Attack

"Fuck my life." Violet muttered to herself then called out, "give me a moment."

She pulled a sweater and shorts from her closet on, it wasn't like she could open to the door in nothing but underwear and a cami top.

She tucked her injured hand into the front pouch and opened the door. "Hey, I was really hoping to sleep in... what happened?"

"We've all been asked to report Violet, I came to get you, there has been an attack on the upper community." He looked unusually grave.

"Attack? What do you mean attack!" For a moment Violet froze, they couldn't have pieced it together, not from.. Kieren interrupted her wandering mind.

"In California, there's a school there, somewhat like this one, except they focus on teaching smaller children how to control their powers. They were attacked."

Violet stared eyes wide, "What? But that's preposterous, what about all the protection?" Kieren shook his head and moved closer, for a moment he seemed lost in Violet's eyes. He brought a hand up, cupped her face, and sighed, "Sounds like it's a mess, too many injured children, you're a healer Violet, they're requesting all healers. As a Ruenen Lord I'm required as well. They're flying us out, I'll wait for you outside, just grab some essentials and..." he froze, a blush rising to his face. Violet had tore off the shorts and was pulling on jeans. "Right behind the door there's a go bag, grab it for me yeah?" She looked back, Kieren was standing frozen by the door. Violet shook her head, clearly amused, "I would have never imagined you're all bark and ...mmph!"

Kieren had wrapped her in his arms, Violet looked up at him in surprise. He hesitated eyes burning, lips inches apart from hers. "I don't know what kind of resolve you think I have Violet, but I struggle more than you think, more than I'm willing to admit, even to myself." With a soft groan he buried his face into Violet's neck breathing softly, his hands shaking slightly.

Violet was overwhelmed, she hadn't expected such a strong reaction, or to feel so warm in his arms.

He moved away, "I have your go bag, I'll wait outside."

Violet hesitated only a few seconds, hurting children, children learning to control their abilities. Barbaric. That's a specific target, and not one she was comfortable with. She was fully dressed and out the door after a minute, taking care to keep her hand hidden.

Not all of the academy was going with them, but they had all been roused to put the rest on high alert. There was only twenty of them on the plane, most were high powered individuals, Kieren's team, and unsurprisingly Captain Kuznet. Violet sat back, there was terse talk amongst most members, some of them had siblings at the school and were reasonably on edge. While they were all talking about how and who, Violet couldn't stop pondering the why. The upper community had power, influence, and vast wealth, there had to be a specific reason.

From the hushed whispers surrounding Kieren's group Violet inferred they thought the same. All play was gone from Kieren's posture, he was a Ruenen Lord, this attack would not be forgiven.

A lightbulb went off in Violet's head, the men from earlier, technically last night, they had talked about a rising faction that 'he' was spearheading. 'He' wanted to overthrow the Ruenen, even though 'he' was hiding amongst them. Dimitri had used a name, Violet frowned, that's right... Nightmare Walkers.

Kieren was watching Violet closely, he was aware that like his team she was working on motives. For a brief moment he thought something dawned on her face, but she hid all so well. Even though keeping her close could prove problematic where they were headed he knew she would easily prove her worth. He motioned to Alex, whispered to her only. "Many will not like Violet's presence, keep her close, and if possible, keep her from fighting. It would be best if they view her as meek." Alex nodded looking relived.

They landed and met up with a district commander, Reiner, for the first time Violet witnessed what Kieren's presence meant to many. Reiner bowed his head to Kieren before addressing him formally as Lord Zordyk, Kieren left with him followed by Zen. Most lowered their heads as he passed.

The rest of them were placed in groups and released to help, as they stepped foot in the area Violet heard gasps from her group. The area was utterly destroyed, "They were bombed..." Ted whispered horrified.

There was blood mixed with ruins, people were running about attempting to pull bodies from underneath chunks of walls. Wails and fear filled the room. "This is impossible, no bomb could penetrate here, there's protection. I though... I though users had attacked them?" Alex looked toward an older woman giving out orders. They seemed to know each other, the woman replied grimly. "We do not comprehend Alex, all was quiet, we were hosting an event for all the schools in the United States, we had over four hundred children here. Security was heightened, but somehow the bombs got in."

Violet was only partially listening, they were only half right. The perpetrators had used bombs, but only after they had used their abilities to negate the protections in place.

Her eyes landed on a small desecrated protection barrier, she walked over, knelt down and examined it. These had been tampered with previously. Alex's hand came to her shoulder, "Violet, she whispered softly, "I need you to stay close to me."

The lady's eyes landed on Violet suspiciously, "you're a healer correct?" Without waiting for a reply she continued, "be useful, two halls down is where they're keeping all those injured. Report there to Alizee." Violet nodded, they were overlooking so much, she had already learned from her own experience at μαύρος Δράκος that most abilities users knew nothing about the protections in places like these. That explained why nobody had noticed the damaged stones, she left as Alex argued with the lady about keeping Violet close. As Violet walked she counted at least nine, no, ten other damaged marking stones. There was a culprit within.

She opened the designated door and found a ghastly sight: wails of pain, blood, not enough gauze, distraught children, parents, healers, helpers. The sound was deafening, instructions being shouted across the space, not reaching the intended ears. The biggest downfall to these schools was that they were all located in remote areas, the culprits knew that. Getting doctors and medical equipment would take time, especially when you were part of the upper community that relied so heavily on their anonymity. Someone yanked on Violet's forearm, "if you're a healer don't just stand there stupid girl, find the most injured child you can and help!" She was shoved forward, Violet turned around to argue but found the man had already moved away. Violet was frustrated, she could not let these children die. Decisions, it always boiled down to decision, as it was she would only be able to save the ones she directly touched. What she really needed was her dagger, but she could not just use it here. She would be seen. That meant, what she really needed, what she truly needed was...

Kieren.

She turned and exited the door, hearing shouts behind her.

He would be with all the other decision makers, she took up a jog and went to the most interior room. She could hear raised voices, he would be there. She flung open the door and all eyes turned to her and then immediately into rage. She ignored them and eyes locked onto Kieren's ran to his side, she pulled on his sleeve. "Kieren, I need to speak to you for-"

She was cut off abruptly, every single other human in the room was glaring at her, with the exception of Zen who seemed to be desperately trying to tell her to get lost with his eyes. "Just who do you think you are, you wench, remove your arm from him at this instant. I will kill you for this transgression!" A sword had been drawn. Kieren moved her out of the way, raised a hand, and issued coldly. "Silence!"

He turned his eyes to Violet, "this is not the right time or-"

"it's an emergency Kieren, I swear!" Zen looked like he was going to faint.

Kieren motioned to a smaller waiting room, he looked back. "I will return in one minute." The looks aimed for Violet were all murder.

Violet closed the door behind her and Kieren. "Violet, that was stupid and dangerous, you are-"

"I need one of your daggers Kieren, now! I can save the children!"

Kieren froze, "what?"

"Your daggers, they're runestone right, just one! Trust me!"

They locked eyes, he materialized one, handing it to her. Violet turned away from him. She seemed to be doing something, but she requested he not look. "I'll leave right away after this, you can bring them all with you. When they ask, tell them I was asking for permission." He looked like he was going to interrupt so she continued loudly, "there is no time, the longer I wait the more that will die, when you see it you'll understand. One last request," she turned back to look at him. The dagger was back in his hand, she smiled faintly. "If I fall make sure somebody catches me." She raced out the door and past the irate Ruenen members.