TWENTY-SEVEN: COLLUSION (The tale of the Washington, D.C. Chapter of the Rebellion of Eltar: Pahl, M'Laize, Lupan, Keizee, Tinzann, Prezdonn, and Alyss. This is the story of what happened to Mason Yizak. Also featuring the Witch, Blade, Meadow, Captain Smith, Raffitty, Garron, Hanry, Ryce, Gray, and H'Nah.)
In order to truly fight corruption on Earth, the Rebellion knew they would need a Chapter to infiltrate one of the most powerful governments on the planet. This was why Garron went to great lengths to select the members of the Washington, D.C. Chapter of the Rebellion.
Each member was chosen for their incredible abilities to work undercover. Pahl was the Captain. He was clever and not afraid of much of anything. This made him a strong leader. His Lieutenant, Lupan, was fiercely loyal to him and was a powerful Sorcerer. M'Laize was a gifted Sorceress with little patience for men who held women back. Keizee and Tinzann were tactical experts. Keizee was intense and fierce in battle. Tinzann was a bit calmer and had a strong, but dark, sense of humor. Prezdonn was a skilled Sorcerer and warrior who took a strong interest in sex magic. The youngest, Alyss, had the unique ability to both heal and harm with her touch.
The Rebellion recruited them at various points in time. Pahl was the first to join. Garron met Pahl at a bar one night early into the Rebellion's existence and they started talking. Realizing the man held many of the Rebellion's views on the people in charge, Garron recruited him to the cause. Pahl eagerly agreed. His views leaned more toward Garron and Destonyel's, and when the peaceful protest was ambushed, Pahl was especially excited that Vitella had changed her stance on things.
M'Laize was a young, oppressed female whose high society family insisted she not get involved in political affairs. As a result, she became a bit of a Militant feminist, hoping to destroy the Patriarchy from the inside. She was quite beautiful, and had the unusual trait of having one green eye and one golden one, making a lot of men want to claim her as their bride. She knew how to play the role of the devoted young woman who had been raised purely to make a good wife for someone, and she used that to her advantage. When she met Zydia, they instantly took a liking to each other. Zydia recruited her into the Rebellion. Despite Vitella being an excellent leader, Garron was a condescending man who treated women as less powerful than men. M'Laize put up with it because she intended to use the Rebellion to one day destroy the Patriarchy, including Garron and all who were like him.
Lupan was an incredibly handsome young man that nearly every woman on Eltar wanted to marry. He was charming, witty, and brave. He'd joined the Eltarian Guard as a young man and earned a reputation as one of its greatest warriors. Beneath all of that charm, however, was a man who deeply resented the people in power. He hadn't always been that way, but when the Guard killed his parents and left him for dead at thirteen, he changed his stance and his identity, infiltrating the Guard when he was old enough. He was eager for an outlet for all that rage and pain, so when Garron approached him about joining the Rebellion, he gratefully accepted the offer.
Keizee was a clever boy with a lot of anger. He had been raised by good people, but the people of his Village had bullied him. He was painfully shy and showed no affinity for magic. He was an easy target for those who wanted to feel powerful, and when he wasn't being bullied, he was ignored. As it turned out, Keizee had been adopted. His birth parents were from Earth. The teenagers had abandoned him in a field, hiding his existence. His adopted father had witnessed this while visiting the planet and had immediately scooped the boy up in his arms, protecting him from harm. He brought him home to his wife and they raised the boy together. When Keizee was sixteen, his parents died in an earthquake. Keizee snapped and decided he wanted a new existence. He began working out, building muscle and turning into a warrior. He was incredibly clever, and he continued to sharpen his mind. The Guard refused to accept him because he was not Eltarian. As far as they were concerned, he had been kidnapped and was therefore not someone they could recruit. Garron had been watching him for quite some time, and he recruited the boy, giving him the family he longed for.
Tinzann was a troublemaker from the time he was a child. He broke rules frequently and constantly ended up in the middle of things he shouldn't have. He was arrested at fourteen for breaking into an abandoned factory and blowing it up with a man inside. The man was the son of a Senator who was there for illicit reasons. The victim had been the sort of man who was blatantly corrupt, but no one seemed to care about that, and Tinzann was sentenced to death for High Treason. Seeing a young boy facing execution, Vitella and Garron intervened and rescued him. He was more than happy to join the Rebellion after that.
Prezdonn found the Rebellion himself. He was depressed and didn't have much to live for after his family perished in a fire. He'd turned to dark magic as a coping mechanism, favoring sex magic. He heard rumors of the Rebellion and searched until he found Murgano and Letez, who decided he was worth recruiting and introduced him to Garron.
Alyss was an unlikely candidate for the Rebellion. She was a Treygan, the daughter of Aphell. Her mother had been a Royal Faerie Aphell abducted and kept as a pet for several centuries. Only when she produced Alyss did he murder her. Alyss spent the first several years of her life being horrifically abused by her father and his closest friends. At twelve, she decided she'd had enough. She killed a Senator who was abusing her and fled into the night. Beaten, bloody, and broken, Alyss collapsed in the woods. It was there that the Faeries found her. Horrified by what had been done to one of their own, they unlocked her magic, which Aphell had previously bound. They helped her become stronger, although her mind never fully healed. Alyss was prone to fits of hysteria and violent outbursts. She had lost all sense of empathy. She became sadistic, wanting to hurt those who hurt her. She started a hit list, torturing the men who'd abused her.
It was Hill who found Alyss torturing and even killing these men. Realizing the young faerie had been abused, he comforted her and convinced her to stop what she was doing. At the request of the Faeries, he brought the girl to the Rebellion, hoping Vitella could guide her to a better path and give her an outlet for her pain.
While these Rebels began to find their way to forming the elite infiltration Chapter of the Rebellion, Eltar was blissfully unaware of their plans.
Ryce's son Gray was an honorable man who balanced his responsibilities in the Guard with his home life. His father had instilled in him how important family was. That was why, when he met a Sorceress named Darra, he knew immediately he would marry her. She was "the one." Her laugh made him laugh, and her ability to love others unconditionally made it easy to love her. She was funny, clever, and beautiful, and he proposed after less than a year of dating her. Darra gleefully accepted.
Seven years later, Darra gave birth to their son Mason. The boy was the epitome of light. He was happy and hyper, and he always had a smile on his face. He was incredibly playful and extremely kind, always helping anyone in need.
Eight years after Mason, H'Nah was born. Mason adored his baby sister and spent most of his free time playing with her. She was a happy child and always chased after her big brother eagerly.
Their lives were full of joy. Then, one day, Gray was sent away on a mission for the Guard. He was gone for three weeks. Just before he came home, tragedy struck.
The Witch had been watching their happy little family for sixteen years, since the day Mason was born. Something about the boy irritated her. She realized what it was after a while... Mason was an intangible, just like her, but one of light instead of darkness. She despised him and his happy little life and decided she should break him before he could become a threat to her.
To do this, she turned to the D.C. Rebels. She knew they were good at what they did, and she also knew they longed to be free from Garron's leadership. He held them back, not allowing them to take things as far as they wanted to.
Pahl was now living as Paul Walsh, an elected official who was deeply involved in all aspects of policy making. M'Laize was living under the cover of his "loving wife," Mary Beth, a pilar of the church community. Lupan was now Louis Lupan, Paul Walsh's devoted assistant. Keizee had adopted the identity of Kenneth "K.Z." Zane, a high-ranking member of the United States Military. Tinzann was living as K.Z's younger brother, Timothy Zane, a respected young doctor. Alyss lived as their little sister, Alice Zane, who they were raising after the tragic loss of their parents. Finally, Prezdonn became Preston Donovan, a record keeper at the White House. They lived as neighbors, with the "Walsh" home being their main base of operations.
The Witch approached them late one night, showing up and knocking on the door of the Walsh house. M'Laize opened the door and looked at her in surprise. "Witch..." She said.
"Hi there, Mary Beth! Long time no see!" The Witch replied cheerfully. "May I come in? Of course I may." She moved right past M'Laize.
"Mary Beth, who was at the door?" Pahl asked.
"Paul, darling, how are you?" The Witch taunted him. She cackled, enjoying the roleplay.
"Witch..." Pahl said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"Is that any way to treat a guest? Shouldn't politicians have better manners? It was a long journey. I'm famished!" The Witch replied.
"M'Laize, would you mind preparing tea and a snack?" Pahl asked.
"Mary Beth is the housewife, not me. Get it yourself," M'Laize snapped.
"Damnit, M'Laize, I am your Captain. Would it kill you to follow my orders once in a while?"
"I follow your orders in battle and on missions, but I am not some secretary who brings you and your guests tea, Pahl. I thought you understood that when it's just Rebels present, that act gets dropped."
The Witch cackled in amusement. "I respect a girl who stands up for herself. Good for you!" She said. "Garron must hate you."
"Garron is a fool who thinks he can control me. He's wrong."
"I am pleased to see the rumors are true that you all are tiring of being on Garron's leash."
Pahl hesitated. "Why did you really come here, Witch?" He asked.
"To make your ruthless, very skilled Chapter an offer... Help me break a Yizak, and be granted unimaginable power."
"Yizaks are powerful. Should we really be crossing one?" Pahl asked.
"This one is still a boy... And he holds incredible power, but has no idea. We will break him down and steal his power for ourselves."
"Is he corrupt?"
"Not even slightly... Which is why this mission is unofficial. Garron would not approve, and Vitella would condemn us all for this."
"Why should we do it?" M'Laize asked.
The Witch knew going against Garron was motive enough, but the woman knew how to pretend she was loyal to a cause. "I told you... Torturing this boy will give us all great power. He's an intangible. The vessel he resides in may change his status, but the power remains."
M'Laize bit her lip in anticipation. Pahl looked equally interested. "Alright... We need to consult the rest of the Chapter," he said.
"By all means! Now, about dinner..."
"I'll gather the others," Pahl said. "Lupan cooks. I'll have him prepare a meal."
And so, over a proper Earth feast, they began to plot their act of High Treason. Everyone liked the idea of the power the Witch promised them. They plotted into the early hours of the morning about how to strike and what they would need to do to pull it off without getting caught.
Three days later, Mason played with H'Nah, blissfully unaware of what was about to occur. He spent all day making her laugh as they walked through their village. He was bouncing off the walls with energy as usual when they headed home.
On the way, they encountered a wounded child. She was sobbing over a skinned knee. "Wait here, H'Nah," Mason said. He then knelt beside the little girl. "All is well, Sweetheart," he said. "What happened?"
"I f-fell..." She said through her sniffles.
Mason was already healing her knee. He sensed something more than what she'd said. "How did you fall, Little One?" He asked gently.
"I... I'm clumsy," she insisted.
"What is your name?"
"Nellee," she replied.
"Nellee... Did someone help you fall?"
She sniffled and looked toward a nearby house. Three boys that were about his age were laughing at Nellee.
"I see. I am Mason... Listen, Nellee, this is my sister, H'Nah. Why don't you play with her for a couple of minutes?" Mason asked.
H'Nah perked up at being included in his plan. "Yes, let's play a game," she said cheerfully. She took Nellee's hands in her own and led her a few feet away.
Mason headed to the house's front lawn. "I heard you boys were picking on my new friend," he said.
"So what?" One asked.
"Kahzye, that's Mason Yizak," another said in alarm. "Great-Grandson of Hanry. You should show more respect."
"You should show Nellee more respect," Mason said. "She is a child. It is both unfair and cruel to pick on her, and you should be ashamed of yourselves," Mason said.
They cowered nervously, sensing the power radiating off of him. Mason didn't notice it was there. He was a gentle soul who didn't believe in hurting others. His power levels usually manifested as hyperactivity, not violence.
"We're sorry," the third boy said.
"Don't apologize to me. Apologize to Nellee. And learn from this. You should be nicer to others," Mason said. He motioned for Nellee and H'Nah to join him. H'Nah led Nellee to the lawn. "Go on... Apologize to our dear Miss Nellee," Mason said to the boys.
"We're sorry, Miss Nellee," the boys said nervously in unison.
"We shouldn't have pushed you," the second boy who'd spoken added.
"It was mean of us," the third chimed in. "Please forgive us."
Nellee looked at Mason. He turned to the first boy and cleared his throat. The one called Kahzye sighed. "They're right. We should not bully someone who is so much smaller than us. I apologize once more. Will you forgive us?" He asked.
Nellee nodded. "Yes. I forgive you," she said.
Mason smiled. "Now we're all friends again!" He declared. "Come, Miss Nellee. I shall escort you home." He presented his arm grandly. She took it with a giggle. Just like that, her sadness was forgotten.
Mason and H'Nah dropped Nellee off at home before they made it back to their own house. Their mother was still out, but H'Nah was tired, so Mason put her to bed. He tucked her in, reading her a story filled with adventure and excitement until she drifted off to sleep.
Darra arrived home shortly after. Before she made it to the front door, she was ambushed.
Mason sensed something was wrong. He cast a quick protection spell that sealed H'Nah in her room and kept everyone else out except those with Yizak blood. Then, he raced outside.
The members of the D.C. Chapter of the Rebellion had captured his mother. They had her restrained, but she continued to struggle against them. "Mother!" Mason cried. "Release her!"
"Mason, run back inside!" His mother shouted. She screamed in pain as one of her captors slashed her arm open with a dagger.
"I shall not leave you, Mother," Mason insisted.
"Such a loyal son!" A woman taunted him. "What shall we do with this loyal boy, Pahl?" She grabbed his wrist painfully. A younger man grabbed his other one, restraining him harshly. He cried out in pain as they each nearly broke his wrists.
"I think we'll keep him, M'Laize," the man standing behind his mother with a sword said.
"What do you want? Why are you doing this?" Mason asked as he struggled to free himself.
"Bizzeh mada alebastes..." A girl said sharply. She touched Mason's arm and he began to feel unthinkable pain. He screamed in agony, unable to fully process it.
"That's enough for now, Alyss," Pahl said.
She laughed before releasing Mason's arm. "Let my son go!" His mother demanded of M'Laize and the man restraining him.
"Sorry, Darra of Eltar... That is not in our plans," Pahl said.
Desperate, Darra tried to cast a spell. That was when Pahl calmly said, "Lupan."
Lupan slashed her open down the center of her body, tearing her flesh with his sword from her neck to her groin. She was then tossed aside like trash.
"Mother!" Mason screamed. "Let me heal her! Please... I'll do whatever you ask, but let me heal my mother!" He was crying.
"It's too late for that, Mason," Pahl said. "She has perished. But you're going to do whatever we ask anyway."
"No... Mother, no... Please..." Mason sobbed.
M'Laize kicked him in his back and pushed his face into the pool of his mother's blood. "This is your fault, Mason," she told him. "We had to kill her because of you."
Mason was hysterical. He couldn't breathe. His mother was dead. He'd been powerless to do more than watch as they cut her open from end to end.
"Knock him out," Pahl said. "He'll be easier to move that way."
Mason was in too much shock to react to those words. He could feel his mother's blood, still warm, on his cheeks. He could hear her screams in his mind. He knew he'd never see her again, but his brain refused to process that.
As Lupan knocked him unconscious, Mason felt nothing.
Gray returned from his mission the following morning. He froze as he saw Darra's body beside a tree. There was too much blood, and she was cold, but he still checked for a pulse.
"Darra... My love... My heart..." He whispered as he held her corpse in his arms. Then, he took a deep breath and forced himself to release her. "The children," he said with determination. He ran into the house.
Nothing seemed out of order, but something felt very wrong. "Mason! H'Nah!" He called frantically. There was no answer. He opened the door to Mason's room, but his son was not inside. He rushed to H'Nah's room. He could feel magic sealing the door.
"Mason..." He realized, recognizing the energy of the spell. He opened the door, praying he'd find his children safe and sound.
At first, the room appeared empty. "H'Nah?" He called softly.
The closet door slid open. "Father!" H'Nah cried, running to him.
"H'Nah, what has happened here?" Gray asked as he held her tightly in his arms. She's safe. Your baby girl is safe, he told himself. But where was his son?
"I awoke to mother screaming. I tried to go to her, but could not leave my room," H'Nah explained. "Then I heard Mason screaming, too. I was frightened, so I hid in my closet."
"You did well, H'Nah. You remained safe. I must call your grandfather and mine. Stay here." He kissed her forehead before leaving the room to contact his father.
Ryce and Hanry arrived a short time later. While Ryce kept H'Nah occupied, Hanry stood with Gray beside Darra's body. "Who could have done this, Grandfather?" Gray asked as he fought back tears. "And where is Mason?"
"I do not sense him here, Gray," Hanry said gently. "Whatever happened, your son did not perish. There is still hope. I do not know who did this, but I promise they will face justice."
They went back inside after Hanry informed the proper authorities of the situation. H'Nah looked nervous in Ryce's arms as she asked, "Father... Where are Mother and Mason?"
Gray sighed. "My sweet girl... Tragically, your mother has perished," he said.
"Perished?" She repeated. H'Nah did not cry. She was a tough little thing. Instead, she squirmed out of Ryce's arms and hugged Gray. "And Mason?" She asked bravely.
"Your brother is missing, H'Nah," Gray said sadly.
"Missing is better than dead," she replied softly.
"H'Nah... If you remember anything, it may help us find Mason," Ryce said gently. "Do you recall anything that you heard last night?"
H'Nah paused to think. "Mason asked what they wanted and why they were doing this," she said after a minute.
"Did you hear a reply?" Hanry asked.
"Yes... A girl said... Um... Bizzeh... Bizzeh... Mada alebastes! Yes, that was it."
"It was the Rebels..." Ryce said in horror.
"What would the Rebellion of Eltar want with my son?" Gray demanded.
"I don't know," Ryce replied. "But we'll find him, Gray. We won't stop looking until your son comes home."
Meanwhile, in the Faerie Realm, there was panic. "How could she steal one so precious and light?" One of the older Faeries, Dove, demanded.
"What is happening?" Meadow asked. Meadow was beloved by all who met him. He was a gentle soul who was as pretty as any female. His light radiated from within him and drew others toward him.
"Your mother," Dove replied.
"My mother?" Meadow repeated in excitement. No one ever spoke about his mother. They'd taken him away from her at birth and made her forget he existed. They said it was for his own protection.
"Yes, Meadow. That dangerous monster has done the unthinkable and helped abduct a being of pure light. There is no telling what will happen to the boy. She has become rotten and vile over time. We should have left her to perish. The only good she ever did was give you life." Dove hurried away.
"Maybe I can reason with her," Meadow said to himself. He wanted desperately to meet his mother, and maybe he could help guide her back to the light.
"You are not going after Alyss," Blade said harshly.
"Hello, Blade. Always a pleasure to see you, my friend," Meadow said sweetly. Blade was a year older than he was but acted about a century more than that.
"As your protector and guardian, it is my duty to stop you," Blade continued.
"And, if you cannot, it is your duty to accompany me. Come on, Blade! It shall be a fun adventure."
Blade sighed. "You're going whether I protest or not, aren't you?" He asked.
"I am... But I would adore your company."
"Fine. Have it your way." He manifested his sword. "Let's go."
They headed into the human realm. Meadow could sense his mother almost immediately, although he was uncertain of how to find her. "They hid you from her for your own safety, Meadow," Blade reminded him. "You must be cautious."
"She is my mother, Blade," Meadow said stubbornly. "There must be good in her."
"You are too trusting, Meadow. That is your fatal flaw."
"That is why I have you, Guardian," Meadow teased him with an impish grin.
Blade rolled his eyes. "Yes, I suppose it is. You would get taken advantage of constantly were it not for me."
While Alyss was unaware her son was searching for her, she sat watching the Chapter's new captive. "When he wakes up, we'll all take turns playing with him," the Witch promised. She left Alyss alone with the boy while she went upstairs to talk to Pahl.
Mason awoke in a dark basement. He realized his hands were bound in chains. "Where am I?" He wondered aloud.
"Earth," Alyss replied. She touched his cheek and Mason was suddenly overwhelmed with pain.
Mason screamed. Tears formed in his eyes. "Why are you doing this?" He demanded.
"The Witch told me to play with you," Alyss replied casually. She stroked his arm before removing his shirt.
"Please... Please let me go..." Mason said in a shaking voice.
Alyss caressed his chest, making him feel as if a thousand knives were cutting his flesh at once. He screamed. She laughed. "How do you like that? Are you enjoying yourself?" She demanded.
Pahl came downstairs. "Alyss... That's enough for now," he said in a patient tone as though scolding a child.
Alyss stopped touching him. The pain stopped and Mason struggled to catch his breath. He was relieved when she went upstairs.
"Welcome to our home, Mason of Eltar," Pahl said grandly. He grabbed something Mason had never seen before. It was long, black, and ominous. When he raised it into the air and brought it down across Mason's back, Mason let out his loudest scream yet.
"That was a taste, Mason," Pahl said calmly. "If you do not follow our orders, you will be punished, and trust me, this whip can hurt a lot more than it just did. I was fairly gentle just now. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Mason said.
"I didn't give you permission to speak!" Pahl shouted. He whipped Mason's back again, harder this time. Mason bit his lip to keep from screaming. "Do. You. Understand?" Pahl repeated.
Mason nodded, remaining silent. Pahl laughed. "Good boy," he said. He ruffled his hair almost affectionately before shoving him onto his hands and knees. "Tell me, Baby Boy... Are you a virgin?" Pahl asked darkly.
Mason had tears in his eyes as he nodded slowly. Pahl's cruel laughter was the only warning that something worse was coming.
He was stripped of his remaining clothes, his dignity, and his choices as Pahl had his way with him. The innocent, happy boy Mason had been only hours before was gone, and Mason knew he'd never return. His mother was dead. He had been abducted by her killers. He might never see his family again. And he knew these monsters were not planning on letting him go anytime soon.
It went on like that for a few days. Each member of the Chapter took turns tormenting him. Pahl would beat him, violate him, and sometimes share him with one or more of the others, always taking command of things. M'Laize was sadistic and enjoyed inflicting as much pain on him as she could. She especially liked playing with daggers and cutting him up. Lupan seemed to crave his energy, rambling about how much he liked feeling his light wash over him as he made him bleed or forced himself on him. Prezdonn forced him to engage in sex magic, using his energy for horrific crimes and dark spells. Keizee seemed to especially enjoy making him scream. Alyss would heal him when he came too close to death, only to torture him with her touch after he recovered. She was clearly unstable, and one of the others usually had to intervene when she started going over the edge and taking things too far. The Witch watched, waiting, but not acting. Her mere presence terrified Mason. Only Tinzann showed Mason even the slightest bit of kindness.
One night, while Mason had a nightmare, he called out for his mother. He awoke sobbing. "I'm sorry, Mother," he whispered. "They were after me. I am so sorry..."
"Kid... It's not your fault," Tinzann said softly.
Mason whimpered at the sight of him, expecting another beating. Tinzann hadn't raped him yet, even with Pahl trying to push the issue, but he'd beaten him up with Keizee a few times.
Tinzann seemed to make a choice then. He manifested a bowl of water and wet a rag, wiping away some of the dried blood on Mason's head. Mason was still whimpering in fear. "I'm not going to hurt you today," Tinzann said. "You are hurting enough."
He continued cleaning the boy up. "You didn't do anything to deserve all of this. It's not your fault we killed your mother. That was the Witch's idea... To make it even worse for you... But you're sitting here crying for her and I just... I can't listen to it anymore. Don't believe them. You didn't cause this," Tinzann said.
Mason looked at him, not sure what to say. "Listen... I didn't sign up for this, okay?" Tinzann continued. "I joined the Rebellion because they helped me out, and I liked the idea of having a purpose in life. I got into trouble as a kid, and I wouldn't have amounted to much, but they helped me get my act together. Vitella even helped me get training as a doctor. I still like messing with people, and I love blowing stuff up, but... You're just a kid. I didn't sign up to torture a kid. That's not what the Rebellion is supposed to be about."
"Then let me go... Please," Mason said softly.
"I can't. It's my entire Chapter against me, Kid. I won't walk away alive if I refuse to follow orders... But I won't force myself on a kid, and Pahl knows I'm firm on that. I'll try to go easy on you, but I can't just let you go. We'd both be dead before you made it three steps out of the front door."
Mason could tell Tinzann genuinely didn't want to harm him. Knowing he wouldn't free him, he settled for at least taking comfort in the fact that things weren't as bad when Tinzann was there.
The Witch finally made her move after Mason had been missing for six weeks. She locked the door before approaching him. He saw her looking at him from behind her long, dark hair. The sadistic look in her eyes was unmistakable.
"Oh, Mason..." She said with a laugh. "I am so glad it's finally time to play."
Mason had endured six weeks of nearly constant torture, but that was nothing compared to what the Witch did to him. Never before had he been touched by pure evil. She cut him, burned him, clawed at his flesh with her nails, and psychologically tortured him. For three days, she didn't leave him. When he blacked out, she entered his dreams. Nowhere was safe. There was no escape from the Witch.
By the time she left him, Mason had shut down. He didn't dare to speak or make a sound. Even when the others hurt him, only an occasional whimper escaped.
The torture didn't stop. If anything, his lack of reaction seemed to make his captors try harder to make him scream. By the time he'd been missing for three months, he was completely catatonic.
Tinzann sat with him one day looking concerned. "You have to eat, Mason," he said softly. "You're wasting away to nothing."
Tinzann often offered him decent food, while the others expected him to eat whatever scraps they decided to leave for him. As a matter of survival, Mason had complied at first because he was too hungry to refuse. He hadn't eaten in nine days, and he wasn't drinking. Pahl had forced water down his throat a couple of times, but that had only made Mason vomit, which led to Pahl beating him severely as punishment.
When Mason didn't reply, Tinzann sighed. He hooked up an IV and stuck it in Mason's vein. It took a bit of magic to make the line hold because Mason's veins were hard to find and not strong enough to hold a needle at that point. Mason didn't react. "This will hydrate you," Tinzann explained gently. "I'll add more nutrients when your body can handle them, but this is mostly saline right now."
Tinzann stayed with him, refusing to let the others into the basement. "The Witch wants him alive," he pointed out. "He's too weak to endure further torture right now."
"We'll just have Alyss heal him-" M'Laize protested.
"He's malnourished and dehydrated. Alyss can't just heal those issues," Tinzann insisted. "I'm a doctor, M'Laize. I'm serious when I say if you don't let me do this, the boy will perish."
"Let him handle this," Lupan said. "I saw the condition of the boy earlier. Tinzann is right. He'll be dead within days if he remains in this state."
"Very well," Pahl agreed. "Tinzann, remain with our guest for the next few days. The rest of us will focus on Chapter business. There is still much work to be done that does not involve Mason."
The following day, Meadow and Blade finally found Alyss. She was walking through town when Meadow spotted her. Before Blade could stop him, he ran toward her eagerly.
"Mother!" He cried. "Mother, it's me, your son."
She stared at him. "I have no son," she said.
"I know they made you forget me,"
He said softly. "I'm Meadow."
Alyss studied him with a frown. "Yes... Your energy comes from me. Go away. I have somewhere to be." She brushed past him dismissively, pushing him out of her way.
Blade protectively grabbed Meadow. "Are you alright?" He asked.
"Mother, wait! I came here to meet you, and to help you," Meadow insisted, ignoring the question. Blade kept him from running after her.
"I do not need help," Alyss said coldly, but she stopped walking away.
"Please... The Faeries are angry, Mother. They think you are evil."
"I suppose that I am."
"You are my mother. There must be good in you, for there is much good in me." He smiled at her brightly.
"Listen to me, Child," she said harshly. "Your light does not mean that I am good. My father is a monster, and I am, too. My mother was innocent, but I am not."
"I don't believe that."
"Come with me and I shall prove it to you."
"Meadow, don't," Blade said.
"I have to. She's my mother, Blade. I can help her," Meadow insisted. "I'll go with you," he told Alyss.
She nodded. "Very well. Come along," she motioned for him to follow her. Meadow eagerly chatted her ear off. Alyss said nothing, but allowed him to ramble. Blade clutched his sword nervously.
The young faeries were locked in a bedroom together. "Meadow, this is a really bad idea. We need to go home," Blade insisted.
"She's really pretty, right? I wasn't sure what she'd look like," Meadow said.
"Meadow, listen to me. We shouldn't be here."
"Just give her a chance, Blade. Please? For me?"
Blade sighed. "Alright, but if I say we need to go, you need to listen to me, okay?"
"Okay," Meadow replied cheerfully. He hugged Blade. "Thank you."
Blade softened. "I know how badly you want to know your mother. I understand. I'm not allowed to see my father."
"That's so unfair of your mom. Hill comes through the realm all the time. You should be allowed to meet him."
"She doesn't want him to know about me. She's still upset he didn't immediately proclaim his undying love to her after they spent one night together." Blade shrugged.
The door opened and Alyss appeared with food. "Eat, Boys," she said. She sat with them, eating some food herself. Blade and Meadow began to eat. They quickly blacked out.
When he awoke, Blade was restrained. His sword and other weapons had been taken from him. Meadow sat beside him. He was trembling and his clothes were torn.
"Meadow... What happened?" Blade asked.
Meadow looked at him with sad eyes. "I woke up hours ago... She drugged me less than you. She wanted me to hurt him," he said softly.
"Hurt who?" Blade asked.
"The boy... Mason... But I couldn't do that. I don't hurt others, and he was already so scared. I could feel his pain and fear. So I refused."
"What did she do, Meadow?" Blade asked gently.
"She handed me off to a man... Pahl... And he..." Meadow bit his lip and said no more. There were tears in his eyes.
"I'll kill him!" Blade declared.
Meadow cowered at his outburst. Blade took a deep breath. "It's okay, Meadow," he said soothingly. "I'll protect you. I'll get us out of here."
Unfortunately, that would not prove easy. The faeries were moved to the basement in the room next to Mason's. Within a week of their arrival, Mason was strong enough that his torture resumed. Tinzann had coaxed him back into awareness, and his screams could be heard by Blade and Meadow.
Mason could hear Meadow sobbing and begging their captors to stop hurting him and Blade. Blade remained silent, refusing to give them the satisfaction of making him scream. Only when he and Meadow were alone would Blade speak, usually to try to comfort his terrified best friend.
Eventually, Meadow reached out to Mason when no one else was in the basement. He could hear him crying softly. "It's going to be okay," he said soothingly through the wall. "We'll all get out of here soon. You'll see."
Mason continued to cry. "I'm Meadow. Blade is here with me. You're Mason, right?" Meadow asked.
Something about Meadow talking to him was deeply soothing. "Y... Yes," Mason found the strength to reply.
"It's okay, Mason. We're friends," Meadow promised.
"Friends?" Mason repeated.
"Yes. When you're sad or scared and lonely, talk to us. We'll be here for each other."
"Okay," Mason agreed.
For over a year, the three boys comforted each other as their nightmare continued. Meadow would cry, but he never let himself break. Mason struggled not to give in to the urge to become catatonic, but having Meadow and Blade talk to him helped him find strength. Blade was kept in the worst shape of the three because any time he gained any strength, he fought back. He managed to hurt their captors, but the Witch finally found a way to stop him from resisting.
She held a sword to Meadow's throat. "Leave him alone!" Blade shouted.
The Witch drew blood. Meadow cried out in pain. "I'll make him immortal and slit his throat and torture him while he spends eternity dying but never actually gets to perish," she said with a cruel laugh. "I will make him beg for death over and over unless you stop fighting us." She cut Meadow's throat deeper.
"No!" Blade cried, struggling against his chains. "No... Please stop. Don't hurt him. I'll... I'll do whatever you ask."
The Witch cackled. "Good boy!" She licked the blood off of Meadow's throat and tossed him aside, telling Alyss to heal him and put him to sleep. Then, she spent several hours torturing Blade to see if he'd keep his word. He did not resist, and he endured the pain without protest.
One night, after both Meadow and Mason had screamed for hours before blacking out from pain, Blade decided enough was enough. He used the only energy he had to cast a powerful protection spell on Meadow. Then, he waited for them to come for him.
It was Prezdonn who came into their room that night. He untied Blade, no doubt intending to force him to engage in sex magic. Blade waited for Prezdonn to get very close before he overpowered the Sorcerer. He caught him by surprise and choked him into unconsciousness. He grabbed Prezdonn's sword and freed Meadow from the ropes binding him to his bed. Taking only a moment to dress himself, Blade led Meadow out of the room.
They saw Mason lying on his bed looking like he'd been beaten half to death. "Mason... It's alright," Blade said. "We're getting you out of here, too." He knew it was foolish to stop to try to save Mason, but he couldn't bear to leave the boy who'd become their dearest friend behind to be tortured alone.
Blade scooped the severely injured Mason up in his arms. The boy was thin from barely eating and Blade was strong despite the torture he'd suffered for the last year, so it wasn't difficult. "I can heal him," Meadow said.
"You're too weak tonight," Blade said. "We need to get somewhere safe. Then we can find help."
Blade carried Mason up the stairs. Meadow followed right behind them. They nearly made it to safety when the cackling began.
"Going somewhere?" The Witch asked as she appeared.
Blade gently set Mason down on his feet and raised Prezdonn's sword, ready to fight his way out of there. "Silly boy," the Witch said. "I thought we had an agreement."
Before Blade could react, he felt an iron dagger pierce his chest. It burned and he couldn't keep from screaming this time. He stared in shock as Alyss pulled the dagger out of him.
She's not affected by the iron like most Fae, Blade realized. For the majority of faeries, including him and Meadow, their allergy to iron was usually deadly. Alyss just seemed mildly irritated by it as a small rash appeared on her hand.
"Blade!" Meadow cried.
Mason seemed to spring to life as he realized how injured Blade was. He moved protectively in front of Meadow.
The Witch grabbed Mason, tilting his neck at a painful angle. "They tried to save you and that's why they're dying," she told him.
"No..." Mason whispered with tears in his eyes.
"Just like your mother. It's all your fault, Mason."
Blade stopped breathing. Meadow let out a cry of anguish. Then, Alyss slashed his throat with the dagger.
"Meadow!" Mason cried out. "No... No, please..."
"You did this, Mason. These boys never had to die," the Witch insisted. She released him. Mason sank onto his knees in hysterical tears.
Tinzann stood nearby, his hand covering his mouth in horror. "Alyss... He's your son," he said.
"He was my son," Alyss said with a shrug. "Now, he is a corpse." She walked away.
Tinzann knelt beside Meadow, brushing some hair out of his eyes. "He was just a kid... They both were, but Meadow was so damned innocent. It's like slaughtering an infant." He shook his head. "He was beautiful. Pure."
"It was necessary, Tinzann," Pahl said. "They brought this on themselves."
Mason, completely heartbroken and feeling as guilty as he had after his mother died, did not fight when Pahl dragged him back into the basement. That night, he lost the last of his will to fight.
Tinzann was furious and horrified by what had happened. He took a portal to Las Vegas and went straight to Garron. "Tinzann, my boy! What can I do for you?" Garron asked pleasantly.
"I wish to be reassigned, Garron," Tinzann said.
Garron looked surprised. "Your skills are needed in D.C, my boy," he replied. "I cannot simply reassign you. Your Chapter's cover is too intertwined. It would not do for K.Z. and Alice's beloved brother the doctor to suddenly vanish. It would draw attention we cannot afford."
"Garron, please... I can't do this anymore. I can't work with them."
"If Raffitty and Felina can work together despite their differences, so can you and Pahl."
"You don't understand. They did something unforgivable. They're-" Suddenly, he couldn't speak.
Do not tell him our secrets, the Witch said in his mind. If you do, I'll make you regret it.
He wanted to defy her, but he could not break past the command. Her magic was too strong.
"What unforgivable thing did they do, Tinzann?" Garron asked.
"I just don't agree with their methods," Tinzann said. He knew he could never say the truth to Garron because of the Witch, so he settled on that. "I cannot cooperate any longer. Please, if you look into it, I promise you will understand."
"Find a way to cope, Tinzann. Pahl knows what he is doing. I trust his judgment."
"But, Garron-"
"I'm sorry, Tinzann, but I need you in D.C. We can revisit this at a later point. Now, go on home. I have work to do and so do you." He patted him on the back and sent him on his way.
Unknown to the Rebels, Meadow began breathing again after they buried his body in the woods. He was terrified, but tried to take comfort in feeling the element of Earth surrounding him. Somehow, he dug his way to freedom. A second grave was beside the one he'd crawled out of. Meadow began to dig it up. He found Blade, still very much deceased, after much effort.
Closing his eyes and focusing on his connection to Blade, Meadow filled his body with light. He healed his injuries and whispered, "Come back, Blade... Please. I still need you!"
Blade drew in a sharp breath and opened his eyes. "Meadow... Are you alright?" He asked.
"I am... But how?" Meadow replied.
"My protection spell... If you are killed and are not meant to perish, you shall resurrect. Every time."
"But you did not return."
"I only had the strength to cast it on one of us." He paused. "I did not expect to wake back up. Your powers are even stronger than I realized."
"You can't leave me, Blade. I need my guardian." He hugged him tightly.
Blade stroked his hair soothingly. "We must flee, Meadow. They need to believe we truly perished."
"But what about Mason? We cannot leave him here."
"We'll send help as soon as we can. First, we need to hide and gather our strength. Neither of us can help him right now. They'll find us and just kill us again."
Meadow knew he was right. "Okay," he agreed. "But we'll go back for him?"
"We'll find people who can get him out of there, but we cannot return ourselves."
They agreed on that point and went into hiding, cloaking their energy and trying to figure out how they would survive going forward.
It took quite a while for things to change. Mason endured unbearable torture. His heart was broken. The guilt of being the cause of his mother's death as well as Blade and Meadow's was unbearable. He hated himself, and he was determined not to let anyone else get close to him for fear he might get them killed, too.
By the time Blade and Meadow figured out a way to help, Mason had been missing for four years. He was no longer speaking and was completely resigned to his fate.
"I finally figured out who can help him," Blade said.
"Good news, finally! Who is it?" Meadow asked excitedly.
"Two Rebels, Captain Smith and Raffitty. Neither stands for the abuse of innocents, especially children. Mason is barely twenty now. They will want to help. They have honor. Help me send them a push."
Together, Blade and Meadow focused. They sent a mental push toward the two Rebels. Visit the D.C. Chapter... They sent through the spell. Don't tell them you are coming. Look in the basement.
In New York, Captain Smith awoke with an undeniable urge to take a trip to D.C. When Raffitty called him with the same idea in mind, they knew they needed to follow the impulse.
Raffitty used the portal from Stone Hollow to Central Park. Captain Smith met him there. "Where are Kizzie and the others?" Raffitty asked.
"I have a feeling it's best we go alone... I'm not sure what we're going to find," Captain Smith admitted.
"Good thinking, Bob. Let's err on the side of caution," Raffitty agreed.
The quickest portal to D.C. was located in Brooklyn, but the Rebels watched that one closely. "We'll drive," Raffitty said. "They'll never see us coming."
"Let's take one of my planes instead," Captain Smith suggested. "It's faster." He'd begun collecting Eltarian aircrafts about a decade earlier. The people of Earth had yet to create a successful airplane, but Eltar's technology was fairly reliable.
"Bob, you know how I feel about flying..." Raffitty said nervously.
"I promise my skills have improved greatly since the last time, Raff," Captain Smith said with a mischievous grin.
Raffitty laughed. "If we die, I'm going to kill you, Bob," he said.
"You're immortal, Raff. Even if we crash and go down in a fiery mess, you'll survive," Captain Smith pointed out.
"But you might not," Raffitty said softly. "And I don't care to entertain the idea of life without you, Bob... So don't crash this time, alright?"
"We landed in the Atlantic last time, and we're both excellent swimmers. No real harm was done." Captain Smith grinned to let Raffitty know he was kidding. "I promise, I've got the hang of it now. I've been on a few test flights and managed to stay in the air until I was ready to land."
They headed to Captain Smith's storage property and soon took to the skies. Raffitty relaxed as he realized Captain Smith truly had mastered the art of flying. They made it to D.C. in just over an hour. Captain Smith landed smoothly in a vacant field and cloaked the plane.
"That wasn't so bad," Raffitty admitted with a smile. "There just might be a champion pilot in you, Bob."
"Thank you... We're about a twenty minute walk from Pahl and M'Laize's home," Captain Smith replied. "Let's go."
They arrived shortly after and knocked on the door. M'Laize opened it and looked at them in surprise. "Captain Smith... Raffitty... Has something happened?" She asked.
"Can't we just pay our friends a visit without there being urgent Rebellion business?" Raffitty asked innocently.
"Of course... Come in." She moved to let them into the house and led them to the parlor room. "Paul! We have guests."
"Who is it, Mary Beth?" Pahl replied. He entered the parlor and paused. "Gentlemen! To what do we owe the pleasure of your company?"
"We were hoping for tea and good conversation," Captain Smith replied.
"Or, better yet, ale," Raffitty added. He manifested an expensive brand he knew Pahl was fond of.
They sat in the parlor, drinking and talking casually for a bit. When Alyss began screaming from the front door, Pahl and M'Laize were forced to turn their attention to her.
"Pardon us for a moment, Friends," Pahl said. "It seems our dear Alyss is having one of her fits."
"She still has episodes?" Raffitty asked.
"Frequently," M'Laize confirmed.
"Have you ever considered asking Laby for help? It has been proven that he can cure insanity."
"He's right," Captain Smith said. "Poor Alyss has been through much. Perhaps Laby can be of assistance."
"I'll consider that, but we're used to handling her," Pahl said. "She'll be fine in a bit. Excuse us." He and M'Laize hurried off to get Alyss into the house and away from the eyes of nosy passerby.
"Now's our chance," Raffitty said.
"To the basement," Captain Smith agreed. They slipped into the hallway and found the door that led to the basement, careful not to make a sound.
The basement was fairly dark, but they could see. Someone was lying on a bed. He'd been chained there, and he looked very thin and frail.
"Good Christ..." Raffitty whispered. "What did they do to this kid? He can't be more than a boy..."
Captain Smith gently brushed the hair out of the boy's eyes. The boy whimpered and began to cry, but did not fight him.
"He's Eltarian... And definitely still a teenager by Eltar's standards," he said. "It's alright, dear boy... We will not harm you."
He tried to wipe some of the blood from the boy's face. The boy began trembling violently in terror.
Raffitty moved closer to him. "Bob... Let me," he said softly.
Captain Smith moved back a bit. Raffitty knelt beside the boy. "You are safe now," he said soothingly. "We shall not allow them to hurt you anymore." He gently cleaned some of the blood off of his face. "I'm Raffitty, or just Raff if you like. This is Captain Bob Smith. We will not harm you, Boy."
The boy didn't reply. Raffitty began to remove his restraints. He helped the boy sit up, which only made him whimper in terror. Seeing the scars on his back and chest, Raffitty understood his fear. He also suspected what other horrific things had happened to the boy. Only one thing made a person react like that.
"I have been where you are," he said soothingly. "It ends now. You can come out of this stronger, I promise."
The boy began to cry. Raffitty held him as he sobbed in his arms. Captain Smith gently began to tend to his injuries as Raffitty tried to comfort him.
"What is your name?" Raffitty asked after the boy was more stable.
The boy did not answer him. Instead, he drew a symbol with light in the air.
"My God..." Captain Smith mumbled.
"What is it, Bob?" Raffitty asked.
"That crest... It belongs to the Yizak family."
"Are you certain?"
"The Eltarian Guard had the crests of all four Founding Families on display in various locations, but the Yizak crest was featured most heavily. One of them created the Peacekeepers, after all. I know the crest well." He shook his head. "This boy is a Yizak, Raff."
"What on all of Eltar were they thinking abducting a member of a Founding Family?! Garron will have their heads for this."
"As he should... Look at what this poor boy has endured." Captain Smith shook his head. "We must get the boy out of here, first and foremost."
Raffitty helped the boy to his feet. His legs gave out almost immediately, so Captain Smith picked him up. He'd carried critically wounded soldiers across battlefields many times before. Carrying a boy who barely weighed anything was not difficult for him.
They nearly made it out of the house when Pahl, M'Laize, and a much calmer Alyss blocked their path. "That boy is our property," Pahl said harshly.
"What you have done to this child is vile," Captain Smith said. "I assure you, you'll never touch him again."
"You have no right to take our prisoner," M'Laize protested.
"You had no right to abduct a member of the Yizak family!" Raffitty replied harshly.
"Your Chapters cannot just meddle in our affairs," Pahl said.
"Watch us," Raffitty challenged him.
Alyss touched Captain Smith's arm. Unbearable pain registered on his face, but he did not release the boy. He closed his eyes and tried to breathe through it.
Raffitty pulled a dagger out of his pocket and aimed for Alyss, cutting her arm. Alyss cried out in pain and surprise and released Captain Smith's arm.
"Bob, portal, now!" Raffitty shouted before throwing a device that created emergency portals. The portal would only allow them to travel a short distance, but it would get them out of there quickly.
Captain Smith carried the boy to the portal. He and Raffitty jumped into it, sealing it before the others could follow them. They ended up a couple of streets away from the plane.
"What should we do now?" Raffitty asked. "Garron needs to be informed, but... I would rather not bring the boy to him."
Captain Smith understood. Garron would not condone what had been done to the boy, but he wasn't above ordering his execution to cover up what the rogue Chapter had done. The Rebellion came first for Garron, and he might not consider that the boy was an innocent victim.
"We'll return him to Eltar," Captain Smith agreed. "We shall see to it he gets help, and then we must tell Garron what happened. Once the boy is with his family, Garron cannot interfere without risking further trouble for the Rebellion. He'll leave him be."
They left the plane in New York and took a portal to Eltar. Captain Smith carried the boy to the building where the Counsel of Elders convened.
"Hanry is here," Captain Smith told the boy soothingly. "He will see to it that you are healed and cared for." He set the boy down gently before taking Raffitty and hiding from sight. They watched to ensure someone trustworthy found the boy.
The building had alerts to notify those inside of anyone lurking, so someone appeared quickly. "It's Hanry's boy, Ryce," Raffitty said softly. "He is trustworthy."
Ryce stared at the boy in shock. "Mason?" He asked. "My God... Father! Come quickly! It is Mason, and he is gravely injured!"
Hanry appeared with Meegan and Jinnifer Farmell at his side. Jinnifer sprang into action, drawing her weapon and watching for threats. Hanry knelt beside Mason with tears in his eyes. Meegan immediately began healing the boy.
"Call Gray," Hanry said to Ryce gently. "Let him know his son has finally been returned to us."
"He's safe now," Captain Smith said. "Let's go."
They went straight to Garron. "My dearest friends!" Garron greeted them in surprise. "What brings you here on this beautiful day?"
"Something has happened, Garron," Captain Smith began.
"The D.C. Rebels have done something unforgivable," Raffitty added.
Garron frowned. "So this is not a social call... Very well," he said. "Come in, and tell me everything."
"They abducted a boy," Captain Smith explained. "He has since been identified as Mason Yizak."
"Mason of Eltar has been missing for... Four years now, I believe," Garron said. "I had no idea they were behind it. I gave no such order."
"We didn't think you did," Raffitty said. "The boy was locked in their basement. He'd been beaten... Tortured... Raped. Garron... Something must be done about this. Mason was sixteen when he was abducted... A child, really. Surely the Rebellion does not condone this behavior, especially in regard to a child."
Garron considered this. "I am aware of Prezdonn's fondness for certain types of magic, but was under the impression it was only done with consent. As for the others, no matter how ruthless some of them may be, I never imagined they would violate a child. Especially not one who was revered as pure and innocent on Eltar. I know Mason's reputation. I also know his mother was killed the day he was abducted. My sources told me the family claimed it was our doing... We are everyone's usual scapegoats for unspeakable crimes, unless they feel like blaming the Great Wizard, so I was not surprised by this. However, I never believed any of our people had actually done such a thing."
"They cannot be trusted, Garron. This goes against everything we stand for," Captain Smith said.
"You are correct, B'Bodian. What a shame... They were a very effective Chapter, but I cannot allow this sort of behavior." Garron shook his head sadly. "The D.C. Chapter of the Rebellion of Eltar is hereby disbanded. The members must be dealt with swiftly and efficiently. I trust only the two of you with such a task. Are you up to it?"
"On our honor," Captain Smith vowed.
"We'll make them pay for what they did to that poor boy," Raffitty added solemnly.
Garron dismissed them. Only when he was alone did he recall Tinzann's attempt to change Chapters. "He was trying to tell me what they had done," Garron realized. "Tinzann was the only one who wanted no part of it... Such a shame I did not listen to him, for he must be eliminated as well." He was in charge of things. He could give the order to spare Tinzann's life, but he decided against it. "The entire Chapter must be eliminated for this to be put behind us," he decided with a sigh. "My apologies, Tinzann. Had I listened to your request, perhaps all of this could have turned out differently."
Raffitty and Captain Smith returned to D.C. They stuck together as they carried out their orders, striking Prezdonn and Lupan first. Their executions were quick, with each man losing his head. Raffitty took out Prezdonn while Captain Smith eliminated Lupan. They moved on to the next house.
"What is the meaning of this?" Keizee demanded.
"This is about Mason," Captain Smith said. "Garron has officially disbanded your Chapter and given us the order to execute you for your crimes." He proceeded to bring his sword down and sever Keizee's head.
Tinzann did not fight them. "I'm sorry," he said softly. "For all of it."
Raffitty raised his sword. "Raff, wait," Captain Smith said. "He is telling the truth. His remorse is genuine."
"I did not stop it. I played my part. I tried not to harm him much, but I did not help him escape. I accept my punishment for my involvement," Tinzann said humbly.
Raffitty hesitated. "Where is Alyss?" He asked.
"We sensed trouble at Lupan's home. She went to protect our Captain. She's with Pahl now."
"Stay here. Do not move, or I will slit your throat. Behave and perhaps we will allow you to live," Raffitty said.
Captain Smith nodded with approval. "That was the right call, Raff," he said with pride as they moved on. "Tinzann clearly regrets his part in things. He does not deserve to die for following bad orders from his Captain."
They found M'Laize, Pahl, and Alyss standing together. Knowing the sort of person M'Laize was, Raffitty made his peace with the fact that she was a woman before he went in for the kill. He did not want Captain Smith to have to execute a woman, as he knew how much that idea bothered his friend.
M'Laize fought back, casting a spell that sent Raffitty flying into a wall. He got back up, recovering almost immediately, and shoved his sword through her chest. M'Laize let out a scream as he pulled his sword back out. She was dead within seconds.
Alyss went after Raffitty, tackling him and forcing him to feel extreme pain. He recalled the sensation of his father branding him with his cufflink. He felt the physical abuse his father had inflicted upon him daily. He relived being beaten and raped in prison. He could feel Mayor Freyst torturing him, and Aphell doing even worse things.
Alyss is the daughter of Aphell, Raffitty remembered. That's how she's able to tap into those memories so strongly. Focus, Raff... It's in the past... Focus, damnit!
He tried, but he ended up screaming in pain as Alyss tightened her grip on his arm.
Meanwhile, Pahl zeroed in on Captain Smith. They battled for several minutes, their swords meeting at every turn. Finally, Captain Smith was able to impale him through his chest. His eyes went wide in surprise before he sank to the floor, dead.
"Raff!" Captain Smith cried as his best friend screamed in agony. He hurried to his defense. "Alyss... I do not wish to harm you. Release Raffitty, and we can discuss a peaceful surrender."
Alyss glared at him. "No," she said coldly. She tightened her grip even more. Raffitty was reduced to whimpers as he regressed to the frightened boy he'd been in prison.
"You aren't well, Alyss. We can get you help. Please, do not make me harm you," Captain Smith said.
Alyss used her free hand to pull out a gun. She pressed it against Raffitty's head. "No!" Captain Smith cried. He tried to use his sword, but it became impossibly heavy. He knew Alyss was using Faerie magic to affect his weapon.
There is only one option, he thought. She knows what I can do physically and is anticipating my moves.
He closed his eyes and gathered as much magic as he could. Just as Alyss pulled the trigger, the gun jammed and a blast of magic struck her. She might have survived, as Captain Smith had only intended to stun her, but she tried to fight the spell with her own magic and ended up making his spell stronger. Alyss burst into flames and turned to ash in seconds.
Raffitty was left gasping for breath. He sobbed in pain for several seconds, beating at an invisible enemy. "Raff... Raff, it's me," Captain Smith said soothingly. "You're alright. No one is hurting you. They cannot harm you anymore," he reminded him gently.
Raffitty took a deep breath. "I'm okay now, Bob," he said softly as he composed himself. "Thank you. My apologies."
"Her touch was quite powerful. I understand."
"You didn't react as I did. You held strong."
"Our traumas are different, Raff. Your pain far outweighs mine."
"Only physically, Bob." He took the hand Captain Smith offered him and stood up. "Shall we burn the bodies?"
"It's how we normally handle things, but they were higher profile. People will notice if they vanish. Perhaps we should consult Garron."
"Let's check on Tinzann." Raffitty led the way back to the other house.
Captain Smith let out a startled gasp as he noticed Tinzann lying in a pool of blood. I'm sorry had been crudely written in blood beside his body. A sword had been shoved through his heart.
"Oh, Tinzann..." Raffitty said sadly. "This was not the way."
The two men knew what they had to do. They spread the story that Dr. Timothy Zane had murdered his brother, sister, and dear friends before taking his own life. It was quite the scandal in Washington, D.C. for a bit, but no one ever suspected it wasn't the absolute truth.
Captain Smith and Raffitty had no idea that Garron had realized they were debating allowing Tinzann to live and had shown up to end his life himself.
None of them learned of the Witch's involvement in things. She didn't know what had become of the others, nor did she care. Mason was sufficiently broken, and that was all that mattered to her. As far as she was concerned, things had been a great success. Mason would never become a threat to her plans now.
For the next decade, Mason did not speak. He refused to identify his captors or discuss what had happened to him. He would not allow anyone to touch him. He refused to eat or drink most of the time, and often had to be hospitalized.
Gray was heartbroken by what his son had been through, but he tried to remain strong for him. H'Nah stayed close to Mason, and after a couple of years, he allowed her to hug him. That was a huge step for him, as he generally flinched from anyone who tried to touch him.
After the first decade had passed, Mason finally spoke again. He looked at his father with tears in his eyes and simply said, "I am sorry about Mother."
Gray was so relieved to hear his voice, he hugged him. Mason tensed but eventually allowed it. "It's not your fault, Mason," Gray said. "None of this is."
Slowly, Mason began to speak more. He wasn't nearly as sociable as he'd been before, but he at least communicated when he needed to. He began trying to help in emergencies, never really participating in the world around him but always assisting those who could not help themselves. He healed the severely injured and protected the bullied and abused. That was the extent of his social interactions, but even that small bit was a miracle Gray and H'Nah were grateful for.
Mason would never be the innocent, happy boy his family remembered, but he was home, safe, and willing to help those in need. That was more than enough.