Heaven's Children (Earth Totem)

building, faltering slightly at the movement below. He planted his clawed feet on either side before swivelling his head to look up. Raven flew in tight circles around him, while above the others continued their arc. He called him down. Although the opaque glass made it difficult to see, it was not sound proof and he could just make out square shapes. Amber had described the area as a basement - a basement full of cages. Totem instinct to call down was strong when the strain of familiar voices echoed upwards.

Shall I call the others? We can break this glass. Raven sensed to him urgently. Anger raged in Hawk when he thought of his kind trapped without the air of Gaia to breathe. He still couldn’t believe how long her madness had gone undetected. Everyone knew that if you dabbled in Khaos for too long it infected you. Hawk felt a message float towards him and sensed it to Raven. The Ecos had already entered the castle, joining with the earth before shifting into brick and he flexed his talons. He was ready.

Once everyone was freed, he planned to stop Anna forever. He prayed to the goddess that Amber did not betray them again. If she did, he would leave her to Andrea.

Inside, Nettles had been watching the scene between Amber and the demon with disgust. She wanted to shout at them, scream even, but knew that another shock would probably kill Seth.

I hope you can hear me you bastard, it’s the end for you. Nettles held her breath as the demon turned to stare at her. She thought of Hawk’s gift, and swallowed hard. He was interrupted by one of the drones. But it was the words that appeared in her thoughts when he walked away that made her freeze in horror.

‘Wrong, you stupid human, it’s just the beginning.’

Across the room, Amber looked confused by how quickly he left and prayed she hadn’t given the game away. She didn’t have long to get everyone out.

From across the room, Nettles itched distractedly at the white tunics they had been given. Her hatred for Amber was overtaken by what he had said to her. What did he mean – what beginning? It sounded ominous and once again helplessness took over. It took her a moment to register the new Amber. Whatever he had done to her, she was healed and she was half glad Seth wasn’t awake to see it. Seth shifted in the nearby cage, his body twitching and she felt her festering hatred boil over. This time she was unable to keep her silence.

They had both prayed, when Amber was brought in, that she would die on the table and the disappointment of her recovery rose like bile in her throat. Seth had been so ecstatic when he saw how awful she looked.

‘You see Nettles, my totem rejected the cow! How brilliant is that?’

Amber had been part of their group for such a long time now and accepted by everyone. She had seen the hold Anna had over her and had tried to reason with her, but Amber had scuttled away. The only reason Nettles could think of why Amber would try to join with Seth’s totem was to deceive their group. Out of everyone, Anna had chosen her, the most inexperienced one of the group.

She looked away from the drone that shoved a plate of tasteless soup and bread through the grate. She found it so difficult to look at their blank faces, any trace of humanity was gone. She even recognised one, when she was first captured. The middle aged woman was at one of the meetings and to make matters worse, her mother was friends with her. She had cried then, thinking of her own parents and prayed that they had gone underground. The older trancer’s powers were more useful than younger initiates. It was the way of totem groups to protect the older ones, their power filtering into their children when they passed through the veil. Nettles stared back at Amber, alarm triggering at the absence of the demon and Anna. Anna has been missing for ages. Something big was going down; she could feel it and sat up straight, her senses on high alert as she turned her attention to the sleeping Seth.

‘Seth, wake-up please, c’mon…I need you.’

‘Seth,’ she hissed loudly. He moaned and rolled over; his blood shot eyes squinting at her.

‘Wha’ happened?’ He grimaced, pushing himself up on one arm. He followed her gaze to Amber who sat swinging her legs from on top of the platform. His mood was foul and from what she remembered, being shocked gave you blistering headaches. His memories flooded back and he turned back to Nettles wordlessly, his eyes questioning her. Nettles nodded.

The demon did it.

Seth looked like all the air had left him and he hugged his legs rocking slightly.

Seth…I feel something else…push them out…can you feel it too?

Seth shook his head staring at Amber with undisguised hatred and couldn’t help himself.

‘You’re going to pay Bitch, you and everyone connected to you.’

His voice echoed across the room and Amber stared at him fearfully and they both watched her take a deep breath.

Seth, be careful, if she calls the demon, we’ve had it. Nettles warned Seth, he looked from her to Amber fearfully. They both gasped when she purposely looked towards the inner chamber, as if she was looking for him.

I don’t think I can take anymore, Nettles – I’d rather die, Seth sensed to her and Nettles held her hand to her lips. The room was silent except for the drones who were still tapping at the computers. Then Amber did something unexpected and they followed her gaze towards the dome. Nettles frowned, who was she waiting for?

31

Above

I can’t believe what I’m seeing. The earth is really dying.

32

Below

Nettles mind worked through different scenarios, for some reason they were still alive. Even though Amber had abused her boyfriend’s totem, they were still alive. She felt dread creep into her bones. Something was going on and the way Amber was