“I’m pretty sure he’s not the onlyguy using me; and I can promise you he’s not the only guy trying to killeveryone I love,” I could barely get the words out before tears began to falldown my cheeks.
“Except if I am the one who gets mekilled, at least it will be on my terms. I’m not going to live in oppressionunder a violent dictator only to die of a horrible disease that could strike atany moment,” Avalon folded his arms the same way I fold mine, and I noticed thesame defiant expression cross his face. I was kept in the dark so often thatsometimes my biggest moments of revelation came through Avalon’s side of theargument.
“What about the using me part?” Iasked timidly.
“Maybe I’m using you, well not you,but, fine, your magic,” he admitted. “But if I’m using you, it’s with your bestinterest in mind.” he gave me a playful grin.
“Sure it is,” I stuck out my bottomlip in a mock pout.
“It’s true. I’m not the only onewho’s stronger when we’re together,” he turned to walk back into the barn; hethought he had won the argument. PleaseEden, we need you. His voice was in my head, and I could feel, more thanhear the desperation in his emotion.
“I’m not saying that I’m joining.But I will listen to the rest of your meeting,” he turned and bowed a littlewith his hands pressed together. I kicked a rock at him, sending it with extraforce via magic and watched him duck out of the way just in time.
Instead of sitting down in myprevious place I chose to stand in the back, hoping to remain anonymous. I knewthat it was impossible since every person in the room was tuned into my magicalcurrent, just like I was tuned into theirs. Their lighter, brighter magic wasunique and interesting. I felt their currents flow, each distinctive, almostilluminating their person. It was as if their blood was glowing from underneaththeir skin, only in an invisible way; like I could have seen it glow if I hadheld a black light up to them.
Avalon began the meeting byupdating the group of twenty or so Immortals about the skirmish on the rooftopat Kingsley a few weeks ago. My cheeks burned hot as he recounted a little tooin detail what went wrong and how lucky they were to get out of therediscretely.
The five guys who were involvedwere all given pats on the back or some variation of a high five or fist pound.They were apparently all part of the reconnaissance team. Besides Avalon andJericho, there were three other boys, all probably two or three years olderthan me. Avalon seemed to be the youngest and I found it odd that even thoughhe was the youngest in the entire room he seemed to also be the leader.
Avalon then began to recount thepositions of others all over the world. He named names and places I had neverheard before. As small as this room of twenty appeared, it seemed there werehundreds of others all over the globe.
I had as much trouble taking theResistance seriously as I did the whole Kingdom and Monarchy thing, but itmight be more major than I could actually imagine. The way Avalon talked itappeared as if these five boys made up the most skilled reconnaissance team,but there were several others around the world. Avalon and his boys were inBrazil like he said; only he wasn’t with his parents, but rather on a decoy andextraction mission.
Avalon continued to relayinformation and answer questions until the light began to soften outside thebarn doors. I turned, a little bored, and a little lost to look at thebeautiful sunlight outside. The sky had turned brilliant shades of orange, redand pink and the sun was a blazing ball of yellow as it set behind the rollinghills of the Nebraska plains.
A black sedan drove slowly acrossthe gravel driveway and parked next to Avalon’s truck. A tall man, dressednicely and donning a bowler hat stepped out of the vehicle and walked withpurpose towards the barn. As he got closer I picked up on his magical currentand recognized Principal Saint, or Amory. The image was vaguely familiar and I hadthe strangest feeling of déjà vu.
I turned back around and forcedmyself to pay attention to Avalon. Amory stopped next to me, pulling me into aside hug and kissed the top of my head. I was surprised at his familiarity andcouldn’t help but feel a little uncomfortable. Avalon acknowledged Amory with atip of the chin and a wide grin. I forced myself to relax and trust him.
“The trial is set for the 31st ofOctober at the Judiciary Court’s Citadel. Oscar, Ebanks, Jett and Ronan willall be charged. Another trial precedes theirs, a girl named Lilly Mason. She isa Shape-Shifter charged with hiding her identity, attending Kingsley illegallyand threatening the life of the Crown Prince. She is not part of theResistance, but in my opinion she is innocent,” Avalon’s latest update drew myattention back to the meeting.
“Will we try to extract her aswell?” Jericho asked, and my heart fluttered with hope.
“We can try, but our first missionis to remove our members. I know you’re afraid for your friend, but we have totend to our members first,” Avalon turned to me with his last comment spokensincerely. I lost hope immediately, realizing I was the only one willing tohelp Lilly. I also realized I was the reason the other members of theResistance were going to be tried.
“And when did you say the trialwas? Holy Eve?” Angelica asked with a look of disgust across her face.
“Yes, I’m afraid only Lucan wouldfind that ironic. After the trial there is an evening feast to begin thecelebrations for the festival of All Saints. Some of you will be invited andexpected to attend,” Amory interjected and all eyes turned towards him. I puttwo and two together and realized the 31st of this month was Halloween.“Conrad, Angelica, Terrance and I will attend the feast and leave the weekbefore to make preparations for Avalon and his team. Jericho and the otherswill leave three days before the trial and connect with Ryder’s team once theyarrive.”
“I will arrive last minute, becauseI have to take mid-terms,” Avalon rolled his eyes and gave Amory a disdainfulglance.
“Avalon, we have to keep upappearances. Nothing must look out of the ordinary. You will travel alonedirectly after your last test. The tests will all be given by substitutes sincethe professors of Kingsley will all be required to attend the trial andfestival.”
“How last is last minute?” one ofthe other members of Avalon’s team asked.
“I should arrive the morning of thetrial, if all goes as planned. But we will not pull them until the night of thefeast. We expect they will be found guilty for seditious war crimes andconspiracy against the King; in that case punishment is death. Our intelsuggests that Lucan will wait to execute until All Saints Day to set anexample, so we will infiltrate the prison on Holy Eve while everyone elseattends the feast.”
“Surely the security will beenormous,” Angelica interjected, clearly worried about the plan.
“Yes, the entire Guard is expectedto travel,” Amory took over again. “But the Crown Prince is also expected to bein attendance and so the Guard will be split between Kiran, Lucan, the royalfamily and then the prisoners. I’m sure during the feast they will requireextra security as well,” he cleared his throat as if forcing the words out; asif he wasn’t sure he believed them.
“So that will be our onlyopportunity?” the man Amory addressed as Conrad said solemnly.
“Yes, I’m afraid so,” Amory lookedat Avalon with a type of longing I couldn’t define.
“So we better make it count,”Avalon said with more enthusiasm than his older counterparts. “I have fullfaith in my team, and Ryder and his team as well,” a plan spontaneously formedin my mind.
“I want to help too,” I blurtedout, focusing on my own plan to rescue Lilly.
“No!” The entire room yelled at me.Twenty pairs of eyes stared at me as if I had just said the most absurd thing.
“I mean, I won’t mess anything up….I promise,” suddenly, I felt like the outsider I was. Obviously everyone blamedme for this mission to begin with. I was the reason their friends sat in prisonawaiting death. “I know it’s my fault that this mission is even necessary. ButI think I can help…. I know I can help,” I tried to explain myself, hoping fora better response.