She stumbled towards the tree and the Gate, tears marring her vision. Her feet were like lead; her reluctance to leave him was overwhelming. She looked back at him and saw her own anguish mirrored in his face.
The darkness reached out to her and pulled her in. She tried to look back, to get one more glimpse of him, to say goodbye, but it was too late.
She was gone.
Chapter 18 – Jamie
They’d laid Allyra’s body in front of the Fever tree in the Great Hall. Dressed completely in white, she looked tiny under its deep canopy. The white bandage around her wrist was just visible under the thick iron shackles they’d locked over her wrists.
Jamie watched as four Cleaners stood around the tree, taking their positions at the four cardinal points. He understood the theory of how a Gate was opened, but he imagined that he was one of very few people alive to ever see it being done. Since the Betrayal, the Gates were only opened if someone won both the Trials and the Five Finals that followed it, earning the right to enter the Between.
It was something that had only been achieved a handful of times in the last one hundred and fifty years and even then the Gates were only opened as a matter of ceremony. Tonight, someone might actually step through the Gate.
It started with the Terra, standing north of the Fever tree. His Earth power was invisible to Jamie, but he couldn’t help but feel the sizzle of anticipation in the air as the Terra reached out his left hand to the Atmospheric standing in the east position. Their hands didn’t touch, but the Atmospheric stiffened, his eyes rolling behind the silver mask as power surged through him. In turn, he reached out to the Inferno and this time Jamie could see the red threads pull taunt as the Inferno added his power. The ring was completed by the Oceanic and darkness gathered in the trunk of the tree, alive and rippling.
This opening was unlike the uncontrolled madness at the Baobab. Under the protections of the Elemental College, Jamie heard no more than a faint buzzing in his ears, completely unlike the searing pain he’d experienced at the Baobab.
“Fifteen minutes.” Marcus said dispassionately.
The seconds rushed into minutes, all streaming by too quickly. Allyra remained pale and still under the shadow of the tree.
“Five minutes.” Marcus intoned.
Jamie tore his eyes away from Allyra and passed his eyes over each of the Council members. Marcus looked bored and utterly disinterested. High Master Jameson didn’t bother hiding a small, triumphant smile, one that clearly stated her belief that Allyra wouldn’t be returning. High Masters Perez and Radebe had impressive poker faces, giving nothing away. Finally, Mike wore the smallest crease between his eyes giving just the slightest indication of worry. Though whether the worry was aimed at Allyra or what other dangers might emerge was unclear.
“Please…” Jamie whispered under his breath, “Please come back to me.”
He ached to touch her, to hold her hand, but he wasn’t allowed within the protective wards they had placed around her and the Gate – wards to hold whatever dangers that might emerge, be it Allyra or worse.
“Three minutes.”
The Oceanic was wobbling under the strain of maintaining the Gate. Exhaustion ate through all the Cleaners; their lips were grim under their silver metal masks.
Allyra’s eyes suddenly popped open and she looked wildly around her, leaping to her feet in one flawless move.
Jamie flinched backwards. Allyra’s eyes were silver and filled with madness, nothing like the calm grey he knew so well. Panic washed over him as High Master Radebe’s words of warning replayed in his mind.
What if she was no longer the same person he loved?
Allyra continued to look around desperately, searching for something, someone. She moved backwards and her eyes locked onto the tree and the Gate that still swirled within its trunk. She stilled, and having always possessed a power of calm, she nonetheless conveyed an impression of an utterly wild and untamed creature. For a moment she appeared as if she might leap back through the Gate.
Silence hung heavily in the air.
The Oceanic Cleaner collapsed and jolted the room back into action. The Gate slammed closed and the other three Cleaners staggered backwards.
Jamie moved forward involuntarily, reaching his hand out towards her. “Allyra?” He whispered softly.
Her breath hitched in her throat and slowly she turned towards him. As their eyes met, the wild fury melted away and her gaze softened.
“Jamie – ” She whispered.
She moved towards him, but stopped short of the protective barrier. He lurched towards her, his heart soaring.
She was back.
She was alive.
The doors of the Great Hall opened behind him and the echo of many footsteps filled the space. Two lines of Cleaners filed past him and Allyra backed up uncertainly at their approach.
“Take her.” Marcus told the Cleaners shortly.
“Wait – “ Jamie spluttered, launching himself at the closest Cleaner. A firm hand gripped his shoulder and held him back. He turned and found High Master Radebe holding on to his shoulder tightly.
“Let her go – they won’t hurt her. They’ll just take her away, give her a little time to prepare.”
“Prepare?” Jamie asked dumbly.
“Prepare to face the Council. We have to question her, to try and understand what happened to her.” High Master Radebe smiled kindly at him, “Don’t worry – I’ll make sure you get a chance to see her before she comes into the Council.”
Jamie nodded mutely and watched as Allyra was led away, her eyes never leaving him in a silent entreaty for help. He made a poor attempt at smiling, trying to reassure her, but in truth felt utterly powerless, overwhelmed by the massiveness of the machine that was the Council and the Great Colleges.
Chapter 19 – Allyra
Allyra stared at her reflection in the mirror. It wasn’t a pretty sight. There were bags beneath her eyes, deep enough that her skin appeared bruised. She was thinner
