Hullo there Sparks. š
š Iām late. š Iām sorry.
Itās been a heartbreaking week, for reasons I doubt I will ever be ready to share here. Suffice it to say, that even though the only thing I want to do is write, Iāve not been able to. In times like these, I yearn to drown my breaking heart in the healing, heavenly waters of a fantasy, but indulgence is selfish when there are others need me to be present, so my time has been limited.
I need to inform you that I plan to take a few weeks off.
Itās almost Christmas, and even before this week, things have been busy around here.
Iām told that Iāve been posting consistently for 18 straight weeks, which, apparently, puts me in the top 14% of Substackers.
So, since Iām more consistent than 86% of āstackers, and 85% has always been enough for me, with all thatās going on in my life right now, Iām afraid Iām going to have to break my streak.
Sorry guys.
Iāll finish this chapter, so you have at least one more post to look forward to this year, hopefully for next Friday morning, but Iām not promising anything beyond that.
Thanks for all the support. Thanks for the thoughtful and kind comments. Thanks for the likes and restacks and prompt responses.
To all of you, my dear Sparks, seasonās greetings, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year and Iāll see you when I see you. šš
INDEX | Chapter 5 | Scenes 1 & 2 | Scenes 3 & 4 | Scenes 5 - 8 | Scenes 9 & 10 | Scenes 11 & 12 | Scenes 13 - 16 | Scene 17 | Scene 18 | Scenes 19 & 20 | Next Scene ā
Previously: When Lukeās slow progress with Elle is no longer enough to satisfy the PG he starts to lose his support from the Authority. Out of frustration, they send someone to supervise him, which doesnāt go down well with Elle.
How did we get here?ā I ask myself as Elleās small fists beat futilely against my back. Surely this is excessive. Surely we donāt have to go this far. And yet as I walk the long staircase up to Lukeās specially equipped room in the northern tower, carrying her small, drugged, frame in a firemanās hold, I canāt see another way this could have gone.
A hundred possibilities, only one reality. Itās a shame Luke had to give Morgan the truth. Itās a shame Elle is still so damaged that she canāt answer the most basic questions. What is her family name? Where did she come from? What was she running from when we found her? Why were the soldiers after her? What happened on Teleraā¦
Even a little information would satisfy the Authority and the PG, just an inkling, even a lie from her own lips would be enough to make them back off. It would be enough for us to save her from her own mistakes. We warned her this would happen. We told her that the Authority would get tired of waiting for her to be ready, yet the more we pushed and tried to explain, the less she gave us. And now we have no choice.
I canāt believe itās only been a month since that encounter with Mr. Darrell. It feels like itās been so much longer that weāve been fighting, arguing, negotiating, beggingā¦
And now sheās begging. āNo, no, no! Please no!ā She squeals, her little girl's voice pitched too high. I can feel her panic threatening to drown me, despite the ambiguous drugs Luke had me administer when I picked her up. Itās probably a cocktail. Her struggles are weak, considering the power I know she has and there is something blocking her from mustering her vast stores of energy.
I push aside all the emotions, focus on the task at hand. He is going to have to clear the drugs from her system first. How did we get here?
One month ago...
I drag myself steaming from the pool and concentrate on forcing my cramped jaw open enough to allow glorious cool air to fill my burning lungs. Laying on the tiled edge, looking up at the gymās ceiling, I just breathe, letting the excess energy bleed off slowly, unsure of my own emotions. I should be angry right? I should feel betrayed and wronged. Why is it that I am only sorry that Luke will get into trouble?
Logan stops by the door after a little while. He doesnāt come in. Itās good. Iām not sure I want to see him, or any of them. I go to bed without dinner.
* * *
Logan is here, again. Itās the third time he has come to see me since I ran away from the Serp. He has brought the tab and a candy bar. I am on the bars. I donāt stop.
* * *
Luke is here with Tom. I can sense them outside.
āJust let me try it my way,ā Tom says. He sounds irritated.
āI know, I know. Sorry.ā Luke says. āItās justā¦ We need her to cooperate. If I canāt show progress this is going to end badly.ā
I duck my head back under the water.
* * *
My reflection stares back at me in the mirror. I can see how much taller I have grown. My long arms and legs look almost awkward. My hair is a mess. I tidy it up remembering the feeling of my hair getting pulled out of my scalp, as Teag dragged me through the hallways of TTH to fetch a knife and cut it off the last time it looked so messy. Better. Training.
Hi, Logan. I mouth the words, silently. Practicing the shape of the sounds, imagining the vibrations in my throat. Hi. My mouth smiles. Hello. The smile doesnāt touch my eyes. The āohā shape looks odd on my lips. They start to tremble. No sound comes out.
* * *
My vision swims, as my head jerks to the right. Teag wipes his knuckles on his sleeve, While I shift in my seat, trying to adjust the rope cutting into my wrists and ankles.
āSay it again.ā Teag orders. I open my mouth, but all that comes out with the mouthful of blood is a squeak.
āSmith!ā Teag calls, and I hear James sigh.
āIāll kill you for what youāve done,ā I say, a moment later, without no emotion. āDie.ā The word rolls off my tongue.
āForgot something,ā Teag says and slaps again, left this time.
āSir.ā I spit out bitterly. James chuckles.
āOnce more.ā Teag coaxes.
āIāll kill y-ā Another slap.
āMore, more!ā He says gleefully.
āDie, Sir.ā I mumble, half sobbing.
āStop that, Smith.ā Teag orders and my sobs stop involuntarily. āOnce more,ā Teag says, and I open my mouthā¦
* * *
Logan is in my room, with Luke and a visitor. Logan whispers to them that he can sense me outside, and I have no choice but to enter.
I open the door slowly. I know that they are all looking, even though my eyes are on the ground. I close the door and stand just inside. The old man speaks in a lilting tone. āWell now, my dear, you look exhausted.ā
I eye him nervously. It looks like his silver hair was once black. There are four stars on each of his shoulders and on his feet are tightly laced black boots. He is an authority figure. A big one. Luke stands far behind him like a servant. Logan is further still.
āJust in from a full dayās workout, General. As usual for Elle. Sheās dedicated.ā Luke offers, reservedly.
āCome now Ellie dear, you going to stand there all night?ā The General asks, all authoritative.
āWe told you sheās shy,ā Logan offers, somewhat cheekily, from his corner. I peek up at them all there. The man is a little taller than Luke. He reminds me of General Akeal of our Royal Guard. I force a little smile, for Lukeās sake, and duck into the ensuite.
* * *
The next day there is a string of soldiers waiting for me in the gym with the General, Logan, Tom, and Luke.
The uniformed soldiers stand at ease beside the pool. I count twelve.
āCare to spar?ā The General asks brightly.
I keep my eyes downcast and look away. The soldiers are all Lesser beings.
The General gestures and a large, green-scaled Drakisthan enters the ring.
I look the General in the eye and he says, āShow me what you can do.ā
Next Time: With Elle all set to take on a string of soldiers for the Generalās amusement, we are left wondering if this is why Logan is taking her to the tower.
Thanks so much for reading! If you like, please:
Or better yet:
and as always, I love hearing what you think so, feel free to:
Good scene, PG are showing their power hunger. Tired brain comment. Thanks for the fun story Jenny!
Wow. The PG needs to learn how to peacefully get cooperation. This way is not the way.
Either one of two things will happen. Either she will kill them, or they'll kill her.
Locking her in the tower will only make her more withdrawn.
Oh, by the way, take all the time you need. We'll be here when you get back.