HELLO! I am so glad to finally be back on here and posting (even though it`s almost the end of the year)! The past few months have been pretty difficult for me personally, which is why I was gone for much longer than my original intention of a few weeks. But I`m back and will be posting at least two more chapters by the end of year!
Now onto a few things about this chapter. This follows the storyline of the third book in the Dragonwatch series, and is my take on Bracken`s perspective during it (with some added drama of course). So if you haven't read the most recent book or the series at all, this will spoil it and also make no sense at all.
Thirdly, some/most of the dialogue is taken directly from the Dragonwatch book, so I definitely DO NOT own that, Brandon Mull does!
Thank you for reading this really long authors note, and sticking around.
Part 2 will be coming on Thanksgiving (Thursday of this week for my non-Americans)!
Enjoy!
The first time Bracken saw her, he was stupid enough to really believe that it was her. That she had found him, and she was going to save him, again.
But as he watched her shy away from the hand he stretched out to her, he realized that he was wrong. She wasn't there. He was alone. It hit him so hard for the first time that he sat down, hard on the floor of his cage, head in his hands.
"Why so glum Brack?" Kendra's smile lit up the darkness, but he felt his heart ache when he saw it.
"Whatever you are, leave me alone." His voice was coarse and strangled but he couldn't find it within himself to care.
"Well that's rude." He saw her walk over and sit in front of him, folding her legs. Despite himself, he looked up. She had a concerned expression on her face, the muscles on her forehead tensed and for a moment, just a moment, he could imagine that they were somewhere else, sitting in one of the pavilions at Fablehaven or in her room, as she did her homework and they talked. Sometimes about nothing too important, other times about their pasts, his father, or her parents disapproval of Fablehaven. But this wasn't real. Of course it wasn't.
"You do know sulking won't make any of this better, right?" He almost had to laugh at that, but then he remembered where they were. Where he was. In the under realm, alone, at the mercy of his cousin, Ronodin who hated him.
"Oh come on Bracken, you're better than this." Her voice hardened into something more determined.
"What am I supposed to do?" He asked hoarsely. "I'm trapped. Again. In the Under Realm. I'll never get out of here. I'll die here."
She looked briefly annoyed again. "Well certainly with that attitude you will."
Then he heard footsteps, so loud in the silence they were like gunshots. Ronodin and his little posse of assorted dark creatures. He didn't bother getting to his feet. Ronodin wasn't worth it.
"Whatever you're trying to do, don't bother. I know she's not real." Bracken didn't look up at his cousin as he neared his cage.
"You know, for once I have actually no idea what you're talking about." Ronodin paused for a moment. "Care to enlighten me?"
Bracken raised his eyes to his cousin's. "Stop with the mind games. You already have me here in a cage. Are so insecure you need to make me feel insane to be satisfied for once?"
Ronodin smirked, "Again, dear cousin, I have no idea what you're talking about. But it seems to me that something has finally got to you."
Bracken closed his eyes for a moment and when he opened them, his heart stuttered in his chest. There she was, leaning against the bars of the cage, scowling at Ronodin. He didn't even look at her, even when she strode around him, to the back of the cage.
"Leave me to rot in peace." And so he did, his cousin leaving him alone, the oppressive silence pressing in once more.
"Well isn't he a bundle of joy?" Suddenly Kendra was in front of him once more and he had to resist the urge to get excited. She wasn't here. Whatever this thing was, it wasn't Kendra.
That terrified him more than anything. He chose not to respond, instead, laying down on his side, facing away from her. She didn't seem to mind.
"You should really get some sleep." Kendra asserted. She began to hum, and slowly, slowly sleep came to him.
"Why are you here?" Bracken sat across from Kendra, who wasn't really Kendra, while she watched him. She had shown up, slipping through the bars of the cage as a lich came and slid a plate of food through the small opening in the cage, but hadn't said a word to her yet.
For a brief moment, she looked surprised before she grinned a little. "Finally talking to me then?"
Bracken refused to let his voice falter this time. "I want to know what you are and why you're here." And I want you to go away because you remind me of the real you, Bracken thought desperately.
Kendra leaned forward. "I'm here because you need me. That's all." Locking eyes with her, he could feel himself relax just the tiniest bit, a little against his will.
"I've survived hundreds of years of this on my own. What makes you think I need you?"
Kendra shook her head. "Not here you haven't. This is Under Realm, and a completely different beast altogether." She leaned back and directed her gaze to the food which lay a few feet from them. "You should eat."
"What, now you're my mother?" Kendra's smile didn't even falter as she stood, walking over to the bars of the cage.
"Eat. And I'll see you soon." She slipped through the bars and walked off into the darkness.
Bracken watched her go and then got to his feet, examining the plate on the floor. It looked like some kind of tough meat, sprouts and a dark roll of bread and since it didn't smell too bad, and he had eaten much worse, he took a bite, assuming that if Ronodin was going to kill him, it was going to be more theatrical than poisoning. He supposed he didn't care either way.
He was doomed anyway.
Days past, he thought… It was so difficult to tell the time here. He knew that he got tired and slept, his own internal chronometer telling him that the days passed, but really, he had no idea. He hadn't seen the sun in what felt like years, and while Bracken knew that, logically, not that much time could have passed, he wasn't sure. The Under Realm was a strange place.
And every day, without fail, he saw Kendra, or at least what looked like Kendra. She always showed up, wearing the same clothes and smelling the same, clean, like flowers and cotton.
Bracken didn't talk a lot. He left that to Kendra. She didn't seem to mind. She seemed perfectly happy to fill the monotonous hours with words, complaining about the Under Realm, speculating about Ronodin, and telling him stories, stories he had heard before, but he didn't protest. It made it much easier to endure his imprisonment to not feel so alone, even if he was plagued with a phantom of the girl he loved.
But one day, Kendra had been sulking, not moving or speaking much. When he asked what was wrong, she simply shook her head, scowling and stared off into the darkness beyond the cage. Bracken had tried to shrug it off, and continued with the workout routine he had perfected during his time at Living Mirage to keep in shape. Suddenly, Kendra stood up.
"Something`s coming." She moved to the bars of the cage, putting her hands on them. Kendra could move between the bars out of the cage, but whenever he tried, he was thrown backwards by an unseen force.
"What do you mean?" Bracken wondered as he moved to stand beside her. Something was moving the darkness, he was sure but what it was he couldn't tell. Then he saw. It was that lich, Ezabar who oversaw the prison. Bracken had only seen him once or twice and he didn't speak much, but behind him, Bracken saw someone he thought he recognized, and that made his heart sink into his stomach. Beside him, Kendra remained scowling at the pair.
"Seth?" Bracken called out to the boy. "Could it really be you?" He turned to Ezabar, regarding him suspiciously. "Surely this is a ruse."
"The visitor wishes to speak with you. He is favored by the Underking and you will show him the respect he deserves." The lich spoke dispassionately before turning, leaving him and Seth alone.
"Favored by the Underking? What does that even mean?" Beside him, Kendra voiced his thoughts. Seth made no sign that he had heard Kendra speak, so Bracken tried to focus on Seth.
"Who are you?" Bracken asked, as Seth stepped closer, still staying a decent distance from the cage.
"That is the question." It certainly sounded like Seth, though not all with the tone Seth normally used towards him. They were friends. Good friends.
"The real Seth Sorenson would not be here. He is fulfilling an assignment far away and has no connection to the Underking. Show me your true form!"
The boy in front of him looked truly surprised at that. Curious even. "What kind of assignment?"
"He does sound actually confused, doesn't he?" Kendra murmured.
Bracken chose not to answer Seth`s question, instead posing some of his own. "Are you an illusion? Or a replica, like a stingbulb? I can`t get a read on you." He looked too much like the real Seth to be anything else.
"I`m a real person." Seth clarified. "I`m a kid with no memory of his childhood. I have questions about myself. I was told a prisoner here might know me."
"You can`t be the person you look like. How did you get here?" Kendra strolled to the other side of cage, slipping out between the bars, walking directly up to Seth, only a few inches away from him. Bracken fought to keep his focus on Seth.
"A wooden puppet put me in a barrel."
"Mendigo?" Bracken blurted out before he could stop himself. How would one of the barrels have gotten here?" Bracken had helped set up those barrels himself.
"You know about the barrels that work like teleporters?"
"Dual manifestations of the same barrel. You can go into one and get pulled from another."
"Sounds right." Seth was watching him carefully. Something was different about this Seth Sorenson. The person he knew was almost never careful about anything. He was brash and bold and he made decisions quickly. This person in front of him was muted, cautious and afraid. "I have almost no memories before coming here. I was in a castle with a girl who called herself Kendra." Seth admitted.
Speaking of Kendra, the girl he saw was frowning at her brother. "I can`t believe he doesn't remember me!"
"This is an act." Bracken began backing away from the boy. Kendra and Seth were a pair, always together and trusted each other more than anything in the world. Seth couldn't have forgotten how much they loved each other. "Are you telling me you forgot Kendra?"
"Should I remember more about her? She claimed to be my sister." He didn't sound like he believed it, and it made Bracken`s heart ache.
"If you`re serious, take my hand and grant me full permission to search your mind." Bracken took a chance, stepping forward and reaching through the bars to Seth. If the boy took his hand, then he could know for sure if it was true. If Seth was really here.
"That doesn't sound smart." Seth considered Bracken closely, his eyes cold and suspicious. "Why are you in here?"
"You should know me well." Bracken wanted to scream, and run away from this.
"I can`t remember anything. I don't know who I can trust." Sadness entered the boy`s tone.
"I`m in here because my cousin has a score to settle with me." Bracken responded bitterly.
"Who is your cousin?"
"Ronodin, the dark unicorn." Bracken replied.
"I know him. He has been tutoring me."
"Oh my god." Kendra uttered the words, horror in her tone. The pain her eyes was palpable and Bracken`s heart began to squeeze.
"This is sick." Bracken closed him eyes, shaking his head. His hand hung between the bars, limp.
"Are you a dark unicorn too?" Seth`s voice was too casual for the situation they were in.
"Ronodin is the only dark unicorn. I am his cousin, Bracken a true unicorn, and a friend to you and your sister." Bracken spoke carefully and slowly.
"You mean Kendra?"
"Yes, and your only sister, Kendra." He insisted, willing Seth to believe him. "I`m a unicorn. You can trust me! We don't lie. I`m not trying to trick you or harm you. Let me see your mind. Maybe I can help you remember."
Bracken could see Seth beginning to consider it. "How do I know you`re really a unicorn?"
"Did you notice how the presence of the lich did not affect me?" Bracken stressed, keeping his hand stretched towards Seth.
"That might just mean you`re powerful. Turn into a horse and show me." Bracken`s heart tightened. Only if you knew how much I wish I could. Bracken thought desperately.
"I need my third horn for that." He fought to keep calm.
"Unicorns only have one horn."
"You really have forgotten a lot. We shed our first two horns, kind of like humans losing baby teeth. Kendra has my first horn. Ronodin overpowered me and took my second."
"Where is your third?" Bracken winced a little internally.
"It`s part of a talisman called the Font of Immortality. Seth you`re searching right now. You came to me because this place doesn't feel right. Go with those instincts. Don't trust a dark unicorn. I`m not sure anyone is less trustworthy than Ronodin."
"I have dark powers." Bracken felt his heart shrink a little.
"Of course he would use your powers as evidence. You`re a shadow charmer. You speak arcane languages, you can hide in shadows and you once had an ally who was a demon." Bracken stepped a little but closer to him. "But you never chose spiritual darkness, Seth. You fought it. Let me see if I can help you."
"I still don't know if you`re really a unicorn." Bracken could see the conflict in his face, more apparent than ever.
"You`re choosing the wrong time to be cautious." Bracken couldn't believe that he was even saying that, to Seth of all people. "I don't get visitors. You may not be allowed to stay for long. Look around. Almost everyone in this realm wants to drain your life force. You may be able to communicate with the undead but your best bet to find an actual friend here is among the prisoners."
"Are all the prisoners safe?"
"Absolutely not. But most of the poor individuals encaged down here are more likely to help you then liches or dark unicorns would be." Bracken hoped his sincerity shone through. He wanted this person, whoever he was, to be Seth, to be his friend. Then he could at least be sure that he wasn't going crazy, or at least, completely crazy. "I truly am a friend of yours, and I know many in your family- unless you are deceiving me. I`ll speak more feely when I know you really are who you appear to be." Seth rocked back and forth a little, before speaking.
"Fine. You can look at my mind. But don't mess with it." Seth took his hand, and instantly a wave of familiarity came over him. He searched for memories, ones that were close to him; Kendra, Zzyxx, anything. He felt his emotions, fear, confusion, caution, grief and despair, curiosity. But… besides that, there was nothing
"You`re almost blank. Seth, this is really you."
"What can you see?" He sounded genuinely curious, as he pulled his hand from Bracken`s. Staring at the boy in front of him, the one whose eyes were alive with fear, his heart darkened in a way no one that young should ever have to feel.
"You`re not a phony. You have a lot of general knowledge. But your identity is gone, along with all of your specific memories from before your mind was wiped. It`s like you were born this week." It was almost hard to believe, but considering where they were, he was fairly certain he knew who was behind it.
"That's how it feels. Who am I?" Seth asked.
"You`re Seth Sorenson, Co-caretaker of the dragon sanctuary Wyrmroost, alongside your sister, Kendra and assisted by your grandparents." Seth didn't react at all, only narrowing his eyes in confusion.
"Caretaker of a dragon sanctuary?" He said it like he couldn't believe something like that could ever happen. It shouldn't have.
"That's right. A weighty responsibility for one so young."
"What am I doing here?" Bracken glanced around a little at the darkness surrounding his cage, the absolute silence pressing in closer.
"I can only assume you`ve been kidnapped by your enemies."
"Ronodin acts like he rescued me." Bracken had to resist rolling his eyes at that. Rescue.
"Look around. Do you feel rescued? Pay close attention. Do you really think he`s your friend?"
"I don't know. Probably not a friend. Maybe a teacher. Or an ally. Either of you could be tricking me." Bracken could see this wasn't going to go anywhere productive. He would have to try a different approach. It was information that Seth wanted, Bracken could provide that at least.
"It's funny, you and I first met in a prison." He stepped back from the bars, stretching his arms. Seth tried to act disinterested, but Bracken knew him well enough to see through that.
"Was I the prisoner?"
"We both were, of the Sphinx." Instantly, it was like a switch had flipped, as Seth shut down, backing away from the cage, something like suspicion taking over his expression.
"Wait a minute, you almost had me going, then you pushed it too far." Bracken`s heart dropped a little. It had been going so well.
"What`s so strange about meeting in a prison?" Bracken tried to act nonchalant, as if he hadn't noticed that Seth was eyeing him with something like fear.
"I`ve only really talked to three people since losing my memory. You happen to bring up all of them? Kendra, Ronodin and the Sphinx? She`s good, they`re bad?" Now that was interesting, that the Sphinx was involved.
"When did you see the Sphinx?" Bracken tried desperately to think of the last time that he had seen the man, it was at Living Mirage, maybe, as he swore fealty to them.
"Don't play dumb. You saw into my mind when I took your hand. That's why you worked the Sphinx into the conversation." If Seth was anything, he was quick. Smart, clever and intuitive.
"I wasn't searching your recent memories. I don't see everything in an instant. I was checking to see whether it was really you. When did you run into the Sphinx?" It was difficult to ignore the accusatory tone in Seth`s voice and to not reflect utter despair that he had been so close to convincing Seth.
"You`re messing with me."
"I`m not. He is a shadow charmer and one of the most dangerous men alive. We fought him together when he tried to open the demon prison, Zzyxx." Bracken hoped those words would stir a reaction, but there was nothing at all.
"Playing dumb makes you less believable. You saw him helping me."
"Take my hand, and I`ll look." Bracken stepped to the bars again, reaching out to Seth who flinched away from him.
"No way. I don't know what you might do to me this time, now that I`m onto you."
"How did the Sphinx help you?" Bracken needled, Seth who seemed a little perturbed now muttered his response.
"We released some undead from a well." A well…? It couldn't be. Bracken could hide the horror he knew was written all over his face. It was difficult to get the next words out.
"Not the Blackwell."
"Yes."
"Oh Seth," Bracken covered his mouth with his hands, stepping away from this boy, the boy that was like a brother to him, one that very well may have killed everyone in Blackwell Keep. "What have you done?"
Seth seemed to realize that what he had said wasn't as casual as he thought. "The undead were suffering down there."
"Blackwell Keep is the central stronghold of Wyrmroost, the sanctuary you swore to protect. Did you give the undead unlimited access?"
"Just the castle and roads." Seth made an effort to speak like he was bored, but he was far from it, Bracken knew. He flinched a little, trying to meet Seth eyes.
"The roads? Did you see the results?"
"We left quickly. An old wizard saw me as we left. He told me I had been fooled." Seth replied uncomfortably.
"That is an understatement. Seth you cannot trust your captors. Who know what else they may have you do? You have endangered your sister, your grandparents- all the innocents at Wyrmroost." Bracken couldn't keep the scolding tone out of his voice. Seth shifted anxiously, and this time, when he spoke, his confidence was gone.
"I see why Ronodin told me you`re dangerous."
Bracken heard his cousin before he saw him, as he rounded the boulder, intense calm on his face, a smirk firmly in place. "Excellent conclusion." He came to stand beside Seth, who relaxed as he realized Ronodin was taking over the conversation, sinking back into the edges of the shadows.
"What have you done?" Bracken snarled, his hands closing on the bars.
Ronodin smiled, devious and arrogant. "Don`t be a sore loser Bracky." That nickname, that stupid nickname made his hands loosen slightly as he thought of once upon a time, when they had all been children, running through the gardens without a care in the world. "Seth it was unwise to come here. You are talking to one of the deadliest con men in the world."
"That`s what he said about you." Bracken was glad that Seth still sounded suspicious, even if it was of both him and Ronodin.
Ronodin`s lips thinned, his smirk sharpening. "No surprise. Mister light-makes-right would purge the world of darkness if he could. He finds your powers disgusting. He`d crush us both like cockroaches, given the chance."
Bracken tried to steady himself. Talking to Ronodin would do him no good. He was beyond reason, but Seth wasn't. He chose to speak to him, forcing calm. "Ronodin is the liar."
Ronodin laughed, the sound cruel and harsh. "You would tell whatever story might free you in order to destroy me." The dark unicorn turned to Seth, "I, on the other hand, have spared the life of this criminal, as you can see Seth. Bounds his wounds, locked him up safe and sound." Bracken decided to ignore his cousin. It had always worked on him as children, why not now?
"You must find out who you are Seth." He implored, meeting the boy`s eyes.
"Many voices will try to persuade you of your identity. Your memory loss has been widely publicized. All of your worst memories will try to win you to their side- Kendra, Bracken and the rest." Ronodin was grasping, just like he was. But Bracken didn't want to control Seth, he wanted to help him.
"You`re not like Ronodin, Seth. Watch him control what you see and hear. Study his maneuverings. He`s putting on a show and you are in grave danger of hurting yourself and others."
"Enough of this abusive manipulation. I`m not trying to blind or deafen Seth. To the contrary, I`m helping him hone his powers. I`m trying to protect him from liars while he reacquaints himself with his true nature. You are shadow charmer Seth. You are here among your kind. According to Bracken, if it waddles like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a horse." He found he could no longer focus on Seth, he turned to his cousin, who`s eyes burned with fury, all concealed under a thin layer of bravado.
"This is low, even for you Ronodin." His cousin`s eyes betrayed him for a split second, as insecurity battled anger.
Ronodin waved him off. "Few prisoners adore their captors. I hold Bracken down here for the good of the world. I hope the day arrives when it will be safe to free him. Come Seth. You have already spent too much time ingesting this poison." The man turned, already done with Bracken, trusting that Seth would follow. Of course he would. Who would stay down here willingly?
Seth began to back away. "Stay sane down here." He sounded wary. Unsure, confused.
"Remember what I told you." Bracken kept his face pressed against the bars until the two of them were out of sight, their conversation too far off even for his keen ears to hear. Bracken stumbled back, forcing his shaking hands to release the death grip he had on the bars of the cage, sinking to floor, putting his head in his hands.
Seth. Poor, poor Seth. He was down here, all alone without any help at all, with Ronodin as a mentor, and everyone else, did they even know? Did they know where they were? Were they even looking? Were any of them still alive? Bracken`s minds spun in circles for what felt like hours, but as the moments ticked by, a traitor tear dropping into his lap, he heard something that made him look up.
"Well that went well." Kendra rested her back against the bars of the cage, elbow propped on her knee, like she hadn't a care in the world. He missed her so much it hurt, but he swallowed back the wave of despair that threatened to overcome him.
"Where were you?" He didn't bother to try and conceal the emotion in his voice. What was the point?
"Around." Kendra waved her hands vaguely. "So, Seth… he certainly has changed."
Bracken lifted his head. "He`s like a completely new person."
Kendra`s head tilted a little. "Not exactly. A new version, I`d say."
"Do you think he`ll do the right thing?" He closed his eyes.
"No." His eyes shot open, to look at Kendra. She amended her words. "I think he`s going to make a lot of mistakes trying to figure out who exactly he is. But he`s smart, clever, intuitive, but most of all, he`s kind." Kendra scooted closer to Bracken and he let his eyes fall shut once more. He could almost feel her hand on his shoulder. "He`ll do the right thing. I believe in him."
"I want to." Bracken could only whisper the words, pressing his lips together as a tear fell onto them. "But I`m afraid. I`m afraid what Ronodin will do, I`m afraid I`ll die here."
Kendra sounded like she was smiling. "I think if you weren't, you`d be a fool. But you`re not. You`ve survived so much Bracken." Her grip tightened. "Do not let him make you afraid. Do not let him defeat you."
"How can I? I`m stuck here! Everyone I love could be dead. There is no hope. Ronodin would sooner let himself be eaten by a dragon then let me go." Bracken stood up quickly, leaving Kendra on the floor. "I`m alone."
"I`m here." Her voice was almost a whisper and he strode across the cage away from her.
"What are you then? If you`re here for me, then tell me the truth! What are you?" Bracken almost screamed the words, striking the bars with his fists, which only served to open the already tender wounds on his hands. He swore under his breath, examining his hands. He remembered what Seth had said. Stay sane down here.
Bracken turned, only to find the cage empty, Kendra gone, and he, alone.
Stay sane down here.
So much for that.
Again, part 2 will be released on Thanksgiving (the 28th of November)!
Huge, huge thank you to Wolf Lover 27, FairyGirl22, and Jesus Saved even me! You guys are amazing and make me smile so so much!
(Also writing this took a week of my life and at least 5 years off my life, please come back and read the next part haha thanks bye!)
Happy Sunday!