Part 1: Asfalia Chapter 6: 12 Martyrs

It was a sunny day today, far too sunny for my liking, considering nothing about today was supposed to be bright and cheerful. I arrived at the government building with one extra person who I wasn’t pleased with and would have preferred he stayed as far from me as possible. My mother however decided it would be better if my father joined us.

Not in the mood to argue today I threw on my backpack and dressed in the appropriate outfit described in my letter of instruction. Hiking boots with two pairs of socks on, plain cargo pants, white tank top, and hair either cut or tied up. I chose to tie up my hair, I wasn’t about to change everything about myself for this stupid commitment.

The building was easiest enough to find, it was the only pure white structure with black framed windows that towered over everything else in the city. Large golden double doors showed me where I was was meant to go, though that large sign that read “Asfalia Government Headquarters” was going to further ensure there wasn’t any room for error.

“Odd,” My father snuffed as he took a look around. There wasn’t anyone here to greet us, no welcome for the first batch of female recruits. “We will go inside with you to make sure you don’t get lost.”

To make sure I don’t escape, I rolled my eyes back at him. The thought did cross my mind a few times this morning as I tied my shoes, but where would I have gone? Desertion was punishable by death. I had a promise to keep to my friends and if Francis and Cooper weren’t about to run away then I was certainly going to be just as strong. Inside we followed the long hallways that seemed to stretch far beyond the building’s capacity, doors lined on both sides. I wished there was some voice or someone around that could have said something, the silence between us was maddening.

It was my mother who decided to break first, “Do you think we’re in the right place?”

The condescending look from my father was enough to tell me he didn’t care for her doubt. “We would have been stopped if we weren’t meant to be here.” His grumble was cut short though as a door opened far up at the end of the hallway causing his back to straighten. He walked now with more straight legs as if he were marching along next to us.

My service hadn’t started yet so I was fine continuing my loping along beside him as my mother seemed to only have the common walk in our trio. “Think they’ll know where we go?” I huffed.

My voice traveled along the walls until it caught one of the group causing them to turn around, “Can we help you?” He was dressed similarly to my father though it would seem his metals were far greater taking up nearly a full side of his uniform.

I stepped forward as my father seemed to have lost his voice in the presence of a superior, “I’m supposed to come here for my service.”

He flashed a smile and held out a hand, “This way.” I continued walking but then suddenly his arm dropped between me and my parents. “Sorry you cannot follow.”

My father nodded his head and turned on his heels marching back off not even bothering to wait for my mother. She stared past the man’s arm and looked down as if I was just going away for a summer camp.

“I’ll see you soon.” I smiled hoping just that glint of kindness was going to hold her together until she made it back home.

“I love you dear.” She smiled but couldn’t hold it together as long as I had her hand tightened into a fist resting over her mouth.

“I love you too.” I looked over to the guy and he nodded, dropping his arm to allow me one final hug. I allowed myself to be wrapped into her arms as I felt her tears hitting my head. “I’ll write as often as I can.”

“Come home.” She whispered as if it were only the sheer act of those words forcing my safety into existence.

“Come on,” the guy grumbled. “We haven’t got all day.”

“Wait!” We both heard a voice from behind my mother and all turned to see a young girl short, stocky, dark brown hair flowing to the middle of her back. She was dressed similarly to myself but she clearly missed the detail about the hair being pulled up. “I’m lost. Can someone help me?”

“Service?” The guy grumbled and took note of her hair, as she nodded with embarrassment, “Come on.” He started off just expecting us to follow. I guess he didn’t want to inherit any more young women and I gave my mother one final look as I allowed our hands to be held until distance forced us to part.

“Hi!” The girl smiled at me and reached out her hand, “My name’s Sage. Your’s?”

“Ashai.” I smiled back and took her hand.

“Well looks like we are going to be serving together then?”

“Unfortunately.” I growled and looked up to our chaperone.

“Congratulations.” he spoke without looking back, “Not every day we see young women brought in to serve.”

It was a short walk before we came to an open waiting area with chairs lining the room on three sides. The room was finely decorated golden frames held paintings of landscapes that danced in the firelight. One particular painting caught my eye of a forest golden leaves starting to form letting the world know this was the tale of the start of autumn. I shook my head and took one of the three open seats which left Sage to have to sit next to me. It was sickening to see her optimism shining through everything but then again maybe it was just her way of coping.

I was between Sage and another scrawny looking girl with bright red hair. She flashed a quick smile to me and reached out her hand, “Dreyma,” I took it allowing her to continue her introduction, “Guess this is a bit odd isn’t it?”

“Far more than I realized,” I nodded, “my name’s Ashai.”

“This is my sister Freya,” she leaned back, allowing me to see her identical twin with her hair pulled back into a high ponytail. Twins were a rarity. I’m sure them being noticed was no accident much like mine.

“Charmed.” I smiled and tossed Freya a smile too, “So do we know why we are here?” I looked around and the group was a fine mix of young talent though some were taking this a little too seriously.

“We are here to serve our country.” One woman snapped glaring at my carefree attitude and my audacity at trying to lighten the mood. Her eyes were black as coal and her shoulders were broad. She was bred to be a fighter and clearly trained for it. With arms staying crossed she put up her personal barrier to keep distance between herself and the rest of the room. Maybe some of us knew we were going to be noticed? This girl certainly looked like she knew ahead of time and was more than prepared.

Before I could answer a door opposite to the one we all entered opened allowing two older people to walk through. One man who was gray more than black on top of his head with wrinkles to showcase his age held a clipboard and wore the traditional military garb of a green jumpsuit. His companion, a woman wearing a pencil skirt, short heels and a button up blouse stood next to him with a face that commanded respect behind her wired glasses. She was far taller than him and there was some feature about her that seemed wrong. Maybe it was her strangely colored hair; it was long, straight, and dark blue.

I shook my head and looked around as everyone else watched with expressions as confused as I was. This woman, though clearly being welcomed by the human man to her side, was very clearly one of the fae folk. What was she doing here?

“What’s going on?” That stark woman from earlier chimed in first her parents had raised her clearly less than my own.

“A fair question.” The man spoke. “My name is Cronus, this is Lyra. You may address me as Sir and her Madam. We will be your superiors from this moment forward.”

“That thing-” The woman spoke again but her lips fused together before more could come from her mouth. Muffled noises sounded from her nose but nothing coherent.

I turned back to Lyra, her stoic glare narrowed on the young woman as her mouth muttered words too softly for our ears.

“Lyra.” Cronus tapped her shoulder, “Please let the girl go. Twelve is not a substantial amount and we will need every last one of them.”

Lyra nodded and blinked twice allowing the girls lips to part and she gasped for breath. So this was the power we were going to be facing.

“As you can see Lyra is not like us. It should not need saying but from this moment forward nothing that happens in this room will be spoken to anyone else. Lyra will know and if you think lips are the only opening she can close forever you are sorely mistaken.” Looking at each of us he spied the one empty seat, “Well I better figure out who is missing.” Turning to his clipboard he started reading off names. “Sylis Feist.” He spoke.

Sylis, the only one from my school glared daggers at the duo but still was able to seem at least respectful, “Here sir.”

“Thank you,” he nodded, “Gallo Walton.”

The stark woman raised her hand nervously but no words dared escape the safety of her mouth.

“Thank you.” again he went on, “Sage Lorins.”

“Yes sir,” She spoke sweetly and sat back in her chair.

“Freya Caulret.” The man turned to the twins and smiled before letting Freya answer, “And Dreyma Caulret. I assume.”

They both nodded.

“Wila Grosher.” He called next but no one spoke up. “Pity, he shook his head and carried on, “Ashai Sumter.”

“Here.” I called being closest to the pair I figured I had an unfair advantage to the view of Lyra. Maybe I was watching her too closely as she turned and our eyes met. I heard in my mind someone else whose voice echoed like a glass vibrating when tapped. She warned me of the journey I was about to take and urged me to think carefully about what I was doing. Commitment to this wasn’t a simple service and done. This task was imbued with glorious purpose. I felt myself nod but realized no time had passed at all and snapped back to reality where Cronus was continuing to read the list.

“Shen Xiong.”

A fair skinned girl raised her hand but sitting next to Gallo must have caused stage fright leaving her speechless.

“Harriet Glossin.”

“Here.”

“Yuki Hirotaki.”

“Here.”

“Varis Clarite”

“Here.”

“And finally, Maylin Zephris.” He turned to the last girl smiling.

There we sat eleven girls barely on the cusp of adulthood about to be faced with a challenge none of us could even imagine. Once he was done reading names he turned the page on his clipboard and took another look around the room. He sighed when his gaze fell on the empty chair and he looked down, shaking his head once more. We all knew what desertion meant. I don’t think anyone ever expected it to happen though.

One final inhale allowed him to compose himself to start in on his speech, “You young women represent the best that our new program has to offer. We have been searching tirelessly and through a vigorous process and referral program we have discovered you eleven. As you all know Lyra has been inside each of your minds delivering you a final warning before we continue. I must warn you, this is not for the feint of heart. Before we continue you must know some basic information. You will be dedicating your life to ending the war and eliminating that magical barrier once and for all.”

“Our life?” Sylis barked and jumped to her feet. “What happened to five years and done?”

Cronus cleared his throat, “As I was saying, it is a life commitment. If anyone wants to quit now, please let me know.”

Harriet jumped next, “Why the fuck would we give you our lives?” Her next movements were slow as she worked her way to the exit. Before she left the view of our group though she turned back to us. Her eyes closed, mouth gaped open and then she just dropped.

Lyra hissed behind her teeth and turned to the rest of us and Cronus continued, “As I was saying, this is a life service, one that can end here or some years down the road. The choice is entirely up to you.”