Shadow Seed (14 page)

Lilith stood by Leon. “Do you know what
you're saying? Sara, I understand your concerns, but trust me.
People can easily lose all resolve if they believe there is no
hope.”

“No,” Leon said. “I can't do this alone. Not
anymore. Send us to Vesuvia. The Council will need to see what Sara
saw.”

Doubtful, Lilith changed her portal’s
destination with a mere thought. “Good luck.”

Back in his house, Leon stood patiently a
short distance from the front door as Sara sat at the table and
waited.

Minutes went by.

Angry with Leon as she was, Sara didn’t want
anything bad to happen to him. She sobbed as her thoughts of Nibiru
and the Shadow Seed raced uncontrollably through her head. Thoughts
she knew would be used against Leon.

It wasn't long until Leon sensed several
people approaching. The door swung open with Marus and Helen
entering with a few others escorting them.

Marus strolled right up to Leon. “Have you
peeked outside your window recently?”

Helen sat with Sara. “The Council wishes to
express their deepest apologies. I promise we will do all we can to
find a solution. And don't worry about Leon. We're not quite as
unforgiving as you think.”

Sara said nothing as she simply stared at the
table.

Parting the curtains slightly, Leon could see
his home completely surrounded by fellow Vesuvians. It didn't look
like an angry mob, but they didn't seem too happy either.

“Leon, you fool,” Marus said. “Over half the
city knows your little secret. You should have told the Council at
least. The elders are up in arms.”

Leon scanned the crowd. “There was no need to
cause a panic. Take my word that these people are either not going
to fight anymore, or they’re going to try to cut a deal with the
Pelasgians.”

Marus put his hand on Leon’s shoulder. “Right
now may not be the best time to be in the city. You need to get
out. Take Sara back to New Haven. Hopefully, everyone will have
simmered down by the time you return.”

“Do you really think I was wrong?” Leon
asked.

“Between you and me, no,” Marus answered.
“But I have to play the uptight politician. You, you're in a tight
spot. There's absolutely no way we can guarantee your safety. Not
with everything going on. The Council has to focus on the
Pelasgians.”

Leon sunk with feeling that he had more to
worry about than ever before. “Thanks. We'll be on our way then. If
I don't see you again, it's been miserable.”

Marus barely contained his laughter. “I can
only imagine.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Nedim was trying to meditate outside the
barracks on the fourth tier. It was difficult, with the sounds of
yelling and crying all around him. Opening his eyes revealed the
glow of dozens of fires throughout the city.

The barracks had been turned into a makeshift
infirmary.

Inside, Janah cried out as Kadir tightened a
bandage around her arm. “Oww!”

Kadir grabbed an herbal leaf and placed it
over another cut. “It's not that bad, you crybaby.”

“Shut up.” Janah frowned. “This hurts. I
don't see you with a bunch of cuts and bruises.”

“That's because I don't fight like I've got
something to prove. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were
enjoying all of this.”

Janah shrank with some awkwardness. “You’ve
known me ever since I was little, Kadir. Yeah, I fight `cause I
like it. But before this, all we ever did was train. All day. Every
day. Train.”

Kadir finished up the last bandage and sat
back. “You thought there wouldn’t be anyone to fight, did you?”

“After the first invasion, no,” Janah said.
“Unless you’re a Vesuvian, I don’t think anyone is alive from then.
And I always wondered what it must have been like, or how I would
have done.”

“Then you're trying to prove something, to
yourself,” Kadir said.

Janah tried to laugh, but she was too tired
and was beginning to choke up. “Funny, how excited I was to finally
see how good I am. Couldn't wait to mix it up. But today, after the
barricade went down and we were struggling...I thought I was going
to die.”

Kadir put his arm around Janah. “It's okay.
You'd be crazy if you thought you were invincible. If it makes you
feel better, the thought of dying crept into the back of my mind as
well. So don't be ashamed. A lot of people will tell you that it's
what keeps you alive. Or at least keeps you from doing something
stupid.”

Talik came from downstairs, followed by
Amarna, Sayar and Sadi.

Janah quickly turned away to wipe any tears
before Sayar could see her.

“Where's Nedim?” Amarna asked.

“Outside,” Kadir answered. “I think he's been
meditating for the last hour or so.”

As Sadi stepped out with Amarna, Sayar and
Talik sat with Janah and Kadir.

“Things are a mess,” Sayar said. He noticed
Janah avoiding eye contact, and for a very brief moment wanted to
badger her. “First reports say we lost close to a quarter of our
soldiers. Hundreds are missing, and the city is dangerously exposed
to another attack.”

Talik gave Kadir a canteen. “The Pelasgians
breached Siriso on all sides, but it looks like the southwestern
wall was hit hardest. It’s a miracle we got out of there
alive.”

“Why did they retreat?” Janah asked.

“Good question,” Sayar said, scratching his
mane. “Maybe they suffered too many losses. The count so far
suggests that we killed two for every man lost. I doubt at that
rate we’d have won.”

Nedim came in with Sadi and Amarna. “When did
you plan on leaving?” he asked.

“As soon as possible,” Sayar answered. “The
Vesuvians are practically begging for reinforcements. I don't like
the idea of taking our forces away from the city, but it looks like
the fight has moved and we need to be there.”

“What if it's a trick?” Janah asked. “You
know, what if when we pull our army away from the city the
Pelasgians come back?”

Sayar clearly hadn't thought of that, and
didn't know how to answer.

“Nothing is easy, is it?” said Nedim.
“Clearly we can't leave the city defenseless.”

“Abandon Siriso,” Sadi suggested.

Almost gasping, Amarna balked at the idea.
“Never. If the Pelasgians were to return they could make the city
their own and use it as a stronghold. I will not allow them to take
Siriso without a fight.”

Nedim became lost in thought as he slowly
walked around the room.

Talik raised his hand. “I got it! We abandon
the city and burn it to the ground.”

Aside from Nedim, everyone stared blankly at
Talik.

Sayar wrapped both hands around his head with
embarrassment. “Did you have to say that in front of the Anubians?
This is why I never put you in charge. There’s no way we’re going
to raze the city. It’ll take years just to repair the outer
walls.”

“What about the catacombs?” Nedim asked.

“I believe they are safe,” Amarna replied.
“What do you have in mind?”

Nedim kneeled and started drawing a plan out
in the dirt and sand. “We can take anyone who is unable to fight
and move them through there. It should be safe for the time being.
As for Siriso, we can leave a small force to resist the Pelasgians
should if they return.”

“He’s right,” Janah said. “The passageways in
the catacombs lead to small docks along the river outside the city.
Some lead to hidden entryways in the desert. I swear we passed one
on our way back.”

Amarna had a somber expression on her face,
looking at the others, hoping that someone would come up with
another idea. “We have no choice then. Sadi, I'm sorry you're not
going to have much to work with. Do you think you can pull it
off?”

Sadi wasn’t the least bit surprised. “I can
scramble a bunch of small mobile groups. But it really all depends
on what the Pelasgians come at us with, if they come back.”

Nedim swiftly stood by Sadi. “I suppose I
should stay as well.”

“Sorry.” Sayar was quick to intervene.
“You're coming with, Nedim. The Pelasgians may not even return, and
you know I'm going to need you at Vesuvia.”

Sadi could tell Nedim didn't want to leave
her.

“Don't worry,” Janah said. “I'll make sure
nothing happens to him.”

As Sadi and Nedim looked at one another as
though it may be the last time, Amarna and the Persians hastily
exited the room.

“I guess you have to go,” Sadi said.

Nedim held her hands as he kissed her. “You
have my word. I will return. Even if it's the last thing I do.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Sara dropped from the forest canopy to the
ground, landing on her feet. After waiting a few seconds she looked
up behind her.

It was night. The moon was full, and the
clouds were sparse. An owl's hooting and crickets' chirping filled
the darkness.

Moments later Leon arrived in a similar
fashion. His eyes were completely black. “What's wrong?” he
asked.

“You're lagging,” Sara answered.

Leon turned back, sniffing the air and
listening. “Something ain’t right.”

Sara looked around. “What do you mean? We've
got a clear sky, and I don't smell anything.”

“I can’t really tell,” Leon said. “Maybe
Pelasgians, but I'm pretty sure they're not around.”

Sara used what little Vesuvian blood she had
to enhance her senses. The amount of new input was almost
overwhelming, and she couldn’t make heads or tails of so much at
once. “How do you sort through it?”

Leon relaxed his senses. “It takes some
getting used to. I thought I was hearing things.”

“Like what?” Sara asked.

“Like we were being followed. It could be a
couple of animals, but at certain times I swear it sounded like it
was keeping up with us. There aren’t many things that can do that.
Then again, maybe it’s just me. I’m not getting anything now. How
are you?”

Sara's eyes returned to normal as the
Vesuvian blood in her ran dry. “I've been thinking. Considering the
hundreds of ways the world could probably end, I guess I can't be
too mad at you. Still, you should have told me.”

Leon grabbed a glaive and squeezed it in his
hand to give more blood.

“No thanks,” Sara said. “New Haven must be
close. I heard a bunch of commotion in that direction I think. It
could be fighting, but...”

Leon picked up the sounds of sawing and
hammers banging. “Construction,” he said. “Lots of it.”

Sara began walking hurriedly. “We better get
a move on then.”

It wasn't long before they were within
earshot for Sara to start hearing all the noise.

“Hey, hold up,” Leon said.

Sara crouched down thinking they were in
danger. “What is it?”

Leon was visibly anxious. “I made a mistake
not telling anyone.”

“Geez, Leon!” Sara said with relief. “I
thought we were in trouble. I'm scared out of my mind enough as it
is. Listen, I understand why you didn't want to tell everyone about
Nibiru.”

“Then you're not mad?” Leon asked.

“Mad? No,” Sara answered. “I've been thinking
about it, and to be honest, I feel unbelievably fortunate to be
alive. You could have joined Nibiru all those years ago, couldn't
you?”

Leon gave a nod.

Sara smiled with a mixture of joy and
sadness. “I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you. I suppose I
should thank you for that, at least.”

“Don't thank me,” Leon said. “I was made to
protect this world, and I give you my word that I will die before
ever joining Nibiru.”

Sara could see in Leon's eyes that there was
no questioning his sincerity. “Let's hope Nibiru doesn't figure
that out.”

They continued on until they reached the
clearing in front of New Haven. Sara was stunned at the sight of
the city. Hundreds of soldiers and workers were repairing the
city's wall.

Sara could only stare in disbelief for a few
moments before cautiously approaching one of the construction sites
next to a tower.

Several soldiers spotted Sara and Leon and
ran to them. “Guardians?” one asked.

“Yes,” Sara answered. “He's Vesuvian. What
happened?”

“Pelasgians. They had these huge monsters
that tore through the wall like nothing. Fighting was nasty, but
they eventually retreated. We're not sure where they are now.”

“Vesuvia,” said Leon. “They're going to wipe
out my home if we don't do something soon.”

“C'mon, hurry,” Sara said, pulling at Leon as
she tried getting into the city. With the amount of workers, she
had to squeeze her way between people.

“Sara, up here,” Richard called from the top
of the tower.

Once they were able to get past the
construction site, Leon followed Sara into the passageways that led
up through the wall and into the tower.

Sara was all smiles stepping onto the summit.
“Richard, you're a sight for sore eyes,” she said, hugging him.

Richard's troubled demeanor was visible
across his face. He looked nervously at Sara as tried to find the
words.

“What?” Sara asked. She hadn't noticed the
equinox Richard was holding until he held it out, and saw that it
was Arthur's.

“Sorry,” Richard said.

Sara knew what this meant. Taking Arthur's
equinox, she felt her body go numb, and an immense feeling of loss.
Tears flowed as she tried sitting on a small crate, only to miss it
and fall to the floor.

Leon and Richard quickly went over to help
Sara. Both knew there was nothing they could do or say to console
her.

It was hard for Leon to see Sara in such a
devastated state. “I have to go.”

Richard shook hands with the Vesuvian.
“Thanks for taking care of her.”

Leon hopped up to the edge of the summit.
With one last look at Sara, he leapt down to the clearing and then
dashed into the forest.