Creeping Shadow (The Rise of Isaac, Book One) (32 page)

"But you helped May last night after she was attacked!" Oliver burst out.

"I only helped because there were so many witnesses around. It was William who attacked her, you know? She'd be dead already if
you
hadn't shown up."

"But why do you want me dead?" May breathed.

"I'm following orders," Truvian said with a shrug.

"From my father?" Oliver snapped.

Truvian's mouth curved up in a knowing smirk, making Oliver's skin crawl. "Yes, but not just him. William's orders come from the top of the chain, from Isaac Rimori."

Oliver stepped backwards and felt his spine press up against a tree trunk. He glanced at May in a panic then realised his mistake as Truvian laughed a short, triumphant laugh then lunged toward them, slashing the blade through the air.

Oliver forced May out of the way and charged toward Truvian, glancing a blow from the man's shoulder and throwing Oliver off balance. Truvian shot past him and powered towards May with the knife held out in one hand.

"RUN!" Oliver yelled as he began hurtling after Truvian.

The adrenalin in his veins and the thought of losing May made his legs work harder than they had in his entire life. May was still ahead but Truvian was only a few feet behind her, darting through the trees so Oliver lost sight of them intermittently.

Truvian leapt, his arms fully outstretched, with the knife clamped in one hand. He dragged May to the ground. They slid forward and May's head collided with the trunk of a tree, knocking her unconscious.

Oliver was on Truvian in seconds, ripping him away from her before he had a chance to use the knife. He stamped on the man's hand so the blade came free. Oliver lunged for it but Truvian grabbed his leg and he fell, face first, onto the muddy ground.

Oliver kicked out and felt his foot connect with Truvian's face, making him shout out in pain. He rolled over and glanced around for the knife amongst the debris on the forest floor, hearing a scuffle of footsteps behind him.

A deep, cruel laugh rang in Oliver's ears. He twisted around and spotted the knife with a pang of fear; it was held up high above him in Truvian's hand. Truvian grimaced at him, his cheekbone swollen and dirty where Oliver's boot had connected with it. Oliver scrambled away as fast as he could, his fingers sinking into the soft earth behind him as he moved.

Truvian rushed forward and gripped the material at Oliver's chest, yanking him upwards so his face was just inches from his own and spoke through gritted teeth. "Your death isn't part of the plan. Just give up the girl."

"Never," Oliver spat back and kicked out again.

His foot connected with Truvian's shin, making him release Oliver so he collapsed back down to the ground. Oliver rolled onto his knees and tried to crawl away but Truvian grabbed his hair, forcing the side of his face down into the wet leaves and mud. Truvian's knee dug into his spine, pinning him to the ground.

The cold blade pressed against Oliver's throat and his whole body stilled. His breathing came in short bursts through clenched teeth. All he could think of was May nearby and how she would be next if he died.

Truvian leant over Oliver's ear and pressed his knee down, making him groan in pain. Oliver wriggled as hard as he could but couldn't find the strength to push Truvian away.

Truvian's voice hissed in his ears. "You have been the thorn in my side ever since Rimori sent me to kill the girl. He's waiting to hear from me. He sent that vark as a distraction to give me time alone with her as he did back in the pod tunnels. But here you are again, always standing between her and her fate."

Truvian pressed the blade harder to Oliver's throat and he felt it begin to pierce the skin. He could barely register any pain, his beating heart was pumping too much adrenalin through his veins.

Oliver heard May groan as she regained consciousness and was filled with a surge of determination, forcing himself upwards with all the energy he could muster. But he couldn't escape. He closed his eyes, sure he was about to die.

Truvian froze in a gasp of pain and the weight of him left Oliver's body in one, swift movement. Oliver rolled on to his back and saw Truvian lying in a heap a few feet away.

Rogan stood above him, a red flame burning like a beacon in his outstretched palm. It extinguished and he rushed forwards. Oliver spotted a shadow of movement in his periphery and cried out in alarm as he spotted Truvian staggering towards May, dragging her up in front of him. She screamed out as he forced the blade up to her neck.

Oliver scrambled to his feet in a panic.

"Don't you dare hurt her," Rogan growled.

There was a mad glint in Truvian's eye and he licked his lips.

Rogan raised his palms defensively.

"Ah, ah, ah. I wouldn't try anything, Rogan. You wouldn't want my hand to accidentally,
slip.
" He jabbed the knife at her neck and Oliver flinched, feeling fear flood every inch of his body.

May let out a small squeak. Truvian crouched slightly, pulling her head backwards towards him so his face was partially covered by her blonde hair, using her as a shield.

"What do you want?" Oliver practically shouted.

"I want the girl dead, of course. But if I kill her now, you'll kill me. And I can't have that." He tutted at them, shaking his head.

"Then you might as well let her go," Rogan tried, fire flaring in his hands once more.

"Ha," Truvian laughed sarcastically. "I don't think so." He backed away from them, dragging May along in front of him.

"Why would Rimori send you to kill my sister?" Oliver asked, trying to understand the connection.

"May's death is the key to Rimori's success," Truvian said. "He's going to change everything. He's going to unite the seven worlds under his commanding rule."

"And what does my sister dying have to do with that?" Oliver demanded, taking a tentative step towards them.

"Everything and nothing," Truvian said, clearly enjoying the power he held over them all. "She's a loose end I'm simply tying up."

A brief flash of movement caught Oliver's attention behind Truvian and his eyes flicked over his shoulder.

With a surge of hope, Oliver spotted Quinn standing there supported by Anna who had her arm looped around her shoulders. Quinn's face was pale and her body was covered in blood. She held up a shaking, bloody palm towards Truvian and Oliver forced his eyes back to his face, not wanting to give her away.

It was too late. Truvian spotted the glance and span around, pushing May away from him. Quinn released a powerful surge of magic but it missed its target, instead engulfing May in a flash of white light for an agonising moment, before she crumpled to the floor. Truvian bolted into the trees and Oliver ran as hard as he could after him.

Anger burned inside him like nothing he had ever experienced. He wanted Truvian dead, ripped apart. Branches whipped his face, and caught his clothes. The man was getting too far ahead of him and his legs burned with the effort.

"STOP!" Oliver roared his frustration, knowing it was pointless.

Truvian's victorious laughter floated back to him then it was abruptly cut off. He reached the spot where Truvian must have just been but he was gone, vanished as if into thin air. Oliver searched the area as thoroughly as he could but Truvian had somehow escaped.

Oliver ran back to his friends and fell to the floor by May who was pulled up into Rogan's lap. Quinn collapsed to the ground beside them, exhausted, pulling Anna down with her.

Rogan had a palm rested on May's forehead sending green light out of it to heal her, his face a picture of concentration. But it wasn't working.

"She won't wake up," Rogan hissed. "I'm drained from fighting the vark, I don't have enough energy."

"We need help. Someone get help!" Oliver cried, pulling May into his arms.

Rogan got to his feet and, without a word, charged off into the forest.

30

Hopeless

M
ay and Quinn were suspended in the air on stretchers as they were carried back through the forest by a team of medics. Oliver walked next to May, gripping her lifeless hand. Blankets were wrapped tightly around her but her lips were turning blue. She looked so small and vulnerable it practically broke his heart.

Oliver was completely numb, his mind in a daze. He barely registered the brambles and thorns scraping at his body with every step, determined to stay next to May no matter how much more difficult the path was made for him.

Rogan and Anna walked together in between the two stretchers, talking in low murmurs. After an age, they emerged at the top of a hill that sloped away into a small village. The ground became even and widened into a well-worn path.

They took off at a fast pace and found a series of first aid tents on the outskirts of the village. May and Quinn were rushed straight into one and Oliver, Rogan and Anna followed.

A nurse tended the superficial wounds Oliver had received from the ordeal. By some miracle he had avoided serious injury when falling down the cliff but his ribs were badly bruised from the impact with the vark's arm. He winced as the nurse ran her fingers down his side but he didn't care about the pain, he just stared at May in horror.

After Anna had been tended to, she came and sat with him. Her presence was warm and comforting and she gripped his hand tightly. He couldn't say anything to her but the look she gave him told him he didn't have to.

Two mages were brought in to tend to May. The blast she had received from Quinn had sent her body into shock. They spent a long time running their hands over her body, again and again, projecting different coloured light up and down her until, finally, one of the mages broke away and approached Oliver.

Oliver gripped Anna's hand so tightly he was sure it was hurting but he couldn't let go.

The kindly-looking mage gazed at him with empathy as she spoke. "She's going to be alright. She should wake up soon." She patted his shoulder then walked away.

Oliver released a breath and let go of Anna's hand as he sunk his face into his palms, the tightness in his chest releasing. He felt Anna's arm slide over his back and he turned himself, pulling her into a tight embrace, resting his chin on her shoulder.

They got up a moment later and pulled chairs to the side of May's bed. Oliver gripped her hand and was comforted to find it warm at last.

He looked over to Quinn who was already upright in her bed. Rogan was sitting with her, holding her hand. She looked over and smiled at them then winced in pain.

"Is everything okay?" Oliver asked.

"It's where the fire from the vark hit her. It won't heal properly," Rogan said to them as a mage pressed his hand to Quinn's side again.

She lay back in her bed and looked over at them. "I'm so sorry Oliver. I was aiming for Truvian. It all happened so fast," Quinn said in a fluster, tears filling her eyes.

"It's not your fault. You were trying to help. He's the one who's to blame," Oliver said, hatred coursing through his body.

"Don't think about that now," Anna whispered to him and his anger ebbed away as he met her dark eyes.

"Let me through.
Right now
," Ely's voice sounded from outside the tent. He rushed in with Laura at his side and they flew over to May.

"Wh-what happened?" Ely asked in a shaky voice.

"Is she alright?" Laura asked, gripping May's arm.

Oliver explained about the vark and Truvian Gold and, when he was finished, Ely and Laura's faces were twisted into shocked expressions.

"What? What do you mean? A
vark
?" Laura asked frantically.

"That's not possible. And Truvian Gold? That celebrity fellow?" Ely questioned in a tumble of words.

Oliver's head started to pound. "Yes, a vark appeared at the top of the cliff and forced me and May over the edge of it. Truvian was waiting for us at the bottom. He attacked us." Oliver could barely keep his voice down, his breathing becoming erratic once more.

"Alright, calm down. Did anyone else see the vark but your team?" Ely asked.

"Yes, Larkin's team was there. They ran away," Oliver said.

"Wasn't it all filmed on the survision?" Anna asked.

"It will have been. They probably didn't want it broadcast to the worlds," Ely said thoughtfully.

"Did Larkin's team see Truvian, too?" Laura asked in a serious tone.

"No, that was just us. Truvian ran off. Maybe someone can still catch him?" Oliver suggested.

"Catch him? I only saw him a few minutes ago down in the village," Laura said with a confused expression.

Oliver's brow furrowed, trying to understand what she was telling him. "What? He can't have been. He ran off into the forest. He disappeared into thin air. Why would he still be here?
He attacked us!
"

A couple of the medics turned their attention to Oliver but he didn't care.

"I don't know but I think the sooner I go and talk to the Race Committee, the better," Laura said, getting to her feet. "I'll return here as soon as I've spoken to someone. The medics will give you something to eat if you ask them, you look like the undead."

Oliver nodded as she exited the tent. His brain was almost as exhausted as his body. He squeezed May's hand again and she groaned. Her eyelids fluttered open and Oliver's heart skipped a beat.

"You're awake. Are you okay? How are you feeling?" he asked anxiously.

"Like I got hit by a truck," May mumbled.

Oliver laughed with relief.

"What's a truck?" Anna asked with a frown and May grinned sleepily.

Rogan looked over, placing Quinn's hand gently down on the bed. He joined them and planted a kiss on May's forehead. "You scared the crap outta us," he said, his mouth hooking up at one corner.

"Aww," May said quietly as her eyelids drooped.

"You can rest as much as you need to," Ely said with a look that was full of emotion.

May's eyelids fluttered a few more times before they closed completely.

Oliver sighed and sat back in his chair. The crushing fear in his chest finally ebbed away and he felt like he could breathe again. Exhaustion gripped him and he sagged in his chair a little. Anna and Rogan looked as tired as he felt. Their eyes were puffy and dark circles hung beneath them.

"You need to get some rest too," Ely said softly. "Laura's staying in a cottage down in the village, you can all go there to get some sleep."

They stumbled their way through the village following Ely. Oliver felt his rage at Truvian Gold itching at the back of his mind. But he didn't want to think about what had happened and what it all meant just then. First, he needed to sleep.

He and Rogan finally crashed into beds made up on the floor for them in Laura's cottage. Oliver was so grateful to have a pillow beneath his head that he wanted to turn around and kiss it. Instead, he passed out into oblivion.

The final, fluttering, hopeless, terrifying thought that crossed through his mind was that they hadn't placed in the race and his only chance of getting May to Brinatin was gone.