Being Chapter the Twenty-Sixth

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"Are we ready?" Roarden asked intently, as Reid gazed at himself in the mirror. A reflection Reid didn't like, one of his body in dark clothing, bearing Roarden's crest. His outfit was sleeker than Tyler's, made more for stealth than combat. He looked like an assassin. One of the bad guys. All his life he had been the rambunctious one, the troublemaker. He had never dreamed it would come to this. And because of the life he led, his reputation now worked against him. Caleb and the others would never believe he hadn't really betrayed them.

"With Rowena's poison skin, be thankful I can't touch her like I wish to…" Roarden hissed at Reid. "Therefore she doesn't have a real use here. After she gets my… army into the Guild… I will release her… But with her… will go a curse… one I have put in her and in your little friends, the other Chosen One, in that lovely Vampiress, and in that Elf that won't shut up… A curse in their very blood… If you disobey me, I just say the word and… they will all die a very slow… very painful death. Put that on your conscience."

Reid stared ahead like a soldier, expressionless and emotionless. He was nothing more than stone.

"And just in case you were thinking of betraying me like the disappointment that was Tyler…" Roarden began to circle him like a vulture. "Remember that I will be watching you at all times…"

With a forceful hand, Roarden motioned to the frosted glass cube sitting on a nearby table.

"Remember that with that Window Stone, I can see every… single… move you make…"

Roarden put his face near Reid's ear, to make sure he didn't miss a word.

"And remember… If I see one I don't like… You will be the direct cause of the deaths of your dear friends… your lover… and your own child."

Reid winced, as if already in pain. He was doing this for them.

They were all that mattered now.

Caleb walked beside Fin quietly, as they made their way out of the Council Chambers and back to where Cody was waiting to teleport them back to the Guild. He wished he could ask Fin all sorts of questions, but he knew even she didn't have the answers. Only the Council seemed to know what the Prophecy entailed. Because 'futures were a fragile thing'. Knowing them might mess up the result. Caleb still thought it was a rigged deck.

When they reached their teleporter friend, Fin sensed trouble immediately, not only with her mental power, but by the frantic look on Cody's face. He rushed up to Fin and Caleb as soon as he spotted them.

"There's trouble at the Guild!"

"How do you figure?" Caleb wondered in surprise.

"Cody can sense things from where he last ports from for up to, like, an hour," Fin explained hurriedly, then turned back to Cody. "Take us back."

"I can't," Cody shook his head no. "There's no guarantee what you'll find there. I could be putting right in the seventh circle of hell!"

"I have a feeling that's just where we're needed," Caleb insisted.

Being inside the seventh circle of hell was not too far off base, as Cody ported them inside the Remembrance Hall, foyer to the Guild. The flames were already starting to encompass everything, and though the halls were empty and abandoned, once inside the Guild, it was utter chaos. Spectres mixed in and found strength from the smoke of the fires, Hoods battled with students and residents alike. The Hoods had the obvious upper hand, spreading through the building as quick as the inferno. It was all most of the students could do to escape alive. They had seemed to come just in time, though, for the Hoods were just starting their reign of terror, and orders were still being said to them, by their leader, who stood in the center of the lobby. He was hooded, cloaked in black and quite distinguishable from the crowd. He moved like a ghost, disappearing in a cloud of smoke and reappearing elsewhere to frighten more students outside.

"Caleb!" Pogue called downward from the second story, doing all he could to ward of surrounding Spectres by himself. To Caleb's right, Etrigan transformed into a beast of a creature, scaly and brown and more demon-like than anything. Fangs extended out of his mouth like a sabertooth tiger, claws came from his fingers like a bear, his eyes beady and black as night. In this form, he was ripping through Hoods and walls like they were mere paper. Daniel was swinging a Hood around by his feet and throwing them through a nearby window, his arms transformed into stone. Spectres slashed at his face like lashing bushes with sharp branches, but he powered on through like a tank. Kitty ran and jumped over the railing above, forming into a cloud of smoke herself, and mixing in with the rest of the Spectres. Every once in a while Caleb could spot her hand, or leg, or head, but never all at once, and never for more than a split second. Ro was present as well, uppercutting a Hood in the chin, then booting another in the chest. It was the last one to fall to the ground, echoing in the now empty room.

"Ro?" Fin called after her friend. "You're alright!"

Ro turned toward the voice, and ran to her friend. They embraced as the sisters they were. Kitty was right behind her. The others gathered around to regroup.

"Ro!" Kitty said in relief, hugging her friend tightly. "Where's Tyler? Is he okay? I mean, I'm really glad you're okay, but is he okay?"

"Fin," Ro said seriously, ignoring Kitty's questions. "I'm sorry. I had no choice. Roarden made me lead them in."

"But how's Tyler?" Kitty piped up. "Does he still hate the world? Does he hate me?"

"It's okay, I understand," Fin ignored Kitty too, squeezing Ro tight before letting her go to look her in the eye. "Not that I'm complaining, but Roarden just let you walk out of there?"

"I know," Ro agreed. "I didn't trust it either, but I'm here now. He's got Tyler in a work camp--"

"Finally, you tell me!" Kitty threw up her hands. "Oh, wait, my goodness, he's in a concentration camp? My poor baby!"

"Dahlia's stuck in her old nightmare job," Ro went on. "And Lysander's going to be executed at sunrise."

The sounds of the battle outside could be heard rumbling through the deserted halls. It was not a pleasant sound. But otherwise, silence overcame the room.

Fin frowned off out a nearby window. Through the commotion, she thought she sensed something-- someone-- familiar.

It felt like Reid.

But that was impossible, wasn't it? He was captured, back at Roarden's castle. And with Ro freed, Roarden had no leverage to use against Reid, especially not to make him become a Hood leader storming the Guild. Because of her doubts, Fin kept her feelings to herself, but still remained on guard.

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Reid hid under his hood, hoping the others wouldn't recognize who he was. This costume was not one worn proudly. He would serve his purpose to Roarden and get out as soon as possible.

"Reid…" He heard a voice say in his head. It was Roarden's voice. "Go back inside, go finish the job…"

Reid skidded to a halt.

"I can't," he argued. "The other Chosen Ones and the Guardians are in there… She's too heavily guarded--!"

"Go back! Unless you want them dead, go back!"

Reid now came to the realization that there was no way to avoid confrontation with his friends. He had to face them. He had to hurt them, in order to get to Sybilla, and to kill her. Reid turned around. It had to be done. He just hoped someday they would all understand.

A man cloaked in black walked in through the smoke and shadow, stepping up from the dark lower level of the dining hall. His heavy steps echoed, as he ascended upward, only a silhouette to those gathered in the lobby. First his head rose up into sight, then his chest, then his legs and feet.

"Yeah, real spooky, Scary Spice, I'm shakin' in my boots," Pogue called out to him. "Enough with the theatrics, huh? How about showing us the mug we're going to tear apart?"

The figure suddenly ran, dodging around them and his sights set on one destination goal. "Oh, no, you don't," Caleb growled, Using to grab at the Hood's feet, leg-locking him and making him fall flat on his face. Reaching into his coat, the man pulled out a small red marble and threw it at Caleb. Surprisingly, it exploded, throwing Caleb from his stance. The Hood scrambled up, quickly racing to the stairway.

"He's heading for Sybilla!" Fin declared. "After him!"

Kitty was closest to the stairs, and threw herself into the floor, phasing up at the bottom of the staircase to cut the Hood off. He was surprised, skidding to a halt, so quickly the force blew his hood from his head. His blonde head of hair shined through in all it's glory, making everyone present gasp.

"My God!" Caleb spat in surprise.

"Reid?!" Ro cried out.

"What the hell are you doin', man?!" Pogue called after his friend.

"Do not respond to them, Reid," Roarden's voice was heard in his mind. "They are not your friends anymore… Go on with your task…"

Reid pulled out a white stick, glowing red on the end. With a swift swipe, a red beam came from it, disintegrating the ground below Kitty, making her crash below. She managed to phase into the floor below as to land safely, but it was enough to baffle the rest of them at his hostility

"Dude, what is your problem?" Pogue asked in bewilderment, checking down into the hole to make sure Kitty was okay. But Reid was already using his white rod to blow the roof, making it fall to those still remaining on the lower level. Fin, Etrigan, Pogue, Caleb, and Daniel barely managed to dive out of the way in time. Reid took the opportunity to take off up the stairs, leaving them in their shock. Pogue concentrated on flight, and lifted himself up to Reid's level, but by the time he got there, Reid was ready with a different colored marble, this time blue. He hurled it at Pogue, and as it hit the floor, it exploded into a large flash of light. Pogue yelled and held his eyes, calling out in pain and grabbing his face.

"My eyes! I can't see!"

"You're holding back, Reid. Go for the killing blows."

Reid gulped, hoping it wouldn't have come to that. If only they would just stay out of his way…

"Reid, what are you doing?" Ro said, just coming up the other set of stairs. Daniel and Etrigan were at her heels. Fin quickly attended to Pogue.

While Reid was stunned at what he had just done to his friend, Ro slipped into his way, blocking his path to Sybilla's study. She looked angry, her fists clenched and a harsh glare. Reid frowned at her, lifting up another red marble, which they had learned from experience was a grenade.

"You hurt your friends…" Ro said, nodding Pogue's direction. "You would hurt me too?"

Reid suddenly hurled the bomb at the ground, blasting a hole into the floor. Ro merely jumped away from it, utterly appalled at his impudence. With a yell, she punched him hard across the face, making sure he felt it.

Reid knew he deserved it, knowing he would've done the same thing in her stead, and more. He put his hand on his stinging jaw, hoping it wasn't broken. He furrowed his brow as he spat out a molar.

"I gave you those weapons for a reason," Roarden growled in his ear. "Use them."

Roarden had to be testing him. Reid frowned at Ro, wishing she had enough sense to let him alone. Reid gave her time to change her mind, lifting up his white stick slowly.

"I'm a titan, thus indestructible to virtually everythin'," she retorted. "That thing doesn't scare me."

Reid shot at her palm, causing her call out in pain, and yank her hand close. A singed burn was clearly seen, still smoking from the blast. He was making sure she knew this thing would surely kill her, if used correctly.

He raised the rod again without hurry, letting her know unmistakably that he was preparing to take another shot. He let the soft frequency sound of the charging rod fill their ears, as the tip gradually glowed brighter. Ro only replied by taking the glove off her unhurt hand, revealing her poison skin. She plainly showed him her bare palm and enraged expression.

Then her face softened, her hand drawing back and recoiling.

"Reid, what are we doin'?" she asked in a voice just above a whisper. "I don't want to have to live in any world where we have to be enemies."

She put her hands at her sides, and her head down in submission.

"If killing me is truly what you want, then just go ahead and do it."

Reid's brows met together in deep sorrow, touched by her actions. He lowered his rod.

"Ro…" he started, but was cut off by Roarden in his head.

"What are you waiting for?" he shouted. "You have a headmistress to kill!"

Reid searched his mind for options, but there weren't any. He had no choice. Reid looked to Ro standing before him, and he lifted up his rod.

"I'm sorry," Reid said sincerely, then fired.

-

Please review.
Signed,
--RedRogue