“I don’t know. As I said – they are semi-sentient. Their choice is their own, but I’m glad. They protected you, without them you wouldn’t be here now.”
Alex turned and glanced to the right, his face bathed in shadow. She realized they were in the cave and it was darker than she’d ever seen it. There was no light coming in from the outside, the only light came from the strange orange glow that was naturally part of the cave.
“Can you stand?” He asked quickly.
She nodded again, fear ice cold within her. It was time. Time to leave.
He helped her up and she stood, legs as wobbly as a newborn foal getting to its feet for the first time. He reached behind her – for the notch that he’d tried telling her about and the back wall of the cave slipped soundlessly to the side, revealing a dark corridor.
He took her hand, his grasp was warm and his fingers calloused. She held on tightly as he led her towards the corridor.
“Wait.” She said. “Where’s Mandla – I want to say goodbye.”
He nodded and moved quickly to the entrance of the cave, returning a second later with Mandla.
Mandla entered the cave reluctantly, his expression unsure and wary, refusing to look up and meet her eyes. She realized he was afraid that she might be angry; that he knew enough to realize his refusal to leave had led to her injury.
She moved slowly to him, wincing with every step. She reached out and lifted his chin. “Mandla – it’s ok. I’m ok. Don’t be scared.”
He looked up slowly, a small smile on his face. She grinned. “Won’t you give me a hug before I go?”
He grabbed her fiercely and she ignored the pain flaring through her side as he squeezed her into a bear hug. She held on to him and tried desperately to blink away the tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
“Goodbye – be good.” She whispered, before turning away abruptly. She couldn’t bear to look at him and see his confusion as she walked away. He wouldn’t understand why she was leaving.
Alex led her away and the cave wall slipped back into place behind them. The corridor dipped downwards and it seemed to curve round and round as they wound their way deeper into the center of Sanctuary Hill. Eventually the corridor gave way into a massive cavern, dominated by a single thing – a vast Fever tree.
There was already a swimming darkness, a churning blackness in place of its trunk and she heard it calling for her.
She couldn’t help the tears that spilt from her eyes. “It’s too soon.” She whispered. “Will I ever see you again?”
Alex spun her around. “I wish we had more time.” He said desperately, “I have so much I need to tell you.”
She could feel his despair as his fingers dug into her shoulders. It was more than pain; she relished it – the nearness of him, the aliveness of him.
“I should’ve explained before, I should’ve trusted you more.” Alex said, his voice raw. “Your Gift is to see the past. Mine is to see the Future. It has always been more of a curse than a Gift, I would never see much more than fragments, like pieces of an incomplete puzzle. They were always uncomfortable, but when the visions of destruction started, I thought I might lose my mind. To preserve my sanity, I closed my mind off to them.”
He paused and glanced at the churning darkness of the Gate, before rushing on, his voice breathless and urgent. “It was a mistake, if I hadn’t ignored them, I might’ve been able to do more. By the time I realized it, it was too late and the damage had already been done. All I could do was try to atone for my mistakes.”
“What…” She broke in, ice running through her veins.
“We don’t have time Allyra.” He said with a sarcastic and painful laugh. “My inability to trust means I’m sending you away without the information you need. The future isn’t written yet, I’ve seen infinite possibilities, but it’s my curse to see destruction and pain. But since you arrived, I’ve seen more clearly than ever. Perhaps one needs to understand the past in order to see the future. We can still stop it – I’ve seen it. I don’t know how, but I know you need to win the Trials. I’ve seen you triumphant, and tied to that moment is the only silvery line of hope amongst a sea of destruction.”
His eyes bore through her, lighting a fire deep within her. “Promise me you’ll win Allyra.”
She could hear and feel his frantic desperation. Hope and pain churning together until they were no longer distinguishable. She nodded and made a promise she didn’t know she’d be able to keep.
His face cleared. He took her right hand and traced the Tiger tattoo. Her heart clenched, there was goodbye written all over him. “You can always find me here.” He said softly, still running his fingers lightly over the tattoo.
Alex stared at her, conflicted. He dipped his head down suddenly and his lips met hers, feather light and full of promises. It was nothing like the first time he kissed her, when all he wanted was to anger her enough to save her. Now – it was gentle, full of need and longing. Fire coursed through her and suddenly she was more alive than she’d ever been.
She could taste him, like sun drenched honey and hope. She pulled him closer, trying to melt into him, pulling him deeper into the kiss. She didn’t think she could ever leave – she knew she could never leave him.
Alex wrenched himself away from her, and he turned her firmly, facing her towards the tree. It was calling her, begging her to join it.
“Go. Don’t ever look back Allyra.” He said, desperation tingeing his voice. He
