The Awakening (31 page)

The path curved sharply around to the right. As I made the corner, I was horrified to see that the pathway was cut off. Only a shallow little crawlspace was available at the bottom of a huge wall. Behind me I could hear the swarm rushing closer. Their screams sounded demented now - presumably because I’d killed one of their own. I knew that if I tried to crawl, they’d catch me. So without even slowing, I dived. My body hit the ground and I slid along the damp mud at breakneck speed. The tunnel swallowed me, roots clawing at my arms and face as I swept through the darkness and broke through to the other side.

Bursting into the light, I barely had time to notice a metal table with a strange looking gun laying on the top, before crashing straight into it. I collided with one of the metal legs. It buckled, causing the gun to roll onto the floor. It splashed into the wet mud and I scrambled for it as the swarm burst through the crawlspace. I rolled onto my back and with a shaking hand, aimed and pulled the trigger. There was a whooshing sound and then...nothing.

They still rushed towards me.

My heart leapt into my mouth. I raised my arms up to protect my face. I waited for the incredible pain to hit. It didn’t.

I dropped my hands to see that all of the Venenum had stopped. They hung in mid-air like they were contemplating something, their wings beating together, making that eerie noise that only insects can. Their bodies began to vibrate hard and their squeals rose in pitch until they reached a frequency that made my ears ring. Then they all popped.

“Well done buddy,” said a voice from above. Delagio was staring down at me, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. He leaned over and held out a hand. I took it grudgingly and he heaved me out of the obstacle course. I collapsed onto the wet grass, chest still heaving up and down as he studied the Biomote.

“Unbelievable,” I wheezed to myself. I looked over at the mud slicked gun lying next to me. “I should use this thing on you Del.”

He laughed - a rolling chuckle that made his shoulders shake.

“Sorry buddy, ah know these trials is harsh, but our job is a rough one. You have to make sure you’re prepared for anythin’.” He pulled a booster out of his pocket. “Here, this should stop the pain.”

Delagio clapped me on the shoulder. “You did good Alex. Real good. You’re a fast one alright. The Biomote clocked you at fifty two miles per hour. Most Chosen peak at about forty five.” He pointed a finger at his chest. “Yours truly got stung seven times.”

I couldn’t resist a wide smile.
Who cares if I don’t have a gift, when I can run at over fifty miles an hour? That’s one in itself.

“How fast is Gabriella out of interest?”

Delagio grinned. “About sixty five as an average.”

“
Sixty five?!”

“She’s...different.”

I frowned up at him. “What do you mean?”

But he just waved a dismissive hand and pointed towards the mansion. “We should head back. Rachel will be waitin’. Though you should probably grab a quick shower and change first.”

18

T
o my disappointment, Gabriella wasn’t about, so I ended up showering and changing in Delagio’s room. The décor was GQ trendy - a sleek combo of black marble and wood. On the way out, I noticed an array of Stetsons hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. I put one on and looked in the mirror. I hastily put it back again.

Think I’ll leave the trend setting to Delagio.

Rachel was waiting for me at the foot of the main stairs. Her hair had been pulled into a tight pony tail, emphasising her fae features - high, angular cheekbones and slender face.

She re-adjusted the glasses on her nose as I reached her. I found myself wondering if she even needed them, or had simply grown used to wearing them as part of her disguise.

We stepped out into a large circular dojo. The walls were lined with thick white padding. A large Tatami mat covered the entire floor. It bowed ever so slightly under our weight. An array of hand to hand weapons rested in various racks around the perimeter, along with eight evenly placed Golems. They were marionettes without a puppet master - heads bowed and arms hanging by their sides.

Rachel walked to the side of the dojo, slipped off the large heels she was wearing and nodded for me to do the same. Pulling a booster from her uniform pocket, she placed it neatly next to my trainers. I watched as she moved into the centre of the dojo, stretched her arms up to the ceiling and unfurled her wings. They burst through narrow slits in her uniform, making a rattling sound as she shook them out.

“Ah, that’s so much better,” she sighed. “I get horrendous back cramp when they are in retraction.”

They were actually quite beautiful. At first I’d thought of them as insect wings, but on second inspection they looked like they’d been woven from the thinnest, purest silk. The damage they had received from the Rahuman battle was mending well. The tears were nothing more than raised lines now.

“Do you mind?” she asked, pointing upwards with a dainty finger.

“I uh- no, be my guest.”

With a hop, Rachel spiralled into the air. For the next few minutes, she swooped and soared around the room, an expression of absolute serenity on her face.

As I watched her, I fully understood the weight behind what I’d said in the elevator. How difficult it must be to constantly be someone else – over and over. I felt secretly glad that Gabriella’s first infiltration looked to be her last.

Finally Rachel came to rest on a beam high above my head. “Sorry about that, I don’t often get an opportunity to fly. It’s restricted on this side of the Veil for obvious reasons.”

“No, that’s fine.”

The Pixie drummed her fingers on the wood. “Right, this training is on your combat ability. We’re here to unlock your innate fighting skills.”

“I don’t have to fight you do I?”

Rachel smiled. “No, don’t worry. That’s what these chaps are for.” She clicked her fingers and two of the Golems reacted instantly, lifting their heads in eerie symmetry. Their blood stained eyes stared up at Rachel with dead emotion.

There was a pause and then her whole body shuddered. She gave the HASEA salute. “Good afternoon sir,” she said to the empty space in front of her. “Yes, we are ready to begin. You can transfer your Farsight whenever you are ready.” She gave another salute and then turned to me.

“Close your eyes Alex.”

I did as she asked.

I heard Rachel step forward and walk around me in a wide, slow circle. “Traditional combat training for a Chosen can take several days. We are fortunate enough to have a Seelian’s unique skills to reduce it to a fraction of the time. In a moment, Sage Faru is going to loan you his Farsight ability. It will quickly condition your improved mind to sense danger better and develop instinctual reactions. In a real fight, skills like these will save your life. It’s going to be a very strange sensation to begin with, but I’m here to help you through it. Okay?”

I nodded.

It hit me. A torrent of colour rushed into my head, filling the darkness with a psychedelic rainbow of morphing shapes. My brain twitched uncomfortably as it attempted to process the swirling kaleidoscope.

“Whoa, wow, okay. I’ve got it. I uh- this is pretty intense Rachel!”

“It’s okay Alex, I’m here. Just try to relax. It will pass.”

I slowed my breathing and bit by bit the images settled. What remained was a plain of white-yellow light with a shimmering shadow person standing in the centre.

“Okay, I want you to focus on my voice. This may sound strange, but I need you to try and visualise how I sound, rather than how I look.”

Rachel continued to talk to me and I concentrated on every word. Slowly her form solidified. Vivid colours swirled in from the corners of my mind and applied themselves to her image until she became a superior representation of my Science teacher. Her hair shone like freshly spun gold. Her eyes glinted like polished emeralds. In the centre of her chest, a purple orb of light radiated waves of energy outwards to the rest of her body. I made a gasping noise.

“I- I can see your-”

“Soul, yes. Good, that means you’re getting the hang of this. I’d prefer it if you left it alone though, I’ve grown somewhat attached.”

Rachel flew back up into the air, leaving a blue shadow trail in her wake, like plane contrails. They dissolved as she settled in what seemed to be mid-air. Focusing, I made out her perch – which had become a long beam of shimmering light.

“Golems will be much harder for you to see because they have barely any life-force.”

“Isn’t that a bit of a problem?”

“No that’s what we want. You’re going to need to rely on your senses to beat them. I need to you to clear your mind and focus. Forget about fear, pain or anger. Give yourself completely to your instincts. You’ll know when you’re there.”

I knew what she meant. I’d felt the sensation when the car had hit me and when I’d been running.
That switched that flicked. Like passing a barrier in my mind.

“I think I know what you mean, I’ve done it before.”

“Good. But I’m going to teach you how to do it all the time, without thought. First round is going to be basic hand to hand. Let’s get started.” She clapped her hands together.

A shuffling sound filled the arena. Then a sweeping arc of silver light flashed towards me. There was a loud
thwack
and a glancing pain as something solid connected with my cheek. I spiralled sideways and crashed to the floor. The metallic tang of blood filled my mouth.

“Dammit! That hurt!” I yelled, spitting onto the mat. As I stared up, a flashing image of a Golem holding a crosier appeared in my mind before dissolving.

A long trail of light sliced a path through the air. It came from above, bearing down like an executioners axe. Without thinking, I dived into a sideways roll. I heard the staff smack down onto the mat beside me. Before I could react another bar of light swung at me from the side. It connected with the back of my head. I stumbled forward and collapsed to my knees.

“
Concentrate!”

“I’m trying!”

I climbed to my feet.
Come on Alex!
I scolded myself.

“Again.”

This time, as a Golem swung its crosier at me, something happened. The switch flipped in my brain. Around me, everything intensified. The flashes of light became more solid, taking on the shapes of the staffs. The normally inaudible wisps of robes sliding against clay skin became wire brooms sweeping pavements. Its footsteps became booming drumbeats. Everything I needed to know exactly where it was and what it was doing.

I opened my hands, palms facing outwards and the staff connected with a loud slap. Grabbing the crosier, I allowed myself to travel backwards, absorbing the intense blow. Using the energy from the Golems heavy swing, I pivoted sharply on the spot and launched the staff with every ounce of strength I had. As I’d hoped, the Golem didn’t let go of its cherished weapon - I could tell by the weight and the cushioned
whump
which echoed around the room as its body hit the far wall.

My hands stung, but before I could contemplate whether or not they were bleeding, I saw a staff come at me low, in a sweeping arc. I jumped up before it could connect and stamped down hard with both feet. I landed dead on and felt it buckle under my weight. The power brought the Golem surging forwards. I waited for a split second, until I felt the timing was just right, then linked my hands behind its smooth skull and pulled, adding to the momentum. I jerked up my knee and felt its face shatter at the impact point. I let go and heard the wreck of its body crash to the floor. For a moment I stood still, listening to my own ragged breathing.
The others aren’t attacking. I think...I did it.