Perfect World

Chapter 9: Safe and Sound

CHAPTER 9

Safe and Sound

            Farrah Khalil… she can’t possibly know my father, can she? No, that’s impossible.

            As he stared into the girl’s large, charcoal eyes, uncertain of her sincerity, Eidan could hear the silent clicking sounds of the butterflies growing louder as they swarmed. He didn’t know how he could hear them, or why his hearing had become so sensitive in the past hour, but when he heard the sound of the butterflies clicking, he knew that danger was near.

            There was the distinct scent of fright in the air, a bitter pheromone that Eidan recognized from mammals as well as insects, and he could sense an anxious atmosphere broiling overhead. One by one, the blue beauties were flying away.

            Stay safe, he thought, praying that they could hear him. Conceal yourselves, and don’t come out even if I call.  

            Farrah frowned. “Eidan, are you all right?”

            He averted his gaze from his charming blue friends and shook his head, his eyes scanning the trees. “Something isn’t right here. I sense danger—”

            Not a second later, something sharp and cold sliced through the top of her left arm only to plant itself deep into Eidan’s abdomen. They both released a cry of pain. Farrah stumbled forward, falling against Eidan’s chest, and Eidan was pushed back against a tree. 

            The arrowhead was made of purified crystal, and he could feel its toxic effects immediately. Like a poison spreading all throughout his body, a thin, frigid fluid seeped deep into his veins, clearing his mind of all human troubles, irrationality and inhibitions. In an instant, he didn’t care if the people of the city were murdered. He didn’t care if he was the one to murder them, to rip out their hearts, even that of his brother, and leave the city in ruin. All that he cared about was survival, and he’d do anything at all to achieve it.

            “Eidan?”

            With clenched teeth and perspiration collecting against his brow, he pried open his eyes and looked up.

            In the distance, members of the Elite guard were closing in, taking root within the trees with their bows and arrows at ready. Eidan could barely see them, but he could hear them with impeccable accuracy, and the rapid beating of their trembling hearts told the story of their apprehension.

            For the first time in millennia, the peace between civilization and the Kinetics had been broken. Eidan hadn’t realized this at first, but his presence within the city had the potential to start a war.

            Farrah took hold of his arm. “Eidan. Eidan, you cannot let them capture us.”

            Eidan frowned.

            Of course, the girl was still with him, clinging to his sleeve without a single fear in the world. Sure, her eyes were awfully wide and her body was shivering from pain, but for some reason, Eidan still had yet to detect her fright. Could it be possible that she simply wasn’t afraid? Even with a bloody, limp left arm and a thousand arrows pointed at her back, and on top of that, she was relying on a Kinetic to save her life…no, this girl was only deranged. Eidan had decided this, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t amuse her.

            He sucked in a painful breath and spoke. “Remove this arrow,” he managed to say. “Do this and I’ll… I’ll take you with me.”