Abyssal - Chapter 38: Chapter 38

Kai suddenly felt out of breath right after the General's declaration. It was as if a giant red X had been tattooed across his back, marking him as the biggest target in all the Seven Seas.
"So, you're saying..." Kai stopped and swallowed, his throat unusually dry. "You're saying I'm not safe here?"
Well, he'd had a feeling, but now that he was somewhat certain, it felt like a pressing weight bearing down on him and making it difficult to breathe.
"I'm afraid so." A look of sympathy flashed across Ryodan's face before it quickly disappeared, to be replaced by metal conviction. Kai wasn't an expert on facial expressions, but he was almost sure that Ryodan was affronted on Kai's behalf by his black expression.
Kai saw his chance and took it. He'd been wanting to see the General and ask him this for a few days now, and he'd be a fool to pass up this opportunity. Who knew when they'd meet again.
"Then take me back home." He said and it came out almost pleading, his homesickness showing. God, what he'd give to see his mother's face again, to sleep in his own room and crawl into his own bed without fear or threat of any enemies.
Ryodan frowned. "This is your home," he insisted with a degree of finality that did not elude Kai.
"No, I mean my home on the surface. With my mother," he explained, but he knew that the General had understood his meaning perfectly.
"I cannot do that." His tone brooked no argument, as formidable and unbudging as steel.
A crack appeared in the middle of his plan. He began to panic. If the General did not help me escape, he was back to square one. Rather, he'd remain forever on square one, considering he'd never actually made any real progress.
"But you just said I'm in danger here!"
"Not only are all eyes on the both of us, but this is your real home, Kai. You shouldn't have to run away from it."
It seemed to Kai that he'd have to rely on logic rather than emotion to persuade the General, who for some reason was adamant that Kai remain here. He had in inkling what the General wanted him -expected him- to do, but he didn't dare consider it.
"This game that I'm now a pawn in started long before I was born. What hope do I have of changing anything now?
"We're all pawns in a game bigger than any of us. But not all pawns are equals. You, Kai, are the queen." Ryodan's eyes glowed as he said it, his pupils narrowing into a thin line. With shadows cast over one half of his face and his eyes glowing like flint, Ryodan looked every part the predator that Kai thought him to be.
A powerful, raking chill came over him and the liquid in his spine froze. He did want him to overthrow Zolban!
"Maybe, but I'm close to being checkmated. I can see what you hope I'll do in your eyes, but I don't have the strength or influence or power to do what you expect me to do, what must be done to achieve..." he trailed off lest he said any more.
He was wary of even saying it; the walls had ears after all.
"Oh, but you do." Kai was stunned by the confidence Ryodan had in him, considering they'd only met less than five times. A naive, foolish part of him was tempted to believe him...
Abruptly, Kai realized that Ryodan was referring to the Spirit of the Sea and not him.
He sighed dejectedly and looked away.
"No, you don't understand."
He bit his lower lip as he contemplated how he was going to tell the General. Two nights ago, he'd abruptly remembered in the middle of a reading session what he'd done in a moment of anger. Thinking about it now, it may not have been the wisest thing to do. Actually, he was pretty sure he was screwed.
"Not only can I not control my power, I kind of asked it to... ah..."
Brows furrowing in a deep frown, Ryodan slowly asked, "What is it?"
"I asked the Spirit of the Sea to leave my body."
"What?!"
"Yelled at it, actually."
Ryodan looked at him like he'd grown two extra heads right in front of him. "This cannot be happening."
Kai said, "And then I punched it in the face." He pursed his lips, waiting for the incredulous scolding.
Ryodan was on his feet in instant, pacing with his hands behind his back. "I cannot believe this."
"Like I said, I'm the weakest pawn," he said with a touch of sorrow in his voice. He was weak. Powerless. Helpless.
"It appears that you are the one who doesn't understand."
Ryodan's voice made him look up and what he saw gave him pause. Was that... panic he detected?
He tried to ask what he meant, but he seemed to have lost his voice.
"If Zolban finds out that lost the Spirit, then it's all over for you and for everyone who believes in you -believed in your father. The Spirit is your direct unquestionable claim to the throne. Without it, the fact that you, a half-breed, may one day become strong and wise enough to become king is not sufficient to the council. Not to mention that Zolban thinking that you command the all-powerful Spirit is what has been keeping him at bay, keeping him from issuing the order to have you taken out."
Halfway through Ryodan's explanation, Kai had gone ashen white and very, very still.
It seemed that he'd indeed acted too rashly by demanding the Spirit of the Sea to leave his body. A terrible feeling of dread closed around his heart, squeezing it until he thought it would pop.
But was the Spirit really gone? He didn't feel any different. But how could he tell? It wasn't like the Spirit responded to him when he called like a wishes-granting genie.
He told Ryodan just so.
"Hmm."
Kai didn't miss the look on his face. "What?" he prodded, a little hopeful.
"I know someone who may be able to help."