dose RHW.”
I tried to sit up but Sife pushed me firmly back, avoiding my bandaged shoulder.
“You should really just rest and eat a little something.” He handed me a plate, I looked suspiciously at the strange white doughy substance at its centre.
“What is it?”
“Protein and other things that will help your body repair faster.”
I was too famished to protest and surprisingly it tasted good, sort of like fresh bread. He watched me eat, neither of us mentioning what had occurred in the arena. The strange bread stuck in my throat but I pushed the memories down as best I could.
“This is a very strong dose of RWH take it with some water. You’ll probably be out cold for a day or two but I will check in on you.” I must have made a face at that, “Don’t look so worried it will be fine when you wake.”
“I don’t think so Sife, I think it would be better if I didn’t wake up at all...unless this is the dream.” Sife’s hand was at my cheek brushing at tears, his face was so close to mine.
“I’m sorry Varu, I know how to heal the body, but I don’t know how to cure the damage this place inflicts on the spirit.”
I couldn’t bare the softness in his voice and in the touch of his hand, I didn’t deserve it. I pulled away taking the RHW and curling up facing the wall, waiting for the blackness. Sife stayed, waiting with me silenty.

Φ

The fields were always beautiful this time of year. My mind was lost somewhere in the sway of the wheat. The ground was damp from the summer rain but I didn’t care. The wheat was soft beneath me and the rain drops captured on the elegant stalks were glinting as they danced in the sunlight. I heard my name being called in the distance and reluctantly my body moved from its resting place. It was probably Takaro wanting me to train.
He was waiting for me at the hut, arms crossed over his chest.
“Now Varu this just won’t do.” He unfolded his arms revealing my training knife buried in his stomach, he began pulling it out and I tried to stop him but I was too late, calmly he placed the blood covered knife firmly into my outstretched hands. “I’m disappointed, I taught you better than this.” The accusation was so deep in his eyes, the blood spread over his white vest and he collapsed.
I jolted awake, cold and panting. There was a dull ache in my shoulder nothing worse, I pulled away the bandage to expose pinkish new skin over the wound...Impossible...unless I’d been asleep for longer than I thought. I was hungry and extremely thirsty so I padded to the door which surprised me by deactivating as I got near, the guard outside gave me small nod.
“Miss, you’re entitled to leave the room if you want to, showers are that way.” He pointed down the nearest corridor. “The Food hall and basic supplies are one level down.” I looked down at my destroyed clothing, the thought of wearing something that wasn’t covered in blood memories sounded very appealing.
It was strange being able to walk around freely yet still be a captive. I didn’t meet another soul as I made my way along bleak hallways and down a stairwell into a large room. There were a few fighters slouched over tables eating and talking. I veered towards the source of the food.
“What will ya have?” an elderly man on the other side of the counter asked. I noted he was wearing a collar too, like everyone else even the guards wore then.
“Anything, please.” He filled a bowl with a thick soup and handed it to me with some of the dough Sife had brought me before. I filled a cup full of water and found an empty corner to sit. My stomach was so empty it hurt a little to eat, I tried to make myself eat slowly I wondered how long I’d been out for and how soon I would be made to fight again.
Suddenly was aware of someone looming over me.
“Are you Varu?” asked a rough voice, its owner matched it perfectly. I hoped I would never have to face him in the arena. I pushed the half finished bowl away from me, and stood up, unfortunately I didn’t feel like I was at any more of an advantage than I had been when I was sitting.
“What do you want from me?”
“I’m just having a hard time believing you’re the one who killed Drin.” I guessed he must be speaking of the blond hair woman.
“You want me to prove it to you right now?” The words sounded powerful but I felt suddenly exhausted, the kind of weariness that gets its hooks in your spirit and pulls you down.
“She was only two fights away from earning her freedom you know.” There were suddenly others around him and foolishly, I had placed myself in a corner.
“I did what I had to.”
A guard finally seemed to take note and intervened before the situation elevated.
“I don’t even care what’s going on here just break it up okay!”
My new friend lingered for a moment before the guard shouted at him again, “That means you too Garren!” As I turned to leave the guard caught my arm. “You’re drawing more attention to yourself than you need to wearing that much of their friends blood. Go get cleaned up, Kallina over there will give you fresh clothes.”
I walked mechanically in the direction he had pointed. Kallina whom he’d spoken of, was sitting with her legs crossed smoking inattentively. Small mounds of clothing and boxes where gathered behind her and the table she was sat behind. Evaluating my size in a glance she handed me a complete set of clothes. The sleeveless white vest and dark grey pants were identical to the ones Felix had worn.
“What’s your number?” I frowned not understanding. She sighed impatiently and motioned for me to come closer, taking hold of my collar she read off the number engraved there jotting it down on a form. I read it upside down, ‘217713’. She handed me a small black comb and a toothbrush. She motion for me to come closer again and without warning jabbed me with a needle. “That’ll stop your blood flow with the moon change, you don’t want that bothering you here and you won’t get with child for some moons.” It disturbed me that that was considered as basic a necessity as a toothbrush, but then again the thought of a child being born into this place was even more sickening.
I clutched the small bundle of belongings to my chest as I strayed along the corridors to find my way to the showers, this was everything I owned in the world now. I must have taken a wrong turn at some point, it didn’t help of course that every corridor looked the same. The passage suddenly opened out into vast central space from which more corridors branched off. It was surprisingly beautiful my gaze was drawn upwards to a deep tunnel skylight. Where the natural light touched the floor it seemed to dance, ebbing and flowing like water. A pang of longing stabbed fiercely at me, I would have given anything to feel the wind on my skin again to feel the sun.
The howling of an animal shook me back to my reality although it was jarringly out of place. For a moment I thought I had imagined it until it sounded a second time, echoing down one of the corridors. I followed the sound out of morbid curiosity, down the left corridor until I found myself in a long room lined with cages. The guard at the door looked at me strangely but didn’t stop me from passing by. Animals of all descriptions filled the cages, some I didn’t even recognise. Their combined mournful cries as I past each cage bled together in an overwhelming cacophony of distress. I felt myself shaking my hands tightening into fists. I was about to turn a leave, no longer able to stand it when I saw Sife across the room, crouched in front of a cage his back to me. I stayed to observe the part he played in this.
He took a white package from his pocket and began to unwrap it carefully, silently I moved closer and saw him slide the latch off the cage of a young wolf pup. The pup didn’t lunge for Sife as I’d expected but slunk forward submissively and licked his hand, the package held a portion of raw meat which the wolf devoured gratefully. He was checking a wound on the cub’s back leg mumbling to himself that it was healing nicely while scratching the wolf affectionately behind one ear. The wolf noticed me first, its hackles rising, deadly white teeth bared as it growled deep in its throat. Sife Turned sharply.
“Varu? What are you doing here?”
“I..” Didn’t know how to reply at that moment, Sife turned back to the wolf soothing it,
“Tsht, easy Cola easy.” The wolf calmed slinking behind Sife.
“How are you feeling?”
“Em... I’m fine thanks to you, not much pain left. How long was I out?”
“About two days. Come let’s get away from here shall we?”
He guided me by the elbow, as my hands were still full of clothes, swiftly towards the door. Cola followed softly on our heels. We walked back through to the central space I’d past through before and branched down a different corridor into a small neat room. Cola instantly jumped onto the bed a curled up there.
“Can I offer you some khia?” I gave a small smile and nodded in answer busy looking around the room. There were paintings hanging on most of the walls, unframed and beautiful in a basic sort of way, depicting inky blue skies dotted with stars and shadowy forest paths. It was like looking into someone’s soul, the painter’s personality hummed from the images.
“They’re beautiful Sife.” As I spoke he pressed a small oriental style cup into my hand, the fragrant stream drifting out in lazy tendrils. “Who painted them?”
“Someone I knew here before.. they died though..” his express was pained so I didn’t push the matter. The drink was sweet and tasted mildly of oranges.
“This place,” I shook my head, “Is so full of contradictions, I can’t make sense of any of it.”
“I guess it the same in any place where people exist. We create we destroy.” He shrugged “I’ve given up trying to understand it all.”
“What’s with the wolf? Do you think He’ll let me pet him?” Sife’s face brightened likes a child’s as he glanced up at the sleeping wolf.
“Cola? She’s soft as butter really once she knows you, she was the runt of a litter and I guess I have a soft spot for her. I’ve managed to keep her out of the ring so far. She not vicious enough for them thank Eda, despite the breeding.”
I watched cola’s ears twitch as she slept, her small body raising and falling softly with each breath. No one would suspect the latent power of her teeth and claws. I was aware that Sife was watching me intently.
“How did you survive the Baleic round? I mean...” I had to push away a sudden rush of images. “I’m sorry if you don’t want to talk about it, I didn’t mean to cross a line.”
“It’s alright Sife, I just..You know I’m not entirely sure that I did survive. But if you really want to know, I’m still here because I’ve been taught to fight ever since I was young.”
Sife was sitting very still. He looked like a figure from one of the paintings, pale honey hair falling in his eyes, tea cupped safely between both his hands, grey eyes fixed steadily on mine, expectant, but I refused to explain anything further.
“Quite the mystery...I guess that explains a lot though.” He sighed and turned whistling to Cola. The wolf perked her ears up instantly and bounded to his side.
“Cola, meet Varu.” He rummaged in a drawer and pulled out a piece of dried meat for her. “Here give her this.” I held my hand out gingerly to the wolf. Sniffing at the food for a moment she happily savaged it down. She seemed more at ease with me so I petted her head, ruffling the dark fur, and scratched under her ear. She began chewing on my finger playfully and I couldn’t help but laugh, there was such a feral beauty in those wolf eyes, a brightness and intelligence.
“I think that’s the first time I’ve heard you laugh.” Sife smiled at me. “Cola has that effect on me too, reminds me of how things are, outside of this place.” He reached out hesitantly and brushed my hair tenderly behind my ear, his hand traced lightly down my jaw until coming to rest under my chin. His thumb played softly over my lip. I couldn’t move for a long moment before I pulled away sharply.
“Oh Varu I’m sorry I wasn’t thinking, I ment nothing by it.”
“ I... I should go wash away all this blood.” I hastily gathered my bundle of belongings and made for the door.
“Could you tell me where I can find the showers?” When I dared to look at him, Sife’s expression was just thoughtful and melancholic.
“Take a right when you reach the central square, and then go up one floor, it’s a left and then just head straight.” I left without saying another word, barely keeping my emotions in check.

I concentrated on each step trying to block any other thoughts, I had been working so hard on feeling nothing ... nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing.. empty, numb, hallow, dead. But Sife had opened a flood gate and I couldn’t hold anything back, it all hit me in a rush. The crushing weight of the guilt, the faces of everyone I had killed... Felix... don’t look at me that way... I’m sorry, I’m sorry. What possible right did I have to something I wanted?
I staggered and lent against the wall for a moment and slowed my breathing. I focused on finding my way, let it preoccupy my mind. Stairs..What had he said..left, then straight. Just keep walking, deep breaths. I eventually heard the pelt of steady water and the felt the dampness of steam in the air. I stepped into a shower fully clothed. The water triggered automatically, it was cold for a second before the heat hit me. A white curtain hung from the ceiling and I pulled it half closed not really caring. I just stood there, palms braced on the tile wall, letting the water soak though me, watching the dirt and blood wash away. Safe. Enclosed in the warmth of a watery cocoon.

“Varu? Varu!” I pulled aside the curtain in disbelief as Sife appeared still calling my name. He spotted me instantly and before I knew what was happening he stepped under the water and was kissing me. His lips moved from mine to my neck, collar bone...each kiss burning their mark deep into my skin. The world melted away, there was nothing left but the feeling of his lips on my skin, his hands, every part of me wanted him. I pulled his soaked shirt off and traced my finger tips over the smooth white skin, the soft curve of the muscles of his chest and stomach. His body shuddered in response as my hands moved lower. He pulled me closer carefully pulling my shirt off over my injured shoulder, I had a moment’s hesitation, suddenly conscience of the scars I’d gotten before I’d been taken here. One that ran from my navel to just under my breast shocked most people. My vest still covered it, so I forgot about it for the moment. Pants discarded, my body relaxed into Sife’s as he pulled me onto his hips, my legs around his waist, arms around his neck. I opened my eyes for a second and caught sight of a guard staring at us. I stopped cold. Sife felt my body freeze, and left me back to the ground.
“Is something wrong?”
“Must my whole life be watched by an audience?” I said it so softly that Sife didn’t hear. So I screamed it loud enough a second time so the guard could hear too. Sife followed the direction of my glare and understood what had happen. The guard had the good grace to finally look away, the colour rising in his cheeks before he stalked off.
“I can’t do this Sife, I can’t.” I picked up my new clothes from where I left them on low bench running the length of the room. I thought for a moment that Sife had left but he was suddenly back at my side, wrapping a towel around me and pulling me close.
“I’m sorry.” I murmured “I didn’t mean to..”
“It’s alright you don’t have to say anything.” He said kissing my forehead.
Sife’s room felt like less like a cell, so we walked back there, raising a few strange looks in our saturated clothes. Neither of us spoke but Sife took my hand lightly in his.
Cola greeted us at the door bounding over to Sife. After placating the wolf by feeding her another scrap of meet, Sife searched out some dry clothes for himself. I laughed at him when he turned his back to let me dress, but really I was grateful. I pulled off the rest of my soaked destroyed clothes and dried off before shrugging on the new set. It felt amazing to have fresh clothes. I ran the towel over my hair and began pulling a comb through it. Sife lifted it out of my hands suddenly, he sat behind me working the small brush patiently though the knots. Cola lay down by me, her head on my lap. It was insanity given my current situation, but I found it hard to recall a moment when I had felt this content before.
“You remind me of something Takaro used to recite to me,” Sife looked at me quizzingly. “Oh.. Takaro was the one who raised me. Whenever I was trying too hard without succeeding, he used to tell me that the key was to be like water, ‘Though deep, yet clear, though gentle, yet not dull, Strong without rage, without o’er-flowing full.’ ”
“That’s very beautiful Varu, thank you, it’s nice to think you see me that way.”
“I do.” I turn to him and kissed him on impulse. The touch left me tingling all over, it was frightening how strongly I felt for him so suddenly, part of me wanted to flee from it but I knew I couldn’t, it was too late, he had somehow softly found his way pass all of my defences. We curled up on the bed together and I let the deep sound of Sife voice calm me. I refused to think of anything else, the world beyond his arms did not exist.

Φ

Takaro and I would travel occasionally. He would take me into the sprawling mass of a city and teach me its ways. The room I now stood in resembled a holy place I had visited on one such a trip. The ceiling arched far above me supported by smooth white marble pillars, the floor was covered by the same cold material. I stood barefoot at the top of a stair which lead down into a pool of water. I was utterly alone. Even the silence here seemed to echo. The soft glow of candles was the only source of light, and adding to my sense of peace. I was wearing a simple white shift which came to just below my knees, my hair hung loose, unadorned. I made my way to the water’s edge and tentatively stepped in, wading forward until the water crept above my waist. A patch of colour suddenly caught my eye. The crimson patch began to spread rapidly as I watched, infecting the crystal water. Frightened I began to move back towards the safety of the steps, but the water had become thick and heavy pulling at me like thousands of hands. Horrified I realised I was surround by blood. I slipped, and was pulled under, the blood filled my mouth before I struggled to the surface again desperately reaching for the steps. I succeeded only in staining the pure marble with blood where my fingertips touched for a brief moment before I was dragged down. I tried to hold on, to find my way back to the surface. My lungs burned as I panicked, always reaching, my hands met nothing but the resistant viscous tug of the blood.

I bolted upright as I woke, taking in a huge lungful of air. The silence felt loud after that of my dream. I’d woken up Sife and he was looking at me alarmed.
“Varu, what is it? Are you alright?” He held me close to him.
“I’m fine, just a bad dream, it’s foolish really.” But I couldn’t help the tears that slid over my cheeks, or shake the feeling that the blood still clung to my skin, surrounding and suffocating me. Sife pulled me closer and I buried my face in the crook of his shoulder, his hands rested just above the small of my back. I let his warmth soak into me, allowing his embrace to be the safety net that held the pieces of me together.
I woke again to a faint humming sound and I half remembered Sife explaining he had to leave to treat someone. When I woke fully Sife had returned, bringing some soup and dough bread. As I ate I noticed he had that small distinctive frown, which made me worry.
“There’s something wrong isn’t there?” I asked. Sife took a deep breath.
“You are to be brought before Saier now.” I recalled the man who had come to my cell just after I had killed Felix. “It’s bad Varu. Saier normally doesn’t take much interest in fighters, but this is the second time he taken note of you. I don’t know what he’ll do. If I’m being honest the man terrifies me. I’ve seen him have his own guards put to death over something as trivial as bringing water to him in the wrong glass. You must be very careful in how you act, don’t make eye contact, and don’t speak unless he asks you a direct question.” I nodded, the food suddenly felt like a stone in my stomach. Even the brief encounter I’d had with the man had chilled me. There was something in his eyes, like he truly enjoyed watching people tear each other apart.
I felt something stir within me than, a cold fury in the pit of my stomach. I refused to be afraid any longer.
Sife watching me closely noted the shift in my expression.
“No Varu, whatever you are thinking put it out of your head now, you can’t fight this.”
“Can you dismantle the mechanism in this collar?”
“Varu are you listening, don’t be foolish.”
“Can you?”
Sife pressed his hand over his face, “Oh Gods why am I even considering this... I can’t, but I know someone who can. We’d have to hurry. I told Saier’s men that you where still out from a dose of RHW but that will only buy us so much time.”
“Don’t look at me that way Sife, I’m sure about this. Besides what do I have to lose, I will die if I stay here much longer.”
“Saier can do worse things to you than have you killed, believe me.”
“Alright let’s get this done before you change my mind. I must get something from my room first.”
We dashed along the corridors has quickly as possible, slowing to a walking pace only when we passed someone. I retrieved the fork from the mattress in my room and followed Sife as he led me down to the lowest level of the complex, to a room at the furthest end of a corridor. The lights stopped half way along it.
“She likes the quiet and the dark down here, it keeps her calm.” Sife explained.

There was a single lamp on in the room we entered. It cast a halo of light around the figure hunched intently over a work table, which was scattered with an array of mechanical paraphernalia. The rest of the room was obscured by shadows. Her long hair was a tawny blond similar to Sife’s, and reached just past her waist in a tangled mess.
“Selena?” Sife called to her softly, and the girls head swivelled up. Her eyes were like icy daggers and she griped a device she’d been working with as if it were a weapon.
“Who are you? What wh what do you want from me?”
“It’s your brother, Sife remember”
“Oh.” She then seemed to forget we were there and carried on working.
Sife went and knelt beside her, and spoke gently as if trying to coax a child.
“Selena I have something very important to ask you.”
“um?” she was still intent on her work.
“Lena, could you look at me for a moment?” She did so reluctantly, but not before standing up sighing and sitting back down again. I noted she was as tall as Sife, and so painfully thin her long limbs and sallow skin gave her a nymph like appearance. Her pale eyes fixed on Sife’s.
“Alright what is it? I’m listening.”
“The woman behind me is Varu, she is a dear friend of mine and I wanted to ask if you would dismantle the trigger in her collar?”
“You know what you’re asking of me right? If Saier where to find out he’d be really mad at me.” A manic smile spread across her face. “Of course I’ll do to it. Come, come here and sit in front of me.” she motioned to me.
I moved closer to Sife and spoke quietly in his ear so Selena wouldn’t overhear.
“Em Sife, for what reason exactly is Selena the most qualified to play with the explosive collar around my neck?”
“Because she’s the one who designed it.”
“Oh...”
I took a deep breath and resigned myself to what I hoped were the capable hands of Selena.
“Alright just sit with your back to me and, it is very important that you don’t move once I start.” After examining the collection on the table Selena decided on two a metal needle like objects.
Sife put his hand on my shoulder.
“Stay as still as you can now.” I couldn’t see what was happening but I could hear the taping of metal on metal and had to resist the urge to flinch every time I heard something click. After awhile Selena sat back in her chair with a content little sigh.”
“Done!”
I was so relieved I could have cried. I finally released the breath I’d been holding. I turned to Selena and took her small pale hand in mine.
“Thank you.”
“Okay, fine fine it was a gift a gift don’t take it back.” She pulled her and away and began speaking nonsense in panicked sentences. I looked to Sife.
“I’m sorry what was it I did?”
“It’s not your fault varu, I can’t even predict what will set her off. She comes and goes, but she’s never like she was before...before all this.” It dawned on me at that moment that Selena must be the artist behind the paintings on the wall’s of Sife’s room.
Selena had retreated to the edge of the small bed in the corner of the room and was gazing vacantly at the air before her. Her hand which was curled into a soft fist twitched before her mouth. Sife when to her and tried to comfort her, but he couldn’t seem to reach her any longer. She kept up speaking quietly to herself.
“There is something in the basics, in the elementary...In the grain of wood, the smell of pine, of woodsmoke. In the touch of feathers and rain, the gods live there and here...here” she pressed her small fist against her chest, over her heart. “In your wolf’s eyes that where they reside...” she looked to Sife then.
“Will you bring Cola to visit me again Sife, will you?”
“I will.” She smiled at that. Sife turn toward me, “We should leave now.” I nodded but whispered something to Selena first. Her eyes were suddenly fierce and she kissed my cheek as we said goodbye.

Φ

We were left to wait for a long time to be called in by Saier’s men, and I was starting to get more and more edgy. I felt utterly unprepared, but it was now or never. Then a horrible thought occurred to me.
“Sife!” I whispered urgently. “What about your collar? Oh Gods I was so worried about mine getting set off that I didn’t even think.” Sife was grinning. “What?”
“Stop panicking, Selena fixed my moons ago, just in case.”
A guard finally came from the room we were waiting before and summoned us with a motion. My heart felt like a humming bird in my chest. We first passed though large open hallway which was in stark contrast to the claustrophobic maze of corridors everywhere else. Deep green curtains draped down from the ceiling and sculptures depicting graphic images of bloodspots, were set out in rows along the walls. Some archaic looking weapons were also displayed in glass cases, perhaps the relics of past fights that were of some note.
We were announced at the entrance to the room at the end of the hallway. The guard bowed deeply.
“Ezra Saier, at your request sir, fighter 217713 Varu, and 11389 physician Sife Vinex.”
Saier was sitting slouched on the armrest of a chair, drinking a dark red liquid from a glass. Behind him, arms folded over his chest stood Caspia, still as a statue. A massive wooden table crouched before them, and once again I was taken aback by the lavish show of wealth. I only allowed myself the briefest glance before staring at my boots. The doors where closed out behind us and two guards took up their position there.
“Varu, how very nice to see you again, I was impressed by your performance in the Baleic round. How are you injuries healing?” Sife answered for me.
“ 217713’s state of health is at 95% sir.”
“You can drop the pretence Vinex I know you two are fucking. It’s sweet really. I’m sure it will mean you will take extra care for her well being.” I couldn’t help drawing a sharp breath in at his comment. “Making waves already aren’t you little one, and you’ve not even been here a week. The people are making bets on you before the next round is even set. That reminds me, there is the matter of a small legal issue to clear up. I’m going to need you to sign this for me.” He pushed a sheet of paper to the front of the table. I felt as if I were walking across a ship as I moved towards the table to read the document. It was more or less what I’d expected. It sated that I, fully aware of the risks involved had willing signed myself over to the arena for the sum of †65000 to be paid on release after the survival of 13 rounds, or †1300 to be paid to the next of kin or individual of my choice in the event of my death. Some people where actually this desperate and others where just that crazy. The majority of fighters however were usually criminals on death row who were offer a choice, and the lucky few fillers, like me where strays they had picked up off the streets. I had pegged Caspia as the type who had signed himself up, and not for the money either. Saier had given me a few moments grace to glace over it. “In blood please if you don’t mind, I’m a sucker for tradition. Caspia if you would.”
Caspia licked his lips and taking a slim knife from his belt gripping me by the wrist cut open my palm. It was nearly impossible to keep my expression neutral. Saier passed me a black feathered quill. Obediently I dipped it into the small pool of blood in my palm, I hesitating over the page however and a drop fell, spoiled the pristine paper.
Saier stood up and came to stand beside me. He gripped my chin painfully tight, forcing me to meet his eyes.
“Don’t assume for one moment, that that you life holds any value for me. I’d just as soon see Cas here torture you slowly and have your body fed piece by piece to Sife’s pet wolf, most of it while you’re still alive. Yes Vinex I know about that too.” He said without even glancing in his direction. He let go of me and I signed the paper. “Good girl. Now I’ve been debating what to do with you, I thought maybe up scaling you to a hybrid and letting you fight with the bigger children would prove interesting, but I’d hate to see that pretty little face get distorted. Mutations are always so unpredictable. Also I think it’s the underdog role that has the crowd routing for you thus far.”
It wasn’t difficult to fake my distress. I got down on my knees. I’d secured the fork higher up on my arm and used the movement to slide it into my hand without attracting notice.
“Please, do anything you want with me but not that.”
“Now child don’t grovel it’s very unbecoming, and I was just starting to respect you.”
The timing was perfect, Saier was right beside me and the table was between me and Caspia. I just had to trust that Sife would react in the right way.
As fast I could I stood up and plunged the fork into Saier’s throat. An image of Felix flashed before my eyes. This revenge was for him, and everyone else whose life I taken. As soon as I felt it break the skin I was satisfied. I had almost expected it to ricochet off, but Saier was made of flesh and blood like the rest of us. I no longer cared what happened to me now, it was enough to see his expression. I pulled him closer for a moment, spitting in his face before letting go and watching his body spasm and fall. The contract was still of the table and I took hold of it and crumpled in into a ball pushed it into Saier’s mouth, which was still open in shock. “That’s what I think of your contract!”
I turned in time to see Sife locked in a struggle with Caspia. The blood drained from Caspia’s face as Sife pressed down on a circular device, a flash of red light targeted Caspia ‘s collar. He didn’t even have time to scream. I’d seen a lot of horrible things in my life but they paled in comparison to this. As the collar exploded gore sprayed outwards in every direction. I just had time to close my eyes as it hit me. The smell of charred flesh was too much I gagged, throwing up what little food I eaten earlier.
As soon I was able I called out to Sife. He was lying on the floor next to the remains of Caspia’s body. I glanced towards the doorway to see the guards’ slumped unconscious, an empty syringe still sticking out from one of their necks.
“Sife!” I ran to him when he did reply. I turned him slowly on to his back checking to see where he was injured, it was impossible to tell with the spattering he’d recieved, but his eyes fluttered open.
“Oh thank the Gods!”
“Varu...be quick and take the pass from around Saier neck, it works like a skeleton key.” I un-looped the silver chain from around Saier’s neck, and draped in around my own. It surprised me to see the key was intricately carved in the shape of a tree.
The first shouts of alarm were being raised outside the door. It was locked from the inside but a steady thumping began as they tried to break it down.
Sife was on his feet now but he looked unsteady. He pointed to a thick curtain behind the chair and sure enough there was a corridor behind it leading out of the room.
“If we meet any guards just threaten them with this,” He passed me the device that triggered the collars. “No one wants to die that way, but Caspia had it coming, believe me If anyone deserved to die that way...” I nodded.
“We should find Selena.”
“It’s no use, she won’t even leave her room, I’ve tried, she just starts screaming. She would draw the whole place down on us, we’d never get her out. I accepted the fact that my sister is beyond saving a long time ago. She won’t be able to cope with the world any more her mind is...”
“Sife I’m sorry.”
“We’ll take Cola, she deserves a chance at life. I have water flasks and dried meat strips in my room we have to hurry it’s the only chance we have of making it out of here.”
We were half way along the corridor when I heard Sife collapse behind me. He wasn’t breathing, as I knelt beside him.
“Noo...Sife, Sife!” I lifted up his clothing exposing the wound stretching across his stomach. He was dead.
A wretched scream tore from me. Of course it had been too easy, oh Sife ...he had been so brave. I kissed his forehead and began to run as fast as I could.
Every door I encountered opened automatically. I left a trail of startled guards in my wake. I pointed the trigger device at the few who were more alert and they stopped dead in their tracks.
It was easier than I thought to get Cola to follow me, I ripped open drawers until I found the water and meat. Tempting Cola with it, she chased after me like it was a great new game we were playing. I had no idea how to get out of here so I just kept moving up. At the top level I threatened the first guard I came across.
“Tell me where the way out is right now! Or I swear I’ll trigger your collar!” He raised his hands in compliance and then gestured the directing I should go.
My body was being to feel the strain of my pace but I kept running, checking every now and then to see if the wolf was following me. Despite the unfaultering determination I felt to get out, I felt somehow disconnected from body, everything passed in a dream like sate. It hurt like a physical pain when I thought of Sife, but I kept going.
Following the guards direction I came to a stair case. It seemed that this was a side entrance not the main way into to the complex. I followed the staircase as it spiralled up and up until I reached a blue door. I had to open it manually, Saier’s keys slotted perfectly into the keyhole and I hear the wonderful sound of the lock turning.
The light was blinding as I emerged and a strong wind wiped around me. I found myself on a balcony like structure, a small ladder ran down to the ground below. Cola was nervous hers ears twitching as she sniffed at the air. I was afraid she would run back in so I grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and lifted her into my arms.
Sand...sand everywhere I looked, I must still be in Kaharian, somewhere in the desert. I felt my heart sink, everything that had happened and for what? Then I saw it. Hope. The faint outlines of manmade structures in the distance of what could only be a city. It was difficult with the wolf pup under my arm but I made my way down the ladder. I felt the warmth of the sand through my boots as I sunk into it, jumping the last few rungs.
I’d been given a second chance at life, and there was no way I was going to waste it. Fixing my sights on the distant city I began to run, the wolf on my heels.