34.

Avalon wrapped up the meeting, but I heard nothing else he said. I had to figure out a way to get to that trial. I had to figure out a way to save Lilly or at least testify on her behalf. I was determined to do it, even if I had to do it completely on my own. Avalon had said something about Kiran going, maybe he would help me.

“Are you ready for the mark?” Amory brought me out of my silent plotting and back to the center of the Resistance.

“What mark?” I asked, completely unaware of what he was talking about.

“She doesn’t want to join,” Avalon joined our conversation as the others milled about in groups of two or three. I got the impression they were all trying to listen to our discussion.

“Why is that?” Amory asked Avalon sharply; apparently not interested in any explanation I would give him.

“Why do you think?” Avalon replied sardonically.

“Eden, you have a lot to learn, young lady,” he said it much like a parent, and I felt instantly resentful.

“What is the mark?” I tried to change the subject away from what I feared was a long lecture on responsibility.

“It’s this,” Avalon pointed to his arm; his school uniform was rolled up to the elbow and revealed the tattoo of a snake wrapped around his forearm eating its own tail.

“You want me to get that?” I exclaimed. There was no way I would cover my body in a hideous image of a masochistic serpent.

“No, not that,” Amory shook his head. “Avalon is a little…. devoted. The usual symbol the Resistance wears is more subtle,” he turned his head to the side and pulled his ear lobe away from his neck. I saw only clear flesh until he touched the part of his neck just behind his earlobe and injected a little magic to reveal the same serpent. The image was much smaller, almost miniscule, but was clear and obvious until he removed the magic. Once the magic was gone, the small tattoo vanished.

“And you all have those?” I asked, enamored with the trick. A dozen Resistance members turned to show me theirs, including Jericho and Avalon. Angelica’s was a brilliant shade of orange, while Conrad and Terrence’s were an army green color. Amory’s was a deep crimson shade of red. And all of the members of Avalon’s team wore ones in white, which stood eerily off their skin, except for Avalon whose tattoo was royal blue.

“What color would mine be?” I asked, with no intentions of actually getting one.

“I am guessing it would match Avalon’s, but we won’t know until you decide to get one,” Amory answered my question, sounding slightly frustrated.

“What do you mean?” I asked, confused.

“The magic we use to apply the mark chooses your color. The magic in a way determines the color you deserve. Not that one color is greater than the other; rather it defines the magic you are made of,” Amory put his hand on my shoulder one more time before leaving what had turned into a circle of people, containing mostly Avalon’s team.

“You don’t get to join the team until you have the tattoo. There will be no more fighting for you,” Jericho said as if taunting me.

“She doesn’t get to join the team. Tattoo or not,” Avalon interjected threateningly. He gave Jericho a hard look that Jericho seemed to understand even though I didn’t.

“Avalon doesn’t want me to join the team, because I would easily replace you Jericho,” I deflected my frustration, by turning it against Jericho.

“Oh you think so? Maybe we should have a rematch,” his voice was sarcastic, but his eyes smoldered and I once again noticed how attractive he was. He was taller than Kiran, but his darker hair and darker eyes made him appear mysterious somehow. Any thoughts of attraction I had for him though were quickly forgotten once I remembered Kiran, and then my heart hurt with emotion and a type of longing I didn’t expect.

“I’m sorry; I didn’t catch your names?” I turned off the charm, and turned to face the other members of Avalon’s team, but not before catching a confused look cross Jericho’s face.

“Sorry. Eden, this is Xander, Xavier and Titus,” Avalon made the introductions. I shook each of their hands consecutively, memorizing the magical imprint they left in my fingertips.

Xander and Xavier must be related somehow because they looked nearly identical and their magical current was only slightly different. Xander was slightly taller, but they both had to be close to 6’5 or 6’6. Their hair was long like Jericho’s and Avalon’s and dark like mine. They both had facial hair, but Xander seemed to be a little bit older than Xavier.

Titus was also an imposing figure, only a little shorter than the other two. He also wore scruff on his face; only his brilliant red hair and stockier stature made him look more like a lumberjack than a well-bred Immortal.

“Are you twins?” I asked with honest curiosity.

“We wish,” Xander replied enthusiastically. “Unfortunately, only you two get to carry that cross,” his eyes darted between mine and Avalon’s. When I gave him a puzzled look he changed the subject. “This is my kid brother.” He grabbed Xavier around the neck and pulled him into a headlock. Xavier zapped Xander’s foot with a shot of magic forcing Xander to let go and let him stand up. They pushed each other playfully until Titus stepped in, grabbed both of their heads and slammed them together. I cringed when I heard the crushing sound the impact made. They seemed unharmed however and shook it off, rejoining the circle with smug smiles on their faces.

“So why haven’t I met you before?” I tried to refocus the group away from physical violence.

“Technically you have met us before,” Jericho spoke up. “Remember the rooftop?”

“I mean properly,” I clarified my meaning, but I was sure they understood that from the beginning.

“Because we didn’t know if we could trust you,” Avalon said simply and the other boys averted their eyes at the awkward pause Avalon’s comment caused.

“And yet they trust you,” I said disdainfully, only half kidding.

“Cute,” Avalon mumbled under his breath. “Eden, do you mind? We need to go over some logistics before we head back. I’ll be ready soon though.”

“Sure,” I said a little disheartened. I offered a small wave and walked away aimlessly. Avalon’s obviously important and Amory seemed to be mad at me; I wondered at the reason I even came to this meeting. I hoped they didn’t expect me to really join their cause. How could they?

“You look just like your mother, dear,” Angelica’s soft voice summoned me out of my pity party.

“Do I?” I was instantly drawn into her conversation by the very mention of my mother. She patted the hay bale she was still perched upon and I joined her, pulling my skirt down behind my legs so the straw would not scratch me. “Did you know her?”

“Yes of course. We all knew her. Well, except for the young ones. But how brave they are. They have never known a time without tyranny and yet they are willing to fight for a freedom that is foreign to them,” she sighed as if remembering something sad.

“I’ve never seen them before. Do Resistance fighters go to school somewhere else?” I asked, wishing I could figure out a way to bring up my mother again.

“Oh no, not here they don’t. I suppose those boys have all finished school, except for your brother,” she patted my knee familiarly. “You know, our numbers have never been this big. I suppose that means a war is coming soon,.” Sshe turned her head, and for a moment I imagined I saw a tear run down her cheek.

“Was my mother in the Resistance?” I asked, hoping to glean something from this sentimental old woman.

“In her own way she resisted; I suppose she fought against both sides. You could say that she made her own path, much like you dear,” she turned to face me again, searching my eyes for…. something. “Your brother is a good leader; much like your father and grandfather. One day I am afraid we will ask too much of you both,”she shifted her eyes away from mine and to the circle of boys listening intently to Avalon’s instructions.

“What happened to them, I mean my parents?” I asked feeling brave.

“Your brother is waiting for you, dear,” she continued to look in the direction of Avalon who seemed to be still in the middle of conversation. I was about to ask her my question again, anxious for more information other than we just look and behave like our parents, but then Avalon was looking in my direction waving for me to follow him.

“It was nice to meet you Angelica,” I stood up, and reached out my hand to shake hers.

“Oh, it wasn’t the first time we have met,” she put her hand in mine and although I couldn’t recall ever meeting her before, once our flesh met, the magic that flowed between us was familiar and sweet. Our currents mingled for a second before she let go of my hand and walked away.

“Eden, let’s go,” Avalon yelled at me, a little impatiently.

I walked past him and towards the truck. I couldn’t remember ever feeling more irritated with him than at that moment. As far as brothers go, I thought he stood up to the expectations just fine.

“I don’t think it's fair you can’t go,” Jericho matched steps with mine.

“Oh yeah, why’s that?” I asked, truly interested, “Everyone else seems dead set against it.”

“Funny choice of words,” Jericho looked at me curiously out of the corner of his eye. “I think you should be allowed to fight. Clearly you are capable. They can’t hide you forever, especially with the way the prince apparently feels about you.”

My cheeks instantly flamed with the mention of Kiran and his feelings for me. I pressed my cool hands to my face hoping to calm my nerves. We reached the truck and Jericho lingered by the passenger side door.

“Well thank you, I guess,” I forced myself to look him in the eye and carefully formed my next question. “Where is the feast anyways? What did Amory call it, the Judiciary something….” I batted my eyelashes and gave the cutest confused look I imagined I was capable of.

“The Judiciary Courts Citadel,” Jericho smiled shyly, aware that I was flirting with him. “Romania.”

“How can we have our own Citadel without humans wanting to know more about us?” I asked innocently.

“The Citadel is not as large as you are probably imagining it, but it’s also hidden in the mountains.”

“It’s like its own town? Does it have a name?” I pried.

“Yes, and yes. But that’s all that you’ll get out of me,” he smiled shyly. He reached past my waist, bumping my side gently with his arm and pulled the door open behind me.

I waited for him to walk away before I struggled awkwardly into the truck cab. No matter how many times I practiced the tall steps into the passenger’s seat, I could never seem to accomplish the feat looking like a lady.

“You better change your mind,” Avalon grumbled after buckling his seat belt and starting the engine. I understood that he was referring to joining the “cause” but I chose to ignore it.

“Avalon, do you know anything about our parents?” I asked softly.

“No,” he replied quickly, but then took a long pause. “I mean, I know enough to know what kind of people they were and that they would have wanted us to join the Resistance,” I caught his not so subtle hint, but chose to ignore that one too.

“What kind of people were they?”

“Strong…. Smart…. Powerful…. Kind. Just like me,” he quipped.

“But they didn’t join the resistance?”

“Amory tells me, they didn’t get a chance to.” Avalon’s voice was soft and far off. Let me go with you. I pled using our mutual telepathy.

“No,” he said firmly and out loud.

I shut my mind off to him completely, angry at his stubbornness and at my own helplessness. I decided I must ask Kiran for help, I had no other option. Surely he would want to help Lilly, especially after she fought to save his life. He would have to help me.