SAVING CHERYL

The way everyone became very intentional about the attacks they launched on Mason, one would think that it had been planned. But no, it hadn't. It was just a situation where every other person was tired of an autocratic Rule and had decided to take matters into their hands, and bring down the one person who was in charge of the autocracy. I still sat where I was in the heat of the fight and when I looked at mason, he concentrated as though he was trying to do something that needed much concentration. 

I anticipated his next move, and I saw him casting his gaze straight at the lady who had launched the first attack, even though his white clothes was now stained completely crimson. Mason still stood,  unmoving however, in the middle of the whole fight, without batting as much an eyelid, still very much concentrated on what he was doing. I wasn't surprised. I knew that the attacks that were being launched at him, did little or nothing to harm him. Mason was a giant, and giants always had very tough skins

It would definitely take more than a few throws of daggers and ice spears, to bring him down. One would need a one-on-one close combat with him, to actually give it to him where it would hurt. 

I correctly anticipated Mason's next move, as he released a massive wave of air which tore through the crowd like a tornado, flinging every other person in several directions. I would have been flung too, if I didn't have air magic. Anyways, I still had to make it look like I was affected by his power, so I intentionally let myself to be flung a few feet before allowing myself land gracefully to the ground. in a moment, Matt was beside me, and carefully studied me to see if I had sustained any injury. I gave him a sharp nod of the head, telling him that I was fine, and that I did not sustain any. He quietly stood beside me in support, as everybody were standing up to their feet again, albeit fully calmed and scared of what would come their way next. 

However, my gaze was drawn to the lady that stood solitary at the end of all the fight. She was the one who had initiated the first blow to Mason, but Mason had somehow turned the table around so quickly, that she'd turned into the prey. Mason had attacked in such a way that she was left standing, maybe he had restricted his air from getting back to where she was. I sensed the usage of powerful magic, and turned around the court till I saw it. I saw a deep red, burning in Mason's eyes. I without being told, what he was about to do. He was calling up on his most potent element, Fire. If his air could be that disastrous, I wondered how his fire was going to be, and suddenly pitied anyone in the line of fire. I looked at where the lady was, and looked at the door, and almost immediately, an idea formed in my head. 

Mason could not be allowed to kill this lady, because we needed people like her who would one day be able to take down this particular regime. Her boldness alone, to stand up to him made me feel like she would definitely be a good recruit. Furthermore,  if Mason was allowed to kill her, it would give him much more power and authority to do whatever it was he wanted to do,  because everyone will be much more afraid than they were now. They would slowly begin to believe that he was invincible, and that they could never have any effect on him. This had happened several times before now, as this was not the first time an attack was launched at him. On each and every occasion however, he was able to not only resist the attack, but to make a public show of roasting whoever or as many people as were involved in the attack on him. Yes, he always roasted them right in front of an eager crowd. He used his fire magic to burn them inside out, till all that would be left of them would be charred remains. However, that wouldn't be the situation here today. As far  as I was concerned, I was going to save that lady, even though I did not know her, because looking at her alone brought back memories of me on the streets. Before I had come to the level I was in now, I had been like her, struggling to survive. I totally believed that the major reason why she lost it, and had attacked Mason, was because the additional tax would definitely take its toll on her business. It would make her struggle even more, and could possibly make her business go down the drains. 

When I looked at her, I didn't see someone that was filled with hatred. I rather saw someone who was filled with apprehension, someone who was filled with worry, someone that had put so much efforts into building whatever little thing she had, and knew that her efforts, all of it, was about to go down the drains, but could do virtually nothing about it. Her attack seemed to me, like a last resort, and now, I couldn't just stand here and let her be killed over a show of dominance, not when I could stop it. 

I thought of the options I had in saving her, but nothing came to my mind. At this point, everyone cowered in fear, as Mason was virtually bristling with the amount of energy he was trying to pull up. I looked again at the young lady and saw the look in her eyes. The look in her eyes made me almost cry, because it wasn't that of fear again. The look in her eyes was pure resignation. She knew now, that there was no one to stand by her. People were only willing to stand by her when it looked as though she had the upper hand. I wasn't surprised, because that was exactly how things were done here in Buckland. People's loyalty were always with those who had something to offer, not the other way round, and it really pained me that it would end this way for her. 

Well, it wouldn't, because I wasn't going to let it happen. She stood there with resignation. She had simply tried, failed, and had resigned whatever painful destruction that would come her way. At this point, she knew there was nothing, virtually nothing she could do to save herself. No one will stand in to help her, and if she tried to attack again  it will only further enrage Mason. Her attack has really dealt a great blow on him and his reputation. For quite a very long while, no one had dared to attack him, especially in public, and with the knowledge that he had finally gotten her under control, The Mason I knew would not only kill her, but make hers a slow and painful death, if only to pass a message to every other person. I weighed my options of going there and trying to get her out, but I knew I couldn't do it, not without help, because it will not only put me in line of fire as I wouldn't be quick enough, it would also make me become forced to use my elemental powers here in the open, which would spell a great doom for not just me, but for all of my friends.

An idea quickly popped into my head. Looking at Mason, he had just few seconds left for him to explode. The main door was still open, so this was just my last chance. I look sideways at Matt, because I needed his help now. Matt was a vampire, and one thing about vampires was their strength and agility. Matt could take us out of here in milliseconds if need be, and that need had just arisen. We needed to save that young girl, and still get out of here. I told Matt my plan immediately in a very few words, and he understood. He quickly held me very close, lifting me off the ground, and before anybody could discover what had happened, we were already at the girls side. Her eyes opened wide in shock as she saw us, but before anyone could as much as react, Matt had grabbed her also, and we were out of the door, in time too, as Mason's inferno chose that exact same time to erupt. 

I quickly got into the car, as did Matt and the girl, and in no time, we were tearing out of the driveway as though we were never l there in the first place. Mason's outburst was really massive, as it shook the earth beneath us. I was very sure he released the energy he had been gathering up with a fair dose of anger. Anger that his prey was taken away from his very eyes, and if I knew Mason very well, he would make it a point of duty to kill me, all I cared for, and make sure he got back to that lady. I looked at her from the rearview mirror, and saw that her face was still white with shock of what had just happened. 

At the moment, I knew that whatever came my way, I did the right thing. I couldn't possibly stand to watch her die. An innocent girl wasn't expected to die in such a gruesome manner as Mason had planned, and it would be definitely better for me to face the full wrath of Mason, and the torture I surely going to receive from him, than to go through a life long nightmare of the charred remains of this innocent girl. Without doubts, I knew that I had done the right thing. I looked at Matt also, and he nodded at me in affirmation. He thought also, that I had done the right thing. All I  needed to do right now was to prepare for war, because I had just declared myself an open enemy of the kingship of Buckland, and the king was a savage king who would go to any extent to make sure that all his subjects remained completely under his control. Right now, I was one subject had totally gone rogue, and my king was definitely going to do everything possible, to bring me back under control. Everything possible with Mason, would simply mean killing off the rogue subject. 

On a second thought, I decided to head home directly. I called the store and asked them to dismiss all customers and lock up for the day. I also asked them to come over to my place first, for a briefing, before going back home. I needed to get them all on high alert, as Mason wouldn't only be targeting me, but also everyone I cared for. After the call, I changed directions and took the next available route to my residence. All the while I drove, I kept on thinking about what I'd gotten myself into. I took turns, looking at the road and looking at the young lady I was carrying. At this time however, some colour had returned to her face and the ghostly white had reduced to an extent. I knew better though, than to start talking to her or asking her questions now. I needed to get her settled in first, before any questions. In no time, I was driving up to my gate, and going into my house, but not without checking if the traps I'd set were still in place  before disabling them, and entering into my house. I drove into the parking lot, and the three of us went into the house. I quickly went up to my bedroom to have my bath and change into something simpler, while I told Matt to help fix our visitor a warm bath, and give her some of my clothes. I soon finished taking my bath and quickly went to the kitchen to fix a quick meal, because I had the whole of my employees coming over, and there was no better way to draft up proper plans and strategies than over a home cooked meal. 

Few minutes later, they were here and we are sitting around the dining table. The new girl was with us also, and at this point she had gotten loads better. she could actually manage a smile and she could eat. I did not waste any time to start telling them about what had transpired at the diamond court today, and how we had only managed to escape Mason's wrath with the help of Matt. I turned to Matt in acknowledgement, only to find him typing furiously on his tablet. He quickly raised his head as though he noticed my gaze, and smiled, while telling me that the news was everywhere, and that Mason had set a whole lot of money as reward for whoever would give him information on where to get either me, the girl, or both of us.