Tal gazed out of the car window. They were driving through fields of dirt and rotten crops in silence. Mr. Hemlock seemed distracted and nervous, anxious even. “Where are we going?” Tal asked when they passed the crossroads that led towards the Academy and Mr. Hemlock’s home. “I have a friend who’s a doctor. I know you don’t like hospitals so I asked if we could visit him at home.” “I don’t like doctors either.” “You don’t get a vote on this, Taliesin. You’ve constantly been in danger, you show up hurt and now Paul tells me that–” He stopped himself and for a moment Tal heard him take a shaky breath. “It won’t take long,” he said. “You won’t feel the pain after.” Tal shrugged uncomfortably. He didn’t want to think about his bruised ankle now. Compared to everything else it was almost insignificant.
“Did you and Coach have a talk after Nik and I left on Friday?” “We did.” “Are you getting back together?” Mr. Hemlock straightened his back then shook his head. “No, we’re not. Paul and I have agreed on not seeing each other.” “But you love him?” “Why are you asking me about this, Tal? What is it to you?” “I see the way he looks at you and I know the way you feel about him but I don’t understand why you’re not in a relationship.” “It’s none of your business.” “I think it is when my dad's being too stubborn to see what’s good for him.” Tal retorted and shifted his gaze towards Mr. Hemlock. The car slowed down and came to a stop at the side of the road. Mr. Hemlock was clutching the steering wheel, his eyes not leaving the road even after the car had stopped. “What?” Tal scoffed and bit down on his lip. Mr. Hemlock didn’t reply. He leaned forward and pressed his forehead against the wheel. “It’s true.” He whispered and Tal immediately tensed. “I didn’t mean to–” “You’re right, Taliesin. I love him and we should be together but there are forces out there pulling us apart, matters that are more important than my happiness. I hope you will understand that sometimes certain sacrifices have to be made for a greater good.” Mr. Hemlock took a deep breath before sitting up again and starting the engine. “You’ll have to forgive me.”
Tal didn’t know what to reply so he said nothing. Mr. Hemlock started driving again even though now he looked worse than before. He had realised too late that he’d called him ‘dad’ for the first time in his life. And for the first time he didn’t regret it. He loved Mr. Hemlock as a father. A few minutes later the car stopped again. They had reached an old industrial park that had been part of a mine. Tal nervously glanced at Mr. Hemlock who got out of the car without looking back. “Is this the right address?” Tal asked and followed suit. The look of the abandoned plant seemed familiar to him. Had he been there before? “Mr. Hemlock?” Mr. Hemlock didn’t face him but when Tal called out for him his figure shrunk. Then slowly he turned around and forced a smile onto his lips. “I wish it were someone else. Anyone but you, Tal.” “What–” There was the sound of shuffling footsteps and then someone grabbed Tal and smacked his head in with a pipe. He drew a sharp breath as he fell to the ground.
He could smell his own blood and cried out in pain. What was going on? Did the demons catch up to them? Tal knew they had to flee so he reached his hand out to Mr. Hemlock. “H-help.” He croaked and when Mr. Hemlock sighed and took a single step back, away from Taliesin’s hand, the pipe came down on him again with such force that he passed out.
The cruel laughter of the descendant in his mind woke Taliesin. His wrists and legs were tied together, he almost couldn’t feel his limbs. There was the sound of distant voices echoing through the place. “Tal?” The director was kneeling before him, a wet cloth in his hands. “Can you repeat your name back to me?” Tal needed a moment to realise that the stains on the cloth were his blood. He remembered the car drive and the sudden attack. Had the evil Order found them and brought them here? “Tal.” He whispered quietly and tried to move but Mr. Hemlock held him down. “Don’t move. We bandaged your wound but you might have a concussion.” He pressed the cloth against Tal’s head again and he sighed in relief. The distant voices were coming closer and Tal tensed. They needed to flee. In his condition he could barely attempt to run so there was just one chance left. He hoped it would work.
“Take my hand.” He lifted his tied wrists towards Mr. Hemlock. “I can get us out of here if you trust me.” The director’s expression twisted into something sorrowful when he took Tal’s hands into his. “I’m afraid you can’t.” Tal took a deep breath. He cleared his mind and began to summon all the memories he had of Mr. Hemlock’s manor. He thought that if he had an emotional connection to the place he might be able to get there easier. Tal felt the surge inside of him like a sneeze that won’t come out. Everytime he was close to teleport something blocked it. They were trapped. He pressed Mr. Hemlock’s hand tighter. “Taliesin.” “I can do it.” “Don’t exhaust yourself. You need your strength.” “You don’t understand, I can–” “We’ve successfully prepared the ritual, Sir. How would you like to proceed?” Tal’s eyes snapped open. His gaze shifted from the masked men in dark robes to Mr. Hemlock in front of him. He was rubbing his thumb carefully over Tal’s skin before turning around. “Give us a few more minutes and make sure to guard the entrances, someone might come for him.” The men bowed to Mr. Hemlock and left through a narrow corridor.
Tal’s head was throbbing. What just happened? He took a long hard gaze at Mr. Hemlock and realised that he too was wearing a dark robe. “You’re with them?” He withdrew his wrists and pushed himself as far away as he could until he hit the wall of the room. It was then he took notice of the shelves and desk. He’d been there before. This was the office where he’d found the memo about his parents. The office he assumed to belong to the Leader of the Contrarius Order. “I’m not with them.” Mr. Hemlock got up and cleaned his robe from the dust. “They are with me.” He was leaning down to pick Tal up and his panic set in. Mr. Hemlock was a member of the Contrarius Order, he wanted him dead. “Don’t touch me!” He yelled and kicked as much as he could with his bound legs. “Don’t fight your destiny, Taliesin.” He got a hold on Tal’s wrists and raised him to his feet. They were facing each other now, Tal with gritted teeth and an angry glare while Mr. Hemlock avoided looking directly at him. “I trusted you.” “I love you, Taliesin. Nothing will ever change that.” Another man in dark robes walked into the office, cleaning his throat.
“We shut off the phone as you asked, but it might have been tracked.” “Then make sure no one gets in.” “Do we have the permission to kill them on sight?” Mr. Hemlock hesitated and Tal’s eyes widened in fear. He violently shook his head. If someone was coming for him it would be Nik. “Please don’t hurt him.” He begged and saw Mr. Hemlock gulp. “No,” he said and turned to the member. “If someone attempts to get in, bring them to me without harming them. Is that understood?” “Yes, Sir.” “However,” his voice was louder now as he shifted his gaze towards Taliesin. “Should you fight back I won’t hesitate to change my orders.” Taliesin gritted his teeth. He was trying to see the man he’d trusted before. The person he’d called father for the first time without regretting it. Had he been such a naive fool? “You can’t change who you are, Tal.” “Your choices shape who you are.” He hissed back and for a second Mr. Hemlock’s eyes darkened. He turned towards his member. “Disarm them and if they carry the sign of the Knights you’re allowed to–” “No, wait.” Tal spoke before he’d processed the words. He didn’t know what the sign of the Knights was but if Nik came here carrying it, he was not going to risk his life. “Don’t harm anyone, I’ll come with you. I’ll accept my fate just please.” His fingers were shaking when they grabbed at Mr. Hemlock’s robe. “Please don’t hurt anyone but me.”
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