The Drifting

  I laugh, instantly liking her. She joins me and her laughter puts me completely at ease. “Now, tell me, Lily, how are you feeling?”

  I give her a shrug, “You know, nervous, a bit like a fish out of water…but other than that, I’m good. Um, where are we?”

  “You are in Malainisi. This is Cessa’s home.”

  I look around again, “It seems so lonely here.”

  “She is the last of her kind. She has everything she needs here accept company. That is why I chose to linger here with her. She and I have been friends since I was first able to walk.”

  “How did this happen? I mean, how is it she’s the last of her kind? There doesn’t seem to be anything here that would be a threat to her,” I ask and then add, “right?”

  “She had three sisters. All destined to be paired to queens of Velesi. All three have died saving her mistress, leaving Cessa alone. She survived only because she was mine and I made her a promise that no harm would come to her.” She reaches out and strokes Cessa’s tail. “She now belongs to you.”

  I glance at her shoulder, spying dark markings hidden under her sleeve. My eyes roam to her wrist where a shallow, empty dent is. From that small hole on the back of her wrist more black markings can be seen, only to disappear under her gown’s trim. Markings like those on my own wrist.

  She smiles at me, assessing thoughtfully as she looks me over. “You are perfect for Tharin. I knew it the moment I saw you. I was there you know. The day you and your brother were born.”

  She has my full attention and I ask, “You were there when Lucas was born?”

  She shakes her head, “No dear, when you and your twin were born, you came ten minutes before him. Of course, your father didn’t know because the minute he held you, he took you to see my husband. He wanted Thilthen to claim your birthday a holiday…he was a kind man, your father.”

  I sit stunned and the air seems to stifle me. “What did you say?”

  “I’m sorry?”

  I shake my head at her, stuttering “You…you said I…I had a twin.”

  “Ah, I have forgotten. You didn’t know. Harlu, he’s your real brother, your twin. And before you ask, yes, Tharin knew. But in his defense, he only found out recently. Since then, he’s been trying to find a way to tell you without you being hurt by it.”

  My world just went sideways. I feel a cool hand on my cheek and find that I’m staring at the dark sky above me. I blink and turn to look into the green eyes of the queen looking down at me with concern. She looks so much like her sons. “Are you all right?” she asks as she helps me sit up. How embarrassing. I fainted before my future mother-in-law…my future dead mother-in-law. If I don’t end up in an institution after this, I will seriously be surprised.

  I shake the dizziness from my head and then look at her, now sitting next to me. She pushes my hair back. “Harlu is my twin?” I ask in disbelief.

  She nods with sympathy on her face, “I am sorry that you were left in the dark about that. If it’s any consolation, Harlu just recently found out himself…three days ago, to be exact.”

  “I don’t understand. How is this possible, and why didn’t anyone know about him?”

  Lea’ith sits back, folding her hands on her lap and takes a breath, “Your mother and I are sisters by trade and love. We were both healers, she much more powerful than me, or anyone else I knew. She was a very close friend and I loved her dearly – I still do. The day you were born we knew then that you would be the next to receive the gift of the healers. And we also knew you were the child of prophecy who would return our people to Eirrell. However, when Harlu was born we knew he would be the instrument used to destroy Velesi and every living creature within her realm. We also knew the moment he took his first breath that your death would come by his hand.”

  It’s like I hear what she’s saying, but the only thing I seem to be stuck on is the fact that Harlu is my brother. “He’s my twin? What happened to him? I mean, where has he been all this time? And why is he the bad guy?”

  “Your mother couldn’t bring herself to kill him as I suggested at the time of his birth. So I took him from her and gave him to distant relatives. They raised him until the day he killed them. Oh, it was never proven, but I knew. To answer your question, he wasn’t born evil. Evil chose him the second after he took his first breath. I knew it the moment it happened. And I lived with that burden until my own death.”

  I don’t know what to say or think. Harlu is my brother, my twin…he’s my twin. I can’t wrap my mind around it no matter how many times I say it.

  “Come, Lily,” she says as she watches me. “You had to have noticed the striking resemblance between the two of you. I mean, yes, there are other dark-haired elves in Velesi, but none with clear amber eyes like honey and with your complexion. And honestly, how many jet-black-haired elves have you seen here? Just one other.”

  I shake my head at her, still stunned, “But your nephews look alike. I mean, Alorn and Mellis could pass for twins. With the exception of their size, they look identical.”

  She nods, “Yes, that’s true. But you and Harlu are more than just blood-related. He is your twin brother.”

  “No, it can’t be. He’s responsible for Lucas’ death. And I will avenge him.”

  “You…or Tharin?” she tilts her head at me. “You did say to him that you wanted to be there when he kills Harlu, didn’t you?”

  I stare at her momentarily speechless, then “At first. But as my training with Ziri became more and more intense, all I can think of is to free Lucas’ body from that demon and then avenge him against Harlu myself.”

  “I see,” she says thoughtfully. “Well, then I wish you luck, Lily.” She looks away distantly, “The time has come for the new queen of Velesi to take her place. At least you will be in a few days.” She takes my hand and says, “Be good to my son. He truly does love you.”

  I look down at our hands, not wanting to tell her that her son is a cheating, lying jerk. Instead, I nod quietly before standing to leave.

  “One other thing, Lily,” she says stopping me, “say hello to your father for me. Give him my love. He was such a good husband to your mother and a good friend to my husband.”

  “My father?”

  “Yes, John is at the Oak Tower. When he’s ready to come to you he will; and when he does, give him my regards.”

  I don’t know how to respond. My father is at the tower? I’ve been in hiding there for three days now – maybe he doesn’t know I’m there. Or maybe he does and isn’t ready to come to me yet. I made the mistake of pushing my mother away until it was too late. I won’t make the same mistake with him. I take a step toward her hesitantly. “Will you see my mother?”

  She nods, “Yes, I will. In fact, she wanted me to wish you well.”

  “Will she never come back to me?”

  “She will, trust me. Just give her some time.”

  “One more question,” I ask and she nods, giving me her consent. “It was you who sent Lucas to me, wasn’t it? Or you had something to do with it?”

  She gives me a warm smile, “Yes. I thought it was necessary for the two of you to say your good-byes. I came across his soul looking for my E’leiana in Demus. I didn’t get a chance to say good-bye to my daughter. Her death was a violent one, and because of it, her soul is lost to me somewhere in Demus. She hides because she’s afraid, but I will find her.”

  “I’m sorry…and thank you.” She nods and I turn to leave. I find myself in the pando woods again with Cessa at my side, guiding me back. I stop and take a knee, snuggling her. “I didn’t realize how alone you were. In that way, I suppose we’re alike. Both alone – you here in your realm and me in a realm I don’t know if I will ever be at home in.”

  I rub her ears and she moves her large head closer, not getting enough of my hand. “I will make you a promise, my Cessa. You will never be alone as long as you’re with me, I swear it. I know now how to come to you.” I snuggle her one last time before l
etting her guide me back.

  I knew instantly when I stepped into the garden that I wasn’t alone.

  Something silver is thrown at us, hitting Cessa on the head. It explodes into white powder, causing Cessa to stumble a few steps before going down. I reach for the ceremonial blade at my waist that Sema hung there earlier and I immediately call up an energy shield. The blade comes out easily from its sheath and without a second thought I call for Milina and Glynnis. Within seconds they appear at my side in their golden forms, their blades in hands and ready. We stand in a circle, our backs to each other.

  Harlu walks out from the shadows, clapping slowly with a cocky smile on his face. He gives me a cursory look, sensual and repulsive. I feel as if I’m covered with a thin layer of slime after his leering once-over of me from head to toe and back up again. Glynnis is by my side with her hands up, ready for my command with Milina at my other.

  “Peace, sister. I mean you no harm,” he offers as a greeting, still looking at me in the same creepy way that Chris used to watch Julia. I keep from shuddering and stand my ground.

  “What do you want?” I demand.

  “Ah, very brave, Lily. Not the frightened little girl that my…acquaintance…made you out to be. However, he was right about one thing. You are stunning; but then again, you are my twin.”

  I stay quiet, hating his arrogance and waiting for him to get to the point.

  “I’m afraid I won’t be attending your Seating today, jai’loa.” To hear him use the endearment of “my love” almost spurs me to attack, but he has the upper hand and he knows it. Even with Milina and Glynnis here, I have no doubt that he would take them out easily. He’s arrogant enough to appear here, but he’s no fool…that I’m sure of.

  “Too bad,” I reply. “I’m sure Tharin would have loved to say hello.”

  He snorts derisively at the mention of Tharin. “Please don’t throw your prince at me as if the mere mention of his name would provoke me to fall to my knees. The only reason he isn’t dead is because I need him to fulfill a task for me. I mean,” he continues moving closer to the bench and to where we’re standing, “he does have to marry us, now doesn’t he? After all, we must take the Oak Clan from him.” He casually makes his way to the bench and sits, crossing his legs as he adjusts his long black coat. “But then again, you only have to be queen of the realm, which in that case, he’s not really needed after he marries us.”

  My stomach lurches. What does that mean? “What do you want?” I repeat, looking at him suspiciously.

  He chuckles, “You are an impatient one, aren’t you? You have no flare for the dramatic. No sense of showmanship. Very boring, dear sister. What did those humans do to you all those years?”

  “You seem to forget you’re human, too,” I answer quietly.

  His face turns serious as if deeply insulted, “Half-human and not a very good half at that. You will learn that we are Sidhe and our father’s tainted blood doesn’t change that fact.”

  I grow impatient, “Get to the point, or get the hell out of here.”

  “Tsk, tsk. Is that any way to speak to your long lost brother? We are family, Lily; and as family, we must work past our differences and learn to work together. Take care of each other, of our clan and our people.”

  Ah, so that’s what this is all about. He sighs as he refolds his hands on his knee, “Really, Lily, do you think the people here have your best interest in mind? They want you to marry their prince, relinquish the throne of the Willow to one of their own and keep you from your rightful place.”

  “Yeah, and where’s that?”

  “Why, by my side, of course. Royals have been known to marry within their immediate family to keep the blood pure. How would it be any different between us? What do you think of that, jai’loa?”

  I feel sick. The thought of him even touching me causes me to flinch back and the indecency of his thoughts make me want to gag…literally. “I just threw up in mouth. That’s what I think of that idea.”

  In the blink of an eye, Harlu pushes off the bench. He charges Glynnis, hitting her hard and taking her out before she can cast a spell. Milina catches her and Glynnis ducks under her sister allowing Milina to use her to springboard directly at Harlu. He leaps forward, twisting into a spin, landing both feet into Milina’s chest, and sending her flying into a tree. So fast…too fast! Milina hits it with a sickening thud, landing facedown several feet from us.

  Without thinking, I react and attack high, he easily evades my strike. When he tries to grab my elbow, I twist low and cut across his stomach. He leaps back at the same time Glynnis moves in low with her two blades, slashing and cutting as she goes. Harlu changes his attack, spinning out and catching Glynnis under her chin with a solid knee. I come back low, following Glynnis, striking at him, but the sleeves on the dress tear under each arm and my foot catches on the dress’ hem. I go headfirst into the bench and at the momentum I’m going, I can’t stop the oncoming impact. I feel a strong arm wrap around my waist, catching me before my head goes slamming into the stone bench.

  Harlu pulls me hard to him, his face inches from my own. My blade drives toward his throat, but he catches my wrist, twisting it painfully until I drop it. “Ah, Lily…sweet, sweet, Lily. I’ll never forgive Mother for keeping you from me and for denying me my birthright. How much fun I’ll have ruling this realm with you by my side.” He leans closer and I turn my face away, repulsed by his nearness. Big mistake – he places his lips and nose on my neck and breathes in deeply, enjoying my scent and my disgust at his touch.

  I grit my teeth when he quietly laughs in an intimate way, causing me to struggle harder against his hold. It’s when he licks me that I start to truly panic. I turn on him quickly, head-butting him and instantly regret doing it; for someone who looks very delicate and feminine, he has a hard head. I see spots and become dizzy. My head clears immediately when he takes a knife from his coat, and that’s when I notice his hand. It’s burned with the flesh still healing indicating it’s a recent wound. He was the one at my door last night.

  Harlu takes the tip of the blade and places it on hip. I hold my breath as he moves to lightly traces circles from my stomach up to my chest. He stops at my breasts where my skin is exposed and his eyes look up at me. He gives me a lecherous look, his smile evil. With a cruel swipe he cuts me just above my heart and I hold back the scream that I know he’s anticipating. It’s when he lowers his head as if to lick the blood from my wound that I scream.

  From out of the blue, the black stealth comes roaring from the shadows and Harlu drops me instantly. He spins away as the panther attacks, clawing at him as she overshoots her target. But not before taking a chunk of his coat. It’s all the time Harlu needs. He glances at me and winks, “Until the next time, dear sister. Give your betrothed my regards.” And with that, he disappears as Cessa charges after him. She stops at the garden entrance, roaring with frustration and anger before wobbling and falling to the ground again. The powder substance is still effecting her movements.

  I rush over to Glynnis, knowing Cessa would be okay. Glynnis slowly sits up, holding her jaw, moving it gently. I help her on to her feet and we move to check on Milina. We spot her by the woods’ edge, lying motionless on the ground near one of the trees. A spot on the trunk of the tree is red with blood and we rush to her side fearing the worst. Glynnis turns her over carefully, holding her close. I take Milina’s wrist, trying to feel for a pulse…nothing. I reach behind her head and when I remove my hand, it’s covered with blood. I close my eyes as I place my hands on her chest, running my hands along her stomach. Nothing. I can’t feel any life in her, anything that I can latch onto to keep her with us.

  I look at Glynnis with horror and she pulls her sister to her, holding on fiercely. I sit back shocked and helpless as I watch Glynnis, still in her golden form, slowly disappear…taking Milina with her.

  ~ * ~

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  ~ Tharin ~

  I burst into the queen??
?s suites when I heard the news. Sema sent one of her people and he found me with Father and Ka in the war room. We were discussing the plan on when to confront Harlu and Falsad, but that’s no longer necessary. When the messenger told us that Lily was attacked, I was in the suite within minutes. My heart raced when Milina and Glynnis didn’t answer me. I called for Alorn and Mellis, knowing they were planning their tactics for today’s events. They would’ve kept a low profile and lost themselves in the crowd, staying alert to any attack. We knew Eathos was aware that Lily was alive, but we assumed he would try to take her at the Seating. Harlu changed all that.

  All talk and movement stops when I enter the room and those who remain hasten to bow or curtsy as I make my way to the master bedroom. I look around but don’t see any signs of the sisters…or Julia. They must be in the room with Lily and Sema. Upon entering, Sema looks up from attending to a wound on Lily’s chest, giving me a warning glance as I approach. When I see blood, my own boils over and I swear I will kill Harlu for this. I’m so focused on Lily that I almost miss Cessa lying on Lily’s bed. The cat’s eyes follow me as I near the dresser, tale agitatedly swishing back and forth. We’ll talk later, I tell her. Her tail stops and she blinks at me. Seeming to be satisfied with that, she buries her head under what seems like hundreds of pillows.

  Sema gets up quietly, not disturbing Lily who has her forehead covered by her hand, her elbow on the dresser. She doesn’t notice me until I’m sitting in the chair before her. I take in her tussled hair, the torn dress and the bloodied cloth Sema put on her chest and it takes everything I have not to react violently. I breathe deeply to calm myself enough to make words so I can find out what the hell happened. I look around one last time for Milina and make a mental note to talk to her about leaving Lily alone.