112
"Sir? There's someone on the phone…they say it's urgent."
Marty IV looked up from his newspaper as his secretary timidly pushed her head into the room.
"Urgent? Urgent how?"
"It's line one," she said quickly, and then hesitated only a moment before adding. "I think it's about M."
His frown deepened as unease crept into his mind. M? Where was that boy? He vaguely remembered him saying something about going to town. Or was it to the beach?
He picked up the phone quickly, pressing the button for line one.
"Marty Openheimer…" he began, but he was cut off by a torrent of words from what sounded like a hysterical mother. He stiffened as he tried to make it out.
"Ma'am, please calm down…I don't understand…" he started, immediately getting to his feet. He listened a few minutes longer, shaking his head. "I…where is this? How many?"
He headed for the doorway, forgetting the phone was connected by a cord to the device on his desk; it was an old model, used by Openheimers for generations. And he nearly ripped it off the desk in his haste.
"The police have been notified? Are they there yet? What have they found? What do you mean they can't find them!? Give the phone to the person in charge!"
He had managed to unwind himself from the cord and headed back to his desk, yelling at the poor woman on the other side of the line.
"You're sure he was one of them? You're sure M's lost down there?"
More quiet as the headmaster listened, his stomach churning painfully as he made out snippets from the background through the woman's panicked explanations.
"The tide?! What's the tide got to do with anything?! Do they know where the children are or not!?"
Suddenly, his cellphone blazed with life, buzzing from its place on the corner of the desk. He had never really wanted a cellphone; a useless device, considering he already had a desk phone. But with all his business travels he had grudgingly realized he had to get one. As he looked over now and caught sight of M's student picture on the screen, he had never been more grateful.
"I have another call…" was all he said before slamming the phone back on its base. He grabbed the cell-phone, nearly dropping it, and pushed the answer button.
"M? Where are you!?" he yelled into the phone.
"Dad?"
His heart was pounding horribly in his chest now, and his knees suddenly felt weak as he realized his son was crying.
"Are you ok? Where are you? Answer me…keep talking…"
The Headmaster's voice was suddenly almost robotic, as he forced himself not to yell again.
"Dad…it's all my fault…"
"Where are you, M? The police are there at the beach. They're looking for you but you need to tell me exactly where you are so I can…"
"We're not at the beach. We're at the school…on the main stage…"
Marty had been ripping through the items in his drawer in an attempt to find his car keys, but here he paused.
"What?! What do you mean?! I just got a call saying you…"
"Dad I don't know what to do….I can't…"
The man's knuckles were white where he gripped his phone as he heard his son break down on the other side.
"M, you need to calm down. Tell me where you are. What's going on?"
"It's Amber! You gotta help her….Dad please help me…"
M was sobbing and Marty was struck with a horrible helplessness.
"Where are you?" he demanded again.
"We're at the main stage. The cave was collapsing and then I think Amber transported us. I don't know…Dad I don't know what happened. But we're on the stage and she won't wake up…it's all my fault."
"Stay there," Marty ordered again. It didn't make much sense, of course, but he headed for the main stage regardless. The auditoriums were always kept locked on the weekends after several students had been caught sneaking in and messing around. The Headmaster fumbled for his keys as he reached the ornate doors, part of him still reeling with everything he had heard in the last ten minutes and the other part of him desperately hoping that his son was where he said he was, and not lost somewhere fifty leagues under the sea.
The door swung open and he could hear the crying. He clenched his jaw as he walked quickly down the aisle…so quickly it was almost running. There they were; a group of students on the stage looking haggard and soaked. A black-haired girl was crying, a few boys looked like they were vomiting. But the headmaster didn't focus on any of them long as his eyes finally locked on a sandy-haired boy shaking as he knelt on the polished stage floor.
"M!"
Everyone looked over at their Headmaster and he climbed the stage quickly. He avoided the various puddles of water and other fluids. His son looked up at him, tears still running down his face. M's cellphone was still held tightly in one hand and Marty dropped to his side.
"M…what in…"
"Dad!"
Marty froze as M. grabbed onto him, burying his face into the front of his suit. After a moment Marty's arms woodenly closed around his son as M. tried to communicate through his sobs.
"Help her….Dad….I didn't….it's all my fault…"
The man stared dumbly and then looked over to see the form lying next to where M. was sitting. It was Amber, but her eyes were closed and the headmaster could already tell that she was unresponsive. The slight sound of raspy breathing was really the only indication that she was even alive; she looked pallid, her hair wet and stringy. M. pulled away and gestured to her desperately.
"She won't wake up…she won't wake up and it's all my fault!"
"It's not your fault."
It came out without Marty really meaning it to, but his tone was stern and calm as he fixed M. with a firm look.
"We'll call an ambulance."
M let out a shuddery breath and looked back at his friend in a panic.
"Can they help her?" he managed to squeak out, but Marty was already on the phone with the authorities.
"Yes, the Openheimer School of Performing Arts…I have a student here who is unresponsive. As soon as you possibly can…and inform the team at the beach that the children are here at the school."
He glanced over at his son.
"Yes, they were…they managed to get out and came back here. Please get here soon."
M's tears had subsided now and he sat in a drained, numb way. The others on the stage were still in various stages of their own shock. Marty looked over at them and his voice became stern and commanding.
"Are any of you hurt? If you need medical attention, an ambulance is on its way."
The one girl was still crying, and a few moaned about feeling nauseous. Marty clenched his jaw and made another call.
"Gerald? I have a strange request, but something has happened. I need you to bring blankets to the main auditorium…and something to mop up a mess."
He said the last part while glancing at the questionable puddles near the sick boys. He hung up and looked back over at M. who was holding Amber's hand, looking pale and sick himself. The Headmaster pressed a hand to his forehead.
"A fine mess indeed."
Irrigation didn't matter. Food production didn't matter…strife between villages didn't matter. And yet it did; all of it did. But despite the fact that she knew as much in her head, Myrah couldn't focus on the various topics of the meeting at all. Her advisors knew something was up, and finally Bula leaned over to hiss at her.
"Myrah…what is it?"
The Western Leader blinked, turning away from the window that she had been staring out of.
"I'm fine," she replied automatically, and her senior advisor scowled.
"I didn't ask you if you were fine. I asked you what is it that is engaging your mind so fully that you can't even pretend to be invested in this conversation."
It was said quietly, but the rest of the room was silent so Myrah knew the other members of the council had heard. She cleared her throat and straightened. Her mind told her to give a quick excuse and really focus on the meeting; to steel her emotions away and do what was most important. That's what a good leader would do, after all.
Instead, she pushed herself to her feet.
"I'm not feeling quite myself; in fact, I believe I've come down with something."
The others in the room seemed surprised by her abrupt confession, and she continued.
"It's been something building for the last few days…and it's making it hard to function at this point. I think I have no other option but to visit a healer and seek medication."
A few of the village leaders and advisors murmured in confusion. The answers ranged from "well of course…" and "But…" to Bula's angry "Myrah!"
But she was already heading out of the room.
M. sat frozen on his bed, staring at the ground. He wanted to be at the hospital…he had to know if Amber was alright. If the doctors were able to help her.
He finally pushed himself to his feet, heading woodenly to the door. He tried the knob. Still locked.
He felt completely wiped out; part of him just wanted to crawl into his bed and sleep, like his father had commanded him to. But he couldn't; not without knowing if she was ok.
"Dad!"
He pounded on the door, waiting for a response. When there wasn't one, he pounded harder.
"DAD!"
He had to do it a while before his father showed up. He finally heard the door unlocking and took a step back. The door swung open, revealing an irate headmaster.
"What on earth are you…"
"I have to go see her! I can't sleep, I have to get out of this room!"
Marty IV sighed loudly, coming into the room and pulling the door closed behind him. His voice was uncharacteristically soft.
"After today, you don't need any more excitement," he explained. "You need sleep. The doctors are taking care of Amber."
M. scowled and Marty hesitated before continuing.
"And frankly, I don't know that I want you around her anymore."
It felt like a punch in the stomach. He immediately began to protest but Marty put a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry, but I almost lost you today. Nothing like this ever happened before I let her into this school, and now…"
"It wasn't Amber's fault!" M cut in angrily. "It was mine!"
"M…"
"She didn't even want to go exploring! No one did! But I made them and…"
"You can't make people do things. The Oni, on the other hand…"
"She's the one who's in the hospital! Dad, she saved us!"
"I don't think she expected things to go that far, M. But the truth of the matter is that you've changed ever since I allowed her to come to the school. You're reckless, disobedient…"
"It's not her…."
"She's changed you! And I'm at my wits end! First it was the disrespect towards me and your grandfather, and then the running away…and now this?"
Icy cold ran through M's system as he realized where his father was heading.
"Dad…you can't kick her out."
Marty's expression became hard and tears filled M's eyes again as his father spoke.
"I have to do what's best for the school, and for you…"
"You can't! She's already in the hospital because of me! She just got back into the school...if you kick her out because of what I did…"
"Stop saying that!"
Marty glowered down at his son, his grip on his shoulder's becoming almost painful.
"What happened in those caves wasn't your fault, M. But if you keep saying that it was…"
"It was my fault! Ask anyone!"
"I've talked to everyone," Marty countered. "From what I could tell, the only reason you were ever in real danger is because the Oni blew a hole into the cave. She nearly killed you all!"
"Because I pressured her!" M. argued back. "And she didn't know; she thought she was making us an escape route…"
"Even worse! Someone who's that dangerous on accident is not someone I can allow to be in a school."
Things were spiraling down faster than M. could process them. He was shaking now as he shook his head.
"Ask Dani," he managed. "She'll tell you…she'll tell you that Amber's never done anything dangerous. It was a scary situation and she just did what she thought would help. That would never happen in the school, dad!"
Marty sighed and M. grabbed his arms, his pleading turning to anger.
"If you kick her out of this school, I will never forgive you!" he yelled, and Marty's expression immediately hardened.
"NO, M."
He straightened, and suddenly it was back; that expression that the teen had become so used to. Like the Headmaster was eyeing prey…or something foul.
"No more of that. I am your father, I am the headmaster. You do not call the shots. I've let this go too far. You are the child, do you understand?!"
Marty was yelling now.
"You are not in charge. You will do as you're told! If I say that you'll stay in this room until I can trust you to come out, then that is what will happen! And if I say the Oni is too dangerous to have in this school…"
"Don't blame Amber because you hate me!"
The slap came swiftly, and M didn't even register what had happened until his father was backing away. The teen put a hand to his stinging face.
"Enough."
His father's voice was soft again, and there was some emotion in it that M. couldn't place. He looked back at him with a betrayed expression and found that he didn't understand the look on the headmaster's face. He wasn't even sure if the headmaster was talking to him or to himself.
M. opened his mouth to say something, but he didn't know what to say anymore. Everything felt like it was in pieces at his feet; somehow or another, he had ruined everything in his life that he cared about.
"You're grounded, to this room, until I can get everything sorted out," his father continued. "Do not pull anything again; if you pound this door the way you did before, so help me…"
But he trailed off, rubbing his face like he wasn't even sure how he would finish that sentence. M. had fallen silent, and his father left quickly. His cheek was still stinging as he heard the lock click once again.
113
Matilda was typing furiously. The scanner worked, alright. It picked up some Oni disturbance within the school. Rumors were great, of course…but proof…
"Ms. O'Keefe?"
She glanced up as one of her interns frowned in the doorway.
"Your assistant Alejandro said to tell you to take a look at the news…"
She pulled up a browser and went straight to the website. Her heart beat a little faster as she caught sight of the title.
School Children Narrowly Dodge Certain Death at Ninjago Beach
"Interesting," she murmured, clicking on the link. She processed the information quickly, the wheels in her head turning at lightning speed. The Oni was in the group. None hurt or killed, but of course they would be traumatized. Her own son in the mix…
That caused her to hesitate. Foolish boy, she finally thought with a head shake. She did try to warn him though. She was realizing what a perfect time this would be to bring down the hammer when the last of the news report rolled on.
"One of the school children, the Oni known as Amber, is currently in Ninjago hospital. Her state is not being released to the general public at this time, but from the reports we've heard we are led to believe she is not in good condition. Authorities are still trying to devise a way to contact her loved ones, as they live in a different realm…"
Matilda blinked. Could this situation get any better?
She pressed a button firmly on her desk phone with a perfectly manicured nail.
"Alejandro, get the defense team suited up and ready to go. It seems that we can move forward with our goals a little sooner than the next school performance."
Her brain was blaring with warning as she reached the tent…the very one she had already decided to never visit again. But Myrah couldn't take the confusion anymore…the emotions inside colliding and this convoluted situation. She needed answers, and she needed them badly enough that this time she didn't even hesitate outside the door before entering.
"Hershel!"
She didn't realize that she was worried he wouldn't be here until she caught sight of him in his chair near the fireplace and relief washed over her. He looked over in surprise, and she knew there was something else in his expression. Fear? Discomfort? He only met her eyes a moment before he looked away, pushing himself to his feet.
"Myrah…"
"Where were you? What were you thinking, sending someone else in your place?"
He sighed heavily, and it bothered her that he wasn't looking at her. Her heart was pounding; something had changed, and it made her so frustrated that she didn't know what it was.
"I should have told you sooner," the Master Healer admitted, slowly lowering the scroll he had been reading onto the small table next to the chair. "The fact of the matter is that I am no longer in a position where I can come to the Western Fortress. My sister is a fine teacher; she is more than capable of…"
"Why won't you look at me?"
He glanced up there, and she wished she could understand why he seemed so nervous; she had never seen him like this.
"Has something happened?" she pressed further.
"Is there something you needed?" he asked. It was odd; Myrah had already decided that distancing herself from the Master Healer was wise, and yet hearing how distant his tone was filled her with anger and frustration. What was wrong with her?!
"Answers," she answered firmly, walking up to him. "I need answers, Hershel."
"About what?"
He finally seemed to be holding her gaze, and she blurted it out before her oppressive logic could talk her out of it.
"Do you love me?"
He flinched and immediately broke eye contact. She watched the blood drain from his face and shook her head; it certainly wasn't the reaction she was expecting.
"Your niece told me you did. I wasn't sure if I should believe her."
He was backing away subtly as if to put distance between them. There was a stir of wind that rustled the hanging herbs and various scrolls, and the Master Healer heaved a heavy sigh. She heard him murmur to himself.
"Pippa…"
"Is it true?!" Myrah pressed. She found it hard to act calm and apathetic. Hershel's guardedness and indecision were making her feel desperate for the truth…and angry. Whether she was angry at herself or him, she actually wasn't sure.
"I'm sorry for anything my niece said to you," he said quietly. Uncommitted.
"I'm not looking for an apology, I'm looking for the truth!" she said, her voice getting louder. He was still shying away and she came closer, unwilling to let him shut down and escape. Her emotions were all over the place. In fact, these past weeks she had been struggling to even recognize herself…and she couldn't help but feel like it had something to do with the man in front of her.
"Hershel!" she pressed again. He finally looked up, and she was shocked at how angry he sounded when he finally replied.
"It doesn't matter now!"
She froze. What…what was that supposed to mean?
"It doesn't matter…" he repeated softer, and then sighed. "You don't need to worry about it, Myrah. About what I might have felt…"
"Felt?" She scoffed; none of this made any sense! She took another step towards him, her tone becoming icy. "I don't know much about love…but I was led to believe it doesn't exactly work like that. What on earth has happened in the past few days to make it so you can't even stand to look me in the eyes anymore?!"
"You're a leader," he answered, and she could tell he was making the effort to look at her, as if to prove her accusation wrong. But his reasoning just made her all the angrier; it felt like an insult.
"I've been a leader for as long as you've known me," she pointed out icily. "How could that have anything to do with this…this change?"
He was silent, and she wished she knew what he was thinking as he scanned her face with his eyes. The Master Healer suddenly seemed so young, and she wanted to know what it was that was making him look so sad.
"We have oaths," he explained simply, as if that explained everything. "Healers, do, I mean. When I became Archtivus's apprentice I was bound to them…and as Master Healer I cannot break them."
"What kind of oaths?" she snapped, and he pushed the hair in his face back with one hand.
"The oldest rule we have is that we are banned from interfering with politics…with holding any political sway."
She frowned, her mind churning as she tried to remember all the research she had done on the secretive Healer's organization. She had scoured the library after meeting Hershel, actually, and she realized that his reasoning sounded a little familiar.
"Kahzym the first," she recalled, and he glanced away as he nodded. Suddenly everything made sense. It should have filled her with relief, knowing that even if he did love her, he wouldn't do anything about it. To know that she could return to the way things had been before she had ever gotten mixed up with this Master Healer…that she could work towards her goals without such unacceptable interruptions.
But it didn't make her feel relieved. It made her feel angry.
"Aren't you healers the ones who believe affection to be a blessing!?" she demanded. "But now you claim that you can't even allow yourself to feel it?!"
He seemed surprised by her anger. Myrah was shocked as well, but she couldn't take it anymore. These last few months, with so many ideologies crashing into each other and trying to tell her what was worthwhile and what wasn't….whether love and affection was as worthless as she had always believed or if there was something special about it that she just didn't understand yet. She hated that the most…the fact that she didn't understand something, despite the hours poured into researching it. She loathed the fact that she still didn't know, and now even Hershel, who always seemed so sure of what he believed, was changing tunes.
"If love is really as powerful as you say, why are you so willing to cut yourself off from it?!" she demanded, and Hershel looked conflicted.
"It's not love that's the problem. It's the situation. I didn't realize the consequences of my actions; I wasn't looking at the big picture."
"The big picture?"
He shrugged, and she hated how resigned he seemed about it.
"I'm sorry for involving you," he was saying now. "I never should have allowed myself to…."
"To what? Fall in love with me?!"
Didn't she agree with him? Hadn't she felt as much the moment his niece had suggested it? Then why did it feel like such a blow for him to say as much?
Hershel was looking away again, seeming like he wished he could be anywhere but here in this moment.
"I was trusted to uphold ancient rules, traditions…and I almost betrayed that trust. That's why I think the best thing to do would be to distance myself."
Maybe it was the fact that it was so similar to what she had planned on saying to him…but for whatever reason, something snapped.
"Tradition?" she scoffed. She came closer, and soon Hershel was more or less cornered against that old stone fireplace. "So that's it? After all this time saying otherwise, you confess that our lives really are controlled by traditions and the influence of other people?!"
He blinked in surprise.
"I would have thought you of all people would have understood…"
"And I would have thought that you weren't too much of a…a coward to be tied to such stupid rules!"
Hershel looked genuinely confused now, as well as hurt.
"Coward?" he asked, his voice taking on that edge she had come to recognize. She flushed but stumbled onward.
"You've spent months trying to change my mind about everything! About affection, our history…. you…."
"I haven't…" he started defensively, but she continued on.
"I am not tied to other's decisions!" she yelled at him. "I make my own goals, I've planned my own future, and I have my own belief in the traditions I uphold. Or I did…before you and Theodynn and everyone else tried to change me!"
"Theo? What's any of this got to do with…"
"But how dare you judge me for my belief in tradition, for my ideals, when the only reason you believe any different is because you've been too cowardly to form your own path!"
The Master Healer just stared at her. She could tell he was trying to follow her line of thinking, and she could also tell that he was angry. Well, let him be angry! She had spent too long simmering with these doubts and the confusion that had becoming increasingly harder to hide. The only thing that made any sense was realizing that nothing would make sense until she finally let it all out.
"I may spend too much time with my nose buried in records…and maybe a lot of my views come from what I was raised to be. That doesn't mean that I haven't been trying to come to my own conclusions. But you? Everything you've ever done was because someone else needed you to do it…or wanted you to do it."
"What are you talking about?" Hershel demanded, glaring at her. He was no longer trying to back away.
She scoffed.
"Protecting your sister, serving the Ruler, becoming Archtivus's apprentice. Have you ever made a decision because it would benefit you, rather than someone else?" she gestured around them. "Even this role now: was becoming Master Healer what you wanted for your life, what you fought for? Or are you only doing this because you were told to?!"
"How dare you," he murmured, his eyes flashing.
"How can I trust anything you've said to me when it's so obvious that at your core you aren't personally devoted to your life choices, or your beliefs? You're just obedient…and blind obedience is just another form of cowardice."
The Master Healer scoffed, his fists clenching as he took a step towards her for once. Despite the aura wind that was now becoming obvious around them, Myrah held her ground as she continued.
"If you're living for yourself, then it shouldn't matter what the other Healers think. You claim that the traditions that have developed throughout time aren't correct and that love isn't just important, it's essential. And yet here you are, bending your life to tradition, shunning love because that's what you were told to…."
"What are you hoping to get out of this conversation?" Hershel demanded angrily. "Do you just want a chance to tell me every flaw you've been able to detect in me thus far, before we part ways?"
She was burning with indignation.
"I just need to know who the real Hershel is," she spat, her voice becoming louder with every sentence. "To know how much of the "Master Healer" is you and how much is just what's been forced upon you! Maybe it'd be nice to see you do something for yourself for once in your life!"
She knew Hershel was angry, so when he lurched towards her, Myrah froze. But as his hand went to the back of her neck and his lips pressed against hers, she realized that this was the last reaction she would have expected.
His kiss didn't last long, and she was statuesque as each second passed. Despite the fact that this wasn't at all what she had been after, Myrah's inner turmoil, doubt, and confusion faded instantly. It had all been replaced with some new feeling that washed over her entire being—the one she had spent so long trying to repress.
Hershel pulled away, his expression immediately crashing into shame and humiliation. Her thoughts were so far away, lost in the warm fogginess of the feeling that had finally been freed, but she was suddenly aware that she wasn't ok with him being ashamed that he had kissed her.
The Master Healer was starting to back away, no longer looking at her; his wall had gone back up.
"I…" he started, but she cut him off as she moved forwards and went to kiss him back. He balked in surprise.
"Myrah, what are you doing?"
She frowned as she searched his face.
"I…don't know," she murmured, her arms having found their way around him. She leaned in and kissed him, and she could feel his wall weakening. He pulled back, though he didn't pull out of her embrace completely. Myrah wondered if his heart was pounding as much as hers was.
"But…what does this mean?" he asked softly. She wasn't exactly sure, so she said the first thing that came to mind.
"I need to know," she admitted, and he frowned.
"Know what?"
Myrah hesitated, fingering the hair in his short ponytail.
"About love," she confessed. "It's like…I can't just read about it anymore. I can't just be told about it." She remembered what Theo had said and looked up to meet Hershel's eye. "I need to experience it for myself."
His expression crumpled, but as the conflicted emotions flicked across Hershel's face, Myrah was certain that she detected hope. It spurred her on and this time when she kissed him, he kissed her back. She felt his arms wrap around her waist, and for the first time she could ever remember, she let her emotions have free reign.
After a few minutes there was a loud banging from outside the tent. They lurched apart, both their eyes going to the doorway. After a few moments of silence, the Master Healer cleared his throat.
"Someone dropped the bucket into the well," he realized with quiet relief. Myrah sagged with relief as well, but somehow the spell had been broken. The sounds of the village could be heard dimly through the tent walls, and the realization that the light had faded with the approach of evening set in. Myrah turned to face the Master Healer again and realized that she couldn't read his expression. She felt a sudden lurch of panic. The truth was she still didn't know if this was the right path…if it was something she should have allowed herself to pursue. But the realization that he was probably thinking the same thing made her anxious. She watched as he seemed to struggle with conflicting thoughts.
"Myrah," he finally said, and she kept her gaze steady.
"Yes?"
He finally looked up to meet her eye, having come to a decision.
"We would have to be so careful."
Relief flooded through her and she scoffed as she moved to tug on his ponytail.
"I know. You aren't the only one with a reputation to uphold," she murmured. "I know how to keep a secret, especially when it comes to my emotions."
He cracked a smile at that, but he pressed the issue further.
"It would be incredibly risky. If anyone was to find out…"
"You worry too much," she murmured. "Tolan and your niece are right; you can be such a stick in the mud."
He shook his head in mock hurt, but his smile was still there. She realized suddenly that she was smiling as well; it was odd. She wasn't used to expressing genuine happiness.
The mention of Hershel's family seemed to pull him back to the present, however. He pulled away, albeit reluctantly, and turned towards the doorway.
"My sister will be back soon," he explained, and Myrah realized that he wanted her gone before Syn could see them together. It took the Western Leader by surprise.
"You can't trust your own family?"
His smile became tight.
"I can trust them. It's more about them losing their trust in me."
Myrah wasn't exactly sure what he meant by that, but she nodded. There was a part of her that longed to stay longer, but her own logical mind was kicking back in. The weight of what they had decided was finally sinking into her, but she defended herself against it. No one would know, she argued. She could have this experience…this love…and keep the rest of her plans in place. There was no reason loving Hershel and her future goals to become Ruler had to counter each other.
She had reached the doorway when Hershel spoke again.
"You probably won't be able to come all the time to read scrolls anymore; it may make people suspicious," he pointed out. She paused and turned.
"I suppose," she admitted, thinking about Bula and the questions her advisor had been asking.
Hershel seemed to be thinking, and after a moment he picked up the scroll he had been reading earlier and came over to hand it to her.
"I would hate for you to fall behind in your research," he teased with his usual small smile. "And if it's love you're trying to understand, this is a good record to study."
She blinked in surprise as she took the scroll.
"Which is it?"
"The story of Echo and Antirock," he explained, and she studied the delicate parchment for a moment before looking back up at him.
"Are you sure I can take this? I thought you weren't allowed to let these leave your tent."
He rubbed the back of her neck, his smile becoming a little bigger.
"I trust you."
114
Cole woke up as the rays of light began making their way across their bed, and he groaned to himself at the thought of getting up. The older he got the harder it was to get out of bed, he decided.
He rolled over to face Keyda, who was still sleeping soundly. It would be a long day for both of them, but he couldn't help but feel a little jealous that she would get to sleep in a bit longer. He smoothed her hair out of her face and kissed her temple, but she didn't react much more than to sigh in her sleep. It made him smile.
"Morning, Keyds," he murmured, and then pulled back the thick blanket in an effort to fight the daily battle of getting out of bed. He was padding to the doorway when he heard a strange noise, half-way between a buzzing and a twinging. He recognized the sound and headed over to the end table by their bed. He pulled out the drawer to expose a strange device that kind of looked like a can opener. He frowned as he picked up the device, pulling it to his face as he activated it. Before he could say anything, a voice on the other side began talking frantically, and Cole felt a pit in his stomach.
"Dad?"
It really was the hardest thing, picking out the uniform for the NCST Defenders. On the one hand, jumpsuits were ugly no matter what you did. But Matilda had stumbled on a combination of dove-grey and deep burgundy that looked official without being an absolute eyesore.
Matilda looked in the mirror one last time, checking that her makeup was camera-worthy. There was nothing worse than accomplishing your goals only to realize you had looked downright awful the entire time.
"You're sure they'll be here?" Alejandro pressed. They had the luxury of being in their own car, while the rest of the Defenders were packed into a van that was parked nearby in the Hospital parking lot.
"Oh, absolutely. I heard from a reliable source that family is very important to them," Matilda said, her compact mirror snapping shut. There was a sudden beeping from the program she had pulled up on her laptop, and her perfectly colored lips twisted up in a smile.
"Give the command, Alejandro. They're here."
M winced as he rubbed his wrist again, picking his way through the hospital hallways. Room 204…that's what they had said, right? He paused as he finally located the room, and hesitated. He had wanted to come—badly enough he had risked a fall climbing down from his second-story window. He had been pretty impressed with his climbing skills until he had come across a brick that was looser than it had appeared. He glanced down at his wrist again and hoped it wasn't broken. The fall hadn't been from that far up.
He looked back at the door and finally got up the courage to knock. There were a few agonizing seconds of silence, but then the door opened to reveal a haggard-looking elderly gentleman.
"M…" Lou said, with tired surprise. The teen swallowed hard.
"I know I'm probably not welcome…" he started, and he hated himself for the tears that were stinging his eyes. Lou's wrinkled face melted into a kind smile.
"You're welcome, son."
He opened the door wider and M sagged in relief as he came in. Lou was scanning him now, frowning.
"You've got quite the gash on your knee there," the performer pointed out, and M glanced down and realized for the first time that he had torn a large hole in his paints and banged the skin beneath pretty badly. He blinked and then shrugged.
"I tripped on the stairs on the way here," he said quickly, heading over to sit in a chair next to Amber. She definitely looked less pale, and he glanced up at Lou.
"Has she woken up? Or…or is she…"
"A few times," Lou admitted with a sigh as he lowered himself onto another chair. "She's weak, and the doctors are a little befuddled. As far as they can tell she doesn't have anything wrong with her, but…"
"It's not a physical thing," M finished, hugging himself. "It's my fault…I kept telling her to transport us and she kept saying she couldn't but then she had to and now…"
He trailed off, and Lou nodded sadly. M realized that the older gentleman hadn't tried to correct him about it being his fault, which made the teen feel both better and worse.
"I finally got a hold of my son," Lou said, rubbing his face wearily. "I think it's the early morning where they are; they were asleep when all of this went down. But Amber mentioned that she thinks she needs an aura transfer.
"So…she talked to you?" M asked, his voice tinged with relief. Lou nodded.
"Like I said, she woke up a few times. But she's still pretty drained." He glanced towards the hospital window and sighed. "The sooner they get here, the better."
M nodded.
"They know where the hospital is?" he asked. He felt a little foolish immediately after asking, but it was hard to know how familiar the Oni family was with Ninjago. Lou turned to him and smiled.
"Yes. My son is from Ninjago, after all. And besides; Amber was born in this hospital."
M was shocked, and he turned back to where his friend was in the bed.
"Really?"
Lou nodded again, leaning back in his chair like he was lost in a memory.
"Yes…Keyda was having complications, so Cole brought her here. We nearly lost Keyda and the baby."
M tried to picture it and shuddered a little. Amber had never told him any of that. He went to ask more, but there was a sudden popping noise from outside, and then the windows lit up with a large purple flash before fading back to the dusk-darkened sky. Both M and Lou turned to it, and the teen was to the window in seconds.
"Is it them?" Lou asked, leaning forward and reaching for his cane. "They must have transported directly here."
M was pressed up against the glass, looking down at the parking lot by the front doors. He could see the purple light fading and a group of figures and sighed in relief. His wrist was still aching, but that didn't matter.
"Yeah, it's got to be them…" he answered, but he trailed off as he realized that there was another group that had entered the parking lot. They were all dressed the same, and he wondered if they were some kind of medical crew until he saw that they seemed to be heading towards the three figures, who were still getting their bearings after the transport.
"What…" M. started, but his confusion was only heightened when he caught sight of the NCST logo on one of the jumpsuits. Suddenly he had a horrible feeling, and he wasn't sure why.
"Who are those men?"
Lou had come to the window then, and M. just shook his head.
"There has to be a mistake," the teen said, and without any other explanation he bolted from the room. Doctors and nurses yelled in surprise or anger, and a few tried to grab hold of him as he headed for the front doors. He flew down the stairs to the ground floor and startled the receptionist as he bolted for the large glass doors.
Wind that smelled like rain tugged at his shirt and hair as he made it to the parking lot, and his heart was pounding as he saw that the people in jumpsuits had surrounded Amber's family. What was going on?
"Oni trespassers, stand down. You are under arrest."
His stomach twisted painfully as he recognized the voice amplified by bullhorn. It was his mother.
"Under arrest? Why on earth are we under arrest?"
It was Amber's father, and M could see that he, his wife, and Theo had gone back-to-back in a defensive stance.
"You have violated Ninjago City Law by entering without passing through an entry booth, and thereby have been deemed a threat. Stand down or we will have to use force to restrain you."
"I'd like to see you try!"
Amber's mother spoke now, and her eyes and fists were blazing with light as she glared at them.
"My daughter's in there…so get out of the way or…"
"You have been warned," M. heard his mother say. He couldn't place her in the crowd so he just yelled and tried to get her attention.
"Mom!"
"Please!"
It was Theo speaking now, his hands up like he was trying to diffuse the situation.
"If we've done something wrong, then it was something we were unaware of…"
"Stand down now!"
"MOM!" M tried again. Suddenly someone grabbed him from behind, and he thrashed.
"Official NCST business, kid," the Defender growled at him.
"You don't understand…" he tried, but suddenly the circle broke as the defenders went in for the arrest. His head was pounding, along with his wrist. There were flashes of purple then as Amber's mother fought back, and suddenly the entire crowd was a confusing mass.
"STOP!" he screamed, still trying to find his mom. This was insane…this all was insane. He fought again and the man holding him began pulling him away from the scene.
"You're on the brink of being locked up yourself for meddling with official…" the man was saying, but then there was a horrible yell that came from the pileup, and M. looked back in horror. He didn't know what happened, but suddenly a group of defenders went flying as Amber's mother unleashed a large attack. M. tried one last time to rip his way out of the grasp of the man who was holding him, but then the defender twisted his wrist and M. yelled in pain. The next thing he knew, he was being dragged away from the scene altogether.
Theo couldn't understand what was happening. His fear and anxiety for his sister were now mixing with the anxiety unfolding from the scene. He felt his parent's backs on his own; a defensive stance they had memorized in their training. He had tried to diffuse the situation, but the people around them didn't seem any closer to standing down. They were all holding thick staffs, but there was also something glinting in a few of their hands. His blood ran cold as he realized that some of them were also holding vengestone chains; if they tried to make this a battle, people were going to get hurt.
"Stand down now," the woman's voice came again, and Theo felt his parents stiffen behind him. He scanned the crowd, but he couldn't see the speaker. Then, somewhere from the outside of the crowd someone was yelling.
"MOM!"
Theo's brow was furrowed in confusion, but then all at once the people were attacking. He blinked in surprise and immediately began defending himself. He hadn't brought any weapons, none of them had. They weren't expecting to be attacked!
There was a lot of movement, a lot of yelling. He blasted a few people away from him, risking a quick glance at his parents. There were chains flying now, and he watched in horror as one wrapped around his father's arm and yanked Cole away from him and Keyda. Theo immediately lurched to help his father, but suddenly a staff hit him in the side and he staggered in pain, turning to throw a desperate blast to knock his attacker backward.
His father cried out, and Theo turned back in a panic to see that Cole had dropped to the ground, someone standing over him with a seventeen year old realized with a panic that the thug had hit his father in his back…he had found his bad spot.
Keyda was beating back her own attackers when she heard Cole scream, and Theo watched as his mother's hands and eyes blazed brighter. She whirled on the Defenders who were trying to drag her husband away. With a fierce yell of her own, she unleashed a large attack that sent many of the attackers flying. Theo went to help, but he felt something wrap around his neck and screamed as he was yanked backwards into the crowd and further from his parents. His mother continued to fight for a few minutes longer, but there were too many of these strange, jump-suited assailants, and Theo and his parents hadn't come prepared. He tried to continue fighting, but the vengestone left him powerless and he wasn't strong enough to fight the men off as they forced him to his knees, binding his wrists together behind him. Then, as soon as it had started, the ambush was over. Theo was panting, trying to catch sight of his parents to see if they were ok.
They were both kneeling a few yards away, next to each other. His mother was seething, but his father's expression seemed more pained than angry and Theo felt a stab of worry.
"Dad…" he started, but one of the defenders shoved him roughly.
"You have the right to remain silent," he said, and Theo turned to glare.
"Don't touch him!" Keyda yelled, but the circle was parting now and a woman came forward. She was dressed in a suit of similar colors, but hers was more a pantsuit than a jumpsuit, with the letters NCST printed vertically down the left side. She was holding a bull-horn; no doubt this was the woman who had been yelling at them, and Theo glowered.
"You are under arrest for trespassing in Ninjago City without a permit," she said coolly. "Though you've now added charges for resisting arrest…"
"You don't look like the police," Cole muttered, glaring at her. The woman eyed him icily.
"I'm Matilda O'Keefe; President of the Ninjago City Safety Team."
Cole's eyes widened, as if in recognition.
"Wait…" he started, but she cut him off.
"I wouldn't recommend saying anything more," she pointed out. "Things you say can and will be used against you. As for not being the police, I assure you, they are on their way."
"You can't do this!" Keyda spat. A few of the defenders grabbed her shoulders as if to further restrain her, and both Cole and Theo yelled out in anger.
"You can't arrest us for coming to see my sister!" Theo argued. "She's in the hospital; please…it's the only reason that we're here."
Matilda looked down at him, and Theo's heart pounded. It had been a while since someone had looked at him like that; like he was a bug.
"I am well within my right to order the arrest," she pointed out coolly. "Not only did you trespass in Ninjago City boundaries, you resisted…"
"The police commissioner isn't going to stand for this," Cole tried, and Matilda rolled her eyes.
"Please, our police force is a little different now. You can't just sweet talk your way to freedom these days."
There were sirens now and Theo looked over as blue and red lights were showing up in the darkening evening. A horrible feeling was sinking in as the anger and confusion was fading with the realization that this was really happening.
"My sister…" he tried again, looking back up the hospital. "We came to help her. Just let us go see her before you take us to jail or wherever we're going."
She put a manicured nail to her lips in thought, but then she shook her head.
"I owe it to Ninjago to take all threats seriously," she finally said. The police car had finally pulled up and the defenders were forcing the three to their feet.
"We are not a threat!" Keyda said again. "We've been visiting for years, and this has never happened before!"
"There wasn't the law before. I suppose you could say we got it passed in the nick of time."
"What seems to be the problem?"
An officer had come up now, viewing the entire situation with guarded confusion. He caught sight of Keyda and Cole and rubbed his face.
"The black ninja? You called us to arrest…"
"I called you to arrest two individuals who have broken the law," Matilda cut in firmly. "Which you will do, unless you want the NCST to press charges."
The policeman looked a little taken aback, and seeing his hesitation Matilda gestured to where Cole and Keyda were standing.
"I assume you have been trained on the recent NCST laws," she snapped, and he nodded. Matilda continued coolly. "These trespassers entered Ninjago City without first obtaining a permit; I suggest you get a move on, unless you want a lawsuit on your hands!"
The woman's eyes became dangerously hard and the Policeman put his hands up.
"Alright, alright," he conceded, and gestured for his partner to come over. Keyda glared at them murderously, but the policeman appealed to Cole. "This can all be over faster if you just let us take you three downtown…"
"Indeed," Matilda agreed. "But I only need your assistance with the two adults."
Everyone froze then, and Theo stiffened as she turned her icy blue eyes on him.
"You'll remember, officer, the laws NCST put forth have bylaws that take minors into consideration. We're allowed to keep those under 18 at our headquarters until the court case, to spare them from having to spend the time in jail…"
"NO!" Keyda yelled as she realized what the woman was insinuating, and Cole began to fight against his constraints.
"We're staying together," he argued, glowering at the woman standing a few feet away. He was taller than her by at least a head, but she didn't seem intimidated as she eyed him.
"You should listen to the officer," she replied. "You fight back and you'll only make this harder for yourself."
Theo still wanted to do just that, but he noticed the defenders inching closer to his parents…his mother especially as she began to fight. He glanced back at the hospital, his heart pounding as he realized that Amber was still in some hospital room somewhere. Suddenly, all that mattered was getting this whole situation over with as quickly as possible.
"It's ok," he cut in, and his parents and the cruel woman turned to look at him as he continued. "Dad…just call Grandpa when you get there…or Jay or Kai. They can pay bail and you can get to Amber…"
"Theo, there is no way we're letting this woman take you anywhere," Cole cut in, and Theo just sighed.
"I can handle myself, Dad. I'll be fine; but you and Mom need to get to Amber sooner rather than later."
"This is non-negotionable," Keyda added angrily, but then Matilda cut in.
"It is non-negotionable. Either you comply with the NCST or you will be risking adding further charges to those you already have." She raised a thin eyebrow. "You broke the law, and we have the right to keep you accountable."
"We didn't even know about the law," Theo argued. "We're from another realm! There's no way we could…"
"Then maybe you should have all stayed in that other realm," the woman cut in coldly. "That's where you belong."
"She can't do this…right?" Cole asked, turning to the policeman for help. The officer sighed and rubbed his nose.
"Actually…everything she's saying is technically Ninajgoan law," he admitted with a sigh. "But there's no reason to make this a bigger ordeal than it needs to be. Come quietly and we can get this all sorted out quickly."
Cole's expression hardened and he turned back to Theo.
"Our son comes with us," he finally said, and Matilda shook her head.
"Not your call."
23