Passion (8 page)

Inside
the ward the Catchers reacted exactly as Liam had predicted.  They saw me as
just another Catcher who’d arrived with the spoils for the day. Our feet
clanged loudly on the metal steps as we made our way up to the first landing,
but no one paid any attention.

“This
is almost too easy,” Torrid said.

I
heard the concern in his voice.  It echoed my own concerns.

The
row of empty bottles seemed endless and I wondered if we’d make it to the first
occupied ones before the alarm went off.

Just
as I began to see color and movement in the distant bottles, just as we were
about to arrive at the first occupied bottles a hush fell over the ward.  A
chill ran up my spine.  I knew something had happened.

Ignoring
the sensation, I kept my head high, pushed Torrid along and prayed we’d make
it.

“…who
is…?”

“Don’t
recognize… looks like… could be…”

“…
know what the Prince looks like…?”

“Can’t
be… special housing.  He doesn’t belong here.”

The
murmur of speculation and questions sent a shot of adrenaline rushing through
my body.  We were about to be found out.

“Don’t
panic,” Torrid whispered.  “We’re almost there.”

“I’m
sure it’s him,” the murmur continued.

“Hey!”
a firm voice shot up.  “Hey, you!  Up there.”

Our
steps continued to clang down the metal landing as we ignored the calling.

“Hey! 
Who do you have there with you?”

The
occupied bottles were almost within reach.  Just a few more steps…

“Answer
or…”

While
Torrid stood behind me blocking the view, I reached for the first occupied
bottle, shook the djinn awake and set him free.  In quick succession I awoke
and released another and another.  I was able set five djinns free before the Catchers
below became fully aware what was really happening.

“Go
after them,” one called out.

“Break
as many bottles as you can,” Torrid ordered as he reached out, grabbing two
bottles at a time and cracking them open off the side of the metal shelf.

Confused
and bewildered the newly freed djinns just stood there staring, unsure what to
do; what they could do.  Many were groggy from long hours of sleep and
inactivity.

Only
when the first Catchers arrived on the landing did they finally come alive.

“Fight
for your freedom,” Torrid shouted.

The
narrow landing allowed for only two Catchers side by side, making it a little
easier to fend off, but they kept coming and kept coming.

Torrid
sent a few of them flying down to the main floor and others, seeing the
futility in fight jumped down on their own.  The djinns stopped all of the Catchers
who tried in vain to rebottle them.

It
was only when a whole army of Catchers and guards made their way to the second
landing and started attacking us from above, did we falter.

Several
djinns were caught and bottled.

A
loud blaring siren cut through the battle, startling both djinns and Catchers.

“Code
black!” A robotic voice called over the loudspeakers.  “Code black.  All
soldiers to the ward floor.  All soldiers to the ward floor.”

The
loudspeakers crackled and popped, went dead then fizzed again as a live voice
sounded.  “Catchers, be on the lookout for our most prized captive.  I repeat,
be on the lookout for the Prince.  Above all, he must be caught.”

Every
Catcher released the djinn he had in hand and turned his attention to Torrid.

“I
knew it was him.”  It was Noj.  He looked at me and narrowed his venom filled
eyes.  “I knew there was something about you.”

He
reached out for my wrist.   “You're no Catcher.”  He turned to the band of Catchers
around him.  “This is an imposter.”

Chapter 8

T
he moment Noj touched me; Torrid flew off the handle
and attacked him.  The surprise attack threw Noj back, but he kept his hold of
my wrist, bringing me crashing to the floor with him.

My
head hit the metal landing with a resounding clang and all the sounds around me
suddenly were muffled and distant.

Still
grasping my wrist, Noj fought Torrid off.  He yanked me up, adding to the
already dizzying effect of the blow I’d taken.

“We’ve
worked too hard and gone through too much to let you go now,” Noj said. “The
governor of Arcadia is counting on you.”

“You
mean he needs me.  He wants to keep me as a bargaining chip.” 

Noj,
his movements practiced and agile, pulled out a leather band and whipped it at
Torrid’s wrist.

His
eyes narrowed with amusement, almost mischief, Torrid kept his gaze fizzed to
Noj’s face as he flicked back his wrist, avoiding the leather band.  “I’m not
going to let myself get caught aghhh…”

The
last word didn’t have time to make it out of his mouth.  Three Catcher’s jumped
on his back and tackled him to the floor while Noj watched on with glee.

Before
long dozens of djinns and hundreds of Catchers filled the ward floor, each side
battling for their idea of freedom.

Through
the swirling buzz that still made my head ache, I found the strength and
presence of mind to wring my wrist free of Noj’s grasp.

A
loud clang from the floor caught my attention and that of many Catchers.

“Bring
me the head of that damned djinn,” Zanlord bellowed with fury as he pushed the
heavy doors of the ward open.

I
turned to Torrid.  “We have to get you out of here.  At this rate they’ll kill
you.”

His
bellow only added fuel to Torrid’s fight.  With sudden herculean strength, he flung
off the Catchers on his back then turned his fury on Noj.

The
aching in my head faded just enough to allow me to do my part in the battle.  I
took the lead of a nearby djinn and bottled a Catcher.  The reduced Catcher
shouted his displeasure, but it didn’t keep me from bottling another and
another.

Soon
the Catchers were outnumbered and the few who remained, chose to abandon ship. 
They ran for cover, pushed through secret escape doors while djinns and Magical
Ones took over.

But
one Catcher stayed put, determined to get the prized djinn.

Zanlord
pounded his way up the steps that led to the landing.  “You should have stayed
where you were safe and sound, Prince.  Out here anything can happen.  Out here
accidents happen when Catchers get a little overzealous.”

He
pulled out a large leather whip, the tip equipped with the leather band meant
especially for Torrid’s wrist.  “Safe inside the confines of that office, I was
responsible for your safety, but out here…” He snapped the butt end of the whip
into his open palm.  “Out here I can’t be held responsible for what happens to
you.”

With
a quick flick of his wrist, he snapped the tip of the whip to Torrid’s wrist. 
For a moment I thought Torrid was caught as the leather band wrapped three
quarters of the way around his wrist, but he dodged the band.

Seething
with hatred and resentment, Zanlord flicked the whip repeatedly, each time
stepping closer.

“Run
while you can, Kama,” Torrid ordered as the oversized Catcher came closer.

“No,
Torrid.  I’m staying with you.”  More confident than ever in my magical powers,
I turned Zanlord’s whip and leather band on himself.  His eyes wide with shock
he looked at his wrist, while his jaw dropped with disbelief.

“This
fight is over,” I said.  I grabbed one of the smaller bottles, rushed to
Zanlord and bottled him before he could even see me coming.

Chapter 9

W
e didn’t have time to rejoice. 

Part
of the battle was won and without Zanlord to lead them, many of the Rogue
djinns ran around aimlessly, fighting off Magical Ones in an offhand manner.

“Continue
to free as many djinns as you can,” Torrid said. “It won’t be long before more
reinforcements come in to try to stop us.”

But
before I could free even one djinn, a strange and foreboding silence fell over
the ward.  I wanted to believe it was the fall of Zanlord that was responsible
for the sudden hush, but as I looked into the startled eyes of the freed djinns
around me, I knew that our luck was about to run out.

I
turned, my eyes wide with surprise as I looked into the equally surprised eyes
of Dr. Sanz.  An army of hundreds stood at attention behind him.

“I
guess these are the reinforcements you were dreading,” I murmured in disbelief.

“Well,
well, darling,” Dr. Sanz called out.  His voice echoed into the furthest corner
of the ward, bringing chills to every djinn and hope to the Rogue Magical Ones.

I
tasted the bitter bile that rose to the back of my throat; fear mingled with
hatred.

“Is
this the infamous Dr. Sanz I’ve heard so much about?” Torrid asked.

“The
very same.”  I cocked my head prettily to Dr. Sanz and pulled out the most
confident and self-assured voice I could.  “Are you surprised to see me, Dr.
Sanz?”

He
cleared his throat and blinked repeatedly then straightened up.  “I’ll admit I
didn’t expect to see you here in the ward.”

“I
imagine you didn’t expect to see me anywhere.  I’ll make an admission of my
own; I nearly didn’t survive the fate you’d reserved for me, but…”  I smiled an
angelic, feminine yet devilishly pleased smile.  “I guess I’m made of stronger
stuff than you thought.”

Sanz
grinned while his eyes retained their evil intent.  “We’ll see about that.” 
With a quick flick of his wrist, he pulled out a small riding crop loaded with
several leather bands on the end.  He slapped the leather bands into his palm. 
“I’ll just have to go up there and we’ll see about this strong stuff you're
made of.”

Though
my insides jumped at the smooth but clear threat, I refused to show the
slightest amount of fear.

“I’m
right beside you,” Torrid reminded me.

“How
big of you, your majesty,” Sanz spat, the royal title sharp and biting on his
tongue.  “You're a real prince, saving your lovely damsel in distress.”  His
short legs took tiny but quick steps to the stairs, but before he climbed up,
he sent a small army of Rogue Magical Ones up ahead of him.

When
he reached the landing and faced us, Torrid greeted him with a derisive
chuckle.

“Somehow
I always imagined you’d be a tall and worthy adversary, but you're just a puny
little man with a big mouth.  It’s no wonder you’d come up here and prepare to
fight a mere girl like Kama with an entire army of yes men.”

Sanz’s
eyes flared with indignation. He shot his hand into the air.  “Halt!”

His
little band of followers stopped and turned to him.

Sanz
pushed through his army and came to stand a few yards away from Torrid.  With
his chin jutted out and his eyes narrow, he tried to stand as tall as he could.

“I’m
impressed,” Torrid said.

Frowning,
I turned to him.  “What?  Impressed.  Torrid he’s…”

“I
know very well who and what he is,” Torrid said.  His eyes darkened with
murderous rage; controlled and subtle, but there all the same.  “For such a
diminutive man, he’s managed to rake up a rather impressive reputation.  He is
the biggest traitor the world of djinns has ever known.  Not only did he turn
and side with the man who would chase, trap and enslave every djinn he could
get his hands on, but he was instrumental in creating all this.”  He swept his
hands around him and looked at the row upon row of bottled djinns.

“You
give me far too much credit.  I simply chose the winning side, dear Torrid. 
Your father has misguided you, letting you and your brother believe that a
perfect world can be had if you're good, pure and obedient.  The world is full
of danger and the best defense against such danger is a good plan, a strong
army and the accumulation of as much magic as can possibly be brought
together.”

“This
is nothing less than a slave encampment and you know it.”

“This
is the epitome of a perfectly well tuned machine.”  Dr. Sanz looked at me and
winked.  “Did you not grow up in an idyllic neighborhood, Kama?  Was your life
not perfection?  My only aim as I created this perfect world, was this Arcadia
in which everyone was happy, everyone had their dreams come true.”

“Really?”
I challenged.  “And what was the Coliseum supposed to be?”

“You're
too young to understand the importance of the Coliseum.”

“Try
me.”

With
speed that didn’t match his short stature, he stepped up close to me and
flicked his riding crop, the leather bands on the end just missing my wrist.

Torrid
jumped between us and quickly took up battle with the small doctor.  Forgoing
any magic tricks, he simply grabbed the riding crop out of Dr. Sanz’s hand and
threw it down to the ward floor. 

“I
may be small in stature, Torrid, but don’t estimate the power that surrounds
me,” Sanz warned.

Torrid
gave him a short, sharp push.  “I’ll avenge every day spent in this hell hole
by every djinn.  I’ll not leave here until every last one of them is freed and
your power to recapture them is extinguished.”

“What
noble ambitions, Torrid, but truly, what can you, a sole and solitary djinn, as
royal as you may be, do against the power of my Magical Ones.  Their magic has
been honed, and they’ve learned how to counter the magic of any and every
enemy, something you apparently neglected to show Kama here.”

I
saw the instant flash of guilt that came to Torrid’s eyes.  “Don’t listen to
him, Torrid.  He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.  You taught me as much
as you could in the time we had together.”

The
lack of conviction remained in his eyes, but he kept his focus on Sanz. 
“Perhaps I could have spent a little more time showing her the evil that lived
within certain Rogue Magical Ones…”