The Steele Wolf (Iron Butterfly #2)(64)

I had no choice. I was losing this battle, so I decided to give in to it, let him think that I had swallowed the whole seed. Pretending to go limp in Talbot’s arms, I let him drag me down the street, waiting for the perfect opportunity to surprise him. Plus, I needed to see where he was going to take me.

“You probably wonder whose Denai gifts we gave you. But ah, ah, ah, that would be no fun. I’m interested to see what you retain and which ones are still developing. You are a conundrum. I’ve counted four denai gifts running through you, and it seems that another one is going to appear soon. I know, I always know. Headaches, stomachaches, fevers. It will be so much fun to recreate our studies. Mona has asked if, when we are done with you, she could have your gifts. You think the girl would be satisfied, but no, not that one.”

“Stop!” a voice yelled out of the darkness.

Talbot froze and dropped me on the ground but stood over me, keeping his hands free; eyes darting back and forth, looking into all of the shadows for the speaker.

“YOU!” the voice yelled again. “How dare you!” I took this moment of distraction to roll into Talbot’s legs and knock him off his feet. His moment of surprise didn’t last long as he scrambled to his feet, but I was already scrambling away towards the now familiar voice of Fanny.

Fanny stepped into the street carrying a torch, which lit her copper curls to look like a ball of fire. “How dare you take my invention and turn it into a means to inflict pain.” She shook with anger and I tried to stand next to her and take the torch from her shaking hands. Fanny shook me off and stepped forward to confront Talbot. “You stole my designs and perverted my creation.”

“No, I didn’t. I made a few changes and it has been immensely useful to me. It is helping us make the world a better place.”

“I highly doubt that,” she growled, clenching a hammer in her hands that she pulled from her work belt.

“Oh, but it has. Even now, after all of these months, it is still affecting her, changing her, making her stronger.”

“What have you done to me?” I had found my voice and for once I could get my answers. “What did you do to Kael?” I screamed at him.

“Why, I’ve started the wheels of fate in motion. I’ve released your true form. You can feel it, can’t you, Trying to get out? It’s going to break free. There’s no stopping it now. I injected the serum and the machine has activated it.” Talbot spoke but took a step backwards away from me.

“That’s not an answer.”

“That’s all that the answer you’re going to get.”

“Why me?” I yelled at him.

Talbot didn’t answer but looked at me, eyes squinting joyfully, knowing that he held the answers I was so desperate for.

“Why not?” He intoned taking another step away from us as Fanny and I took a step closer to him.

“Where’s Tenya? Where is Joss’ sister? What have you done with her?” The questions poured out as I realized he was starting to play a game and was refusing to answer my questions. I desperately needed him to answer these ones, if any.

“Oh, she is far from here. Don’t worry. She is safe in the hands of my faithful Septori, experiencing their humble hospitality.” Talbot spoke with his hands dramatically; he cocked his head to the side as if he were listening for something. “But I fear my welcome here has come to an end. It’s such a pity that you chased away Xiven. I’m very eager to personally see how strong you’ve become. But that will be another day.” The noise Talbot was listening for became louder and drew closer.

Unsure of what Talbot’s next move would be, I tried to prevent him leaving by draining him of his life energy. If I could drain him and make him pass out then he couldn’t escape. But it wasn’t there; there wasn’t any power or life force for me to steal. How could it be? Was he somehow shielded from me?

“I’m tired of playing games with you, like a cat and mouse. This time you will come to me and I will show you what your greater purpose is. I shall be waiting for you, Thalia.” Talbot bowed deeply before us and waved farewell. “Till then.” He turned and walked into the shadows.

“Stop him!” I yelled to Fanny. “Use your powers.”

She turned to me with defeat on her face. “I can’t. I only have powers of healing, nothing more.”

I took off at a run but found that I could only stumble along painfully after him into the darkness. “Kael!” I yelled loudly. “Kael, help! Where are you, you stupid SwordBrother? Kael!”

A shadow jumped from one of the balconies of the Jesai home and landed in front of me, grasping my shoulders to steady me. “Thalia, what’s the matter?”

Swinging with all my might at him, I pushed Kael roughly into the wall, not bothering to notice the blood and ripped shirt he already sported. “Where have you been? Where were you when I needed you?” I cried desperately, my hands shaking as I grabbed his shirt. “Go after Talbot. It’s Talbot. Talbot is Raven and he is getting away.”

Kael looked at me, his face a blank mask. A deadly blank mask. He only spoke one word. “Where?”

“He went that way.” I pointed into the darkness and Kael flew after him. His hands reaching for the throwing knives he kept hidden within his vest. Kael’s footsteps were silent as he chased after him and I wondered to myself how long it took him to learn to run so silently.