Runaway Mortal (18 page)

Loire let out a breath and leaned forward in his seat. “There are other things that are more important than being SRECON. I remind myself that every day.”

I wasn’t sure what to say to that, so I stared down at the floor instead. When Loire acted like this, when he was concerned and not a jerk, I felt like I could tell him anything. I wanted so badly to tell him the truth about what was going on, but a part of me feared that he would tell Delware, or worse. What if he told a Parlum?

“Kat,” Loire’s voice broke my thoughts, “Can I ask you something? I want you to be straight with me.”

I nodded, wondering where this was going.

“What is going on? I’ve asked you twice and you didn’t want to tell me, but I’m asking you again. Why did you leave school? What were you looking for? Why did you come back?”

My breath caught in my throat and I stood up, walking to the other side of the room so Loire couldn’t see my face. He knew—he knew something was eating away at me.

“Nothing.” I tried to keep my voice steady. “I wasn’t looking for anything.”

“Then I’m done.” He stood up and approached me with fire in his eyes. “I’m done covering for you when you break the rules. I’m done taking care of you. I’m done training you. I hope this is worth whatever you’re hiding because you and me, we’re done.”

His words hit me like a swift kick in the gut. We had started building a trust between us, and I had shattered that within seconds. He didn’t deserve to be dragged into my chaotic life, but I knew he wanted the truth. And he deserved it. I owed him that much.

The weight of what was about to happen pressed down on me. I was about to lose Loire’s trust forever. I was about to lose his friendship. I was about to lose whatever it was that we shared.

He turned away from me, but I needed him to stay; I needed to confide in him about what was going on. Maybe he knew something about the legend. Maybe SRECON agents were taught something about it that other supernaturals didn’t know of. Most of all, I wanted him to trust me again.

“Wait,” I blurted out, “there’s something I want to say.”

There was a look on his face, like I was getting on his last nerve. “What is it? I don’t have time for your games anymore.”

I stared down at the floor, hating that Loire got to me so much. No one affected me the way he did. I couldn’t even begin to understand what it was about him that made my emotions run so hot and cold.

“I want you to know what’s going on.”

He didn’t seem impressed. “It’s a bit too late for that now. Maybe you should’ve started with that from the beginning.”

I reached out and grabbed his arm, but he pulled away from me angrily. “I need to leave, Kat. I have things to do.”

I sighed, suddenly feeling incredibly exhausted, like I hadn’t slept in days. “Just hear me out. Please.”

It looked like it was taking Loire all of his self-control not to walk away. He slowly nodded. “Fine, I’ll hear you out, but I want the truth. I don’t want to hear some bullshit story you’ve concocted.”

Nodding, I tried to figure out where to start. “When I left school, I didn’t run away without direction. I ran away because I was looking for someone.” Loire raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything, so I continued reluctantly. “I went looking for a witch.”

There was silence as I watched Loire’s face slowly turn from indifference into shock. He stared at me like he’d heard something that couldn’t be possible.

“A witch? You’re joking, right? How the hell did you manage to find a witch?” Disbelief clouded his handsome features as he waited for me to answer.

“Um, that’s not important,” I said, not about to get my parents in trouble.

“Okay, go on.” He squeezed his eyes together as if he was in strife. Internal conflict could do that to a guy. So could I.

“Yeah, so I left school to look for this witch. I finally found her in Wellton. Her name is Valeska and she likes prune juice.”

“I’m not a dating site, Kat,” he said shortly. “Why were you looking for her?”

“Sorry,” I apologized quickly. “Since Talon refused to be my alibi, I needed another way to prove that I hadn’t murdered Melkane. I thought Valeska might be able to tell me who had actually killed her.”

“That makes sense.” Loire slowly nodded. “And did you?”

“Well, this is where things get a little weird.” I trailed off.

Loire raised his eyebrows. “Go on.”

“She had some sort of a fit, a vision, and then she chanted a centuries’ old prophecy to me and said that it spoke of my destiny.” Loire didn’t move, so I continued. “She told me I had to come back to school and look for a magical object that would lead me to Melkane’s killer.”

“So, that’s why you just surrendered. Because you actually needed to come back to school to look for this object.” Understanding dawned in his eyes. “Do you know what you’re looking for?”

“Yes.” I nodded. “It’s an object from
The Legend of the Triad
—it’s called the Mortal Blade.”

I had never seen someone’s face change as quickly as Loire’s did. Something burned in his eyes that I couldn’t describe; something carnal, wild. For a split second I forgot who he was.

“No.” His voice was low as he spoke. “That can’t be what you’re looking for.”

“What?” I asked, confused. “Why?”

Because,” he sighed, reaching for something at his waist. He pulled out his short-sword and held it up. “I have the Mortal Blade.”

Chapter Eighteen

Crickets chirped. Frogs croaked. An eternity passed as we stood in my small room, staring at the Mortal Blade. The very same blade that had been in Loire’s possession this entire time.

It had been right in front my eyes and I’d never known any better. This was too bizarre for me to even process. The fact that Loire had it was even stranger.

What did I do now? Did I politely ask him if I could borrow it for an unspecified amount of time? Was it as simple as that?

The blade was beautiful and I immediately felt drawn to it. A part of me was aching; my body was warm as my eyes wandered over the beautiful detail on it. I wanted so badly to run my fingers over it, to feel the weight of it in my hands. It was calling out to me.

Then realization hit me.

“Oh, my God,” I said in a whisper.

“What?” Loire asked.

“All this time it was the blade, not you.” I was probably making no sense to him, but I was making perfect sense to myself.

“What are you talking about?”

I took a deep breath, not wanting to say anything I would regret. “Um, every time I’ve been close to you, I’ve felt this connection to you, like something was missing and you could complete it.” I knew I was blushing because my face felt like it was on fire. “At first I thought it was because, um, because I, uh-”

“This is fascinating. Go on.” A faint smile appeared on Loire’s lips. He knew exactly what I was trying to say.

Ugh. I seriously wanted to hurt him right now.

“Um, because I thought there was something between us, but now I realize that it was the Mortal Blade calling out to me this entire time. There was nothing between us,” I blurted out, feeling stupid.

A shadow passed across Loire’s face, and he put the Mortal Blade back on his belt. “Yeah, right, okay.”

Sometimes my epiphanies sounded smarter in my head. Now that I had soured the mood between us, I struggled to figure out how to proceed.

“How do you have an all-powerful object of legend?” I decided to start small and work my way up. Then the prophecy came back to me, and I felt a little dizzy. The Mortal Blade was supposed to lead me to Melkane’s killer. “Did you kill the headmistress?”

“What?” Loire frowned. “Hell no. I didn’t kill her. Rumor has it you beat me to it.”

“Ha, very funny,” I said, not taking my eyes off the Mortal Blade. “So how did you find it?”

“I’ve had it for years now. I’ve been searching for the other two objects for a long time.”

“You have? Why?”

Loire turned away from me and walked over to the window. He stared out of it, deep in thought. “Because I want absolute power.”

What the hell? Was Loire some power-hungry psycho? He didn’t come across that way, but how well did I know him really?

“I don’t understand.” My chest became tight as I realized the man I’d grown close to over the past few weeks might not be who I thought he was. “Are you going to take over the world?”

“No, Rookie, I’m trying to bring about a balance.” He sighed deeply. “Remember I told you that one day the world would change? Well, this is the only way to do it. I’m angry that mortals are at the bottom of the scale. I’m angry that angels and demons can’t be together.” I didn’t really get why he’d be angry about that. “Our world deserves balance.”

Most of what he was saying made sense. He didn’t sound like a power-hungry psycho; he just sounded like a guy who was sick of the control that Parlum held over the supernatural world.

Loire continued, glancing back at me. “It took me years, Kat, but I slowly put the pieces together. My job allowed me to meet the right people, and the wrong ones, but I learned a lot. Only a mortal is capable of bringing together the Triad objects and harnessing its powers.”

“Why is that?” I wondered. “Mortals aren’t nearly as powerful as angels or demons.”

“I’m not sure,” he said, his brow puckering. “I intend to bring together all the objects and find out. But now it’s my turn to ask some questions. How is the Mortal Blade supposed to help you find Melkane’s killer?”

“I don’t know how it’s supposed to lead me to Melkane’s killer,” I admitted, feeling stupid that I still hadn’t been able to figure that part out yet. “But the witch told me that once I found the Mortal Blade, I would know.”

“So you want me to hand over an all-powerful object I’ve had for years that I’m going to use to bring equality to our world, and you want it for a reason you don’t even know exactly?” He stared at me incredulously, like he thought I’d lost my marbles, which wasn’t too far from the truth.

Why did everything have to be so damn complicated? I wish I had more concrete information, but I didn’t. I wasn’t trying to save the world like he was; I was trying to save myself, which just seemed selfish in comparison.

When I didn’t say anything, Loire frowned. “And what’s this centuries’ old prophecy the witch told you?”

I sighed, and repeated the prophecy for him, feeling deflated as I stared at a spot just above his head.

Neither Hell nor Heaven born

Cast out because of Hallowed Scorn

Hidden on the earthly plain

Where sky meets earth, and earth meets pain

When more than one is magnified
             

The ancient power cannot be denied

Wandering minds, metal, and flame

But broken the power won’t stay the same

When truth and lies break all the ties

Only will the Mortal Blade choose a new ally

“No, it can’t be the same one.” Loire’s face registered shock, his eyes wide, as he took a shaky step backwards. “That prophecy isn’t about you. It’s about me.”

“What? Who told you that?” I demanded, all of a sudden feeling protective of my prophecy.

If the prophecy was about Loire then that would have to mean that Valeska had lied to me. That freaking witch snake!

“No one told me that. It’s a centuries’ old prophecy,” Loire said, “but the words are clear. Neither Hell nor Heaven born. Cast out because of Hallowed Scorn.”

“A mortal,” I said. “That could be either one of us.”

“Hidden on the earthly plain. Where sky meets earth, and earth meets pain. That references a place where demons, angels, and mortals come together. Like Academia.” He moved away from the window and approached me again, his eyes bright.

His words sunk in. My stomach tightened with knots. Crap. I hadn’t even considered that Academia was a place where the three races came together.

“So that’s where you found it?” I questioned, finally finding my voice.

Loire gave me a half-shrug. “That’s where I acquired it, yes.”

He was being vague now; obviously he didn’t want to go into details about how exactly he’d come into possession of the Mortal Blade.

“But Esteré Academy is also a place where the three races come together,” I pointed out, trying to organize my thoughts. “And that’s where I found it.”

Loire was silent.

“And then the next two lines about the power being magnified, well, I know what that means,” I went on. “Triad objects amplify your natural powers. Is that true?”

“Yes,” Loire said, slowly nodding. “I feel different; unstoppable. I feel like I can take on anything. I don’t think when I’m in a fight; I just act.” His eyes glazed over as he spoke. “The blade just takes over me, like I’m not all there. I have never lost a fight since it’s been in my possession.”

From the way he spoke, it sounded like the blade did amplify our natural abilities. I had noticed it each time Loire and I had sparred—how quick he was, how clean his attacks were—but I’d always thought it was because he had a lot of experience.

“Look at the next line,” he said, snapping out of his daze. “That’s how I know it’s supposed to be mine.”

Wandering minds, metal, and flame.

I stared at him, confused, waiting for him to explain.

He gave me a smug smile, like he’d won a victory over me. “I know that my triad is supposed to possess the ancient objects. ‘Wandering minds’ refers to Veritas’ ability to read minds. My weapon before the Mortal Blade was a sword, so that explains the ‘metal’ part. And, well, it’s easy to relate the ‘flame’ part to Tyrone’s ira powers. I’m sorry, Kat, but this is meant to be mine. That witch lied to you when she said the prophecy was about you.”

His words should have made me lose all hope. I should’ve kicked myself for making a blood promise to Valeska, but I wasn’t discouraged. Loire wasn’t wrong, but he wasn’t exactly right, either.

“That may be true, but the last three lines speak of the power being broken and the Mortal Blade breaking ties and finding a new ally. That part wouldn’t be in there if it didn’t mean something.” I stared at him fiercely, hoping that my confidence would make him hand it over.

But he didn’t bat a freaking eye.

“Rookie, if you think I’m giving a seventeen-year-old something this powerful then you’re insane.” Loire stared back at me just as fiercely.

“Don’t you understand? This will lead me to Melkane’s killer! It’ll prove my innocence!” My voice was filled with desperation and I was trying not to cry. I didn’t need to break down right now; I needed to prove to him that I was strong enough to handle this.

His voice rose. “You don’t even know how!” He took a deep breath and turned his head away from me, his hands shaking. “I can’t help you. My goals are more important. In the long run, they will benefit both of us. I’m sorry.”

Anger surged through me, wild and out of control.

Loire had shown me his sweet, caring side. He’d been there for me when I needed him. We’d spent time together; we had a connection, and now he wouldn’t even help me clear my name. He was doing to me exactly what Talon had done.

I moved forward, my mind full of swirling, red hot rage, and smacked him clean across the face. He stared at me, stunned, as he placed a hand over his reddening cheek.

“What the fuck was that, Kat!” He slammed a fist into the wall, breathing heavily.

“Your goals won’t benefit me if I’m imprisoned for life!” I leaned in, anger radiating off my body. “That was for being a selfish asshole like my ex! You are exactly like him. You only care about yourself and your needs. You put on this act like you actually give a damn about me, but really you’re no better than he is!” I shoved him hard, but he barely stumbled.

There was a pulsing in Loire’s stormy eyes, like the sky had been set on fire. Then, just as swiftly, it was gone, replaced with an emptiness that was unlike him. “That’s not true,” he said, his voice so soft that I could barely hear him.

“Get the hell out of here,” I spat. “I don’t want to see you anymore.”

“Kat, I really am sorry.” He took a deep breath, stopped, and then took another one. He finally focused his gaze on me, seeming in better control of his emotions. “If I didn’t have a good reason for needing the Mortal Blade then I would let you have it, but I can’t do that.”

I turned my body away from him, not wanting to hear him anymore. I was over this; over being betrayed by the people I trusted. And, yeah, I did trust Loire. Or had until now.

He didn’t say anything else, and silently exited the room, leaving me alone in a whirlwind of emotions that I was struggling to control.

***

I didn’t know how much time had passed since jerk-face Loire had left, but I decided it was about time I went to Anna and Misha with everything that I’d learned. I’d heard the bell ring for the end of the day, so it was just a matter of getting a hold of them.

Pulling out my phone, I dialed Misha’s number. I already knew where Anna would be, so it was just Misha I needed to track down.

Misha answered on the first ring. “Hello?” Her voice came out in a whisper, barely audible.

I automatically adopted her low tone. “Hey, where are you?”

“In the library. Anna’s making me study for mid-terms.” That explained the whispering.

“Okay, I’ll be there in ten.”

It was amazing that Anna had managed to get Misha to actually study for our upcoming mid-terms because I hadn’t seen her study this hard since, well, ever.

My head was spinning as I left the room, buzzing with all the things that I had just learned from Loire. Goddamn, mother-effing Loire. I wanted to hate him and be mad at him, but on the other hand I did see where he was coming from. He’d had the Mortal Blade for years; how could he just hand it over to someone else?

Now, I was screwed in every sense of the word. The only two guys who could help me weren’t helping me, and there was absolutely nothing else I could do. All I had was this prophecy telling me that the Mortal Blade would be mine.

Maybe the prophecy was wrong. Maybe I wasn’t the queen in all this; maybe I was a pawn. The thought made me sick to my stomach. This wasn’t a game. This was my life.

In less than ten minutes, I strode through the entrance of the library, nearly scaring the wits out of a seventh grade angel who was dawdling by the door. He flailed off to the side when he caught sight of me and avoided eye contact. I ignored him and made my way to the back corner of the library.