Run To Earth (Power of Four) (49 page)

Aaron’s eyes widened with understanding. “You want me to help set up the Gate?” he asked in disbelief. “Scott, I don’t know the fir
st thing–”

“You don’t have to,” Scott interrupted. “Ella and Skyler will set it up. You just need to touch the Gate, that’s all.”

“That’s all?” Aaron asked.

“Trust me.” Scott smiled.
             

Aaron didn’t say anything. He looked down at the map. “The very first Gates,” he said, “the ones Hadrian tore down – they were set up by Aric, weren’t they?”

“Yes,” Scott replied.

“Aric was pretty much the strongest mage, wasn’t he?” Aaron asked.

“Where you going with this?” Scott asked.

“I’m just wondering how, if Aric was so powerful, did Hadrian manage to tear his Gates down?”

Scott didn’t speak right away. He looked pained, as if giving the answer was digging into half-healed wounds. “He corrupted them,” he said quietly. “The Gates of Resistance were set up by Aric to protect the human realm. That was their primary purpose,” he explained. “Hadrian corrupted the Gates, used his demonic power to weaken them and tear them down.” He shook his head in barely concealed disgust. “It was Hadrian’s way to declare war against the mages, against Neriah. The human realm was, and probably still is, of very little importance to Hadrian. He tore down the Gates only to defy Neriah and, of course, to give the proverbial finger to Aric.”

“So Neriah set up the Gates again on his own?” Aaron asked.

“He had to,” Scott replied. “He was the only Elemental left. Hadrian had become the enemy, James Avira and his brother, Joseph, were dead and Christopher...” He paused. “Your dad had left the realm.”

Aaron could feel the burn of humiliation seep up his neck and ears. Hearing it like that, learning how fragile the mage realm was when his dad left, Aaron could almost understand the cold behaviour he had endured from most mages.

Aaron thought about Neriah, momentarily placing himself in Neriah’s shoes. If his best friend – someone he regarded like a brother – turned into his worst enemy, his other friend was killed and the only other person that could help him had fled to another realm, what would he do? A bout of panic erupt in the pit of his stomach. Neriah would be beyond furious with his dad, with his parents. Would he forgive them? Or would he punish them?

Aaron had to forcefully stop that train of thought before it unsettled him completely. He looked over at the map again, trying to pull himself back into the conversation.

“So, let me get this straight,” Aaron said. “Aric had set up the Gates. Hadrian corrupted them and pulled them down. Neriah waged war and set up the Gates again. But two years ago, Hadrian pulled them back down–”

“No,” Scott interrupted. “Hadrian didn’t pull them down. He couldn’t, not this time.” At Aaron’s frown, he explained. “I told you that when Aric had set up the Gates, they were solely to protect the human realm – to stop the elemental energy from leaking out. After Hadrian pulled them down, Neriah knew that if he were to set up the Gates again, Hadrian would just do the same thing. So Neriah changed the Gates. He encrypted them with Glyphs – specific ones that repelled the touch of demons such as Lycans, vampires and of course, vamages.” Scott smiled with something akin to pride for his leader. “It was ingenious. The Gates protected not only the human realm but ours too. For years the vamages couldn’t get past our Gates, nor could they touch them. One by one,
Neriah went through all the zones, locking them with Gate after Gate. Hadrian was left with only three zones; ones so heavily protected they became untouchable. But it was a loss we could live with. He had three zones, we had the rest.” His face fell, eyes becoming shadowed. “That was until two years ago, when Hadrian’s Scorcher started pulling down the Gates and taking over.”

Aaron frowned. “I don’t get it. If Neriah made the Gates immune to vamages, then how did the Scorcher manage to get to them?”

“The Gates were immune to vamages like Hadrian and the rest,” Scott said, “ones that were born mages, but who turned into vamages. The Scorcher is a
born
vamage. His blood is different. Since Glyphs are created with the blood of the species that the Gates have to repel, they can’t block out the Scorcher. We only had the blood of three of our worst enemies: the Lycans, the vampires and the vamages.” Scott shook his head. “We never anticipated we’d have to deal with something stronger.”

***

The day of the Q-Zone hunt came on a fresh summer day. Hunters began arriving from the moment of daybreak. Long after breakfast had been served, Aaron, Sam and a few of Salvador’s mages stayed at the table, just watching the visitors stream in through the open Gate. Aaron grinned at the sight of Zulf leading his group in.

“Where’s he going?” Aaron asked, seeing Zulf ride past the cottages.

“Probably looking for Kyran,” Ryan said. “For Zulf, coming to Salvador only means one thing: Kyran.”

The Gate opened again with a bright flash, drawing Aaron’s attention. This time, though, there were no bikes, just three men oddly dressed in long white tunics with their hoods pulled up to cover their heads and shadow their faces. The one at the front lowered his hood, scanning their surroundings. His gaze rested on the table and he began walking towards it, with the other two men following him.

“About time,” Ryan muttered, his tone starkly dark compared to only moments before. “I was wondering when they’d show up.”

“Who are they?” Aaron asked.

“Lurkers,” Ryan replied. “Here to answer to Scott.”

“About what?” Sam asked.

“Why they didn’t pick up the fact that Zone G-14 had hell hounds,” he said. “Not to mention why they didn’t notice an entire Abarimon valley in Zone L-26.”

Aaron watched with interest as the three men neared the table. Four months ago, Aaron would have only seen the white-hooded tunics the men wore, but his stay in the mage realm had taught him to notice what lay beyond the surface. The passing breeze pressed their clothes against them so Aaron could see the faint outline of leather bands criss-crossing the men’s torsos. Their sleeves were long, but Aaron saw a flash of silver slotted in leather pockets at their wrist when their arms swung in time with their steps. The Lurkers carried weapons, just like Hunters did.

When they got close enough, Aaron got a good look at the one Lurker who had lowered his hood. He was surprised to see a mature face. Aaron had only met young Hunters, aged anything from sixteen to early twenties. This Lurker was likely in his late forties. His short, dark hair had a splattering of grey; his sharp brown eyes were lined. It was only when Aaron finished his private analysis of the Lurker did he realise that the man was staring at Aaron just as intently.

“Patrick,” Ryan greeted him, drawing the Lurker’s attention away from Aaron. “It’s been a while.”

The Lurker – Patrick – smiled tightly and nodded. “More than a year, by my count,” he said, extending a hand to shake Ryan’s. He turned back to Aaron, almost immediately. “You...you can’t be...Are you related to Christopher Adams?”

“You could say that,” Aaron replied. “I’m his son.”

Patrick’s eyes widened with surprise. “Chris? Chris is here?” He looked back at Ryan. “When did this happen? When did the Adams return?”

“About four months ago,” Ryan replied. “Don’t get too excited. Christopher Adams isn’t here. He’s tracking down Neriah.”

A look of grim understanding crossed Patrick’s face. He turned back to Aaron and smiled, holding out his hand. “Patrick Sweeney,” he said, introducing himself.

Aaron shook his hand. “Aaron,” he returned.

“It’s a pleasure, Aaron,” Patrick said.

The two men behind him lowered their hoods and introduced themselves as Bryce and Harvey. Aaron noted they were younger than Patrick, but not by much.

“I figured I wouldn’t be seeing any of the Adams again,” Patrick said.

“So did we,” Ryan added, with a wink at Aaron.

“You look very much like your father,” Patrick said, gazing at Aaron with a wide grin. “It’s almost like Chris is sitting here.”

Aaron didn’t say anything. It wasn’t the first time someone had commented on his likeness to his father, but it was the first that didn’t fill him with pride. “Did you know my dad well?” he asked.

Patrick laughed. “I knew him really well. I was friends with your father and uncle, worked with both of them on a number of hunts back in the day.” His smile broadened. “It’ll be great to see Chris again.”

“Patrick?” a voice called.

Aaron turned to see it was Drake, with a crowd of orchard workers behind him, all carrying baskets to the Stove. It was no doubt for the feast Mary was preparing in anticipation of the victorious return of the Hunters tonight.

Drake’s brow furrowed as he walked over to the table. “What are you doing here?” he asked Patrick.

“I have to speak to Scott,” Patrick replied, reaching out to shake Drake’s hand. “You’re looking well, Drake,” he said.

A look of great unease flickered over Drake. He shot a look at Aaron. “Times are changing,” he said. “It gives a little hope.”

“All the Elementals back in one realm,” Patrick said with a chuckle. “Times are changing indeed.”

“Ace!”

Aaron turned at Kyran’s yell, to see him standing with Zulf, at the foot of the path that led towards the orchard.

“Yeah?” he called back.

“Get over here and show Zulf your ground split,” Kyran said.

Zulf continued to shake his head in denial.

Aaron turned back around with a grin. “He can’t stop showing off that he taught me that,” he said.

“Proud teacher,” Sam smirked.

“I’ll see you later,” Aaron told Sam, and started getting up from the table. He caught the look on Patrick’s face and paused. Patrick was gaping at Kyran with wide eyes. His mouth had dropped open and the colour was slowly draining from his face.

“Patrick?” Aaron said. “You okay?”

“How?” Patrick gasped, staring unblinkingly at Kyran. “How can...He...he can’t–”

“It’s not what you think,” Drake said quietly at his side, staring at Kyran too. “He just looks like him.”

“Like him?” Aaron frowned. “Who are you talking about?”

Drake shook his head. “It’s nothing,” he said. “Just one of life’s strange coincidences.” He turned to look at Sam. “I believe Henry was looking for your assistance.”

Sam’s brow knitted. “Really? For what?”

“You’ll have to ask him,” Drake replied. He turned to Patrick and the other two Lurkers. “Come, I’ll accompany you to Scott. I have to speak to him too.”

Patrick looked like he was barely listening as Drake pulled him away. His gaze was still on Kyran, his mouth opening and closing, but no sound left him.

***

The time for the Q-Zone hunt had come. The street was lined with Hunters. Sam and Rose stood in their midst, Aaron by their side. The residents of Salvador gathered to give the Hunters encouragement and good wishes. The Hunters had already straddled their bikes, grinning and soaking up the attention.

“They seem excited,” Sam commented.

“They’re always excited,” Aaron replied.

“How come you’re not going with them?” Sam asked.

“Scott wants me there only when the Gate’s ready to go up.”

Sam nodded. “Nervous?” he asked.

“Very,” Aaron admitted. “I still have no idea what I’m supposed to do with the Gate. Scott keeps telling me all I have to do is touch it.”

“You don’t believe him?” Sam asked.

Aaron paused. “It can’t be that easy.”

“Let’s hope it is,” Sam said. “Right, Rose?”

There was no answer. Sam and Aaron looked around, only to see Rose wasn’t by their side any more.

“Where’d she go?” Sam asked.

They didn’t see her making her way through the crowd, inching closer to the red and black bike that held a grinning Kyran, lost in his conversation with Zulf. But as soon as her shadow fell across Kyran’s bike, he looked up at her. His dazzling green eyes somehow looked brighter as they met hers.

Zulf moved away, smiling, nodding once at Rose in greeting. He revved his bike and moved forward, going to the front and leaving Kyran alone with Rose. For the first few moments, neither of them said anything. Things had been a little awkward between them ever since their kiss.

Rose cleared her throat, forcing herself to look up at him. “I...I wanted to wish you luck,” she said. “For the hunt today.”

Kyran nodded but didn’t speak.

Rose reached in and pulled something out of her pocket. Kyran stilled at the sight of the thin black thread in her hand. He looked up at her.

“That’s not for luck,” he said.

Rose smiled. “I know what it’s for,” she replied quietly.

“You know what it means if you tie that around my wrist?” Kyran asked.

Rose looked down at the thread she had got from Ava. Her thumb caressed the strong, coiled thread. “I know that it’ll make you a little less reckless,” she replied. “After seeing you in battle, I know you could do with being more careful.”

“Is that right?” Kyran asked.