A KNIGHT GETS TAKEN

CHAPTER FOUR

Sairen sat at the edge of the bed, his back to me while I changed into the clothes someone had left for me.

I couldn't trust that it wouldn't happen again if I was alone, and I couldn't trust that I would have made it out again if it did. Every time I closed my eyes I saw that place again; that cold, dark place that felt so real, and I saw as they plunged the knife into the fae's throat, and as he choked on his blood before he got the chance to scream.

I couldn't help but picture my mother sprawled across the pentagram, her arms bound and her throat slit as her life and her humanity was stolen from her, no matter how hard I tried not to. So I focused on the back of his head instead, which was bent into his book, and it was the only thing keeping my mind from straying towards that place.

I pulled the slightly too long black t-shirt down my chest and wrapped the towel on my soaking hair, wiping my sweating palms on my jeans. "I'm decent."

His wet hair covered his eyes when he looked at me, the long strands soaking the fabric on the shoulders of his shirt. I had always been able to know what Sairen was thinking, we were just that close, but now? Now it was difficult to even guess, and I don't know why it bothered me as much as it did.

"Are you okay? "

I didn't bother saying yes; he would've known that I was lying. "No."

"Then you mind telling me what happened back there? "

My hands instinctively wrapped themselves around my chest, and I felt the unsteady rhythm of my heart through the thin fabric." I don't know. I think I blacked out or something because one minute I was here and the next I was standing in some hall, "

I relayed the details of my dream to him as I tried to block the images that came with the words, and he took it in in silence. " ...and then you were shaking me awake. "

"The thing is Sol..." I noticed the hesitation in his voice as he seemed to feel the name on his tongue, seeing if it held up after all these years. He stood up and walked towards the window which he had opened earlier, his hands buried in the pockets of his damp pants. He leaned against the wall and the sun illuminated the features of his face, making his eyes seem transparent, and his black hair almost blue in the sunlight.

" When I found you, you were already awake and you were carving the words 'save me' into your skin."

"That doesn't make any sense–" I ran my fingers along the scars that were already healing . He was right; the words were fading but there were, in fact, large welts on my arms that were slowly disappearing.

My dreams had always been variations of the same thing ,they never changed so drastically and I sure as hell knew I wasn't awake while they happened, and I didn't think I was ready for what that change meant.

I looked out the open window which seem to make the already large space seem larger. My childhood was in every inch of that garden; I remembered running through the wildflowers on spring days and bathing in the lake that glittered in the distance in summer. I remembered the tree house we build a little ways into the woods and the days we spent hiding away in it. I looked out at the view from my childhood room, and at the flowers that were always beautifully in bloom this time of year. The pale blue walls were now cream, and my mural was painted over but it was no doubt the same place.

"...I don't know what's happening. Nothing like this has ever happened before. " My voice broke and I tried to mask the sound with a cough. I was not going to cry. Not now. " I don't like this Sai; it felt too real- I felt them clawing at my skin and ripping it away. It felt like I was dying—"

"You are not going to die." His voice went cold as his face hardened with his words. "Not Aunt Lesa, not you. Understood? We're getting through this. "

'I'm already dying...' I kept that part to myself. No one knew but me and my Schadeux .

A knock sounded at the door and I jumped, my nerves still shot from earlier and I had to steady my voice before I answered. "It's open. "

A woman who looked around my age stepped through, though she could've been decades older. Her brown hair was styled in a sleek bun that accentuated a pretty face, her deep hazel eyes were set into a delicate brown face that was a shade or two darker than mine. Her beauty was magnified by her striking Southern Clan features that gave her wide, almond eyes. She wore a long white trench coat over a white turtle neck and slim fitting pants, and laid a silver briefcase with the words Keepers of Order Among Creatures engraved on its surface next to her black boots. She held a similar pair in her hands.

She gave me a warm smile as a greeting, revealing perfect teeth. I wished I had perfect teeth, instead I had a slight gap between my upper two incisors .

" I heard you're finally awake, " She spoke with the same accent as Sairen did, though a little lilt revealed the difference in regions. "I waited days to meet you yet no one had the decency to wake me up when you did. But better late than never, I say. I see the clothes fit you well. "

"They did, thank you." I looked at Sairen in confusion; I didn't know her at all but she spoke as if she knew me well.

"This is Akali," He said her name as if it would magically clear my confusion as to who this really friendly woman was.

Akali rolled her eyes, realizing introductions were left to us and inclined her head, joining her thumbs to her ring fingers and rotating them away from her body— a traditional Dècalthian greeting that I repeated out of respect.

"Akali Rayne. "

Rayne? The name sent a wave of confusion through me. I couldn't remember her from any of the Rayne family photographs or recall seeing her name on the family tree, but then again a lot of time had passed . "Solaure Kaltain,"

I noticed the way her eyes twinkled as she took in my bewilderment that I apparently didn't do a very good job at hiding. "I'm Matty's wife. So that makes me... your sister-ish–in–law. Is that right Siya?"

Sairen tilted his head towards her, almost as if to take in her question better. "That's not even remotely how that works."

It took me a minute to process, and even after the minute I still couldn't grasp the fact. "Matt's wife? "

"Yes? You seem... upset."

"No!" My answer came out too harshly so I tried again, calmer this time. "No, just surprised."

"A pleasant one?" I nodded and I saw a bit of relief in her face as she turned back to Sairen . "Are you ready to go, Siya?"

His gaze was fixed on the image behind the window, his thick brows furrowed in concentration, but I knew he was addressing me when he spoke. "You don't have to come if you're not up to it princess, you should rest."

I noticed he didn't call me 'Sol' again. Everyone could call me princess, but only he called me Sol, just like only I called him Sai. That was our thing.

I swallowed my slightly irrational irritation as I tried to read his emotions; every crease on his brow, every clench of his jaw, but it was like reading a book in a language you didn't know. "I'm coming. I won't be able to rest anyway knowing I could be helping find her. "

He nodded and turned to Akali. " Just give me a minute to change out of these clothes. "

He paused by the door, turning back to look at me before he walked through. "We'll talk later. "

I somehow felt colder when he left, as if all of my comfort followed him out of that door.

"I thought you might need these, " Akali handed me the shiny black boots that I could almost see my reflection in.

" Thank you. And for the clothes and everything else as well. "

" You don't have to thank me for the bare minimum. I couldn't let you roam the halls naked, now could I?"

I chuckled. "No, I guess not. But thanks anyway. "

She smiled again. "How are you? If you don't mind me asking?"

" I'm okay, " I sat on the bed and slipped on the boots, they were a half size too big but they were surprisingly comfortable. I reached for my dagger, and for a moment I caught my reflection in the blade and I saw the swirling storm of emotions behind my eyes. Eyes that seemed somewhat a weird shade of blue instead of my brown. I tucked my weapon into my new boots and stood, pushing the image to the back of my mind.

" I'm glad to hear it." She seemed to hesitate before she started her next sentence, but shook it off and gave me a small squeeze on my arm. "I don't want to overstep but if you ever need to talk , I'm here, okay? It doesn't even have to be anything in particular, we could you know, just hang out. I don't care what Siya says; you're my sister-in-law and I'd like to get to know you."

I smiled at that. I couldn't remember the last time I had a girl around my age to talk to. " I'd actually like that a lot. "

" Great." She picked up her briefcase from by her feet and opened the door. "Let's head down, I'm sure you know how much of a pain in the ass Matt is when he's kept waiting."

"Unbearable, isn't it?"

She groaned, but her eyes were alight as I followed her out the room. "Immensely."

"So... how long have you and Matt been married?" Alkali was good company as we walked, sparking conversation to keep my mind busy to stop it from straying back to dark places.

"February made it five years."

" Wow, "

She laughed. It was light and soft and suited her. "What's with the 'wow'? "

" It's just... you seem close to my age, right? So you would've been really young."

"Seventeen, to be exact." She glanced at me and laughed again when she saw the surprise on my face and shook her head. " I forgot that you didn't grow up in Eçalis. "

There was nothing condescending in her tone, just pure amusement. " We're eligible to wed at sixteen. There's no sense in if once we get our Marks, we're trained like adults for a possible war and treated like adults, yet aren't allowed certain aspects of adulthood. And Matty and I, we love each other wholly, and that's all that mattered. "

"And you weren't scared for your soul? " Mama told me that marriage was sacred to Dècalthians, that it bound your souls together and if the bonded were to separate–or die, piece of their soul left with their partner and they always felt that absence.

"Honestly, yes. But even if I had his love for only a little while it would've been worth the emptiness after it ended. "

I saw the look in her eyes when she spoke of Matt and their love for each other, how her face brightened just by saying his name, and I thought maybe that's how it was when the stars aligned .

Matthias was waiting for us by the alcove in the foyer, his tall frame tense as he spoke into his cellphone. He was dressed similar to Akali in their all white Dove uniforms but he wore a white shirt under his coat instead of a turtle neck.

"Understood." He tucked the phone into his pocket and turned his attention to us. "That was headquarters. Two more Creatures were reported missing so as soon as we're finished collecting data over at Soli's we have to head over there. It's going to be a long day." He looked at me, " Are you okay for now Soli? "

"I am."

He nodded in understanding; we needed to have a long, tiring conversation about what I saw just now, but not now.

" Siya said you already met, " He stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Akali's waist and she rested her head on his shoulder, giving me a playful wink. "But I'd still like to formally introduce you to my wife. "

" It sucks that I missed your wedding."

" I know I promised–" He had promised me that he wouldn't date anyone until I approved, after the girl he was dating turned out to be a total bitch even though I called it from the beginning and he didn't listen. I never got the chance to though, and now he was married.

"I know, and it's okay." I shrugged. "I didn't expect you to wait until I showed up. If you did you might've never gotten married."

" I wanted to reach out to you , at least just to let you know."

"It's okay Matty." I patted his shoulder in hopes of giving him a sort of confirmation that I was alright. He was taking this harder than I was. " There was no way you would've found us and even if, it wouldn't have been safe if you did reach out. Alright?"

"Alright."

Sairen walked in in attire similar to Matt's, except every bit of clothing on him was black instead of white. The little space that he left opened at the top of his shirt widened as he pulled his still damp hair into a knot at the back of his head, giving me a glimpse of the dark markings swirling on his chest. Twin swords were strapped to his back, it's hilts covered in silver designs that matched the silver threading at the bottom of his coat and the rings that decorated his fingers. "Is everyone ready?"

Matt nodded and picked up a case like his wife's that had been laying on the floor. "Now that you're here."

A large mirror covered the interior of the alcove which reflected the room behind us and ourselves, paired off in black and white. We stood side by side as Sairen placed his hand on its surface and the mirror rippled, revealing my living room back in Toronto on the other side. "Stay on guard. "

I pulled my dagger from my boot and held it in my hand, my knuckles turning pale as I tightened my grip with every passing second. I imagined the satisfaction of plunging it into his skull and leaving it there as a reminder of sorts.

I felt weightless as I stepped through the portal and I was surrounded by light itself. Every hair on my body stood on end from the static as space and time bended around us and allowed us to travel in a way that science hadn't discovered as yet. I felt as if I were moving at thousands of miles per second as images flashed past in furious blurs around us, but we had just taken one step, even though we were now miles away from Brooklyn. The reel came to a halt and we stepped into my living room.

Everything was still eerily in place, exactly how I left it on Friday. I saw my mother sprawled on her favorite chair laughing at the movie on the screen, I saw her in the kitchen cooking dinner, her hips swaying to the music in the background, but I couldn't run up to her and hug her like I wanted to– like I used to. My coffee mug that I had forgotten to put in the sink still laid on the table as if the last three days hadn't happen, though the stale air and the giant symbol painted on the wooden floors told me otherwise, and by the slight discoloration and scent, it wasn't paint.

It matched the star shaped scar on the inside of my wrist.

"Someone has been here since the last time we came. That wasn't here before." Matt stooped down and scraped off a fleck of dried blood with a sharp object he pulled from his case, dusting it off into a small plastic bag and tucking it into a pocket in his coat .

"That means they knew we would come back. "

"We're all clear, but let's not stay here longer than we have to, " Sairen came from the hallway, even though I hadn't realized that he had left. " Collect what you have to collect, pack what you have to and let's leave. They can return at any time and today's one of the rare occasions where I don't feel like kicking ass."

Akali walked around the room, scanning the area with a small phone-like device that she waved across the area. "We'll make it quick. "

" Just give me a few minutes to get my stuff," I said, walking into the hall that led to my room. It seemed ominous now, almost uninhabitable as if all the life had been sucked out of the place during our absence. Unlike the living room, my bedroom was a mess; the door was ripped off its hinges, thrown halfway through my window and my bed was broken and flipped on its side, exposing the open hatch below. Clothes were scattered across the room and so were all my books and every little miscellaneous item I had taken enough interest in to buy. A large symbol like the one outside was carved into the wooden floors, leaving loose shards of wood scattered on the ground.

I wanted to scream, to cry, but most of all I wanted to kill. I wanted to watch the life leave their eyes as they bled, and I wanted their screams. I wanted them to suffer like I was suffering, like I hoped to the Goddess every passing second that my mother wasn't.

I shoved whatever could fit into an old knapsack with a little more force than what was necessary; clothes, underwear, Mr. Bearingtonn and some of my books. I didn't know when I'd be in the mood to read leisurely again but I packed it just for the comfort of having the option. I packed for a long stay, knowing I wouldn't be seeing this house again.

I took one last look at the room I spent the last two years in. I had hoped it would have been the last place I moved to before I found my family, and I had gotten my wish, no matter how cruel and twisted it was delivered.

The few steps to my mother's room seemed longer than before and each step I took felt heavier with dread. Her door was ajar but her room was untouched, her bed still neatly made like it was last week. I ran my hands through the clothes in her closet that still smelled of her favorite perfume and placed some of her clothes into the bag– she would need them when I found her.

I felt for the false bottom of her wardrobe as I contemplated opening it up. It wasn't a secret, I just wasn't allowed to go into it until the time was right, and she was ready to show me– at least that's what she always said. What better time was there than now?

I pulled out a small wooden box from inside that was just a little bigger than my two palms together. There was no lock, just a latch to flip open.

A lone book laid inside and my fingers grazed the cool white leather of its cover. I flipped it open and a piece of paper fluttered out. My mother's handwriting covered the page in delicate black ink.

'For my Solaure,

You have always asked who you were , so I am hoping this journal gives you all the answers to the questions you always asked. As to why I've decided to let you read it rather than tell you? I figured it would be better this way so I won't miss any details, for every single one is important. Before you continue, I want you to know that no matter what you discover between these pages you will always only be to me my daughter, my light, my Soul.'

~ A.M~

I closed the book and placed it back into it's box , fitting it with all my other stuff. I didn't have the strength to read it now, I already felt the familiar pull of tears behind my eyes and I tried my best to lessen its redness before I joined the others. Before I left, I took the photo album from her draw and placed it into the overflowing bag.

"I'm all packed," Matt was scanning the living room with a device similar to Akali's, worry etched into his face ."What's wrong Matty? "

" I don't know, I'm getting readings but they're not demonic. It's nothing like I've seen before." He placed the device back into his briefcase with a frustrated breath and closed it up. "Kali and I have to go to headquarters anyway, we'll analyze it better there. "

Akali strolled in from the kitchen as if she were summoned with her name, the same grim look on her face. " Something's not right. The tracker's going haywire. "

Matt nodded. "I know."

I looked around the room, suddenly uneasy. " Where's Sairen? "

"He's checking the perimeter. We should go, we already stayed longer than we should've."

Sairen stood in my front yard, his hands in his pockets and his muscles tense as he stood guard. He turned when he heard us approaching, and I saw a bit of tension leave his shoulder. "Did you find what you were looking for?"

"I don't even know what we found. " Matt clasped a hand on Sairen's shoulder, " Kali and I have to get to HQ, I'll fill you in later."

"How are we getting back to Brooklyn?" The thought suddenly occurred to me as we started down the street. "I don't think I have enough energy to make a portal."

"There's an open portal a few blocks down." Sairen said as he took my bag from my shoulder.

"Thanks. I didn't know that."

Akali looked back at me and there was a heaviness in her face that wasn't there earlier. "You wouldn't; it's one of K.O.A.C 's. "

We came to a stop at a tall tree, whose branches were spread wide and high above us, engulfing us in a generous circle of cover. Matt turned to me and wrapped me in a quick hug, ruffling my hair as he let go. " This is it. I'll see you guys at home."

"Later," Akali gave a small wave as they stepped into the trunk of the large tree, the bark rippling as they did, and then they were gone. Sairen signaled for us to follow but I grabbed the sleeve of his coat before we stepped through.

"Yes?"

"Before we go back, can I drop in somewhere? I promise it won't take long, I just need to see someone. "

He pushed up the strap of my bag on his shoulder. "Where?"

I walked into the cafe expecting to see Rae; it was Tuesday, so he had the lunch shift. I wanted to explain that I hadn't stood him up, and that the reason I hadn't call was that the mafia had found me, but most of all I came hoping that we wouldn't have to say goodbye, that he'd come with us like I wanted him to. He had been my one and only friend for the past two years and I loved him, and as much as I couldn't have him wrapped up in this mess, I couldn't leave him alone either, because the possibility that he would have to deal with the mess once I left was high. I dreaded the thought as it crossed my mind, but instead of finding him bussing tables with his usual smile on his face, April scowled as she served his section.

I caught up to her as she was cleaning an empty table, Sairen trailing silently behind me. "Hey, where's Rae?"

Her scowl deepened as she looked up but I caught the slight raise of her bleached brow as she saw the person towering behind me. "How the fuck am I supposed to know? I should be asking you that question."

"What do you mean?"

"What do I mean?" She looked more confused than I was. "You two are always together."

"No April," I exhaled my anger in a quick breath. Even on a good day I couldn't tolerate her snappy attitude, but on shitty days I was just about ready to snap her neck. "I meant what do you mean you don't know where he is? It's his shift isn't it?

She flung the rag on the counter and released an exasperated sigh. " Do I look like Rae's babysitter to you?"

"No," Sairen fisted the fabric of my shirt to keep me from lounging at her, and answered before I got the chance to. " But you're looking like a pain in my ass. Her questions. Your answer. Before she looses it. " He flashed her a deadly smile that promised similar things. " Pretty please."

I don't know if it was because she was scared, or because she found him attractive like the other people in the cafe who had suddenly taken an interest in our direction, but she answered, giving me a glare as she did. "He hasn't been in since Friday and he won't answer his stupid phone, so I'm stuck covering his shifts for him since the other worker decided to get knocked up. "

My heartbeat quickened with every word she said as they sunk in piece by piece, but she continued with no regard for my bursting heart. "He couldn't stop going on about some plans he had with you that night though, so I figured he got lucky enough to skip Saturday, " She eyed Sairen. " But I see that's not the case. Did you break his little heart?"

I was too far gone to care about what she was implying because Matt's words resurfaced. Two more creatures were missing...

Oh Goddess, not him too...

I felt my heart straining in my chest, beating faster and quicker until I was sure it was about to burst . My breathing quickened but did nothing to supply me with oxygen and I realized that somehow I was suffocating.

I felt strong hands guiding me until fresh air hit my face and I gasped frantically, but no air entered my lungs and I was left with a burning at the back of my throat.

" You're okay, " Sairen took my face in his hands, forcing me to look at him, but my eyes moved frantically as if they were trying to find the answers hanging in the air.

" I'm not. I'm not, I can't—I can't breathe. " I was inhaling and I was exhaling but I don't think I was breathing. "Mama...now Rae..? Who? Who else?"

" Look at me. " He instructed and I tried, but the rage was blinding and I couldn't see, but I felt. I felt it all; the pain, sorrow, anger; I felt that familiar heat rising in my chest and I knew I had to push it down or I'd kill everyone in the vicinity, including the person that stood in front of me, his touch pulling me from drowning in the tide of emotions, but most of all I felt lost. Just lost.

"They took him too -"

"We don't know that princess. " His voice was calm but stern, and his tone drew my gaze to his. " Do you remember what we say when you feel yourself loosing control? "

The little mantra we created echoed in a far corner of my memory and I reached for it desperately. "I..."

" I will not.. " He guided the words out of me and they flowed automatically.

"I.. I will not be overthrown... by fear." The heat cooled.

" I will not...be prisoner to my power. " The beating subsided.

" I am in control. I and I alone." And I breathed.