Chapter 9

I woke up again feeling like a complete mess. Lead muscles and ramming headache all over again and I can assure you it was just as bad the second time as the first, at least, thankfully this time we weren't moving.

I sat up with a jolt, looking around crazily. I'm not moving. As the dizziness cleared from my eyes, I realized that I was no longer in a vehicle. I was in what looked like an office. Where had they taken me?

I tried to get up from my spot on the floor only to realize my hands had been chained again. Ugh seriously? I was feeling even worse than before, and leaned my head up against the wall. There was pain shooting up my right leg and my arm felt like it was on fire. Everything felt so sore. I think I was finally feeling what the accident had done to me. So much for my adrenaline rush, how the hell was I supposed to get out of here if I could barely keep my head up?

I closed my eyes and thought of Arthur's icy blue eyes. Deep and gentle at the same time. I could drown in them if he'd let me. I let out an involuntary whimper. Where was he? I couldn't sense him like I did at school and I needed so badly his calming, maddening, terrifying presence to orient myself with. How could I had not realized how quickly I had begun to count on him?

Morgause had said that the guides she takes never see their sentinels again. Mostly likely they were taken out of the country. I could NOT let that happen to me.

I sighed looking around the room, no phone, internet, no outside contact and I had no idea where I was. How was I going to get out of this?

A quick scan told him there were 4 guards posted outside my door, which included a guide and a wizard. I groaned loudly and took another slow look around the room. There was a small air vent, but it was too small to fit. Then I looked at it again, I could try to leave a message in there, if they manage to track this place down, they'll know I had been here. I rolled my eyes at my chains. I guess they didn't learn their lesson the first time around. I quickly said the incantation and got free from the chains and crawled my way over to the vent. I didn't know if anyone would ever see it, but I had to take my chances. Hopefully, I wouldn't burn an entire wall down or something.

I took a deep breath to settle my nerves and took off the grate. I focused my energy and created a small flame in my hand. Smiling at my small triumph. I wasn't far too experienced at handling fire, but if I was going to go for a message, then there was only one thing I could do with this. I focused on the shape of the fire and formed it into what looked like a dragon. I grinned, Arthur would probably like it if he saw it, I carefully guided the flame into the vent and burned the shape into the wall. Any sentinel could tell it was placed there recently by the smell, but, hopefully, Arthur would get the message. I placed the grate back carefully over the vent and gazed at the door warily for several minutes, before letting out a breath in relief. It's unlikely that nobody noticed, so either they weren't worried about what I was doing or something else was more pressing.

I looked at the door again and used my empathy to sense the guards again. If I wanted a chance in hell to get out of here I had to work fast. What had I done in that van to cause the accident? Could I repeat it? Attack them all at once and strong enough so that I could have a chance of coming out of it ahead. I scowled at the door in frustration and moved the desks from the wall in front it. I doubted with two sentinels and a wizard it would do me much good, but I didn't see much for defense options in here.

I cringed at the thought of what I was about to do, but I didn't have many choices here. Anyway, I looked at it, I couldn't see this ending well for me.

I just needed to knock them out, somehow, if I focused enough I might have a chance at doing this. Or at least that's what my best plan was. Not like I do this every day, but I knew Arthur wouldn't want me to give up and if I could slow whatever it was they were planning by even just a little bit, it might give Arthur enough time to find me.

I looked around the room suspiciously until I found what I was looking for. A camera, of course they were watching my every move. I only saw the one in here and rolled my eyes, quickly burning the thing up before I had even thought about it. I'd have to try and keep in mind to watch out for them. I shook myself off trying to ignore my body's demand for rest and sucked in a deep breath.

Now or never.

I washed my empathy over my guides and felt an immediate push back from the guide, he was on alert now, no doubt they had told them I was up to something.

"This might hurt," I whispered in warning and focused all my energy towards my empathy expelling it and letting it press on the guide's shields. It was a first for me, to allow myself to simply let all of it flow from me. I hadn't realized how much I kept this part of myself blocked off. My shields were strong, I sensed them fully, I could almost picture them, like castle walls surrounding me, only allowing those that I let in. I smiled, I might have a chance at this yet. I thought of how Arthur had made me feel stronger, how in a brief second I had felt my shields and strength multiply and imagined him with me. Feeling myself get a boost in energy at the thought. I put more pressure on the guide's shield and felt it begin to buckle. It was like a thin piece of paper to me. I frowned, was that unusual?

I shrugged the thought off and forced myself to concentrate on my task. I could ask stupid questions later. Finally, I just let loose the final grip I had on my empathy, and just let it all stream through me. Once I did it, I couldn't even attempt to tamper it down, I felt my empathy force itself through the other guide's shield like a loose animal. I smirked again, no, a dragon. I envisioned it roaring and burning everything down in its vicinity and without much effort I knew they had been defeated. No match for the beast. I heard a few thumps, the sounds of their bodies hitting the floor and I knew it hadn't just been my imagination. The dragon I had pictured had destroyed their shields and attacked them, but it hadn't ended there, the dragon came into my room and looked at me. He seemed to take up almost the entire room, he scales were different colors and he looked exactly the kind of thing you'd find in a picture book. I could tell from his eyes that there was something he wanted to say, but couldn't. I felt confused as I watched him, I felt like I knew him. Like I've known him my whole life, but there was no way. He was just something from my imagination. I shook my head at him and began to reel my empathy back in. I wanted to explore the dragon more, but I didn't have the time right now. The dragon nodded at me solemnly and disappeared as I got my empathy back to my normal, mute-like status.

I had no real understanding with what had just happened. I had just let my empathy take control, envisioned it protecting me and hadn't focused on much else of what had happened. I imagined, I had done something similar to what Morgause had done to me in the SUV, it had been painful, but effective and had made me pass out. I winced at the thought of doing the same and hoped that whatever it is I had managed to do was less painful.

I moved the desk away from the door and took careful steps to what could be a disaster. Get a grip, Merlin. I scolded myself and whispered my new favorite spell, opening the door to see 4 bodies lying on the ground. "Sorry," I cringed and l peered around for more cameras. Spotting three in the hall, I burned them all up, before checking everybody's pulse. They were unconscious, but seemed unhurt and I let out a sigh in relief. Glad, I hadn't done anything too damaging.

I studied the hallway and noticed several doors on both sides, I waited several minutes before starting to reach out with my empathy again, attempting to gain as much information on any guards nearby. I frowned as I noticed four immediately close guides. I assumed in the rooms near me, but nothing nearby as per the guards, hardly been any in the building, but there was more than enough outside, in the surrounding area. I counted at least 50. Ten sentinels spread out the furthest, I assumed the perimeter. Maybe that's why they didn't think I'd get too far.

I looked at a door to my left and walked slowly to it. It could be a trap or it could be another guide. Trapped like me. I had to take the chance and find out. If it was another guide there's no way I could ignore it. I hesitated before opening the door. Seeing a man chained in the far corner of the room. He was older than I was, probably in late mid to late twenties. He was blond, with a strong face, and very well-muscled. Bruises and cuts littered his skin from what I could see. His blond He gazed at me with piercing eyes and frowned, "Who the fuck are you?"

"Someone trying to escape," I answered, "What about you?"

I felt his empathy surround me, before his eyes widened, "You're strong."

"Or so they say, but vastly untrained," I responded.

"Go on then," he nodded, "I know you want to."

I nodded at his consent and used my empathy to read him like he did me. He had parts in his mind blocked, but that was ok. From what I could see he was pretty genuine. "I just came online 3 months ago," he sighed, "Not much training either."

"I've been hiding for years," I answered.

He grinned, "Can't blame you. Fucking took me by surprise. How the hell did you get out of the chains?"

I walked over to him, kneeling down, and quickly unlocked his chains, "I'm not very good, but I can heal you."

His eyebrows shot up, "Wizard?"

"Yeah," I smiled, "I'm a double threat."

He laughed and rubbed his wrists, "One untrained empath ex-soldier and one untrained wizard guide."

"Triple threat?" I asked, "We're definitely something. We're not the only ones here though. I felt three others."

He nodded at me, "Your name?"

"Merlin," I nodded.

"Percival," he shared, while standing up, "Well, Merlin, let's go check these other guides out."

"I was drugged before I got here, are you ok to move?"

Percival scratched his neck and nodded, "Yeah. Whatever they gave me had me messed up for a while."

"Like I said before," I began, "I'm not very good, but I can heal those cuts."

"No need," he shook his head, "I'm fine. Save your energy."

I gave him a pointed look, so he sighed and added, "If it hurts I'll tell you."

I nodded, unwilling to push the issue due to our current circumstances and lead the way out of the room, stopping directly in the room in front of his. I gave him a quick look before unlocking the door.

"Fuck," Percival frowned behind me, "Another kid."

I nodded, "Fuck indeed." The kid was younger than me, but not by much, "You do know most guides come online around 10 or so?"

Percival shook his head as the kid made a whimpering sound. I shushed Percival as I studied the brown-haired boy, he was scrawny, probably around 14. "It's ok, we're not here to hurt you," I said softly.

"W-who are you?" the boy asked.

"Just two guides, trying to get out. We were trapped here, like you," I answered.

The boy looked at both of us up and down, "How did you get out?"

I stepped towards him, "I'll show you," but before I could make it any further, Percival's hand grasped my shoulder.

"Let me do this first," he answered. I hesitated before consenting and letting him step in front of me. I watched as Percival scanned the boy and gave a look of satisfaction before allowing me to continue towards him.

As I knelt beside him I asked, "What's your name?"

The boy waited until I unlocked his chains before answering, "Daegal. You're a wizard?"

"Yes, I'm Merlin. That's Percival, he just came online."

"I came online when I was 3," he answered.

"That's really young," Percival let out.

"I'm one of the youngest ever to come online."

"So I'm a wizard guide, you're probably one of the oldest people to come online," I said looking at Percival and then turning back to Daegal, "And you're one of the youngest. I'm starting to sense a theme here."

They both stayed quiet for a moment before Percival added, "We're all a bit unusual?"

"Rarities," I nodded, "Perfect for a private collector," I scowled, "Fuck. These people are sick."

"What?" Daegal looked at me wide-eyed, "What do you mean?"

I furrowed my brows as I looked at him, "I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, Daegal, but we were brought here to be sold to whatever buyer was willing to pay the most for us."

"S-sold?"

"Yeah," I nodded, but as I watched the fear in his eyes, I knew I couldn't waver. There were no ifs, ands, and buts about it, I had to get out of here. With renewed spirits, I placed my hand on his shoulder, "But don't worry, because one way or another I'm getting us the fuck out of here. I can't disappoint my sentinel after all."

"You have a sentinel?" Percival asked, "Your un-bonded."

"You can't bond until you're 17," answered Daegal, "I've met my sentinel, too."

"Oh," he nodded.

I helped Daegal stand up and he straightened up with a firm look he agreed, "One way or another."

I turned to Percival and smirked, "Alright soldier-boy after we visit the other two guides, we're getting out. You in?"

Percival grinned, "As if you could stop me from coming," and so amid what felt like an absolute mess, I felt like I was starting to gain some solid ground again.

We were going to get out of here.

Author's note: I know. Belated update. I know. BUUUTTT I have good reasons... you know... work and stuff... and that hospital stay and yeah... just getting myself back up and going, don't worry, although, admittedly this chapter does feel a little weak, it's just the start. I hope you enjoy and please tell me what you think.