the Scar? Is there a way to find it?”
“No, I can’t tell you how to find your Scar. I don’t know if it’s even possible. Seeking isn’t our way. Scars find us, not the other way around. This is how it’s always been done,” Madgie told her grimly.
Amanda’s last hope for Kaedin receded like the tides as she gave herself back over to the scorching pain that was now a part of her.
When Amanda surfaced, she scanned the small sterile room for daylight. Having no windows to peer though, she couldn’t tell how much time had elapsed. She sat up in a swift motion and immediately crashed back down, clutching her chest. This was going to take some getting used to.
Her muscles screamed in protest, but she forced herself into a sitting position. Amanda didn’t think it was even possible, but the pain was greater when she moved. Taking deep breaths, she moved her arms around, attempting to get used to the hurt. Bright stars filled her vision, washing out the world around her. So, she couldn’t see who walked through the double doors, but she could hear the hesitant footfall and sensed the person’s unease. Knowing both Madgie and the Ancients weren’t people who made a shy approach, she guessed it was Nell. She went to cover herself but found she was thankfully wearing a robe.
“Hello, Nell. Are you doing better today?” Amanda asked. Nell stepped back and glanced at the doors, looking to be contemplating a hasty retreat.
“Don’t be such a mouse, Nell. I won’t bite. If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll even keep my creepy eyes closed, okay?” she said, shutting her eyes.
“Are you Amanda or something else?” Nell sounded unsure if she was supposed to ask that question or not.
If Nell was asking, it must be the topic of discussion outside of these walls. She turned to face her and took the pain that came with the motion. “Nell, you think a demon could take me down. I’m surprised at you. Haven’t I always been at the top of my class?” she asked, making Nell smile.
“Well, even if that were true, and it’s not, that isn’t saying much. You’re in some of my classes, and I’m three years younger than you.”
She was glad Nell felt more comfortable. It hurt to frighten her. Amanda had always been so protective of her. She thought her much too sweet and delicate. Nell should have been a normal girl with a normal life, instead of having to walk into nightmares. Nell was considerably better at closing Scars than she was, but every time one took the young girl, Amanda wished she could have gone in her place just the same. She knew every Scar held a terror that was too much for anyone to deal with. Let alone a fourteen-year-old girl. Even a mature one. Nell had always seemed to enjoy hanging around with the older crowd. Madgie told her Nell had had to take care of herself from an early age, before she was put in a home. Apparently, she’d a terrible childhood. However, Nell never talked about it, and she didn’t press her to.
“Can I open my eyes or will you run away again?” Amanda asked smiling, but still keeping her eyes closed.
“I didn’t run away! Madgie gave me an important task.”
Amanda chuckled and opened her eyes slowly. She could see fine, although she still had lights dancing in and out of view.
Nell went to speak but closed her mouth again. She smiled at her reassuringly.
“I assume you came here to tell me something, is that right?” she asked.
Nell’s unsure head bobbed up and down.
“Well, go on then. Spit it out.”
Her young friend looked back at the large unmoving doors and whispered, “The Ancients are here, Amanda. They’ve summoned you. I’m here to retrieve you, but I don’t know if you should go. They’re strange things, and I get the most terrible feeling around them.”
As Nell spoke, Amanda could feel concentrated fear dripping off her. She’d always been wary, like a small animal, but never afraid. As Amanda dissected Nell’s emotions, she burst into tears.
“Amanda, how can I help you? I don’t want you to die. No, it would be even worse than that! You’re on the verge of losing yourself, your light, your soul,” Nell cried out.
Amanda spoke slowly, not sure what to say to comfort her. “Listen, Nell, you shouldn’t be scared of the Ancients. They are the wisest of us all. It may seem as though they aren’t like you and me anymore, but that’s only because age and power affects people. There aren’t too many people out there with more age or power than the Ancients. Everything will work out fine,” Amanda said, hoping Nell would believe her statement, even though she didn’t.
She patted the girl lightly on her shoulder and nearly winced in pain but was able to stifle the sound. “Are you still hurt?” she asked.
Amanda got off the stiff hospital bed as delicately as possible and replied, “Let’s go. I can’t stay in the Hovel long. I have to go somewhere.”
Nell started through the doors, still looking at her anxiously. Amanda hobbled after her as dignified as possible, slowly staggering to an unsure fate. Nell led her toward the main meeting hall, but instead of entering the arena, she directed her to a large red door.
“This is where they asked me to take you,” Nell said, biting her lip again, a nervous habit.
“Stop biting that thing, girl. You’re going to need it for kissing someday,” Amanda teased.
Nell rolled her eyes, they both knew neither of their lips would ever be used for kissing.
She took a deep breath and reaching for the handle, but the moment she touched it, Nell tugged her back, pulling her into an embrace.
Shaking with emotion Nell spoke into her shoulder. “Please do whatever you can to keep yourself safe. I’ve never had a family, except you. Be nice to them and don’t lose your temper. I have the feeling they aren’t on your side,” Nell said.
Amanda wished she could reassure her, but she had the same creeping feeling. From what she heard about the Ancients, they were all about uniformity, and she was so out of uniform she didn’t even know what team she was on anymore.
“I love you, Nell, more than you know. Don’t worry about me, sweetheart. Everything will be fine. And I’ll try to behave myself,” she said.
Nell stomped her sneakered foot. “You do better than try. You promise me.”
“You already know I don’t make promises I can’t keep. I’ll see you after the meeting.” Amanda planted a kiss on top of her head.
Nell looked up at her with large pleading eyes. “Promise?” Amanda gave her one last hug and walked through the door. For a moment, she thought her pains had blinded her again. The room she had walked into was pitch black, but she quickly realized the darkness in the room was pre-determined. A hand shot out of the darkness, grasping her, and then another. Soon she found herself struggling against the strength of several hooded men, but she wasn’t much of an adversary. Every movement brought with it a torrent of pain. She opened her mouth to scream something out, anything, but she choked it back, remembering Nell was right outside the door. She looked down in time to see the glimmer of a long needle just as it pierced her skin.
3
Amanda found herself lying on a pedestal in the middle of the arena surrounded by shadowed faces that were both familiar and unknown. As she attempted to turn her head, she found herself paralyzed yet again.
Apparently, she needed to get used to immobility. She looked down at her body and was glad that public nudity wasn’t something else she needed to get used to. Amanda was wearing a floor length, shimmering white gown. The material was so delicate she could make out her black veins underneath. It was an extravagant gown and something she’d never would have chosen to wear.
She’d never seen the arena like this. As she tried to separate the people she knew from the strangers, she noticed a shimmering light. She wasn’t sure if the Ancients had been there the whole time or had just appeared in the arena, which was unnerving. She could feel most people before they even enter a room.
