Ice Phoenix (24 page)

Baneyon watched the demon's head fall to the ground. Lady Fless stood up. She was a terrifying figure to behold, splattered in blood and holding her swords.

"How?" Garok snarled in disbelief. He was not the only one to have seen or sensed his comrade's death. The other demons bellowed their anger.

Baneyon knew how. Lady Fless was a former assassin, not to mention a master of cloaking. She had cloaked the swarm of knives and feigned her stumble. As soon as the demon had stepped on her, she buried the knives into him, when his awareness had dropped. Rumours were that she had been personally head hunted by the queen to join the Imeldor Council. The deal had been that if the queen could defeat Lady Fless in a Kampu match, Lady Fless would renounce her glowing career as an assassin to become an Imeldor. Baneyon couldn't help but wonder just how crazy strong the queen was.

Baneyon's distraction almost cost him his leg. A ring caught him on the thigh, rendering a deep gash. He retaliated, and there was a fierce exchange of blows as he and Garok fought across the terrain. Baneyon was in trouble and he knew it. Garok's speed combined with the unpredictable rings had him at a physical disadvantage.

Realising he had to take drastic measures, he ran his hand over the flat of his blade. He could feel the numerous chips and dents resulting from the rings' effectuations, and inwardly bemoaned the state of his beloved weapon.

"I have to admit, I'm surprised your blade has lasted this long," said Garok. "Why don't you use your qi?"

Baneyon threw the demon a withering look. He grasped the lower edge of his blade and pulled. It separated into two pieces, and Baneyon tossed one of them to the ground. Exposed was the real blade, glowing lightly.

"You have no idea how much that sheathe cost me!" snapped Baneyon. "I'm still paying it off!"

Garok's eyes widened as he stared at Baneyon's weapon. "It can't be!"

"Yes," said Baneyon, thoroughly upset now that he was reminded of his bank balance. "Twenty-five million credits. Do you know what the interest on that is like?"

"Don't tell me you took a loan from the bank?" Garok said in disbelief. "Those institutions suck the blood out of you!"

"Tell me about it."

"I'll give you fifty million credits for that," Garok offered abruptly.

Baneyon stopped midway through his rant and stared at Garok in surprise. "It's not for sale." His eyes narrowed. "You're also lying about the credits."

"Ah ...," Garok grinned.
"No matter. I'll just take it off you. The price of any good weapon should be paid in blood anyway."

"You have a sick sense of honour," growled Baneyon. A low buzz filled his head, and Quempa's voice came through.

Stop farting around, Baneyon! Raimus is in trouble and I can't help him because Harry Lightning here wants to fry me!

Quempa! Get out of my head. I feel violated!

Hurry up then.

The buzz disappeared and Baneyon faced a disgruntled Garok. "Okay, we need to hurry this up. I'm needed elsewhere."

"Confident, are we?" sneered Garok. His rings began to glow with a black flame that wavered in the dry, hot wind of Si Ren Da.

In the distance, the dratkaars observed the intruders with a strange disinterest. There were now thousands of them on the surface, and they circulated around the fighting pairs of men and women as though they were at an open air festival, viewing the ongoing performances at their leisure.

Holding his spear firmly with both hands, Baneyon slipped into a strike position. His gaton flapped lightly in the wind, baring powerful thighs. "Come on," he said.

Garok threw his flaming rings at Baneyon and moved with such speed that he disappeared from Baneyon's vision. Baneyon stepped back and brought his spear down on the rings in one swift movement. They fell to the
ground in perfect halves. Without pausing, Baneyon swung around and flung his spear to where he sensed Garok to be. The spear struck cleanly, slicing Garok in half at the waist. He fell to the ground in two pieces.

Baneyon slowly walked up to the fallen demon. Garok looked up at his slayer as he approached, blood trickling down his mouth.

"So that is the phoenix blade." Garok laughed weakly. "Impervious to qi, and cuts through anything. It was a good … investment."

Baneyon watched curiously as the life faded from Garok's eyes. Satisfied that he wouldn't return to life, Baneyon turned his attention to Raimus and the hooded demon.

Terrana paced up and down her room, unable to sit for fear she would explode with frustration over not knowing how Baneyon was or whether he was even alive.  Worry and lack of sleep left her feeling strangely disoriented. When she did sleep, it was only to constantly traverse the In-Between, and that left her drained of energy. It was no surprise that she was tired, snappish, and depressed.

She wasn't stupid. She knew exactly why Prince Gil Ra Im had asked her to meet him at the stables. He intended to follow his mother, and she didn't think that was a good idea. The queen scared her — Terrana sensed a fearsome and dark side to the woman, and something warned her that she should never cross her path.
Ever.

She grabbed an energy bar from her desk, ripped the packet open, and gobbled it in three mouthfuls. Still not satisfied, she grabbed another and demolished it just as quickly. The anxiety in her chest grew, and Terrana could have screamed. Nothing was helping — not even food. She felt her whole life was about to implode, and guilt was the fuse that would ignite it.

Guilt that she could have been the reason for her family's death. Guilt that she had nearly killed Prince Gil Ra Im. Guilt that she couldn't do anything to help Baneyon. Guilt — it was a disease that gnawed at the centre of her soul, turning her heart black.

She caught her reflection on the glass wall and saw a pale, tired version of herself. Was that really her? She reached out and touched her face.

"You used to be so happy," she said sadly. "You used to laugh, Terrana. What happened to you?" A tear ran down her cheek. "Why did your life turn out so wrong?
Why?
"

She couldn't see anything now. Her reflection wavered in the onslaught of tears as her pain came rushing to the surface. Terrana banged on the glass, her tiny fist hurting, but she didn't care — she only wanted the miserable girl in front of her to disappear.

"Say something!" she screamed. "What did you do wrong that you are paying for it now? What did
I
do?"

A hand came through the glass and clamped around her throat. Terrana choked, unable to breathe as she stared into the malicious eyes of her other self.

"Coward!"
T2 sneered. "All you do is snivel and cry — you can't do anything useful. You might as well let me out."

"Why?" Terrana croaked. "What can you do that I can't? What makes you think you are better than me?"

"I wouldn't let Baneyon die. I'd do something about it."

"Baneyon's not going to die! The queen's gone to save him!"

"The queen against five demons. Can you take that risk? You sit down and hope that she'll do something, but you're not doing anything! Even the prince will not stay idle while his mother risks her life to save the others. He's no coward, unlike you! Just remember, if Baneyon dies, you will never see him again. The only time when you could have saved him, you chose to stay in your room and hide!"

Her words were like a knife in her heart, and Terrana screamed. She lashed out at the reflection, hitting her face over and over again.

"
Baneyon's not going to die! I won't let him, you hear me? I won't let him
!"

Fear ripped through her. Baneyon was her only family — she couldn't live without him. She had lost everyone she loved back home, she was not going to let it happen again. If it was the last thing she'd do, she was going to protect the people she loved — she would not be weak and helpless, not if she could help it.

The room was suddenly silent and Terrana looked around, startled. It was empty. Her hands throbbed and she looked down at her fists. They were bruised and bleeding. She looked at the glass wall in front of her and saw it was smeared with blood — there was no sign of the other girl. Terrana began to shake — had she imagined her?

It didn't matter. She wiped the tears from her face using her sleeve, and then bolted out the door. She had to find Prince Gil Ra Im.

She raced across the school grounds, frantic and desperate. She prayed that the prince hadn't left without her. Up ahead, the warm glow of the stables seeped through the darkness of the night, and she surged ahead. She spotted something large cantering away from the stables, and even as she watched, it raced into the darkness, taking flight.

"
Nooo! Wait
!" she screamed, still running. "Prince Gil Ra Im, waaaait!" But he didn't hear her. Terrana watched with a breaking heart as he and Dragoth vanished into the shadows of the sky.

"
Prince Gil Ra Immm
!" Her voice shattered the night silence and she collapsed to the ground, sobbing. She was too late. He had left without her.

"Terrana?"

Terrana wiped her tears and looked up. Lorn was standing over her, his face etched with concern. There was a large, silver cross-bow attached to his right hand. He quickly depressed a panel on the side of the cross-bow, and the weapon folded up, wrapping around his hand. It now looked like a prosthetic limb. Someone moved behind him, and Terrana recognised Mikin. He looked even more worried than Lorn.

"Terrana, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" Lorn asked.

"It doesn't matter," she mumbled, standing up.

"Of course it matters. You're out here in the middle of the night screaming the prince's name. Did he do something to you?"

She supposed it was inevitable that they had heard her. She had been screaming her lungs out. Terrana shook her head. "He's gone. He left without me." She couldn't help it — the tears squeezed past her eyes as emotions got the better of her. She stood there, cutting a sad and pathetic figure. Lorn pulled her into his chest and held her tightly. Mikin also stepped closer and reached out to squeeze her hand.

"He really did a number on you, didn't he?" muttered Lorn.

Terrana didn't answer. Somehow, standing there in the middle of the pet grounds with her two friends, she didn't feel alone. Just knowing that they were there for her lent her strength. For the last few days, she had been keeping her distance from them, wanting time alone to figure out her thoughts and feelings. She had hurt them, she knew, by choosing to keep her own counsel when they had been trying to reach out to her.

"Terrana, don't cry," Mikin said softly. "Whatever it is that's bothering you, you can talk to us.
But only when you are ready. We won't force you and we'll be here. Just please, don't push us away."

Terrana nodded into the folds of Lorn's jacket, squeezing Mikin's hand in response. She felt safe in Lorn's arms, not wishing to leave the protection he offered. She picked up on his scent and felt his heart beating strongly. It reminded her of the powerful wings of a bird, becoming louder as it approached. Terrana stiffened.

So did Lorn and Mikin. Lorn pulled her back suddenly as something large and powerful descended from the sky. It came to a running halt on the ground. Terrana turned around to see Prince Gil Ra Im dismounting from Dragoth.

"F-
fa-faar!" Mikin stuttered, his eyes glued to Dragoth's magnificence. Clearly he was torn between running closer to get a better look at the faar, or running away. He did the wiser thing instead, and remained where he was.

The prince walked over, his eyes taking in the way Lorn held onto Terrana.

"You were late," he said to Terrana.

"I'm s-sorry," she replied.

He nodded. "Then let's go."

Terrana moved to follow him, but Lorn pulled her back.

"Hold on!" he said in a rough voice. "First, Terrana, you have nothing to apologise for. Being late doesn't mean he can reduce you to this state. If anything, he needs to be the one to apologise."

The prince flashed him an amused look. "I don't have time for this," he said with disdain. He looked at Terrana again. "Are you coming or not?"

"I'm coming!" cried Terrana. She turned to Lorn, her eyes apologetic. "I'm sorry, Lorn, but I need to go with him. There's something I must do."

"Tell me now," Lorn said. "Where are you going?"

"To Si Ren —"

"It's none of your business!" Prince Gil Ra Im walked up to Terrana and grabbed her hand. "Let's go!"

Lorn drew in a sharp breath and pulled Terrana back. "Tell me you weren't going to say Si Ren Da!"

The look in her eyes told him it was so.

"Terrana!" he uttered in disbelief. "Si Ren Da is a dangerous planet! It's home to the dratkaars! Why in Dartkala's name would you want to go there?"

"My guardian's in danger, Lorn. He needs help. He's the only family I have – I, I can't lose him!"

"Terrana, your guardian is an
Imeldor
. He's more than capable of looking after himself!" Lorn gave the prince a furious look. "It's suicide to take her there! You may be the prince of Sector Six, and you may be powerful, but Terrana isn't! You're putting her in danger!"

"I don't have time to listen to you," said the prince. His eyes glittered with impatience. "Terrana, get onto Dragoth."

"Terrana!" Mikin cried out, running up to her. "Lorn is right! You can't leave! If you breach the school boundaries, you'll be expelled from Minda Yerra. Please, don't go. We can find help some other way."

But Terrana didn't listen. Her hand slid out of Lorn's grasp and she ran to Dragoth. She didn't look behind as she ran. When she reached Dragoth, she grabbed hold of his mane and pulled herself up, only to find herself being dragged down. She found herself staring into Lorn's livid face.

"You're not going anywhere!" he said.

"Lorn, please —"

He was suddenly flung back and Terrana was lifted into the air by an invisible force, and promptly dropped onto Dragoth. The prince leapt up behind her. In the distance, several lights zoomed towards them while more circled the sky above.

"Terrana!"
Mikin cried. "Those lights are the school's security bots. You can't escape them! Please, think about what you're doing. If they think you're trying to leave the boundary, they will use force. And you'll be expelled."

Terrana gave him a pained look. "I'm sorry, Mikin, but I have to go. Baneyon's life is in danger." Mikin's worried face was the last thing she saw as Dragoth broke into a run. Terrana held on for a dear life as the faar sprinted across the ground, trying to gain enough speed to lift into the air. A figure swung around Dragoth's neck, coming to land in front of her. Lorn's fist flew past her head and connected squarely with the prince's jaw. Prince Gil Ra Im fell back. Terrana screamed.

"You're not taking Terrana anywhere," Lorn snarled, wrapping his arms around Terrana. He tried to pull her off, but she resisted, clinging to Dragoth with every bit of her strength.

Prince Gil Ra Im recovered from Lorn's blow and sat up. Because Terrana was between them, he leapt over her to land behind Lorn. He wrapped his arms around Lorn's neck and squeezed. As they struggled, Dragoth was already lifting off the ground.

Keep going, Dragoth! The bots have already spotted us!

Dragoth beat his wings harder and they rose into the air quickly.
Throw him off while you can, young prince.

"
Stop it
!" Terrana screamed. "Prince, let him go! You're hurting him!"

But neither boy listened to her as they fought to beat the life out of each other. A loud, whistling noise erupted behind them, and Dragoth swerved to the left. Terrana nearly fell off and she leaned forwards to hold onto the fighting boys. The air was suddenly lit up by a network of lines that wavered like a fluorescent jellyfish in a dark sea.

"
Dragoth, get out now
!" shouted the prince. Dragoth began to rise even higher. Silver light glowed from the edges of his wings and scales crept over his body. He was climbing at a sharp incline and all three passengers were forced to cling to him as they rose into the sky. Any hope that Lorn had of jumping off with Terrana was now dashed. Behind them, the bots gave chase, shooting nets, which Dragoth avoided easily.

"What's happening?" shouted a panicked Terrana as her legs began to dissolve in the silver light. She wasn't the only one it was happening to; both the prince and Lorn appeared to be melting into the faar.

"Dragoth's qi is absorbing us," said the prince. "We are going to lose our physical forms before we leave the atmosphere." The wind raced by, but Terrana didn't feel it. What she felt was worse — it was the familiar sensation of having every cell sucked from her body as Dragoth absorbed her. It was nauseating and made her feel dizzy.

Like a comet in the night, Dragoth shot into the sky. Silver qi flowed off his body like glittering stardust, propelling the faar like a rocket through the planet's atmosphere.