Airborne Saga: Grounded Part 9

"You know it's funny, I remember you being more of a talker than this." Mikhail said with an almost humorous expression creeping up on his face. He looked more regenerated than usual. The grey in his hair and feathers was almost unnoticeable. Avery knew that he was in his own element now. She'd be willing to bet the place they'd brought her was his home.

"What do you want me to say? Let me go? Better yet, let Leela go." Avery said finding her defiance, even though her hands trembled.

"I'm not holding your friend here against her will." He said matter-a-factly. He glanced toward the door, a very subtle hint that Leela was somewhere in the building. More horrified than before knowing her friend had been taken here too, Avery overreacted.

"Look, I don't know what you did to her or what you told her but she's not part of this! You got me, fine, leave her alone!" Her voice had shot up and echoed off the small room's walls.

Mikhail's face lit up.

"Now that's the att.i.tude I remember." He crooned. Wings shutting, he crossed the room and killed the distance between them. Avery recoiled but it didn't matter. In half a second, he leaned before her. This close, she could smell the smoky sulfur scent that clung to him. She cringed, watching his talons curl at his sides.

"You know, of all the foolish humans I've dealt with, you've been the most interesting." His tone had dropped significantly. Able to feel his breath, Avery snapped her head to face away. He was trying to do this to intimidate her, Avery knew. He was trying to get into her head. She refused to let him. Steeling her resolve, she forced her face to be stoic.

"I'm so glad." She harped sarcastically but regretted it when his eyes narrowed a bit.

The silent warning taken, his attention then turned away from her face and ended on her arm. Unhidden, the silver mark from the Willow magic showed clearly. Its loops and twirls designed her skin like an artistic tattoo and Mikhail's eyes glued to it. The mark had lightened substantially and as far as anyone else knew, the magic had gone. If Mikhail found that some of the magic lingered, she knew he'd attempt to kill her in order to acquire it.

Mikhail's fingers snaked out and brushed her elbow. She twitched uncomfortably at the feel of his touch, but Avery resisted the urge to lash out. If she let it turn violent, that tiny veil of safety that stayed between them now would be gone. She held her breath. Mikhail kept talking.

"You are brave for a human, surprisingly cunning, and actually dangerous. It'd be a mistake to underestimate you. Now those are the kind of entertaining enemies I like to have." The words were simple and clear but Avery wasn't sure what he meant by them. "Because of this, I'm sure you know why I brought you here. So let's cut to the chase then, shall we?"He arched his eyebrows and waited for Avery to answer.

"You stole Jericho's book." She said slowly, still hoping that he'd gesture towards the journal's location somewhere on his gla.s.s desk or in his wooden bookshelf. He didn't. Instead his black eyes fixated on her, leaving her to s.h.i.+ver. She kept talking, hoping to break his stare. "You're trying to make another Willow amulet... possibly a stronger version. I'm not sure yet."

His smile indicated that he approved. Avery swallowed, ready to keep going. She could hold her own. She could control the conversation too.

"You want me because I have Jericho's memories. You want me to help decipher the book for you."

"Wrong." He barked suddenly, the sharp noise ruining the false sense of calm. "I don't need a human to tell me how to create magic."

His expression twisted and before the anger could ruin his poker face, Mikhail spun and faced the opposite wall. His shoulders heaved but he managed to stand otherwise still. Before Avery could look for another exit, Mikhail spoke again.

"Jericho would like everyone to think that he was the only pioneer of the Willow magic, that no one could understand it without him. But I taught Jericho much of what he knows. We worked together on this magic." Mikhail finally faced her again. "But then, when we got close to cracking the code he had me banished and sent away. I was unable to work on the amulet, so yes, Jericho was able to create it first. And yes, I could use his journal but I do not need help understanding it."

Avery swallowed with difficulty, repeating the words in her head to confirm she'd heard them right. This wasn't what she expected. Avery had come to the idea that Mikhail would have her translate the book and for that reason, keep her alive. Now she wasn't so sure. Body going cold, she sat perched on the edge of the bed and kept her muscles alert.

"Why do you need me then?" Avery quizzed, feeling for some ground to stand on.

"Why? Because you're an anomaly. I'm sure you noticed that fact." He gestured toward the mark that curled up Avery's arm, and though it hadn't changed, Avery felt compelled to look at it too. The same silver, curling spider's design greeted her. Avery knew she had probably been the first to have the magic absorbed into her body but she hadn't given much thought to how it got there. She had only cared about how to get it out.

"So what?" Avery prompted next.

"I was once told by Jericho that absorbing magic into one's body was impossible. I stopped my efforts and I consoled myself with stealing his amulet instead. Then you showed up. The girl that wasn't supposed to be possible. Now I think Jericho was just trying to dissuade me. It is possible to absorb the magic. And you're the test run."

Mikhail's words were no longer directed to her but into the distant, empty air, probably as he recalled lost memories about the other harpie. Avery didn't care to follow his thoughts, more focused on his current explanation. Her mind, somewhat fuzzy since the concussion she suffered earlier, took a moment to think it over.

"If it works with me, you plan on doing it to yourself." Avery gasped when it all finally clicked in her head. She may not have been on top of things but she wasn't stupid. Mikhail kept her alive and brought her here because she was an example for how he would absorb the magic himself.

Coming here just brought Mikhail closer to his goal. The revelation left a cold feeling raking down her spine.

"Great." Avery whispered but her words were hollow. Screw the book, she had to get out.

"So you understand why I have brought you here. And you may also understand why I choose not to kill you yet. But here's something you should know. I'm allowing you to live like this-- nice, quaint, and in one piece," He made a disturbing gesture to her neck, "if you cooperate. I don't want trouble from you or I'll revoke my offer. Are we clear?"

"Crystal." Avery parroted.

"Then make yourself comfortable here." Mikhail then did something she hadn't expected. He gestured toward the door. Though surprised, Avery stood automatically and didn't bother to respond. When given the opening, she ran for the exit, yanked open the wooden door, and took off into the hallway. Avery didn't hesitate and never slowed. The hallway twisted around and she kept running, waiting for the inevitable exit. It broke into a large living room fit for a mansion. Harpies lingered in the room and Avery slid to a halt. All of the harpies wore the bronze chest plates with the identifiable swirling symbol of the Band of Thieves. She waited to be intercepted. But to her shock none of the harpies so much as s.h.i.+fted.

Heart jumping to her throat, she proceeded forward slowly. Two gla.s.s window doors presented the exit. Through them she could see a tropical environment, gra.s.s sprouting high with open blue skies and palm trees. No other infrastructure clearly showed leaving the place mostly unidentified. Avery reached the door, and pivoted. Her hands sought out the metal doork.n.o.b blindly while she watched the harpies.

A number of dark eyes crawled up to watch her. Catching the k.n.o.b, the lock clicked and the door opened. Everyone in the room remained painfully still. Her chest burned, breath held in. The stillness seemed too dangerous to break. Finally, with a last flicker of anxiety, Avery opened the door and dashed through. She escaped through some tall gra.s.s and her feet hit sand. She slid to a stop. Before her were the lapping blue tides of a salty ocean. The sun beat down on the area. Spa.r.s.e shrubbery offered little shade.

Avery spun, eyes rus.h.i.+ng to take in the area. For the first time she could see that she was on an island. Her breath left her and her attention turned again. Rafael had posted himself against a few of the palm trees. He watched but never greeted her. Avery turned away and paced down the beach.

The situation sunk in slowly. They'd let her go because she couldn't escape. And though no one had her in cuffs, they were watching her all the time. She didn't know where she was and couldn't call Mason. Just looking at the skies told her he may not have followed them here.

Before Avery could fully react to the revelation, another figure surfaced on the beach and approached. Avery squinted in the bright light until she made out the figure.

"Leela." She whispered.

The girl approached quickly, her figure becoming rapidly clear.

"Hi." Leela gave a beaming smile that died less than half a second later. Avery's face hadn't changed, dull expression transfixed on Leela's figure. The girl looked fine, well kept, and absolutely calm. The odd sight left Avery at a loss for words. Leela shut her mouth, for a minute clearly contemplating her words, and then she cast a quick glance around.

"Guess we should talk." Leela said slowly.

Avery's mouth felt like it was full of sand, but she did manage to nod.

"Follow me." Leela offered. "We should stay inside. Stay out of..." Leela's words dwindled at the end, and though keeping her voice light, her brow pinched and face told the rest of the story. They should stay inside and stay out of trouble.

Avery fingered the back of her head, suddenly reminding herself of the hematoma that had formed there as a result of Rafael's strike. It seemed like an odd thing to trust the girl who had brought the collision. But Avery's body was growing weak and her knees shook with exhaustion. Leela seemed like the only safe one, and despite recent circ.u.mstances, Leela was still her best friend and Avery stayed determined to rescue her.

"Okay." Avery agreed and then Leela walked away, leaving Avery to follow.

Twelve.

Leela led them down the sh.o.r.eline with a leisurely stroll, only stopping occasional to playfully kick up the waves that swept up to their feet. The girl's behavior wasn't bizarre enough that Avery suspected magical influence in her mindset, but Avery couldn't understand the exuberance in her personality either. She studied Leela intently until they turned towards a building just at the other end of the island. This building wasn't concrete like Mikhail's place but was st.i.tched together out of bamboo with an old cottage feel. There were large, gla.s.s free windows that were open to the sh.o.r.eline and revealed some of the house inside.

It looked ordinary and harpie free so Avery didn't resist following Leela inside.

"Okay, I know you have questions." Leela tossed her sandals in the corner and filed through the room to reach a wooden table. "So go ahead."

The girl gestured toward a seat next to her but too disturbed to sit, Avery hovered in the corner.

"How long have you been talking to the Band? How long has this been going on?" Avery asked first and foremost.

"Not very long. A few months maybe? He was looking for me before then. He really wanted to see me." She looked a little too dreamy when she said that.

"He's lying to you, you know. You can't believe anything Mikhail says."

The dreamy look left her and was replaced with a heavy scowl. Leela's narrowed her brown eyes and she protested loudly.

"Don't talk to me about lies. You never explained to me once how I ended up at Mayweather with a two week hole in my memory. You never told me about harpies or what they'd done. You didn't even let me meet Mason and lied to me six ways from Sunday about his true ident.i.ty!"

Avery snapped her mouth shut, too surprised to even respond. A mix of emotions spun through her head but Avery could only pinpoint the ugliest feeling-guilt. Some part of her knew that lying to Leela had been exactly what had gotten her here. Rather than continue to muse on regret, Avery forced herself to stay calm and go to the next logical approach.

"I should have told you." Avery said, needing a surprising amount of nerve to stutter out the words. "But I was trying to protect you, not hurt you."

The tension had grown thick and uncomfortable, the air hard to breathe. The beauty of the beach cottage was lost to the painful conversation and no amount of focusing on the water made it easier. Leela broke her gaze and looked toward the ground. Wringing her hands, she shrugged lightly.

"Mikhail was the first one to come to me and tell me anything. When he brought it up, all these dreams and feelings I'd been having clicked. I remembered it. I remembered the harpies, their world, their frikkin' island!" She then spoke more quietly. "I remember what their government wanted to do to you... to us."

Avery wouldn't deny that the harpie government was fairly shady, but Mikhail was just using that to influence Leela.

"Did you remember when Mikhail compelled you with magic to jump off a roof?"

Leela visibly stiffened but still held her chin up persistently.

"He knew that I wouldn't die."

Groaning loudly, Avery pressed a hand to her temple. For the first time, she took a scrutinizing look around the room. She'd initially thought the place was a spare house but the cottage was loaded with tidbits of Leela's personality. Half empty coffee cups sat by the sink and chocolate wrappers were stacked up in the trash. A bottle of red wine sat near the cabinets and was adorned with a pretty red bow. This wasn't a spare room, Avery realized. This was Leela's guest house. She knew then that every break from school and weekend trip that "Leela went home" Leela hadn't gone home. She'd come here and Mikhail had clearly been working her over for awhile.

"Okay, you're not going to change your mind no matter how much I warn you. You never do." Avery voiced the foregone fact but didn't end there. "And it doesn't really matter if you like him. But this is bigger than us. Mikhail is attempting to make an amulet that he'll use not just to kill me but Mason too."

"I know all about it but Mikhail agreed not to hurt you. He's not a bad person."

"You don't know him! He's a murderer and an anarchist!"

"I know him a lot better than you do!" Leela shot back. "And he's the good guy. He's the one battling the corrupt government-the same government that sentenced you to death once upon a time. He's the one taking back what belonged to him before Jericho stole it away! You know Jericho backstabbed him! Everyone knows it!"

Avery opened her mouth to shout back but something stopped her. A glint of silver reflecting the fading sunlight caught her eye. Avery recognized Leela's flip phone and forced herself not to gasp. The Band had kept Avery away from a phone but didn't take the same precautions with Leela. Avery put her attention back on Leela before the girl could notice Avery's revelation.

"What do you mean?" Avery prompted this time keeping her voice very calm.

"You know that Jericho and Mikhail once studied that magic together. And then Jericho got greedy and wanted Mikhail banished to keep the Willow magic for himself."

That didn't sound like the Jericho that Avery knew even a bit. Avery made a face, not willing to believe it. She wasn't there a hundred years ago, so rather than debate the hearsay history, she went for a different approach.

"It doesn't matter. He's evil now, Leela. And he's going to kill me."

"He's not going to kill you. I'm not going to let him. Avery, I did this to protect you because you put yourself on the wrong side! You've allied yourself with Jericho's children and Mason's cause."

"I've allied myself with Jericho's children? What about Eva? Does she not count now?" Avery urged, waiting to see if any of the discrepancies clicked for her friend. Listening to harpies was like listening to the most jaded news reporters in the world. Leela only shrugged.

"Eva will be moved out soon. Mikhail doesn't see her as in our best interest anymore. But maybe she doesn't even know that." Then Leela made a pleading face. "Please Avery. This is the point at which you can come across the veil. Get on the winning team. Get on my team."

"You shouldn't even have a team! You're not a harpie, Leela. You're not even magical. You are just a plain human and you shouldn't be here." Avery shouted back when the anger that had seized her chest got the better of her att.i.tude.

The las.h.i.+ng remarks clearly landed hard and likely harder than intended. Leela wrapped her arms around herself and sent a chilly gaze to the floor. Realizing she might have locked Leela out for good, Avery hurried to remedy the situation.

"Look, I'm sorry alright." Avery said suddenly. She needed Leela to cooperate if they both were going to get out of there, even if Leela didn't know she'd be cooperating. "I just don't know how to take these rumors that everyone is spreading about Jericho."

It seemed to work and after a moment, Leela glanced back up.

"It's a hard pill to swallow, I know. We'd like to think our heroes are good people but there is a reason we never meet them."

Avery didn't open her mouth for fear of contradicting her. Mikhail, who they'd both met, was openly violent and what kind of hero was that? Avery wouldn't buy into the propaganda about the older harpie.

"Okay. I just need time to think. I don't...I don't feel so well." Avery said and it wasn't a complete lie. Carefully calculating her movements, Avery buried her face in her hands.

She heard the chair sc.r.a.p across the floor as Leela stood up and came to her side.

"Do you need something?"

"Do you have... do you have water?" Avery croaked.

"One second." Leela left her side and hurried out of the room.

Seeing her opportunity unfold instantly, Avery stood and made a grab for the phone. She got it and jammed it in her pocket half a second before Leela returned to the room. The girl offered Avery a cold bottle of water that Avery accepted half heartedly. The rush had made her heart jump into her chest. Squeezing the bottle before her hands could visibly shake, Avery thanked her.

"And a bathroom? Do you have one in here?"

Leela rolled her eyes over dramatically and pointed down the hall. Avery made a bee line that way. The cottage was actually beautiful upon further inspection. Though small, it was quaint and though warm, it was cozy. The smell of salt and sand was thick inside and the overhead twirling fans gave the room a gentle breeze.

She reached the bathroom. The door was created to leave a gap between the ceiling and the door top, probably for better wind circulation, but it also allowed someone to hear inside.

Avery shut the door slowly, freed Leela's silver phone from her pocket, and slammed in Mason's digits. The phone rang for an agonizingly long time before Mason ever picked up on the other line.

"Hey." She whispered and pressed the metal close to her cheek. She'd made a cup with her palm but still had to be careful.

"Avery! Where are you?" Mason's voice ripped loudly over the line and she moved the phone away from her ear.

Lowering the volume with a few clicks, she whispered into the mouth piece again.

"Island. Like small island."

Mason let out a breath that hissed across the line.

"Where? I lost you outside of Alaska but there are hundreds of islands in the Pacific. I need a hint. Any hint." He demanded.

"I don't know." She shot back, blood pounding in her ears. She knew how frustrated he felt but she couldn't do anything. The fact that she'd even been able to call him was miraculous.

"Are you okay?" He asked softly, tone changing dramatically for concern.