Alliance of Blackbirds Read online

  I fell back throwing the dagger over my head blinded by the light. I rolled to my knees still trying to focus when someone grabbed me by my arm.

  “Run, now Em!” Alicia screamed as I looked back at the doorway to see a creature all white and silver and staring at me. It was David.

  Even transformed into the monster he has become I could still tell. Alicia pulled at me to get up with the crate nestled under her arm.

  We ran through the streets and the rain not stopping until we reached the crest of the hill. I collapsed on the grass breathing hard trying to catch my breath. Alicia stood in front of me. The rain had nearly washed the black slime from her face. My hands were slightly numb and pink from the irritating substance.

  “We have to keep moving. They’ll be hunting for us.” Alicia gazed down at me.

  “That was David back there standing in the doorway. I think…I think he’s the one that cut you lose.”

  Alicia stared blankly at me. “I didn’t see anyone, only you covered in excrement.” Her tone was flat. “We have to move.”

  Alicia ran like nothing could stop her until we reached Zach’s body. The rain had flattened all of the flowers covering him and even bled their vivid colors into his gauzy clothing.

  I looked around and saw no one. I wondered where Gabe was and could only wonder where David was, that is if I saw him. My skin felt hot and my blood began rush through me. My heart suddenly felt like a drum pounding in my chest. I fell to my knees as Alicia opened the crate with her bare hands slicing them open on the protruding nails.

  “Alicia, I don’t feel well,” I said.

  “It’s poison from the guard. It isn’t deadly and I’m feeling the effects too. It’ll pass.” I watched her remove several clear stones from the crate and place them on the ground.

  “Over here,” she took two stones and started to put them around Zach.

  I managed to help her with my head spinning. We sat each of the clear stones around the stone pillar that held Zach, until he was surrounded by them. I looked at Alicia who stood at the foot of the pillar and stared at him.

  “Alicia…I don’t think this is….” I doubled over and vomited into the wet grass. My stomach tensed and pain shot through me.

  “I’ll heal you when I’m done,” she said. “For now, I need your strength.” She bent down as the smell of acid filled my nose. “I need your help, I need your power Emily.” Gently, she held and then dropped the heart shaped amulet that hung around my neck, and looked at me with her unmoving dark eyes.

  I heaved again, but nothing came up. Alicia took my hand and I could feel the instant connection. It was like a string, long and thin pierced my skin and traveled down my arm and then throughout my body. Alicia and I were tied together, bound by our separate magic.

  Alicia belonged to the Phoenix clan. They were the magical clan of the Alliance, each having a special capability. Alicia’s had the power to heal. Only she is half Phoenix leaving her not strong enough to handle her ability. She joined the Blackbird clan not only because Abe was her father, but because she had to develop her ability. The first time I saw her use her power that left her weak, now has gained in strength and I could feel it rush through me.

  Light surrounded us and tiny particles of translucent colors of lavenders, mauves and blues enclosing everything in a fog. Everything began to swirl and the ground moaned under my knees as Alicia still hung onto my hand. Thin cracks formed along the inside of the stones in the oval shape we had made.

  I could see Zach’s body slowly sink downward as the ground parted in a jagged line. His body sunk until I could hardly see him. Clear water then began to pour out of the exposed black soil in thin ribbons filling the indentation quickly.

  My legs trembled as I stood to see Zach’s body submerged in the water. Some of the flowers had floated to the top and the stones we had placed around him burned in many different colors.

  I looked at Alicia who had a distant look in her eye. I called her name, but she didn’t respond to me. Slowly, she let my hand go. I could feel my strength being pulled out of me by the string that connected us.

  Alicia went into the water kneeling at first beside Zach. The water began to sparkle and turn with many different colors. A mist boiled as Alicia lowered herself into the water.

  I stepped closer in awe of everything. Alicia, now underwater, curled her delicate arms around Zach and tucked her head into the crook of his shoulder. She then moved on top of him and began to twirl in the water until the mist thickened and the water boiled with thousands of bubbles. I lost their image and fell to my knees again.

  Suddenly, a cry split the thick air. It was Zach. I crawled closer to the pool letting my fingers touch the cool water.

  “Zach,” I said between dry heaves. “You’re alive…it worked!”

  He sat in the pool like he was sitting in a bathtub. The gauzy shirt clung to his skin and melting flowers were tangled in his blonde hair. Zach’s eyes blinked and then focused on me.

  “Em,” his voice questioned.

  “Alicia…” I screamed in pain. “Is she…”

  Suddenly I was pulled back by two strong arms and then thrown to the ground.

  “Emily, you’ve got to help me!” David grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me. His face faded from all white and silver to his usual darkness. He grunted and groaned struggling to maintain what was left of him. “Please…Em.”

  “I don’t…” I tried to keep my stomach from churning, but was no use. This time something metallic tasting filled my mouth and hit the green grass with a splat.

  I whimpered as David yelled at me demanding that I help him. His voice was filled with fear and desperation. I supported myself on trembling arms.

  “We’re both in danger. My father won’t rest until he finds you. Pandora’s Lock is the only thing that will save us…save me.” David then tilted his head back and let out a scream. He looked back at me with white eyes and pale skin. His dark hair fluctuated between brown and white, finally giving into the whiteness. His throat vibrated and sharp teeth protruded from his snarling mouth.

  David crouched in front of me and stared. I wasn’t sure if he was going to attack or not.

  “Don’t. Don’t do it David. You don’t have to give in to what your father did.” I didn’t have strength to fight him physically, so maybe words could act as my weapon. “I can help you, but you have to let me.” I held out my hand and realized it was covered in blood.

  My eyes went from David to the pool of blood soaking into the green grass. I winced at the sight trying to contain my fear. I lifted my eyes to David and held out my bloody hand inviting him to take it.

  David tilted his head and slowly looked down at his own hand. He held his talon tipped fingers in front of his face and scowled. His head dropped slightly and silver streams ran down his face. Then, he looked at me. My hand trembled and his eyes shifted to mine. I could see clearly in David’s white eyes—he was still in there despite his appearance.

  His mouth parted trying to speak as he stretched his hand to mine nearly touching it when something black and fur covered pounced out of the white mist. David rolled to the ground then jumped back up facing Quil.

  “Don’t fight him David…he wants to help you too!” I stood up swaying with my eyes focused on David. His eyes were steady on me. I kept my eyes on him trying to keep him clinging to what human part was left.

  Quil took the opportunity and snapped his neck leaving him unconscious on the ground. I couldn’t look away. He appeared as the David I had always known, only now caught somewhere between beast and human.

  I could feel my knees giving out and before I hit the ground, someone caught me. Zach, with wilted flowers still entangled in his hair smiled at me.

  Chapter Two

  “She’s bleeding internally. Probably from the poison.” Zach laid me down. “I still can’t believe she did it,” he said under his breath. “Quil…” Zach motioned for him.

  “Zach, you’r
e not dead…it worked…it worked!” I exclaimed. “Where’s Alicia?”

  “Do you have a knife?” Zach asked Quil whose amber eyes gazed at me curiously. “No, I’m not dead.” He looked down at me.

  “Where’s Alicia?” I tried to sit up to catch a glimpse of her through my dizziness. Zach only pushed me back down.

  Quil held his arm over me and Zach delicately sliced with the small dagger a thin line. Two drops of blood hit me on the cheek as Quil put his wrist to my mouth. I looked up at him not wanting to have any of this. I tried to resist him.

  “Come on Em—you have no choice here. Poison from the door guard isn’t something to take lightly...it’s designed for one thing…” Zach’s voice slightly trembled. Quil knelt down and shoved his wrist to my lips.

  I closed my eyes as his blood seeped into my mouth. It was surprisingly sweet. I opened my mouth more letting it run over my tongue. Suddenly, my repulsion turned to pleasure and I enjoyed the taste and the warmth that filled me. I became relaxed without a care in the world letting Quil’s blood run through every cell, every muscle. I didn’t want it to stop and when he pulled away, I wanted to latch on.

  “Enjoy that, princess?” Quil’s voice entered my head.

  “Yes,” I said as my eyes popped open and Quil smirked at me. I wanted to feel angry, violated and played for a fool, but I couldn’t. My emotions were raw and I held nothing in the way to stop them.

  “I’m fine Zach,” I said as he held my wrist taking my pulse.

  “I’ll decide that for you.” He didn’t even look at me.

  “What about Alicia?” I asked and he only flicked his eyes to me and let my wrist go. “Is she ok?”

  “She’s still in the fountain.” He looked at me and pointed to the pillow. “The poison is still working on you, now lay down.”

  I half glanced at the pillow. “Why can’t she get out?”

  Zach took a breath. “I wish I knew. Karinna and Abe are trying to come up with something.”

  I ran my fingers through my tangled hair. “I shouldn’t have let her go…it’s my fault. I even helped her and now…”

  “You did what any friend would do, don’t beat yourself up. It’s in the past.” His words were soft.

  “She loves you you know. And I mean she really cares for you.”

  “I know,” he smiled. “So, you need to rest.” He pointed at the pillow.

  “Really I feel fine, been worse.” I protested.

  “I’m not just concerned about your health, but also about Gabe. He cares about you and I wouldn’t want anything to happen to anyone that he cares about. Now rest.” His voice was forcefully playful.

  He quickly turned away as pools of water welled in his eyes.

  “Zach,” I said whipping the covers off and standing up. “I want to know if Alicia is ok.”

  He stopped at the door with his back to me. Lowering his head he slowly turned with tears falling from his child-like eyes.

  I went over and curled my arms around him. “It will be alright, I know it will,” I said really not knowing and wishing I was right.

  “She traded spots with me,” Zach said holding me by my shoulders. “Karinna said the fountain of youth is keeping her alive. If we pull her out she’ll die.” He removed his hands and looked down at his feet. “She gave me her energy. She gave me my life back…”

  Just then a quiet knock came from the other side of the door.

  “Is everything alright in here?” Karinna peeked around the corner with flushed cheeks.

  Zach straightened looking at Karinna. “Just trying to get Em here to rest.”

  Her eyes shifted to me. “You look better.” She then motioned towards the bed.

  I sat down as she shook out a soft throw blanket and wrapped it around me. Zach drifted out the door with hardly a sound. A lump began to form in my throat as I looked at the dark circles of worry that hung under Karinna’s eyes.

  “It’s my fault, Alicia asked me and I helped her. I didn’t know what she was doing—she just wanted to help Zach,” I said running the tasseled ends of the blanket through my fingers. “Karinna…I’m sorry.” I lifted my eyes to her.

  She drew in a breath and placed her hand over mine. “Don’t be sorry. It’s not your fault and something that can’t be undone.” She smiled slightly. “You have to learn that. We can’t dwell on the mistakes we made wishing them differently. You have to look forward to a solution.”

  “Zach said the fountain is keeping her alive and she’ll die if we pull her out,” I said. “How are we going to get her out?”

  Karinna’s face went pale and she tried to hide it with a smile. “Some solutions aren’t instant.” She ran her hand across my cheek barely touching it. “We have to be patient and look for it. Alicia is strong and her sacrifice was out of love and that love will sustain her.”

  “Is there something magical—a magical implement or tool, spell, chant or something that we can use?” Karinna shook her head.

  “Not with the fountain of youth. It’s magic of its own. There’s nothing to counteract it. Once it’s being used, it must be maintained and that’s why it was placed into storage. It’s a gift as well as a burden to the Phoenix who created it a long time ago.” She looked away and then gazed back at me with her warm smile.

  “Now why don’t you rest a little longer and I will be back.” Her voice was soft and soothing. I drifted back to the pillow and shut my eyes easily lured to sleep by the simple touch of Karinna’s hand.

  Something cold brushed across my cheek. I flinched and pulled the blanket towards my chin. I felt the coolness again and opened my eyes slightly to see a shadowed figure looming beside me.

  “Gabe?” I questioned.

  “Emily, please help me,” David said leaning forward.

  I pulled myself away nearly tripping over the blanket tangled around my legs and knocking over the delicate nightstand. David didn’t move, but only knelt on the floor gazing up at me like a battered dog. His body shook with what few shreds still connected him to the human David. He looked the same except for his eyes that were like two white marbles.

  “I don’t want to hurt you. I want out of this Emily.” He slowly stood up.

  “Em!” Gabe yelled from the other side. “Are you alright?” The door jiggled then flexed from Gabe pounding on it. “Em!”

  David looked over his shoulder at the door that began to glow before turning back to me.

  “You’re the only one that can help me Emily.” He stood up. “They don’t understand what I’ve been through…what I’ve dealt with and how badly I don’t want to be this way, but I had no choice.”

  I stepped back until my shoulders brushed against the wall. “David…I…”

  He leaped over the bed with a growl like a lion as the door flew open. Gabe jumped on David and was thrown off like he’d run into a spring. Like a flash of lighting, David grabbed me and leaped out the open window.

  He only ran as far as the edge of the garden, but I knew he could’ve taken me anywhere. Gently he sat me down and stared at me with his white eyes.

  “I’m not running because I want help, but I need your help Emily. I need their help and they’ll believe you, listen to you.” He sunk to his knees just as Gabe, Caleb and Quil surrounded us.

  David lifted his arms showing no resistance with his eyes steady on me.

  “I mean no harm. Please believe me.” Gabe shoved him to the ground planting his face into the wet grass.

  “Tell that to Zach!” I stepped forward looking at Gabe. He almost looked like an animal himself and I knew David was stronger than Gabe and could break him in two if he wanted.

  “No, listen to him.” Gabe lifted David up as Quil tied thin metallic threads around his wrists. David squeezed his eyes shut and groaned between clenched teeth. I then caught a stench of something rotten. David’s skin festered with blisters and burned gold from his bounds.

  “He wants our help!” I yelled as Caleb came behind me pulling me b
ack. I swatted at him.

  “I told you he has affected her.” Quil nodded towards me as Gabe grabbed David’s other arm.

  “He didn’t affect me!” I protested.

  “Take her back to the house,” Gabe said to Caleb quickly glancing at me before dragging David off towards a smaller building beside the house.

  “Come on Emily.” Caleb’s voice was soft.

  I pulled my arm from his hold. “You believe don’t you Caleb?’ He didn’t reply. “He could’ve taken me as far as he wanted to, but he stopped. He could’ve hurt Quil and Gabe.” I searched his eyes for understanding. “He might be able to help us. We’ve got to give him a chance.”

  “It’s cold out here Em, let’s go inside and I’ll make you some tea.”

  “Tea! Really!” I stood in front of him.

  “If you’re going to argue for David’s sake then at least get inside where everyone’s at. It’s a mess in there of what to do, what not to do and what the Alliance is doing to secure everything.”

  I looked into Caleb’s green eyes. “You believe me. David is trying and I think he can or at least wants to help us.”

  He nodded his head. “I’ve seen people like him before. Usually cursed by some spell my mother would try to break. She risked a lot trying to save them, often jeopardizing our livelihood. They were either outlaws or escapees from prison. A few times she succeeded most of the time…she didn’t. Her heart was bigger than her commonsense at times and I know she risked everything trying to make our world better.” He took my hand. “I can see that quality in you and it cost her very much.”

  He took a step away from me letting go of my hand. “What are you saying Caleb, that I shouldn’t help him and let him die to save myself when he might be able to help us?”

  He stopped and looked up at the sky. “My mother would ask me the same sort of thing before helping someone and I would always tell her the same thing every time in return.” He put his hands into his pockets. “What are your innards telling you?”