“He French—kissed you? Oh m y God, Julia! Our first French—kiss and where was I?”
“At the moment, I didn’t even know who you were! I mean, I was supposed to see you last night, and well, after he kissed me I forgot what I was doing, where I was going or who I was supposed to see.”
“I don’t get it. I’m confused about what you’re telling me. So do you hate Tolan?”
“No, ” she admits quietly . “I really don’t, but I’ve never been around someone like him, not to mentioned being kissed by someone like him. Boys who look like he does don’t look at girl s who looks like me. Every time he comes near me or say s something to me I just can’t help getting hostile with him.” After a pause, she quiet ly adds, “It’s because it’s all I know, Lil. All I’ve ever known.”
“That may be true, Jules, but it doesn’t have to be, right ?” I ask softly, choosing my words carefully . “Frank and Chris treated you like crap. They’ve had it in for you since Frank married your mom, and it got wors e when she disappeared. Frank beats you and then tells everyone that he’s teaching you how to be a better fighter. Chris is even scarier and gives me the creeps. He’s your stepbrother , but the way he stares at you is just not right! If he thinks any other guy is looking at you, he drags you in the ring and makes sure you look like something no one wants to get near. And not one time have I heard you stand up to them, ever. Yet, here’s Tolan who I’ve only known since last night, but know that he’s a really nice guy ; and all you want to do is fight with him every chance you get ? I don’t get it.”
“I don’t either!” She throws herself back onto the seat, looking defeated. “I don’t know how to act around him, Lil. I don’t like feeling unsure and...and...”
“…confused?” I finish for her.
“It doesn’t matter, he hates me.”
“Jules, how can he? You haven’t given him the chance to see the real you. You know,” I say thoughtfully, “maybe the next time he says anything to you, just nod or shake your head, whatever, but don’t say anything. Listen to what he says, that’s all. Just for now, okay?”
She nods once . She then looks at me before hugging me to her. “I was so scared when Tolan finally told me he was there to take me to you. I didn’t know what to think.” She pulls away “You do know what they are, don’t you , Lil?”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Good, ’cause I didn’t know how I was going to explain it to you. When Tolan first showed me his ears, I thought he was a Vulcan.”
I laugh and at the same time we put our hands up in the intergalactic Vulcan sign. Star Trek is one of our favorite s , not so much the series but the latest mo vie with Zachary Quinto ― we a re his big gest fans . We’re totally in love with him . We laugh , hug each other again and spen d the next ten minutes c atching up on everything that happened since my run last night. We a re pretty much caught up when Mellis opens the door.
“Ladies,” he says smiling at us . He looks over at Julia and asks , “I s it okay for me to take out the ear plugs now?” To my surprise Julia actually blushes and laughs at him.
I’m so happy Julia is with me. I suddenly feel I’m up to facing anything knowing that she’s at my side. All I need now is to find Lucas, return all of us home to Marilyn and then I wi ll have my family back. I look past Julia out the window and see Tharin. Yeah, that’s going to be easier said than done.
*
Chapter Eighteen Lily
We’re traveling on Hwy 15 by 10:30 am . I sit with a disappointed Julia in the backseat. Mellis is in the driver’s seat in front of Julia, while I sit behind Alorn , who i s working on something that I can only d escribe as an elfin laptop. It looks like a crystal ball, but larger, eerily floating in front of him. His fingers fly causing the white sphere to spin in pace with his movements. Above the sphere is a 3-D image of a map, but it’s n o t any kind of map that I recognize. It looks like a solar system with several smaller spheres within it . Connecting the imaged spheres is a silver thread that streams in and out of each sphere. Each time Alorn stops on one of the spheres, it’s enlarged and a new set of spheres appears with the same silver stream floating through them. I want to ask Alorn about the map, but he’s so preoccupied that I decide not to interrupt .
At first, I didn’t want to admit it, but like Julia I’m a little disappointed. I find myself missing Tharin next to me and wonder what he’s thinking.
I look over at Julia who remains quiet, not showing any interest in Alorn or his map. I wonder about Julia and her mix ed feelings for Tolan . Can it be that she likes him more than she lets on? I can’t say that she’s in love with him only because I know nothing about love. An image of Tharin pops into my head . I think back on how he looked in our living room , sitting in the armchair that seemed too small for him. The way he sat there watching me; so strong, so fier ce, so still, and yet, alert and aware of everything around him, including me. My mind drift s into a fantasy world as I wonder what it would be like to be kissed by him. Would he take my breath and senses away as Tolan did with Julia?
Idiot , he would never want to kiss you, I scold myself for thinking the impossible. I glance past Alorn to the car in front of us. Tharin and Tolan are riding together in the first SUV. A lthough the windows are blacked out, I know that Tharin is driving. I watched him climb i nto the driver’s seat earlier after we finished with breakfast at a small café. I find myself thinking less of my brother and more of Tharin. Tolan said that I was Tharin’s betrothed . I’ve been trying to keep my thoughts from moving in that direction. I know too well that sooner or later I’ll have to deal with reality .
I look up as Mellis slows the car down and pulls off to the right shoulder of the highway. Up ahead I see that Tharin is also pulling over and coming to a stop . Behind us, Phoris pulls up as close as possible to our vehicle. He’s looking up at the sky. I try to do the same out of my own window, but I can’t see anything but white clouds.
I reach for the window lever and stop with my finger just above the button. “Don’t open the doors or let the windows down. When I give the word, Princess , you’ll get out with Julia on your side. Understand?” Mellis commands without taking his eyes from the skies.
He turns to me for confirmation . A s soon as I nod he turns back, this time looking ahead at Tharin’s car. Julia scoots over to my side and takes my hand. I give her a little smile and she squeezes my hand, smiling back at me reassuringly . This is what Julia can handle. She can handle anything that’s physical and immediate. I t’s in dealing with her emotions that she falters . I feel both scared and excited until I remember the spinning glick and the pain it caused. I look do wn at my coat and the n at Julia’s. The color of her coat is the same as Tolan’s ― o nly mine is the same color as Tharin’s.
“Julia,” I say urgently, grabbing her arm to get her attention, “whatever you do, stay close to me.”
Mistaking my concern, she repli es, “Don’t worry , Lil. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Suddenly, Mellis gives us the signal . Julia reaches over me , sla ms the door open with her foot and pushes me out before her. As soon as we’re clear of the door , Alorn rushes us before him. Phoris fast forwards himself to our left and how Mellis is at our right so fast is beyond me. They surround us as we make our way out to the des ert, about fifty yards from the vehicle. Julia and I turn toward the road to find that Tolan and Tharin are between the cars and us also facing the highway .
“Stay quiet, not a word,” says Mellis, a serious look on his face for the first time. He looks each of us in the eye , emphasizing the urgency of our situation before turning his back to us.
Mellis and Alorn stand on each side of Phoris, forming a semi circle around Julia and me. With hands out to his side, fingers splayed and face turn ed upward , Phoris begins to chant softly . As I stand holding on to Julia , Phoris looks forward and quietly ask s , “Elements heed my calling .” Only seconds pass before the air around us starts to quietly hum, and then slowly
vibrate. We continue to hold on to each other tightly as we watch the sand around our feet begin to move with the vibration. The sand y pebbles bounce softly until suddenly it’s raining upward. We are in a quiet storm with sand gently dancing about us. Without touching us , it surrounds us like a cool s oft curtain. I look out toward Tharin and Tolan as they stand side-by—side, mirror images of each other, facing the SUVs. Their focus is on the sand that’s dancing around all three vehicles. I watch as the sandy curtain cover the SUVs, shimmering slightly until I’m able to see the other side of the highway. I watch in amazement as cars speed by from both directions oblivious to any of us.
The terror came to me slowly at first. Then recognizable fear overwhelms me with sudden impact . I remember it from last night when I saw Tolan for the first time. I turn , looking around me trying to find where the source is coming from and I grow desperate and anxious. I can feel the scream build ing inside my chest, trying to make its way up my throat and out of my mo uth. I swallow hard and close my eyes tight until suddenly …it’s here! My eyes fly open as the vision I saw last n ight descends from the sky. It’s the empty blackness with the fiery eyes. The black smoke it emits gathers and surrounds it . Even as it reaches the ground, it seems to be floating. I glance at the faces around me and realize no one else can see it . I stare at Julia who is anxiously looking at Tolan .
Then, three more figures , elves, descend from the sky wrapped in clouds . They look like the elves who are trying to protect us, except for one . He looks just like me . His hair is jet black and when he looks around h im, I can see that he has “beer—colored” eyes. He could be my twin, my doppelganger. Lucas and I are only four years apart, and we look nothing alike . This guy is my double with the exception of his height and gender , and not to mention the ears . I feel Julia ’s grip tighten and know that she’s staring at me. I look at her with the same confused look that she’s giving me.
All three elves are dressed the same way that Tharin and his men are dressed, except that their coats are black. They make an imposing image as they move only a few yards from us . I can see their mouths moving , but I can’t hear them, not clearly at least. Their voices are muffled by the sand. I strain to listen, focusing in on the one who looks like me . When I focus just on him , his words become clearer and I hear a name …Lucas . I catch my breath and in that instant he stops talking . He turns our direction as if suddenly spotting prey . I lose all focus and keep still. The others behind him also become still . The black void slithers past them heading straight for me. Then it stops, smelling the air, confused and agitated.
“Calm down,” soothes Tharin’s voice in my head . My eyes switch over to where he’s standing and even though his back is toward us and he’s perfectly still, I know it’s him.
“Tharin?” I respond, fear gripping at me.
“Stay calm, Lily. Don’t focus on any one of them, just stay calm.”
“But how are you…” I try to ask.
“Damn it , Lily, later . Now isn’t the time. Do as Mellis h as told you and be quiet.”
Maybe I’m getting tired of him bossing me around, and truly I don’t know why, but I mentally stick my tongue out at him.
“Nice , Lily. Later I’ll teach you how to use that , as well. Now behave and be quiet.”
It’s not so much that I’m embarrassed that he caught me; it’s his threat that shocks me beyond embarrassment. It sends a thrilling chill up my spine. All that disappears when the black void rises to its full height a nd lets out a terrifying scream.
*
Chapter Nineteen ~ Tharin ~
“She’s not going to disappear, you know?” I say to Tolan as he glances at the rear view mirror at the car behind us for the hundredth time. I’m still amazed at my brother’s reaction to Julia. Granted, Julia is quite pretty, even her bruises can’t hide that, but there are prettier girls in Vel esi . I’ve watch ed those same girls try and try again to capture my brother’s eye. Why , of all the girls , he would fall for a human is beyond me. Yet, in the short time I’ve known Julia, I’ve seen her stand up to one of Velesi’s best warriors, sh ow a fierce loyalty and an over protective bond to her friend. In all the times she has fought with Tolan, not once have I seen her break down in tears, whine or pout like most would do if they were in her situation. Like Lily, there is no dishonesty in her. I don’t believe it’s possible with the two of them.
I think back to the café where we had breakfast. Since the night of their kiss, Julia had been quiet for the first time. That didn’t disguise her hunger , however, as she dug into her meal with gusto, which we all found refreshing. When Tolan offered her some toast, the entire table went still. Julia stopped chewing her food, looking over at Lily. When Lily nodded in encouragement, Julia quietly shook her head declining his offer. As for Tolan, I had to nudge him to offer her the toast in the first place. I almost asked him if he wanted me to pass her a note to see if she liked him. His serious and very solemn face kept me from making that suggestion. As for Lily, she barely touched her food. She kept her eyes on her friend throughout the meal. When Julia winced drinking her orange juice because of her cut lip, I felt Tolan tense and saw Lily reach out to her friend.
To be honest, like Tolan , I would every now and then glance at the rear view mirror. Unlike my brother, however, I’m not so obvious about it. I do worry about them and the dangers they will face on this trip back to Velesi. Okay, if I’m to be honest with myself, then yes, I’m worried about Lily and I find myself missing having her next to me. I can’t help wondering what she’s thinking about at this moment.
The feeling of urgency hits me again. It’s the same feeling I had at the abandon ed housing track, a sense that we were running out of time. I curse myself for stopping to eat, but where as Tolan and the rest of us can go on without food , I was thinking of Lily and Julia.
I feel the push at the back of my skull and look up at the skies.
“Tharin?” asks Tolan, now alert and also looking up.
“They’re coming, Tolan.”
“Will you be calling for Cessa?”
After a moment’s thought, I answer “No. I’ll call for her if we have to break from the shield.”
I pull over onto the right shoulder of the highway. I connect with Mellis, Alorn and Phoris , and by the time I shut off the engine, they a re ready to move. After giving the signal, Tolan and I step out and wait . Mellis, Phoris and Alorn make their move to get Lily and Julia out into the desert where we will use the sand as cover. I glance over at Tolan and although his face is unreadable, his eyes remain steadily on Julia. Once we know they a re safe, we follow quickly. A few feet away from the semi circle that our cousins form around the girls, Tolan and I turn toward the SUVs.
I feel the familiar shiver rise slowly through me. Next to me , Tolan raises his hand and pulls in what moisture there is in the air, as Phoris behind us pull in the sand. We a re covered and so are the vehicles. With Phoris concentrating on the sand, Mellis and Alorn stand ready by his side to cover him if things go wrong. He won’t be of much help to us unless he releases the energy he has harnessed from the desert floor . I know Tolan would be able to hold the air’s moisture in place and still be able to conjure up a spell or two. I need to remain free from any calling or summoning in case the illusion fails and we have no choice but to fight. Alorn, Mellis and I will have to give Tolan and Phoris enough time to recover once they let the calling go, especially Tolan who has been keeping a cloaking shield around us since we left San Diego . My only fear is that Lily and Julia will have little protection. If Harlu is with them, he alone will take all of my attention and focus. Tolan and the others will have to take on the rest of the Ange him .
The Ange are Sidhe , t rained assassins who fight with deadly weapons and dark callings that are naturally repulsive to our kind. They a re lethal because they have no morals when it comes to killing their own. I grit my teeth. I wi ll kill them all before any of them lays a hand on Lily. I’m not so much shocked b
y my thoughts , but by how much I mean them .
My attention is redirected before us. Something is here. Something foul and not part of this world. I let my senses reach out to the immediate area and I pull back sucking in air , repulse d by what I found . It’s a Demlok from the UnderRealm , but how did it get here? Worse , why can’t I see it? Someone powerful has brought forth a demon from Lengos, a region of the UnderRealm, and is powerful enough to cloak it in an invisible shield. Damn. The Ange alone will be a challenge, but with a Demlok, it will take everything we have to get away safely.
“Tharin, what is it?” Tolan’s thoughts interrupt my own as I sense him tense beside me.
“It’s a Demlok, b rother.” I respond.
“A Demlok! Where is it, Tharin? I sense it now , but I don’t see it.”
“I can’t see it either, Tolan , but it’s here. Do you think you can pull up a wall if things go bad? We can’t afford to have witnesses if things get ugly.”
“Yes. But if things do go as bad ly as you say, I won’t be able to hold it up for long.”
“Don’t worry, b rother. I don’t intend to make this last long.”
The clouds appear in front of us. Someone powerful, indeed, is working behind the guise of Lucas. Eve n the Black Prince doesn’t have this kind of power. To be able to call forth a Demlok and then send the Ange by way of air is not a simple feat. Only my father has such power, but obviously, another exists somewhere ― s omewhere close to Lucas Michaels.
I tense the minute I see Harlu come through first, and I know that it takes every ounce of strength that Tolan possesses not to attack. I believe the only reason why he hasn’t done so is because of Julia. I send a silent thank you for that piece of luck. Without her here , Tolan would have dropped the calling and went straight for Harlu’s heart.
“Fien, where are they?” demands Harlu softly of the Sidhe next to him. Fien is Harlu’s right -hand man, and is just as deadly. The other Sidhe near Fien is Janlu. All three have no weapons on them, at least none showing. With the exception of Lily and Julia, none of us are fooled.