Chereads / Tainted Truths / Chapter 19 - Underground Railroad

Chapter 19 - Underground Railroad

After Myriah got to help Atoli with dinner, all six occupants of the house sat in the dining room, quietly eating while passing idle chatter.

"So... let me get this straight: you lot are a team that is part of an Underground Railroad to rescue people coming into the change?" Myriah asked slowly, as she took a sip of her fruit cocktail that Atoli and Jasmine had made for her. After finding out that jasmine had a hand in the tasty juice Myriah promptly refused.

She was rewarded by a warning glare from Axel and a disappointed sigh from Atoli. Muttering under her breath, Myriah snatched the juice from Axel and glared at him as she sipped on it.

'At least it's not poisoned…'

Axel raised an eye brow, indicating that he was he not amused. 'Being my protector doesn't make you my master.' Myriah internally replied. Outwardly she was practically baring her teeth at him, "thank you jasmine and Atoli… the juice is delicious." Myriah muttered as she replied to Axels satisfied grin with a glare. She made it a point to ignore him. 'Favor your witch then.' She thought bitterly as she stabbed into her plate. Her blow was weak and her heart sank. 'Why won't my body cooperate?!'

"Don't be so aggressive." Axel lightly scolded as he took the utensils from Myriahs trembling hands, "Take your time. You just woke up. You're still recovering." He murmured as he helped her cut into her chicken. Myriah blushed and replied with a "hymph."

Angalo and Atoli nodded to Myriahs earlier question. Myriah pursed her lips in thought as she let their words sink in.... "H-how many teams do you have?" She asked slowly, Axel and Angalo looked at one another and shrugged, "Gabe, Royce, Xander, and Nick..." Angalo counted, "Bastien, Marc and Khan..." Atoli supplied, "We're a work in progress..." Axel murmured, "But I'd say what? Thirteen?" Angalo nodded, "Maybe more, I try not to keep tabs." Angalo murmured with another shrug. "Why wouldn't you keep tabs?" Myriah asked aloud. "He works at the White House." Axel murmured, "He is how we've remained invisible to Whitman." Myriah nodded, trying to keep her cool.

***

The rational side of her was screaming: "Hard left swipe. Keep it moving girl."

The fan girl in her that won the quiet battle said: "So. You're telling me that you all break into my fathers facilities and take the people?" Myriah asked with growing excitement. She lit up more as her inner fan girl continued to take over. Her hands flew to her cheeks and her eyes filled with stars as the story played out in her head, Axel blinked and Angalo tilted his head, "Oh! Is this supposed to be that storyline that movies follow: a select few who save the many?" Myriah asked with new optimism. Axel cracked a smile, while this side was a highlighted reminder of how innocent she really was, he could say that he enjoyed seeing her excitement.

"We only take them If they survive the change." Jasmine mumbled without looking up from the book she was reading, "You're the fifteenth newborn to survive the change in over fifty years." Angalo murmured. The solemn words were ice cold water that doused her inspirational flame. Myriah seemed to visibly deflate. "Why not take them sooner?" She asked as she slammed her hands on the table, "If there aren't a lot of people like us in there from the start, why-"

"Do you know how to identify people like us, princess?"

Angalo asked. Myriah tilted her head, "Blood?"

She guessed, "DNA swab? Hair follicle? Bone test? Marrow identification, Finger prints?" Myriah gave a careless single shoulder shrug, "I'm sure there are more, but I can't think of them right now."

Angalo blinked, "I didn't know you were aware of all of that." He murmured with a low whistle. "Nam'mil oruvarai aṭaiyāḷam kāṇpataṟkāṉa orē vaḻi itutāṉ. Paḻaiya moḻi pēcuvataṉ mūlam. Kāyccalāl pātikkappaṭātavarkaḷ kūṭa moḻiyaip purintu koḷḷa muṭiyum (this is the only way to identify one of us. by speaking the old language. even those who have not suffered the fever can understand the language)" Angalo murmured. Kain dropped his fork and applauded. It always pleased him when people knew to speak the old language as he did. Angalo lifted his wine glass in thanks. "Our blood identifies the same as a mortals-"

"But not the white blood cell count." Myriah interjected, "That is the identifier my father uses. I wouldn't be scared to bet that that's been his selling point." Angalo tilted his head, "How would you know that, princess?" Myriah leaned toward Anglao and whispered: "I see and hear everything."

'- a mind reader…' Angalo thought with awe. 'I wouldn't be surprised if she could manipulate the mind too.'

"This is real life. Sacrifices must be made. People die. Reality is cruel and harsh and We're forced to deal with it." Green glared into lavender, "why should you be any different?" Myriah was at a loss for words. She bowed her head and her shoulders sagged.

"You say that so easily…" Myriah mumbled. "Like you didn't see me in that facility when I was taken the first time." Jasmine froze and everyone at the table gasped.

Myriah stood and glared at Jasmine.

"You're right. I didn't" Jasmine snapped back.

"You didn't this time around." With that ominous reply, Myriah felt something inside of her snap and she narrowed her eyes into slits. 'That's how I know you…'

Green eyes widened as the vase behind Jasmine shattered and Myriahs eyes narrowed, 'You speak as if you're not my fathers little spy.' She thrust her hand forward and the knives at the table flew toward Jasmine.

'No more pretend…'

Tinted lavender eyes widened when Axel appeared in front of Jasmine.

A steak stabbed into her chest.

'You..' a swipe of his hand, and Axel blocked all of the knives. His eyes glared into hers, and she only got angrier.

Myriah only saw her protector protecting another.

"I told you, Myriah: we don't use our powers on one another." Axel growled. Myriah lifted her hand and he flew across the room. "You think that because you rescued me, you can command me?!" She screeched, her mind lost to the trigger in the shape of a green eyed witch.

'Jasmine…' Myriah snarled internally as she glared at the shocked witch. Axel climbed to his feet and he dusted himself off.

"You're going to have to repair that." He muttered as he advanced on Myriah who tossed him across the room a second time with a flick of her wrist.

"You and your witch can repair it… assuming I let you live." Myriah muttered angrily.

Angry tears streaming down her cheeks, she was lost in the betrayal, lost in the dark distortions that haunted her mind... 'Why protect that little spy?!' She wondered as Axel advanced toward her again. With a loud screech she flicked her wrist and sent him flying for the third time. "Don't come near me!" Myriah cried as she fell to her knees from exertion.

'Don't protect her and then come to me…'

Atoli was about to go to the fallen girl when Axel appeared between them. "Don't touch her…" he barked, "Right now her aura is tainting and her powers are growing more dangerous by the second." He murmured in solemn tones. 'But this isn't her power…' he internally observed.

Myriah was about to send him away again but he caught her wrist in his open palm and with a tug he pulled her into his embrace.

"That's enough…" Axel murmured in calm tones.

"No!" Myriah screamed as she thrashed against him. "Let go of me!" She cried as she kicked and tried to wiggle from his iron hold. 'Touching her, I feel the tainted energy that's consuming her… I see what she's feeling…' Axel felt tears sting his eyes at the seer depth of emotion Myriah was emitting. 'This is her will...' he thought as her head collided with his chin. Myriahs heel dug into his foot. As much as her blows hurt, he didn't let her go. 'This is her wrath…' Axel thought as he buried his face into the crook of her neck. 'I won't let you go…' Myriahs struggles seamed to slow down, until an agonizing wail ripped from her throat. Atoli and Angalo cringed at the sound. Kain bowed his head and Jasmine turned away. 'She put everything…' Axel thought, eyes wide. Myriah froze when she felt drips soaking onto her shoulder. Once she felt his tears, the overpowering feeling seamed to evaporate. 'Axel?' Myriah asked as she felt more of his tears soaking into her shirt. "Why…?"

Keeping his head bowed, he held her by her shoulders as he briefly examined her. "Axel…"

"I'm sorry." He whispered into the crook of Myriahs neck. "Why would you be…?" Myriah gasped as silent tears continued to slide down her cheeks. "I don't protect the witch form you.." Axel whispered, Myriah bit her bottom lip as she trembled against his form. 'I protect you from yourself.' Axel sighed as he made quick work of his own tears then moved so that he could see her face. Myriah gasped again when she saw the red line across Axels left cheek. "I-" Axel shook his head, "It's a scratch-"

"You're bleeding…" Myriah whispered, "I'll help…" before Axel could register what was going on, she reached and cupped the back of his head with her left hand. Her right held his face in place.

Angalo and Atoli were watching, biting their nails at the drastic shift and rise of emotion from the two. Jasmine, who has since recovered from Myriahs attack, had not recovered from her verbal lashing…or her emotional outburst.

She watched the lavender eyed beauty crane her neck to kiss Axels wounded cheek.

Axels face flamed red at the feel of her full soft lips on his skin. It took him back to when he kissed her… he closed his eyes and basked in the feel of her lips. 'Like rose petals.'

"Oh my…"

Atoli murmured with her hands covering her mouth, "The cut is completely gone!" She gasped astonished. Angalo tilted his head, 'She can heal on the spot too..' Axel stared into Myriahs eyes stunned, she bowed her head and rested against him. "I'm sorry…" she sighed as her eyes fluttered closed. Axel fell onto his haunches with an unconscious Myriah in his arms.

"I-I will take her up…" He whispered after a long awkward silence.