“The six inquisitors that returned from their assignment were treated with hostile suspicion. Especially after word of their report got out. The mission had failed when one of the inquisitors that didn’t return went crazy and started attacking the others. One that had spent time, by her own admission, with the demons. No one wanted to be around the six that might go crazy themselves.
“After that, three of the six disappeared. Mind you, I was in a cell with few methods of finding out information on the outside. I learned all this afterwards.”
Lynn took a hesitant sip of a bottle of water–one of those endlessly provided by the kitchen.
For the first few days, Shalise had actually been worried for Sister Cross’ health. She had been refusing to eat or drink anything, even going so far as to make attempts at keeping Shalise from consuming the food as well. The words ‘tainted’ and ‘vile’ had been thrown around more than once.
It got bad enough that Shalise had leaned on Prax’s support and abilities to force feed Sister Cross lest she starve herself completely.
Even now, she wasn’t eating as much as Shalise thought she probably should.
She felt Prax’s presence recede to a small corner of her mind. Luckily for her, he had agreed with Eva regarding Sister Cross’ presence. Having someone around who could fight, should the need arise again, was a plus in his book.
“Suspicion immediately centered on the three remaining inquisitors. The thought going around was that one of them had betrayed their comrades. The three were worried that the higher-ups were targeting them.”
Lynn shook her head. “A foolish notion. Had they been marked for termination by the higher-ups, all six of them would have been taken care of at the same time precisely to avoid what did happen. Namely, the three flew the coop.
“They sneaked out during the night through the old church catacombs. I managed to threaten them into letting me out as well.”
“You threatened them?”
“Well, asked politely for them to let me out. I might have implied that I would make all kinds of noise for the guards if they didn’t–they didn’t want to be found missing until everyone woke up for the morning, you see. Anyway, they–”
Sister Cross was cut off as the entire women’s ward started trembling. She was on her feet in an instant. Her eyes, aglow with power, darted in every direction, looking for any kind of threat.
Shalise stayed in her seat, casually catching the bottle of water before it fell off the table. This quake wasn’t even that bad. Nothing to get up in arms about.
Seeing the worry, fear, and alarm on Lynn’s face, Shalise decided to explain that fact.
“Just a hellquake. They come and go–in fact, they’ve been somewhat infrequent as of late. I wonder if that means anything for the whole Hell situation,” Shalise mused to herself.
“Hell situation?”
“We found out–”
Shalise paused and sighed as another quake rumbled over her words. Her sigh froze in her throat as the rumble was accompanied by an all-too-familiar noise.
A high-pitched whine.
Muscles already growing, she leapt to her feet.
It hurt that Sister Cross jumped away, putting up her guard against Shalise. Unfortunately, she didn’t have time to complain.
The whine ended with a cannon blast inside her ears. Both Shalise and Sister Cross stumbled in disorientation.
“T-that,” Shalise said as she steadied herself, “was not a usual part of earthquakes.”
“Those enigmas that Eva mentioned?”
Shalise nodded. Not wasting any time, she ran for the window with the trap door levers. “I don’t know how many t-there are, but they burrow under the sand. Don’t assume they’re all gone just b-because we can’t see any.”
A heavy hand came to rest on Shalise’s shoulder.
Shalise jumped a good foot in the air.
“Don’t worry,” Lynn said. “Nothing will hurt you so long as I’m here. They won’t know what hit them.”
And then she did something entirely unexpected.
She reached out her arms and wrapped them around Shalise.
In all of Sister Cross’ visits to the home, never once had she shown any kind of physical affection towards any one of the children. She brought gifts and kind words. Advice and support.
But a hug?
Shalise stood still, not quite sure how to respond. Eventually, she allowed her instincts to take over. She reached out and patted Lynn on the back.
Carefully of course. Prax’s muscle strength was not to be underestimated.
“Thanks,” Shalise said, voice barely above a whisper.
As Lynn released Shalise, her eyes started to glow. White light flooded through the room. Lightning crackled off of her fingertips.
“Let them come,” she said.
— — —
Ylva, Eva could tell, was not amused.
The corners of her lips were drawn back into a snarl. It wasn’t an expression that Eva had ever seen on the normally regal woman.
