Word Count: 1319

~Akara

A hand on my shoulder jostles me, pulling me out of blissful unconsciousness.

"Akara. Wake up." It's Tai's voice.

For a moment, I'm transported back, to when him and I shared a bed, when I loved him with everything in me, and there was nothing in our relationship to hide from each other. And then cold, painful reality seeps back into me, and my eyes flutter open, seeing his emerald ones looking down at me.

"What's going on?" I growl, sitting up. Marek is no longer lying asleep behind me, although it's can't be too late in the morning, watery sunlight only just starting to peek through the curtains.

"I brought you something," Tai murmurs.

He steps back, revealing a person standing in the middle of the living room, looking stunned and mortified. The have dark hair and eyes, and can't be very far into their adult years. Whoever they are, it's clear Tai either manipulated them into being here, or is threatening them.

"Who is this?" I ask warily.

"Not sure, but they are a Summoner." He approaches the man, who flinches away, obviously terrified of him. Tai did something terrible, I just know it.

"What?" I seethe.

He doesn't exactly look like Marek, no silvery marking in sight, but I have to remember that Marek isn't like all Summoner's. He's more akin to Elan, who was killed by Evolet what feels like forever ago.

"Please don't-"

The man's plea's are cut off, as Tai slams something into the back of his head, and he falls to the ground.

Yelping, I lurch back, just as the front door opens, and Marek walks in, a bag in his hand. He takes in the sight of the body slumped on the ground, my horrified expression, and the bottle in Tai's hand.

"Tai...What's going on?" he questions calmly, dropping his bag near the door, stalking in.

"I knocked him unconscious, obviously," Tai mutters, nudging the man to ensure that his hit was strong enough. My heart is pounding in my chest. I've never seen Tai use such violence like that before, with such ease. Whether he is trying to save me or not, he's dragged an innocent into this with no care at all.

"Why do you have an unconscious Summoner?" Marek demands, bending down to check the pulse of the poor man.

"Summoners are not in abundance around here, so he wasn't easy to track down," Tai grumbles, falling down onto the couch casually. He makes it sound like we should be thanking him for going out of his way to find one.

Marek grits his teeth. "That doesn't answer my question."

"He works around here, at the local bar...Lucky I caught him," Tai exclaims. He must have truly lost his mind, because this is not like him. This conflict between him and Vaia must be what has tipped over into the edge of insanity, making him act on what he once lied to cover up.

"Tai!" I reprimand.

"I brought him here for you to kill, of course," Tai explains, approaching me. I step back, afraid of what he will do if he gets much closer, afraid that he may try to force me more than what he is already doing. "It will save your life."

"No...No, I said I wasn't going to kill anyone," I remind him frantically. I've already killed a Tani, but even had I not, I would not chose to kill anyone willing. I can't possibly put my life above someone else's like that, when I should have died in that river.

Tai frowns. "Akara, I'm not about to let you die."

"She wants to find another way, so we will find another way," Marek growls. I'm grateful he isn't willing to tell Tai about the Snow Demon either. If Tai knew, I have no doubt that he would kill me before I could turn into a raging beast, and I want to find out if there is another way, or if Tai is even right about his theory before giving up entirely.

Tai turns to look at Marek, who looks moments away from attacking him. "Don't want her to be as powerful as you?"

Marek's eyes turn ice cold, fingers rolling up into fists. "Don't start."

The door to one of the bedrooms opens, and Zavian steps out, yawning, rubbing his hands through his thick hair. He jolts to a stop upon seeing the Summoner man lying unconscious on the floor, the rest of us surrounding him.

"What's going on?" he questions, running a hand over his eyes as if the sleep in them is the problem.

"Nothing, we are leaving," I snap, brushing past Tai, stepping over the Summoner. I need to get out of here, hoping to avoid Tai hurting other people as his horrible attempt to save my life. His intentions don't matter anymore. What he has done is irreversible.

Tai frowns, looking as though he wants to grab my arm, until I stand right next to Marek. "And what could you possibly do? Where are you going to go?"

"There has to be someone who can give me another option," I say.

"I may know someone..."

We all turn, as Nakoa emerges from the same room Zavian came from. She looks tired, although her eyes are alight, as shaken by this situation as the rest of us. Zavian and Nakoa have known Tai for longer than I have, and I can see how hard it is for them to see their friend devolve into someone completely unrecognisable.

"Really?" I breathe.

"Clea's mother. She always knew a lot about the river, about what it's magical powers are capable of. Maybe she would be able to offer some insight," she offers with a half shrug, looking down at her feet.

"It's too much of a risk." Tai shakes his head, ignoring my clear.

"Okay, we go," Marek says, dismissing Tai's wariness. He nods toward the Zavian, and then the Summoner. Zavian seems to understand, approaching the unconscious man, who we are going to have to return back to the bar he came from.

Tai steps forward. "I'm coming."

"No Tai...I mean, I don't think that's for the best right now," I tell him calmly, trying not to upset him. If he comes, he's only going to try get me to kill another Tani, and it may end up being Marek that he targets next. Not to mention, he may find out that I killed a Snow Demon.

"You'll take Marek, but not me?" he growls.

"it isn't about that," I snap. Despite everything, I completely trust Marek now, and I know he can do better for me than Tai can.

"I'm coming," he demands. "To make sure it's done"

Glancing at Marek, I'm speechless. I could sit here and argue all day with Tai about how he can't come with us, that he's not wanted, but that would only end up wasting time, and we would likely have the same outcome.

"We should go then," I sigh.

Tai holds his arm out to the door. "I have the transport part sorted. Shall we?"

He strides past, bumping his shoulder against Marek's as he walks into the hallway. Zavian follows, carrying the Summoner, who I'm so grateful didn't end up dead despite Tai's best attempts.

"What if this is a trap?" Marek asks lowly, following Tai with his gaze.

"Do we have much of a choice?" I ask. Clea's mother is our last chance to find out what my fate will truly be. "I can't kill someone."

He grabs my hand, squeezing it comfortingly. "I know. I just want you to be safe."

I sigh through my nose. "Come Marek. Let's go."

🧡••🧡

Remember that you can always find this story 10 chapters ahead on Radish (:

You will find it under King's Possession Season Three!!

~Midika 🐼💜