Secrets

~Chapter 8~

A few days later...

I rearrange my earrings into a comfortable position as I get ready for the tournament. I hear Achillean walk into the room and watch me.

"Are you ready?" He asks.

"Yeah, it was funny that Addy managed to convince Alsia to let me get in." I say and he smiles.

"Well, it doesn't take much, Addy can be convincing." He says and I smile.

"I don't doubt that." I say and hear a gentle pat as Addy strolls into the room. Her hair is less messy and her hair is a bit curly, her braid embedded with small yellow quartz beads. She walks over to me and steps in front of me.

"You look good." She says and adjusts the strap on my chest. "You'll do great. But don't hurt anyone!"

"I won't!" I laugh and she pushes me back a tiny bit playfully.

"Alright, I'll trust you with this." She says and puts her hands on her hips, I brush a few strands of hair out of her face, and she watches me then smiles as I let my hand down. She puts her hands on my shoulders and looks me in my eyes. The golden glow seems to radiate more as she watches me. I smile then hug her; I have a weird feeling that this might be the last time I see her for a while. If this works, I'll try to visit them as much as I can. She runs her finger down my earring and I watch her with wide eyes.

"You look good." She says then lets her hand fall down again.

"And looks aren't the thing that's going to let you win this thing." Achillean said and smiles. I smile back as Addy grins at me.

"Alright come on." Achillean says and grabs Addy's wrist.

"He needs comfort!" She screams as he drags her out and I laugh. Looking back at the mirror. I haven't seen my Voltaris markings for so long... I breathe in and grab Voltar, looking over it and leaning it against the wall breathing out then looking down at my hands. My vison glitches, my hands covered in blood, fires everywhere. I blink it away and let out a breathe before grabbing my sword and Voltar and sheathing Voltar. Closing my eyes, I can do this...

Addy Pov.

I watch as Ingressus flips over one of the Kaltaris and grin.

"See, he's going to do just fine." I say and Achillean purses his lips.

"What is it?" I ask looking up at him. I hated it when him and Ingressus both got that growth spirt and instead of being the same height as me they were taller. Achillean is older by two minutes and that's it! Man...

"Nothing..." Achillean says then shakes himself off. Looking over and smiling at me. "I was just zoning out."

He says right as Ingressus knocks one of the Kaltaris down and Aggroblasts at the other Kaltaris, knocking him down as well. He watches with a worried expression as the Masters walk towards Ingressus and he plants his staff in the ground. I smile, assurance rushing through me. He can do this. He won, he has nothing to worry about now. He raises his staff and I blink for a moment, confused before widening my eyes as his markings shift to a sunset red, he smiles before the Masters stumble back.

"Achillean..." I say and Achillean lowers his head.

"I'm sorry Addy, I knew..." He says and I feel a single tear slip down my face as guards surround him. They'll kill him. They take his weapons and the Masters turn around. They grab his arms and he looks at them, confused. He glares at the Masters as he's taken away.

"No!" I yell and they stop for a moment letting Ingressus look back at me, smiling at me. I jump down and run towards him before two guards come and grab my arms holding me back.

"Woah! Girl he's a Voltaris, the Voltaris Master stay away from him." A Kaltaris guard says.

"You will be in danger if you approach him!" A Nestoris says.

"Addy come on!" Achillean says and takes my hand, dragging me away as they continue to drag Ingressus away. I fall down and Achillean picks me up.

"They'll kill him and you're telling me not to try and help him?" I sob and Achillean shakes his head, forcing me to walk out of the cave. I snarl and he glances back at me.

"Father has a plan, he's going to bring Ingressus his weapons so he can break himself out and come back to us or run away." Achillean says.

"But why can't he just get him out?!" I demand.

"He would be punished for taking care of Ingressus and welcoming him into the clan, he has told the other Masters that Ingressus used dark magic to disguise his colors for everyone's protection." Achillean says and I look down with pursed lips before following him back to Nestoria.