Fractured Darkness: A YA Fantasy Adventure (The Age of Alandria Book 3) Page 23

  Reaching her long, slender fingers toward the source of the veins at eye level, she punctured the thin skin surrounding the blood with one of her sharp red fingernails. Leaving her finger in the tiny hole she made, she turned her hand palm up and let the blood drip down her finger onto her palm, pooling there until the trickle became a steady stream. Taking her other hand, she sliced open a thin line of her skin just below her wrist parallel to her arm. She tilted her arm, and the blood flowed from her palm down a path straight into the open wound as her energy directed it. Maleina’s eyes fluttered as she absorbed not only the blood—the life essence of those she deemed unworthy of existence in her kingdom—but the energy and power that dwelt within it. The first hit of energy was intoxicating. She swayed with the weight of it as it entwined with her own.

  As she finished, she sent a surge of her energy into her fingertip to cauterize the hole she punctured into her morbid “tree of life.” She felt strong and sated. The power circulating in her body was tangible and she could feel its current paving its way from her head to her toes.

  At the top of the stairway, she sealed the doorway, placing her hands upon it. Her magic was instantaneous and fluid. As she sauntered back down the hall of the west wing, her image was one to behold. She was striking. Her eyes shone with the newly consumed power.

  Passing the library entrance, she felt a presence and turned sharply. There was no one there, not even a shadow. She cocked her head, listening. Nothing. Continuing down the hall, she again felt a presence following her. There was a faint hint of laughter, dark and mysterious, that seemed to surround her. Maleina was not afraid, but she was irritated and curious. She kept walking, the sound of her shoes clipping along as she picked up her pace, daring the presence to follow her.

  Her steps had reached the end of the hallway when upon passing a mirror, she almost tripped on her polished high heels. Maleina did not stop to linger, but what she saw in the mirror sent shivers down her spine. She felt the blood begin to pull from her head.

  “It’s not possible. She cannot be here. I have wards. She is in Exhile!” Maleina defiantly declared under her breath. Again the eerie cackle lightly swirled around her as she turned from the old wing, heading toward her personal chamber.

  In the safety of her chamber, Maleina paced in a tight space in front of her dainty, yet ornately carved wood desk. Filled with new power, she let it wash over her. She inhaled slowly and deeply, letting her anxiety leave with her exhale. She leaned forward, placing both her hands palm down on her desk. After a moment, she stood up straight, running her hands down her green dress.

  “They are mere echoes of the past, Maleina,” she whispered to herself with relief. Deciding to dress more appropriately for her journey to Adettlyn to meet with King Syén, she chose a traveling dress and cloak. After changing clothes, she stood regally before the full-length distressed silver framed mirror. Just as she was turning to retrieve her cloak, her image floated in the mirror once again. She leered at Maleina and threw her head back with a haughty laugh. The laugh was dark and occupied the small chamber as it squeezed the air right out of Maleina’s lungs. Maleina fell back against a nearby chair, overwhelmed with shock as she looked back at the mirror in horror. Them Maleina felt a surge of anger rise in her chest as she pushed up from the fallen chair, bringing it with her. She swung the wooden chair with all her strength directly at the mirror, shattering the glass all over the ground, effectively banishing the unwanted intruder from it. Maleina breathed heavily. She straightened her dress, grabbed her cloak, and fled her own chamber.

  On her way out the entrance of her home followed by a handful of her guards, she passed not a mirror, but a maid on her knees on the marble floor, scrubbing it, sloshing water about the floor. Maleina’s intake of breath startled the maid, causing her to cringe and quickly scoot to a doorway beyond her. The sound of evil laughter followed her out the open doorway.

  “I will find you, my pet.” The voice belonging to the mistress of darkness surrounded Maleina, wrapping seductively around her. Maleina looked around, but no one else seemed able to hear her. She was in her head. She was surrounding her.

  “I am coming!” She shouted so loudly, Maleina physically covered her ears. The laughter grew louder and louder, following Maleina out to the stables where her horse and guards traveling with her awaited. Maleina’s anger burned along with a growing uncertainty and fear. She was determined to see her plan fulfilled. This path had cost her everything, and she was so close. Flames rose in her eyes as her indignation surged within her veins, dancing with her new power. She could feel the energy slither under her skin, ready to strike. Syén awaited her at Adettlyn with the reinforcements she had asked for. They would be there or else. Syén’s usefulness was beginning to wear thin. Maleina and her entourage headed out, riding fast and hard toward the territory of the Elves.

  Maleina would see her victory. No one, not even She, would stop her.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  “We’re leaving today, Kae.” Chel choked on a sob. “I don’t want to do it. Not without you. I have this terrible feeling. I’m not sure if it’s regarding you or me or just a generic sense of doom for all living things, but I don’t like it! And now I have to be alone with a very pretty Faerie boy!”

  Kaeleigh bounced on her friend’s bed that was in the cavernous room the girls all shared and squeezed her tight. She held onto Chel for dear life, as if that could keep them together. “I don’t like it either. I have a feeling too, but I don’t know what it means,” she said with a frown.

  “Have you had any visionary”—Chel waved her hand, searching for the right word—“revelationy things in a while?”

  Kaeleigh’s eyes sparked with amusement. “No, I haven’t in a while. Arileas said that was a gift I shared with him and my mother as well. He’s really the only one I can learn from to try and understand how it works.” They were quiet for a few seconds just being with each other. “Hey, have you had any other feelings like you might shift?”

  Chel scrunched her nose up, “Not really. I talked to Hal about it, though, he said not to worry about it—like you did—that it would happen when it was the right time. Maybe being around others like me will set something off.” She shrugged.

  “I will be pissed if I’m not there when it happens.” Kaeleigh pouted and folded her arms like a petulant child.

  “Why?” Chel pushed her friend over on the bed.

  “Are you kidding me? Because it’s a huge part of you and I don’t want to miss it or not be there for you,” she said, trying to hold back her own tears.

  “I’ll try to hold off, you know, wait until after you come back for me,” Chel teased. Kaeleigh retaliated and pushed her back.

  “That ‘pretty Faerie boy’ better take care of you, or I’ll find a nice home for him in Exhile,” Kaeleigh said, now serious.

  Chel blushed uncharacteristically. “He said he would. Well, his exact words were: ‘My sword is yours on this journey and I will serve you with my life and protect you with my death.’ That’s a little intense for me, but I appreciate the sentiment.”

  Kaeleigh’s jaw opened and Chel reached over to snap it shut with a flick of her finger. “Whoa, Chel, that’s pretty big. He could have just said, ‘Hey baby, I’ll keep you safe and warm.’” The girls giggled. “What about Samuel? Have you given him any more thought? I mean you supposedly live with him back home.”

  Chel frowned. “I know. I’m not sure what to think. Honestly, I haven’t really thought much of him since being here. That’s bad, isn’t it?”

  “Not bad. I think it means something though.” Kaeleigh shrugged, trying not to lay on her opinion of Samuel too thick. She had thought from the beginning something was off about him and that they rushed things really fast. “Give it some thought, though, when you’re on this journey with Hal.”

  Chel nodded with consideration. “I wonder if he misses me. Sometimes it seemed like he didn’t even really like me that much, but just wanted me
to be with him, if that makes sense.” She shrugged. “I mean he’s probably moved on thinking I wasn’t coming back or something. Plus what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him, right? Maybe I’ll give Hal a shot. After all, we are going to be all alone on our little adventure.” Chel winked at Kaeleigh, trying to move on, uncomfortable with where the conversation had gone. Kaeleigh rolled her eyes. “Speaking of alone... what is going on with you and Daegan? Spill it!” Chel was practically bouncing on her bed, jostling Kaeleigh all over it.

  Kaeleigh’s cheeks flushed crimson and she looked around the room, avoiding Chel’s penetrating stare. “Come on, Kae! You can’t ask those questions and then not answer mine!” Chel, no longer bouncing, protested with hands on her hips and a glare in her gaze. Kaeleigh sighed.

  “He basically opened up to me. Said he wants me and apparently is not leaving my side except for when I’m in here with you.” She closed her eyes tight as if anticipating the look on Chel’s face which would not disappoint. If Chel’s eyes grew any wider they would probably explode and the Grand Canyon would lose the competition with her mouth for openness. Then the mother of all squeals pierced the momentary pause for shock. Kaeleigh had to cover her ears. In fact, she toppled over onto her side in the fetal position, covering her ears and closing her eyes as Chel jumped and rocked the mattress. Suddenly a large weight crashed on top of Kaeleigh practically suffocating her.

  “I knew it!” Chel whispered next to Kaeleigh’s ears.

  “I knew it, I knew it, I knew it!” she repeated louder and at light speed.

  “Fine. You knew it. Can you get off me now?” Kaeleigh struggled to get the words out with her friend crushing her lungs. Chel rolled off the top of her and they both lay side by side on the bed, quietly contemplating. Then they both started giggling.

  “We sound like teenagers with girly crushes,” Kaeleigh laughed out disgustedly.

  “We are teenagers with girly crushes. Get over it. It’s awesome!” Chel stated proudly.

  “Yeah, it is.” Kaeleigh smiled, her thoughts going to a very muscular, dark, stoic Ferrishyn warrior who had stolen her heart. A warmth flooded her soul and relaxed her body. He’s mine, she thought with confidence.

  And you are mine, Daegan replied in her mind, sending his own feelings of warmth and happiness to her through their connection.

  You can hear me?

  I can, he replied. You are getting stronger and our connection to each other is stronger. You are projecting to me specifically, that is how I heard you.

  Kaeleigh sat straight up from the bed. She looked to Chel, who was totally unaware of her private connection with Daegan. She smiled and wanted to try it again. I’m saying goodbye to Chel. Are you with Hal?

  I am. Meet us out by the entrance when you are ready.

  Kaeleigh nodded, forgetting he couldn’t see her. We will be there shortly. She closed her mind to him and focused on Chel, who was now looking at her curiously.

  “What are you doing? You seemed to be concentrating extremely hard,” Chel observed.

  “Nothing. You ready to head out?”

  Chel took a deep breath and looked around the room to see if there was anything else she needed to take with her. They didn’t have much with them, but some of the Ehsmia had given them clothing and few necessary items. Chel picked up her bag and looked at the food items placed inside it for their journey. “I don’t think I will ever be a vegetarian again. It’s too hard to survive out there without hunting and eating whatever you can find. It’s so conflicting to eat a little furry animal when I know I could possibly one day shift into one myself.” A pained look crossed her face.

  “Maybe Hal can help you learn which leaves and berries or whatever else that might not have legs you can eat on the way. I bet the shifters might have tricks for it as well. You’ll see.” Kaeleigh smiled.

  “Way to find the silver lining, Kae.” Chel smiled in return. “Okay, let’s get this show on the road... or dirt path... or whatever it is.” They walked out of their room, arm in arm off to meet the wizard—or the warriors as the case may be.

  After several more minutes of hugs and tears, Hal and Chel were ready to head toward the Shifter territory of Mandü tré Lan, where they would try to find new allies. Chel, of course, hoped to learn more about her heritage and perhaps even her family, if there were any distant relatives to be found.

  “Please take care of her. I know you will, but... she’s my family,” Kaeleigh pleaded with Hal as she grabbed him before he put his pack on his back.

  He smiled and nodded at Kaeleigh. Putting reassuring hands on her shoulders, he looked directly into her eyes. “I will protect her as my own... family, I mean.” Halister backed away with a slight flush in his cheeks that took Kaeleigh aback for a brief second. Then she glared at him. “If you break her heart, I will come after you and find some magic that will hurt you in some”—she stumbled on her words realizing she really didn’t want to be mean to Hal—“in some bad way on your body or something painful. Oh heck with it, just please don’t hurt her.” She glared at him, half smiling at her bungled insult, until he nodded in complete understanding.

  Hal backed away from her and turned to Daegan, who surprisingly couldn’t hide the quirk of his lip. Halister questioned Daegan with a look, but only received a shoulder shrug in turn. “She is a mean one, brother.” Hal winked playfully at them all then reached his hand out to Daegan. Daegan reached his hand out, grasping Halister’s forearm as they had done many times before, and then they brought each other in for a brotherly hug, slapping each other on their backs. “Take care of each other. We cannot lose either one of you and especially not both. She will come after you and I have no idea what she is capable of.” Hal’s mind filled with anguish at the thought of his mother hurting anyone, let alone Daegan. “I hate that I will not be there to have your back.” He looked to Kaeleigh as well. “Either of your backs.”

  “Bring it in,” Chel commanded as she pushed all of them together for a group hug.

  After a few more minutes together, they said their final goodbyes. Kaeleigh didn’t go far as she watched Hal and Chel fade from view as they entered the tunnel. She stood on the edge of where the soft emerald green grass met the compacted dirt that opened into the tunnel that would take them to the portal out of Ehsmia and into whatever was waiting for them. She really hoped there was nothing waiting for them. Kaeleigh could never live with herself if something happened to them.

  “No!” was all she could say out loud and then taking a deep breath, she ran to the tunnel and out of sight after them.

  “Kaeleigh!” Daegan turned around just as she disappeared into the tunnel and tore after her. He reached her as she stood directly in front of where the portal should be, but instead she found solid rock and dirt. Not taking the time to create light, he followed his ears to find her in the dark. Like a blind man, he felt for her and found her braced with hands against the tunnel wall, her back heaving, wracked with sobs. His heart broke for her in that moment.

  “I can’t find the opening! What if I just sent them to their deaths?” Kaeleigh could barely get the words out and breathe.

  Daegan wrapped his arms around her from behind, bringing her back away from the wall. His wide chest solid at her back, he held her. Sending peaceful energy to her, he tried to calm her down. He rubbed his hands up and down her arms as he whispered soothing words of another language next to her ear, his head resting against hers. She turned her head into his, cheek to cheek. Then mouth to mouth. Hungrily, their mouths danced, seeking comfort and reassurance. Kaeleigh turned into him, pressing her body against his, desperate for his warmth and the feel of him against her. Grabbing his shirt in her hands, she pulled him into her, chest to chest not close enough. Too many barriers between them. She felt her way up his chest, entwining her fingers into his silky hair at the base of his neck. Their kisses escalated into something far more raw and needy. His hands felt their way up and down her spine, one holding her neck at the top of her sp
ine. Their passionate energy sent sparks into the darkness; it could have lit a torch when Daegan grabbed her leg and hoisted her up closer to him. She wrapped her legs around him as he pushed her back into the tunnel wall, knocking loose some of the dirt which then rained down upon her head. Some of it fell into her eyes, causing her to blink agitatedly and pulled back from his full and very kissable lips.

  “What...” Kaeleigh tried to wipe the dirt away and then giggled slightly from the realization and possible embarrassment of what they had been doing, but also from the intoxicating energy he was pouring into her that made her giddy. Chest to chest, they were both breathing erratically, their energy still swirling about them in a soft glow allowing them to see each other in the darkness. Forehead to forehead, they tried to catch their breaths also bringing with it a sense of awareness. He released her legs but she did not release her arms around his neck. His hands were steady at her hips, fingers imprinting their design upon her. She played with the hair her fingers were tangled with. They simply held each other. After a few minutes, they both had calmed but her body was shaking. He scooped her up in his arms and walked her back through the tunnel into the light of Ehsmia.

  “They will be all right,” he said confidently.

  “How do you know?” she asked weakly as she laid her head on his shoulder.

  “Because they have to be.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  “All these goodbyes are killing me,” Kaeleigh groaned as she walked with Metrí. It was already the next day and they were headed to where Ella and Finn were saying farewell to the Elder Arileas and the king and queen of Ehsmia. Daegan had respectfully said his goodbyes then headed off to gather a few extra things for their own journey. Kaeleigh watched him for a moment as he went his way. Her stomach fluttered and she smiled briefly, reliving their make-out session in the dark tunnel the night before.