C. Bryant - Broken

And then she thought about Altaria. Lydia forcing Al’s spirit into her was the only other change. It made her wonder how connected Al was to her. They couldn’t share their thoughts, but she could hear Kira’s voice. Did Altaria also see through Kira’s eyes and feel what she felt?

“Crap!” She’d felt a lot of pain during her torture. What if Al had experienced everything she had? “Al, I’m so sorry for all this. I can’t begin to understand how you feel, trapped inside me.”

Kira’s heart rate increased and warmth filled her body. Al is still with me. “I’m sorry about Lydia. I promise I’ll figure something out. There’s got to be a way to get you out of me.” Kira lay back on the bed, curled up into a ball, and began to cry. Not uncontrollable sobs like before, but a deeper silent sorrow. She knew getting Al’s spirit out of her was impossible and she was pretty sure Altaria knew it, too. Without Lydia’s body, she had no place to go.

Kira didn’t know how long she lay there, but at some point she fell asleep. When she woke, darkness filled the room and there was no sign of Ussay or Octavion. The cool night air gave her a chill so she pulled the covers over her body and drew them up around her shoulders. She tried to listen for any sounds from beyond her door, but heard only silence. Even the sounds of life coming from outside the castle had quieted. Her stomach ached from hunger and her body shivered from cold and fear.

Kira woke with a start. Heavy footsteps approaching outside the door made her sink further under the covers. Their quick and uneven cadence told her they weren’t Octavion’s. When they stopped, the door creaked open and a small stream of golden light splashed across the floor.

“Kira?” a strange man’s voice grumbled. He cleared his throat and stepped further into the room, closing the door behind him.

She sat up and pushed her back against the headboard, wincing when it grazed the tender wounds left from Zerek's whip. “Who are you? Get out of my room.”

“Kira, it is Luka. I am not going to hurt you.” He came closer and put the small candle he held up to his face. “Do not be afraid.”

She’d shot Luka in the shoulder with an arrow when he’d come to earth to help fight Shandira. She thought he was their enemy then and she still wasn’t certain he didn’t aim to get even for the pain she’d caused him. She scanned the room for something she could use as a weapon-and found nothing. “Where’s Octavion? Why isn’t he here?”

“He sent me to get you.” He stepped closer.

“No, he wouldn’t do that. Where is he? I want to see him.”

“He cannot come, Kira. It is not safe.” Luka came even closer and put the candle on the table next to the bed. “I am to take you away from the castle.”

Kira scooted further away. “No! Octavion would never allow that. He said I was safe here. I'm not leaving unless he tells me himself. Get out!” she yelled. “And where’s Ussay?”

“I sent her home. They have all gone home. You are the last one in the castle and we need to get you out.” He sat on the edge of the bed and slipped something from his pocket. When he poured a white powder into the palm of his hand, Kira knew instantly what he was about to do. Octavion had used that powder on her before and no way was Luka blowing that crap in her face. She took in a deep breath and held it. When he put his hand up between them, she leaned forward and blew. The fine powder flew right into his face. He tried to wipe it away, blow it off his lips, but he’d already drawn it into his lungs.

“Kira, what have you done?” Genuine fear flashed in his eyes and for a moment Kira almost regretted doing it. But the adrenaline raging through her blood made her certain she’d made the right choice. She had to get to Octavion. He was the only one she trusted.

Luka stumbled back, collapsed to his knees, then crumpled to the floor. “Kira. . you will die.”

Kira knew she didn’t have much time, so she jumped off the other side of the bed and told her shaky legs to run. When she got to the door, she grabbed the handle and gave it a tug, but it didn’t open. “No!” She ran back and searched Luka’s pockets for a key, but found nothing. “Luka, where is it?” She returned to the door and tried again. When it didn’t open, she slammed her fists against the door and screamed. “Octavion!”

Off in the distance, she heard the ferocious cry of a wild cat. It echoed through the castle, but didn’t seem to come from the other side of the door. She followed the sound, creeping along the bookshelf to the corner of the room near the arched doorway that led to the closet. She called out again. “Octavion, where are you?” Another roar rang out, but this time she recognized it.

Octavion.

Then she heard it-the solid slap of metal hitting stone. All she could think about was Octavion being injured in her world and the way Altaria had chained him to a tree so Kira could heal him without him lashing out. The sight of him bound like that broke her heart. She didn’t care how much of his beast controlled him now, she had to be sure he was all right.

She ran her hand around the outside of the book case until she felt a cool breeze coming from a small crack between the wall and the wooden frame. Bracing her shoulder against it, she pushed as hard as she could. It gave way, folding back into a small room. A blast of cold air hit her. She squinted into the inky black, but only dark shadows filled the space before her.

She ran back to the table and retrieved the candle, stepping over Luka’s paralyzed body. As she turned and took another step, a sharp pain pierced the bottom of her foot. She stumbled and fell against the dresser, almost dropping the candle.

“ Crap! ” Kira lifted her foot and pulled a small piece of the shattered mirror out of her foot. Blood smeared along the stone floor. She grabbed one of the linens from the dresser, dipped it in the wash basin and cleansed the blood from her foot. This was a bad idea-approaching Octavion with an open wound. But how else could she be sure he was okay? For all she knew, the castle could have been taken over by their enemies and he could be in trouble. Why else would he leave her alone? And why had Ussay disappeared without a word?

Grabbing the hem of her slip, she cut it with her teeth and ripped off a small strip. She wrapped it around her foot, grabbed the candle and limped toward the opening.

“Ki-ra.” Luka groaned. The effects of the powder were wearing off. Luka would get his strength back soon and keep her from finding Octavion. She was out of time.

Kira squeezed behind the bookcase and pushed the shelves back in place. Once inside, the candle gave enough light for her to see she was under a large staircase. A narrow corridor ran down one side, a small wooden door at the end. She slid the large metal bolt and pushed the door open. She’d only taken one step when she heard another painful cry.

“Octavion? Where are you?” Kira called.

“Kira, no!” Kira could barely recognize Octavion’s voice through the deep raspiness of his transformation. Another roar rang out, followed by the clanking of chains. Now she was sure-someone had locked him up. Determination fueled her focus-she had to get to him. She had to set him free.

The walls of the room were curved, making a perfect circle around her. A narrow staircase wound around the room going up and down. His voice came from below her, so she began her descent. Half way down, the brief surge of adrenaline she’d used to get herself moving started to fade and her knees trembled. “Al, if you're still with me, I need you. I can’t stop now.” Subtle warmth filled her chest and she knew she could keep going. “Thank you.” She braced herself against the wall and continued downward. She heard Luka above, calling her name, but ignored him. The further she went, the more light filled the staircase. When she reached the bottom, it opened into a large room. Her first impression reminded her of Octavion’s lair.