Havenbrook

They rolled across the bridge into the large town of Havenbrook, crossing the river and passing the barrier towers to the sides of the main gate. Cannons pointed out into the wilderness, their magic charged batteries crackling as they swept across the horizon.

“Now this is a protected town,” Jake said.

“Yeah, the ones Lugara had looked like squirt guns,” Alex said, gazing at the massive towers.

“Places like this rarely have trouble with Twisted,” Kraelin said, looking at Elysia. “But when they do…”

Jake and Alex both looked at each other, then to Kraelin. “Okay, we’re still missing something here. Why is Havenbrook so important to you two?” Jake asked.

“Because fourteen years ago, this town was attacked. The barrier towers were overwhelmed. There was fire and screaming…and my parents died,” Elysia said.

“This is…” Jake said softly. “Oh man. I’m sorry.”

“I’ve never been back here. But I…I think this might be good for me,” Elysia said. “I can put the past in the past.”

The truck stops before a large inn and tavern. Silver hopped out of the back. “You good?” Alex asked as Silver brushed dust off her cloak. She only nodded slightly at him. “Okay, thanks for the convo,” Alex muttered.

He and Jake looked around. This was by far the most modern and normal place they had seen yet. Paved roads, power lines, cars moving through busy roads with traffic signals. It was all strange, yet still somehow familiar and comforting.

“Homesick?” Alex asked.

“Not in the slightest,” Jake replied.

“What do you need in Havenbrook?” Kraelin asked Silver.

“I need to investigate an abandoned house for my employer,” Silver said, walking towards the inn.

“Odd job for a Sweeper. This the same employer who wanted a Twisted captured alive?” Kraelin asked.

“I’m not only a Sweeper, and it’s none of your business,” Silver said before entering the tavern.

“Why don’t you trust her?” Elysia asked.

“Why do you?” Kraelin shot back.

“There’s something…sad about her,” Elysia said thoughtfully.

“Either way, I’m hungry,” Jake said, walking to the inn. “Come on, food will make us feel better.”

“Dude, we could all die and you’d be in a better mood if you found a chicken wing,” Alex teased.

“Not true. There would have to be a lot of chicken wings,” Jake corrected.

A short while later they were seated at a large table, eating well for the first time in a while. The pay from Gravine was certainly helping them get into a better mood. Still, Elysia’s mind seemed far off.

“So…your parents, huh?” Jake asked. Elysia nodded, knowing she had to confront this.

“From what I know, they called it the Great Massacre. A group of Brute class Twisted figured out a way to shut down the barrier towers and storm the town. A lot of people died. There was fire and…and blood…” Her eyes were far away now. She was barely in the tavern. She was seeing a smoke filled sky, hearing roars in the distance, smelling the scent of blood and death, feeling the heat and the cobblestone road beneath her two year old hands as she crawled towards the bodies of her parents…

“Déjà vu all over again,” Alex said. “Barrier towers falling, lots of people dying…”

“And you needed heroes,” Jake said. “So this time…”

“Nobody would die,” Elysia nodded. “Nobody is going to die again if I can help it.”

“Which is why you used the Void magic,” Silver said. She had been so quiet they had nearly forgotten she was there. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten. You blew the singing plant apart with a forbidden magic.”

“It’s not forbidden,” Elysia said. “And I don’t want to talk about it. It won’t happen again.”

“Unless you need it,” Silver said. “So much power…”

“Wait, yeah, I thought you said you didn’t have a Talent,” Jake said. “But you killed Cucuboros like…”

“Void magic is NOT a Talent!” Elysia said, her face becoming deadly serious. “Forget about it. I won’t be using it again.”

The table became uncomfortably quiet. Nobody knew what to say, so they simply finished eating, avoiding each other’s gazes.

*

“Two keys for room 204 for the gentlemen, and two keys for the lovely ladies in room 206,” the young man behind the desk said. “And, as requested, a room as far as possible for our masked friend.”

“Thanks,” Jake said, grabbing his keys.

“Yeah, um…whatever,” Alex said, taking his keys.

Silver grabbed her key and immediately went up the stairs.

“And you know, if you wanted to, I’m here until closing,” the clerk said, his eyes moving over Alex’s body. “I could show you around town if you want…”

“Oh god…” Alex stammered out. “I…thanks, but…I…um…”

“Alex can’t!” Jake said, stepping in. “He…she, I mean! She has…um…bad…stomach cramps! And…gas! Lots of it!”

“I do?! I mean…yeah! I’m…gross!” Alex said, backing away. “Well, bye! I’ve got…toilet stuff to…do!”

As they all ascended the stairs, Kraelin kept shaking his head. “You could have simply said you were busy,” he said with a slight smile.

“And you could shut up with the commentary!” Alex scolded him. “God, I hate this body…”

“You know, Alex…” Jake tried to say.

“Shut up. I’m gonna go lay down. In the girl room.” Alex put the key in the lock and opened the door, walking in with his shoulders slumped.

“I’ll talk to him,” Elysia said softly to Jake.

“And say what?” Jake asked. Elysia shook her head, not knowing herself as she entered her room.

“It’s hard,” Kraelin said as he and Jake entered their room.

“What?” Jake asked.

“Being there for a friend dealing with their life falling apart. I’ve had to constantly with Elysia. Whenever we feel like things were starting to get better, something happened. Saphira, this whole mess with being banished…” Kraelin sighed.

“I thought she wanted all of this,” Jake said, laying down. “Going on a treasure hunt, trying to save the world…”

“Not wants to. Has to.” Kraelin shook his head. “Elysia seems to think all the terrible things in her life are her fault. In a way…it’s exactly like what you go through with Alex, only opposite.”

“Which means what?” Jake asked.

“Alex thinks everything terrible in his life is all connected too. Only difference is, Alex believes there’s nothing he can do, and Elysia believes she has to do everything.”

Jake shifted uncomfortably on the bed. The guilt he kept feeling began to gnaw at him, the guilt of knowing his recklessness led Alex into this situation in the first place. If he hadn’t chased after Elysia, Alex would have his old body, would not constantly have monsters trying to kill him. “Hey, Kraelin, do you ever…”

“All the time,” Kraelin said with a bit of a smile. “As logical as I try to be, I still feel it. It sucks feeling like the big brother all the time, doesn’t it.”

“Amen,” Jake said, bumping his fist into Kraelin’s, wondering how long it would take for both of them to make their “little sisters” realize they didn’t need to fight the world.