Hunting For The Sun

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

Small Town Jails Ain't No Good For Me

I began to object, but the man spun me around, looked at me clinically and punched me in the face.

I was clearly meant to faint, but I didn't. My nose was ringing (I swear it's possible) and my vision swam a little. I reeled, feeling like my nose was melting and dribbling down my lip. I collapsed back against Adura, rolled to one side and crashed to the concrete. I was lying face down, gasping and supporting my head barely from the concrete with my hand outspread. I watched blood run down my lip and drip black onto the tarmac. I blinked a few times, taking deep breaths. Fisticuffs it is, then.

I rolled and kicked out, catching him in the knees and knocking him back far enough for me to stand up. He jumped a little and swung another punch at my face. My reactions were dulled slightly by the shock, and I ducked just enough to catch it as a ringing blow to the top right hand side of my head. I blinked again, spitting out vile oaths. I knew I wasn't strong enough to punch him. I tensed my hand into a claw and raked it across his face. My index finger dug into something soft. I screamed in revulsion and jerked away. He swore loudly and looked up. Blood was spurting from the eyeball I had just gouged.

I couldn't help things by staying there. I broke camp. I turned tail and sprinted down the street without a backward glance. I tried to keep going fairly straight so that I didn't lose my bearings, but it was hard. I was looking over my shoulder, trying to determine which path I had taken last, when I crashed into someone. The someone grabbed my upper arms and put me back on my feet.

'Hey, Rae,' Ori grinned. 'I just want you to know, I'm sorry about what happened.'

'Ori!' I cried, so happy that it was him.

'It's me,' he nodded, then he sniffed. Then again. 'Blood?' he asked.

I held up my hand and showed him. I hadn't realised quite how much blood was on it. I had also split my knuckles on both hands when I fell. There was blood all over my face. Now I thought about it, I could feel it there.

'Do you mind?' he asked, impulsively grabbing my hand and sucking my fingers. Then he licked my palm clean and then my knuckles. I tried not to squirm or be turned on by it, but it was hard. His tongue was warm and wet, and he gently washed my hand, then moved onto the other. He looked hungrily at my face. I shrugged to him, trying not to think that I wanted it. I wiped my hands dry on my trousers and stood uncomfortably while he battled with morals and hunger. Personally, I couldn't decide which I'd prefer.

He dived at me, grabbing my head to secure it while he ran his tongue over my skin. I stood there, enduring and enjoying it. He licked the blood from my lips, then hesitated, his mouth an inch from mine, before tentatively brushing his lips across mine. Then our lips connected properly and he allowed his hands to slide down to my waist, where he pulled me closer against him. I ran my hands up his back and tangled my fingers in his hair. I didn't know what I was doing. I didn't know why.

I didn't know you liked him that much,

Draco said, sounding simply amused.

Draco!

Oh, don't worry. This has to happen. I can't be angry if it isn't your fault.

Really? You mean it?

Of course. This has to happen so that I'll... Well, it doesn't matter.

Yes it does. Tell me.

Fine, I need to try to kill him so that Alethea lives. I don't know how, but this dallying gives me an excuse. There's no other reason for it. You may as well enjoy it.

What about before?

Oh, sorry about that. I didn't know then. Raven told me afterwards.

Well, that's alright. But then, I expect full compensation,

I said slyly.

Naturally.

I pulled away from Ori. Both of us looked as shocked as I felt, and Ori wiped his face clean with a hand.

'What's going on?' he asked, touching his lips.

'It's necessary,' I explained, looking at the ground and trying to become fascinated by my shoes. It was hard work, as I was desperate to look at him and to gauge his reaction.

'Necessary like how?' he asked. I could hear the match strike against his stubble, then a long sigh as the bitter stench of tobacco filled the crisp air.

'Necessary like, has to happen,' I snapped, coughing pointedly. He just laughed at me and leaned languidly against a wall. 'Where's Perse?' I asked after a while, getting sick of standing there.

'She's around,' he said, waving his cigarette. My eyes followed that dancing spot of light and I bit my tongue to keep from saying something. I knew I'd start to argue with him, and that might destroy the whole prophecy. I hated it hanging on a bloody thread like this.

I agree.

Stop invading my privacy!

But it's such fun! Look, the reason it happened is because Perse happened to have a run-in with one of the Forgotten. If none of us meet them, even indirectly, they don't affect the prophecy. Perse getting a contact like that is enough to throw the whole thing...

What's a Forgotten?

People, animals, creatures, spirits, ghosts or demons who are free from destiny. It's like... it's like opening a door on a cold day. The cold air starts to get in, and makes the house cold. If you open a door near a Forgotten One, they start letting in the destiny-less-ness. It's quite simple, really.

Yes, because it really sounds like that.

Anyway, that's how it goes. The worst-case-scenario is on the rare occasion when one of the required people is Forgotten. It has happened. That was when the dinosaurs died out.

I couldn't even reply. I had to sit and marvel.

Well figuratively, as I was standing up.

I didn't know dinosaurs had prophecies?

Had you ever met one?

I won't even grace a question as silly as that with a coherent answer.

I heard a sort of bubbling gurgle that must have been a laugh.

How's Alethea?

Um... well, she's... in a coma.

Is that good or bad?

Well, that's the point. She's stuck between death and life. We need you to get back as soon as possible.

Why me?

Well, why do you think?

Because you love me and miss me?

I said hopefully.

But of course I do. However, we need Ori.

But I HATE Ori!

I know, but this will be alright. I swear.

I'll just have to trust you, I guess.

Sure you will!

he said brightly, then he was gone. I was left with Ori, who was smoking like a chimney, and a lot of unanswered questions. Bloody Draco.

'Hey, Ori. She doesn't like that, you know,' Perse called as she came up to us. I snapped my head around to look at her and she smiled.

'Do you know where Skye is?' I snapped, intending to say hello or something.

'Ah,' Perse said delicately. 'Ah. Well, you see, there's been a slight roadblock there.'

'A roadblock?' I asked, folding my arms and raising an eyebrow.

'A minor one,' she amended.

'What's blocking this particular road?' I asked brightly, giving her a flat look.

'Well, the bars of a jail cell,' she replied, mumbling slightly.

'She's in jail? The famous, never-ever-caught-not-even-once assassin Skye, in jail?' I asked, half trying to cover immense disappointment, half-angry.

'Well, yes,' Perse muttered. 'Sorry, Rae.'

I couldn't understand why she was apologising to me. She was more important than I was. What was going on here?

The hierarchy's shifting, my love.

What the...?

Well, you

are meant to be in charge, Rae. You're the Dark Chief.

Why wasn't I before?

Well, probably because we needed to catch up. We were a little behind schedule. Now we're on time, everything's going to be as it should be.

Oh, and I'm in charge?

Yes.

Then he was gone. I shrugged.

'Visitation?' Ori asked slyly.

'No,' I said sarcastically.

He put his hands up in surrender, stepping away slightly.

'Adura!' I bellowed. I waited for her to find us, which eventually she did.

Unconsciously, perhaps, the three of them lined up in front of me. I planted one hand on my hip and the other on my pistol.

'Now, before we leave this godforsaken place, we have to get Skye out of that jail. No comments,' I cut them all off, holding my hand up in their faces. 'Now, Adura, these are your helpers. Mine are in those mountains over there,' I said, pointing. 'We still have to gather three of your lot,' I told her. 'That'll be our second concern when we get back. The first is Alethea, one of our allies. She's dying.'

'So how do we get Skye out?' Ori ventured.

'I don't know,' I answered shortly, biting my lip. I didn't really like the idea of being in charge. It sort of sounded like being on a high rope with no one to catch me. Not a pleasant thought. I have no problems with heights, but lows really get me. And falling. I knew I had to screw up at some point. Then they'd be there to point and laugh as I fell past them.

'Well, what if we just storm the place?' Perse asked. 'I've got room for more.'

'Me too,' Ori agreed, patting his lean stomach.

'I don't think I approve of what you're planning,' Adura said stiffly.

'Well, if only it was up to you,' I sighed wistfully, drawing my pistol. I cocked it with that lovely click-shlick noise and took aim along the barrel, firing off an experimental bullet. 'As it is, you have no say at all. Shame, that.'

She drew herself up slightly, but Perse and Ori glared at her, and she looked down at the ground.

'So, where is this place then?' I asked, slotting my gun away again.

'Not far,' Perse answered, picking her teeth with a fingernail. 'Follow me.'

~*~

I crouched down in the gutter behind the wall, gazing across the long, brightly-lit paved area outside the jail. No one was patrolling, but that was scant comfort. I shrugged my shoulders uncomfortably, trying to move my jacket down without shifting too noticeably. There was a strip of skin on my back exposed and an icy wind was squirming its way up the back of my leather flying jacket. Perse shifted, grumbling.

'Quiet,' I snapped in a whisper. She grunted and fell silent.

The cold wind scraped dust across the light flagstones outside the floodlit penitentiary. I couldn't imagine how we were going to cross that space without being seen. If we were seen, how would we get out of it? 'We didn't meant to break into your jail, sir.'

Whatever.

I struggled with this, gazing across the street to the massive open space. I clenched my fists together, rubbing my knuckles tightly until they clicked. The noise was surprisingly loud in the darkness, and Perse jumped, shoving me forwards so that I fell over. Ori grabbed my arm and pulled me back into the alley, but I knew it was too late to hide for much longer. I got slowly to my feet and locked my knees for a little while so that my muscles got accustomed to working again. We had, after all, been kneeling in the dark for over half an hour.

I flexed my ankles a little, chewing on my lip. The cold air brushed my face and I sought to catch at it and get away, but there was no avoiding this. Skye needed me; she needed all of us. I attempted to conceive some kind of plan, but nothing occurred to me. I was standing there, staring out over the street to a prison. A prison I was planning to break into. Why on earth was I planning to do that? Most people broke out. I broke in.

Failing any other notion coming to me, I stood up fully and marched out across the street.

'No!' Perse cried, trying to grab at my ankle. I flicked my leg out of her reach, performing an ungainly little skip-hop to stay on my feet.

'Bugger,' Ori muttered, leaping out after me and catching at my arm. 'What the hell do you think you're doing?' he demanded.

Well, I'm not entirely sure... But I didn't say that. I couldn't say that to him. He'd never respect me ever again.

'Just leave me to it,' I said curtly.

'I'm not going in there like this!' he protested. 'That's bloody suicide!'

'You're already dead,' I reminded him, trying to keep my mind on the task and keep walking. He, however, seemed to have other plans.

'Well, you aren't!'

Good point. 'But I can't die yet,' I said.

'Yes, but you could put us so far behind that we'd never recover. Can't you see how selfish this is?'

I tried to ignore him. I was yelling 'Toreador' as loud as I could inside my head. 'If Skye doesn't get out, we'll still fail!' I told him, still whispering. 'Bugger off, Ori. Let me do this.'

I snatched my arm out of his hand and ran across to the floodlit square. As I stepped into that immense circle of light, I felt smaller and more insignificant than I ever had before. Distantly, I heard Ori swear and run back. I struggled not to turn around and see what they were doing. This was my part. I could hold my own. I wasn't entirely useless. Admittedly, I was nowhere near as strong as Cloud, Ori or Perse; I wasn't as talented as Raven and Alethea; I wasn't as clever as Draco or Skye. The only one I matched up to was Adura, but I was clearly more confident than she was.

The huge portcullis-type gate was a little way ahead. I still had no plans. I heard a robotic humming as all the security cameras turned their single Cyclops-eyes to me. My stomach boiled and churned; my heart was pounding all over my body. I could feel it in my ears, my tongue, my hands. I could even see my heart beat black in my eyes. A roaring of blood filled my ears, and I tensed my body for a bullet. Still no plan. Five feet away. Still no plan. Four feet away. Still no plan. Three feet away. Still no plan. Two feet away. I was really going to screw it this time. One foot away. I fully expected a white hot slug to graze across my arm, searing my blood and spattering the polished white flagstones. Half a foot. My feet weren't really moving any more.

I reached out and touched a hand to the gate.

An electric charge bolted up to my elbow, jarring it numb, then to my shoulder, then networking all over my body, blowing red stars into my vision. I couldn't pull my hand away. Jolts continued to pound up my bones like someone was hammering away at me. My whole body was weak and I just wanted to fall down but I couldn't free my hand. If I could just free my hand...

Then there was a massive blow to my chest and I collapsed back against the floor. It was all over. Only a stiff pain began to creep through my muscles. I could feel the icy stones under my back. I could tell that I would be unable to open my eyes. There was a faint smell of burning, and when I really addressed the nerves, I knew that my hand was hot. Hot like it had been that time I picked up a burning log for a dare. Smell of burning ... heat ... It took me a little while to put the two together.

I could almost feel someone there. The ringing in my ears wouldn't allow me to hear. I felt a cool hand touch my face. I tried to cry out in the pain that it caused my buzzing skin, but my throat wouldn't work.

But then there was another sensation I recognised. In this state, however, it hurt much more than I recalled. That vibrating tingle spreading over my skin ... I knew a network of little green lines would be threading all over my skin, swirling into my wounds. As it was, the feeling made my skin jerk convulsively, and my body tried to fling me away from it.

I pulled my eyes open. Everything was blurred, but I could make out a patch of light. Maybe it was something really nice; maybe it was something that would burn me again. The latter seemed more likely, so I cringed away. It was getting closer to me. This, in the haze, struck me as incredibly unfair. I wasn't even moving!

But a voice broke through. A little noise that meant nothing, but started to loosen the tense aching all over my frame. What was it saying? I lifted my head to try to catch the words. I still couldn't connect anything. As far as I was concerned, that light was nothing to do with it.

'Rae, Rae, Rae, Rae, Rae, Rae.'

Cool hands rested against my prickling cheeks.

'It's me, Rae. It's me.'

But who was me? All I knew was that, even this distorted, I loved that voice. It barely shoved through the demonic barrier of tinny whistling that threatened to invade my sight too. I could see an olive green mass heaving at the back of my vision. I tried to push it away, but more stars of red and blue exploded against the back of my eyelids and I gave up.

'Rae, it's me. It's Draco. I'm here.'

Draco!

I knew that I had been planning to say that, but it never works out that way, does it?

'Oh god, what were you thinking, Rae?'

I shook my head. I knew I couldn't speak.

'We have to get you back to the Temple,' he told me urgently. I could feel his hands checking my skin for burns. Although the charm was working a lot slower than usual, it appeared to be doing the trick all the same. 'You're nearly healed, but we can't stay here. They'll come.'

'Skye,' I croaked, trying to sit up. I was alright. I kept saying it. I'm fine. Fine. Fine. Totally fine. Never better. I pulled myself up and rolled onto my knees. Draco held my arms and guided me to my feet.

'Where is she?'

I pointed.

'I didn't really think you'd grab one of those gates for a dare,' he said, trying to chuckle but failing. He was still worried.

'Missed you,' I garbled.

'I missed you too,' he said, holding me very gently in his arms and laying his cheek against my hair. 'Now we're in trouble.'

'Why?'

'Perse, Ori and Adura all vanished when you grabbed the gate.'

I felt a hot surge of anger and swore loudly.

'Those bastards!' I cried. 'How dare they?'

'Don't ask me,' Draco sighed. 'Look, we need to get back to the Temple and make plans.'

'But it's miles away,' I frowned.

'We can break the rules this time. You've done all the things you needed to do, so now we can skip the rest.'

'I could have Apparated home?' I choked.

'Well, not really. You'd have had to go out again and do all the things you did.'

'Like what?'

'You needed to meet Ori, Persephone, Lyudmila, Adura, the innkeeper bloke ... Everyone you met was essential. You had to do all this. Now we can go home and formulate another plan.'

'What about Ori and Perse and Adura?' I asked.

'They'll be having a word with the boss,' he said ominously.

I nestled into his arms, breathing deeply of his scent and feeling at home again. He took out a dark red crystal on a chain and held it to his mouth.

'Persephone,' he said. The surface of the crystal blurred and swirled to show a dark alley, where the three of them sat.

'You three,' he said clearly. They all jumped and looked around them, going for weapons. 'We're going back to the Temple for a rendezvous and a bit of a planning session. You are all invited, but you shouldn't have run away. It'll not go down well with Raven. See you there.'

He dropped the blood coloured stone back into his pocket and took my hand. The scene swirled and I was standing in that alley. Draco gave each of them an incredibly piercing look. Persephone glared at him, Ori took a pair of sunglasses out of his pocket and slipped them on, gazing away down the street. Adura was just looking at him strangely. I had an odd urge to grab him and say 'Mine!' as loud as I could.

'Are we all ready?' he asked coolly. He held out a hand, which Persephone took wearily. Ori grasped my hand, still gazing off into the middle distance. Adura held onto Persephone, although with a little reluctance.

'Goodbye, Edinburgh,' I said quietly. The ground was suddenly no longer under my feet, and I closed my eyes, longing for the sight of the Temple.