Chapter 27 - Betrayal

                                    

                                          
Roger's fury burned. 
   It burned as hot as the world's volcano. It burned in sputters, and flares, and eruptions. It burned so intensely, he wouldn't be surprised if everything he touched burst instantly into flames. 
  The Wielder fell. Her body, limp now that he trapped her mind in his curse, hit the ground hard. He didn't bother trying to catch her. Instead, he relished the way she collapsed. Dark power clung to every inch of her skin. He wouldn't risk her escaping his thrall. Though he kept her alive - for now -  it looked as if she were dead. 
   He wished she was dead. She deserved death for what she had done. 
   But there was one person he knew who deserved it more. 
   He lifted his gaze to Evan, who stood at the edge of the arena's cage, peering down with eyes that shimmered with emotion. Wonder; that was wonder on his face. Like he'd just witnessed the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. 
   It took every shred of self control for Roger not to electrocute Evan on the spot. 
   "It can't be gone," Deveroux said to Jea. "Not completely."
   Roger turned to his Phantoms. They gathered around Jea in a semi-circle, there to comfort and help her, but also ready to contain her. What had been done to her... It shouldn't have been possible. No one knew what to expect. No one knew how to react. 
   But they had to be ready to subdue her if she lashed out. 
   Jea held a clenched hand over her chest. Sobs shook her shoulders. She spoke to herself in unintelligible mutterings, shaking her head every so often. 
   Ilex put a hand to her shoulder. He immediately stiffened. "It's gone," he confirmed, his voice unnaturally shaken. "Completely."
   Roger's blood boiled to the point he felt feverish. His gaze snapped back up to Evan. "You did this," he growled. 
   Evan had the audacity to look surprised. He opened his mouth to argue, thought better of it, and instead ducked his head. Then he backed up until his legs hit the seat behind him and sat down. 
   He knew Evan would wait for him. But because he was angry - because he was livid - he clasped Evan to his seat with a band of power, ensuring that the researcher wouldn't try to sneak out when he had his back turned. 
   Ignoring Evan's gasp of alarm, Roger began barking orders. "Dresden: lock the Ultimate in the safe in my room. Make sure it can't be summoned with magic, again. Shan, Kilera, and Deveroux: take the Wielder back to her cell. One of you stay inside with her. I don't want to take any chances that there's any lingering magic she's clung to that will allow her to escape."
   The four Phantoms straightened to attention, muttered a unified, "Yes, Sir," and rushed to obey. 
   Once they were gone, Roger turned to Ilex. "Bring Jea back to her room and stay with her. For the time being I have no option but to place her under temporary arrest until I can analyze her condition. If there is any hope of saving her, I promise, I will do it."
   Pain laced the fury burning on Ilex's face. He swallowed down his emotion, acknowledging Roger with a firm nod. Then he wrapped his arm around Jea's shoulders and led her away. 
   Roger lifted his head. Warden Holt and the few guards he'd brought in to watch the match with him stood near the door, waiting for dismissal. He admired their loyalty. Lesser soldiers would have scattered at the first sign of trouble. He took in a breath to tell them to go, but hesitated. 
   He still had to deal with Evan. And Evan could no longer be trusted. Maybe he'd need the guards to wait for him after all. 
   He scanned his gaze across the arena floor. A glittering gemstone, the size of his fist, sparkled in the dirt. He bent and plucked it from the ground, wiping the dirt off of it against his sleeve. Of all the filthy tricks he thought would be played, he hadn't anticipated Evan throwing the Wielder his crystalized butterfly.