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Chapter 7


  Lucy happily got on the table and waited patiently while Mr. Griffin extracted a vile of blood without complaint. She had spent a bit of time catching up with him afterwards until he practically pushed her out saying he wanted to test the sample as soon as possible.

"You'll hear back from me soon!" he called while we walk towards where Stella is grazing.

"It was a pleasure seeing you again, Mr. Griffin," Lucy called back.

As we mount, I see him start to run out of the corner of my eye. "Wait... Zaria..."

I got back down from the saddle. "Yes?"

He hands over 'Everything You Need to Know About Brewing the Perfect Tattoo.' "I want you to have this. I have an extra copy in the shack. Two sets of eyes are better than one, right?"

"Of course," I say. "Thank you." I did not miss the part where his finger was sandwiched between the pages in the middle with a slightly folded page. "I'll take good care of it," I say while giving a strong nod. He nods back and steps away.

"You two keep yourselves out of trouble."

I don't have to look over my shoulder to know that Lucy is flashing her bright smile. "We'll sure try."

We rode for a while without speaking, just listening to the rhythm of Stella's hooves as she trots back towards the Town's Square.

A slave mark? All that time Lucy had pretended to be a servant, and the second she gets her crown back, this is her payment. I hate to agree with the queen here but maybe it would have been better if she had stayed hidden. I can't bear if anything were to happen to her. And Crista... locked away in her room for the better part of the day and she still bears the same mark. For what?

"How about a bite to eat?" Lucy asks over my shoulder. "There is an older lady that usually has her cart out selling sweets."

I chuckle. "Yeah, I know her. When Axil and I had handed out invitations for the ball, I met her. She's very sweet."

"She was the only one that caught on to my nightly sneak outs. She would never make a scene. She's too kind for that, but she always left me a little treat by the lakeside."

"There's a lake here?"

"If you travel into the forest on the far side of the park you will come to a creek. Keep following that and you will see a sight."

"Is that where you went? All those nights?"

"Most. Some I would walk around. Clear my head, you know. But I would spend most of my time just watching the tiny ripples, and then there were times I would swim in," she giggles. "It was a little bit harder to sneak back in when my steps squeaked on the polished floor.

I laugh with her. "How did she know you were there."

"She followed me."

"That sneak."

"It's okay, really. At first, I thought she would surely tell my mother but she never did. She didn't even speak to me much but she asked if I was the princess." She laughs even more sounding like a singing bird. "She asked if I was a ghost. She believed me to be dead... and her as well, apparently. I don't know why, but I didn't feel the need to hide from her, so I told her the truth. She never spoke to me again, but she always left me something wrapped in a paper bag. She would hide it next to bushes, inside tree hollows. It was a fun little game we played."

"I'm glad I failed my mission." I admit. I've never once said it out loud. "I'm glad I came here. Even with all of this... whatever this is that's going on. I'm glad I was lead here."

"Me too."

***

Back at the palace I meet Axil in the Council Room. The sun is starting to set over the mountain. I lean against the window pane watching the clouds turn a color of rosy gold. From here I can almost make out Mr. Griffin's shack. I don't know how I ever missed it before. I dark shadow looms in that corner of town.

"I met this man named Mr. Griffin," I say quietly. It was only just us in the room. The king has not yet arrived. "I hadn't known part of Senwain was attacked by Malaka."

Axil's jaw tightens. "We tried to bring up enough funds to repair the damage, but there just hasn't been enough. We held a vote on the matter. The people agree they would rather fund our soldiers. New equipment, armor, and plenty of food. There's no point in rebuilding if it could just get torn down again." His hands turn to fists at his side.

"Hey," I say strolling over to him. I gently grab his hand. "This will all be over soon. You're doing all you can." He looks away in defiance. "And, you're doing a great job," I add. He loosens his tension just a little.

"What were you seeing Mr. Griffin for? Lucy?" he says, his voice lightening.

"Yes. She was hoping he would be able to tell her what the tattoo meant."

"Can he?" he asks.

I sigh. "He's trying to figure it out. For now, we must be careful. Someone has marked Lucy and I think we can all guess who. He gave me a copy of one of his books. I'll look at it tonight. Maybe it can help."

"Zaria, I still don't—

"You're going to have to just drop it. I'm not sitting this one out."

"I don't want you to intentionally put yourself into her hands." He speaks. "Something tells me you actually like to throw yourself into danger; enjoy it really."

I open my mouth to fight back, but close it the next moment. The king opens the door slowly, cautiously looking towards us. "Everything alright?" he asks.

"Yes," I say sounding not at all like everything is alright.

"Right. So, Zaria," he addresses me still a bit timid. "How have your studies been?"

I glare over at Axil who clearly does not want to help in the story. "Well..." I start. I tell him everything. All my suspicions and theories about the symbols and telepathy. I don't dare look over at Axil who I know doesn't want me to be meddling with this stuff in the first place. I hold my breath when I'm done knowing I probably sound crazy.

"Hmm."

"Hmm?" Axil says.

"It is possible. Though Zaria, you will need more proof to back up this claim." He paces around the room. "I tell you what. Send back proof to me that Eden is communicating with John and I'll make you a permanent member of this council."

My heart leaps with joy. Finally, a way to show my skill and use it in a way that is right. This will be the perfect opportunity—

"Absolutely not." Axil cuts off my though progression before I can even get too excited.

The King stays calm, blinking slowly. "And why not. It's a good start. It's at least something for us to look into."

He waves his hands. "What about the other messages that were sent? Those are important too. We need someone to study and crack whatever code they have sent, and Zaria could—

"Stay safe?" the King finishes for him. All Axil did was huff a breath, but it was answer enough that he had been right. "I've been in your shoes years ago, son. There is no keeping anyone safe."

***

"You can't do this!"

"There is no keeping anyone safe in our world, John!" Damian shouts at him while he blocks my father from me. "You must learn that, boy. You don't like it, go bang down someone else's door. You are in no position to be making demands at me."

I lay on the floor, broken and bruised. I try to reach for John's ankle but each time I try to touch him, he advances forward towards Damian.

"I will not tell you how to run your business," John hisses. "But I will tell you how to act like a civilized father towards your daughter. She only has you."

No, I don't. I think to myself. I lost him long ago. He hates me.

Damian laughs. "And how would you know decency? Who would have taught you?" He laughs again. "That's right, I did. Because your mother abandoned you. You know nothing of true family, boy. Who saved you when Liam held you at gunpoint? Who helped you escape from the alleyway when you were being chased? Who brought you up as a son—

"MARIA DID!"

I have never heard John's voice crack like that. Every bit of pent-up depression and anger being ripped out. "MARIA TOLD YOU WHERE I WAS WHEN LIAM HAD ME CORNERED. MARIA IS THE ONE THAT SPOTTED ME IN THE ALLEYWAY AND CALLED YOU TO GET THE CAR. AND MARIA WAS THE ONE WHO RAISED ZARIA AND I TO BE HERS.

"YOU WILL NOT SPEAK FOR MY DAUGHTER LIKE THAT AND DISRESPECT ME IN THE PROCESS."

He lowers his voice dangerously. "You should be gracious towards me, boy. Without me, Maria was nothing. And as for my daughter, she will grow to live in my footsteps, and she will not do it by making kindergarten mistakes. This world will tear you apart, boy. You loved my wife so much, look where it landed her."

He paused for a moment, bent down and looked me in the eyes while still talking to John. "Now if you care for my daughter, you will let her do her job and endure her punishment. You feel responsible. This is your fault. You failed, so she had to step up. And now she failed as well.

"Have her punishment be one for you as well." He points to me curled on the floor. "This is what happens when one of you falls, the other must rise up."

***

At some point I had been excused from the Council Room. I had trudged upstairs to the East Wing Tower. It's not needed right now but it's the best thing I can think of. The stronger Lumbridge is, the better.

Crista had showed me this room when we returned, though only recently I have been able to go in alone. If I hadn't known magic existed, I would have thought that walking into this room was passing into another life time. The only way to describe it is by feel. The room Crista named the "Twilight Zone."

I can barely see, but there is a little light showing which I cannot tell from where. I just listen to the sound of trinkling water. A fountain lies in the middle of the room. They say life flows like a river, and water is what makes the magic in Lumbridge so powerful. Especially this room.

I plunge myself into the fountain, bracing myself as the ice -old water wraps around me. It's like entering a dream. For a mere second I feel myself falling and the cold bites at my skin begging me to get out... and then it all goes away. Instead of falling, I am floating. Instead of the bitter cold, and calm numbness washes over me. I let myself enjoy it. Live in this moment just for a bit longer until I see the light coming from above sparkling in the water. Slowing my movements, I float slowly towards the surface. It is not the room I had entered. In fact, it is not even a room.

Releasing the air in my lungs, I breath in breeching the surface to the Crystal Pool. Like a rainbow, the light hits all of the edges, sending colors cascading all around the cave. Feeling refreshed I lift myself from the dazzling water admiring the shimmer and gleam of crystals. They grow from every surface in here. This is where the pendants come from. I was never gifted mine, instead I crafted it myself. I never had an initiation, but I am certainly glad I didn't if it means staying away from Eden's power.

The soft sand hugs my feet like a cloud. I had never imagined such a place could exist. If only sixteen-year-old me could have known this is what awaited. Not just a bed with my name on it and a father who never loved me. When Crista first brought me here, I could not believe my eyes. It is still as wonderful as the fist time I saw it. I walk over to the pedestal.

When Crista has described the Twilight Zone to me, I had a fist thought it would be something to fear. Walking into a dark room, falling into a fountain to travel to a different realm. I was worried I would feel something trying to break me. Is that how the kingdom gets the magic? Ripping it from my grasp? But, just like everything else in Lumbridge, the pedestal is a gentle offering. I place my hand on the pedestal palm down and just feel. Feel anything. Joy, depression, anger, regret, relief, anything. And once I allow myself to feel, everything the water in the pool starts to whirlpool. It starts to grow cascading up the walls of crystals, lighting everything up.

I close my eyes again letting the emotions fill my heart, and my magic pour out. The whirlpool grows stronger and stronger until everything stops and the water retreats back into the pool.

It took me a while to understand. The water is connected to the crystals and every time a ritual is done, the water and pressure of emotion makes even more crystals. Little pieces will start to break off going back into the water and flowing into the fountain in Lumbridge. From there, the water disperses into the air. The people in Lumbridge are breathing magic.

Complex simplicity is the best way I could wrap my head around it. Multiple times Crista and I have tried to explain to Axil how the magic system works, but he never understands. I've taken him to the Twilight Zone, but he refuses to cross the threshold. I guess that's why Crista calls it the Twilight Zone. To someone without magic this would seem almost terrifying. It was terrifying the first time, but I don't feel scared anymore. Well, not by this place anyway.

For the rest of the evening, I ponder over the book page that Mr. Griffin bookmarked curled in my bed.

The curse of a slave mark is a bound contract. The only way for a slave mark to appear is by a possession of a person's DNA. The individual's body will turn against them until the curser receives what he/she is looking for. Until then, the body will continue to pump venom slowly into the bloodstream until it is too late.

That's why Eden has been so indirect. All this time she has been collecting our DNA from God knows where and cursing our own bodies against us. There will be a war, but one that's practically invisible.

Lucy. Crista.

Who could be next? Axil? The queen? The king? I read on.

The mark has nothing to do with the curse itself, for it is only a warning sign for the bearer. The survivors of the slave curse claim that their only hope had been to follow the mark. It's the body's last chance for hope as the venom spreads through them. A final warning. Follow the mark. That is the only hope.

Crows? I may not know Lucy and Crista as well as I should but I don't think crows have any significant meaning. My heart pounds in my chest faster and faster. This is a death sentence.

I remember back to when John planned his heist. He wanted the royal family gone fist. The rest would follow. I can't stop myself from thinking, what a coward. Lucy and Crista would rather fight and die in a puddle of blood than be betrayed by their blood.

Are Lucy and Crista already aware of this? Do they know that their own bodies are starting to kill themselves?

There is only one thing to do. I run.

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