Zinc 01 - Altors, page 22
part #1 of Zinc Series
"All set!" Galaxi announced cheerfully. "He doesn't have everything we need at the moment, but he'll have it for us in less than a week!" Which was apparently a good thing as she seemed rather psyched. Her happy bubble burst though, eyes narrowing as she gazed at something behind me. Before I could ask, I felt the little hairs on the nape of my neck spring to life, informing me someone was watching. I wanted to turn but Galaxi stopped me.
"Calmly." She smiled, but I could tell it was fake. "We're going to walk away now." She instructed. I nodded my head and followed her lead. As we began to walk, my belly jumped and my vision turned grey again.
"Kaminski!" A man shouted after us. I looked at her and she shook her head sternly, lacing her arm through my own as she kept the steady pace of our march going. I felt my heart beat faster and began to worry.
"Galaxi!" The man repeated, and this time his voice was very close behind us. Galaxi halted us. When my eyes landed on the man, my grey vision turned red. Three more men behind him shined the exact color with their hearts blue. They were all tall, strongly built and wore what I recognized to be a standard Regius soldier uniform. A long wide shirt with a leather belt around their waists. Their gloves and boots were made out of leather as well, tied with belts. Everything was in a variety of azures, sapphires, ocean blues, turquoises and royals. And if I couldn’t tell their category by their clothes, their weapons would tell me. Regius soldiers wielded thin swords the Palliums called ‘miles’, which literally meant soldier in the Pallium language. They were elegant in form, simple in looks, but like any sharp edged blade, deadly.
"Are you still dating that Pallium?" The leader asked. I looked up in surprise at Galaxi, wondering how she knew this man on a level that seemed to be more intimate than just your regular war. If there was one thing I knew, it was that Regius and Palliums did not mix. The Altors tended to be used as buffers in between them, so it was rare they came in direct contact.
"His name is Conium and he is my husband. My name is Morrisey now.” She pointed at the golden stone decorating her headband, the equivalent of a wedding band for the Palliums. “He is to replace Flux. I know respect is a hard concept for you people to grasp, but try." She sneered, her face pulled back in disgust as she gave him a once over. My eyes narrowed in slight anger as the man spread his arms, raising an eyebrow sarcastically down at Galaxi.
Although he was probably twice my size and double my muscle mass, all I wanted to do right now was pound him a good one to remove that obnoxiously dumbass grin off his face. Like Isa, this guy was confident and arrogant, but unlike the pirate, I didn’t find it an attractive aspect or something I could admire. Clenching my fist and taking a step forward, I nearly launched my assault, but Galaxi stopped me.
The big soldier laughed as he finally noticed me. "I see you've acquired yourself a triggered Altor for a bodyguard." He reached out with a hand, wanting to grip my chin so he could take a better look at me, but I just snapped my teeth at him. "For someone of your value, I'd have assigned a more impressive shield." He told Galaxi.
Galax had told me about the different ranks that could be found in the Altor world. Elders, District leaders, teachers, soldiers, students, trackers, spies, assassins, and undercover civilians. And then there were also the bodyguards. Brioni and Luca, twins, were both Altors that always remained close to Flux's side whenever he traveled outside of the Pallium territory. Otherwise they worked for District Leader, Cypress.
"We're leaving, and you shall let us." Galaxi clipped out. We were about to turn around and go our way, but one of the other soldiers behind the jackass placed a hand on said jackass' shoulder, his head tilted in curiosity.
"Brean." He murmured, "Isn't that the girl Rhamnus has been tracking along with that other boy?" My eyes widened and I was about to walk up to them and demand more information as I was sure that other boy was none other than Cali, but Galaxi pulled on my arm energetically.
"It is!" Brean growled, his eyes flaring with anger. Nobody had ever looked at me with that much hate before.
"Run!" Galaxi shouted all of a sudden, snapping me back to attention. I gave her a confused look when she managed to pull me along. Her skin was pale in fright. "Solenum!" I looked over my shoulder and I saw the four soldiers were now running after us and getting closer and closer. Squeezing Galaxi's hand, I picked up my speed so I could take the lead and drag her along. People were moving out of the way, shouts of protest as we occasionally bumped into them, but I didn't stop to apologize or help them pick up whatever I'd accidentally knocked over. Galaxi wasn't running fast enough, she was slowing me down.
"When we reach the end of the alley, we'll be back in the city.” Her voice was out of breath. “They won't hesitate using their weapons there." I looked down as she handed me one of her Rector daggers. "We split up and meet back at the car. Try to shake them off." I could see the archway that would lead back into the city center. She pulled her hand out of my hold as we rushed out of the exit and I faltered in my tracks, trying to adjust my eyes to the sudden burst of sunlight.
Turning in a circle, I realized Galaxi was already out of sight. How was I going to do this? I was so nervous, I couldn't think. Nothing made sense anymore.
"Croton, Luo!" Brean and his soldiers rushed out of the Rangers Alley, forcing me to stumble back when they neared. I was trapped. "Get to Galaxi before she gets to Cypress." He ordered and I swallowed nervously as they ran off in direction of the main road, intent on finding her. I gripped the Rector tightly when Brean and the other soldier slowly walked towards me, eyes widening when my back bumped against a wall. I pointed the dagger at them, noticing my hands were shaky.
"We're so scared." His voice was mocking. He had a point, there was no way I could take two trained Blue Blood soldiers on. Not that I would tell them, but I wasn't so sure I could take on one.
Darting my eyes over my surroundings, my mouth formed a grimace. He nodded happily at my obedience, about to take a step in my direction so he could unarm me, but I turned, pushing off my feet so I could stab the dagger into the window ledge high up on the wall, pulling myself up fast so Brean didn't have the time to catch my feet and pull me back down. Now, all I had to do was hope for some impressive balance and I might not die.
"After her!" Brean shouted as I managed to settle my feet onto the window ledge, readying myself to continue upwards. Reaching up so I could grab a hold of the edge of the roof, I felt the soldier grab onto my leg, but before he could do more, I kicked him in the face, smiling in satisfaction when that forced him to stumble back down to the ground. Pulling up, I settled onto the roof, blood rushing through me so fast, I was surprised I wasn't dizzy.
I sprinted over to the other end, taking a moment to look down and see if I could jump. It was an enclosed courtyard though.
Looking back, the soldier was now on the roof and I nervously ran forward, flinging myself across the courtyard and onto the roof of the neighboring house. Groaning in pain when my chest connected with the side, I didn’t take the time to think about it, managing to get a grip on the drainpipe.
Scrambling up, I suddenly belted out a scream as the soldier’s jump had been more effective than mine, his laughter ringing loudly in my ears as he was gaining on me. Seeing a wooden beam connecting the building I was on to a house higher up, I made my way onto it. Straightening my back, I spread my arms and then forced myself to not look down. I breathed in deeply and then began to make small steps one after the other, balancing myself as best I could on the narrow beam. Halfway over it, I could hear a man down in the street below wondering what the hell I was doing, followed by a scream on a woman's part, leading me to look back and see that both Brean and the other soldier were now stepping onto the beam themselves.
I decided to jump forward the rest of the way, stabbing the dagger into another window ledge. The dagger held firmly, giving extra support to help me climb up. When my feet were settled on the window’s frame, my hands gripping the top, I looked inside, seeing a living room. Nobody was there. I cringed as I clenched my hand into a fist and screamed when my knuckles connected with the glass.
I’d not have been able to pull that off before the trigger, and though the window broke, not even with the extra strength could have avoided the pain that radiated all the way up my arm. The faintness that settled in my head was hard to shake off, but the fear of being caught was greater and kept me going. Once inside, I crossed the tidy living space, pausing for a moment as I passed by a couch. Sighing at my rudeness, I took one of the neatly folded shirts on it to wrap around my bleeding hand.
The soldiers were already climbing through the window I’d broken by the time I opened the one opposite from it. Looking out I saw the canal that ran through Cobalt City from its northern end to the southern. It led to the two harbors this city had, both ends merging with Zinc Sea.
Assuming I had nowhere to go, Brean straightened slowly, giving me a victorious looking smirk, as he stroked his goatee and then reached up to tighten the top knot on his head. If he wasn't so stupid, I might have been able to overlook his flaws and consider him handsome.
I slipped the Rector into my belt and then scrambled up. Giving him a quick salute, I pushed off with my feet, feeling the wind sharply whoosh by my face, my heart skipping a beat. Although it was a conscious decision to jump out of a three story window, I screamed in fear anyway and hoped the canal was deep enough.
Pulling my arms and feet in, I squeezed my eyes shut and inhaled deeply before my body connected with the water. The moment I went under, I realized the current was a lot stronger than I thought it would have been.
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I stared at Galax from the doorway. He was sitting on his living room couch, my bed really, his eyebrows knitted in concentration while he seemed to be doing something to my clothes.
"If you want to get me out of my pants, all you have to do is ask." I sat down next to him. "No need to disable my clothes." He put the needle down and set the pants on the coffee table in front of the couch.
"Where is the fun in that, Solis?" He asked as seriously as possible, a hint of a smile shadowing the corner of his lips. He'd started to call me Solis. It was the Pallium word for 'sun'. "I'm just giving you some pockets because I see you getting frustrated over loosing your tools. I'm not even surprised that I'm the one that knows how to sew between the two of us." It's true. I couldn't sew to save my life. He reached over the back of the couch, pulling something up.
I gaped at the item. "I get my own tool belt?!" I shouted in excitement, feeling giddy, silly and honored. Nodding, he put the belt around my waist.
"Looks good." I smiled at his voice when he kissed my temple. "Now tell me what you're here to ask."
I frowned in amusement. "Did Galaxi tip you off?"
He grinned. "Maybe."
"Ugh." Framing his face, I kissed him. "You're so handsome, it's just not fair."
He chuckled against my mouth, his arms coming around me. "Just ask, Solenum. I promise to keep my Regius rage in check."
Pulling away, I stared sternly at him. "Stop second guessing yourself. Nothing suggests that one day you'll suddenly snap and become as cruel as Blue Bloods are known to be." He sighed heavily, letting himself fall back onto the couch and pulling me with him. "You're not going to get into that, are you?" He shook his head. "You're not going to talk until I've asked my question?" He nodded. "Fine." I paused. "I have to find Cali."
"That's something I'm aware of." He answered.
"I'm starting to feel confused about that."
"I'm not following you." He framed my face so he could pull my head out of his neck and have me look at him.
I swallowed nervously. "I really, really like you, Galax."
"I really, really like you too, Solenum." He said easily. Planting my hands onto his chest so I could push myself up, knocking the breath out of him in the process, I straddled his waist.
"No, you aren't following me." My voice was annoyed.
"How am I not following?" He lifted his hands in a form of surrender, looking confused.
"I'm talking about love."
He narrowed his eyes at me. "You said like, not love." He excused himself. I groaned, dropping back down on top of him. He nudged me after a moment. "Solis?"
I grumbled. "I warned you that I suck at making a first move. It blew up in my face with Helix, with Cali and while I got the wanted result with Delph, I can't say it was the most successful situation either."
"Could you not talk about your past dalliances while declaring your love to me?"
"You're impossible." I growled, getting off of him and snatching my pants, now covered in pockets, along the way.
"I love you too, Solenum!" He shouted after me in amusement.
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"You realize you haven't actually said the words yet, right?" Galax said through a mouth full of food.
I guess I hadn't. "I love you. Don't eat all the fries!" I retrieved my dinner. "The kitchen is right there, go get your own."
"But your food is so much better than mine."
I smirked. "That's my line."
"Now you see how annoying it is." He chuckled.
Staring at him, I sighed softly. "You're making it hard for me to want to leave." The grin slipped off his face.
"Oh, I know that Solis." He cupped my cheeks with both hands and shuffled his chair closer so he could place a kiss on my lips.
"I don't think I want to leave anymore."
He smiled. "Yes, you do. You just don't want to leave without me." It was true, so I didn't deny it. "You know you could have simply asked me to come with you instead of worrying so much."
"But what if I don't like the answer to that question?" I asked carefully, figuring he'd never come with me to Serenium. His entire life was here.
"If you need to find Cali in order to be at peace again, then we'll go find him." He said, shrugging it off as if it were the easiest decision to make in the world. I didn't get it. I was about to protest but he stopped me, placing his hand over my mouth. "If Conium had to leave for some reason, Galaxi would follow him, no questions asked. Vice versa. I get that, and they'll understand that that rule applies to us as well."
"You love me that much?" I whispered.
"Yes." He said simply.
"Galaxi told me to ask you about your lineage."
"Could you stop changing subjects so drastically. You're making it hard for me to follow."
"Who are your biological parents, Galax?" I asked seriously.
"I'm Xen Reinhardt’s son."
"Huh?"
He grumbled, clearly uncomfortable with the subject. "He was the king to the Regius. He's dead now. Xania Reinhardt, my uncle, he's the steward to the throne as I am not there to take the crown." I looked up at him wide eyed and he sighed, pointing at the blue dot on his forehead. "That is what shows the entire world I am the heir. It's why I'm not allowed to go to the Rangers Alley, or really leave the Pallium Territory at all."
"My boyfriend is a prince?"
"Of course you'd focus on that part." He rolled his eyes.
"Don't judge me, I may not be a girly girl, but that's pretty awesome." I laughed. "In your face, Holly!"
"You're so delightfully weird." I moaned when he kissed me deeply.
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Chapter 20: Solenum Everhart
“Bombs”
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Kicking my feet out and flailing my arms around, I tried getting back up to the surface, but the water was dragging on my body and it took me a moment before I managed to swim up. As my face shot out of the water, my lungs demanding air, I sobbed, tears streaming wildly down my cheeks. I let the current float me to wherever while I looked back. I suppose it had been a good thing the water hadn't allowed me up instantly. They might have followed. I hoped they believed I had drowned. After a moment, I saw a small staircase leading down into the water with a place to dock a small boat. With some difficulty, I swam my way over to it, kneeling down as I placed my shaky palms onto a couple of steps, letting my forehead touch the edge of another as I tried catching my breath. Quite honestly, I didn’t know how to feel after being chased, wounded and nearly having drowned.
"Do you need help?" I reached for the Rector instantly, unsheathing it and pointing it at none other than Isa Ryder. Scrambling to my feet, my knees nearly buckled when I tried to take a firm stand before him. He was sitting lazily on the top step.
"Couldn't help but notice the dramatic exit you and Galaxi made out of the alley." He grinned as he waved his hand at the dagger. "Put it away. I'm not here to take advantage of your current vulnerable state and hand you over to the Regius. Even if the price on your head is really high." He trailed off, and then shook his head out of his thoughtful stare. Standing, he untied a couple of scarves from around his hips, carefully making his way down towards me. "We're going to use these to hide your identity."
Frowning, I hesitantly put the dagger back into my belt. I allowed him to fashion the scarves as a dress on me as I tied another around my head, pushing my pig tails into the makeshift turban. I lifted my chin over his shoulder when he stepped into my personal space to secure the fabric by the nape of my neck. He moved gently and with care and he wasn't glowing red.
"Why are you helping me?" I asked uncertainly, lifting my arms as he reached around my waist to tie the scarf's ends together, the colorful fabric covering me from shoulders to ankles.
"What you really want to know is, why didn't I help you before you started monkey-ing around over the rooftops of Cobalt." He pulled the fur wrap from his shoulders, placing it over my own. "Had I saved you, would you have left that pitiful prince of yours and loved me instead?"
"Desperate much?"
"Can't blame a guy for trying." He took my hand and started pulling me up the steps and onto the main street. "Eyes down and stay close. I know where Galaxi is parked."
If the soldiers were still after me, they'd most likely taken the wrong way as I couldn't sense them anywhere near. I began to shiver, the scarves getting soaked from wet clothes instantly making my skin even colder. My hand hurt and although I'd felt shock at the initial pain from the glass, it was only now when I wasn't in direct danger anymore that I could really feel how bad it was. I'd managed to stop the crying when I got out of the water, but I knew that if I spoke now, I'd most likely turn the waterworks back on again. I think I might be in shock.
