Chapter 3- The Sunrise

Sunlight glinted from my silver blade as it delicately danced around me. The blood of the Watchers became a thick lacquer coat on its tip before sliding from the razor-sharp edge. It was more than just my sword; it was an extension of myself. Even as they poured through the broken wall, none could touch me. So long as I held my blade, none would make it into Divern.

Beyond the growing rise of bodies that surrounded me, I saw him. His scaled, opaque skin looked pale beneath the light of day as he stalked towards me. The Alpha’s glare fixed intently on me as I cut down another Watcher. I felt him grow closer until he was upon me. I swung my blade towards his throat as I'd done countless times towards his comrades, only to be met by a blade of his own.

Our silver clashed loudly as he met each of my strikes, blow for blow. He pushed me back with each thrust of his blade, a menacing smile on his face. The ground grew unsteady beneath me and I stumbled backward, his blade catching my arm. Warm blood poured from me, soaking my greens and coating my bicep. He continued with a renewed passion to turn me. He grinned at the sight of me. Blood dripping from my elbow like a cruel reminder of my mortality.

He swiped again, another impossibly fast movement, slicing my thigh. I dropped to the ground, feeling the muscle fibers tear under my weight. He approached me with speed and strength I've never felt before. He drug me to my feet, his icy hand clasped around my throat. His black eyes were like marbles in his skull as he hissed, “Where is she?”

I couldn't speak, so I shook my head. He asked again and when I shook my head once more, he released my throat. In a swift movement, he fisted my greens at my chest.

“I don't know who you're looking for.” My voice struggled to escape my throat.

“Pity.” He said before hovering his mouth over mine. So close that I felt his warm, sharp teeth brush against my lips. When he inhaled, I felt the blood rush to my face. I felt the burning warmth from within me rush up my throat and out of my mouth. I tried to swallow, but I couldn't stop it. My arms and legs grew cold, as if they'd been dipped in ice water.

My eyes rolled back into my head when he inhaled me again. My heartbeat slowed and my body went limp, only his grasp to hold me up.

“RUE!”

I felt my human soul leaving my body. My mind void of anger, sadness, or fear.

“RUNEL!”

I heard Grisham calling me, but he was too far away. He'd never reach me in time.

“Wake up, Runel!” I felt his warm hands shaking my body as it went rigid with alertness.

My eyes flickered open, my jaw clenched, and my heart raced. His warm, calloused palms gripped the sides of my face. Calming me in the way that only he could, “Runel, breathe. You're okay. I'm here.”

I grabbed my throat and forced a deep inhale.

“There you go. See? You're alright.” Grisham feigned a smile before pulling his hands from my face.

“S-sorry.” I muttered, licking the salt from my lips. “I'm sorry.”

Wiping the snot and tears from my face, I abruptly shot to my feet and stumbled to the bathroom.

“Rue, take it easy.” Grisham called before I slammed the door behind me.

I turned the faucet all the way up and waited for the water to steam. Once the heat rose from the water and grazed my skin, I stepped beneath it. The water fell from the showerhead with such force that I winced. The heat from it was almost unbearable enough to bring me back to reality.

It was a sweet burning sensation that rippled across my skin. I pushed through the initial pain to reach the sweet comfort that followed. I felt my cheeks grow pink from the steam that filled the room. My mind returned from the dream state only to be reminded of my pounding heart. I tried to breathe.

Just because it was familiar, doesn’t mean it was comfortable. It started with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach before crawling across my skin like ants on a carcass. I breathed again. Counting the seconds like Grisham taught me. I let the hot water envelop me. The heat crushed me again, enough to distract me from the crawling prickles on my skin. I closed my eyes for a moment to quell the grinding pain in my chest. I rested my hand over my heart. It was beating so fast.

Stop, Stop, Stop.

Breathe in, breathe out.

Without Grisham there to use his gift, it took a lot longer to regain my footing. The urge to vomit rolled through my body in waves of heat and sickness. Quickly, I turned the hot water off and cold water shot from the faucet in its place. The quick change shocked me and I gasped.

When the gnawing finally subsided, I dropped my hand from my chest. I searched for bruises from last night. My body looked as frail as it felt struggling against Doc. I couldn't remember the last time I'd looked at my naked body. It was no longer insulted by layers of fatty tissue and muscle. Apparently my body had been feasting on my reserves between meals.

Facets were well-fed. Three square meals per day since they needed us healthy. But now, I didn't really think about eating. I thought about Indigo. I tried to recall the last time I actually felt hungry. My stomach didn't growl anymore. Maybe it had given up, stopped begging for food after so many ignored pleas. Maybe it had lost hope like the rest of me.

The water squeaked to a halt, signaling that I'd used up my allotment. I gathered a new undershirt and underwear before retrieving my greens from the floor beside my bed. I noticed a new tear. A small one where the sleeve attached to the shoulder.

“Perfect.” I sighed.

I brushed my long auburn hair, leaving it loose to dry. I let it hang over the side of my face. It roamed freely around me only after my shower. It hung loose over my shoulders and down my back. Free and wild. The look of it never suited me. The mass of it should’ve been attached to some free-spirited, unencumbered person. Perhaps a woman who worked in the apothecary and tended to her garden of herbs while the boys of the colony followed her with puppy-dog eyes. Not a killer. A warrior possessing only a bitter heart. The look of it betrayed me. I contemplated shaving it all off more than once, and I probably would have had my mother not loved it so.

The staircase grumbled beneath my feet. The old planks whining from my intrusion. I skipped the step which Grisham had broken with his careless lumbering. Neither of us cared enough to repair it. This was someone’s childhood home, but it wasn’t ours. We needed a place to live, not a place to be comfortable. The house was still dark, the morning light only just cutting through the darkness. The smell of burning wood led me to the backyard.

Around the fire sat my new traveling party. The Facet Corps ensured the boys were up before the sun. A requirement that I promptly dropped when I abandoned my post.

“Sleeping beauty decided to join us.” The younger Facet was the first to speak. His voice was grating at this hour.

“Keep it down.” I hissed.

I drug my chair to the edge of the fire nearest Grisham. He looked at me with his warm eyes, “You alright, sis?”

I nodded.

Looking around the fire, I took inventory of them. The ones who would intrude on my peace until we completed our mission.

“What's your name, kid?” I looked at the younger Facet. His blonde hair was in need of a good washing. The messy look of him only made him appear younger. His attempt at a mustache didn't help either.

“Kid?” He scoffed. His eyes grew wide. “You're not much older than me, you know?”

“How old do you think I am, kid?” I sneered, drawing that last word out a bit longer than I should've.

“What like…” His eyes scanned me for longer than I'd have liked. I felt my face grow warm. “Nineteen?”

“You think he's nineteen then?” I smirked and gestured towards Grisham.

“Nah he's gotta be around… twenty-six.” The kid replied with a confidence that fit his level of maturity.

“They're twins, idiot. His name's Berkeley. But we call him Burke. And he's an eighteen-year-old kid. ” The older Facet looked directly at Burke as he spoke. “I'm Shelby.”

Shelby was the oldest of the lot of us. His dark hair was peppered with gray. His eyes carried the signature weariness of a senior Facet. Lasting that long in the ranks tested their sanity. Those who lived out adulthood as Facets had a hardness that protected them from the fear of death. A barrier that kept them from getting too close to anyone because they knew how quickly love turned to agony.

“Shelby, Burke.” I nodded. “I'm Runel, this is Grisham. We're twenty-three.”

“I was close.” Burke put a long piece of dried chew stick in his mouth.

My attention turned to the last member of our party. He stared at the fire. The lingering orange light of it danced on his face as the sky turned from black to blue. His expressionless face unmoving as if the flames had him in a trance. His crystal blue eyes caught the flicker of the fire from beneath his shaggy black hair.

I thought of last night, how he'd pulled Doc from me and held him in an arcane grip. He looked radiant then. Bright and strong. Nothing like the weary man who sat before me now. He wore a simple cotton shirt and jeans. Likely a gift from Grisham since they were similar in size. I wanted to ask him what power he carried and when he'd been touched. The words caught in my throat.

“So you work for Casian, then?” Grisham asked the Facets. I closed my mouth and looked towards the fire.

“We do.” Shelby replied. “I’ve been working with him since the last incursion. The kid came along about a month ago.”

“It’s Burke. Not kid.” Burke shot a glance toward Shelby.

“Whatever you say, kid.” Shelby grinned and rubbed his palms together before inching his seat closer to the fire. The morning chill hung in the air as the sun rose.

“I’m not a Facet anymore.” Grisham began as he leaned in towards the fire, “So I want to ask you. How can we trust a couple of lap-dogs?”

He looked directly at Shelby when he spoke, as if the kid’s opinion was of no consequence.

“I was commanded to be the Chancellor’s body guard. Some of us Facets remember the oath.” Shelby replied coolly.

“A Facet’s honor is his word to defend the Colony. To defend the Colony is to defend the Chancellor.” Grisham repeated the words of the oath with ease, though he hadn’t said them since we quit. “But you could’ve pulled rank. Said you're needed in the field. You chose to go along with it.”

“What’s it to you?” Burke cut in. “The Chancellor holds the Colony together. Everyone knows it. Without him, there would be no order. The walls would fall. Divern would fall. Stop spreading rumors, traitor.”

“Shut it, Burke.” Shelby shot a cutting glare at Burke. “I have my reasons.”

“Care to share them with your new comrades?” Grisham asked.

“I don’t know you, Grisham. She’s hardly spoken a word since we were attacked. And that one is in some sort of a walking coma until he gets angry and sparks shoot from his hands. Why on earth would I tell you anything about my decision-making?”

“Because we’re on mission together and you willingly aligned yourself with a fucking murderer.” Grisham replied.

“He’s not a murderer, you fool. That’s all propaganda to divide us. Open your eyes!” Burke shouted from his seat alongside the fire.

“I’m a fool? Kid, you’re living in blissful ignorance. Stay in the ranks long enough and you’ll see it.” Grisham’s gaze returned to Shelby. “Isn’t that right?”

Shelby looked down at his war torn hands, wringing them together.

“Why did Casian come to you? Me and Shelby could’ve handled this. And he wouldn’t have had to bribe us with Indigo. You’re an anarchist. You and your crazy sister.” Burke sneered.

“I’ll show you crazy, kid. Watch your damn mouth!” Grisham’s chair toppled over as he shot to his feet beside me.

I placed my hand on his arm. This kid wasn’t worth Grisham’s worry. He was ignorant, but he was right. The word “crazy” hits differently when it’s true.

“Do you want to know why he came to us, kid?” I asked as Grisham picked up his chair.

“Enlighten me.” Burke sat back and crossed his arms.

“That day, the incursion last year. It was the worst we’ve ever had in Divern. The wall collapsed, and The Watchers came pouring in. They killed Facets, civilians-it didn’t matter. It was easy for them to kill us. Compared to them, we’re mounds of meat and fluid all held together by soft tissue. They can tear us apart with their bare hands, and they did. My comrades bled out before I arrived. Their organs were outside of their bodies, still wet with the blood from their insides. Do you know how many died after me and Grisham got there?”

Burke sat, unmoving. The sunlight poured over us now. His face fully illuminated before me. The color drained from it. This kid had never fought for his life or the lives of his comrades. I was traumatizing him. I subdued a smile and continued.

“None, kid. We killed every last Watcher who tried to cross the wall, and they retreated. We’re Casian’s best bet to find where this latest batch of Watchers is spawning from and take it out. If we hadn’t abandoned our post, we’d be in your shoes. The best to defend our brave ruler. But he let us go. Deserters are killed, aren’t they? But not me and Grisham. Doesn’t make sense, does it?”

I flipped my hair over my left shoulder and began to braid it. “It’s because we were touched. But our skin stayed warm. We didn't turn. We-”

“Rue, that’s enough.” Grisham interrupted.

I nodded and tied off my braid. “We’re a threat to him, but we’re also an asset.”

“You were touched.” Vellum spoke suddenly, causing us all to turn towards him. “You and your brother… Like me…”

“How did you survive, Vellum?” Grisham asked. “Everyone else turns. We’ve seen it.”

“I… don’t know. It happened… so fast…”

“Neither do we.” I said.

“Impossible. So you all have some magic now or something?” Burke asked.

“Vellum appears to. I don’t have any abilities. Grisham has-”

“Enough, Rue.” Grisham interrupted me again. I sighed and pursed my lips.

“You're lying!” Burke shouted.

“We're done talking about this.” Grisham shot me a cutting glance.

“What happened to sharing secrets with your comrades, Grisham?” Shelby lifted an eyebrow and leaned back in his chair.

We all sat in silence as the fire burned down to coals. Vellum had a notebook on his lap that I hadn’t noticed before. The leather binding was old and worn. He scribbled away on the pages as the rest of us did our best to avoid direct eye contact with one another. The morning dew settled on the grass surrounding us. Blue Jays called from the branches of the trees that lined the edge of the yard between stumps. I enjoyed this peace that seemed to make the Facets unsettled. Shelby and Berkeley fiddled with their hands and tied their boots. Shelby’s leg bounced rapidly once he had sufficiently re-tied his boots. All the while, the sound of Vellum’s charcoal pencil scratching on his parchment drew in my curiosity. Shelby pressed his hands into his face, rubbing his eyes and cheeks as if to stifle a scream of impatience.

“Alright, great chat. Let’s go fetch our supplies, comrades.” Shelby said before leaving the rest of us in silence.