Hello people. Here's chapter two.

Chapter Two

We just can't stop believing 'cos we have to try. We can rise above the truth and the lies... Within Temptation-See Who I Am

"We need to find out how she got here," Cortes said, almost slamming his water onto the table. Wayan had been sitting there in the tavern for over an hour, discussing the situation with Cortes. "We can't tell Mahad and Lena about what happened. They wouldn't believe us. And now isn't the best time," Wayan replied. Cortes nodded.

"We need Lena to look into her memory just enough to see what happened to Evora." Lena suddenly came and stood next to Cortes.

"The sun might be setting soon. We should do it now before it's too dark for me to use my powers," she said. Cortes and Wayan nodded at each other and escorted Lena to the steel room where the Vector and Mahad awaited.

"Now, listen. When you read her thoughts, only go far enough to see what happened before she landed here," the Vector instructed. Lena nodded. "I'll be here if you need me," Mahad said.

The door swung open. Evora lay unconscious on the floor. They had given her special medication to put her to sleep while Lena did this. She felt uncomfortable searching through someone's memories against their will, but didn't object when she realized that Evora had done the same. Evora had done worse. She had used Lena's memories to hurt her. That really was wrong.

Lena sat down in front of her and began to search her memories. Pictures and images flashed before her. So far she could only see the events that had taken place that day. When she reached the memories of Evora hurting Cheng, she probed a little further and watched.


"We're going to crash!" Evora cried. Diwan selfishly ran off. Evora knew she was going to take her patroller and leave. "Wait!" Evora cried. The ship suddenly rumbled. She had to escape before it exploded and killed her.

Fearfully, she smashed one of the windows and jumped out. As she fell, something hard and metal hit her head. The pain was unbelievable and made it hard to use her powers. She tried to slow her fall but the pain was too much. She lost consciousness as she fell, but as she faded, she prayed that a block or a ship would be there below her.


Dahlia wrapped her arms around Evora. "I'm so glad I get to see you again. Mommy's not going to let me go with her on the mission," Evora said sadly. Dahlia winced. "I wish she didn't work for the Sphere. Or Daddy. I wish they were pirates," Dahlia said. Evora half-laughed.

"I'm going to school in a month," Evora said. Dahlia grimaced. "I'll miss you. Once you're a guardian, you won't be able to spend time with us," she murmured. "I will. I love you sis," she hugged Dahlia tightly and let go.


Lena jerked back, startled by the memory. She was shocked. Was this true? Was Evora Dahlia's—sister? Lena left the room quickly without looking back.

"So, what happened?" Mahad asked. "The ship she was traveling and was about to explode. Diwan abandoned her and took off so she had to jump out the window. While she was jumping she hit her head. And—that's it," Lena blurted.

Mahad gave her a worried look but shrugged and headed off. Lena wanted to tell him about the other memory but she was afraid.

Mahad caught up to Cortes, who seemed to be avoiding him. "Why does Evora keep saying that you killed her parents?" he demanded. "I'm not sure, Mahad. She's not a normal guardian. She wants us to believe her and let her escape." Mahad narrowed his eyes.

"She's nothing like Alice, though. I can tell she's not just making it up. I— " "Listen Mahad! That girl is dangerous! I don't want you talking about her anymore!" Cortes said harshly. Mahad stopped, stunned by Cortes's sudden anger. "Sorry," he mumbled, kicking a rock next to him.

"What's his problem?" Lena said. Mahad shook his head and ran off without a reply. Lena knew that this girl wasn't normal. She had secrets about the pirates. Secrets that would be revealed.


"I'm so mad at Cortes right now!" Mahad hissed. "Why, is he treating you like a kid again?" Lena asked. Mahad shook his head.

"He's treating me like I'm blindfolded. No matter how much I beg, he won't take the blindfold off," he said. Lena shrugged. "I'm sure he's hiding it for a good reason," she said. Mahad shook his head. "Something is up with that Evora girl. And I'm going to find out what."

Lena sighed. She couldn't tell him now. He would never leave Cortes alone if she told him about the memory. She had to wait for the right time. Eventually, the secrets would be revealed, and everything would be better, she thought. But she was wrong. The secrets would only make things worse.


"Can I talk to you, sis?" Evora asked. Dahlia had been given the task of bringing food to her cell. "Shut up," she snapped. Evora pouted. "Don't you remember the good times, Dahlia? When we were kids? Before school? Mom and Dad loved us both you know, even if you weren't a seijin. Why did you have to join the pirates? We could have been a great team. We still can. I can convince Oslo to let you join me. After all, he is very negotiable in his sleep," she joked.

Dahlia didn't reply. "You and I can beat Oslo together. We can rule Skyland. We can do anything we want. I'm becoming more powerful than Oslo. We could be great, you know. All you have to do is say yes. You—" "I said shut up!" Dahlia yelled.

She left the room, slamming the door behind her. Tears welled in her eyes as she headed back home. When she got home she climbed the stairs to the second floor. Her roommate was fast asleep on the sofa, as usual. The wood creaked under her feet as she entered her bedroom. Everything was completely silent except for the sound of her own breathing.

"Evora, what have we done to you?" she sobbed, cupping her hands over her face as tears streamed down. She noticed someone staring at her from the window of the house across from hers. Lena. Dahlia shook her head. Lena knew her secret. Lena knew that Dahlia and Evora were sisters.


Mahad stamped his feet angrily, and then stopped for fear that he would wake Lena. She was fast asleep. She rolled over onto her side. Of all the secrets Cortes had, Mahad was sure that this was the biggest. And he had a feeling that Lena knew something and wouldn't tell him. It felt so terrible, being blindfolded when everyone could see perfectly fine. Even Lena was starting to see through her blindfold. Why was Mahad, the son of Marcus Farrell, being kept in the dark, he thought. His father obviously had something to do with this. And he knew that his father wouldn't have wanted Cortes to keep him in the dark. Would he?

Lena moaned and rolled over. "Stop!" she cried. Mahad could tell she was having nightmares again. She'd been having them a lot lately. Each time she woke up crying or screaming, and Mahad would always gather her in his arms and comfort her until she fell asleep again. But tonight was different. He could tell this was beyond a nightmare. Evora was in her thoughts again.

"Lena, wake up!" Mahad shouted. Lena jerked awake, sobbing. "Mahad. I had the vision again," she mumbled. "It's okay Lena. You'll be fine. I have to go talk to Cortes," he said, getting up and leaving the house.

When he got to Cortes's house he saw that Dahlia was already there. Mahad knocked on the hard wooden door three times and waited for someone to answer. Dahlia opened the door quickly. Her eyes were red and puffy. She had been crying.

"I have to talk to Cortes," Mahad said sternly, nearly shoving Dahlia out of his way. Cortes was sitting in a chair at the corner of the room.

"Cortes, you're not telling me something. You have a secret," he said sharply. Cortes sighed. "You're right. I do have a secret. But I already said that I wasn't going to tell you." Mahad glared. "It has to do with my father, doesn't it?" "Mahad, I—" "Doesn't it?" Mahad interrupted. Cortes rubbed the skin on his forehead.

"Yes." "And don't you think he would have wanted me to know?" Cortes sighed. "He made me promise I wouldn't tell you until you were older. But I guess your old enough now. Sit down over there, I'll tell you," he said, gesturing to a sofa on the other side of the room.

Mahad plopped down on the sofa and stretched his legs out, relieved that Cortes would finally take the blindfold off. Dahlia came and sat next to him.

"Mahad, you see. I'm not sure how to explain this. Your father… Dahlia's parents… Mahad, I—Mahad?" Cortes leaned forward to get a closer look at Mahad.

"He fell asleep," Dahlia said dryly. Mahad began to snore.


The next morning Cortes promised he'd tell Mahad the secret, after they went to feed Evora and check up on her. Mahad stood behind Cortes as he opened the door. Evora was wide-awake. Cortes tossed a tray of food. It landed on the floor next to her.

"Hello, Cortes. Good morning. How many guardians have you killed today?" she challenged. Cortes ignored her. "Is your friend Marcus Farrell going to help? Are you going to slaughter them all, or are you going to shoot them?"

Mahad lunged at her, but Cortes stopped him. "Never say anything about my father, you liar!" Mahad bellowed.

"Mahad, contain yourself," Cortes warned. "No! You don't ever say anything about my parents!" he yelled. "Stop it Mahad!" Cortes ordered. "She's a liar, Cortes. She's lying about my father!"

Cortes turned away, hurt. "She isn't lying Mahad."