Anne Winchell - The Last War

He had never seen Atheus before but recognized him. The crimson díamont. He appeared as dark as Medane’s but as the sun reflected against him, the diamond shell covering his body gleamed blood red. Atheus was walking down the center of the street, casually slamming his fist into old fuel cars and any buildings within his reach. He wasn’t destroying much, just enough to attract attention. Galley faced him and the two of them must have spoken. Raven wished the cameras allowed sound. He had to watch the díamonts’ body language to figure out what was being said, and it was almost impossible to deduce anything from their thick, shield-like exteriors.

Atheus sprang forward and Raven flinched, the same as Kaela and everyone else watching. The two started fighting, and Kaela started looking around. It seemed as though she were looking for a place with a better view but he wished she would just focus on the fight. The screen shifted to brick for a few moments, then Kaela was looking down on the díamonts from above. Raven had to admit that it was a much better view and allowed for him to see who was closest to the díamonts.

Raven was busy studying the bystanders, trying to find familiar faces, when a blue blur shot out from Galley’s hand and struck Atheus. The crimson díamont fell backwards. Keeping one screen on Kaela’s live view, he replayed the scene on another. It was almost as if Galley had shot a laser gun, but there was no sign of a weapon. In the live view, Atheus remained down and Galley collapsed as well. Onlookers immediately swarmed Galley and Raven was willing to bet that Kaela was cursing as the crowd blocked her seemingly excellent vantage point. When people started moving away, Galley was gone.

Raven replayed the scene several times, aware that Kaela was heading back to the Inn. Galley must have transformed into a human right there on the street, and of course the people would protect him. Raven watched the laser again and came to the conclusion that it must have rebounded to hit Galley as well, causing both of them to collapse. He didn’t worry much about Atheus being left there; the díamont was safe enough and wouldn’t try another attack after being beaten by a newcomer. Raven didn’t know much about Atheus but he knew the díamont was extremely proud and vengeful. Atheus would plot revenge, but not so close to a defeat.

The screen to Raven’s right showed Kaela arriving at the Inn and locating Nalia, the woman who had accepted Raven’s codes yesterday. Raven had never seen Nalia before but she was clearly a person of power. Smart of Kaela to find her so quickly. He studied Nalia as she talked to Kaela, probably reassuring her that Galley was fine. Nalia was beautiful, with long hazel eyes that were slanted slightly and clear, amber skin. She looked almost like someone from the Asian state, but her hair was a rich mahogany usually found in the West. Her eyes focused on Kaela’s, and Raven watched her pupils constrict and her expression change to one of surprise. She had seen the camera. Impossible, but Raven knew it was true.

Nalia backed away and Raven saw her leave the building. Kaela must not have noticed anything because she remained. Raven tapped his fingers against the keyboard, fighting the impulse to leave the building and follow her. If Nalia had seen something, she would blow their cover. Even if she hadn’t, perhaps she could be a useful hostage. He checked the gun at his waist and paused as he left the building. He should leave a note for Kaela, but there was no time if he wanted to track down Nalia. If she were going to warn Galley, he needed to stop her fast.

Raven sidled across the rooftops, easily escaping the notice of people on the ground. It was late in the day and the shadows were long, and his dark outfit blended in with the tall pipes and chimneys jutting out of the roofs. He spotted a woman just two blocks from Grader’s. She was leaning against the wall and gasping for breath. His mind flashed to what Kaela’s experience in Portland and he wondered if someone had dared to attack her in the middle of the street. He leapt down without thinking. It was Nalia, and she couldn’t seem to catch her breath.

“Are you alright?” he asked, reaching out to take her arm.

In response, her eyes shut and she went limp. He caught her before she hit the ground and checked her pulse. She was cold to the touch with a weak pulse. She needed help. He lifted her up and carefully carried her back to the small room he and Kaela had claimed. It was part of an old, abandoned apartment complex and Raven brought the unconscious women into an adjacent room. He set her down, then grabbed blankets from his room and bundled her up. She was still breathing and seemed a little warmer. He left her and scouted out the nearby rooms, finding a decrepit mattress and several thick blankets. Raven brought them back and attempted to make the woman comfortable.

She was young, he realized, much younger than he’d thought. He and Kaela had brought quite a lot of supplies and Raven returned to his room to prepare a warm drink. As a precaution, he also grabbed a pair of handcuffs. When the tea was finished, he brought it to the girl. She managed to lift her head and take a sip, and seemed a little more awake. He cuffed her to a sturdy pipe running up the wall. Her eyes closed again and he placed a hand on her forehead. Normal temp, steady pulse.

He heard footsteps behind him and jumped to his feet, drawing his gun on instinct. It was Kaela, staring at him and the woman in confusion. Raven put his gun away and felt his cheeks heating. He tried to explain what had happened, how Nalia had seen something and how he had gone to trail her in case she went to Galley, and how she had collapsed, but his explanation sounded more like after-the-fact rationalizing than a premeditated course of action.

Kaela shrugged when he finished and left without a word. She looked hurt for some reason, but he wasn’t sure why. He would have let her know that he was leaving if he had had the time. He wanted to follow Kaela and explain his actions and do something to get rid of the pain in her eyes, but he didn’t. Couldn’t. Was afraid to, Raven finally admitted to himself. If he shared something personal with Kaela, he knew she would be kind and accepting, everything he needed in a friend. They would become close. Maybe he would even feel safe, the way he had before his parents were killed. But someday she would die, and he would be left alone again. No, Raven thought. He couldn’t stand that kind of pain again. He couldn’t give in to the temptation to trust Kaela; he needed to keep their relationship distant and professional.

After checking Nalia one last time and reassuring himself that she was recovering, Raven followed Kaela, hoping they could figure out Galley’s identity quickly and go their separate ways.

Nalia woke up with a pounding headache. Her mouth was dry and the wrist with her bracelet stung as though it were cutting into her skin. She rubbed her wrist and hesitated as her other arm felt heavy. She opened her eyes and realized that she wasn’t at home in her room. She was in a strange place, and there was a metal cuff around her wrist tying her to a pipe in the wall. Her heart pounded and she shuddered at the thought of what would happen if she turned into a díamont like this. The chain, possibly even the pipe, would become extensions of her body the same way her jewelry had when she was younger.

The room was small. Her head was throbbing too much to look around properly but she knew she was still in the slums by the blankets covering her and the peeling walls and exposed pipes. There was probably a window, but the thought of sunlight made her eyes water.

“Drink this,” a man’s voice said.

He was tall, with a slim build, dressed all in black. Only elite government officials wore black, she knew. She wondered what someone like him was doing in the slums. She took the cup he offered. It was warm and felt good against her hands. She sniffed it cautiously. It smelled like tea.