Run
How could this have happened?
Besai sat on her knees by the wall, Kai's earring clenched tightly in her palm on her lap. Tears spilled from her eyes, and she closed them, shoulders shuddering with a suppressed sob; she did not dare make any noise. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest, and her skin seemed cold and numb though the room was warm.
It had been so easy to forget what true fear was while in Ninjago. She had been afraid, yes. It was a new, wintry environment crowded with many strange people. She had been afraid every time she met a man's eyes. In the White Rose, on the road, even Kai's father's house. But Kai had always been there to help her through it, which made her less afraid.
Now Kai, being the cause of her distress, was unable to help her overcome her fear. Which only made her more scared.
Overlord stood near the bed, breathing quickly and deeply as he buttoned his shirt. Everything about him exuded an air of supreme authority. Confidence. The world was under his thumb, and he knew it. No one- not Garmadon, Cyrus, or even the Knights- could stand against him.
"Get him dressed," he said to Besai, fastening his sword belt around his waist.
Shakily, Besai slipped Kai's earring into a pocket in her dress, stood, and approached the bed. Kai lay tangled in blankets, curled around himself. Motionless, except for the rise and fall of his chest with each gasp for air. Trying to make himself as tiny and non-threatening as possible. Like weakened prey at the mercy of its tormentor, he lacked the power to resist.
"Kai," Besai whispered in the Ninjagian language, touching his arm. Kai's body grew rigid under her hand, but she refused to let go. She stroked his skin softly. "Kai, please get up. You-"
"Stand!" Overlord barked in the Dark Tongue, turning his gaze to the bed.
After a moment of tense silence, Kai unsteadily propped himself up by his arms. Then he slid his legs over the side of the bed and stood.
Overlord nodded his approval, then resumed dressing himself, fastening his cloak over his shoulders.
Besai supported Kai with a gentle hand. "Clothes," she said. "Let me help you."
Kai dipped his head slightly and allowed her to help him into the clothes that sat folded on the floor- which a servant had brought in a few moments earlier, per Overlord's instruction.
The clothes, to Besai's surprise, were in tatters. These should be cut into rags, she thought as she slid the sorry excuse for a shirt over his head. Overlord has good clothes for people to wear. Why would he put Kai in something so...disposable?
Then she realized, and her blood ran cold.
"Please," she whispered in the Dark Tongue, horrified. "Please, do not kill him."
"I must," Overlord said, approaching her from behind.
Kai glanced at Besai. He had that detached look again. Mind apart from body. Unconditional surrender. He was a puppet, and Overlord controlled the strings.
Kai had given up.
Overlord put a hand on Kai's shoulder and guided him toward the door.
"Please!" Besai cried, falling to her knees. She bowed with her face to the floor. "Please, Master! Do not-"
Overlord kicked her side brutally, and she gasped, gripping the spot with her hands. Kai averted his eyes.
"I must kill him," Overlord said.
Why? Why must you kill such a perfect man? What did he ever do to you? But she did not dare voice these thoughts. Instead, taking a deep breath, she whispered: "No. Please…take me."
Overlord cocked his head. "What?"
Fighting against the terrible sting in her side, she bowed again, touching her forehead to the floor. "Kill me instead. But keep him alive. Please."
Overlord chuckled. "No," he said.
Besai braced herself for another blow, but it never came. Instead, Overlord lifted her chin and thumbed her quavering lips. "There will be no negotiations," he said. "Kai must die. I would have done it sooner, but Nephilim suggested I wait until my Dark Knight was Transformed."
He's going to make Cole kill Kai! Besai's gut churned at the prospect. Would Cole actually do it?
Of course he would. He didn't have a choice either.
"I won't make you watch," Overlord said. "You can stay here."
Besai looked up to Kai, whose eyes were still fixed on the floor. Why, Kai? she thought despairingly. After all she had done- risking the life of their child to help Kai back onto his feet- he was going to walk away like he didn't care. Like her sacrifice mattered less than he dust beneath his feet. Kai, don't I matter to you? Why aren't you fighting him?
Overlord released her and stood. "Kai has given up," he said, as if reading her mind. "Why can't you do the same?"
Because I can't! she wanted to scream. I can't give up on him, I love him! Don't you understand that?
Overlord's question was rhetorical, apparently, because he left without waiting for an answer. The door shut, and he and Kai were gone.
Why? Besai thought again, knees shaking as she stood. Why is Overlord doing this? What was the point of pouring so much time and effort into breaking Kai if he was only going to kill him? Why Kai specifically? I… She began to pace, running a hand through her hair. I don't want to lose him. I can't lose him!
She looked around the room frantically. I must fight this somehow! What can I do?
It wasn't as though she had time to plan anything! Overlord was currently leading Kai away to be executed by Cole, who was now apparently a stone warrior. She had minutes.
Even if I find the place of the execution, I can't fight a stone warrior. I don't have a Blade. I...
She paused, looking at the door. A Blade. She'd seen them here before, in Overlord's bedroom, stored in a chest. She had found them by accident many months back while searching for a sheet of paper Overlord had asked her to fetch. He probably did not realize that Besai knew of them.
The walls began to blur and spin as Besai grew lightheaded. She closed her eyes and fought the dizziness as best she could.
I could do it, she thought, stunned. Overlord would never suspect it.
I could do it!
Footsteps, coming closer. The staff paper in Sage's blouse rustled as she stood, hearing a sound on the other side of the wall. Her heart rate accelerated, and she approached the door, feet quiet as a whisper.
Cole stood and followed behind her. Sage hesitated. After all this time stationary against the wall, why was he moving now?
A key clicked in the lock. Sage prepared herself for her bolt. Chedva sucked on her fingers, heedless of the tension that made her mother so anxious.
The door opened. Sage hardly dared breathe as she leaped forward, one arm outstretched to shove aside whoever stood on the other side.
I only have one chance, she thought. I must run as fast as I can, and outrun any stone warriors Overlord sends after me.
With a low growl, Cole stepped forward and restrained her with a firm hand on her shoulder. He squeezed, hard enough for her knees to buckle and tears of pain to spring from her eyes.
The young girl Nephilim entered, pocketing an iron key. Overlord followed after her, a guiding hand on Kai's back.
No! Sage's head buzzed as she tried to find a way out. Her fingers dug into Chedva's blanket, and the infant yowled.
Cole approached Overlord wordlessly, a spark of excitement in his otherwise vacant eyes.
Overlord looked to Sage. He shook his head faintly.
"Kill her," he ordered.
Sage's hands trembled as she held Chedva close. He would never, she thought. Cole would never hurt me.
Cole's reaction told a different story.
"Sword?" he asked, a smile lifting his stony lips.
Overlord pondered this for a few seconds, readily drinking in Sage's terror.
"No," he decided. "Use your hands."
Cole pounced on Sage, ripping Chedva out of her arms.
Sage forced herself to stay silent. She knew from experience that begging for mercy would only goad a stone warrior on. Overlord hadn't ordered the baby killed yet, so as long as Sage said nothing, Cole would disregard the child and go for the larger, more appealing prey. The prey that smelled of fear.
Like a worthless trinket, Cole cast Chedva to the side. The infant squealed as she hit the floor, surprised and bruised. She continued to cry loudly as Cole wrapped his hands around Sage's neck and squeezed.
Terrible pain shot through Sage's body, and she tried to gasp. Nothing came. Her mouth opened and closed uselessly as Cole compressed her windpipe. All the while, Chedva's screams were loud in her ears.
She struggled to get a grip on Cole's wrists and push him off, but she possessed a mere fraction of his strength. Dark clouds, dancing like mist, grew in her vision.
To the side, Overlord cackled. Kai and Nephilim watched impassively. What had happened to Kai? He seemed completely out of it. Had he been drugged?
It…hardly…matters. He will probably die...too. So...it is better...for him to...to not...
Chedva, seeing that no one was responding to her need, allowed her cries to temporarily taper off. She whimpered softly, then began to cry in earnest. A cry filled with more panic than discomfort, which left Sage's ears ringing. Or maybe that was just her body reacting to the suffocation.
Cole's grip loosened. He blinked, turning his head to the right until he saw Chedva.
Sage swore she saw a touch of softness return to Cole's eyes.
Cole released her, and she breathed deeply, filling her oxygen-starved body with air. Her hands shook uncontrollably as she tried to retain her balance. Black spots still impaired her vision, and each gasp seemed to strip the skin form her burning throat.
What is happening…?
Overlord seemed equally confused as Cole stood and turned toward him. They regarded each other for a long moment, the only noise being Chedva on the floor. Sage crawled to her baby, still breathing hard, and lifted the infant into her arms. Chedva whimpered in relief and grabbed Sage's dress with a shaking fist.
"How?" Overlord asked, more fascinated than concerned by Cole's behavior. "You overrode my direct command. That's never happened before..."
Without warning, Cole lunged and snatched Raindancer from Overlord's belt. In one fluid movement, he unsheathed the Blade and turned, pressing it against Nephilim's throat. The girl gasped.
"Let us go," Cole growled.
Let us go… The phrase repeated itself in Sage's mind. How? What has Cole done to defeat the Transformation?
Overlord's eyes narrowed. He raised his hands. "Don't hurt her," he said, much too quickly.
"Oh," Cole said with a malignant smile, "are you worried?"
Overlord lowered his hands and stepped forward. "Let her go!" he demanded.
"Ah, ah." Cole pressed harder with the edge of the Blade, drawing blood, which trickled down Nephilim's collarbone in a thin stream. Her eyes widened.
Overlord stopped, eyes on Cole's. They glowered at each other, unmoving, for the better part of a minute.
Then, Overlord took a single, slow step back. "Fine," he hissed. "Take your wench and go."
"Kai too," Cole said, turning to the inexpressive ex-nobleman on Overlord's left.
"No," Overlord snapped.
Cole slid the knife slowly across Nephilim's neck, breaking breaking more skin. She cried out and struggled as blood began to run down from the wound in earnest.
"Okay!" Overlord shouted, voice rattling Sage's ears. She swore the lantern on the wall flickered, too. "Take him! And Besai! Get out!"
"And the others?" Cole asked.
"There are no others! They left four days ago! Get out!"
Seeming satisfied, Cole backed toward the door with Nephilim. "Come, Sage," he said.
Sage shakily stood and pulled Kai along quickly, entering the hall.
Cole slammed the door shut and, withdrawing the key from Nephilim's pocket, locked the door. He turned to Sage.
Flustered, Sage struggling to find the right words to say. I knew you were strong enough to save us.
But before she could voice her thoughts, Overlord called out through the cell door.
"You won't make it out," he said. "I'm sending my army after you. And they will kill you all."
"Call them off!" Cole shouted. "Call them off, or I kill the girl!"
Overlord chuckled. "Did you really think I was concerned about the girl?" he asked. There was silence for a short moment. "Drop her," he ordered.
Cole almost did, his poisoned mind irresistibly drawn to Overlord's voice. He clenched his teeth. "You will die," he hissed at the door. "I will kill you."
Nephilim's eyes darted frantically, confused. Afraid. "Father," she whispered, blood soaking the front of her dress.
"Not now," Overlord snapped.
Nephilim silenced herself, quivering.
Ah. Had Overlord been pretending to love her? Sage wondered, setting a hand on Cole's shoulder. Though, if that is the case, then why is he so afraid of us hurting her? Something does not add up.
"We must get out," Sage said in Cole's ear. "He is planning something, and I do not like it."
Cole nodded, swallowing. He took a deep breath and turned from the door. "We must get out," he repeated Sage's words. "But...Besai?"
At the mention of Besai's name, Kai blinked.
"She's in her room," Overlord answered. "Go ahead and take her. If my stone warriors don't take care of you first."
Kai bolted down the hall.
"Kai!" Cole barked. "Kai, get back here!"
"I'll catch up!" Kai called back. He was around the corner in moments, out of their sight.
"You're running out of time," said Overlord lightly, as though this were a game. "Decisions, decisions. What will it be?"
It was not hard to perceive Cole's displeasure with their options: release Nephilim and surrender, or chase after Kai, or try to leave immediately and fight whatever stone warriors Overlord had waiting for them.
At last, Cole turned right, beckoning for Sage to follow. They were going for the last option, apparently.
Nephilim struggled against Cole's arm around her midsection as they walked briskly down the dark hall. "You cannot get away with this," she spat. "My father has a plan."
"I have no doubt," Cole said. "But we'll be ready for him. We'll kill him. And you."
"Gravel brains," Nephilim muttered. "You're a little smarter than the others. But you're still stupid."
"Oh! Is that the Spirit of Death I see?" Cole moved the Blade so its tip pricked the soft flesh under her chin. "I think he's here for you, dear. Are you ready for an eternity of torment?"
That shut the girl up.
Besai opened the door to Overlord's bedroom, a lantern held high in her left hand.
She had to find Kai's Blade in one of Overlord's chests. Only Kai's Blade would work, since Blades were sentient and bonded to their owners. Overlord's Blades would no doubt misbehave in her hands.
Kai's Blade was safe. It would recognize her and cooperate. Hopefully.
But finding the Blade was the least of her problems. She also had to find where Overlord was conducting the execution. Would he do it in Cole's cell- wherever that was- or would he do it publicly above ground? Or maybe he would torture Kai first, then have Cole kill him?
The chests were stacked against the wall, at least a dozen total. All were locked. Thankfully, she knew where Overlord kept a spare set of keys. She retrieved the keyring from behind a mirror and selected a random crate.
Which one? she wondered, palms sweaty as she fumbled with the many small keys. There are so many different locks. It will take too long for me to open even one crate!
But she had to try. So she knelt on the floor, shoving one key after another into the lock until at last it clicked, and she slid the bar up. A stack of papers. She set the chest aside and tried another, her mind swirling with doubt and uncertainty.
Could I actually kill Cole?
The question made her queasy. When it came right down to it, could she shove a Blade through the heart of a friend she'd once known and respected? Would she even be physically able to? She'd never fought with a sword. Or any other weapon, for that matter. The thought seemed absurd that she, a spindly pregnant woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown, could ever take down a stone warrior. Maybe if he wasn't looking her way and she stabbed him in the back…
For Kai, Besai thought, sliding the correct key into a lock on the third try. No Blades. If Cole is really a stone warrior, then he is now wholly evil. I am justified in killing- or at least wounding- him, if it means saving Kai's life.
But for how long would Kai be safe? If Besai did thwart Overlord's plan to have Cole kill Kai, then wouldn't Overlord simply move on to another form of execution?
And then Besai would likely die too for her defiance.
This made Besai pause. She did not fear death- no, she welcomed it: she had no desire to live any longer if it meant going back to her old life. She had tolerated it before, but only because she had not known any better. Her only memories of a happy, free childhood life had been tainted by fifteen hard winters of cruelty.
But now, having tasted freedom, she had no desire to live the rest of her life as a slave. She would kill herself before letting Overlord into her bed again.
But it's not just my life anymore, Besai knew. I have a child who needs me. If I die, our unborn baby dies. I must live for our baby. It deserves that much.
So did that mean that she couldn't fight?
Besai pondered this as she tried to shove another key into a lock. It didn't fit, so she tried another one, fingers clammy and clumsy. If I fight, Overlord will kill me and my child. If I don't fight, I will live with the guilt of knowing I never tried.
It was a stalemate. Each option involved the death of someone she loved.
Finally, a key slid in. But her hand twitched, and she unwillingly released the key ring. It clattered to the stone floor.
No… She stared at the metal keys dumbly, fingers in tight fists on her lap. She'd lost the correct key, and would have to start over. No, no, no…
What if the Blades weren't even in these crates? What if every single one was filled with papers? What then? What could she do?
Even if the Blades are here, what could I do?
Even if there was something I could possibly do, this is taking too long. I'll never find the Blade and Kai in time.
Besai bowed her head, sniffling. The keys became a blurry, metallic mess on the floor as tears spilled down her cheeks.
This is hopeless.
So…what now? Do I sit here until Overlord finds- and punishes- me? Or do I leave everything as I found it and return to my room?
But even as she considered standing and covering her tracks, she sank to the floor. I'm done. She curled around her stomach, feeling sick. I can't fight anymore.
She cried without reservation: a miserable, quiet cry that echoed her damaged soul's weakness.
Kai…Alyx…I have lost them forever. I am alone again. Kai…
I can fight.
That last thought reached through her subconscious, gentle like a tendril of mist. She opened her eyes, confused. What…
I can fight, the thought projected itself again, this time stopping her tears with a gentle wave of warmth.
These emotions were not her own, she realized, feeling her mood shift unnaturally. Something was tampering with her thoughts.
Moonsong.
A healthy dose of courage blossomed in her chest, and she sat upright, wiping her eyes. She breathed deeply, stilling her fears. "Where are you, Moonsong?" she whispered in the Ninjagian tongue, touching the crate before her.
Immediately after touching the smooth wood, Moonsong sent her a soft wave of doubt. Not there, then. Another chest. Besai touched each one in turn, no longer feeling sick to her stomach. Instead, she felt strong. Resolute. I can do this. I will save Kai.
There! Her fingertips brushed against the lock of a crate of black wood, and her heart pounded in her chest. She could feel Moonsong's tug, urging her to open this one. She scrambled for the keys and, after a few attempts, found the correct one. She flung the lid open and looked inside, nearly crying again with relief. At the bottom of the crate sat several Blades. One with a yellow gem, another green. Yet another was completely unadorned, looking out of place among so many artistically crafted beauties. She left all of these alone, however, and wrapped her hand around the tiny sheath of Kai's Blade. The orangish-red gem glowed softly, sending a ripple of praise into Besai's mind.
Moonsong. Besai found herself frowning slightly. It was shorter than she remembered- the blade itself was no longer than three inches, excluding the handle. Could it reach Cole's heart, even if she had a clear shot?
I wouldn't know, she thought dryly. I've never killed anyone before.
Kill. What a horrible word; definitely not one that Besai wanted associated with her name.
Why is this decision so hard? she wondered, frustrated, as she stood.
Moonsong's gem pulsed urgently, drawing her attention back to it. She could not understand what it was saying, though she got a general feel for its desire:
It made her feel a direct longing for...something. A dread that she was going to miss whatever this something was if she did not hurry.
And then it drew a picture of her room from the recesses of her mind, putting it at the forefront.
"Something…you want is in my room? And I will miss it if I don't hurry?" Besai guessed. Moonsong made her feel doubtful. "Okay… I want it. No? We…both want it?"
Moonsong's reply was a boost to her confidence.
"Okay," she said again, running from Overlord's room. She found the door to her bedroom open wide- which was not how she'd left it earlier- and she entered at a brisk pace.
She stopped inside- almost losing her balance- when she saw the something Moonsong had urged her to find.
"Kai?" she whispered, hardly daring to believe it wasn't a trick.
Kai whirled at the sound of her voice, and his anxious expression melted. He ran forward, grabbed her hand, and whisked her out the door. "Run," he said urgently. "Just run."