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“You’re scared,” James said as the light faded. Gideon tried to laugh off the insinuation. “Shut up!” James barked, gripping his eidolons tight. “You know what? I haven’t been taking you seriously. That’s going to change right now. You wanted my attention? You’ve GOT IT!”
James grit his teeth as his white Sage robe began rippling violently back and forth in the wind. Slowly but surely, stripes of black began to form, running from the top of the garb to the bottom. Only the middle of his robe remained white. Gideon watched carefully as the surfaces of James’ eidolons began to quiver and hum, as if they had been given a life of their own. James’ eyes began to lose their color as he breathed in deeply.
“So you change the colors of your robe,” Gideon scoffed. “That’s not impressive. I can do the same.”
“You did it willingly,” James growled. Gideon noticed that his teeth had sharpened, as if he was tapping into his Quietus and Sage forms simultaneously. “I didn’t. Like I said, I’m pretty simple.”
“You haven’t gotten any stronger than before,” Gideon said.
James smiled. “Liar.”
James rushed forward and jammed his black eidolon straight into Gideon’s stomach. Gideon screamed as James lifted him off of the ground. With his white eidolon in hand, he cocked his arm back and stabbed it into Gideon’s chest who narrowly dodged a killing blow. Gideon gripped the white eidolon and fought against the burning sensation on the tips of his fingers. He let out a war cry and a dark grey substance that looked like mud began forming around his fingers. He began applying pressure to James’ white eidolon, cracking it slowly as his grip got stronger. James brought him in close and then kicked Gideon in the chest, sending him flying off of his blades.
James looked at his white eidolon and willed more energy to surge into it. The cracks disappeared, and then he sprinted toward Gideon once again.
Gideon took a deep breath and began coating his entire body in his makeshift armor, using the atmosphere for energy. Even after he was nearly covered in it from head to toe, he kept piling it on, making the living armor denser. Only his feet, hands, and top half of his head remained visible from underneath it. His Sage robe was barely visible.
James swung his white eidolon at Gideon’s leg and it clanged against the material, forcing his arm to fly back upon impact. His arm vibrated from the attempt but he gained his composure and tried again, this time with the black eidolon. Only a nick appeared in the armor, but it was a start.
Gideon began swinging his fists at James but he couldn’t touch him. James saw them coming easily, and after each swing, he would try to stab through the armor to no avail.
I can’t do this forever, James thought as he attempted his fortieth swing. They were in a stalemate and now it came down to a matter of who had more energy, which, if Gideon was using the very atmosphere around him for fuel, James would certainly lose.
“I won’t,” James said aloud as he sheathed his white eidolon and fused the energy he got back from it into his black one. He swung it at Gideon’s left side and it finally cut through. The blade pierced through the armor and it was enough to draw blood.
But the cut had no stopping power. Gideon winced, but his blows didn’t slow down, and James noticed that his eidolon had a significant crack from the impact. He healed it, but by doing a quick inventory, he realized that he didn’t have enough energy to keep up the assault.
Even if he broke through the armor completely, couldn’t Gideon form more?
Maybe he was going about this all wrong...he needed the others.
Though he would have loved to defeat Gideon here and now and be the hero, he knew that his energy wasn’t enough. But together...yes...together they could surely do it. Gideon recognized this enough to divide them, yet, he didn’t see clear enough to implement the notion into his own mission.
If he had called the Sages under him to arms, they would have been defeated.
But it wasn’t enough for him. He was so hurt that he wanted James and the others to suffer. And now he was vulnerable. His weakness wasn’t in his defenses or his abilities. It was in his vendetta. It was in his pride and stubbornness.
James grunted as he used the surface of his eidolon to block a hard punch from Gideon.
Yes. Gideon could be defeated. He just had to survive this encounter.
“NO!” he heard Gideon shout out but James wasn’t sure why. Wasn’t he the one on the attack? James felt the reason why Gideon yelled once he felt something sharp piercing his own right leg. He fell instantly and then the rain of bullets came upon them.
Gideon ran away from the center of the city and leapt up a side of the building. James tried to stand and follow but another bullet hit the back of his left leg and his right shoulder, throwing him off balance. He fell face first onto the pavement as the sounds of footsteps descended upon him.
“Crap,” James muttered as he saw Gideon disappear across the rooftops. It was like they didn’t even care. All they knew was that they had James now—the one who had brought the harbinger of death with him.
“Stay down,” a voice ordered him. A foot stepped on his head as he felt the barrels of hot steel and iron pressed into his body. James closed his eyes and began the healing process on his wounds as they picked him up and brought him to his feet.
He kept his eyes closed and his body limp. Though he wasn’t sleeping, he didn’t want to appear hostile. He had to heal, and then he would escape.
Gideon’s days were numbered. He just didn’t know it yet.
***
JAMES OPENED HIS EYES to the concerned face of Winona, sitting on the iron bed across from his. “I thought you died,” he said. Winona bowed her head and rubbed her arms together. Though the room was hot and sealed off from the outside world, she was still shuddering.
“No, not me,” she muttered. “But I almost wish I had. They’re...they’re expecting me to pass judgment.”
“Isn’t that your job?” he asked, examining the walls around him. Large worn out stones filled with mortar that had been mixed many, many years ago. Only a single torch hung in the far corner of the room to illuminate it. It was dark and damp. Cobwebs hung in the corners and the door leading out of the cell had no bars and it was rusted. He already felt claustrophobic.
“I’m not the leader, but I am now,” Winona sobbed, lifting up her head. “I was a decoy. But somehow that Sage knew who was who.”
“He has spies everywhere,” James said. “And he has nothing better to do but mess with us.”
“Spies?” she asked.
“Yeah, he’s on a mission to change who the Sages are and how the outside world sees them. Somehow that includes making the old guardians suffer.”
“I don’t blame him,” she said. “No one’s fond of the Sages after what Bastion did.”
“I know,” James whispered, looking at the floor. “But we’re going to make things right.”
“Don’t know how you’re going to do that from this cell,” she said, her voice gaining more boldness.
“This cell won’t keep me,” he said matter-of-factly.
“You’re going to try to escape?” she asked, her lips beginning to sneer. “Hurt more people?”
“If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll realize that I haven’t hurt anyone since I’ve been here. As a matter of fact, I’ve saved some.”
“Why did you come back?”
“I didn’t know Gideon was here. The reason I came back was to talk to you. I wanted to apologize for what happened and try to convince you that we didn’t come to make a mess of things.”
“It’s going to be harder to do that now.”
“Well, for what it’s worth, I am sorry.”
Winona remained silent for a second, and then she said, “Thank you.”
“So what do your people want from me?”
“They want you to rot here. We’re not really fans of execution. We believe there are better ways.”
“I’m actually surprised by the new décor. I heard Delahcourt used to be quite beautiful.”
“If I were in charge, I would change things back to the way they had been. Maybe I would keep the weapons, but that’s about it.”
“But you are in charge.”
“Yes,” she sighed. “I suppose I am.”
“Listen, I’m not going to try to deceive you or anything. I really want to make this relationship work. Not just for us, but for Paragon as well. They are stubborn and a little arrogant, but they mean well. At the end of the day, all they want is peace too.”
“You’re in a cell. I don’t think you’re in a position to negotiate.”
“I’m not negotiating. I want to offer you something. No strings attached.”
“And what’s that?”
“I did some thinking while I was healing my wounds, and I think that I have a way to calm the people down...I want to give you Bastion.”
Winona laughed out loud. “You can’t be serious.”
“I don’t want him to be a prisoner,” James said. “I want him to have a home here.”
“You want us to give him a house,” she scoffed. “My, you Sages are as arrogant as I’ve heard.”
“That’s changing now,” he said. “See, Bastion isn’t like me. He doesn’t need direction or a purpose to be happy. He needs comfort and safety, and people that will love him. He had a traumatic childhood so it’s hard for him to trust people, and therefore, he doesn’t really have many friends. Even his marriage is strained, and it’s not because he doesn’t love her, but because he doesn’t know how to handle relationships. He’s not sure what to talk about with her because she already knows everything about him. He doesn’t get that talking with her and spending time with her is enough. He’s so used to life being a lot more grandiose than that.”
“And you think he’s going to find love here?”
“Not at first. See, Gideon had one thing right. He took on the burden of fighting for his Sages, the Solons, while they showed people in Paragon on an individual level that they weren’t dangerous. The Solons were people just like them. And I think that if Bastion was here, it would be beneficial for all of you. Yes, it would be horrible at first. He wouldn’t feel like he belonged while you would be wary of him. But over time, you would see how he’s only looking for companionship. You would see how great of a person he can be when he’s allowed to live and not worry about fighting. You’ll warm up to him, and in kind, he’ll warm up more to you. You might even become friends.”
“That’s a stretch,” Winona said. “And that could take years.”
“But it will be for the best. He and Lily will have the peaceful life that they want. They can both grow together as they try to integrate themselves into the Delilah society. He could help you transform the city into what you want, and you’ll have a powerful ally on your side if Cimmerian ever does show up. You might not even need Paragon. And if I recall, the Delilah once invited him into their society. Why not now?”
“Let’s say I’m curious about this arrangement...what if he loses control again?”
“Which brings me to the other part of my proposition. There are two other Sages that are also looking to settle down. Kyran and Chloe. If at all possible, I would love it if you gave them a home here as well. They can watch over Bastion and Lily.”
“This would be a hard sell to the people,” she said. “I would need assurances from the very beginning.”
“In the forest just beyond the bridge, Kyran, Bastion and Lily are waiting for me. If you bring them here, I can speak with them, and then Bastion can stay.”
“Don’t you need him?”
“We can manage,” James said weakly. “My main concern is repairing the relationship that my people fractured with yours.”
“We might kill him,” she admitted.
“That’s not my concern. I’m doing my part, and I hope that you stick to yours. Besides, I am sure he would fight back.”
“I’ll be right back,” she said, standing to her feet. “I’ll bring your friends here. You can speak with them about this arrangement in a moment.”
“You’ve already captured them?”
“We’re fully aware of what goes on along our borders, even if it doesn’t appear so.”
“And you’re comfortable with this arrangement?”
“You saw how the people reacted when Bastion lost control of himself,” she sighed. “Now imagine an army coming to our door. Though we wouldn’t admit it, we do need each other. I’m not too proud to say it. I just hope I’m not making a mistake in trusting you. A lot of people have been burned by the Sages in the past, but something in your voice...it’s reassuring.”
“Thank you,” James said, giving her a curt nod.
“I’m still keeping the chains on,” she said. James laughed and lifted his arms, still wrapped in chains and linked to an iron rod underneath his bed. Winona left the room and James stared at the stone wall in front of him while a trickle of water in the hallway created a backdrop of white noise.
After a few minutes, the door swooped open and banged up against the wall. In walked Kyran, Bastion and Lily, chained from their arms down to their toes. Bastion was healed up and his eyes were no longer black. Lily was still recovering mentally as her eyes were sunken in and her gaze was distant. It didn’t seem like they had done Kyran any harm.
“We surrendered,” Kyran said, sitting down on the bed across from James. The door slammed shut as Bastion sat next to James and bowed his head. Lily laid down on the bed behind Kyran’s back. Kyran fidgeted a little after feeling her body brush against his, but then he relaxed and waited for James to explain what was going on.
“We didn’t know what had happened to you,” Lily said from behind Kyran. She used her arms as a pillow while she closed her eyes and listened.
“Gideon,” James said. “He was here. Killed Delilah’s leaders and Winona only lived because she was a decoy. Never the real thing. I fought him but the Delilah interrupted. Good thing too because I would have been killed. I do have some information on him that might help us though.”
“If we get out,” Bastion muttered.
“You could break out of those binds at any time,” Kyran stated.
“No,” Bastion said, shaking his head. “I’m not bringing an ounce of strength to the surface. I still feel uneasy.”
“Did you know what you were doing back there?” James asked.
“I knew that Gideon had taken away my will somehow. I could feel myself going to sleep when he grabbed my forehead, and it wasn’t until I woke up that Lily explained what had happened. I killed so many people...”
“It wasn’t your fault. Gideon’s the one that did it.”
“But that darkness...I thought it was gone for good. I didn’t know someone could bring it back out like that. I...I can’t fight anymore.”
“We need you,” Lily said, but Bastion shot his head up and glared at her with enraged eyes.
“How could you say that? After I nearly drowned you? After I murdered so many? What if next time you’re not able to stop me? The only thing that took me down was the combined efforts of the Sages and the entire Delilah army.”
“You’re the strongest of us all.”
“And the most dangerous,” he muttered. He turned to James. “What do you think?”
“I think that until Gideon is apprehended or killed, we won’t know for sure that you’re out from under his influence. It’s one of the factors I took into consideration while talking to Winona. I bartered a deal for our release and for the good of Paragon.”
“I can’t wait to hear this,” Kyran chuckled.
“I asked that they give Bastion and Lily a home to call their home here. Essentially, they would become part of the Delilah people.”
“NO!” Bastion and Lily shouted at the same time.
“It’s a way for us to move forward,” James winced. “You two can help them rebuild while gaining the trust of the Delilah. After they see how awesome you two are, they’ll come around. This is an offer of good faith. You’re the ones that ruined their society, and you will be the ones to rebuild it.”
“Is that an order?” Bastion asked.
“It is,” James said. “And I can give that order, since we never found that replacement of mine.”
“Shame.”
“So we’re prisoners?” Lily asked, sitting up on one elbow.
“It’s only temporary,” James said. “And you can think of it more as house arrest. Once you’ve earned the Delilah’s trust, you’re free to come and go as you please, though the intention is that you’ll want to stick around by the time that happens.”
“I wanted to see the world,” Lily said to Bastion. “Not get stuck in one spot.”
“The way I see it,” James continued, “is that it’s a way for the two of you to still help us, but also get time to yourselves. You can work on your relationship while having new adventures.”
“Geez, what did you tell him?” Lily asked Bastion.
Bastion shrugged his shoulders. “Just the facts.”
“Which are?”
“We need a change of scenery,” he said. “Come on. We’ve been arguing a lot more than usual, and we don’t spend time with each other like before. We need something new in our lives.”
“It sounds like you’re agreeing to this plan.”
“I don’t know,” he said, looking to James for a moment. “Maybe...I’m willing to give it a shot. I’ve always felt guilty after what happened, but I didn’t see a way I could make up for it. If the Delilah aren’t going to try killing us, and they’re willing to give it a try...yeah. Sure.”
“And to make sure that all goes smoothly,” James said, “Kyran and Chloe will be accompanying you.”
“Excuse me?” Kyran spoke up. “We’re doing what now?”
“You’ll have a home here too,” James said. “Though, you’ll have freedom from the start.”
“So you just did this without my approval?”
“Your approval or denial comes now. This isn’t an order like with Bastion. I’m asking you to do this for me, for the Sages, and most of all, for you and your wife.”
“You don’t get to decide what’s best for us.”
“I know, but you’ll never leave the fight on your own either. Let’s face it. You’re a killer. No one wants to say it out loud, but you are. And you’re good at it. As long as your skills are needed, you’re going to be there to assist unless someone tells you to stay away. That’s what I’m doing, because I know that you love Chloe above all else.”
“I take it this is the retirement plan we’ve spoken about?”
“For you, yes. Once this ordeal with Gideon is done, I want you two to live here. To oversee the Delilah people, help out when needed, and show Bastion and Lily that there’s a couple out there that can’t be more different in character, and yet, they still manage to make their marriage work. You two are more in love than most people I know, no matter how weird it comes across.”
“Hmph,” was all Kyran said.
“What about you?” Bastion asked. “It sounds like you’re going to keep fighting.”
“I am,” James said. “Because there’s so much more I can do. And I do most of my improving when I’m involved in something.”
“That’s the complete opposite of what Gideon wants,” Lily said. “Even if Gideon is defeated, the Sages under him might rise up and fight in his stead.”
“I’ll be prepared for that.”
“So we’re doing this then?” Bastion asked.
Lily sniffed and rested her head in the palms of her hands. “Yeah...sure.”
“So we’re to take down Gideon first?” Kyran asked.
“Not all of us,” James said, turning to Bastion. “You’re staying behind. You might be in a cell for a time while Winona sells the idea to her people, but you’ll get situated as soon as possible. If they turn back on the deal, we’ll come back for you.”
“I’ll have Lily with me,” Bastion said. “So I’ll be fine.”
“No,” James said, pursing his lips. “We actually need her with us.”
“I’m not leaving without him!” Lily said.
“It is what it is,” Kyran said, glaring at James. “We have to do what’s best for the mission. That’s what a Sage is all about, right?”
“No,” James said. “It’s about aiming for the best outcome—the one where everyone ends up whole.”
“Then I should be there,” Bastion said.
“No,” Lily whispered, sitting up. “You know we can’t have that. We can’t take the risk.”
“Fine,” Bastion sulked, folding his arms. “But you really might need me.”
“Believe it or not,” James chuckled. “We were able to handle ourselves before you came onto the scene.”
Lily ran over to Bastion the best she could and gave him a big awkward hug, chains and all, kissing his cheek so fast and so many times that he began to crack a smile. James smiled and shouted for someone outside the cell to come back in. Winona stepped into the doorway and looked to each of them one by one. Her eyes stopped on James and he nodded toward her. She reached into her pocket and fished for the keys as James stared at the Sages around him.
He wasn’t sure if they could defeat Gideon, especially without Bastion at their side, but they would give it their all because they cared for each other. They were scared and nervous, but they found strength in each other. Once James’ chains were cast off of him, he hugged Bastion from the side. Lily stood to her feet and wrapped her arms around his waist, and the three of them hugged each other, letting the euphoria wash over them.
When their embrace was over, they parted and stepped aside so James could face Kyran. Kyran’s beady eyes were narrowed at him as if to say, “Don’t you dare,” but James didn’t care. He would take a stab into the stomach if he had to.
Kyran was getting that hug.
James wrapped his arms around the thin Sage and squeezed tight, not out of being macho, but because deep down, he truly loved this man. They couldn’t show it often, but here underground, in the privacy of a cell, surrounded by walls with no windows—even Kyran could break free of his restraints.
Kyran hugged him back and squeezed him even harder.
James grit his teeth.
And then Kyran wept.
James wasn’t sure why, or what had made the assassin Sage break down. And he wasn’t about to ask. That surely would bring the stabbing.
But he would be there for him.
And wasn’t that all that was required?
“I’ll show you to your home,” Winona said to Bastion. Bastion’s eyes widened in surprise as Lily grabbed her husband’s wrist. She looked back at James and he nodded immediately, giving her permission to see it for herself.
It might have been a waste of time, but these are the precious moments that they will remember forever. The kind that would bring a smile to one’s face in the midst of crippling sorrow.
After all, they could all be dead tomorrow.
They could all cease to exist tomorrow.
And for those left behind, all they would have are the memories.
