They Called Me FIVE

LANCE

"Didn't you just said Seven is sleeping? And if she's gonna wake up you'll tell her on us? That means you knew her location right?" I said.

Fake Seven took a moment to answer. "Yeah, that's the thing. There's something I need to confess to you. Months ago, right before the Mark of Eklektos appeared, she ordered me to watch over you, loser. I don't know for what purpose. She just said you will be part of the chosen one, very important, blah blah blah. So I did. Three days after, I lost contact of my Master. And the meteor came. Your Mark has revealed itself. I watched you killed the cornfields unknowingly, watch you suck the life out of that Auf you imprison by his wings, and then the arrival of Magnus. I don't know what I would do, my direct orders were  to 'watch' not interfere. But you both are so annoyingly stupid and foolish I badly want to smack the boulder right at your skull to let you see some sense."

"Uh huh. I still don't see the part where it has to do with the real Seven's location." Magnus said.

Me too.

"We'll duh. Can't you wait to let me get to that part?" She cleared her throat. "Right after that night when you loser and your Dad left Chicago, I found Magnus unconscious somewhere off the field. I tried to borrow some healing powers from my Master.  It worked. Curious thing is, a small spark rimmed in my hand, as if me casting blessing sent signal to someone on the other side of the deities – knows – where. Next thing I know, that Temptress came and captured both of us."

I let this new information process in my brain. In this windowless room that offered no sunrays, no fluorescent bulbs, my eyes finally adjusted to, I kept on thinking back. Temptress…she's Meira. She captured them. Then she came to me. She knew my location from Dad. From the start, he already gave me away. He gave up his right as father to me. And I was foolish enough not to see it.

"My second attempt was Magnus appearance to you loser, then me catching you off from the window. Believe me, I'm itching to slam your heavy body to the ground and break your hip. Yet, I didn't do it. You better thank me." She said sharply. As if I owe her a huge debt. 

But no one ask her to catch me anyway. Definitely not my debt to pay. It was her choice. 

"Ehem," she feigned a coughed. The where's – my – thanks cough. 

"Yeah, thank you." I said. "But I still don't see what it has to do with Seven's location."

"Gah! Can't you wait? I'm getting into that part." She blew off steam and continued. "Right after that, the Temptress came to me. Threaten me not to do it again or she'll tear off my nails. She doesn't scare me, so I never give a damn. What I just can't understand… is how she knew I was tapping my Master's blessing. Why can I feel a strong whiff of 'Life's blessing' radiating from her skin each time she's near."

Radiating? 

I think back on the night I get to talk with Seven. How we officially introduce each other, and the horror stricken face of Meira when she saw Seven killing the two Aufs. Its like she lead me there to show that scene to me, but something in that image wasn't part of the plan. 

"Hey, fake – I mean Alpha Beast. Are you the Ava Meira introduced to me at school?" 

"Nope." She answered immediately. "That wasn't me. That was one of Temptress minions. She wants you to see my master's face on that b*tch. Just like how she wants all men to see her as pretty and vulnerable and sweet. Yuck. Old hags are old hags, what's the point of trying to change your looks?"

"Then the rooftop. Was that you? The Seven who told me Magnus and I shouldn't meet yet because…" I faltered. I forgot what I should say next. Especially when Meira's shock face kept tugging at the back of my brain.

From the other end, I heard Magnus laugh. "Are you talking about the night right before you were brought here? Did you know that wasn't part of their plan? That smug dude wants to use your Dad a little longer to drain your blessing. But because of Seven's unceremonial appearance, Temptress plan to enslave you went to drain. Me and Fake Seven here have compared notes you know, and we think the 'Seven' who came to you that night was the real 'Seven'. Beast here thinks her Master must have awaken from her deep slumber. While I think the real 'Seven' escape from her cell the Temptress put her in. Now she's out there, looking for us. Bidding her time to let us out. That's why Temptress got desperate to get her back and she hasten her plan to capture you. I guess she's the only one who knows Fake Seven is fake." Magnus proposed.

"That's. Impossible." Fake Seven said through gritted teeth. "There's a connection between me and my Master. I can feel what she feels, like our emotions are interconnected. And that night…that's the only time I get a feedback of her feelings. She was happy. I thought I'll trace it back to her location but the connection turned tranquil again. As if she's sleeping." 

"Uhm, guys. What exactly is the power of Temptress? Illusion? Seduction?" I brought up.

"Yep." Magnus affirmed. "But Temptress needs a lot of mana to perform seduction so strong it messes mass population's mindset. A whole school perhaps. Or the whole city. It's complicated. Unlucky for her, she needs a reliable unlimited source."

"What do you mean?" 

"Take for example, you. The reason why they want you so bad is because you have the 'Death blessing'. If tapped correctly, you can almost make anyone you choose to be immortal. That's what the Temptress wants from you. And the Dark Elf. But it takes a lot of work. More headaches. I know you. You're stubborn and reckless. With the whole city fallen victim to Faery slavery, it's hard to say where the Temptress is getting her source for forever young beauty from."         

A bizarre idea suddenly pops into my head. I think back on our date with Meira. How she gave away her true face in the mirror. She look a bit worn out and stressed back then...but right now, her skin became more vibrant. Her cheeks are blushing in color. She looks younger, about two years I think. 

"Guys, I think I know now where Seven is." I said.