Chapter 10

“You’re just letting them go?!” Zerker shouted in disbelief.

Mendel stood at the window staring down at the mages who were gathered down below. After the angels lost, the Guardians were given orders to stand down and disengage. No one was allowed to disturb the mages. Mendel and his soldiers had to watch as Aiden and Nate were taken from them.

“Do you think you have what it takes to stop them?” Mendel said in a calm voice with his back still turned towards Zerker.

The other soldiers in the room remained quiet. The only ones in the room were all part of Mendel’s elite squadron, each with their own awakened abilities. Zerker couldn’t accept that they would lose to the mages if they launched a full-scale offensive.

He looked at his fellow soldiers for help but the look on their faces indicated he wouldn’t receive any. They were all too afraid to disagree with the man that imbued them with their powers.

“Most of those mages have lived for centuries. That bald inquisitor has probably lived for half a millennium to reach the status of inquisitor. He could single-handedly crush our whole operation. It was only thanks to those angels we were spared. So, don’t let your newfound abilities give you an inflated ego.” Mendel rebuked.

Zerker ground his teeth, biting back an angry retort. He refused to believe they were so helpless. He himself defeated Aiden alone. That old white-coat is just too afraid to get his hands dirty. Zerker thought to himself. He doesn’t have faith because he’s never had to fight. He doesn’t know what we’re capable of.

As if responding to his thoughts, Mendel turned to Zerker with a sneer. Zerker’s heart beat rose dramatically but he quickly calmed himself. There’s no way he knows what you’re thinking.

“You think I’m wrong?” Mendel looked straight at him. Zerker stepped backwards, his eyebrows rose as he tried to discern whether or not his mind was being read.

Mendel chuckled. “One doesn’t need to be a mind reader to know what you’re thinking. It’s written across your face. No subtlety at all. Normally that would be fine, considering you were created to be a tool, but now the tool thinks it knows best.”

There was a flash of movement and suddenly Zerker was lifted off the ground as Mendel held him up with a single hand wrapped around his wide neck. Zerker tried to dislodge the cold thin fingers from around his neck but they were like steel. Those fingers held him in a vise-like grip. He couldn’t move.

He stared down at Mendel as helpless as a lamb to the slaughter. Mendel’s face was smooth of any emotions. His balding, wispy white hair and the wrinkles around his mouth and eyes were deceptive of the man’s true strength.

“Never forget who’s given you the power you now dare to challenge your creator with. I made you and I can un-make you.” Mendel continued the pressure until Zerker was frantically waving his arms and legs about, trying to draw in air. Mendel continued the chokehold he had on Zerker.

Zerker saw an explosion of little dots moving across his retina. He knew death was coming for him and he was afraid. He felt something inside him release as warm liquid flowed down his pant legs. Just when he was on the verge of blacking out, Mendel let him go.

Zerker dropped to the ground choking and gasping for air. Mendel’s figure looked imposing, standing above him with his nose scrunched up as the smell of urine invaded his nostrils.

Zerker though he could see a faint aura outlining the man’s figure, but he couldn’t be sure. With the red blood cells still moving across his retina, he couldn’t be sure it wasn’t just imagined.

Mendel began to walk back towards the window. “Consider this your first and last warning.”

…

Nate sat in the back of the limo trying to wrap his mind around everything Aiden told him. Aiden sat across from him watching him in silence. The partition separating the driver of the limo and the passengers in the back was up, but Aiden knew that was just a false sense of privacy. The mages were probably listening to every word being said in the car, whether they were listening magically or through bugs, he didn’t know.

“You think it’s a good idea?” Nate finally said.

Aiden shrugged his shoulders. “What else can you do? Your body needs to be monitored by professionals until you’re back in shape. And going to the Academy doesn’t seem like a bad choice.”

Nate had a ball of anger ten years ago when he went on a murderous rampage that brought down the walls of Black Watch Asylum. That anger was further incensed when he was made aware of the experiments that took place in the asylum. But all that anger had melted away the minute he opened his eyes.

He had been plagued by that demon for what felt like centuries. His past was constantly paraded around his psyche. Torturing him with guilt and anger, but most of all, sadness. Now that he was alive he didn’t want to feel those things anymore. They were still there, but he made the conscious decision to forgive himself. After all, it wasn’t on him to save the prisoners-he couldn’t save everyone.

Still, he wasn’t giving up on his pursuit of the demon that had bulldozed his life like a wrecking ball and shattered him into a dozen pieces. He would get his revenge on that demon, and he would get revenge on Mendel. But those things would have to wait.

“You’re right.” Nate sighed as he leaned back against the plushy seat. “Can’t do much in my current condition.”

Nate noticed Aiden was staring at him. He rose one eyebrow up in question, prompting Aiden to shake his head. “What is it?” Nate asked.

“It’s nothing.” Aiden responded.

Nate rolled his eyes. “It’s never ‘nothing’. Just say what’s on your mind.”

“It’s weird… seeing you alive and talking.”

“I can play dead if that’ll make it easier for you?” Nate joked.

Aiden gave a wan smile. “Just glad you’re finally awake.”

Nate wanted to thank Aiden again for his sacrifice the past ten years, but after his third time thanking him Aiden didn’t want to hear it anymore. An uncomfortable silence settled on the two with only the sound of the car engine running in the background.

“We’ll be arriving at our destination in ten minutes.” A voice spoke on the intercom, filling the silent car with its voice before it returned to an uncomfortable silence.

Nate didn’t know how to speak to Aiden. Ten years had passed. That made him twenty-eight years old, but he still felt like he was eighteen. And the Aiden he was used to speaking to was a ten-year-old that idolized him, not this twenty year old that seemed indifferent towards him.

Indifferent was probably a strong word. Nate knew Aiden cared about him, but it seemed like the boy was tired. Fed up with something that was out of Nate’s control. There wasn’t much he could say to the boy other than to thank him for his sacrifice.

Ten minutes passed in silence when the car finally came to a halt. They heard the front door being opened and closed, shortly before the door closest to them was opened. A man in a black suit appeared in the door way.

“Sirs?”

Aiden moved towards the door first with Nate following behind. Nate tried to make his movements look smooth, but he was struggling to keep himself upright. By the time he was out of the limo and on solid ground his heart was pounding furiously. He needed to rest.

The wheelchair was set before him, Aiden holding the handlebars and giving him a forced smile. “Thanks.” Nate said, although he gave a mental wince at the gratitude he promised to stop giving.

“No problem.” Aiden responded.

Aiden wheeled Nate towards where the mages were gathering. The mages glanced towards the pair as they approached. Most of them looked curious or intrigued, but Nate spotted a couple who were staring at him in disgust. He made a mental note of the two and continued with his inspection.

His eyes fell on Kiru at the same time Kiru looked towards him. “It’s good to see you’re still alive.” Kiru said as he made his way over towards the pair.

Nate returned his smile. “Yeah. I feel about as weak as a newborn baby, but I’m glad to be alive.”

“Well don’t you worry about that, we’ll have you back to full health in no time.” Kiru promised.

Nate noticed his surroundings. They were standing in a clearing surrounded by trees on all sides. The drivers were paid and ordered to take off. Once they were gone the mages began to shuffle around.

Idris, the bald mage, moved towards where their little group was standing. He didn’t bother making introductions right away, instead he ordered them to move towards the group of mages who were all standing closer to each other.

Once everyone was close to each other, Idris began to chant in a language Nate was un-familiar with. It took Idris two minutes of chanting and by the time he was finished Nate could feel the magic in the air. The mana was so concentrated that it took a physical appearance as blue wisps of light wafted around them. Nate felt the hair on his arms raise as goosebumps started to appear. Looking around, he wasn’t the only one in awe of Idris’ magical capability.

Idris spoke the final word, releasing all the magic and suddenly the world shifted. The world seemed to fall away and plunge them into darkness. He felt a tingly sensation all over his body that quickly turned to larger vibrations that made his whole skin itchy.

For the briefest of moments, they were all stuck in a world with no sound or feeling. Then, it seemed as if the world suddenly appeared, but the landscape was completely different from the forest they were in before.

When Nate’s vision returned he was assaulted by various sensations all at once. Their group appeared on a hilltop overlooking a sprawling city beneath them. The city was nestled into a valley, with smooth marble walls surrounding it.

From their vantage point atop the hill they could see the layout of the entire city. Most of the buildings were normal, but throughout the entire city there were skyscrapers that stood out amongst the normal buildings. There was one skyscraper in the middle of the city that was taller than the rest, it was so tall it reached into the clouds. Its height should’ve been impossible to create, but the magical blue lights running up and down the tower indicated magic was involved in that impossible feat.

Nate was speechless as he sat there taking it all in. He’d never seen a city like this before, it seemed like something out of a futuristic sci-fi movie. Everything seemed meticulously laid out. The only open space was in the northern end of the city where there were hills taken up by large buildings and mansions.

“The first time is always overwhelming.” Kiru spoke, dispelling Nate and Aiden from the spell the city had on them. “Eventually you’ll grow to hate how clustered everything is. But you won’t have to worry about that.” He said as he directed their attention towards the northern end of the city.

Kiru pointed to one of the largest mansions in the north. There was a large building with several smaller buildings surrounding it. The layout reminded Nate of one of the universities he’d visited on a high school field trip.

“That’s the academy where you two will be living from now on. Or at least you will.” He said as he looked at Aiden. “As for you, it’s up to the grandmaster. We’ll have to wait on what he decides.”

Nate wanted to remain with Aiden, but he didn’t push for it. A little distance would probably do them both some good. Besides, he was too excited about the possibilities contained in this new city. This magical city he’s never seen before.

“Welcome to Albacore city boys.”