Greylith, p.18
Greylith, page 18
“Killing someone was inevitable,” I say, lifting his chin so he can meet my eyes. “I’m the only living Reality Weaver, which means there is a strong chance I will have to kill a lot of people during this war, and you won’t be able to protect me from it. This is something that I need to get comfortable with.”
Xander lowers his head, but nods in agreement.
We all know that will be the outcome. If Aetheria is going to defeat the Shadow Army, I’m going to have to carry a lot of that weight. Whether I’m ready for it or not, that day will come.
“Sleep,” I pull Xander’s head down to my chest as he lays down and closes his eyes.
I stay awake for the remainder of the night, not wanting to relive my first kill over and over again. I will sleep when I need to.
The following morning, the three of them all wake up right around the same time. We take turns showering in pairs of two. Wren and Lyric go first while Xander and I tidy up my room slightly.
“So, you have a plan?” I look at Xander.
“I think so?” he questions. “But only if you’re willing to go along with it. I don’t want to make this decision without you.”
I smile. I love him. I’m in love with him. “I’m with you and I will do what you ask.”
“I only have one request,” he lowers his voice to a near whisper as he looks at the washroom door to ensure Wren and Lyric aren’t listening.
“What is it?” I ask
“Don’t kill Ironleaf,” Xander tells me through telepathy. “I know, if given the chance, you will kill him, but we don’t need any more problems.”
He’s right. If I get close enough to Ironleaf, I will kill him.
I nod in agreement.
“Alright!” Wren yells, towel drying her silver hair that matches mine. “The shower’s yours.”
Xander and I finish folding the last blanket and make our way into the washroom. I hear the door shut and click behind us.
“Locking me in?” I ask.
♪ ‘Second, Minute, Hour’ by JORDY ♪
“Or, locking them out,” Xander smiles.
Xander reaches behind me and turns the water on. While the water heats up, he puts his hands on either side of my head to corner me against the glass shower door and leans in to kiss me. I take off both our shirts, slowly sliding my fingers down his chest and down to the rigidness of his abs. My mouth follows shortly after. I kiss down his neck and over his swollen pecs, while I start unbuttoning his pants and shimmy them off. Xander works on my pants at the same time.
I turn around and step under the hot water, letting it warm my body. Xander steps in right behind me, spins me around to face him while pushing my back against the wall of the shower. I feel his hot lips kissing along my neck while his hands grab my ass to lift me up and pin me between him and the wall. I instantly feel his hardness pressing against me. I run my fingers through his wet hair and pull his head back to look at me.
“I’m going to fuck you,” Xander growls.
“Do it,” I moan.
Xander still manages to hold me up when he has to pull one hand away to reach down and grab his throbbing dick. He rubs his head against my entrance, teasing me, making me want him more.
“You want this?” Xander moans in my ear.
“Yes,” I cry.
“Yes, what?” he dominates.
“Yes, sir.”
With a flash of pain, Xander enters me. My tightness coils around him.
“Fuck, you’re tight,” he thinks.
I rock back and forth, grinding myself to get him deeper inside of me.
“I love you,” I whisper.
“I love you,” he moans, biting the thin skin of my neck.
“Harder,” I moan. “Faster.”
Xander smirks, “Good boy.”
Fuck. I underestimated his strength and apparently his length too. Xander pushes himself further into me, making me let out a loud cry that I know Wren and Lyric can hear, but I don’t care. I want this, I need this. All of this, all of him.
“I’m close,” Xander grunts. “On your knees. Quick.”
I unwind my legs from around his waist and lower myself to my knees on the shower floor, head tipped up and mouth open. Xander stares right at me while stroking himself faster. I see right when he gets there. His body tenses, eyes darken, and mouth opens on a moan as his thick liquid sprays all over my face, lips, and in my mouth. I lick my lips and swallow. Damn, he tastes good.
We spend the rest of the time in the warm water kissing and washing each other's bodies. I can’t stop staring at his body, he’s built like a statue and stronger than marble.
“Xander?” I lower my voice as I turn off the water to the shower.
“Yes, Love?”
“I want you to move into my room with me,” I tell him. “I don’t want to spend another night alone and away from you.”
“Oh, really?” Xander smiles. “Love, if that’s what you want, I will gather my things and move in with you. However, in order for me to get into your room, we have to swap blood.”
Xander reaches for the razor on the counter.
“Swap blood? Why is that?”
“I need to have a part of you in order to enter this room,” Xander opens the blade. “Trust me?”
I nod slowly.
I gasp in anguish as the razor cuts through my skin, sending waves of excruciating pain rippling through every nerve in my hand. Xander uses the same razor and slices his hand open, but doesn’t even flinch. He’s clearly much better at handling pain than I am. Xander grabs my bloodied hand with his and squeezes our palms together.
“Did it work?” I look around the room.
“I guess we’ll see,” Xander laughs.
The two of us go into my room where Wren and Lyric are both sitting on the bed.
“So, what’s the plan?” Lyric asks as she jumps to her feet.
I walk over to the small table in the corner and sit on one of the chairs, looking at Xander.
“We first need to find a way to get down to the High Council Chamber,” he starts. “I have an idea, but she’s not going to like it.”
Xander is pointing at Wren.
“No,” she says. “He’s not helping.”
“Who?” Lyric says.
I sigh and lower my head, “Caspian.”
“Why do we need him?” Lyric asks Xander.
“We don’t!” Wren shouts. “Phoenix can just get us in there with teleportation.”
“I don’t like the idea of Caspian helping us either, but let’s hear Xander out,” I nod to Xander.
“The High Council Chamber is sealed by the power of ten Weavers. No one can get into the Chamber using their Weave.”
“Ten?” I ask.
The three of them look at me confused.
“You just said the power of ten,” I clarify.
“Yeah?” Xander says, confusion filling his voice.
“Have you guys ever realized that there are only nine members on the High Council?” I ask.
“Yeah, but there are ten Weaves,” Wren states. “Shadow Walkers?”
“Oh,” I state, “I’m not sure why I didn’t think of that.”
Xander looks at me and raises an eyebrow.
“So, back to getting into the Chamber,” Lyric snaps the conversation back.
“Right,” Xander says. “We need Caspian.”
“How do we know he’s even here?” Wren asks.
“He is,” I say. “I can feel him.”
“Great,” Wren says with a pissed off tone.
“Lyric,” Xander steps toward her. “Can Niko get him here?”
Lyric nods, “Niko will drag him here if she has to.”
The four of us wait in my room, pretty much in silence, for about thirty minutes before there is a knock on the wall at the front of my room. I flick my wrist and the wall fades away to find Caspian and Niko standing in the entrance.
“Get in,” Xander grabs Caspian by the collar and drags him in.
“What the hell are you all doing here?” Caspian whispers, looking like he’s seen a ghost. “You guys are supposed to be dead?”
“Dead?” Wren stands up.
“Yeah, last night Commander Ironleaf gathered us all in the courtyard to tell us that the four of you were ambushed at Camp Laith and killed in battle. They sent a scouting crew to retrieve your bodies,” Caspian sighs.
“Guess your plan worked,” I tell Xander, but he’s focused.
“Scouting crew?” Lyric laughs. “More like sending more people to make sure we’re dead.”
“What are you talking about?” Caspian leans forward.
“Later,” Xander cuts him off. “Clearly we’re alive and we need your help.”
“With what?”
“Get me into the High Council Chamber,” I stand.
“They won’t talk with you right now,” Caspian looks between the four of us.
“And why not?” Wren barks.
“Because they’re in a deliberation right now,” Caspian tells us.
We all look between each other, each of us with a different expression.
“This is my chance,” I say.
Wren and Lyric look at Xander and I follow suit. He looks down and doesn’t make eye contact. He closes his eyes and I can tell he’s using his Weave. His eyes shoot open and he turns to give me a look of approval.
“We need to get moving,” Xander nods. “Now.”
Caspian sighs, but nods. “Just please don’t get me killed.”
I open the wall and Caspian steps out ensuring the coast is clear. He throws his hand up, and it glows black. He’s cloaked us again like he did earlier this year. We all quickly make our way down the hall, to the stairs and across the crowded courtyard, which has more security than it did last time I was here. They must still be on guard in case the Shadow Army attacks.
We head down a small flight of steps and stand outside of the High Council Chambers where I can hear Ironleaf barking at the others. My heart beats fast and my anger begins to surge. I look at Xander and he grabs my arm.
“I can do this,” I say to him.
Xander smiles, “I know you can.”
♪ ‘The Sign’ by Lizzo ♪
I push the large wooden doors open to the High Council Chamber and barge past two guards. The heads of all nine of the High Council members turn and see me, including Ironleaf whose face goes red with rage.
“What the hell?” Ironleaf stands.
“Did you miss me?” I ask with a smile.
“You’re supposed to be dead,” a woman from the High Council says. I remember Ironleaf calling her Nyla.
“Am I?” I question. “That’s weird, because we’re standing right here.”
“Who told you we were dead?” Wren steps forward.
The entire council turns to face Ironleaf.
“I was told that your bodies had been discovered at Camp Laith,” Ironleaf stutters.
“By whom?” I ask.
“What?” Ironleaf growls.
“Who told you we were dead?” I raise my arms in question. “Was it Lucian Bloodmoon?”
A few gasps come from the High Council table.
Commander Ironleaf grits his teeth. “These are heinous accusations.”
“Do you have proof?” General Darkflame asks.
“Of course they don’t!” Ironleaf snarls.
“Yes we do,” Xander steps up now.
“What are you doing?” I ask him.
“Showing my Weave,” he says to me, “I can show people my own memories.”
He can what?
Xander raises his hands to his sides. His hand glows gold and so do his eyes, which are projecting a small, oval screen in front of him showing the confession that Travys and Calista made to us, confirming that Dorian Ironleaf had ordered a kill on me. Xander lowers his hands and stumbles backward slightly. Wren and I run to either side of him and secure him upright.
“So, what do you have to say for yourself?” Xander calls out to Ironleaf.
“I don’t have to explain myself to you!” Ironleaf shouts.
“I demand to have Ironleaf removed as Commander-in-Chief!” I yell.
“Ha!” Ironleaf laughs. “Only a member of the High Council can call for a vote like that.”
I stand up straight. “Then I request a seat at the High Council!” I call.
“What are you doing?” Wren and Xander say in unison.
“Phoenix, are you crazy?” Lyric asks.
“Guys, I know what I’m doing,” I tell them, as I turn back to the High Council. “The original High Council was made up of ten Weavers. Many people think the tenth Weaver was the Shadow Walker, but Shadow Walker’s aren’t an original Weave, but Reality Weaving is.”
I take a deep breath. “I am the sole surviving Reality Weaver. I demand a spot on the High Council!”
The air in the room is still. I turn my head and see Wren, Lyric, and Xander’s mouth’s all agape. When I turn back to the High Council, they all have the same face as well.
“This is a farce!” Ironleaf yells. “He’s a boy! He can’t be a member of the High Council.”
“No, Ironleaf,” Darkflame stands. “He’s right. We have no age restriction on the High Council, and every Weave has their right to have a representative on the High Council, and Recruit Greylith is the only known Reality Weaver in existence.”
“So you’re going to let him be on the High Council?” Ironleaf yells, standing to his feet.
“Yes,” the tall, slender woman stands. “I, Nyla Frostbloom, Vice President of the High Council, appoint Phoenix Greylith, the representative for Reality Weavers.”
“Holy shit,” Lyric gasps.
I slightly smile.
“Now, as for that vote,” Nyla stands up at the table. “All in favor of removing Commander-in-Chief, Dorian Ironleaf, from his post and locking him in jail until he can await trial, say ‘aye’!”
“Aye,” I step forward.
Silence fills the room.
It didn’t work. None of them want to step on his toes. They’re all loyal to him.
“Aye,” General Darkflame stands.
One by one, the remaining six members of the High Council all stand and agree with my request.
“Guards,” Nyla calls. “Arrest Dorian Ironleaf and lock him in a cell until his trial.”
“You can’t do this!” Ironleaf yells. “You’re all dead! All of you!”
Ironleaf is escorted out of the chamber, however, his screams can be heard for a few minutes as he’s dragged away.
“You did it!” Lyric shouts, jumping in the air.
“Yeah,” I laugh, scratching my head.
“I knew you could do it,” Xander smiles.
“Good job, kid,” Wren smirks.
Nyla coughs, grabbing my attention again. “There are still a few matters of business we need to take care of. First off, we need a new Commander-in-Chief. My vote is for General Ragnar Darkflame.”
I look over at Darkflame. I’ve never been super fond of Darkflame, but he also hasn’t tried to kill me.
I step back to the table, “Aye,”
By a unanimous vote, Darkflame is appointed the new Commander-in-Chief.
“And,” Nyla continues. “We have one more matter of business. Seeing as we lost the Commander-in-Chief, we’ve also lost a Chronomancer on the High Council. If anyone knows of any, please let me know.”
I turn and look at Xander. His eyes meet mine and he nods. Without taking my eyes off him, I speak. “If you all recall, there’s one in this chamber. I vote for Xander Nightingale.”
The members of the High Council all turn to him.
“And why should we vote for him?” a frail old man says softly.
“Senior Recruit Nightingale has made it his personal mission to keep me alive since I’ve stepped foot onto the Ship to come to Fort Weave. He would defend Aetheria by whatever means necessary.”
“Well, it’s all well and good that he’s kept you alive, but what good does that do for us and all of Aetheria?” Nyla asks.
Xander steps forward, “Recruit Greylith, as we all know, is the best chance we have at defeating the Shadow Army. I can protect him and train him to the best of my ability.”
“And that ability is better than anyone else at Fort Weave,” Wren shouts from the back of the room.
Nyla takes a deep breath in and nods before repeating her same speech for Xander that she gave for me, “I, Nyla Frostbloom, Vice President of the High Council, appoint Xander Nightingale, the representative for Chronomancer’s.”
“Damn,” I hear Lyric whisper.
“That’s badass,” Wren whispers back.
“Now,” Nyla starts. “You ladies need to leave the room now, as these two need to be briefed on everything going on in the war, but first-.”
One gong sounds. I turn to Xander.
And then another. Xander relaxes the muscles in his face and starts walking over to me.
And then, the third.
Fuck.
“You guys are seriously calling a War Drill, right now?” Lyric shouts at the High Council.
No one speaks, but panic fills the faces of Nyla and Ragnar.
“That wasn’t us,” Darkflame says coldly. “This isn’t a War Drill. This is war. Everyone, prepare for battle!”
The room bursts into chaos and everyone starts scrambling.
“What the hell?” Wren shouts.
“You four need to find your commanding Officers and report for duty, now!” Nyla shouts.
“I don’t have an Officer, I haven’t been here to be assigned one because of Ironleaf!” I yell.
Darkflame walks by and looks between Xander and I, “Nightingale, it’s your lucky day. I’m promoting you to Officer. Your squad will consist of Senior Recruit Greylith, Recruit Nightingale, and Councilman Greylith, understood?”
“Sir, I really can’t acc-”
