New Eden: Live to Play, Play to Live

948  The Soul Snare

Killian's eyes trailed back to Alexander, who suddenly appeared to him like a predator, as his icy gaze rippled with mana.

Every mana-sensitive person on the plane was instantly jolted into a state of high alert, their senses tingling with the overwhelming presence of power.

David ran out of the Cargo area, wondering if they were under attack, before he saw the scene.

The passenger cabin was eerily quiet, as everyone was either struggling to resist Alexander's mana pressure or wondering what suddenly set him off like this.

Even Kary was confused about his sudden hostility. If Killian didn't want to come, why would he suddenly force him?

"Alexander, please release me. You have no idea what kind of hornet's nest you are kicking, if you start holding me against my will," Killian said, his voice quaking in fear.

"Don't try threats. It's pointless. I already have one organization to deal with. Adding another doesn't bother me. Tell me why you asked to be here. The real reason, this time," Alex replied coldly.

Killian could tell Alexander was not kidding. His calm demeanour was all too obvious.

"I really only came to film this for my guild members, Alexander. I don't have a hidden agenda. What I do have is a private life, with matters that don't concern you. And if you suddenly start prying into those, it's no wonder I don't feel welcome."

Alex glared at him.

He could feel the fluctuating mana inside him.

"You're lying. Killian, although I respect you and admire your E-sports career, this isn't a case of a prying fan. If you don't tell me your true motives, it won't be a case of anger and stalking. You won't leave this plane."

The threat was all too real, and David knew now was the time to butt in.

"Your father told you to spy on us, right? He wants to know how strong the awakened are. Am I wrong?" he asked, walking up to the trio.

The kids were still looking at the situation with alert, Violette the least affected, but the most worried.

She didn't want them to start fighting. Not now, when they needed to stand united.

But Winston was looking at Killian, not with worry, but with a frown.

"Grandfather wouldn't ask you to spy on us, would he? He would never stoop that low, right?" he asked, appalled.

Killian looked at Winston and smirked.

"Your naivety is astounding, nephew," he said, before turning to look at David.

"What would you know about my father? Do not talk without knowledge of whose name you would drag in the mud, undead," he growled.

David grinned at him.

"Howard Owens the third, thirty-fifth Exarch of the Merlineans. I know much more about him than you think I do. I also know he has led your organization way past his prime, since his first son, your elder brother, is mana-less."

Hearing David's words, Killian nervously swallowed.

"How do you know such information? Who told you this?" he asked.

But Alex interrupted him by raising a hand.

"I don't care about your organization or family right now. I want to know your motives. Is David right? Were you sent to spy on us?"

Killian remained mum, as Winston looked at him with a hopeful gaze, which slowly faded away, realizing Killian wasn't refuting the claim.

"Why?" the kid asked.

Killian ignored him, keeping his eyes on Alex.

"If this is how it's going to be, I don't see why we should cooperate any longer," he declared.

But Alex wasn't letting him go.

"You aren't going anywhere until you answer my question, Killian. You broke my trust and tried using this trip as an excuse to gather information about us. You have to know I can't let you go."

Killian scoffed.

"Even if you don't let me go, do you think this will slide? Although I thought we were friends, I don't answer to you, Alexander. I am bound by oath to obey the commands of my Exarch. Do you think I want to sell you away to him?" Killian asked, his face showing a bit of pain.

"If you don't want to, then tell me why you were really sent here, and we can work this out," Alex said.

David looked at Killian, and his pained expression made him understand something.

"He has you soul-snared, doesn't he?"

Killian's eyes went wide, his eyes turning to David.

"How did you…"

But David didn't let him finish.

"I know what it is. Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. But I also know of a way to break it."

Sitting next to Killian, David locked gaze with Alex.

"But I need his help."

Alex looked at him, slightly confused, but keeping his expression icy.

"Alex, listen to me. If he's soul-snared, he can't go against the command unless it puts at risk his original oath to the organization. For now, he hasn't told us anything about his mission, or his organization, and he still isn't in breach.

"But if he walks away from here, there is a big chance the snare will kick in, and he could die. He's not doing this of his own volition."

Killian looked at David, his eyes almost pleading.

The accuracy of his statement was remarkable, but it also painted a grim picture of his future.

But Alex wasn't convinced.

He peered deep inside Killian, doing what he considered the biggest breach of privacy, and looked directly at his soul.

And right there, bared naked to his eyes, he saw it.

Wrapped around Killian's soul, under a runic circle that looked very much like a soul oath, a bright blue bramble, with thorns almost in contact with the flames of his soul.

He could feel the power in the brambles and knew this wasn't something a person would normally achieve on their own.

"You willingly submitted to this snare?" he asked Killian, confused.

"We all did. It was the Exarch's command."

As he answered, the brambles inched ever closer to his soul, and the expression of pain became a bit more obvious.

Alex understood the position he was in immediately.

"How do we break this?" he asked, looking at David.

"It's not going to be hard, but it will certainly be painful…"