Chapter XX

The evening was over and it was getting dark when the officers sent by the commander found the four. It was then that they learned from them that the magician had disappeared somewhere and that the last ones who saw him were they. The youngsters told everything that Lord Marcus had said, hearing that Lord Felix's mood worsened and they were dismissed.

Confused by the disappearance of the wizard and by what he said as well, they wandered in the streets frustrated not knowing what will happen next. Now that the eighth day passed after the attack and hope of survival was slowly growing, the disappearance of the wizard was a major blow to everyone. The commander may not have revealed this to anyone, hoping that Lord Marcus would reappear, but the four of them already knew in their hearts that the wizard will not return.

"How does it feel?" - Everyone understood to whom this question was addressed.

"I do not know how to explain," said Lucius a few seconds later. - It does not feel like smell, sight, or hearing, it is neither pain nor joy, it is not like a breeze that fondles on the skin and it does not growl like fear or anger from inside, it is something else that I have never felt before. As if ... as if madness overcomes your mind, I can not understand where it comes from and it disappears without a trace in a second ...

They already know every corner of the noble district by heart so they could even move blindfolded.

Before, when Michael lived at the orphanage, he did not like this place. He hated the people who lived there. But now Michael does not have the same feeling towards this place. After that night's experience, when both rich and poor fought together for survival, his attitude changed. He even felt sympathy for the place where he learned sword fight and barely escaped death on that night. Currently, this wall kept away from red-eyes and even this "vessel" thing whose voice almost drove everyone crazy.

Everything was dreadful and gruesome here, but somehow attractive as well ...

They climbed on top of the wall and, as usual, felt a bit relieved, captivated by the dead silence reigning around. A cool breeze unsuitable for spring was blowing. The huge fence gleamed yellowish with lots of torches. The sky framed by the silver stars above and the vivid picture illuminated in yellow below caught Michael's eyes, and in this silence, he felt a strange closeness with Lucius, Uriel, and Angela, who leaned against the stone railing beside him and gazed out over the space into the darkness.

"When will the same happen to us?" Uriel broke the silence.

"Don't have any idea. You can't predict it in advance. It happened to me three times and I could not understand once, what it was caused by. Maybe you won't even experience it," said Lucius.

"Marcus knows," - whispered Michael more to himself. Something unnatural was happening to him at that moment. Two soldiers were standing on a guard post on the fence. Michael glanced at the helmet, the glittering tongues of fire dancing on the glossy helmet, and ... that was when it happened for the first time.

Did not know what it was, or how to describe all that he felt. Everything happened in a second, only in one second, but when it passed, his whole body trembled, found himself on the paving stone. He did not feel any pain, only shivered while sitting on the quarry. Lucius and Angela tried to bring him to his senses, but he, immersed in the depths of that second, did not want to wake up. However, Angela's slap was so strong, it returned him to reality, and saw how those two soldiers were running towards them.

"Which? Which one was it?" Asked the one who held the crossbow in his hands. The strange thing, though, was that he asked his mate, not the youngsters.

"Do not know for sure, Might be him" soldier pointed the spear at Michael. The second one nervously looked at the boy, who, with Lucius's help, was already standing.

"I see nothing like in his eyes, Rodger!"

"Trust me, Jake, I could swear it to Rahayl's name that I saw the red eyes!" Despair faded in his voice.

"Sir, this must be some mistake. We were here too, but I assure you, we have noticed nothing like that. Perhaps eyes looked reddish due to torch lights. Lately, I see red eyes everywhere, but every time it turns out to be my imagination only. No wonder, everything is due to fatigue and tension everyone is experiencing after that cursed night," said Uriel. Only then did Michael realize Uriel was hiding him. He was trying not to allow the soldiers to see him directly. Michael could not understand at all what was happening around him, who they were looking for, or why they mentioned red eyes. But he felt that something was wrong, and he was the reason, that's why all of his friends were circled around him in a defensive stance.

Guards stared at all four with great suspicion, though most of all at Michael. They did not believe Uriel at all, but maybe in the depth of their hearts, they even wanted Blondy to be right. Neither of them knew how to act. Their confusion ended with the officer's arrival. Intrigued by the gathering promptly appeared to the subordinates to find out the reason.

"What the hell are you two doing here? For what reason did you leave your posts?" yelled the officer.

The soldiers looked at each other warily, unable to decide what to answer.

"We saw the children on the wall and came to make them leave the place," barely uttered Jake.

"Go back to your checkpoints, and you brats return to your homes. Here is not a place for a stroll!" the officer snarled at the youngsters.

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They, too, silently obeyed and climbed the nearest staircase, which shone golden in the light of the sliding torches. The fact that so many torches were found in such harsh conditions surprised Michael. When he had finished his steps, he looked up and saw the soldiers' still standing at the wall. They looked into each other's eyes and suddenly Michael could see the fear in their eyes.

"Do not look," whispered Lucius, "and Michael turned his eyes away from them." Uriel was walking fast. Everyone moved without saying a word. Michael could not bear it, so he longed to understand what had happened. Lucius stubbornly continued his silence. "Please wait a bit discussing here is dangerous" Angela calmed him down. They came to a burned and abandoned settlement that was not suitable for living. No one was around. As soon as they stepped into the ruins, Michael immediately threw a coriander of questions at Uriel. In response, he only received a request to lower his voice and saw how Uriel put his head in his hands. His friend's behavior surprised Michael. He had never seen Blondy in such a desperate state and looked to Angela and Lucius with demanding eyes, but instead of saying anything, both averted their eyes. Even more surprised, Michael only asked them without hesitation - can you, at last, tell me what the hell happened? - However, he did not have high hopes for an answer.

Uriel raised his head in his hands and looked at Lucius.

"Did the same happened to you?

"Maybe... I knew nothing about the eyes because, thankfully, all three times, I was alone. I still did not know that this was happening and I think Michael could feel nothing either." Lucius answered.

"What are you talking about?" - Michael already understood in the depths of his heart what they meant.

"Your eyes turned red, Michael before you fell," said Angela's voice somewhere in the distance, as if something had stuck in her chest, it become difficult to breathe for Michael. His suspicion was justified.

"What does all this mean? What awaits us? Marcus said it would happen to all four of us, didn't he? Are we doomed?" - Angela started asking questions hysterically.

Uriel got up and walked back and forth.

"If they see our eyes are red, they will kill us."

"Are not you a prince?" Michael tried to protest.

"Nobody knows except you and even if they knew, nothing will change. My uncle gladly killed me if he knew where I am now.

"Because we do not know when our eyes will turn red, our contact with people is dangerous. Eventually, everyone will understand what is happening to us and death will be the end," Uriel said calmly.

"Are we becoming marked ones, like others? In that case, what is the point of staying alive? - Angela asked, this time desperate. They looked at each other as soon as they heard this question. No one understood why this was happening or what the connection was between them and the victims. The threat of their life, about which Uriel said, was real, and everyone was aware of it, though they could not avoid it. So everyone was silent for a good while.

"Wizard told us there is hope, so we should try at least, first thing we should do is to leave the city immediately," Uriel said gravely.

"What should we do with Lily?" Asked Lucius.

"We must leave her here. It will be safer here than with us," said Uriel, who could hear in his voice how hard it was to utter each word.

"What?" Lucius was heated. Uriel answered nothing, just stopped walking and sat on the floor with her head in her hands. Leaving Lailly was unbelievable to Michael. She was their little sister, waiting every night at Livia's house and lighting up their life with a childish twaddling. How could they leave her alone when nightmares were tormenting her and her only hope were they? But Uriel was right. If they had not left, much worse things would have happened, even Lucius realized. Concerned about her sister's fate, she faced the walls as she walked back and forth.

"You are right," said to Blondy in a hushed voice, sitting down and putting his face in his hands.

"How should we escape?"- asked Angela.

"The main gate is closed and they will not open it until someone comes to help. The magician said we had to stay inside the wall for ten days, now it was the ninth dawn and tomorrow, help might already appear. We have to spend this day somehow so that no one can see our eyes at that moment," said Uriel.

"We have to see Lily before that," Lucius said, and everyone agreed. If they ran away, they would do it after saying goodbye to Lily. How could they go without seeing her ?!

On the way to Livia's house, Michael kept asking himself the question. When the locals heard the story of the four of them, would they hunt them down? Their calm and smiling faces spoke of the hope of survival. They probably did not even know about the disappearance of the wizard. This made Michael feel strangely sad. Lord Marcus was not in town, and if they get attacked that night, it would be the end, but if they survived today, help might come tomorrow and the gates will be opened. Though in the depths of their heart he wanted it. At this moment he was given an excuse to stay, and between them and the uncertain world that awaited them beyond the walls, nothing would remain after the gates will be opened.

Michael looked at the contours of Livia's house from a distance and immediately felt his heart pounding. The twilight of the morning had not yet completely faded, and gray landscapes followed the white colors of the palace. The tall, wide-windowed building looked strangely murky and made the already gloomy mood even worse.

They carefully entered the house. The building was quiet. The equal breathing of dozens of sleeping children seemed to enliven the walls as well, giving a magical tinge to the shadows scattered throughout the hall. They sat on a thick carpet in the room, next to Lily's huge bed.

Michael once looked at Lucius and the sight of his copper face reminded him of the moment he had met him at the shelter for the first time and told his story. One could read nothing on his frozen face, but in the depths of his eyes, there was a reflection of that pain, now, in that moment that the boy was experiencing, and this small reflection was so hard to see that only once was Michael able to look him in the eye.

The door opened and someone entered the room; it was Livia.

"What brought you here so early?" She asked cheerfully, but as soon as she saw their faces, the intonation changed immediately. "What happened?" She asked warily.

"We should talk," Uriel said, gesturing to get out of here.

"Michael and Angela followed Uriel and Livia, Lucius did not move, he was sitting on the carpet again and was looking at sleeping Lailly.

"What was you wanted to talk about? Said Livia once they went to the balcony. Michael hardly understood Uriel's speech, and he was so engrossed in thinking about Lily that he could only distinguish certain words. Uriel tried to explain to Livia the need to get them out of here and leave Lailly so that the real reason behind this being kept unrevealed. Although it was still unclear to Livia why they were leaving, she did not ask for further explanation, so she promised to take care of Lily until they returned.

Michael was infinitely grateful for these words. Uriel and Angela also shared this gratitude. Angela even burst into tears when she heard Livia's response and even hugged her.

Before Michael calmed down Angela, Uriel tried to warn Livia that they might not return alive so she should know that's why if she was in charge of guardianship, it might not be a short-term duty...