The Dark

CHAPTER Thirty-three



Arkarian


In my entire six centuries of existence, I have never felt this way – compelled to strangle an immortal! But if Lorian were here, right now, in this room in the Citadel, I would take my mortal hands and put them to this superior being’s neck and squeeze. That Lorian could hold Isabel entirely responsible for disobeying a direct order fills me with absolute rage. Part of me knew it would happen. Part of me even understands why. But now that I’m faced with the reality – the prospect of losing Isabel – I can’t even accept the thought.

‘You’d better calm yourself,’ Lord Penbarin warns me as he wraps each of us in a silver protective cloak. Instantly we’re transported to Athens to the year 200 BC.

Once in the palace courtyard I flick my cloak off. ‘Thanks for the advice, my lord, but I would rather you spent your breath organising my meeting with Lorian.’

He tips his forehead to me. ‘As you wish.’

As Lord Penbarin disappears, Lady Arabella collects our cloaks and explains that Dillon has been taken elsewhere and that his protection is secure. ‘Now come and partake of some food and drink. You must be hungry.’ She looks at me and pauses, her eyes drifting shut for the briefest of moments as if she’s holding her breath. The moment passes and she smiles gently. ‘Lorian will meet with you now. In Chambers. You are allocated five minutes only, then the hearing will begin. Good luck.’

Without looking around and giving Isabel, Ethan or Matt a chance to say anything, I use my wings and disappear, materialising in the Tribunal Chambers before Lorian, sitting alone at the Circle’s head. All other nine chairs remain empty, but not for long. And as I have only five minutes, I try to make the most of each second. So I get right down to the purpose of this meeting. ‘You mustn’t punish Isabel.’

Lorian looks up, and for a second, I think I see a small smile, a glimpse of relief. ‘Welcome back, Arkarian. I thought I was never … I must say, you are looking well.’

I shift the conversation straight back to the point. ‘Because of Isabel, yes. She’s a gifted healer, the best the Guard has ever seen. She has so much potential now that her second sight is developing. The possibilities are endless. I want to work with her, to develop these skills. It’s possible she may one day be able to heal through her psyche. Do you understand what enormous benefit she brings to us at this needy time?’

‘I know everything, Arkarian. I know why Isabel breached my direct command. There are many issues to be dealt with here today, and very little time in which to do it. And while I don’t doubt Isabel’s extraordinary talent and benefit to our cause, my decision on her future is final. No amount of discussion will sway me. You waste your breath and everyone’s time, Arkarian. The subject of Isabel’s punishment is closed. Now,’ Lorian pauses, giving me a chance to catch up and absorb these words. ‘Do you have anything else to discuss?’

Lorian’s finality on Isabel’s future has me reeling and I find words hard to form. ‘I … I have so many questions.’

‘There is much that you are unaware of. Remember what I taught you when you were my Apprentice: put your trust in me as I will only ever make decisions for the greater good.’

‘My head is full of doubts right now, Lorian. I fear that you are sacrificing Isabel for this “greater good”.’

Lorian’s head lifts suddenly as if insulted. ‘The subject of Isabel’s breach of my command will only be discussed at her hearing!’

‘All right! But this subject is only closed – temporarily.’

Lorian appears amused that I dare to make a demand. But what I’m about to relate will remove every remaining fibre of humour. ‘Lathenia doesn’t have the key.’

The Immortal goes still. But a look of anticipation soon starts to grow. ‘Explain.’

‘It was hidden beneath a secret panel in the temple floor.’

‘What!’

‘Matt found it.’

Lorian stares at me. Quickly I add, ‘Unfortunately, we had to leave it there.’

‘Do not tell me that! Surely, Arkarian, you, of all people, know its importance!’

‘We had no time. And as it seems Matt is the only one who can touch it without losing his life, I couldn’t help him dislodge it.’

Lorian sighs. ‘So it remains in the temple, probably exposed, just waiting for Lathenia to find it.’

‘It may not be that easy to find. As we left, the temple was being destroyed.’

Lorian sits in silent contemplation. And then, ‘Is there anything else to report?’

‘No. But I do have a question.’

‘Go on.’

‘Who is my father?’

Lorian’s eyebrows lift and for a second I think the Immortal isn’t going to reply. ‘I am your father, Arkarian.’

It’s a shock. But a fraction of a part of my brain suspected it might be true. Still, how is this possible? All my life I have understood that Lorian is of no fixed sex.

Lorian absorbs my thoughts with ease. ‘I was born male. Having no fixed sex was a decision I made. To be a good leader I wanted to be impartial and fair, and I felt I could only do that if I was of no sexual persuasion and desired none. But there came the need to create another immortal. For this purpose I chose to resume the male form. To have become female would have meant living as a mortal for too long, neglecting my duties here. Impossible! So I chose a young woman, whom you have recently met, to be your mother. Unfortunately she passed away. It was decided you were to come here to live and be raised in the palace. But all did not go as planned.’

Slowly the mystery of my birth starts to unravel. ‘Because I wasn’t born an immortal. How you must have been disappointed.’

Lorian’s eyes drift downwards and stay closed for a moment. ‘Only by the fact that your life-span would be limited.’

Now I understand. ‘So you gave me the ability to stop ageing.’

Lorian’s – my father – head tilts slightly in silent acknowledgement. ‘Other than all the Tribunal members, I have only given this power to two people. And one of those people I very much regret.’

‘Marduke.’

‘Yes. A difficult decision at the time, but our healer had died and without this gift, Marduke would have too. And at the time he was a brilliant Guard – young with strong developing powers and unlimited potential. It seemed a fitting reward.’

A thought occurs: if my father has the power to give this gift, then it must be possible to take it away. Lorian misreads my thoughts, assuming that I’m thinking of Marduke. ‘Even an immortal has limitations, Arkarian. I could not strip Marduke of his power without his knowledge, especially now while Lathenia watches him carefully. I hardly think he will walk in here and give me his permission.’

I look my father straight in the eye, holding his gaze firm. ‘But you have mine.’

For a second my father simply stares at me, understanding what I’m saying, but reluctant to accept that this is my wish. ‘You want me to strip you of your power to stop ageing?’

‘Yes.’

‘Explain yourself, Arkarian.’

‘Isabel is my soul-mate.’

‘I’m aware of that.’

‘She can’t live in my world, so I want to live in hers.’

The chair falls away as Lorian rises and approaches me, wearing a look of complete disbelief. ‘You would sacrifice the closest thing to immortality for this girl?’

My answer is instantaneous, ‘For the chance to be with her. Yes.’

The stare is hard to take. Finally my father says, ‘Then it is just as well I am the supreme being around here, and not you, my son.’