Chapter 7

"What the fuck," Nox breathed, her heart hammering and pulsating power with each beat. "You're not fooling us. We know you were sent by The General's men."

"If only you knew," He growled, almost predatory as he slid his sword free and hacked at her with it. Nox danced out of the way and swung at his legs. Ivan leaped into the air, blocking out the sun and slicing down with a swift arc of his sword. Nox blocked the attack, the impact sending vibrations up her arms. She clenched her teeth to battle the pain. Damn, he's strong.

Ivan smiled, revealing sharp white teeth. He looked more wolf than man, from his careful eyes, pale skin, agile movements and body sculpture. "I've heard of you rebels. Word has it that you're trying to take away mankind's only hope of survival."

"Just what we need," Nox whirled in a circle and sliced her sapphire blade, but he nonchalantly blocked each attack with an agile swing. "More enemies. Open your eyes to the truth for once!" She ducked just in time to miss a chop at her neck.

"I care nothing for mankind's cure," He said, his eyes sincere and distant, but his movements remained rapid and instinctive. "Just hand over your prisoner and both ends of our deal will be fulfilled."

Nox glared at him, thoughts spinning in her head like a whirlwind. He was just trying to manipulate them. Right?

"Who the hell are you?"

~X~

Etrius glanced up at the ceiling, as if he could see through it. What the hell is going on outside? He asked Nox through mindspeak, but got no response. Grimacing, he spoke into the microphone. "Mind telling me who's looking for you?"

"Only the top elites who could've done a much better job than you did."

The corner of Etrius' mouth twitched, but he reminded himself he had to keep himself under control. "I'm assuming that these 'top elites' are more human experiments of yours?"

Despite himself, The General gave a low, menacing chuckle. "I can't believe you were ever so naïve. Do you have any idea of the risks I could take if I had experiments in combat?"

"You attempted to do it with Nox. Why? What do you get out of it?"

"Ever heard of 'change-of-plans'? I didn't think so. Nox and the others are merely pawns in this army. You won't be prepared for what is to come."

Etrius ground his teeth. He was trying to lead him away from the topic.

He slammed a fist on the table. "Who is looking for you?"

"I've told you before, or are you deaf. A team of troops are sent out to handle situations like this."

A low buzz filled Etrius' ears; Beecher was trying to contact him. He pressed the answer button on his headset. "Beecher to Etrius. Boomer and I are getting more advanced weapons. Someone's found the base, and he's not normal."

Etrius' eyes darted from The General to the staircase. He knew that a rescue team was always sent out to retrieve captured soldiers, but this was something bigger. He had no idea what was going on. And clearly, The General didn't either.

~X~

Ivan slashed his sword at Nox's midsection, but she sprang from it's swath. His golden eyes darkened, and he mentally gripped control of her mind. Nox shoved him away, but his grip didn't slacken. He fired mental commands. Drop your sword. Drop your sword and freeze!

Nox felt her grip go slack. Her blade fell to the grass with a loud crunch. She clenched her teeth.

Ivan flipped his sword in his hands and gripped her shoulder. He aimed the tip of the blade at her heart. "I gave you rebels a chance. And yet you still remain stubborn. I'm taking that bastard from you whether you like it or not."

"Hold it," A familiar voice boomed form behind her. Lloyd's tall shadow loomed from behind Nox as he charged from the shadows. He sliced with his upgraded sword, moving at impossible speeds for a human. Nox knew his suit and armor granted him the ability to move and fight faster than normal.

Ivan cleared Lloyd's sword, and the tip of the blade nipped at the flesh in his hip. Blood spurted from the wound, blooming across his armor. Strangely enough, the crimson liquid radiated an unearthly silver glow that shimmered in the dark.

With a guttural growl, Ivan flew at him, using his sword like a machete to hack at him. The distraction was enough for Nox to break away out of her mental paralysis. She swiped her sword form the ground and ran to the two battling in a blur of rapid strokes. She waited for the right moment to strike, when Ivan would be trapped between her, Lloyd and a tree, where one of them could finish him off.

"Who are you?" Lloyd snarled. "Speak up, basket-case, and I'll be sure to give you a quick death."

Ivan smiled, revealing sharp, wolf-like teeth. "My name is Ivan Joseph. And soon, I will become a force that nothing can stop. I will not rest until I have my revenge."

"If you're here to try and stop us from fighting The General's organization, you have to get in line." Lloyd quipped darkly.

"Fools," Ivan growled. "Your prisoner. I seek vengeance for what he's done. Hand him over."

Lloyd aimed the tip of his sword at him. "Explain yourself. What the hell are you doing here?"

"You're not the only one who wants answers. That bastard has done more evil than you thought."

Lloyd watched him with dark eyes.

"I've been watching The General for weeks, doing work for him and gaining his trust. I was going to backstab him when he wasn't looking, but I needed a plan. I know you want to destroy the cure, but let me spare you the work of killing him."

"You've got to be kidding me." Lloyd glared at him up and down. "Nox, probe him."

Before the assassin could react, Nox extended an arm and her eyes glowed sapphire. She fled down the corridors of Ivan's mind, scanning through his memories. By the time she went back out, she gave Lloyd a hesitant nod.

"I still don't believe him," Lloyd kept the space between the assassin and freedom closed. "How can we trust him?"

"We can't. But we're wasting time with this bullshit."

"We can't kill him – It's only going to tip our reputation into our superiors' favor."

Ivan's gaze travelled between the two, and he spoke. "I know of a way to the alternate realm."

Nox's blood turned to ice. "What?"

"While I was working for the bastard, I had knowledge of another dimension and the 'castles' your research team found. I know they have a second base there, and I know that's where they're hiding the real cure."

It took Nox a moment before she hesitantly lowered her sword. "Fine. Take us there, and maybe I'll show you mercy."

Ivan's mouth formed into a thin line, almost like a smile. He spread his arms in a welcoming gesture. "Glad to be of assistance."

"Remember this, Ivan," She said his name like he would flinch when he remembered it was fake. "You're our prisoner, not our advisor. Hurt any of our teammates and I'll see your head rolling."

~X~

The team gathered in the Main Hall, drawing out their plan. Ivan stood in the doorway, leaning nonchalantly against the doorframe. Nox didn't know what happened to his wolf, but that was the least of her worries right now.

"Someone needs to watch Romanov and the bastard," Beecher said in a hushed tone. "We can't just leave them here unguarded. God knows what could happen."

"I'll stay," Etrius spoke up. "I'm still just beginning to understand these powers. I'm not going to fuck up the mission for you guys just because I can't control—"

"No can do," Nox said bluntly. "We can't trust you with The General alone. He tempted you once, and you nearly fell for it."

"We're so close to KrSAPPHIRE," Etrius planted the palms of his hands on the table. "I'm not going to fuck it up for us again. I'm staying, and that's final."

Nox narrowed her eyes.

"In any other mission," Beecher said. "You'd be whining your ass off to come with us."

"Alright, alright," Etrius said. "Lloyd and I will watch the prisoners. Deal?"

"We need as many allies when we go into that realm. Boomer will be busy with the explosives, so that leaves Beecher and me. We can't handle Ivan alone."

Nox ran through the possibilities in her mind, but the gap between reality and denial began to close. She pursed her lips. "Can I trust you alone with them? Whatever you do, don't speak with The General unless we need information."

Etrius crossed his arms and gave her a nod.

"Very well, then," Ivan entered the room with his hands clasped behind his back. "Shall we begin?"

After the team's approval, Ivan got to work.

He shut the door, closed his eyes, and concentrated on it.

Beecher scoffed. "He's just wasting our time."

"Wait," Nox said.

Ivan's eyes fluttered open, a golden light emitting from within. The gaps around the doorframe glowed an unearthly gold, cutting through the dull grayness in the air like a knife. The scent of burning candles rose in the room like a fog.

Ivan reached out and grasped the doorknob, swinging the door open. A bleak, gray universe lay beyond, void of life and light. Even the shadows seemed to run away from everything.

Etrius' heart plummeted at the sight of the universe. He remembered his first time being assigned on a mission there… That bastard had him chained and brought back like a runaway dog.

Ivan stepped through the door, as if passing through a wall of invisible light. The second he was on the opposite end, all colors seemed to drain from him. He gestured to the sight of the base, flickering with lights overhead. It was nestled near the edge of a cliff. "Shall we?"