Page 38 of Ever Dark Academy, Vol. 7

“Charlie?” She spoke his name gently.

“Coming,” he answered and hurried after her.

They entered the hallway after Tanis. While it wasn’t empty–there were clusters of people dotted around the circular hallway–they were unnoticed as they walked swiftly to the elevator that stood in the center of the space. The Spire was hollow in the center. Fiona’s eyes drifted towards the ground far below and she had a moment of vertigo as she saw the identical floors open below them. She pulled back a few steps so she couldn’t see over and put a hand to the center of her chest to steady herself.

Tanis moved through the space like a queen. She inclined her head rather royally as people noticed her. She gave small smiles and murmured a few words, but didn’t slow her pace. She seemed like someone who was too busy and important to stop, but still cared about the people around her. There was a look of awe on some of their faces. Tanis had not exaggerated her role in the creation of the Order. From the way people reacted to her, Fiona wouldn’t have been surprised if she had been the one that would be sitting on that throne.

But she can’t be. Not now. Not even if she wanted to. Kaly would never allow it, Fiona thought. What would the Order have been like if Tanis had been the first Preceptor? Could she have changed things?

As they stepped into the elevator, Fiona considered herself as opposed to her First Fledgling. Tanis was completely composed. She had purpose and comfort in who she was. Fiona, even while Wyvern, had always felt slightly unsettled. She’d always needed to move as if she stayed still too long something bad would happen. She’d chosen to be isolated from everyone this time around. She actually had a cottage outside of the Spire where she often went. The wilds were dangerous, but also protective. They’d kept her privacy. She hadn’t been back there since Daemon had returned and she found she had no desire to. In fact, she felt an almost revulsion at the thought. Her peace now was found in the arms of her beloved Arcius and her fellow Immortals and Vampires.

“Since I will be leaving here after we do this,” Tanis said as the elevator dropped swiftly, “let me do the talking when we get to the entrance to the dungeons. I’ll spend every ounce of political power I have to get us through security. It likely will cause someone to become alarmed, but we’ll have some time before the whole Spire will become a hive of activity and block our escape.”

“Our escape?” Fiona repeated as the elevator started to slow.

“Yes, as you said I need to leave the same as you–”

“No, Tanis! You can leave with us!” Fiona’s eyes were shining. “Perhaps you’re not in the future yet, because you weren’t in the past!”

She grasped her Childe’s shoulders. Tanis blinked.

“I don’t–”

“We can take you with us! Tanis, you can come with us to the future!” Fiona laughed delightedly.

Charlie’s head snapped up. “Oh, Fifi, that’s… that’s very clever.”

It was strange, but he didn’t sound completely excited about this. But he gave her a smile. It seemed that something was bothering him. But she didn’t even wonder what it was as she realized that there was a way to save Tanis!

Understanding bloomed on Tanis’ face. “Go with you? To a time when Daemon is back? To when things are–”

“Truly better,” Fiona assured her. “There is still much healing to be done and many, many trials ahead of us, but you could use all the zeal you brought to the Order to the future. To something true.”

Tanis smiled so broadly even as she dropped her eyes from Fiona’s. Her voice was taut with emotion. “That would be… that would be amazing. More than. Yes, Mistress, I want that. I absolutely want that.”

The elevator stopped. They broke apart and Fiona struggled to put a neutral expression on her face instead of the joyous one that wanted to break out. She remembered the mask that she wore often enough back in her days in the Order. Tanis took the lead with Fiona and Charlie flanking her. The three of them glided towards the hallway that would lead them down to the dungeons.

While the outside doors had been a dozen deep of security, there were only two guards to the entrance to the dungeon’s steps. Fiona wasn’t surprised by this. In the future, no one was stationed there, because no one was supposed to be imprisoned below and all had feared what Caemorn would do to them if they snuck down. But now there wasn’t quite that much trust or fear in this current time.

The guards–two women dressed in white Confessor robes wearing some magical weapons–straightened as Tanis approached them. Tanis sped up her steps as if to intercept their questions with her physical presence. Fiona squashed a frown. Was this nerves? Understandable if it was. But she had hoped from Tanis’ earlier equanimity that she would keep her cool.

“Greetings, Confessors!” Tanis greeted them with warm smiles. “I see you are doing such a good job as always. Have things been quiet, I hope?”

“Ah, yes, they have,” the Vampire to the right said as she shifted from foot to foot. “Nothing has happened since you–”

“I’m glad. I’m so glad. I have some business down below. It won’t take a moment, but I would appreciate it if you would keep others out while I conduct my business,” Tanis spoke quickly.

“Of course, we will do as you wish,” the Vampire to the left said.

Both Confessors crossed their arms over their chests and bowed. The one to the right opened the door with a set of large keys that clinked. The door silently opened and a set of stairs was revealed going downwards. They were lit by the light of several silvery light gems.

Soul gems… Large ones, Fiona noted. Kaly is definitely making their mark here already.

The three of them silently went down the steps. The clank of the door closing behind them had a feeling of unease settling deep into Fiona’s chest. She didn’t dare say anything yet, whether to celebrate or express a desire to get to Seeyr, because there might be more people down below who could overhear them. Tanis flashed her a smile of triumph and moved swiftly ahead of them. Charlie grasped Fiona’s nearest hand as she prepared to follow. She turned to look at him and he opened his mouth to say something but it snapped shut when Tanis called up to them.

“Hurry!” she whispered. “We don’t have much time!”

Fiona frowned when Charlie’s expression grew darker at this as if time wasn’t a concern. The guards hadn’t seemed overly concerned that Tanis was there. In fact…