Niah

My heart races with a reckless joy that dances strangely within me. I barely know this boy and yet something about him feels so familiar. I can't help trusting him completely. Just like the instant connection I'd felt to Wish, my sister, this boy creates an echo within me as if I've known him all my existence. It's insane but undeniable.

Held in the curve of his arms, leaning into the warmth of his chest, his heart beats beneath my ear. I feel like I'm where I belong. For the first time, I'm not afraid of my own existence. Right now, in this decca, I feel I'm exactly where I was always meant to be.

His fingers stroke my hair. I'm still so tired. I wonder how long I've been asleep, or passed out, really, I guess. Wondering makes me worry and I graze my teeth across my bottom lip. Tye brushes his fingers down my arm. I breathe him in. He smells earthy and real, as if his very being were tied to the planet in the same way mine is tethered to the stars.

I feel myself dozing on and off against his shoulder. Time passes but I don't know how long he sits here with me, just holding me. I wish I had the strength to pull away, to talk to him, but even the silence feels right and my body keeps dragging me back to sleep so I give in to these stolen moments. The world around us will demand more of me soon enough. Wish still hovers on the outskirts of my thoughts but, just at this moment, the best I can do is rest.

Eventually, the door creaks open. Tye and I both sit up, putting distance between us. Tannan's blue eyes seem particularly perceptive as he comes into the room. Tannan is trailed by an older and more world-wearied man carrying a tray heaped with steaming food. Large bowls of dark purple soup with thick loaves of bread. The smell is divine, like nothing I've ever smelled before and yet again, so familiar.

"Ah, she's awake," Tannan says. His words are kind, almost caring, but professional. "Tye tells me your name is Niah?" I nod. "I should have introduced myself properly earlier. I'm Tannan and I'm in charge of keeping Shadows like Tye out of the eye and arm of the Stalkers. This is Karel, he's in charge of keeping the Faithful fed in the City Below."

Tye grins and reaches out for one of the bowls Karel has to offer. "He does a fine job of it too." Tye digs into the food with relish and I wonder when he's last seen a decent feed. My own stomach growls, reminding me that I've skipped a meal or two myself. I breathe in the aromas of the still steaming food.

Karel smiles at me but rather than handing me a bowl, he arranges the side table, moving the bowl of water over to the dresser and pulling the table closer to me so that he can lay the food out on top of it. He hands me a spoon. "Earth bulb stew with sapper root scalloped in fresh mamot milk. I considered adding compy meat but wasn't sure if you would take to it; not everyone does."

Nothing of what he says makes much sense to me. I have no idea what earth bulbs, sapper roots, or compy meat are, but since the stew smells delicious, I nod my head and tug apart the loaf of bread to dip chunks of it into the thick liquid. The taste of it on my tongue tingles with hints of familiarity and I realise how very hungry I am.

Tannan watches Tye and me devour our food for a few moments and then pulls up a chair opposite us. "I've got some news." Tye lifts his head, pausing between chews. Tannan raises a hand. "Actually, it's more good than bad. We know where they've taken the girl."

I look up from my meal and swallow my mouthful before saying, "Her name is Wish. She's my sister."

Tannan gives a thoughtful nod, then continues. "Well, she's currently a 'guest' of the Lord. They have her at the Palace."

"The Palace?" Tye says, "I don't know how you think that's good news."

"Well, at least we aren't left wondering."

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"And when you say guest, I assume she does not have comfortable lodgings."

"To be honest, I don't know. Word trickles to us through the Stalkers. They are on high alert. Rumour is that one of their own became a meal for the Lord's beast and he's asked them to make it known in certain circles that the girl is next if Bellamy isn't delivered to him by factor twenty-two tomorrow."

My heart sinks. "But Bellamy doesn't exist." Tye and Tannan's eyes both settle on me. I can see their minds ticking away. Their scrutiny makes my skin crawl. "I'm not him!"

"Of course you're not," Tannan agrees, "but you could pass for it if they don't look too close."

Tye shakes his head. "The Lord will look close, Tannan. And we can't hand her over to him. Besides, he'd likely as not arrange for all of us to hang if we tried to deliver her to him."

"Or become a lesser beast chew toy," Karel adds.

Tye continues as if Karel hadn't spoken. "You know he wouldn't take kindly to the return of the Elixr."

I furrow my brow and turn to him. "Why not? I thought everyone was waiting for the cure?"

Tye sighs. "A lot has happened in two hundred narcycles. Lord Oliver has become very comfortable in his place as ruler."

Tannan nods. "The Lord has found a power and freedom in what he has created here. Accepting that Nar might be cured of the shadows means giving all Narians a chance to choose a life outside of the City of Light. Without the people, his city falls."

"What do you mean?"

Tye leans past me as he places his now empty bowl on the table. "The City of Light exists in a very careful balance of power. For the Inner Circle, those with enough staples to guarantee a lifetime of access to Virreal, there is a certainty in knowing they have an assured place in the adventure kingdom. They get to live out their dreams and create the peoples of the Lord's other worlds."

I feel like I'm getting more and more confused with every word but I try to make sense of it all in my head.

Tye continues, "Most of the city is Outer Circle. They make up the workforce that keeps the city running. If you aren't in either the Inner or Outer Circle you're outcast. Some will wander into the Shadowlands, becoming Shadow people like me. Others find their way down here to the Faithful."

"Yes," Tannan says, "and with careful negotiation and the trade of staples, there is a degree of crossover between those three levels, but no manner of staples will get a Shadow into the Inner Circle. A Stalker maybe, but not us, not the outcast."

I lick my lips at the last taste of my now finished meal as I push the bowl aside. Karel smiles down on me as he reaches to gather up the dishes.

"So how does this help us rescue Wish?"

Tannan's brow furrows. "Well, it makes things difficult. You see, potentially we could present you as Bellamy. That would get us access to the Inner Circle and the Palace beyond. It would give us a way to get in. Without that, access is almost impossible."

Tye shakes his head. "But it's suicide for all of us. It's not really an option. No sane person delivers themselves to Lord Oliver."

"Right," Tannan says, "and that makes it harder. We can't just walk in. We need Inner Circle credentials. We might even need avatars."

"Avatars?" I ask.

Tannan nods but Tye is the one to explain. "Virreal is a virtual reality. The Lord spends most of his time there and odds are they've taken Wish there as well. We can't get her out unless she chooses to disconnect for herself. If they haven't told her how then she might not be able to. If they've linked her into Virreal, then someone will need to go in after her."

"And avoid the hazards within," Tannan says.

"So," says Tye, "credentials? How do you think we could swing those?"

"Actually, I have an idea about that, but it'll have to wait until morning." He turns to me. "You both need sleep, and Lyris and I will need a few factors to line up some valid codes."

I lean forward. "But what about Wish, and the deadline?"

Tannan puts a hand on my shoulder. "We have time. He won't hurt her while he believes she holds value. Look at you both, dead on your feet. You're no good to her if you can't stay conscious while you rescue her."

I frown, feeling frustrated at being trapped in this failing body. I know that he's right. I sigh. "Yeah, okay. But first thing in the morning, okay?" Tannan nods. As he and Karel head out the door, Tye moves to stand too. I grip his arm, suddenly afraid to be left alone. "Will you stay?" I know he must see a pathetic desperation in my eyes and I feel stupid being so afraid. I lean forward and whisper, "I'm afraid to close my eyes."

Tye's gaze softens. He gives me a gentle smile and leans back against the wall. "I can stay, if you want me to." Tannan glances back at us and gives Tye a look before closing the door. Tye turns to me. "I'm right here Niah, it's safe to sleep here."

"And you'll wake me up, right? In the morning? I don't want to sleep forever."

"I'll wake you up. I promise."

I lean into him and his arms come around me. He strokes my hair and I know he can feel the tension in my body as I try to let myself fall asleep. The soft, rhythmic beat of his heart against my ear is soothing. I close my eyes, feeling the race of my own heart and will it to match his calmer tempo. I lie, letting the quiet stillness of the night come over me. The gentle brush of Tye's fingers through my hair and down my back, soothes me to sleep.