Incompatible: Whole Thing

Incompatible1

Chapter 12

She was lying in the middle of the road. Phillip had to rein his cantering horse suddenly in order to keep from trampling her. His long black cloak billowed behind him as Phillip dismounted to look at the girl. From the tracks he could tell that her attackers had taken advantage of the way the road wound around the cliffs to obscure view. The tracks revealed that the girl’s horse had reared when the bandits arrived suddenly. The girl was thrown from the horse and was robbed. Phillip now looked at the girl. She couldn’t have been more than 13 by the looks of her. Her left eye was swollen shut, cuts and slashes appeared all over her body; she had given the bandits a run for her money but was outmatched. Phillip examined the girl and knew that her wounds gave her little chance of survival. So Phillip wrapped the girl in a blanket and lifted her gingerly. Almost immediately a black stallion rushed forth from behind another bend in the road. Phillip panicked and accidentally dropped the girl, which made the horse calm down a bit. It went over and nuzzled the girl who began to gain consciousness. 3

The horse turned to glare at Phillip [Leave now.] came a voice in his mind.4

The telepathic abilities of the horse surprised Phillip, nonetheless he responded, “Will she be alright?” 5

The horse looked at the girl, [With help and time.] The stallion bent down and the girl mounted feebly. 6

“I could be the help.” The horse nodded. The girl sat up, winced and looked at Phillip while looking at Phillip. “How are you feeling?” Phillip knew it was a stupid question to ask but the girl’s stare made him uneasy and he didn’t know what else to say. 7

“I can’t remember anything.” She said, “nothing but fear.” When she said this, shadows flocked to her and she was hidden in a thick, dense cloud of black fog. Phillip made a note in his head to tell his daughter Helena about the fog. 8

“Do you remember your name?” The cloud dissipated as fast as it had appeared as the girl’s thoughts turned to her name. 9

“No.” she said after a long pause. 10

“You don’t remember where you’re going then?” the girl shook her head. “Why don’t you come to my house to mend, it’s only a short distance away and maybe you’ll remember more after a few days.” The girl nodded so they rode off. 11

They arrived at Phillip’s house long after dark. Helena was waiting up for Phillip and didn’t look the least bit surprised when she saw Phillip helping the girl. 12

“How was the ride in?” she asked to no one in particular. 13

“Cold and windy.” Responded Phillip. Helena showed the girl to the spare room they reserved for guests. When she came back, Helena took her father aside. 14

“So what’s the reason behind this one?” Phillip explained the tracks and how the girl’s fall had somehow made her lose her memory. 15

“Why doesn’t the horse know where to go?” asked Helena when he was done. 16

“He’s not her horse. The tracks indicate that he belonged to one of the bandits.” Phillip paused, “Not only that… she has a venix.” 17

Helena looked at her father, “Now you’ve really lost your mind. Her hair is black as ebony! It’s a dark contrast between our blonde hair. There is no way she could be a Sunfire.” 18

“Of course not, no, she’s a Moon.” 19

Now Helena was truly outraged: “How do we know Valkyrie didn’t send her?” Phillip looked at his feet. 20

“One night.” He said, looking up, “If you find something, fine. Until then she stays.” Phillip turned and walked off. 21

Helena went to the spare room to see how the girl was settling in. She found the girl sitting on the bed, “What’s a ‘venix’?” 22

“Have you been eavesdropping?” The girl shook her head; “Phillip mentioned it on the ride here.” 23

“I’ll tell you when you’re ready.” As she studied the girl Helena noticed her wounds and the blood that was oozing from them. “Gracious, how can you even walk?” the girl shrugged. Helena left, but returned with some bandages and ointment. The girl received her treatment without complaint despite the occasional wince. It was then that Helena came up with a name for the girl: Silenia. 24

In the weeks that followed Silenia’s injuries healed and no one came looking for her. As summer passed by and fall approached Phillip decided to enroll Silenia in a school to train her venix, so he sat Silenia down and explained everything to her. 25

“A venix is the power to control either light or shadows. Good people who control light are called Sunfires. They tend to have blonde hair and are much more common than Sunspots. Sunspots are evil people with the Sun venix, they tend to have dirty blond hair. As a result, most people assume that Suns are good. Evil Moon venixes are called Moonsiders and good Moons are called Moonbeams, they all mostly have black hair. Needless to say people assume all Moons are evil becomes Moonsiders are much more common then Moonbeams. The reason I’m telling you this is because next week you are going to attend a school that will teach you how to use your power.” Silenia nodded her understanding. 26

The next week Silenia rode the stallion she had gotten from the bandits, now named Lucian, and rode to school. 27

[Are you nervous?] Asked Lucian, Silenia shrugged. The school’s headmaster, Cole Dawson, knew that Silenia was coming and ushered her to the room where 7 classmates were already waiting. Mr. Dawson gave a quick list of names: David Priscilla, Lawrence, Diane, Jessica, Alyssa and Michael. All of them were Sunfires. Dian and Jessica went to discuss a certain move. Lawrence and Michael walked around talking about whatever book they had just read. This left David, Silenia, Priscilla and Alyssa to themselves. 28

“Dawson was smart about the pairings. David’s good at explaining things.” Commented Alyssa. 29

“So how does this all work?” asked Silenia. 30

“We pair up and help each other learn, sometimes we have mock fights with each other. Dawson takes some of us aside sometimes but most of the time he just gives us pointers.” Explained Priscilla, “We should split up, classes are starting.” Priscilla and Alyssa went off on their own.31

“Try grabbing that shadow.” Said David pointing to a dark corner. Silenia stretched out her arm and pinched at the shadow. 32

“Now pull it toward you.” She did, and was surprised when the Shadow spring toward her. “It’s supposed to do that.” Said David when she jumped back and accidentally let go. “Eventually you’ll be able to pull the shadow just by thinking it.” He added. 33

“Can you do that with Light?” asked Silenia. 34

“Sometimes, only if I’m concentrating very hard.” He admitted. 35

In just a few weeks Silenia had gotten to the point where she was having sparring matches with David, like all the other pairs. The two were perfectly matched but there was one move that David could never block: the Rose. While keeping David occupied with thought-controlled shadows Silenia would use her hands to make a rose-shaped shadow. She would then throw it like a dart at David, causing the thorns on the rose to shout out and further occupy him. The last part was when Silenia would trip him causing the attack from the other shadows to become stronger. Naturally Silenia would call the shadows off and catch David’s fall. Mr. Dawson watched the move several times, and studied it hard; he was impressed with his student’s progress.36

It was deep into winter when Valkyrie came. Silenia knew Valkyrie was one of the few Sunspots, but nothing else. Mr. Dawson tried to keep it that way. He felt it coming and he wanted to at least protect his students. 37

“Priscilla, get them out.” He said. 38

“Why?” asked Diane. 39

“She’s coming.” He whispered. At that moment the doors to the school flew open and a woman with dirty-blonde hair strode through the shattered doorframe. 40

“It’s been a long time Dawson.” Said the woman. 41

“I’m surprised you didn’t come sooner.” He said, motioning for the students to get out while they could. Silenia backed off but fell into a classroom doorway. The others followed her example, David stuck with Silenia and they both watched in horror as Mr. Dawson tried to combat Valkyrie but was struck down like a fly. 42

“David,” whispered Silenia, “you have to get the others out of here.” 43

“Where are you going?” David didn’t get a response, Silenia stepped out from the doorway and faced Valkyrie. Before she could do anything, Silenia was performing the Rose. David rushed up, grabbed the unconscious Mr. Dawson and snuck one last glance at Silenia. Valkyrie hit the ground with a thud then vanished. Silenia grabbed her cloak and went to find her classmates, who were all standing outside the door. Priscilla was taking charge, as usual, and told everyone to go home. Alyssa was tending to the now irritated Mr. Dawson. 44

“Where did she run off to?” he asked, “For goodness sake Alyssa, I don’t need your first-aid I’m just fine. Now answer my question.” Priscilla, David and Silenia went over to Dawson, who repeated his question. Silenia shrugged. 45

“Whoa.” Everyone looked at David, who appeared to be having one of his visions. “A house… burning. Scorched and charred. People. There are people standing outside the remains. Someone died there. Someone is missing…” David blinked; the vision was over. 46

Alyssa ushered her patient out of the cold, “Like it or not you are getting my first-aid.” 47

“I think I’ll head home.” Said Silenia, she whistled for Lucian and bid her friends goodbye.48

When Silenia arrived at home, panic overtook her: David’s vision had been for her. The house was smoking from a dead fire. Silenia rushed inside and saw Valkyrie standing over Phillip. 49

“Now my revenge is complete. Although it is too bad that I couldn’t get the daughter.” 50

Silenia’s voice was shaking with anger when she shouted “She’s gone and you’ll never get her. She doesn’t live here anymore.” But Valkyrie was already gone. Silenia rushed to Phillip, but he was already dead. [It happened because of me.] Thought Silenia. In that instant she knew what had to be done. She packed a bag containing whatever food or money hadn’t been burned by Valkyrie. Silenia went back outside, mounted Lucian and left with nary a sound. 51

Chapter 252

Six years later53

The guard opened the gates reluctantly for the minstrel. Silenia wouldn’t have minded if he had closed them; she would have preferred to look at the nearby sea anyway She had traveled for 5 years under the alias of a minstrel named Darine. During the first year she had barely stayed alive, after she became Darine things were easier. Otherwise, Silenia hadn’t changed much. 54

Once inside the king’s castle, Silenia went to the dining hall to giver her performance. It was short, according to plan. What Silenia had not expected was for the princess herself to block her exit. 55

“You’re going to take off again after 6 years?” 56

“I have business to attend to.” Said Silenia, bowing her head and hoping that the hood of her cloak would hide her face. 57

“Look at me Silen.” Her old pet name caught Silenia off guard and she obeyed. 58

“Priscilla?” she asked after a few minutes of study. 59

“The same.” The two friends embraced. “Now, I’ll let you outside, but tell me where you have been?” 60

“Around.” 61

“I’ve been looking for you as well as I can, but this marriage comes with a lot of strings.” 62

“What did you want to tell me?” 63

“Go see Helena. She thinks you’re dead.” 64

“Maybe.” Said Silenia, unconvincingly. The pair was outside now and Silenia whistled for Lucian. 65

“Also, watch your back. Valkyrie’s been on the hunt for Moonbeams.” 66

“Why the sudden interest?” 67

“Some prophecy from David the Oracle. ‘A girl and her brother. One of Sun, one of Moon. Their coming spells doom for one and relief for all.’” 68

“Wait… our David? The one from school?” 69

Priscilla shrugged, “I doubt it. Don’t you go running off to see; I won’t have you walking into Valkyrie’s clutches if it is him.” 70

Silenia mounted, “Take care.” 71

“You too, go and see Helena. She’ll be glad to know you’re alive.” 72

“I’d rather not, also, please keep Silenia between us.” 73

Priscilla was slightly angered, “I never understood why you left all those years ago, and I don’t understand why you won’t see your sister. At least let me send word to her.” 74

“NO! She mustn’t know.” 75

“Tell me why.” 76

“I have to keep my conscience clear. I don’t want any more deaths on my head.” Silenia put the hood of her cloak on and cantered off. 77

David had just gotten home when he heard a rapid series of knocks on his door; he didn’t go to open it. 78

“Open the door, I know you’re in there.” David still didn’t open it; he hadn’t heard that voice in years. When a shadow crept under the door to unlock it, David unsheathed the sword on his hip. The door creaked open, and a cloaked figure started to creep in. David had his sword at the figure’s throat in an instant. Silenia tripped David backwards by sheer instinct, but caught him at the last second. 79

“What have you been doing David?” David didn’t say anything, he just enveloped Silenia in an embrace. Silenia backed away and picked up David’s sword. “I put a shadow under the door, therefore you knew it was someone with a venix. You also know that swords are useless against a venix, even at close quarters. You’ve either gone totally daft or you aren’t telling me something.” 80

David sat down on a chair, “I’ve lost my venix.” 81

“How do you lose your venix?!” 82

David sighed, “I don’t know. I got this job…” 83

“That was my next question. What would possess you to work with her?” 84

Now David was angry, “What would possess you to run off without word or warning in the middle of winter and send no word for six years?” 85

“Like I told Priscilla earlier, I had to keep my conscience clear. I don’t want any more deaths on my head.” 86

“What are you talking about?” 87

Silenia sat down too. “Phillip. She wanted revenge for what happened at school.” There was a pause, “What about you? What do you have bother your soul so much that you joined Valkyrie?” asked Silenia. 88

David turned and looked Silenia square in the eye and said “You.” Silenia looked at David questioningly. “I thought I was in love with you. After you disappeared I went everywhere looking for you. I ran into her near the capital. She told me she’d been hunting you. She said… that we could make a trade.” 89

“Your service in exchange for leaving off my pursuit.” Said Silenia. David nodded. Silenia knew that most people would have embraced David instantly. She also knew that what David had just told her only made her feel more guilty. 90

Silenia got up to leave, “I ask only that you keep my existence to yourself, unless under duress and that you ask no more of me.” Silenia made her way through the door and was gone. 91

Three days later, Silenia was staying at an inn due to rain when she received a message from the capital addressed to “Darine.” It was blank but Silenia knew it was a summons from Priscilla. The next day she rode to the castle and met with the princess. 92

Silenia started with the usual small talk, “How’s that marriage of yours going?” 93

Priscilla looked at one of the rhododendrons then held up her hand; in place of a wedding band was a widow’s ring, “He went out against Valkyrie… Anyway, I called you here because I want you to join the Volunteer Corps.” She said. 94

“Why on earth would you think I’m cut out for war?” 95

“I’m getting corpses shipped back to me. You’ve fought Valkyrie before, why not now?” 96

“That was six years ago. Besides, I am not cut out for the battle field.” 97

“Silen, please. For me.” 98

Silenia sighed, “What have you been hitting her with?” 99

Priscilla smiled briefly, “Regulars, infantry. My husband… took some Sunfires out with the same results.” 100

“I want to see all the venix trainees next week. Send the others home and gather all the Moonbeams you can find.” 101

“You know you’re a rarity.” 102

“Send out messengers all the same. 103

The next week Silenia found herself in front of 4 Sunfires and 2 Moonbeams. 104

“Hi. I’m Darine.” Silenia wasn’t used to presenting like this. 105

“What are we here to do, assignments and whatnot?” asked one of the Sunfires. 106

“That has yet to be decided.” She turned to the Moonbeams, “Is there anyone else that you know of with our venix?” They shrugged. “Alright then. I’ll say this frankly: We are it. There’s no infantry, no cavalry and no other venixes. They have either been killed or sent home. So… talk amongst yourselves and see what strategy you can come up with. I will say that I have no intentions of putting Sunfires in the front lines against Valkyrie.” 107

“How on earth do you expect the seven of us to defeat Valkyrie?” 108

“It’s been done before.” Said one of the Sunfires, who was named Siyon, “A girl named Silenia, 13 years old, knocked Valkyrie down with one move.” 109

“Thank you, that will be all Siyon.” Silenia didn’t want anyone to make the connection. 110

“Is she here? Is Silenia here?” Priscilla was waiting in the corner. 111

“Why don’t you just tell them Darine? Can’t do much harm can it?” 112

Silenia still didn’t want to take any chances, “Silenia is… not here right now. Although, we are in contact with her.” The lie made her throat burn. 113

[You’re always talking about clearing your conscience, lying isn’t exactly a conscience clearing activity is it?] Asked Priscilla telepathically. Silenia ended the discussion and let the others talk strategy among themselves. 114

“So Silenia isn’t here?” asked Siyon. “What do you want to talk to her about?” 115

“None of your business really. Family matters.” He said. 116

“I’ll tell her to meet you tonight, outside in the gardens.” Siyon nodded his thanks. 117

Silenia hoped that the night would hide her face when she met Siyon. 118

“Thank you for seeing me.” He said, “You’re a hard person to catch up with.” 119

Silenia put on an accent for safety, “What did you want to tell me?” 120

Siyon thought for a second, “I guess I’ll just say it straight: I’m you twin brother and… I think we’re the siblings in the prophecy that the Oracle gave Valkyrie.” 121

“There is no way we could be siblings.” 122

“How would you know? You fell from that horse and didn’t remember a thing when you got up.” 123

“That’s not what I mean. I’m a Moonbeam, you’re a Sunfire, you just don’t get that combination especially in twins.” 124

“We look similar.” 125

“You’ll need a little more proof than that.” 126

“Well our parents are dead, and we have no other siblings. You are just going to have to trust me.” He paused, waiting for objections but receiving none, “The poem says a pair of siblings with opposing venixes…” 127

Silenia cut him off, “Besides the part about the siblings and venixes, I wouldn’t take the poem too seriously.” 128

“A vision is a vision…” 129

“I said the poem, not the vision. When an oracle has a vision they see an image or a series of images accompanied by an innate feeling. Afterwards they come up with the poem to try to describe it all. Unfortunately as time goes on the vision fades and becomes harder to remember.”130

“So the poem is a representation of something half-forgotten.” Silenia nodded. “What do you suggest then? We can’t exactly go to the Oracle and ask him to tell us the vision.” 131

“Yes we can.” Silenia whistled and mounted Lucian, “You have a mount?” she asked. Siyon ran off but came back a few minutes later on a fully tacked, white mare. 132

“You don’t use a saddle?” he asked but was ignored when Silenia cantered off. “Where exactly are we going?” asked Siyon when he caught up. 133

“To see the Oracle. He’s an old friend of mine.” Silenia regretted what she said immediately. 134

“What!?!” Siyon galloped ahead and blocked Silenia’s path. “How is it that your ‘old friend’ is a working for Valkyrie?” 135

“He wasn’t always with her.” 136

“Why the sudden change of heart?” 137

Silenia sighed, "I’d rather not talk about it.” Siyon understood and moved out of the way. “He was a classmate of mine.” Said Silenia as they walked on, “He did it to keep Valkyrie off my trail.” 138

Siyon nodded, “We should get going… I want to be back in time to get some sleep and talk with Darine.” 139

Silenia smiled to herself then said, “He lives near here so don’t worry. In fact, we’re here.” They had pulled up to the building that David lived in. They went up to the 4th floor where David lived in a modest apartment. 140

Silenia let herself in again, “David, it’s me.” David’s head popped up from the bedroom window. 141

“Sorry, you scared me to death for a minute.” Silenia went over to the windowsill and helped him back in. David noticed Siyon, who was standing awkwardly in the doorway. 142

“My brother, Siyon, and I just wanted to ask you some questions about one of your prophecies.” 143

David looked at her questioningly at the mention of a brother but only said, “Which one are you interested in?” 144

“The one that’s got Valkyrie hunting Moonbeams. We just want to know what exactly you saw.” Said Silenia. 145

“Silen, it’s been nearly a month since I had that one. You know how these things work; I’ve almost forgotten it entirely.” 146

“You must remember something.” Said Siyon, slightly frustrated. David sat down trying to remember. “Do you think the siblings looked lie us?” Siyon asked hopefully. 147

David shrugged, “I don’t remember. Wish I could help, but I can’t.” Siyon was frustrated. 148

Silenia asked one last question, “Was the poem written soon after?” David thought then nodded. 149

“We’d best be heading back.” Said Siyon. 150

“Sorry I couldn’t help more.” 151

“Thanks anyway.” Said Silenia. 152

“Oh, Silen, try not to come here for a while. Valkyrie watches this place like a hawk. That’s why I was out the window as soon as I heard your horses.” 153

“If she does ask, don’t kill yourself for us. We’ll make do. Just tell her and spare yourself.” David gave neither yay or nay on the subject, just wished the Twins goodnight and watched them leave from his window. 154

Chapter 3155

“Darine!” It was early morning when Siyon pounded on Silenia’s door. “Darine, open the door.” 156

Silenia opened the door, “Where’s the fire?” 157

“Where’s Silenia?” Silenia was too tired to play the identity game and she reasoned she should trust her brother enough, so she put on the accent and said, “What do you want to tell me?” 158

Siyon was briefly surprised then spilled his tale, “David, he’s gone.” 159

“What?” asked Silenia letting Siyon in and sitting down in a chair. 160

“I went to his apartment to ask him about what happened to you all those years ago since you were so unwilling to talk about it. But no one was there and…” 161

Silenia stood up and slapped Siyon hard across the face, “What possessed you to go over there?” she asked, shaking him and herself in anger, “ ‘Try not to come over here for a while’ he said. Did you think he said that as a joke?” 162

“I just wanted to find out…” 163

“You couldn’t turn around and ask me?” Silenia was grabbing her cloak , cursing Siyon’s stupidity under her breath. 164

“Where are you going?” 165

“I’m getting David, and you’re coming with me.” 166

“What?” 167

“Don’t you get it?” Silenia screamed, tears coming down her face, “Now that Valkyrie knows David is in contact with us, she’ll get information from him then kill him. You got him into this, you can help me get him out.” 168

“Silenia, you know it’s a trap from Valkyrie.” Silenia paused, almost holding her breath gripping the back of a chair. After a few minutes she exhaled sharply and breathed hard. 169

Siyon went over to his sister, “Are you alright?” 170

She nodded, “Glen Downs. That’s where she’s got him.” Silenia got up an left; Siyon followed just to make sure Silenia didn’t get into trouble.171

Glen Downs wasn’t as much a place as a legend. It was a flat plateau, deceivingly fertile. When they got there, the Twins saw nothing, no sign of a building or anything besides trees and grasses. 172

“Surprised?” the dirty-blonde haired woman appeared just as she had 6 years before. “I’m glad you got my message.” She said, and, to Silenia it was a replay of what happened at school and the memory angered her. 173

[Calm down.] Said Siyon. 174

“Aren’t you going to ask where he is?” 175

Silenia clenched her fists, “You read my mind.” She said, faking reserve. 176

“He’s at home. But I’m glad that you came, now we can settle things that you’ve been hanging onto for 6 years now.” Siyon wanted to end the dialogue before his sister made a mistake, so he tried to pull a Light to knock Valkyrie down. Before the Light got one foot away from its origin it fizzled out and refused to obey. 177

“Nice try.” Said Valkyrie, and without turning her head she sent a bolt of Light brighter and stronger than ever imaginable, Silenia had seen it before: when Valkyrie had struck down Cole Dawson only this time it knocked down her brother. Silenia’s anger flared, Siyon’s instincts took over and they both sent beams toward Valkyrie. Silenia waited for a block, Siyon prepared for his light to fade again. What neither of them expected was for the Shadow and Light to intertwine to create a sold beam of silver. What really surprised them was when Valkyrie vanished as soon as the beam hit her. 178

“Did you do that?” asked Silenia, helping Siyon up. 179

Siyon shook his head, “I was about to ask you the same thing.” 180

“What happened to your venix?” 181

“I don’t know, it was like I lost it for a minute.” 182

Silenia nodded, “We should find out if David really is at home.” Silenia took off with the exhausted Siyon close behind. 183

They found David, not in his apartment, but in Silenia’s. He was bloodied, his clothes in tatters. David’s sleep was troubled. Silenia went to him and woke him from whatever nightmare he was having. He woke up with a start, eyes wide until he realized it was Silenia. 184

“You should have just told her.” Said Silenia. 185

“Didn’t know what she wanted. Silenia got a shadow to bring her a damp cloth and some other basic first aid. 186

“It wasn’t very long was it?” 187

David shook his head, “I told her you guys might be the Twins and she stopped.” Silenia patched David up as best she could but she was no healer. 188

“Siyon,” she said in another room, “I could be doing more harm than good Could you see if you can get a healer in here?” Siyon nodded and left. Silenia went back to David and told him about the Silver beam. By the time she finished, Siyon came in with a girl. She was about 20 years old and had a short cap of white blonde hair. 189

“I would ask you to keep our location secret if possible.” Said Siyon. 190

The girl nodded, “I would ask the same of you.” She said, “So where’s the patient?” Siyon showed the girl into the room. Silenia stood up and greeted the young woman who peered at Silenia curiously before embracing her openly, “Well Silen?” she said, “Don’t you recognize me? ‘For goodness sake, I don’t need your first aid.’” 191

“Alyssa?” the woman nodded, “We’re both all grown up.” 192

“So you’re in first aid professionally. What did Mr. Dawson have to say when he found out?” “He didn’t say anything. Was sick for a week then he died.” She turned to the bed, “Good grief is that David?” 193

“A variation, a more beat-up version.” Murmured David. Siyon came in after a few minutes to see how everything was going. 194

“Didn’t realize you had a brother.” Said Alyssa when she was introduced properly. 195

“Neither did I until a few days ago.” She summarized everything she knew about the Prophecy, David’s service to Valkyrie, Siyon, everything all the way up to the Silver. Alyssa looked at her worried when she was done, they were both thinking the same thing. 196

[You have a week, maybe more, maybe less.] Thought Alyssa to Silenia. “Well, let me see what I can do here.” Said Alyssa to David. Silenia took Siyon to the side and explained everything to him. 197

“The same kind of beam the hit you earlier this morning hit my teacher 6 years ago.” Silenia paused, “He died a week after the incident.” 198

Siyon walked to the window then turned around, “So that’s it? I’ve got a week to live?” 199

Silenia shrugged, “I don’t know. I wasn’t there, I was sleeping in the woods at that point. 200

Alyssa came in, “I gave him a sleeping draught, makes being sick a whole lot less boring. Oh.” She realized what was going on. 201

“How exactly does it work Alyssa?” asked Siyon. 202

“Well, Mr. Dawson… it wasn’t pretty.” 203

“Dang it Alyssa, I’ve just been told I’m going to die in a week, I think I deserve to know what exactly is going to happen.” He said. So Alyssa gave him what he wanted, down to the last gritty detail. The daily happenings and tortures of that last week. The fever, the chills, the boils, seizures, the unexplainable acid that burned him for the remainder of the week, the incessant tingling that would not allow him to rest, and the final day when his lungs gave out and Cole Dawson suffocated to death. 204

The next day Siyon was still okay, which was good because Priscilla and her councilors wanted to meet with the Twins to see what the strategy was. Silenia had developed a strategy with Siyon and the trainees, but she had no intention of telling the Council anything besides the Silver so she faked it. 205

“We don’t quite have a strategy yet, we’re working on it.” 206

“What about the Silver?” asked one of the councilors. They heard the crash of waves and Silenia looked at the window absent-mindedly. 207

“Silenia? The silver.” Said Siyon. She woke up and displayed the Silver. crash. Crash CRASH! 208

“Time to go.” Said Silenia. Priscilla looked at her feet and saw that the sea was flooding into the room. Siyon looked warily around, he hated the water. 209

“Run! Get out the door before it floods, close the gates behind you.” Said Silenia, “Siyon and I will make sure no one’s in the rooms. The Twins had barely checked three rooms before Priscilla and the councilors had made it down all thirteen floors to the bottom and shut the doors. Five checked rooms later, the doors, which had been keeping the water back burst open. Water flooded the tower in a flash, knocking the Twins off their feet and closing the door of the windowless store room they had been checking. Siyon didn’t grab an extra breath of air like his sister and didn’t know how long he could hold his breath. Silenia tried to open the door but the water had shut the large wooden latch that went across the door. Siyon couldn’t last much longer, so Silenia cast a spell that was reserved for emergencies. “Two legs to tail, water to air. As a friend give me what thou hast.” She had barely finished the incantation when their legs turned into two silver mer-tails. “How did you do that? Asked Siyon once he caught his breath. “Learned it from the mer-folk. We’re on good terms with each other.” Said Silenia as she looked for a knife to saw at the latch with. Siyon joined in the search and found a few in no time; they got to work on the latch, cutting at it from between the cracks in the door. “You are full of surprises.” Silenia shrugged. Siyon had cut through the latch entirely. They pushed to door, finally got it open and got out of the room. 210

“Do you like swimming a little better now that you’re not drowning?” 211

Siyon shook his head, “Let’s just get out of here.” They swam down the corridors and were on the third floor when that brilliantly strong Light that had struck first her teacher then her brother, snaked towards Silenia. She tried to grab a Shadow, but the water made everything slower and it was too late; she was struck down. Valkyrie came out from a nearby room, surrounded by a bubble of air. Siyon sent a quick telepathic message to the Moonbeam trainees: She’s got us. Darine is out cold. See what you can salvage of the plan. Valkyrie grabbed Siyon and the slowly reviving Silenia by their silver tails and dragged them off. 212

When they were outside, the two Moonbeam trainees jumped onto Valkyrie, preparing a full scale attack. Before they could do anything, Valkyrie grabbed Siyon and the knife he was still holding and put it to his throat. The trainees withdrew their attack and let Valkyrie take the Twins. It all went according to plan. 213

Chapter 4214

Silenia woke up with a high fever. A woman, probably in her early 30’s, was tying a damp cloth to her forehead. Then Silenia realized she was looking at the floor, not the ceiling as she had originally supposed. In truth Silenia was manacled, both hands and feet. 215

“Glad to see you’re awake.” Said the woman, “Anita.” Silenia looked at her coldly. Anita had read hair, indicating that she had no venix. Her eyes were a hazel color. The clothes she wore modest, and earthen in tone. “Old Vile says she hit you with the Beam.” She said, “It’s a real shame.” She said, walking out. 216

Silenia tried to focus enough to talk telepathically with Siyon but found it impossible; her mind would not work to its full capacity while beset with such a fever. Her hands couldn’t move to grab one of the few shadows in the brightly lit room. “We’ve only got six days. Seven if we’re lucky.” She thought to herself. “We need to finish the job quickly.” 217

The two trainees, Angelique and Jacqueline were both trying to calm David down. 218

“What do you mean ‘according to plan’? I want to know what you’ve been planning up in that room with Silenia.” The truth about ‘Darine’ had been revealed with the Silver and ever since the three Moonbeams had been plotting in a storeroom. 219

“We had always planned having Siyon and Silenia captured, it was better than trying to hunt Valkyrie down.” Said Jacqueline, “what we didn’t anticipate was the Beam. We figured they might get it in the process, but we didn’t realize the blow would be fatal and time constraining. They have precisely 6 or seven days before time runs out.” 220

“We must be able to do something.” Said David. 221

Jacqueline shook her head, “Not unless you know where Valkyrie is holding them.” 222

David perked up, “That I can do.” He said grabbing his cloak. Angelique and Jacqueline followed, hoping that he was leading them in the direction. 223

David rode to his old apartment and began searching the ground. 224

“What exactly are we looking for?” asked Angelique once it was plain that the decrepit building in front of them was not where Valkyrie was. 225

“I used to live here… and about a week back Valkyrie… interrogated me. If I can find the tracks from that night, we should be able to find Silenia and Siyon.” So the three began to search the ground for the wagon David had been carried off in. It was hard work, rain had drizzled over the pathway, and it was clear that horses had also trampled over it. 226

“Found something!” shouted David after awhile, his eye was sharp from tracking Silenia. The wagon track was broken as the path had seen much traffic, but it was clear and distinct. 227

“Now, before we proceed,” said Jacqueline. “What are we going to do if and when we find the Twins.” David’s ecstasy vanished; he hadn’t thought of that. 228

“Well, Valkyrie will probably have them separated; we could get them together again so they can perform the Silver. Besides, they might need all the Shadows they can get.” 229

“I think we should just go now.” Said Angelique, so they did.230

Day 2: Chills231

Siyon shivered as he stared at Valkyrie as she entered the room. 232

“It’s a shame I only have a week to find out what I need.” She said, grabbing quaint tubes and a knife. “It is rather inconvenient.” Siyon didn’t ask what Valkyrie had in mind; he didn’t want to seem squeamish. However, when Valkyrie grabbed a rope with jagged pieces of glass tied into bruise-giving knots, her intentions became clear. A man came up, released Siyon from the manacles, but tied his wrists with glass- covered ropes to the ceiling. These ropes then went, one around a foot manacle and another around the wrist manacle, both on the ceiling. The man then ripped off Siyon’s sleeve, leaving his arm exposed. Valkyrie took a knife and cut elaborate patterns in his arm; blood immediately started trickling down into a vial the man had ready for the purpose. Valkyrie soon had deep spirals and slashes all over Siyon’s arms and had several vials filled. 233

The chills were racking her body, and as Silenia chattered she could hear the faint thoughts of pain from her brother. Anita took Silenia down from the ceiling and manacled her onto a flat panel. 234

“She wants the Silver.” she said, “Valkyrie already has the ability to take the powers of Sunfires and turn them into the Beam. However, if she had a twisted version of the Silver… imagine what could happen.” Anita grabbed a blanket to try and warm Silenia up a little. 235

“Why are you telling me this?” said Silenia through clenched teeth. 236

Anita sighed, “I’m the Moonbeam of the non-venix world. My daughter, Angelique, was supposed to survive any attack on the Moonbeams if I did this. She probably doesn’t even remember me now, it was several years ago. I don’t even know if the deal was held to.” A man came and Anita jerked the blanket away. 237

“Don’t tell.” She said to the man, who nodded in reply. 238

“Anita…” said Silenia, “Angelique is rare name I knew yours. She lives, and she is well. Your sacrifice was not in vain.” Silenia nodded at Anita with the last sentence then was bourn away. Anita followed as she had been instructed to collect the blood. But as she saw Silenia sliced open, Anita thought about her daughter and was able to escape for the first time in years. 239

“My mother’s going to pass out when we get back.” Said Jacqueline, “What about yours?” she asked as they rested at midday. 240

“My mother pretty much knew there was no reasoning with me when I started tracking…a girl I knew. How about you Angelique?” 241

Angelique looked straight ahead as she said “I don’t care to wonder.” She stood up suddenly and brushed off her hands, “She never came back from the meeting she had.” Said Angelique bitterly. 242

“What was her name?” asked David. 243

“Anita.” 244

“Did she have a venix?” 245

“No, red hair, green eyes.” David nodded as he remembered; he had known Anita and her story from serving Valkyrie. 246

“I’m sure she had a good reason for it.” 247

“Hmph.” 248

“No, listen to me, a mother doesn’t leave her child without a good reason. I could tell you that for her was worth the sacrifice.” 249

“Could she not abide my power? Was she scared of dark?” asked Angelique, turning suddenly then walking off. 250

“You might get the chance to ask her.” Whispered David to himself. 251

After the blood-drawing Anita took Silenia away to an empty room. She took some rags, drenched them in alcohol and sanitized the wounds. After that she left, leaving Silenia stripped in the dark with nothing to blanket the chills that enveloped her. The delirium started to kick in. She saw the room lit from the outside with thousands of torches. Outside, what now appeared to be glass walls, were thousands of people staring at her. Silenia didn’t care who they were. She felt utterly exposed. She tried to curl up into a ball but it seemed all in vain. Then it was gone, and the room was as it had been. Through the final chills Silenia tried to think. Anita had said that Valkyrie wanted the Silver. Were the cuts supposed to be a prologue to more pain if she didn’t change sides? Or was it only so Valkyrie could show her power? More likely it was the former and thus Silenia knew that all she had to do was resist. However that still left two questions unanswered: the blood collecting and, more importantly, how was Silenia supposed to get in the same room with Siyon and find a way to either clear their minds or free hands in order to make the Silver. One thing was certain, Silenia and Siyon had to find answers soon or else time would run out. 252

Chapter 5253

Day Three254

There was a fork in the wagon trail. David didn’t recall there being multiple wagons. “Now what do we do?” asked Jaqueline. David walked ahead on the right path and spotted something glinting in the grass. He went up to it, picked it up and saw that it was a Shadow Rose, a rose made out of Shadow then frozen so the shadow stays in a certain shape. Silenia had given it to him as a get well present several years ago when she had accidentally been slow in catching him and he broke his arm. David shouted and motioned the others to come over and he showed them the Rose, “It was Silenia’s signature when we were in school. “ he said, “I used to carry it around but then I lost it. I guess I dropped it here.” Jacqueline was not so easily persuaded, “What if Valkyrie took it from you then left it here to put you on the wrong track? We won’ realize it until it’s too late.” She said. “How about we split up?” proposed Angelique, “Whoever finds Valkyrie first sends a telepathic message and the others will fly on the Shadows… or Light.” She said. Jacqueline took the left path alone, Angelique followed David on the right path. Conversation was nonexistent; Angelique was uneasy after her last discussion with David about her mother. “I’m going to take a look around,” he said when they settled down for the night. He took a shaft of light from the fire and made his hand into a torch against the rapidly advancing night. 255

When he could barely see the camp, David realized how far he had gone. So when he heard someone nearby he froze. David took his torch hand and stretched the flame out to snag the mysterious person. “What are you doing here David?” asked Anita when he had snagged her. “You know that Valkyrie wants your head.” She said as David released her. “What are you doing out here?” asked David. “Getting a breath of fresh air. I need it to face the day.” “You know what will happen when you get back.” “It’s worth it. So what are you here for?” “I’m looking for someone.” He said. “Aren’t you always?” asked Anita. “I’ve found her this time.” They heard Angelique approaching throwing balls of shadow. Anita started to back away but David caught her arm, “The girl Twin, she knows me. Tell her I’m here. Tell her I’m coming.” Anita nodded , David let her go for the second time that night and he turned around to fight. 256

David took his still flaming torch-arm and used the last remaining light like a whip, snapping it back and forth at unseen enemies. Angelique was stunning; using Shadows to shield her from enemy blows. “Can you handle a few more?” she asked to which David responded in the negative. So unfortunately they were forced into the nearby woods. “Up into the trees!” called Angelique after what seemed an eternity. They jumped up, aided both by shadow and Light and stayed there for the remainder of the night.257

Anita had snuck back without too much trouble, all guards having been sent to fight David and his companion. So Anita took another chance and went to Silenia, whose flaming boils had gone down now, and she was snatching what restless sleep she could find. “Silenia.” Hissed Anita in the girl’s ear as she hung from the ceiling. Silenia woke easily. “David is coming. He asked me to tell you. There’s a girl with him too, Moonbeam by the looks of her.” Through her weariness and pain Silenia managed to smile. Anita sighed in slight pity at the sight of the sick girl. “Silenia…I have seen what happens to victims of the beam. If you ask me, I will give you a quicker death than this.” Silenia shook her head, “I can’t.” “Silenia, I please?.” Silenia opened her eyes, “I can’t. My heart would not let me rest peaceably in my grave if I took your poison. I still have duties to perform in this life- while I can prolong my breath I must try once again to take Valkyrie down with me. Time allowing I must endure it.”258

Day 4259

David and Angelique realized that they were in the middle of a forest. “I didn’t think the roads split that far apart.” Said David, “Do you remember what direction we came from?” Angelique shook her head, “Not that it matters. Come.” Angelique made a Shadow come up, and stepped on it. The Shadow sprung and sent her flying through the air, during her arch Angelique grabbed another shadow and landed on it. “Come on!” she hollered as she hovered in the air, “Didn’t they teach you how to walk on Light at that school of yours?” “My teacher died and I left before they had the chance.’ He said, but tried the trick anyway and had it sold after a few tries. The pair however were irrevocably lost. “We have to get there soon! Ill things brood over our task and I fear death may come faster than expected. 260

Silenia hardly could stop wincing in pain, she felt as if her body was being eaten inside out. There was still a blood-letting. After Anita was done, Silenia called her hoarsely over, “Anita, you may help me by telling me what exactly Valkyrie is planning.” Anita responded, “She wants to experiment on your blood to get the Silver. What are you planning?” “Anita, I may die tomorrow and I still have a job to do. I need to get into the same room as my brother. Please.” Anita nodded, “I think I can say the right things to make it happen.” “Thank you.” Said Silenia, “Please let it be tomorrow if possible. I don’t have much time.” She said as Anita left. 261

Chapter 6262

Day 5263

Silenia’s wish came true: the next day she saw her brother again. They were roughly 5 feet apart, manacled to their panels. Both were trying desperately trying to come up with a plan and a way to tell the other what to do. “Tests individually are complete, now here is where I may truly succeed.” Said Valkyrie. “And what do you want? I see no tests.” Said Siyon, “all I see are very creative knife designs.” “Fool. I want the Silver- your venixes combined. The venix comes from blood and mind. However take the blood, which feeds the minds, and you’ll have the power. Such is my theory and hope.” Now Silenia understood that she had misinterpreted Anita’s information. Next Valkyrie took a risk and chanined Siyon and Silenia’s hands together. Valkyrie took a knife and kicked their hands, allowing the blood to collect in a bowl.264

Silenia’s eyes widened, her thoughts became crystal clear as soon as the blood mixed. From the look on Siyon’s face his mind had also cleared. However the feeling vanished quickly – the loss of blood made the Twins dizzy. Silenia’s vision was blurred by colored dots; she had to stop the flow if the plan was to work. Silenia grabbed a Shadow and made it into a bandage over her cut. Siyon did the same. They nodded to each other and it began. Silenia grabbed another Shadow and undid the manacles. The Twins set their jaws and held their tongue against the pain as they fought. 265

David and Angelique found a door to a seemingly abandoned mansion. “This must be it.” Said David. They heard footsteps approaching and quickly entered the house. Once inside they continued to evade guards constantly not wanting to make their presence known quite yet. Since David knew his way around, he took the lead saying, “Now we just have to find Silenia and Siyon.” 266

Valkyrie was truly testing their limits. With moves they had never seen before or heard of, Valkyrie showed she was good at her craft. However it was more than talent that helped Valkyrie, The blood had told her more about the Silver than the process of its acquisition: it had told her how to break it. Silenia and Siyon had not accounted for this , they had expected the Silver to overwhelm Valkyrie as it had every time before that. They sent tendrils, snakes, beams towards Valkyrie but she, for the most part, blocked them all. The battle was turning against the twins; Valyrie was beginning to push them back slowly but surely. The out come of the battle was made clear as Silenia and Siyon made astounding moves but continued to b forced back. They were nearing the wall, and they knew what came next. Valkyrie lifted her hand, but the death blow was caught by an additional shadow sent by Jacqueline. She jumped into the fraw and stood next to Siyon- helping the Twins gain a little bit of ground. Valkyrie stepped back slightly and Silver and Moon adbanced with full power. Unfortunately Valkyrie quickly recovered and was bak on the offensive. The three friends fought on and were able to keep Valkyrie from advancing but gained no ground themselves. After a few minutes Siyon started to tire. We should break and regroup thought Jacqueline to her compatriots. You know why we can’t do that. It’s now or never! They fought on, but it was clear that their present strategy wasn’t working. The trio tried something new. They would retreat a little and then attack with such brute force that they gained some ground. Suddenly, with a flask of light, Jacqueline was down which left Silenia and Siyon to carry on, which they did exceedingly well. 267

Unfortunately, when David and Angelique came in the first thing david saw was the seemingly dead Jacqueline. He clutched the Shadow Rose and, knowing that the stem would act like a dagger given the chance, threw it at Valkyrie. Her ears were short and Valkyrie heard it’s approach, turned suddenly and caught the Rose in mid-air. As soon as she touched it, Valkyrie knew Silenia had made it by the feel of its magic. Valkyrie turned to face Silenia saying, “What happens when your own sword bites you? The rose does not choose who to prick. A thorn is a thorn!” she then threw the Rose at Silenia like a dart. Silenia brought her hands up to he rface, palms out and elbows parallel to her eyes, with this move a great force of wind came up with Shadows and the Rose came to a stip in the air the sharp dagger point of the stem an inch away from her face. The rose hung there, suspended in space as Silenia muttered the spell to release the Shadow encapsulate within the Rose. “Take the power, bound inside shrink, grow then finally multiply.” She started to perform the Rose movement. Siyon took Light and funneled it into Silenia and the Shadows became Silver. The thorns on the Rose did their part but the flower itself took longer to transform. Silenia urged the metamorphosis on while the Shadows that originated from thorns distracted Valkyrie. Siyon continued to fuel Light into Silenia, but that did not make him blind to the fact that the final blow was not falling. “Do it!” he urged, “Do it before the thorns die!” and it was true, the Silver Thorns were fading since they had been fighting for so long. Valkyrie was advancing, Silenia felt her lungs burning and urged the flower ever more desperately. Silenia looked up from her work and saw Valkyrie’s hand raised to strike and finally the flower finished its transformation. The blossom shrunk to a microscopic fraction of its size, suddenly it grew and exploded, obliterating Valkyrie.. Silenia sighed in relief and Siyon tended to Jacqueline, who shrugged it off. Silenia nodded to Angelique and David and remembered something, “You haven’t seen your mother in a long time.” She called Anita in and Anita could have cried when she saw and recognized her daughter. Angelique, despite past misgivings about her mother was also joyful. “Where have you been?” asked Angelique. Anita didn’t reply, just embraced her daughter in a joyful reunion. “Job well done Silen.” Said David, shaking hands with Silenia, “Look!” Silenia looked at her hands, which David was now staring at in amazement, and saw that her wounds had closed up completely. David and Anita saw that their brands were gone. Silenia checked her breathing and found it was normal, just like it was every night between horrors. “The Beam?” asked David. “I don’t know.” Said Silenia. “I think it’s passed.” Said Siyon.268

By dusk that day the five companions were back at the castle with Alyssa and Priscilla.. That night, when Silenia was preparing for bed Anita came in, “I want to thank you, “ she said, “for reuniting us.” “No thanks are required.” Anita started to leave but then stopped, “Where you scared of dying?” she asked, still facing the door. Silenia sighed, “I don’t know. I think I was more afraid of not finishing the job. But, most of all I was scared of the eternity of things I would is. Or perhaps the worst part was knowing the exact it was going to happen. The daunting vastness of death, it just makes you wonder.” Anita nodded, “I was just wondering.” She said, bidding her good night.269

Silenia didn’t sleep that night. She was still afraid that the Beam’s effects hadn’t died with Valkyrie. But they had, and when dawn came the next day she knew it was really over. Valkyrie and all the things she had done were gone. 270

THE END271