Raiya’s Tree House. Time until the Priest From The Church Arrives: One day and a half.

Reports of the tree people migrating east toward Zevin have flooded our network. I’m afraid they’ve already chosen their champion. This is bad news E, we cannot let double S get their hands on the artifact. We still don’t know anything about the ghost I captured. T didn’t help either. He couldn’t sense anything in that room, not with Zedd clouding his judgment.

I highly suspect Zedd of lying. The voices were clear last night. They were close and they’ve made their choice. I’ve sent for P. As soon as he gets here, I’ll leave the forest and disappear until –

This is the gist of what I read in that parchment. Raiya’s playing on different fronts. She was writing initials, this only meant one thing: she was a spy. How would I know? You will ask. Well let me tell you, I’ve learnt a great deal from my stay with Jory.

It was a difficult time of my life but I’ve learnt something along the way. Spies wrote in code in case their letters were intercepted. The only one who knew about my name being Zedd was my grandfather.

Spies love playing on different fronts. They’d make you feel they’re on your side, but the moment you trust them is the moment you find a knife against your throat. I just didn’t think Eva, the ghost, would use the same tactic on me. I let my guard down once. I wasn’t willing to repeat the same mistake. Jory paid for his mistake with his life. I almost lost mine to Eva as well.

It was imperative that I leave this tree house. I couldn’t do it without the warlock’s help either. Doing it alone meant that I had to find some root and speak to it. That’s what the kind voice told me. But the kind voice didn’t tell me how to overcome the obstacle of the interchanging lower floor. Raiya had doubled her security measures. She wouldn’t let me out of her sight. I had to use her to my advantage then.

There was the other issue with the warlock. She suspected me. I was certain she wouldn’t let me leave without an escort despite giving her word for it. Come to think of it, she only promised to delay the inevitable. I had to rely on myself and this new ability of mine to get out. I needed to open my conduits. I needed the warlock, but only this once.

One problem at a time Myles, you have to get your priorities straight. Don’t overthink.

I headed for Agatha’s room. I had to think of a way to fool her without her knowing. She was the easiest target of them all. Raiya kept her cards close to her chest. Agatha was willing to part with some in order to gain something better.

The common factor between the two women was Eva’s bones. It was wise of me to respect her wishes and not divulge her name to the warlock. I had a bargaining chip I could use. Both wanted the bones. The Church probably knew who they belonged to. At least Sullivan did. Whether he chose to share the name with the others or not wasn’t my concern at the moment.

I couldn’t let Agatha contact Utar or anyone else from the Church. That would only mean trouble for me. Or would it? Perhaps some chaos would help me slip away, unnoticed.

I knocked at the door and heard Agatha’s melodious voice beckoning me over. The room was stuffy. Multicolored fumes danced in the ceiling. The curtains were pulled over the windows, as I left them the last time I was here.

“Don’t you ever open your windows?” I asked.

“Why?” Agatha’s reply was accompanied by her brightest smile. “It’s not like you can’t breathe in here.”

I hoped that was sarcasm.

“I told Raiya everything,” I said, looking for a place to sit. Her four poster bed was the only option I had. I remained on my two feet. I wouldn’t risk the Herbologist trying to seduce me again. She’d only get what she wants and leave me with aching balls.

“What did she say?” Agatha asked. She was feeding some herbs to her brazier. The fire turned from orange to green to bright blue then to orange again.

“She’s tightened her security, for one,” I replied.

“How?” The Herbologist wasn’t looking at me. She was absorbed in her ritual or whatever she was doing. That was a good opportunity.

‘Stop!’

I looked around, this time to my leisure. I didn’t need the Herbologist to suspect anything. If Agatha was hiding something in this room, she was bound to keep it in her possession.

I’d find out about it and tell Raiya. That’d earn me private classes and I’d be rid of the Herbologist at the same time. Something caught my eye, beneath the brazier. But I was out of time and the smoke around me started moving again. What were we talking about again? Oh, right, the security upgrade!

“I went to see her earlier. I only found her office in the lower floor. No corridor, no multiple doors that lead to gods know where.”

Agatha jerked her head toward me. She was frowning, that meant trouble. “What did you do?”

“I told you, I spoke to her, told her about your plans to steal the bones and deliver them to the Church.”

Agatha stood. Her eyes were fiercely studying me. What’s gotten into her all of a sudden? “Do you take me for a fool Stalwart?” she yelled.

“I-I don’t know what you mean,” I said. I urged my racing heart to calm down.

The only problem about plotting against these women was that I didn’t know the extent of their powers. Agatha was weaker than Raiya. But she wasn’t a famous Herbologist for nothing. Did she notice something?

“She’s not here to capture me, is she?” Agatha said. “She must’ve asked you to do something else for her, spy on me, get me to tell you how I contact the Church.”

For a second there, I thought the Herbologist had figured out my secret. I frowned whereas I should be laughing. I was relieved that she didn’t find out about my secret. I wasn’t surprised she figured out Raiya’s plan though.

“Raiya wants to keep me here,” I said. I tried to sound hurt, slightly angry at the warlock too. “Spying on you for the first time was repayment for saving your life. Either way, Raiya and I reached an impasse. She wouldn’t let me leave on my own, so I wouldn’t help her.”

Agatha backed away. She still had some doubts, I could feel it. But she was looking at the floor, as though thinking of something sinister. It occurred to me, for the first time since Raiya saved her, that she was also a prisoner in this house.

“What does Raiya want with you anyway?” I asked.

The Herbologist looked up, lost and confused. “What?”

“She’s been keeping you here ever since you recovered. Why didn’t she let you and Zoey go?”

Agatha began laughing. She was hysterical. She just threw her head backwards and howled, like a madwoman.

‘Stop!’

I ran to the brazier and removed the cloth that hid what was underneath. There was a tiny marble ball, or crystal, I couldn’t tell. It was cloudy on the inside. I was sure they’d move if I didn’t stop time altogether. Come to think of it, the ticking of the clock started already. I jumped back into position and watched the Herbologist continue her hysterics. This time limit’s starting to annoy me.

I made sure she was still laughing when I cast a quick glance at the marble ball. The clouds indeed moved. “What’s so funny?” I asked.

“You know nothing, boy,” Agatha replied. Her face was still contorted into a funny grimace. “Yet you try to play this game of cat and mouse. I’ll tell you right away, you’ll fail miserably.”

“I’m not sure I follow,” I said. I gave the sternest expression I could muster. It wasn’t convincing I guess since the Herbologist guffawed.

It took her quite some time before she could control her laughter. In the meantime, I busied myself studying the marble ball she kept under the brazier. I tried picking it up and it burned me. I had to keep my right hand clutched for the remainder of our conversation.

The marble ball was peculiar to say the least. It emitted a strange glow when I picked it up. I was afraid it had broken my spell when I dropped it from my hand. To my greatest relief, Agatha’s mouth was still open. Her hands were still clutching her stomach as tears trickled down her yellow eyes. I carefully pushed the ball under the brazier and returned to my position.

“All you think about is getting out of this tree,” Agatha said after the laughter subsided. “It’s the end of the world, stupid! I’m looking for a safe place to survive. For now, this tree house is our best option. But everything will change after the bones are handed to Raiya’s mysterious guest.”

I didn’t need to follow up on that. I knew what would happen. Agatha will be at Raiya’s mercy after my grandfather gets his hands on the bones. She was safe here, as long as the bones didn’t change hands. On the other hand, I wasn’t safe, no matter how you put it. I could see it clearly now. I was a puny pawn to be used by either side. I’d be handed to my grandfather for execution or to the Church, for execution.

My time was up. I’ve helped Raiya get her hands on the bones. Giving her Eva’s name would only make my situation worse.

“How sure are you,” I said, “that my fake death will be convincing?”

“Oh?!” Agatha’s smile got wider than ever. “You’re turning against your savior now?”

“I’m willing to do whatever it takes to survive,” I said.

“I can’t get you a Pardon,” Agatha said. “But I can guarantee that Utar will consider you dead.”

“What’s your condition?” I asked.

“The spirit in those bones has managed to possess you,” Agatha said. “I’m sure she tried to assimilate you too.”

Was this common knowledge I wasn’t aware of?

“What do you want?” I asked.

“Did you get her name?” Agatha asked.

Damn woman! I’ve underestimated her.

“What does that have to do with anything?” I asked. I needed to know why everybody was obsessed with her name. I also needed to stall. I didn’t quite know how to get out of this situation.

“Everything, you silly boy,” Agatha replied. She had a haughty attitude about her now. Like one who had the upper hand on me. “Tell me her name,” she went on, “and I guarantee that Utar will look the other way. You’ll be considered dead, nobody’ll come looking.”

Fuck you and fuck that greedy smile of yours!

I didn’t say a word, but my silence spoke for me. The smile on Agatha’s face disappeared. She was looking at me now with such fury I swore she was thinking of every possible way to rip my throat with her bare hands and watch me choke on my own blood.

I knew because I was looking at her the same way.

Greed! I abhorred the concept and loathed people who adhered to it. The rage that boiled in my insides intensified as images, clear as day, flashed before my eyes. I saw the Herbologist hand me some potions. I saw her smile as Utar took me away. I saw her hold Sam by the shoulder, shaking her head as I screamed and yelled at the greedy woman.

That bitch! I remember her now.

“Aunt Agatha’s Apothecary!” I said, my voice filled with such rage that it came out loud, booming across the room. I strode toward her. The Herbologist’s eyes widened. Her pupils grew in size and her voice stammered when she spoke.

“Y-y-you remember?!” she asked.

I nodded. I was getting closer, thinking of ways to make her suffer the way I suffered. She walked backwards, her hands outstretched toward mine, as if to slow me down.

“Myles, my dear boy,” she said. Her voice was gentle now. “Please… Please, I didn’t mean to! I had no choice!” She was backing away. Her back hit the wardrobe against the wall. I was upon her, ready to choke her to death, to rip her throat open with my own teeth.

“Augustine?” A voice, Utar’s, filled the room. “Augustine, are you there?”

I looked around. The voice was coming from the brazier.

A sharp pain soared through my back. Agatha had attacked me. I tried to reach with my hands but couldn’t touch the knife that was lodged deep within my back.

“Utar,” Agatha was yelling as she ran for the brazier. “He knows her name,” she screamed. “Myles Stalwart, the boy you were chasing, he knows the ghost’s name. He’s here with me, he’s trying to – “

I kicked the woman in the face, as hard as I could. She let out a harrowing screech, so loud I had to cover my ears. The pain in my back reminded me of the knife that was still deeply lodged in. I advanced toward the Herbologist, willing to take her life, then and there.

‘Get out of here,’ the kind voice spoke to me. ‘NOW!’

The multicolored smoke that filled the room suddenly moved. It swirled and danced about. I saw, to my surprise and utter horror, a shape forming above the brazier. Utar, the bastard was here?!

‘Stop!’

I cast one last glance at the Priest then ran for the door.

No wait!

The clock was ticking… I had to remove that marble ball from the Herbologist’s possession.

One moment’s hesitation and the situation turned ugly. I ran for the marble ball. The clock stopped ticking and time resumed as it had been. I lunged for the marble ball, ignoring my pain.

WHAM!

I let out a painful cry. My lungs filled with blood. I was propelled backward by some spell and landed on the floor. And to make the situation worse, the knife had disappeared inside my torso. I couldn’t move or speak. I watched, as my eye slowly closed, Utar take shape. His body was transforming from smoke to flesh and bone.

I had to do something, lest all my efforts turn to dust.

‘Stop!’

Nothing! Utar was still materializing before my eyes. My body ached. I heard myself wheezing. My heart slowed. I was going to die here, choking on my own blood.

No way! That’s the fate I reserved for Agatha, that backstabbing bitch!

‘Stop!’ I willed my entire body to concentrate.

Nothing! I could see the Priest’s white hair now.

‘Stop!’

Nothing…

I tried to get up. It felt as though my entire body conspired against me. The pain I felt immobilized me. I coughed and a warm, coppery liquid filled my mouth.

‘Stop!’

Shit!

‘Stop!’

Shit!

‘Stop!’

Shit!

Shit!

Shit!!!!!

‘You can’t solve a problem by repeating the same faulty solution!’ the kind voice told me.

‘Then… help… me… you… smartass!’ I replied.

‘Concentrate on your wound,’ the voice said. ‘Help yourself on your feet!’

I got it!

I willed my unresponsive mind to think of the wound and the bleeding then screamed: “STOP!”

I coughed more blood, but the pain subsided.

“You can’t stop this, Stalwart,” Utar said. Half of his body had materialized. “The entire Church will come here after I take down that warlock!” Utar started laughing hysterically. “There’s nothing you can do boy!”

“Watch me!” I gritted my teeth and stood up.

‘Stop!’ and Utar’s smile froze.

I ran for the marble ball, grabbed it and ran out of the room. It burned through flesh and soon, I was certain, through bone. But I didn’t care. I had to stop whatever they were doing.

The bleeding had resumed by the time I closed the door. I knew I had about ten seconds before the stop spell on Utar and Agatha would subside as well.

‘Shisha,’ I called out psionically, at least I hoped I did. ‘Sisha please, if you can hear me, the church is here! We’re in danger.’

I fell down, face first, in the empty hall of the second floor. The marble ball had almost burned a hole in my hand but I didn’t care. I wouldn’t let that Priest come in here. The ball rolled down the hall. I heard it clatter as it fell down the stairs. My eye finally closed and I lost consciousness.