The Sankari Legends Book One: The Scars We Hide
Chapter Four: Megan

“No!” I shouted as I bolted upright.

I took a few deep breaths to calm my nerves before looking aroundto take inventory of where I was. I relaxed a little when I remembered I was onthe couch in Zig’s living room. We were in Inon on a mission, taking a shortrest stop before going out to replace the konna encampment. We’d been attacked onour way here. Alia had been cut in the arm with a knife, and Alec had beenknocked unconscious by… we didn’t know yet what—or who—had knocked him out.

“Megan?” I looked up to see Sabin standing in the doorway. Hisusually calm and collected expression had fallen just the slightest amount,showing his exhaustion and also worry… worry for me, I guessed.

“What is it?” he asked. “Is something wrong?”

“N-nothing,” I stuttered. “Just a bad dream.”

His jaw tightened. I could tell that the excuse “just a bad dream”was one he was familiar with, and was also one he wasn’t going to accept for ananswer.

“What about?” Sabin asked. His tone was cool and serious, leavingno openings for jokes or other half-hearted excuses.

“It’s nothing,” I said, even though I knew he wouldn’t accept thatas an answer. “Please don’t worry about me. Besides, you should probably getsome rest. You look exhausted.”

Sabin sighed deeply before sinking down into the armchair closestto him.

“You’re right about that,” he muttered. “I am exhausted. I’ve beenup since the crack of dawn… what time is it anyway?”

I looked down at my watch. “About two in the morning. Oh-twohundred hours.”

Sabin groaned and leaned his head back with his eyes closed. “I’vebeen awake sixteen hours then. Great.”

“And it hasn’t exactly been an easy sixteen hours either, has it?”

He shook his head faintly. “Not in the least bit. The boat ride,then the konna attack. Plus the report I had to give to the senior officershere.”

“How did that go?” I asked.

“I could’ve used some back up,” Sabin answered, opening one eye togive me a pointed look. “Those superiors were brutal. Didn’t seem to believeanything about a konna attack. And since I didn’t really have any physicalproof…”

“I would’ve loved to have helped,” I said. “But you know, only a Zeta, so I couldn’t goin front of the superiors. Besides, I had to get the information for ourmission.”

“Oh yeah,” he said. “What did you replace out?”

I waved my hand dismissively. “I’ll tell you later, when Alia andAlec are here to hear it as well.”

“Are they still downstairs?”

I nodded. “Alec woke up a while ago. Zig and I have been lettingthose two talk in private. They haven’t seen each other in seven years, youknow.”

“None of us have,” Sabin muttered quietly. He frowned and looked atme quizzically. “Don’t you think it’s a little weird that after being apart forso long we’ve all been put on this mission together?”

“I think it’s more than a little weird,” I said.

“What do you mean by that?” he asked.

“I mean…” I took a deep breath. “I mean… Okay, look. If we’re goingto do this mission together, you need to know there are no such things acoincidences in my life.”

Sabin raised an eyebrow. “Okay…”

“My point is, I don’t think it was by accident or sheer luck thatthe four of us were given this mission.”

He seemed to consider this for a few seconds before nodding.

“That’s what I was thinking too,” he said. “I just… didn’t want tojump to conclusions. But if you feel the same way, then…”

“Then for some reason I can’t fathom, someone wants the four of usworking together again. If you count being childhood friends as ‘workingtogether’,” I said. “Besides, look atthe roles we’ve been given with this mission: you as the leader, myself as the…brains, I guess. Alia and Alec as the fighters—the people who are going to getstuff done.”

I inwardly winced at my last sentence. I was quoting her, but I couldn’t help it. The way shehad described everything… it was all too simple.

Sabin started to say something, but just then Alia appeared in thedoorway. She nodded stiffly at Sabin—only to acknowledge the fact that he was aranking officer— before turning to me with her arms crossed. “Megan, Zig sentme here to ask you if you could bring down some food for Alec.”

I nodded and stood up. Alia and Sabin both followed me to thekitchen and stood in complete silence as I heated some soup for Alec.

“Do either of you want anything?” I asked without looking at them.When neither responded, I forced back my irritation.

This wasn’t the first time I had worked with either of them sincebeing at the academy, but it had always been in very short drills. Sabin hadbeen a power-combat specialist like Alia before he had graduated, and everymonth or so, the PCS’s and my specialization, the intelligence gathers, wouldrun drills together. Why, I don’t know. IGSs were one of the fewspecializations to have contact with other specializations during training,which is how I had already known Sabin and Alia were at the academy. Alec hadcome as a bit of a surprise though, since I had never worked with thesituational specialists before and therefore had never seen him. He’d alsogrown up in Einoth, a realm outside of our own Sankruus. Rarely did people fromEinoth come to join Sankruus’ army, seeing as Einoth was a primarily peacefulrealm and really didn’t like the people of Sankruus to begin with.

But I was familiar with Alia’s attitude and Sabin’s independentmindset. It was actually surprising how similar they were: both were extremelystubborn with doing things the way they thought was best. The only differencewas that Sabin knew where to draw the line with his stubbornness, where Aliawas severely wanting in that area.

I also knew that the two of them were not on the best of terms. Ihadn’t seen them interact much at the academy, but even when they were kidsthey had clashed at points. Their relationship was really weird, because attimes they would act like best friends and other times it had been all Alec andI could do to keep them from trying to kill each other. And that was before Alia’s powers had developed.

Shaking my head, I went ahead and poured the soup into bowls, onefor each of them and then one for Alec. Zig and I had eaten earlier while Sabinwas gone and we were waiting for Alec to wake up. (At that point, Alia had beenasleep as well, after nodding off in the chair she was sitting in in Zig’sbasement).

I grabbed two of the bowls and turned around to hand them to Aliaand Sabin when it happened. I felt my vision slide out of focus and suddenly Iwasn’t seeing Alia and Sabin standing in front of me in Zig’s kitchen anymore…instead I saw them each a couple of years younger, standing on the central quadat Edil, glaring at each other in a cocky sort of“I’m-going-to-kick-your-ass-at-this-because-I’m-freaking-awesome-and-a-hell-of-a-lot-better-than-you”kind of way. I gasped and blinked, my vision coming back to the present.Unfortunately, as was usual when this happens, I was thrown off balance when Icame back. The soup bowls fell out of my hands as I tried to catch myselfbefore I face planted into the counter.

It would’ve been a mess if Alia hadn’t been there. She simply stuckout a hand and the bowls stopped falling. They never hit the ground, and thesoup stayed where it was suppose to.

I cursed silently as Sabin rushed over to help me up. I shruggedhim off as gently as I could. There was no way I was going to appear any weakerin front of these two than I already did.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“What was that about?” Alia asked at the same time.

I shook my head. I couldn’t explain it to them. Not now.

“I just… I got really dizzy all of a sudden,” I said, wincinginwardly at how lame the excuse sounded. “Guess I’m not fully awake yet.”

Alia spun the bowls in the air by wiggling her fingers. She stoodthere completely unimpressed by my excuse. Sabin placed a hand on my shoulder.

“But are you okay?” he asked again.

I nodded, still getting the feeling that he was used to these kindsof things happening, and he knew I was completely lying through my teeth aboutit being nothing. But I wasn’t about to explain that to either of them,especially since neither of them knew about my powers. Also, what I had seenreally confused me, because for the life of me I couldn’t think of any time Ihad seen Alia and Sabin giving each other that kind of look before.

I decided it was best not to dwell on that.

“Come on,” I said. “Let’s just get this soup downstairs.”

We got downstairs to replace Alec sitting on the couch I had left himon with Zig sitting across from him on the coffee table. Alec was wearing thefresh clothes Zig had provided, but he still looked pretty rough. I was leadingthe way down the stairs, but Sabin had refused to let me carry any of the soupbowls, just in case I “got dizzy” again. I couldn’t help but be thankful thatneither of them were telepaths, otherwise they would’ve been treated to thefull range of my choice vocabulary.

“We made it back,” Alia reported as we reached the bottom of thestairs. I heard the door at the top close and assumed she had closed it withher telekinesis. “There were a few difficulties but…”

“Alia,” Sabin warned.

Zig gave me a curious glance, but didn’t say anything. I knew I’dhear about it later though.

“How are you doing Alec?” Sabin asked, handing him a bowl of soupand then sitting down on the coffee table next to Zig. Alia took her bowl andretreated to the armchair she had been sitting in earlier. I decided to goahead and sit on the couch next to Alec.

“I’ve been better,” Alec muttered. “I still don’t understand whathappened.”

“That’s what we’re going to replace out,” Zig said. “Can you describewhat happened Alec?”

“All I remember is turning around and there was this really big,burly guy with dark skin and hair. He said his name was… Tyrone? He had thisweird ability… when he touched me, it was like I could feel my powers beingpulled from my body,” Alec looked down despondently at his soup bowl.

Everyone passed around worried looks, if this was true and thekonna did have a guy on their side with this power, then everything just gotthat much more difficult. No one seemed eager to speak.

“What happened after that?” Zig prodded.

Alec shook his head, still not looking up. “I could feel himpulling my powers out of me then everything went black. Next thing I know, Iwoke up here.”

We were quiet for a few minutes, all trying to digest what he wassaying.

My mind wandered back to the dream I had just had. I took a breathand decided to go out on a limb, “Alec, by chance, when you were unconsciousdid you happen to have a strange dream? Maybe see a strange woman?”

Alia raised her eyebrows incredulously and fired back, “And whatexactly gives you the idea that he would’ve seen a strange woman?”

I groped around for a reason, “Be-because…” I stammered, “becauseI’ve seen in several reports that this woman has been spotted by otheroperatives. Apparently she’s a sombulate.A lot of the reports said she worked with a guy with powers like Alecdescribed.”

“Really,” Alia drawled out the word, “well maybe you could show usthese reports sometime?”

I huffed, aggravated that Alia was playing with me. I could guessonly one reason why Alia would be acting so short tempered towards me. It wassomething that always seemed to come up every time we worked together, andhonestly it was getting a bit old. “Yes Alia, maybe some time when you’re nottoo busy holding grudges against everyone I’ll let you look at them.”

“At least I don’t try and hide my emotions with a bunch of stupidlies,” she said with bite in her tone.

“Enough you two,” Zig said with a tight tone, daring for us toreproach. “This isn’t about you.” He looked back to Alec, who by that point hadraised his head to watch the exchange between Alia and I. Zig continued, his voice relaxing. “Nopressure, but we really need to know what you saw, anything at all could be akey that could help bring down the konna.”

“I-I know,” Alec stammered and dropped his head into his hands,“It’s just, every time I try to remember what happened, it’s like my memoriesgo all fuzzy.”

“Anything could help, man.” Zig said in a gentle tone.

“Actually,” he said, lifting his head to look at me. “There was awoman.”

I sucked in a sharp breath, panic starting to grow inside me.

If anyone noticed my reaction, they didn’t say anything. Zig wasthe only one who made eye contact with me, and I could read the silent messagefrom him easy enough.

Play itcool.

“I don’t remember much about what she looked like,” Alec continued.He shook his head in frustration. “It’sall fuzzy. But if I saw her again, or if I heard her talk, I’m pretty sure I’dbe able to identify her though.”

I nodded my head slowly. If he couldn’t remember what she lookedlike then that was good, if he could then he’d probably see the uncannyresemblance between us. The less Alec knew the better.

We were ready to leave before the sun had even risen.

“Are you sure you guys don’t want to stay?” Zig asked. “Thecommander gave you a day before you have to go.”

“No,” said Sabin curtly. “We’ve wasted enough time as it is, weneed to complete the mission.”

“Sabin, are you sure?” I questioned. “It wouldn’t hurt to have theextra rest.”

“I am the commanding officer on this mission,” he said sternly.“And I say that we need to leave. Now.”

“But…” I started.

“No, he’s right,” Alia interrupted. I stared at her in surprise.She was actually agreeing with Sabin? “The longer we stay here the worse ourchance becomes to complete this mission and everyone come out unscathed.”

“And by that you mean?” I inquired.

Alia huffed, impatience flashing across her face, “It means thatthe konna already know that we’ve been sent on a mission, and have alreadytried to stop us once.”

I looked at her incredulously, still not knowing what she wasgetting at.

“Which also means that either A) they know what mission we weresent on and what we’re going to do, or B) they have a specific vendetta againstour team and want to take us out.”

Alia pinned me with a pointed glare as she said, “I don’t knowabout you, but both of those options are ones that I’d like to avoid.”

“Meaning, that we leave now,” Sabin said, breaking the silence thatfollowed Alia’s explanation.

As we all got up and walked upstairs I chewed on the words thatAlia had said.

They knowwhat mission we were sent on and what we’re going to do, or they have aspecific vendetta against our team and want to take us out.

These words gave me an eerie feeling, almost like Alia knew who she was. That was impossible though,only Zig and I knew, and we’d sworn the secret to ourselves long ago.

As we walked outside to mount up everyone was quiet. I finally feltthe gravity of our situation. By me being here – by involving Zig and I –everyone on this team was in even more danger than usual.

That’s right, Megan,a sicklysweet voice whispered in my mind.Itwas her voice. You selfish, selfish girl…putting all these nice people in danger.Putting your friends in harm’s way.

“They know what they signed up for,” I ground out harshly under mybreath, trying not to hyperventilate at the thought that she was in my head. How was she even doing that?

“Signed up for what?” Alec asked, walking beside me.

I shook my head, trying to clear out her voice, “It’s nothing. Justthinking out loud,” I said. “A bad habit picked up from IGS training.” Igrinned sheepishly, trying to look convincing.

“I totally understand,” he said, laughing lightly. “Everyone picksup some bad habits going through training. It’s inevitable.”

I grinned and laughed back at him, thankful that he wasn’t going topry anymore.

“Come on you two,” Sabin shouted from his horse. “We’ve still got aways to go before we reach the konna camp.”

Alec and I both got to our horses and mounted up. Zig walked overto my horse and stood beside me.

“Stay safe,” he said quietly. “You know what’s out there.” His facegot stern. “You know how to fight and how to protect yourself, so just…” Hesighed, sounding resigned. “Just be careful, alright?”

I grinned down at him, thankful that I had Zig, even if he could beover protective at times.

“Don’t worry, big brother.” I leaned down and dropped a kiss on thetop of his head. “I know how to take care of myself.”

He smiled at me and nodded his head. “Better get going, can’t haveyou getting left behind.”

With that I took off, trotting over to join the others who werealready on the road.

I couldn’t help but wish I’d had a chance to talk about my dreamwith Zig. He was the only one who would understand. Maybe he could have helpedme figure out what was going on.

I turned back in my saddle one last time, raising my hand andwaving by to Zig. He waved back, a sad smile on his face.

Oh how terribly sweet. You’d better rememberthis, Megan,she said, laughing, Becausefrom this point on, everything is going to change.