Stolen Hearts; Chapter Eighteen

Xandu sat patiently on his stone chair, in his square room with no roof and found he was happy. Night had fallen but still he could hear the crackle of camp fire all around him. He sighed in contentment; his people were pleased that their army were making such good progress.

Four days and his military would march, Xandu smiled. He was proud of his people, he was proud of his nation, he was proud that he was making so many families within his care safer. Soon there would be no White Nation to hide from, no boarders to skirt cautiously along and once the White Nation was gone the Rebel's wouldn’t dare mount an attack, they’d be devastated.

There was a sturdy knock on the solid doors and Xandu waved his hand so that the great doors swung open effortlessly. In trooped a twelve man escort, four on the front, and four at the back and two on each side in a single row. Xandu sat up straighter in anticipation; it could only mean one thing.

"Dodger," Xandu stood up eagerly as the escort opened up to revile the surprising sight of a boy. Gone was his war suit, gone was his helmet, and gone was his techno voice. Xandu smiled maliciously, he now had Dodgers identity.

"What happened?" he asked innocently.

Dodger smiled slowly and Xandu was surprised at his confidence. His respect for the boy grew tenfold; he had thought that without the masks and hidden charades Dodger would be reduced to just another sniveling boy in the presence of a Lord.

That was not however what Xandu had got, instead he stood there just as bold and polite but more than that he stood there with an air of power.

Xandu became slightly disgruntled especially after he realized the boy in front of him now had something he dearly craved.
"I’m lucky to be alive that’s what happened," Dodger flashed a neat row of shining white teeth. Xandu flinched inwardly and was immediately angry. He had flinched! He - and at the mere sight of a boy.

"Well aren’t we all just so lucky that you didn’t," Xandu smiled sweetly, dripping with the plastic taste of fake words.
Dodger smiled again politely.

"You’ve seen my face now my Lord. I think this will have to be our last encounter," Dodger’s countenance stiffened. Xandu could give his identity to the White Nation and he’d be hung or he could wait until he himself caught him and then Dodger would be hung in the Black Nation instead. Either way he realized this was going to be his last pay off.

Xandu grinned at the same realization.
"You have it then?" he barked. Dodger nodded in assurance and watched as the Black Lord’s face twisted into gleeful joy.
Dodger pulled out the silver necklace with his rough and scarred hands to show the Lord. The claw on the end radiated scarlet fever.

Xandu snapped his fingers immediately and Ten Thousand Donn immediately landed at Dodgers feet without hesitation.
Dodger smiled, he was ashamed it had come to this but the money was needed and being a pirate had been exhilarating while it lasted. If he was lucky someone would knock off the current Lord and he would be replaced with someone who did not know his face. Then Dodger thought he might be able to come back into business. He’d been around a lot longer than most pirates had and Dodger smiled again relishing in his own pride.

His brother was going to be able to support his family finally; they were going to get by, all of them. Exiled or not, they’d be happy.
"Well," Xandu called.

Dodger chucked the little necklace into the Black Lord’s lanky fingers and the money at his feet disappeared safely straight to his brothers home. His work was done; he could live for himself now.

The Black Lord crooned over the necklace as Dodger turned to leave.
"Wait," he snapped and the malice in his face was no longer hidden behind the façade, Dodger was no longer of use to Xandu, at least not while he was free.

He turned back to face the Lord with a tinge of dread and inclined his head for him to continue.
Xandu played with the silver between his fingers admiring it as he spoke "You’re a strong boy, pirate," he said accusingly.
Dodger remained reserved.
"I’d be interested in your servitude,"

"I decline," he replied blankly.
Xandu looked at him, making a big show of studying his face.

"Pity, I’d hate to see such a handsome face at the end of a noose,"
Dodger smiled easily, it came naturally when threatened with a hanging, you could say it came with the territory.

"I’ll not hang," Dodger said.

Xandu returned to play with his necklace.
"Perhaps not," he mused "You know what I want next Dodger?"

Eight NEX shifted into the small room through the walls and Dodger immediately charged up ready to fight or teleport away in an instant. Xandu waved his hand towards the NEX in general.
"These are my pets. I collect them. Soulless people, interesting aren’t they,"

Dodger looked at the slick pale skin and the black globed eyes and the word interesting was not the first that came to mind as he held a shiver or revulsion.
"Now do you know what I want Dodger?" Xandu continued to look at the necklace in fascination.

"I want your soul and servitude. Since you won’t give it willingly…," Xandu smiled, everything was going his way.

He looked at the boy stood alertly before him and took him in once again, his fine brown hair dusting across his brow, his tensed jaw, his athletic build and the subtle hint of colossal power hidden behind his eyes, his hoary, burning, silver eyes.

"Over my dead body," Simon growled brutally, his voice rattling roughly in anger and instantaneously teleported away.

Xandu smiled coldly, he liked a chase.
"Run away, I’ll come for you," he whispered to the empty room.
*
"Hey Cala," Nicola walked edgily into their room. Cala was sat cross-legged on her bed muttering Latin words under her breath creating all sorts of havoc around the room.

Another day had passed and Hannah was still sneaking around with Conner, Simon and Tory had managed to claim the schools gossip completely, James was still away, Luke was keeping to himself still and Nicola hadn’t left Amelia either. Cala had left her spot by the willow reluctantly as Simon’s return seemed to infatuate the whole castle she found it easier to stay in her room and practice.

"Simon’s back," Nicola mumbled.
"I didn’t know he’d left again," Cala said between Latin mutterings.
"He looks a bit roughed up," Nicola coaxed.
"Shame," she muttered sarcastically.

Cala’s face was blank and she heard Nicola sigh in surrender but she didn’t leave.
"Could you tone down the power a bit? I want you to meet someone but you’re burning so much energy you’re even starting to scare some of the guys downstairs," Nicola shifted in the doorway as Cala reluctantly lowered her energy levels.

Hesitantly advancing Cala recognized Amelia Hett as she stepped forward into the room before Nicola. Her eyes were blood shot and her face drawn. Alarmed Cala looked up to Nicola whose eyes were pinched in sorrow.

"Tell her," Nicola whispered and retreated out of the room reluctantly closing the door softly behind her leaving them together and alone.
Amelia’s eyes looked even paler than before and her freckles more washed out. The little girl jerkily made her way over to Cala and stopped a metre away. Her russet curled locks tumbled hopelessly down her back and her white lashes brushed tentatively over her cheeks.

"Sit down," Cala said quietly, not wanting to scare an obviously terrified girl. Cala couldn’t blame her; she must look a state in her scruffy shirt, pyjama bottoms and ruffled hair. She almost felt ashamed of her appearance, almost but not quite.

Amelia went over to Nicola’s bed and cuddled up in the sheets still not speaking a word. Cala wasn’t in the mood to baby-sit and started to charge up again so that she could practice more.

"You don’t need to do any more practise and I’m not here for you to baby-sit me," Amelia’s voice was childishly young and Cala started at the bizarreness of it before she even began to comprehend her words.

"You got through my walls," Cala stuttered, shocked and rightly so.
Amelia’s eyes were half closed drowsily; all she seemed to do was sleep.

"You like putting up solid barriers," she whispered "But solid barriers don’t shield from more subtle advances,"
"Like what?" Cala felt chills down her spine.

"I can hear your thoughts, not all of them but the prominent ones, because I radiated my mind into yours slowly and faintly until I’m almost always inside you," Amelia shifted in Nicola’s bed to get a better view of Cala and Cala shifted on her own bed to get a better view of Amelia.

"You’ve been in my head?" Cala snapped at the bluntness of her statements.
Amelia nodded calmly "I didn’t want to, it just seemed to happen. I can only be in one persons head at a time and its hard to pull out once your in using the radiation method, your shields are too strong,"

Cala stared.
"Sometimes someone else is there as well, faintly,"

Cala hissed. Simon. It had to be, all those smug little smiles she’d caught out of the corner of her eye. This was bad.

"There’s something wrong with me," Amelia murmured ghostly.
Cala just stared.

"My nightmares are all about the same thing, over and over," she continued, her eyes haunted. Cala still just stared, horrified.
"My nightmares are about you," Amelia whispered her face pained. Cala’s eyes widened, her body tensed but still she just stared awed and motionless.

"And Simon," Amelia added. Cala recoiled. The young girl nodded darkly confirming her words.

"I see Simon’s soul…," Amelia had tears in her eyes but she started a new sentence "I see your heart die,"
Cala sat up straighter.

"They’re just dreams," Cala’s voice was soft but her tone was rock hard and sore. Amelia shook her head violently from side to side.
"Your heart…" she trailed off in unseen anguish. Cala stood up to shake her out of a coming fit but Amelia had already started convulsing and her eyes had been claimed.

"Your heart!" she screamed repeatedly until all Cala could comprehend was a continuous wail. Her bedroom door slammed open but Cala didn’t notice as she yelled desperately at the girl to stop and when she didn’t Cala’s words slipped from her mouth before she could hold them.

"My hearts already dead!" and the truth of it hit her hard "It cracked a long time ago," she whispered so that only Amelia could hear and she did hear. Slowly she seemed to come back, calming down slowly still whimpering.

"That’s a bit dramatic even for you," a harsh voice came from the doorway.
Cala snapped around to see Simon stood there with Nicola behind and Tory a few steps further back yet. His expression was scathing and Cala scowled back understanding all he had heard was herself proclaiming that her heart had died.

"You think I meant because of you!" Cala accused incredulously. Simon dithered slightly seeing the conviction in her eyes but pretended to ignore her rather than admit he’d overreacted and misunderstood. He rushed over to Amelia and Tory trotted up beside him. Amelia was hyperventilating but apart from that she seemed to be back in reality.

Tory cooed over her sappily and Simon lifted her into his sturdy arms where she nuzzled comfortably into his chest. He carried her through the room towards the door.
"Come on we’ll get you away from the mean lady," he soothed.

Cala’s jaw dropped as he walked by her coldly keeping his eyes down and knowing she’d heard. Inside she screamed bitterly angry and screeched as Tory smugly slid her arm over Simon’s.

Amelia flinched at the silent noise as Simon’s eyes scrunched slightly and Cala fell silent knowing that Amelia was still trapped inside her mind and that white noise wouldn’t help her any more than it satisfied Cala to vent.

"Cala," she murmured but Simon swept her from the room still cradled in his arms and Tory sauntered behind in a mini skirt. Cala scowled at their backs as she and Nicola were left in a room which was now too quiet.

"She was snogging him on the sofa when I went down," Nicola mumbled seeing Cala’s line of sight. Cala held her tongue.
"Straddled across his lap and everything," This time her voice held slight disgust and she made her way over to her bed, straightening the sheets where Amelia had ruffled them.

"I really don’t care," Cala answered, climbing up onto her windowsill.

Nicola glanced over in obvious disbelief and watched as Cala stared out the frosty window.
"He’s got to be the only one who could have done it," Nicola said.

"Done what?" Cala replied without moving an inch.
"Got your attention the way he does," she said making her way to the door again.

Cala grunted refusing to agree or disagree with what she was implying and Nicola left the room silently to return to Amelia. Cala rested her forehead against the cool misty window and closed her eyes. She concentrated on sealing her mind, she’d figure out how to let Amelia out later. Night fell on the evening light rapidly and Cala lay in bed for a couple hours listening to the wind outside before rolling over and stiffly getting out of bed.

"This is bullsh-," she hissed to herself, annoyed Simon had managed to inadvertently confine her to a single room. She slipped out of her bedroom door silently not wanting to wake anyone and crept steadily down the stone stairs in her bare feet and pyjamas.

Cala froze when she hit the bottom step and groaned inwardly. Of all the people! It’s 1.30 am for god’s sake! Cala swore under her breath and retreated one step back up the stairs so that she was out of view.

Tory and Simon were on the common room couch in front of the fire, in the exact seat Cala had intended to reside. Her throat tightened as Tory stood up wearing only red laced bra and pants to stoke the fire.
*
"Simon why don’t you come help me?" she fussed in a sickly sweet voice.

Simon muttered darkly under his breath but stood up and helped her stoke the fire as she asked. He glanced at her in her red underwear and hit himself mentally for putting himself in a bad mood. She was stunning, even in his foul disposition he could appreciate that but she was so weak both mentally and physically that Simon found sometimes he was almost even disgusted at the thought of it. Even if he could get around that thought his mind whispered of the Black Lord.

He’ll get your soul. There’s nothing you can do about it. Try and run. He wants you as a NEX!
Tory had other things in mind as she grabbed him by the belt and pulled herself into him. Simon sighed audibly but wrapped his bare forearms around her waist in response as she pressed her unclothed body against his. He felt nothing.

"What’s wrong with you tonight, you seem so distant," Tory’s eyes were sapphire blue and hugely imploring as she gazed adoringly up at Simon.
I’m going to die that’s what’s wrong.

He looked down on her and muttered a gently sorry; she kissed his chest in reply. The problem was her eyes were blue, every time he saw them Cala’s image smashed into his head again and when he looked at Tory’s eyes after remembering Cala’s they just looked dull.

He felt her run her fingers under his shirt and Simon’s skin tingled in response; he was still human after all. She proceeded to lift it off his chest, he let her and it was somehow sad to watch her doing all the work as he just stood there and responded the way he knew he was supposed to.

Tory caught his eyes and Simon leaned down to kiss her again. It wasn’t hard to kiss Tory she had a body to die for and Simon sure as hell wasn’t going to complain. Especially not since he didn’t have to put in any effort, she wasn’t exactly hard to get, but then Simon thought bitterly he couldn’t remember anyone being particularly hard to get.

Tory drew back slightly and gasped for breath, Simon hadn’t realised how deeply he’d been kissing her back until he too found himself searching for oxygen "Simon why are you always so hot?" she questioned moving away from the fire.

Simon shrugged nonchalantly but winced inwardly as another piece of Soriety’s babble seemed to make sense .Tory started kissing him down the chest again, she went lower this time until she was on her knees. Her lips were soft and for a moment Simon was ecstatic, it felt so good as her lips reached just under his tummy button.

Simon’s eyes widened slightly in surprise and he quickly caught her by the hands as she’d reached to undo his belt. He’d caught both of her skinny wrists in one hand and immediately loosened his grip lest he should snap them.

"Tory you don’t have to…," Simon muttered softly. Tory scowled avidly back and stood up again.
"Honestly Simon, I’m down here all alone with you in a bra and pants and you’re acting completely oblivious!"

Simon chuckled, he couldn’t help it. She was right any sane boy would be all over her right now but he just couldn’t bring himself to do it, not tonight.
"Am I not pretty enough for you or something?" she asked hands on hips.

Simon forced himself not to roll his eyes.
"Tory you’re quite frankly stunning," Simon pulled her into his body which he knew she liked as she melted into his arms. He kissed her lightly on the forehead but Tory got the wrong idea as once again she reached for his belt.

In one swift movement she had it unbuckled, whipped out of his jeans and lying one the floor. If Simon had been in any other mood he would have been seriously impressed, but he wasn’t.

"Tory," he said trying to get her attention as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him along his jaw line.
"Tory, I can’t," he reached behind his neck and unclamped her slender arms and she immediately stopped what she was doing.

Hurt swelled in her glossy eyes at the rejection.
"You could last night," she accused.
Simon got down on his knees and kissed her hand.

"I’m sorry Tory," he murmured softly into her hand and just like that Simon witnessed everything fly out of her mind. She lent down and kissed his forehead before collecting her dressing gown off the settee and wrapping it neatly around her figure.

"It’s alright Simon, you’re wonderful while you last," she sighed as he stood again and wrapped her in his arms comfortingly. He pulled back first and looked down into her sapphire eyes again seeing nothing but Cala and swore inwardly as she too released him and made her way up the stairs to collect her clothes from his room and teleported back to her own bed in Hawk’s house.

*
Cala shoved herself against the brick wall of the staircase hastily pulling a camouflage shield around herself as Tory pattered past. Her eyes were dazed and vacant; Cala frowned at her blank expression as she backed down the stairs staggering somewhat in disbelief.

"You!" Simon growled in shock.
Cala spun round and swore under her breath, she’d forgotten he was still here. He stood by the fire light with his top scrunched up in one hand and his belt back in his trousers but not yet fastened.

"You charmed her!" Her words slid incredulously out of her mouth before she could stop them for the second time in three hours.
Simon scowled ardently and took a menacing step towards her; Cala flinched involuntarily at the ferocity of his stance.

"You were listening!" he accused back.
Cala blinked, too annoyed to be embarrassed.
"No," she scowled back bunching her fists.

Simon shook his head, growling subtly "If you knew what’s good for you you’d leave me alone,"
Cala snapped her jaw closed "You’re such an ass," she snarled through gritted teeth.

"Fine," Simon fastened his belt and snubbed the fire out, plunging them into darkness "Whatever you say," he muttered only an arms length away all of a sudden.

Their infuriated expressions held an inch away from each other at best. Cala stood her ground and crackling, spitting static filled the air between them as they both prepared to transport away. There was a snarl of frustration from both, then an almighty crunch as they both transported in such close proximity.

"Ah!" Cala flew backwards and hit the damp grass by the willow. Her head smashed into the ground sending a thundering ringing sensation through her skull.

"God damn girl," she heard someone grumbling quietly a few yards away.

She sat up wearily as her vision slid in and out of focus and swayed slightly. She heard more shuffling and eventually the image of her surroundings came into focus. Two yards away a figure was staggering to his feet and wiping the mud off his bare torso. He had his back to her but Cala knew right away with a horrible twist in her gut it was Simon.

They’d both tried to land in exactly the same spot and had ended up being flung backwards from each other as their energy repelled one another. Cala crawled onto her unsteady feet and Simon swerved around immediately realising the same thing she had.

"You just can’t let me be can you," Simon muttered using his top to clean his muddy chest. Cala couldn’t help but notice him physically; even with a ringing head she had enough sense to note the delicately defined muscles running down his arms and tummy.

Cala gulped, heat rising to her cheeks despite herself and she stomped to her feet angrily.
"Technically I was here first," Cala snapped back. Simon looked up from his muddy grazed body and saw the blood running down the left side of Cala’s head dribble slowly towards her neck. He didn’t think she’d even noticed as it slowly halted and dried within seconds, the gash producing the stem visibly closed before his eyes.

"How’d you figure that out," Simon grumbled, wishing the bruises dancing across his own shoulders could do the same.
"I landed closest to the tree," she grinned smugly, Simon was at least four meters further away from the roots than Cala was.

"That’s just because you’re …!" Simon caught himself.
"Stronger," Cala finished his sentence herself grinning.

Simon rolled his sore shoulders trying to loosen them as he cleaned his top, muttering darkly in Latin all the while. He ignored her jibe; he wasn’t going to fight her no matter how much he wanted to. She was just lucky all the yelling hadn’t flipped his switch or she’d have a knife in her back at this moment in time. Simon spat the dirt out of his mouth, he’d hit the ground damn hard, and ruffled his hair characteristically. He swore a bit more just to get the words out as he did, before looking up to Cala’s cerulean eyes.

They caught him, knocking the anger out of him completely and even his fears receded. Simon stared hopelessly into and at everything Tory could never be, everything nobody else in the world could be. His chest clamped and he gulped watching as the irritated form of Cala Hunt relaxed. Then with horror as those stunning eyes glassed over in painful resignation.

Cala turned her back on him and started to walk away in no particular direction. Simon headed down towards the lake in the opposite direction with resolute purpose and Cala turned back in curiosity as he ran and dove straight into the blackness of it. Cala huffed at the finality of it annoyed that the splash of his body gliding into the water seemed to give him the last word.

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