A sour taste welled in Zenith's mouth. Oh, how he wished he could tell his liege it was all lies, just more of the demon's insidious manipulation...but lying would serve no purpose. It would only lower him to Mirage's level.
So he nodded, slow and deliberate, hating himself all the while.
Darian drew in a shuddering breath. She turned toward Mirage again, then glanced over her shoulder at Victor, still and silent at the bow.
"This feels familiar, I have to admit." When she spoke, her voice was calm but held a wary edge. "Is this yet another attempt to get your hands on the Star of Miriel? You're not very creative, are you?"
Mirage flinched, to Zenith's surprise. He hadn't expected such a genuine-looking reaction – but that was just the thing. It wasn't genuine.
"Use your brain," the demon snapped. "If I wanted the Star of Miriel, I wouldn't have given it up like this, would I?" As if to emphasize his point, he delivered the staff a sound kick, sending it spinning toward Darian's feet.
Guntar – in his human form, to Zenith's surprise – swelled indignantly, but Mirage went on before he could speak.
"I understand that you have no reason to trust me. To trust us." He briefly met Victor's eyes. "I've probably used up any and all goodwill you might have for the rest of your lifetimes. Still, think about it this way. What exactly do I have to gain here? Using you to get rid of a rival like Greisen is one thing. Betraying a Grand General is wholly another. No matter what, there is no coming back from this. Even if I were to, say, capture you and turn you over to the Infernal Lord myself, it will never be enough to make up for my initial betrayal."
He held his head high and proud, gazing unwaveringly at Darian. For a moment that stretched to an eternity, silence reigned aboard the craft.
And still that contrary voice inside Zenith insisted, 'Don't believe him. Reject him. They rescued Theo, so they have already served their purpose. Use them like they used us.'
Shame settled in his stomach, cold and heavy. Deep inside, he knew these thoughts didn't truly stem from his distrust of Mirage and Victor. No, it had everything to do with Theo in his arms. Still asleep, completely oblivious to the scene playing out – let alone who had saved him in the first place.
At length, Darian broke her gaze away and shook her head. "I don't trust you. But it's not like I have any other choice. We're in the middle of a battle here...and I can't deny that you did find Theo. So...I'll accept your help for now."
Mirage breathed out, shoulders slumping, and again Zenith couldn't shake the uncomfortable feeling he was witnessing a genuine reaction. 'Foolish, that's just what he wants you to think....'
"Mind you, this isn't an invitation to do as you please." Darian's voice snapped him back to reality. She was fixing Mirage with a steely glare, arms folded. "We'll be keeping a very close eye on both of you. But for now, we need to focus on what's most important. Sir Zenith, how is Theo doing?"
"Ah." Zenith glanced down at his sleeping wizard. "He seems...all right. Unconscious, and his Levia is almost completely drained, but otherwise unharmed."
"What happened to him?"
The question was matter-of-fact, with not a hint of accusation, but it brought Zenith up short anyway. Come to think of it, he didn't know. It wasn't as if he'd had the time to ask in the middle of the battlefield.
A quiet clack of footsteps behind him, then Victor's low voice drifted over. "It seems the Infernal Lord was trying to overwhelm his Levia."
"The Infernal Lord?" All the color drained from Darian's face.
"Wait, wait, wait!" Sam, who had edged closer to Zenith, flapped her hands wildly. "Are you saying the big kahuna himself is on that skycraft?"
"Not in person," Mirage said. "But there's a mirror aboard which he uses to communicate with the General. We found your friend in front of that mirror, and the Infernal Lord was sending his Levia through it."
"If we hadn't come in time, Theo might not have...." Victor's voice trailed off, but there was no ignoring the muscle working in his jaw.
"Oh, don't act like you care!" Sam whirled upon him, fists raised. "After everything you've done – "
Zenith had not expected Sam to outright confront Victor, and it sent the strangest rush of pride and vindication through him. But the feeling evaporated in an instant when Darian stepped forward and snapped, "That's enough. Now is not the time."
Though Sam puffed out her cheeks, Zenith fought down a cold jolt of shame – an emotion with which he was beginning to become sadly familiar.
"This can mean nothing good," Guntar was saying, stroking his beard. "So now we know Theo was captured at the behest of the Infernal Lord himself, not just General Hellebore. The question is why?"
"I don't know myself," Mirage said. "You'd have to ask him."
"That's when he awakens," Darian cut in. "For now, let's get Theo to the infirmary. Hopefully Cay can help him recover."
She nodded at Zenith. He lowered his head in a slight bow, more relieved than he would like to admit. At least now he had clear orders, a directive to fulfill. And after bringing Theo to the infirmary, he could join the fight himself.
But as he turned toward the nearest hatch, he felt a tiny spark of Levia. Not his own stark light, but a soft, rosy glow. Though weak, he would never mistake it anywhere.
The Levia sparked again, a little brighter and stronger. So he definitely hadn't imagined it. The next thing he knew, Theo started stirring in his arms, tossing his head back and forth as if he was suffering a nightmare.
"Theo?" Alarmed, Zenith cradled Theo closer to his chest. The others approached, crowding around him, and he was too focused on his wizard to care that Victor was among them.
Theo's lips moved, his brow scrunched, and he let out a little whimper. His Levia pulsed stronger than ever before his eyelids slid open.
Zenith couldn't help the gasp that escaped his throat. For the first time in what felt like forever, he was gazing into his wizard's eyes.
Yet for a terrifying moment, he didn't recognize them. Not a trace of warm brown to be found, but a cold, deep purple glittering with stars. Something strange and powerful tugged at his Levia, almost reminding Zenith of the way he felt when he heard that voice in his sleep....
Then Theo blinked, and his eyes were brown again. Bleary and unfocused, but very much his own. Zenith felt unbalanced, as if the world had subtly rearranged itself.
But he had no time to mull about it. Not when Theo was awake. A few more blinks, and Theo's eyes finally focused on Zenith's face.
"Z...Zenith? What are...."
"Theo." Zenith tightened his grip, fingers digging into Theo's robes. Some fierce, burning part of himself never wanted to let go. "How...how do you feel?"
"I...I'm fine, I think...." To Zenith's shock, a gentle smile settled across Theo's face. "You're here...I'm glad."
"Theo, I...," Zenith began. The Levia pounded violently in his core, almost as if he was going to explode.
"Theo." When Victor's voice drifted over, the warm feeling inside Zenith scattered to the winds. Unconsciously he pulled Theo closer, wanting to hide him from Victor's gaze.
But it was too late. Squirming in Zenith's arm, Theo turned his head toward his brother. His eyes widened. "Vic...Victor?"
Victor nodded solemnly. "I'm glad you're all right."
Zenith had never heard his voice like this before, quiet as ever but trembling with barely-suppressed emotion. No...he had. That time in the Liminal, when he had asked, 'Have I ever harmed Theo?'
'You have,' Zenith thought furiously. 'And because of that, you have no right to speak to him.'
But here and now, Theo was still looking right at his brother, and though his voice was weak, it was filled with wonder. "What...why are you...."
"He saved you," Mirage declared, sidling up next to Victor. "So show a little gratitude, will you?"
"Huh?" Theo squirmed harder, pushing at Zenith's chest. "Wait, you're – "
"That can wait." Darian stepped between them. "For now, let's get you to the infirmary. You need to rest."
"No, wait." Theo pushed harder, forcing Zenith to tighten his grip. "The...the battle. I have to...."
Of course. Even exhausted and barely conscious, Theo could only think about helping his friends. A familiar affection flooded Zenith, and he leaned down closer to his wizard.
"I understand how you feel, Theo, but your health comes first. If you'll allow me?"
Sighing, Theo went limp. "Okay. Thanks, Zenith."
His voice lowered to a mumble, and his eyes slid shut again. Affection fluttered through Zenith again, but with it came a faint, sickening edge of disquiet. Theo might have thanked him, but what had he done to deserve it?