Breaking Sound (Chapter 6)

by Sarah Alsgaard

Chapter Six
Kate
Manipulation (Measure 1)

“Her name’s Auryon. She’s my sister, and she must, must be killed.”

He twisted his fingers around one another in a strange little dance as he sat there across from my desk. I turned my attention to his eyes. The boy was experienced enough to know the power of distraction. What was truly going on through his mind?

“What do you want me to do about it?” I asked. I looked past him down the hallway filled with bodies. He had literally torn through my security guards to reach me. I hadn’t even had time to call for help. How had he done something like that in such little time? It was as if he had simply nodded at them, and they’d ripped themselves apart. I’ve never seen anything like it before.

“Madame,” he wiped his bloodied hands on his jeans over and over again, “please, could you help me find her so I can kill her?”

“You murdered my guards for the sake of asking my help?” I asked. “You dare walk into my office covered in their blood and ask me for help to murder someone else? You seem perfectly capable of killing her on your own.”

“Would you have let me see you if I hadn’t shown what power I have?” the boy said. “I have heard that you enjoy displays of power. Was that wrong?”

All said so quickly, as if he was running out of time.

“Yes, of course it was wrong,” I said. “Killing people for no other reason than to show off is disgusting. Why do you need my help when you clearly lack a conscience but not such incredible abilities?”

“Madame, you see –”

“My name is Madame Broussard.”

“Right.” He steadied his nerves but continued wiping his hands on his jeans. “Madame Broussard, I learned that Auryon now works for The Corporation. She has chosen that over the A Faction. I know that The Corporation is a valuable ally to the A Faction, but, with Auryon’s influence, it will soon turn against us.”

I looked out the window and tried to pretend as if I needed to contemplate my decision.

As soon as I had read Aihi Raker’s mind so long ago, I knew I would need him. I’d waited a long time for him to come in asking for my help. This was the opportunity to manipulate him that I’d been looking for.

“If you feel it’s important to destroy your sister, then I will help you find her.”

“I tried to make her join the A Faction,” he said, his eyes searching the desk for something to lock on to. He dared not look at me directly again. “Please believe me that I did –”

“How about this, if you can resurrect my poor guards, I will train you myself to kill your sister, whoever she may happen to be.”

It was the idiot’s fault for thinking I had enough power to even touch Auryon. I’d heard all about her and Aihi from that man – it seemed as if no one was capable of stopping them. The best I could do was manipulate Aihi for a while.

Aihi was clearly stunned at the idea. He waved his hands wildly in the air, his mouth gaping open. It was a strange image; something between a two year old trying to discover how to grasp things and a murderer being told he was a good person. What indignities his sister had put on his shoulders were beyond me, but I find it difficult to stop and question a bull on a rampage.

“Resurrecting the dead? That’s impossible. No one’s done that yet. No one’s strong enough. Psychics aren’t capable of anything involving the body or the soul.” He seemed even more shocked to have stood up to the President of the A Faction by arguing, even pointing out such a fundamental rule. I found myself impressed as well.

“You’re strong enough, Aihi,” I said. “If you can tear through my guards then you’re a shining example that rules can be broken.”

My cell phone always lit up when I knew Nilas needed to speak with me. I excused myself, shut the boy’s mind down for a moment and spoke with my crusader. I re-opened Aihi’s mind just as I tucked the phone back into my pocket.

“How can I re-awaken the dead, though?” Aihi asked.

“Discover it for yourself,” I said.

“Please!” he leapt to his feet and leaned against the desk.

What capabilities did the boy even have? I thought I knew them all when I had first met him five years before, but clearly I had missed something crucial if he could kill my guards so quickly.

With a deep sigh, as if I had to debate whether I wanted him to know at all, I said,

“Go find a woman named Salezra. If anyone can teach you to raise the dead, it’s her.” I rapped my fingers on my desk and stared out at the blood-stained walls. “And don’t ever do what you have done to earn my attention again. Understood?”

He nodded, his face pale, and quickly left my office.