Declan
Mei and I flew far too fast for the Guardians to catch up with us. We couldn't even see them anymore.
My thoughts drifted to Kiera. I knew we shouldn't have flown ahead of her. She wasn't ready to fly like this yet.
I was about to dive after her. When I looked into her pleading eyes, I knew she wouldn't forgive me if I had saved her.
She wanted to make sure that the Rebels would be okay. They needed Mei and me.
Kiera would be okay. She's been through much worse in her life. She could hold her own.
We kept flying until it was dark enough outside to land. When we were firmly on the ground, I realized that the every structure around us didn't have lights on and no one was on the streets. Strange.
Usually, all Nephilim liked to show off and blaze their lights on until they went to sleep. It was too early to sleep and there should have been a lot of lights on or at least Nephilim outside.
Then I remembered what Justine had said about a war out here. Nothing looked out of place or harmed like it would in a war. Everything looked the same as we had left it.
Unless, everyone had migrated someplace else to carry out this "war".
"Trev told me there should be an entrance into the ground somewhere over here. I don't know where the Rebels are, but they should know to stay underground. It shouldn't be too hard to find them once we're in the tunnels," Mei said.
We continued to walk down an alley between two enormous buildings designed for Nephilim to practice their powers with no restraints.
At the end of the alley, two clean dumpsters were positioned against the buildings.
Mei shoved one dumpster aside and pointed at the small door in the ground. He pulled it up and motioned for me to head in first.
I climbed down the rusty stairs and waited until Mei pushed the dumpster back to where it was. Then he shut the door behind him as he climbed in after me.
I stepped off the stairs onto the solid concrete. It was pitch black down here.
I stretched my hand out until it made contact with the cracked wall. I slid my had along it as I made my way down the tunnel.
A small beam of light shine through the darkness from down the hall.
Mei and I hurried to the source so we wouldn't lose it.
When we were close enough to see, the form expanded out to be a Neph. He was about our height with short cropped black hair. His eyes were devoid of any color.
The Guardian cackled manically until he coughed up blood.
"You guys are with the Rebels, huh? I just got through with a few of them," he said, smiling evilly.
"Demon," Mei growled.
The demon stretched its mouth farther than it should have been possible. A black tongue slithered out with the head of a snake and hissed at us.
Blood dripped from the snake's fangs from a recent feeding. Guess he wasn't lying when he said he hair got through with a group of Neph.
Jeez I had thought it was bad when I thought he was a Guardian. It makes the situation worse that it was a demon.
How had it even gotten down here? I thought it was safe down here. What if there were more and the Rebels are all being killed?
Mei slammed his fist in the concrete floor. The ground cracked all around us and nothing happened.
The demon laughed louder and crazier. Mei stayed crouched on the ground with his hand still in the hole he had made. He was completely still.
Guess I would have to take care of the demon myself.
Fire danced between my finger tips as I made the flames larger.
The snake in the demon's mouth grew three enormous fangs that were about three feet long. One was in the front of the mouth and the other two protruded from the sides.
The demon yanked the fang in the front of the mouth off and threw it at me.
I threw my palm out and threw a stream of fire towards the oncoming fang. The fang was instantly engulfed in flames and was still quickly coming at me.
I lifted my other hand and froze the fang in the air. I was about to send it back at the demon when Mei stood up.
His eyes weren't gold this time. They were black.
Mei smirked and ran towards the demon.
While he was running, he split in two. Well that's at least what it looked like. But then upon further inspection, I realized that Mei had split into another Mei.
Now there were two Meis running at the demon.
The first Mei to reach the demon backflipped over the demon's head. The snake struck out and landed its fangs in his back as Mei flipped.
The second Mei was already behind the demon from the distraction the first Mei had made.
He reached around the demon's head and grabbed the snake that was feeding off the first Mei. He crushed the head in his hand and hen jammed his elbow into the demon's head. A sickening crunch echoed in the hall as Mei killed the demon.
This Mei had gold eyes.
He smiled triumphantly and cheered excitedly.
Somehow, Mei had two powers; the power to become an exact replica of someone, and to duplicate himself.
This kid was unbelievable. It's impossible to have two powers. All Nephilim only have one power or else the balance of powers would be tipped, which is why I kept it a secret that I had two powers. Everyone only knows that I can imitate other Nephilim's powers. No one knows that I can also take away a Nephilim's power.
"I know you're probably wondering why I have two powers. I don't exactly know why, but I think it has something to do with getting my power late. All Rebels have two powers. Maybe that's why it took so long to develop our power. It took twice as long because we actually were developing two.
"Trev actually made all these connections. He's the one who thought all this through. That's why he was able to erase minds and implant images as well. I can't actually read minds or else it would count as a third power. It's just because I can transform my body to mimic others' it's easy for me to visualize the same thing happening but instead of changing my appearance, I just try to think about what they're thinking. Kinda confusing, I know," Mei explained.
Then if that's the case, wouldn't that mean that I must have developed my power late? Except I wasn't banished for getting my power late.
No one knows about the Rebels having two powers as of now. If my parents had found out that I had two powers after getting mine late, then they could have suspected that the other Nephilim that they had banished for not having a power would eventually develop two powers also.
Good thing I had kept my second power a secret. I just don't understand why they continued to exile Neph without powers if they saw that I eventually got one. The idiots probably didn't think anything of it. Jeez.
I would have to tell Mei about this later. For now, we had to find the rest of the Rebels.
~
Kiera
The last thing I remembered was Declan's face as I tumbled from the sky.
Now, I woke up in the room I had been trapped in with Declan and Mei earlier. Only this time, two of the chairs were empty. I was alone.
Why does this keep happening to me? Ugh.
Without Declan, I wouldn't be able to use different powers. I could only rely on my power of foreseeing my opponents actions. I also couldn't be immune to the Onyx without Mei.
I took a deep breath to think.
I had two options; to stay put, or try to escape.
I figured I would be staying put because I was in no shape to try to escape.
I slumped against the restraints on my seat. I couldn't move my freaking arms or legs.
A smaller Guardian entered my room carrying a tray of water and a bit of food. He set it on the floor in front of my feet as if I would be able to pick it up.
"Excuse me. How am I supposed to pick that up?" I asked him.
"Like this," he responded.
His curly hair bounced as he pent to pick up the glass of water. He stood back up and splashed the water right in my face.
With the little movement I could make with my leg, I kicked the tray of food at him. It splattered all over his black pants and boots that must have cost a fortune.
His face turned bright red as his anger spiked. Crap. I'm such an idiot.
"Listen you bitch," he spat as he shoved his face right in mine, "You're going to-"
"Step away, Jonathan," a deep, masculine voice commanded.
The Guardian shot one last look of pure hatred at me and walked out the door.
A handsome Guardian filled the door. He had black spiked hair, blue dyed the tips of each spike to match his electric eyes.
"Hello, Kiera. I have heard much about you. You and the traitor, what was his name? Oh, Declan. Yeah, you may think you've won. Let me tell you otherwise. This all," he waved his arms around, "ends here. You won't be getting away easily. You've turned too many Nephilim against us.
"Now tell me. Where are the Rebels hiding? What are you all planning?" He queried.
I made the motion of zipping my lips shut and refused to answer him.
In two quick steps, he made it across the room.
The back of his hand scorched my cheek where it slapped me with an extreme amount of force.
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from screaming out. Tears pricked my eyes but I refused to let them out. I would not show him that I was in any pain.
"Perhaps you will want to talk more about it later," he said with a smirk.
He walked out the door and peaked his head back in.
"Just so you know, we have someone who can detect lies, and a mind reader. You will speak one way or another."
He winked and said, "Sleep tight."
Good thing Mei had taught me how to build that wall in my mind earlier. It was up to me to not let it crumble now.
Then I asked myself, what kind of world do we live in, where love is divided hate? In a world so cold...