The Regenerates (30 page)

Kayn stared at him in shock. “You what?”

“It happened after Novus killed me. The Keeper who saved Markis said I could either stay dead or become like them. Seer said I might not be able to keep it a secret for a while. I might pull a stunt like the one Markis did on Abolition Day. Don’t you think that could cause a problem? If I stay, I’m only going to put my mother at risk again.”

“Wait, did you say
killed
you?” said Kayn.

“I really don’t want to talk about that right now,” said Ven, feeling irritable. “Just ask the others about it later.”

“About your mother… I could try and do something about that,” said Kayn. To Ven’s surprise, there was no hesitation in his voice as he said this. “I could have a word with the elders. We’re going there anyway, aren’t we?”

“Thanks, but I don’t think it’ll work,” said Ven, surprised. “It goes against everything Cor stands for to let someone like me wander around freely among the Quadrants. Believe me, I hate all of this. I want nothing more than to stay in the palace again, but I just don’t think that’s an option, with all that’s happened. It’s alright, at least I’ll get to see them again.”

“I see.” Kayn picked up his mug again and sipped from it. He looked out the window. “Thank you. You really didn’t have to come after me and endanger yourself like that.” This time, his tone was completely genuine.

“It’s alright,” said Ven, too exhausted to feel shocked. “I guess I felt I should.”

“Why?”

Ven paused for a moment. “You were right. What you said earlier, it got me thinking. It isn’t fair. All this time, you
were
just following orders. It won’t be easy to forget you tried to kill me, but…I guess it didn’t feel right to just let you die, not after everything we’ve been through. I’ve realized that it isn’t you I hate, it’s the Stratum Order. I hate what it’s done to everyone. The real enemy isn’t you, so why should you deserve to die? I think…for your sake, and for the sake of everyone else, we need to try and rescue Cor from more than just Novus.”

Kayn was looking down at his mug and gripping it so tightly that his knuckles had turned white.

Coralie entered carrying plates of food. “How are you feeling?” she asked as she handed Ven a plate.

Ravenous, he dove in. “I’m alright,” he said though mouthfuls of food, cradling his bandaged arm.

Without looking at him, Coralie handed Kayn a plate. He looked up at her almost sadly.

“We’re almost in Cor. You’ve been asleep for a long time,” she said.

“Really?” Ven smiled broadly. Though he was elated that he would get to see his mother and the others again after so long, how was he going to explain that he wouldn’t be staying?

The door opened and Seer, Shen and Renny appeared.

“You ready to see home again, Ven?” said Renny.

“Yeah.”

“We need you to be there when we speak to the elders,” said Seer, looking directly at Ven and Kayn. “But after that, Ven, we’ll give you as much time as we can to catch up with your mom.”

“Hey, Ven? I want to see your mom, too,” said Coralie.

Ven broke out into a grin and took her hand. “Definitely. She’d love that. Hans and Florentine will want to see you, too.”

“I’ve been meaning to have a little chat with Florentine,” she smirked. Before Ven could retort, the large cruiser hummed and dove.

“Looks like we’re here,” said Seer. “I’d better go remind Rogin where we’re supposed to land. Get ready to leave.”

Ven, Kayn and Coralie gathered up their things. Ven suddenly noticed the Magistrate’s Dagger in Kayn’s hand.

“I can almost sense how awkward the discussion with the elders is going to get,” Coralie whispered to Ven, following his gaze.

“Yeah, and they aren’t exactly the most receptive bunch.”

Finally, the cruiser came to a stop. As they stepped back onto land again, Ven could make out Cor’s large bronze gates in the distance.

“Let’s not scare them,” said Seer. “A little more walking won’t hurt anyone.”

Walking the rest of the way was a good plan. Ven braced himself as they stopped in front of the gate. Beside him, Coralie clutched his arm. He felt his face growing hot again, but moved closer to her. He could only imagine what coming back here must be making her feel.

“Don’t worry,” he said softly. “The guards won’t be able to arrest or even come near you again, not as long as I’m here.”

Coralie tightened her grip for a moment and smiled at him.

The gatekeeper got to his feet. The guards flanking him raised their weapons. “Who are you? What do you want?”

Kayn swiftly stepped to the front of the group, holding up the Magistrate’s Dagger. The gatekeeper let out a squeak and motioned to the guards to let them in.

“B-but, Lord Kayn, the others–”

“They have my permission,” said Kayn. “It’s alright.” Ven couldn’t help but notice a glow on Kayn’s face as he gave the orders to the gatekeeper. He wondered how it must feel being obeyed again after so long.

“Should Kayn and Ven go in first?” said Meares.

“No, said Seer. “This city is in for a rude awakening anyway. Let them stare.”

And stare they did. Cor’s citizens gawked at the strange group of people. Seer seemed to be the focus of the attention, with his strangely colored eyes, bizarre clothing and confident demeanor.

It felt unreal being back home after everything Ven had seen. He felt his heart racing as they neared the palace gates.

“This is the first time I’ve ever seen it this close,” said Coralie, still holding on to Ven tightly. “I’m excited to finally see where you live.”

“It’s really nothing compared to Seer’s place,” he laughed.

The guards at the front of Council Hall gaped at Kayn.

“Get Gant over here,” said Kayn. “Tell him I’m back.”

“Right away, Lord Kayn!” said one of the guards. He dashed inside. The courtyard was abuzz. Ven could hear whispering from the confused Highborns around them. Coralie gazed up at the palace. Moments later, the guard returned, closely followed by Gant and an enormous, small-eyed man Ven recognized as Kayn’s older brother, Klaus. On seeing him, Kayn wrinkled his nose.

Klaus Stafford was nothing like his brother. Short and plump where Kayn was tall and lean, Klaus had dark, wavy hair slightly longer than his brother’s and the front of his robes bulged from his weight. He reached forward and seized Kayn in a hug.

“Brother! What on earth happened to you?” He twirled Kayn around, and Kayn gasped in pain. Klaus jumped and released him. “Who did this to you, Brother? I’ll have them arrested immediately–”

“Never mind, Klaus.”

Klaus frowned. He pulled a large fruit out of his silk pocket and took a massive bite out of it. Juice spilled across his front. Coralie made a face and looked away.

“Right,” said Kayn, clearly disgusted. He turned to Gant, whose usually narrowed eyes widened at the sight in front of him. To Ven’s surprise, Gant shot him a nasty look before turning to Kayn.

“Kayn, you’ve returned.” He stretched out his arm and grasped Kayn’s shoulder, raising his eyebrows at Kayn’s injuries. “I presume you were successful? Who are all of these…”

Before he could continue, Seer stepped forward and looked into the elder’s wrinkled face.

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Gant,” he said. “We need to have a long talk, and you might want to brace yourself for what you’re about to hear.”

“H
ow dare you enter our city spewing such nonsense,” said Gant. “And you, Kayn, you’ve gone along with all of this?”

“Gant, they aren’t lying. The condition of the Magistrate’s Dagger should be proof of that.”

Ven wanted to slam his head onto the table. They were seated in the large, circular room where Ven had been given his sentence. The explanation of their journey and the events at Roth’s Tomb had been tiresome and difficult, but they had done their best. To his relief, Klaus had chosen not to sit through the meeting. Shen had secretly arranged for Coralie to listen outside the door.

“In what way is that proof?” said Gant.

“Are you suggesting that the pool in Roth’s tomb doesn’t exist? Everything I have told you is the truth. Why would I, of all people, try to make this up?”

Gant pursed his lips.

“Sir,” said Ven, unable to take any more. “We understand what this means for Cor, and how difficult this is going to be to explain to the Quadrants, but the council needs to accept that Markis was proof, and we are proof. The man named Novus is threatening Cor. He already tried to murder Kayn, and attacked us using the spirits of the previous Grand Magistrates. We’ve already explained everything we can to you. If you need more proof then let
me
show you.”

“Knock it off,” said Seer, giving him a stern look. “You’ll only hurt yourself.”

“No, it’s alright.”

Ven raised his uninjured fist and brought it down hard onto the marble table. A large crack suddenly appeared on its surface. There were gasps throughout the room.

“Ven!” Seer exclaimed.

Gant’s eyes twitched, but he smiled. “So you learned how to fight. You
have
been away for quite some time. Cracking a table does not prove that you were given Haze energy by a Keeper.”

Before Seer could try to stop him again, Ven grasped the edge of the table and put as much pressure on it as he could. A moment later, a large chunk of marble snapped off. He could feel Seer’s furious gaze from beside him.

“Do you really think a Highborn like me who had never even picked up a weapon when we first met could have done something like that?” said Ven. “It’s the painful truth, but it’s about time you started opening your mind to the possibility that there are things about Cor that even you don’t know. Things are no longer the way they were. Cor is in danger, and it’s in your best interest to believe us.”

Gant said nothing for a moment as he exchanged glances with the other elders. He nodded to one of the guards, who disappeared from the room.

“Ven, you’re the last person I want to be hearing all of this from. You see, if anyone is a threat to Cor’s safety, it’s you. You have made that very clear with your actions just now.”

“What did you say?”

A whooshing noise sounded behind them. Ven turned sharply. One of the guards Gant had sent away held a long, thin revolver inches from his face. Before he could register what was happening, Seer jumped into action. He jumped from his chair, seized the guard’s arm and flung him against the pillar beside them, knocking him out.

“What’s the meaning of this, Gant?” said Kayn, who along with the others had gotten to his feet. Ven remained sitting. Gant closed his eyes and sighed.

“You meant to do that from the beginning, didn’t you?” said Ven, keeping his voice calm. Was having Haze Energy inside him making feel at ease like this despite almost being shot? “I did think it was a little strange that for a crime as great as mine, I wasn’t given the death sentence. What was the point of sending me out on this trek, anyway? Some kind of twisted punishment where I either get myself killed out there or by your hands here?”

The elders looked at each other. Gant sneered. “You didn’t really believe we would let you back in Cor after what you’ve done, did you? The only reason we allow your mother to remain here is because her services on Cor’s council have been exceptional. Tell me Ven, do you know the full extent of your mother’s work?”

Ven glared at them. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“That’s a shame. She hasn’t even told you everything she does, has she? Do you really think she just sits there keeping notes of the council meetings? Your wonderful mother is one of those in charge of choosing the Sentenced, among…other things.”

There was silence. Ven tried to register this unexpected information but it was as if his ears weren’t working properly. Surely his mother hadn’t helped arrange for Coralie’s sentencing?

“She is the most valuable of our council members. It’s only a shame she had to raise a son like you. She helps to maintain order in Cor. You, on the other hand, have no place among us anymore. We sent you on that trip because you needed to help fix your mistake. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want you to die out there by some terrible, foreign evil. You would have deserved it. But you came back. You cannot be allowed to live, Ven.”

“I’m afraid no one is going to die today, Gant,” said Rogin, walking over to Ven and placing both his hands on the top of Ven’s chair. “And don’t worry, Ven will not be staying here.”

Ven was still shaking. He refused to believe it. It was a lie. They were lying to his face, just to rile him up.

“My mother wouldn’t do that,” he said. “Coralie and her parents have been friends to us for years. She would never have had them arrested. Nice try.”

Ven shot a dirty look at Kayn, who turned his head. Kayn knew. He had to have known, and he had kept it from him.

“Is it?” said Gant. “Why don’t you ask her? She’s here, isn’t she?”

“That’s enough,” said Meares. “Gant, instead of trying to gang up on Ven, why don’t you start focusing on the bigger issue at hand? It’s ignorance alone that is keeping you from taking us seriously.”

“Alright, then. Let’s suppose I agree that something is wrong, and that this…this Novus has in fact, cast a curse on Cor. What is it that you plan on doing to put a stop to it?”

“What do you know about the Keepers’ Gate?” said Seer.

“An old myth,” said Gant. “But yes, I have heard of it.”

“We already told you that Novus has somehow made himself immune to positive Haze energy and is temporarily out of our control. We believe that beyond the Keepers’ Gate, there is a power that will enable us to not only confront him directly, but destroy that immunity and put a stop to him.”

Gant scoffed. “What exactly is the basis of the curse?”

“We don’t know what his overall plan is, but we do know that he targets the Grand Magistrates in particular. After their deaths, their souls become his property. We believe he is using them somehow for his final agenda, whatever that may be. We think that he means to destroy Cor, but by what means, we still don’t know. We can only learn more once we are able to confront him head on, which can only be done from beyond the Keepers’ Gate. That is now our primary focus.”