What Are You Doing, Indigo?

---Indigo---

Late one night, as I did my regular scan of the surroundings before lighting the candle on my windowsill, I heard the soft whoosh of wind blow by. In the distance, a blanket of fog appeared and hovered about halfway down the mountain. I stared at the fog in thought. I guess it wasn't unusual for fog to occur in the mountains, but I have never seen fog cover only one area and float steadily towards me. In a moment, I understood. It must be Rachel casting a spell to hide the approaching army. 'My friends were coming.'

I threw on a robe with large wide sleeves over what I was already wearing. I tucked the map and a few other items in my sleeves, put the spear in its shortened state in an inside pocket, and took out a sword I had "borrowed" from Lord Victor's store room from under my bed. Then I tied a black hooded cloak around my shoulders and drew the hood low over my face. Quietly, I opened my door a crack and peeked out. The hall was silent and empty. I slipped out.

My first destination was the watch tower on the side closest to the approaching army. I could hear the murmuring of conversation between the guards as I reached the bottom of the stairwell that led up to the tower. Carefully and quietly, I climbed the stairs until I was only a few steps away from the open door. Then I took out a skinny ceramic vial that was the length of my palm, pulled out the cork stopper, and held it towards the door. A thin wisp of scented smoke wafted out and drifted into the watch tower. I held my breath. About ten seconds later, I heard thumps as bodies fell onto the floor. I stopped the vial and walked into the watch tower, prodding the guards to make sure they were all unconscious. 'Fantastic.'

The vial contained special powdered incense made from jimsonweed and dancing grass that, when ignited, released an aroma that rendered whoever smelled it unconscious. I took great risks stealing all the necessary ingredients, but it was worth it. A small piece of ignited coal and a full vial of powder proved to be a powerful weapon. As I made my way across the fortress, I made sure all the guards in all the watch towers, as well as any patrols I came across, were taken out. The effect will wear off by morning, but it will be enough for Lionel and his army to reach the fortress without being spotted.

I made a detour into the storerooms and continued to sabotage what I could without making too much noise. This took me longer than anticipated, and by the time I came out, I heard shouts coming from the far end of the fortress. I ran to the nearest window and looked out. As dawn's first light peeked over the snowy mountaintops, the army that Lionel and I worked hard to recruit and train emerged from all directions and charged towards the fortress. Lord Victor's soldiers and Evils fought back. I searched for Lionel, Aaron, Katherine, Rachel, and Lucian, but I didn't see any sign of them. I knew they must be close, though. There was just one last thing to do.

I raced down the staircase the hallways, the lush carpet muffling my footsteps. Finally, I reached the main hall, with its stone archways, black iron chandeliers, and heavy granite doors. Two guards were stationed on either side of the door.

"Halt! Identify yourself!" The guard on the left stepped forward to block my path as I approached. Without stopping, I pulled out my sword and cut him down in one fluid motion. The other guard opened his mouth to shout for backup, but I made quick work of him before he could alert anyone. Without time to dispose of the bodies, I rushed to pull down the level that controlled the stone doors. With a heavy groan, the doors began to open inwards slowly. In the meantime, I found the winch that controlled the portcullis outside and began cranking it to raise the metal latticed grille. If the portcullis didn't rise and the doors weren't opened, Lionel and the others would never make it inside the fortress.

I heard a flurry of footsteps and turned around just as General Wyatt leading a group of about thirty soldiers came running into the main hall. They skidded to a stop, taking in the two dead guards on the floor, the gradually opening doors, and me cranking the winch with all my life.

"Stop her!" General Wyatt shouted. "Don't let her escape!"

As the soldiers came rushing towards me, I took out the vial of incense again. With no time to let the scent waft out on its own, I yanked out the stopper and flung the powder out towards the enemy. As they paused in surprise, I muttered a simple fire spell and set the fine powder floating in the air ablaze. A thick blanket of smoke covered General Wyatt and his soldiers as the powder combusted. I clamped my free hand over my nose and mouth as they all slumped to the floor, their weapons hitting the ground in a cacophony of clangs.

After making sure no more soldiers were headed my way, I turned my attention back to the winch. The granite doors were opening ever so slowly, and the winch required a lot of strength to operate. I was so close to seeing Lionel and Aaron and the others again. Two weeks of working with Lord Victor had taken more of a toll on me, both mentally and physically, than I had previously anticipated, and I couldn't wait to stand with my friends again. My heart raced with excitement. I could hear the shouting and weapon-clanging from outside and see a patch of the sky from the widening gap between the stone doors. I cranked the winch faster.

"What are you doing, Indigo?" Lord Victor's voice, calm as the summer sky, sounded behind me. I jumped and stifled a scream. When did he arrive? How did I not hear him approach?

Slowly, I turned around. Lord Victor stood on the other side of the mess of bodies on the floor, gazing at me. Waiting for an answer. His hooded bodyguard stood behind him. "Um, I wanted to go out and, um, help you fight?" My answer came out as a question. Fear shut down my brain. We both knew that I was lying.

"I'm so disappointed in you, Indigo." Lord Victor sighed. "I thought we had come to an agreement. Yet here you are, trying to run back to your friends."

I began to tremble. Lord Victor's calmness scared me. He was a ruthless, evil lord, and I lied to him. Tricked him, even. Although I knew of the consequences when I made the choice, imagining what he would do to me now made me afraid.

"You know, when Jax told me you were making unnecessary detours when I sent you on your tasks, I told him to leave you be." Lord Victor pointed towards his bodyguard with his chin. "I chose to trust you, Indigo. No doubt you were curious and wanted to explore the stronghold, especially after staying in your room for a week. But then he told me that you were sneaking around at night, taking out my guards and sabotaging my supplies. I'm very hurt, Indigo, and I'm so, so disappointed."

I was rooted to the spot. Lord Victor's personal bodyguard had been tailing me since the beginning of the week? He had followed me around all of last night? How did I not notice? How did I not notice?!

"You chosen ones are so troublesome. Every time I get one of you on my side, you always end up betraying me. What's so good about your friends, anyway?" Lord Victor tsked his tongue. "What a shame. I really did like you, Indigo." He walked towards me, ignoring the bodies on the floor and stepping on them without care. I backed into the wall.

"Well? Don't you have anything to say for yourself?" Lord Victor asked. He was only a few meters away from me now. I shook my sleeve inconspicuously and the uncorked vial of incense fell into my concealed palm. There was still a bit of the powder left.

As Lord Victor strode evenly towards me, I darted forward and raised my arm to fling the powder as I had to General Wyatt's soldiers. Suddenly, the ceramic vial shattered in my hand, broken pieces and powder falling to the ground. 'How?' Before I could react, Lord Victor's hand was around my throat. I didn't even see him move.

"Your sleeping incense isn't going to work on me, dear Indigo." Lord Victor tightened his grip, lifting me singlehandedly into the air. I gurgled and clawed at his hand, struggling for air. "You have betrayed me, and now I shall show you what happens to traitors."

He turned and threw me diagonally across the hall. I collided hard with a stone pillar and slumped to the ground. Fuzzy spots danced in front of my eyes. I spit out blood.

And then Lord Victor was in front of me again, picking me up by my collar. I choked once more. He shook me from side to side, like a tiger shaking its prey in its jaws, before throwing me into the pillar again, seemingly with more force than before. I heard a crack, but I couldn't tell if it came from my body or the pillar.

Small chunks of rubble hit my head. I collapsed into a heap on the floor, and my body screamed in agony as I tried to push myself up and failed. Something warm trickled down the side of my head and my neck.

I saw Lord Victor's black boots crushing a chunk of stone into dust as he stepped towards me once more. I couldn't run. I couldn't fight. Everything was blurry.

Then, my view was swallowed by darkness.