Chaos Rising: Dawn of the Hybrid

IV - Slithering Evil Part 2

Staring wide-eyed at the Minister, I've come to realize that my life's like watching Dominoes. One piece falls, out goes the rest. The only difference was that watching my life fall apart wasn't fun. It wasn't even remotely satisfying.

My heart was beating so loud, I thought a moth was trapped inside my ear and I could not hear anything except for the fluttering of its wings against my eardrum. The thoughts in my head were mashing together, I could hardly think. Add to that fact that I haven't had a good night's sleep, voila! A recipe for total disaster. My head shook in a slow, absent-minded fashion. I need coffee. Strong, black, triple-caffeinated coffee. "I can't do that," I muttered, pushing the thought of hot cups of dark and bitter beverages away. "I don't want to stay here. No offense to you, Minister, but I don't like you. I cannot picture myself training under your supervision, much less spend my waking hours with you."

If Carlisle's uncle was offended, he didn't show it on his face. His features remained blank and expressionless. The artificial bluish-white light of the LED lamp on the ceiling cast a weird glow on him. He almost looked like a statue. Cold and lifeless. "This is not a matter of whether you like it or not, Kaylene. I don't like demons invading the mortal realm, yet here we are, plagued with such a dilemma. Do I have a choice?" he asked as he placed both of his hands behind his back. He then paced around his table and stopped just in front of me. "Fate is like gambling. You handle the cards you are dealt with. Same with this matter of yours. Even though you did not ask for any of these, the cards are already in your hand. It is now up to you on how you play them."

"Then I choose not to play."

Minister Addersworth scoffed. "Very well," he remarked as he turned his back to me. "You leave me with no choice--"

"Whatever you have in mind, you cannot lay a hand on Kay," Jason interjected, much to my surprise. He jumped in the conversation with such suddenness that the Minister's words were cut off. Somehow, he had stepped in front of me, his hands drawn back as though motioning me to stay behind him. "I don't care who you are, but you are not hurting my best friend."

Minister Samuel looked over his shoulder, showing us the side profile of his face. For a weird moment, I thought his nose was shaped like the beak of a falcon. I blinked hard to shake the thought away. When I focused my gaze back to him, he was smiling. "I appreciate your fierce protectiveness over Lady Strongheart, young Reeves. You will make for a great second- in- command. You remind me of me," he said.

"I'm nothing like you," Jason hissed and I heard the crackling of flames. All of a sudden, white fire blazed on both of his hands.

At that, Malachi who had been standing by the doorway exploded into action. He was fast for a man his size. One second he was behind us, the next he was in front of Jason, burning silver sword in hand. He pointed the tip of his Angelic blade toward Jay's face. "I do not like the way you speak to the Minister, young man."

My instincts took over and I found myself summoning my sword. Behind me, I heard Michael call upon his weapon, too. I didn't hear Carlisle's voice, but I was sure he wouldn't act against his own uncle.

"There's no need for that, Malachi," declared the Minister, his voice eeriely calm, it was frightening. "In fact, there is no need for violence. You can unsummon your weapons now, and that goes for everyone."

Despite the pounding of my heart, I did as I was told. With a flick of my wrist, I unsummoned my sword. When my blade disappeared into thin air, a soft whooshing sound told me that Michael had done the same. However, Jay's mage fire remained blazing around his clenched fists. "Jason," I said in a low voice. "It's alright. You can douse the White Flame."

He didn't not look back at me. Instead, he shook his head like the stubborn teenager that he was.

Oh, look who's talking, Kay?

"No," insisted Jason. "I am not doing so until I know that you are safe. I will not let this decorated old man and his bouncer threaten you."

Malachi snarled. "One more word out of your mouth and I will cut your tongue off!"

"That's enough, Malachi. He's just a boy who's protecting his friend."

"But, Minister, this insolent boy has to be taught some mann--"

"I SAID 'ENOUGH!'" The Minister's voice soared through the confines of his office at the same time he summoned his Angelic graces. Two massive white-feathered wings unfolded behind his back and his light blonde hair became more golden. He was just like any ordinary Soul Dealer, but the power and aura that burst from him were enough to send shivers to my spine.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I realized Minister Addersworth was a force to be reckoned with.

With a grunt, Malachi drew his sword away from Jason's face. He flicked his wrist and his sword vanished. "You're lucky that the Minister is forgiving," he hissed and then proceeded to go back to his usual spot by the door.

"Yeah, follow your master, you puppy," Jason sneered as he shot Malachi a dark look.

"Stop acting childish, Jason Reeves," breathed the Minister, his tone a warning. He then unsummoned his Angelic graces and turned around to face us.

Jason's muscles tensed for a startled moment. When he gathered himself, he eased his stance and doused his mage fire.

"Now that everyone has calmed down, shall I continue with what I was saying?"

No one answered the Minister but he proceeded to speak nonetheless. His gaze fell on me."You really are a piece of work. Just like your father, Kaylene," he went on. "I am starting to think that maybe all Chazaklevs are just like you. Hard-headed. Strong-willed. Hence your names."

I did not know if what he said was an insult, but I took it as compliment. "Cut to the chase, Soul Minister. What are you going to tell me? What are you going to do to me?"

He took a sharp inhale and leaned his back against the edge of the table. He eyed me from head to toe as though he was assessing if I was a threat. "Nothing actually," he blurted out.

I was baffled. "What?" I asked as I looked around me. Jason shared the same confused look, Michael's gaze was on the floor and Carlisle looked like he shat himself. I ventured my eyes back to the Minister. "What do you mean 'nothing?' After all that crap you told me about the Ordinance and whatnot, you'll just tell me those were for 'nothing?'"

Old Goldilocks nodded his head. "Well, you are Lady Strongheart, after all. Though you are subject to the Ordinance, I cannot charge you with treason. Your punishment would not come from the race of the Soul Dealers for we are bound to follow a Chazaklev. Your punishment would come from the Angel himself."

At once, a nameless terror gripped me. My stomach churned at the thought of an Angel punishing me for refusing to obey his orders. My teeth started to chatter at the same time my lips began to quiver. I tried hard to conjure words, but my mouth just closed and opened like a fish's. Images of possible enactment of Divine justice flashed vividly inside my mind. Will the Angel drive his sword through my heart? Will he rid me of my powers and turn me into a Shetland pony? Will the Angel send me to Hell? The possibilities were endless.

"But fret not, Kaylene," announced Minister Samuel, plucking me out of my spiraling anxiety. "Your day of reckoning is not upon you yet."

"W-What do y-you mean?" You've been asking that phrase a little too often these days, Kay.

"I am giving you a chance to think this over. Go back to New York and contemplate whether you would turn your back against the legacy of your ancestors." Minister Samuel walked back to his chair. He patted the dust off his seat and sat down with a sigh. "You must think quick as waiting is a luxury we cannot afford in these perilous times... Three sunrises. Three sunsets. Three days, Kaylene." He crossed his hands on top of the table. "You have three days to decide, Lady Strongheart."