“I’ve taken care of the orc,” says Alorn.
“There are two on the bridge,” I add.
“I know, and one of them is a shu’omik,” he states, looking off toward the bridge.
Damn. Shu’omiks are big, mean and have the ability to clone themselves. One of them is bad enough, but to fight several for an extended amount of time is fatal.
Alorn glances at me. “Its limit is five, but give each clone enough time to regenerate, and they can re-clone.”
“Fifteen minutes. We have fifteen minutes to dispatch him before he re-clones,” I repeat, sighing heavily.
Even if we kill the original demon, its clones will continue to fight. And, if one escapes, it will develop the ability to regenerate and re-clone as the original. We will need to take the demon out first and deal with the orc afterward. I start to move out fast and hard when Alorn pulls me back.
“Wait.”
“What is it?”
“The orc, it’s Morlo. If he’s here I know the others must be, too. Including Dorlan,” says Alorn.
He abandons his plan of attack.
“If we had Mellis...” he starts.
“And Tolan...” I continue.
“And Ziri,” he finishes. He shakes his head and says, “This isn’t good. The tower has been taken; we’re too late, Tharin.”
“They’re alive, Alorn, which means they would have retreated to the Willow.”
I calm myself and send out my senses once again, hoping to pick up on Tolan. My connection with my brother is stronger than with the others. I pick up remnants of his essence, like footprints, heading away from the tower and toward Cini Falls. There are only two of them and I know the second set of footprints very well.
“Tolan and Lily have split from the others,” I finally say.
“Why?”
“I don’t have a clue; maybe those two on the bridge and their friends have something to do with it.”
“Cini Falls?” he asks, already knowing the answer.
“Yes, which means he’s going to try and get to the tower by way of the harbor.”
Alorn is quiet for a moment before confirming my own thoughts. “The queen’s garden.”
“Yes,” I reply.
Alorn tends to his own thoughts as I try to find reason why the others would split up. I know Mellis wouldn't have let them go without him, the same with Ziri, Julia and Glynnis. I feel the sharp edge of fear trying to slice through my stomach again and I refocus my thoughts on deciding what to do next.
“I don’t understand why Harlu came after you at King’s Park if he was after Tolan all along,” says Alorn, almost as an after thought.
“It was to hide his true intentions. I was a fool not to see it early on. While Harlu kept my attention, Kalis was to engage Tolan until she was able to drug him unconscious. But Julia interfered when she took Kalis down.” My lips curl into a half grin, as I shake my head. “Julia took Kalis down. I wouldn’t have believed it if I didn’t witnessed it myself.”
Alorn grins, too, letting out a breath. “Too bad her friend isn’t a fighter like her. But,” he hesitates a moment, catching a fleeting memory. “Lily does share a fighting spirit. Her courage and strength is immeasurable like no other I’ve come across.” He pauses and looks at me. “Be good to her, Tharin, or I will take you down.”
We lock gazes and I finally understand. I put my arm out to the First Greaneth and without hesitation Alorn grabs it, sealing our fate.
We turn back to the situation before us without another word.
After a moment of silence I say, “You can’t hold a blade to me, cousin, you quake in fear at my very approach.”
I hear my cousin chuckle and he turns to me with a wry look. “That’s because you’ve become fat in your quest to be king, cousin. Besides, if I recall, you have yet to put me down.”
“I believe you have fallen once or twice at my hand,” I say.
“As I said, you’ve become fat…the ground trembles when you approach these days,” he counters.
“That’s due to my awesomeness,” I reply.
Alorn sighs disgustedly, “Now I know why Mellis is the way he is. With you as his role model, all hope for him is lost.”
We become serious when we hear Morlo whistle from the bridge. No answer. He whistles again, this time the demon beside him calls out to his comrades – time to go.
“It’s your call, Tharin. Which way?”
I look at the footprints again before answering. “Their tracks are almost gone so it’s been over an hour. If they haven’t run into any trouble, they should be at the harbor before light. You follow; I’ll take the harbor and head to the falls from there.”
“Right,” answers Alorn, turning to leave.
“And, Alorn,” I call.
“Yes, Tharin?”
“If you find her first, keep her safe and bring her back to me.”
Alorn nods before turning and heading west, disappearing into the night.
~ * ~
Chapter Nineteen
~ Lily ~
The jungle shoots pass me but I don’t pay any attention to it. My mind is trying to capture what seems like sand slipping through my fingers. Was it a dream? It just seemed so real, so…solid.
I think of Alorn and the last time I spoke with him. He seemed off and so unlike…well, unlike Alorn. Did something happen? I mean, how did a dream of Tharin turn into me kissing Alorn? And crap…it wasn’t just a peck on the cheek, I was so damn…oh my God, if Marilyn was here she’d say, “For crying out, Lily, show some decorum.”
No, no, nothing happened. I was delirious and I had a fever…
Yeah, you had a fever all right.
Oh shut up, Lily, you’re not helping any.
Okay, freak out overload here.
I take a deep breath and Tolan slows to a stop as we near the cave opening. He puts me down and scans the area before turning to me.
“What’s wrong? I can feel you stressing,” he says looking me over carefully.
“Really?” I ask, startled.
“Yes, your chokehold around my neck nearly strangled the breath out of me,” he replies.
Embarrassed, I apologize. “Sorry. I’m just worried about Tharin and…um, Alorn.”
I look toward the caves and then back at him. “You know I can do the elf mode thing – you know that, right?”
He looks at me surprised. “No, I didn’t. Why didn’t you tell me?”
I shrug. “I thought you knew and was just saving time. I mean, I did run into a tree.”
Tolan raises a brow before getting back to the caves.
“I know Tharin took you through the caves once, but he used the straightaway. I’m going to use a shorter route that will bring us out on the harbor side of the city.”
I nod, my eyes set on the cave’s entrance. Through the rain I can hear the thunderous roar of Cini Falls and know our small golden clearing is close by. Memories of my time there with Tharin come back for the umpteenth time and I can’t help but smile. Until, instead of seeing Tharin shirtless before the waterfall, Alorn is standing there. Damn it. This is going to bug me until I know for certain it was just a dream. I mean, wouldn’t Alorn have said something?
“You ready?” asks Tolan, glancing back me. I nod again and he takes my hand.
We zip to the opening and slip quickly inside, Tolan keeping us up against the cold stone walls. I can feel my heart beating loudly and I take a deep breath trying to calm down. There is something in the caves that wasn’t here before. I don’t know how I know that, but I do sense something different. I squeeze Tolan’s hand and even though I can’t see him in the dark, I know he is staring at me.
“I know, Lily, I sense it too.”
Tolan gives my hand a gentle squeeze in return before moving forward.
“Close your eyes,” he instructs. After a few minutes, I feel myself relaxing. “Open your eyes, Lily, but slowly. Give yourself a few minutes and your eyes will adjust.”
I do as he says and instead of putting my hand before me, I place it on his arm, trusting him to guide me safely. But he's right. My eyes begin to adjust to the dark and I can make out the outline of the cave’s walls. I look at the dirt floor and I can actually see my feet. After several minutes of silence, I squeeze Tolan’s hand again.
“Yes, Lily?”
“Teach me how to whisper,” I say.
For a moment there is only silence. When after several minutes he still hasn’t answered, I settle into my pace as we continue moving forward.
“Can’t we just zip through here?” I whisper out loud.
“Shhh, Lily. We don’t know what or who is in here with us,” shushes Tolan.
I look about me, trying to see what he sees, or doesn’t see. I’m getting anxious and I hold on tight to Tolan’s hand.
“Relax, Lily. I don’t sense anyone near, but there are some who can hide even from my father’s probing,” he soothes and warns at the same time.
Changing the subject and trying not to imagine the demons at the bridge or every malicious demon I’ve ever seen on TV – I ask one more time.
“Tolan, will you teach me how to whisper?”
Tolan stops and turns to me. In the darkness his face seems to shift and it is as if I am staring up at Tharin. He sighs and turns back to moving forward and just when I think he’s let the subject drop, he explains why he can’t teach me.
“Lily, because you are Senestra’s daughter you have the ability within you. Because you are John Michael’s daughter the only one who can really teach you to whisper is Tharin. Your human blood prevents me from connecting with you at a level to where I can even begin to stir your abilities awake. You and Tharin are connected through your Binding.
“To learn how to whisper is nothing like anything you’ve learned so far. It is a connection, an intimate and dangerous ability to have. If you don’t learn how to properly control it, you open yourself to anyone and anything – good and evil. Many have gone insane by allowing evil to whisper non-stop because they were too weak, their minds not strong enough. That’s why only a few have the ability, because only a few are strong enough to possess it. Our family line is strong in the Whispering and only one or two other clan royals have the ability, but they are limited to one per every other generation.”
I nod. “Okay, I understand. But why couldn’t you just tell me that instead of ignoring me?”
He turns to me with a half grin and it takes my breath away. At this very moment, he is identical to Tharin and even I would easily be confused who is who, and I know better than most.
“Because,” he says, “like everyone else who strays within your circle, I don’t like to say no and see you disappointed.”
I smile and say, “Too bad your brother doesn’t take lessons from you and everyone else.”
Tolan smiles as he laughs quietly. “Come on. We have a long way to go still.”
We make our way through the caves for hours and I lose track of any sense of time. When we come to a spot with enough light, Tolan fast forwards us to the next point. He explains elves have perfect vision in the dark, but for my safety, he wants me to see what is ahead of us in case he has to drop me. We keep at a good pace until my calves harden and my thighs become numb. I can’t go any farther and finally ask for a rest.
Tolan leaves me near a small alcove, one of many scattered along the route we are taking. He is going to find water as I drank the last of his a while back. I am grateful and shoo him away when he hesitates to leave me alone.
I snuggle up to a corner, making sure to stay within the shadows. My legs seem to hum and needles shoot their way up from the calves, past my knees and to my thighs, making them tremble. My feet are swollen and my heels feel as if they are inflating after being compressed from carrying my weight for far too long. I sit back against the wall, letting my head rest as my eyes shut. I feel the exhaustion run over me and I let it go, trying to find sleep.
I jerk to attention.
“It doesn’t matter; the master wants both of the princes. He says he’ll get the queen himself and no matter what, no one is to lay a hand on her but him.”
The voice is coming from the direction Tolan and I came from. I can hear several footsteps and when I peek around the wall I am sitting against, I can see a circle of light from a lantern make its way toward me. Crap.
I pull my legs up slowly, trying not to cause any sound or sudden movements. I hug my knees to my chest and put my head down, making sure to lean against the wall and as far into the corner as I can. Come on Tolan, where are you?
The footsteps come to a halt and I freeze, shutting my eyes tightly.
“Cessa,” I call, focusing on the shadows and asking for stealth. I feel her presence and am instantly at ease. I am so relieved to feel her warm body as she pushes against me, putting me between her and the wall. Her black fur melts with the shadow and I feel like a blanket has been placed over me. The steady beating of Cessa’s heart relaxes me further and I find myself breathing easily as I wait for the voices and their light to move pass me.
“Co’sik, what’s the hold up?” calls a sibilant voice.
Okay, definitely there are two, but I hear shuffling – maybe three or four. I hear more coming up from the path; great – a gang of demons.
Tolan, please, where are you?
“Shut up,” sneers a harsh voice that must belong to Co’sik.
Another agonizing minute passes before Co’sik starts forward again. And then a voice from the past speaks and the wind is knocked out of me.
“Let’s move it,” barks a human voice. Oh no. “I’m sick of this damn realm, what the hell is the goddamn hold up?”
Frank Chase.
Oh, please God, please say it isn’t true. And please, please say he is here alone.
“I can’t say much for its ‘people’ either,” says Chris.
Oh, God, can this get any worse? If Tolan comes back now and finds out who the two humans are, there is no saying what he would do to the two of them. And in the process get himself killed.
Frank’s voice sounds closer and just above me. I think of Julia and her reaction when she saw them at the hospital.
Cessa leans into me, applying pressure to calm me down. I remember where I am and my predicament. Breathe in, breathe out. Calm down, girl, just let them pass.
“Quiet, human or I’ll rip your head off,” threatens Co’sick in a low voice.
“I’d like to see you try, you horned freak.”
“If I did not have to deliver you to the tower, I would tear you apart and have you and your pup fed to my men,” snarls Co’sick dangerously.
Knowing Frank to never back down, and believing he's safe as long as he is needed by Harlu, I hear him move forward, probably up close and personal to Co’sick.
“When this is all over, you come and look for me. I’ll be waiting,” replies Frank in a threatening low voice. A voice I have heard him use on Julia many times before.
Co’sick grunts before spitting. I hear footsteps walking forward, passing my little alcove and I sigh with relief. I finally lift my head to take a peek after them when I hear Chris speak right beside me.
“What the hell are we doing here, Dad?” he grumbles. “Why would you even want that little bitch back? You got rid of her mom and you’re now rid of her, so what’s the deal? Let’s just go home, I don’t trust any of these…these…I don’t even know what the hell they are.”
There is a bit of shuffling and I know Frank has Chris up against the wall by his throat. It’s Frank’s way – he has done it enough times with Julia.
“Because she belongs to me. She’s my property, you got that?” I hear Chris’ feet touch the ground and he starts coughing as soon as Frank releases him.
“Besides, she’s going to get me her little friend. Huh, who would’ve known that nosy little bitch is a princess? I’m getting my Ju-ju back and I’m gonna get paid.” Hearing him call Julia Ju-ju brings ba
ck bad memories, and nothing good is associated with the nick name he gave Julia the day he met her mother. She hates that name as much as she hates him.
“What do you mean, your Ju-ju?” whines Chris. “You said I could have her. You promised me she would be mine. All these years I’ve done what you told me to do to keep her from running away, to make her scared of her own shadow – you promised!”
Chris grunts after a solid blow takes his breath away. He staggers a bit, but doesn’t go down.
“She’s mine,” snarls Frank. “That bitch mother of hers got what she deserved, thinking she can stand up to me. I had Ju-ju right where I wanted her and some freak comes and steals her from me? Nobody steals what’s mine…nobody.”
Another blow, a dull sound of knuckles connecting with flesh. This time Chris goes down hard.
“Even with all your training and steroids you’re still half the man my Ju-ju is.” After a moment of silence, he finishes in a disgusted voice. “C’mon on, get up. I don’t trust that Co’sick and I’ll be damned if he leaves us buried here to rot in this godforsaken place.”
This time I wait until I can no longer hear their footsteps. When I finally feel it is safe, I lift my head as Cessa moves from my side. I look at her as she stares after Frank and Chris. She turns to look at me, waiting for me to give permission to go after the pigs. I should let her go after them, why not? Because this is Julia’s fight I finally admit. If I take away her chance to stand up to Frank and Chris she will never feel complete, she will never have closure, she will always be haunted by them and her nightmares will continue far longer than any memory will. If they only knew the one they have tortured and abused all her life is the one who saved them from Cessa, they would still be ungrateful. The bastards.
Cessa seems to know my answer to her silent question and moves back into the alcove. This time, instead of leaning against me, she lies alongside me and plants her large head on my lap. I rub her ears and lean down, giving her a kiss. It isn’t long before the loud purring vibrates through my body, gently lulling me into a listless consciousness.
It isn’t long when Cessa lifts her head and I go still. When she doesn’t make a move to cover me as she did before, I know Tolan has returned.