Yvira
I couldn't hold myself back when I saw Kozuna drop. Everything in me moved on its own, bringing me to his side and on my knees. I checked his pulse before anything else, and I was relieved to know he hadn't died. But it was just like Zara said.
His curse was taking its toll.
Following Nazun's disappearance, Zara folded her arms as the helicopters landed. "A silver cloak huh? This should be good."
The soldiers inside didn't waste a minute to charge out, guns blazing. Everything was pointed at Zara, Kozuna, and me. And the three of us were completely unarmed.
"GET ON THE FUCKING GROUND!"
"PUT YOUR FUCKING HANDS IN THE AIR"
"DON'T MAKE ONE FUCKING MOVE!"
"Wait, what's going on? What did we do?"
Zara and I complied, though Kozuna couldn't do the same in his knocked-out state. I gulped quietly. It felt like my heart was gonna jump straight out of my chest. Too many things were happening all at once.
"Keep your eyes on him, that kid could be tricky if he gets away," ordered the man in silver.
The soldiers took hold of both Zara and me, pulling us away from Kozuna while the man in silver inspected him. He pulled down his hood before touching Kozuna, revealing shiny black hair and grey eyes that came to an agitated squint when he saw the curse seal.
"Who are you people?" I flicked my head toward the person obviously in charge. "What do you guys want with Kozuna?"
Folding his arms behind his back, after inspecting Kozuna's hand with a twitchy brow, the cloaked man stood and dusted himself off. He glared at me like I was a murderer responsible for killing his family.
"I am Councilor Livian Ozukashi. I was sent by Lord Izanai to investigate a disruption. It seems we found the cause. Reports have come in of someone using the powers of a curse mark. Destruction of this magnitude is nothing but pure evidence. This boy bears the black spot of a curse mark."
I waved my hands frantically, unable to blink at that point. "Wait, no, no, no! Kozuna is innocent! He fought to protect the clan from ANOTHER curse user! Nazun Ozukashi! The, uhh- the guy inside the, um, energy giant! Thing!"
"Child, if you're going to lie to my face, at least make it convincing. Where did this Nazun character go? Do you see them anywhere? Were there any witnesses? And might I mention, anyone who knew of the kid's curse is also subject to being prosecuted, the same as him? I'd think carefully about what you say, were I you."
I averted my gaze from Livian, grunting and looking everywhere, except at him and Kozuna.
"Judging by your clear nervousness, can I assume you and Zara here knew about this curse before all of this destruction occurred?"
"I said this was gonna happen. I told him he'd get caught, and look, I was right," Zara mumbled to herself, taking a deep breath. "Meaning we get to deal with the aftermath, too."
"Well, um."
Crap. I'm a terrible liar. How would Kozuna get out of this?
"I see. It's apparent that you two knew ahead of time. The scientist renown for her studies on curses, and some teenage girl. I assume you're Kozuna's girlfriend then, right? By the way your defending him?"
"Okay, well you can totally assume that, but even the attack started before Kozuna even arrived!"
Zara silently glared at me with her lips pressed against each other. Her face screamed, "Shut up," but I felt like I needed to say my piece.
"Kozuna uses his powers to protect the clan, not destroy it! He-"
"You admit to preemptive awareness of his curse?"
I suddenly stopped talking, though by then, it was too late.
The soldiers didn't hesitate to manhandle Zara and me, loading us into the helicopter with handcuffs on. And after us, they secured Kozuna, tying bindings all over his body until he was practically made of rope.
I growled at the soldiers and kept trying to get free, but it wasn't working. At all.
"Yvira. It's better if we just comply for the time being. If we try to plead our case, especially since there were witnesses that saw Kozuna fight Nazun, there is a higher chance we'll all live. Though, not a good chance."
I stayed angry and refused to agree with Zara because Kozuna deserved better. He saved the city, and just for the soldiers to take him into custody, not even five minutes later? Zara and I were just icing on the cake.
"Listen to Lady Zara, Yvira. She's one of the brightest people in the clan, yet refused to join the council when she was offered. She let Vice Commander Helix take her position, that fool." Livian soon sat in the cockpit, next to his personal pilot. "At any rate, we can't put traitors to trial. Not without each of them awake. But when Kozuna does awaken, the three of you will be brought to justice. You three, and anyone else involved."
Anyone else? Like Shin and Kaiten? Or even Anari?
My gaze wandered out of the window, watching the city as we flew.
There were still plenty of invaders, but once Nazun was defeated, they'd begun retreating. I noticed Kaiten and Anari in buggy seats, both still unconscious and bruised. Shin and Helix were with them and on the move. Helix acted as the primary coordinator via the buggy radio. We could hear them through the radio in our helicopter. The fight was far from over, but apparently, our clan leader preferred some of us captured before we could push back the remaining foes.
Zara sighed, folding her legs and shutting her eyelids. "So. Mind telling us just where we'll be locked up, Livian?"
Livian stared out the window, not turning around to show us his face or cold demeanor. "It's Councilor Livian. And you'll be held in Sand Tower near the Steel Palace, in the central district of The Primary. Where the most dangerous of criminals are held, especially curse users."
I lifted my legs and kicked Livian's seat until the guards held me back. "So you guys are worried about putting the savior of our city on trial and throwing us in jail? But not repairs, casualties, defenses, or anything ACTUALLY important? Look at all the destruction!"
Livian groaned before turning and giving me an ominous look, sending chills down my spine. "You'd be really wise to not get on my bad side, Yvira." Livian smacked me, causing my skull to snap back against the headrest. Hard. "Learn your place."
Though my head was in pain, I couldn't make the same mistakes I did before and turn into a crybaby whenever something went wrong. Kozuna put his life on the line and ignited a fire in my heart beyond just a childish romance fantasy.
For now, I'll obey this asshole. But when that trial comes around, everyone will know the truth. I'm not gonna stay weak.
***
Soon enough, we were coming up on the central district of The Primary, and our destination.
I could see a spire climbing high into the sky, built with a mixture of bleak sandstone and rusty metal. That large structure was the prison where we were being taken. And after seeing the jail from a distance, I didn't wanna even begin to imagine what would happen if anyone else was found out. Especially Nikai.
Zara mentioned that Nikai would transform when he woke. To our knowledge, he still was fast asleep underground. But who was monitoring him? All we could do was keep our mouths shut and try to think of a plan.
Sand Tower itself had forty-five floors, and there was a large landing pad on the roof. The prison was known to be under top-level security at all times, and held only the most high-ranked criminals and enemies. Zara, Kozuna, and I were going to be placed in the same zone as these people. Not something to feel privileged or proud about.
"Zara. Yvira. You two will share a cell. Kozuna will be held in the upper levels. If there is anyone else who knows about his curse, now would be the time to say it. You all might get a softer sentence if you leave nothing of the truth out."
Zara shook her head and lounged back in the seat. "I don't think anyone else knows. At least, no one else should've known."
After finally landing, Livian and his men escorted us down into the skyscraper prison. At the very top floor was the large room with cells built to contain curse users. Only a single cell was occupied, however.
Who's that boy? The right half of his hair is black with blue highlights, and the other half is silver. It's not gray. Weird.
I gazed over at the guy lying in his stone bed. "Who's that?"
Livian opened the cell right beside the occupied one and tossed Kozuna in like nothing more than an object. "None of your concern, girl. Keep moving."
I continued gazing at the boy in the cell. His skin was pale brown- clearly malnourished- he looked dead inside; there was absolutely no spirit behind his turquoise eyes. Instantly, I felt terrible for him, even if he had been using his curse for evil. I started to wonder why the clan leader would lock him up rather than execute him.
"Can you tell me his name? Or why someone with a curse wasn't instantly killed, like usual?"
Livian didn't respond for a change. Instead, he kept completely quiet.
"At least tell me why his skin is pale! Is he being mistreated?"
Livian groaned in a labored manner before turning to me once again. "His pale skin is a side effect of using his curse. Dumb bastard tries to use his power for escaping too much. That's what happens. The anti-curse technology built in the upper levels prevents the activation of curses. Dumbass keeps receiving backlash from unsuccessful activation."
After seeing the other prisoner, I watched as Kozuna's body flopped onto yet another stone bed lifelessly. Several soldiers stripped him of his gear, leaving only his bare clothing. All the while, Livian pushed Zara and me into an elevator.
He took us six floors down. To the regular cellblock.
***
Our area was filled with bloodthirsty killers, rapists, and other assorted people of filth. There were also peaceful protesters in cells. Seeing them immediately made me realize what happened when the clan leader's beliefs didn't align with the people.
With his ideals and mode of thinking, Kozuna would fit in with them perfectly. But he also has a curse.
Livian soon opened one of the cells and shoved Zara and me inside, right after his soldiers snatched away any gear we had.
"Since we don't know when Kozuna will wake, there's no telling how long it'll be until you guys are put on trial. 'll be taking my leave, now. Oh, and as you should already know, behave yourselves."
Livian and his men abruptly departed while Zara and I scanned our surroundings. Our cell was dirty and made of sandstone. We had bunk beds and a desk with a single stool in front of it. Other than that, we had a small barred window with a terrible view of the central district.
Outside of our cell were a bunch of prisoners staring at us. There weren't any other females in the jail. Just a bunch of creepy men practically drooling at us like pieces of meat. They catcalled to get our attention, while also saying, and doing, inappropriate things from their cells.
We were only there for a few minutes before Zara started firing back and got into an argument with several other prisoners. There was no way to escape, and we got stuck in one of the worst areas imaginable. It was like Livian wanted us to suffer.
Why did we have to get stuck with a bunch of perverted men? Ugh. Kozuna, Zara, and me are in jail, now. And Nikai can't do anything. I hope you can find a way to get things under control on the outside, Anari.