Bound By Blood (32 page)

             
Her breath ceased. Did he just have a point?

             
"
Besides,
and allow me to ease your mind some . . .
as High
P
riestess of
my
bloodlines, it was only natural that you connect with me on some subconscious psychic level.” His voice was deeply soft and alluring. She was having a hard time keeping a mental distance from him.

             
She did know that what he said made sense
--
or was it another trick?
“What
is it
exactly that you want from me
, then?”
Her voice snapped
because she
had
to know.
Her nervousness showed
but at this point, she no longer cared
.
“Somehow I have freed you; at least I am guessing this is the case,
though I know not how, nor has it been confirmed no more than I remember,
so
on that account,
in turn
,
you should
just
let me be.
You should want nothing more from me.
”

             
“It’s not what I want
,
Priestess, it’s
what
I have to give
,
”
h
e said smoothly. “You are right
,
though
,
in your assumptions. You
did
have something to do with freeing me.” He admitted
it,
but in a way as to say without words
that
he would speak of it no more. “I owe you much for that
;
and by the laws of the old
ways
,
you must accept what it is I have to offer.”

             
Her heart sank
further
. If
Dĩas
was ever angry with her before, he must want her dead now.
No wonder he was not answering he
r calls
. No wonder her father was ignoring her.
She still didn’t know the reason they hated each other
,
but she did remember how her father reacted to him. She took a deep breath and worked up the courage to ask
,
“What is it you wish to give me
, then
?”
Just accept the gift and be done with him. Maybe then he will leave.
 

             
“Knowledge
.
”
H
e reached around her and took the large crystal container holding the brandy. She felt her stomach drop as his arm brushed against her
s
.
Electrical currents trickled up her skin.
She heard him fill his glass and then he s
e
t the container back
down
, brushing against her again
. She became stiff as a board, fighting the tempting bits of power he exchanged with one simple touch. Addicting.

             
"Wha--what?" She made herself speak.

             
“Forget about the
A
wakening
and all these things which make you paranoid. T
ake what I am offering you.
"

             
"Wh--why?"
Focus
!

             
"Why? Because you are Priestess and
I am offering you knowledge
in
which your imagination could not possibly grasp
. I offer you
forgotten things which no other aside from me knows. It’s a chance for you to learn the old ways and teach them to the bloodlines. Return what has been lost throughout the bloodlines
since my absence
. They
are
a shadow compared to what they once were
,
you know. ” He said
this
from behind her with a low and tempting voice.

             
He noticed
. . . he notices a difference within the families and openly admits to it?
That was something she couldn't even get Dĩas and the Elders to do!
Wait! No! He is baiting me. He is speaking only the things I want to hear him say. Focus! Finish this! Speak what is most important!

             
“You laid a claim on me
,
”
Samanthŕa
remembered. “You triggered the first signs of my
A
wakening and then laid
claim
on me. I remember that much and what I couldn’t
,
my sisters told me. You think I am foolish enough to think that this is all about knowledge? Did my mother tell you to say that?
How can I forget about my Awakening when you have made it all the harder now to fight it
?
You have ruined all my efforts to prevent--
”
She stopped abruptly. She almost said to
o
much.
Her moods were jumping again. She had no control over anything. Was it his power doing this to her?

             
“I have every right to lay claim over you. You are High Priestess of
my
bloodlines. Your protection is
my
duty. There should be no secrets between us. Your mother has nothing to do with that. You are vital to the bloodlines
’
survival.
"

             
"My father sees to my safety." It nearly killed her to say.

             
"Obviously,
Dĩas
is
not suited to do so
since you were out playing horse thief, getting yourself nearly killed. If I hadn’t showed up, who knows what would have happened to you
?
”

             
“If
you
hadn’t showed up then I wouldn’t have run from the
T
avern
, stole
n
a horse and headed into danger
,
”
s
he corrected him. “I would not have led the Nosophoros to the
Lycãons
. The festival and all those there would not have f
allen
under attack.”

             
“
You’re
wrong. I intercepted the Nosophoros
before
they attacked the
T
avern
. The
Va
ŕ
lok
that I went straight for served the one who was sending them
out
to attack. While
Dĩas
and his Elders met with
E
vil, Evil decided to take full advantage of it. How could they be blamed if they were in a meeting like everyone else, in the Higher
Realm
s? Someone among them with great power knew you would all be sneaking away into the night. Those attacks were planned.” He drank his brandy
, continuing without hurry
.
“If it was not for me, you would have never stolen my horse without my consent. He rode into the forest towards us because
I
wanted him to. He rode away with you because
I
willed him to do so. The
Lycãons
would have been attacked no matter what direction
you
took. It was all planned
,
even
your running. You may have thought you were running from me
,
Priestess
,
but in truth,
I
was always with
you
.”

             
His words sent chills down her spine. They seemed so familiar. Then she remembered
--
that’s what he
’d
said in her dreams.
Curse him,
she thought. She felt like a fool. Thinking those dreams w
ere from
a Vii
’
s bond. They were nothing more than his willing her to release him.
And why did she care if he was? Her emotions and feelings were in turmoil. She felt like a Phãegen at the time of her moon.

             
Her mind was w
a
ndering
away from her people’s peril
. She got back on track. “Who did this
then
? Who is controlling a species which could never be controlled before?”

             
“That’s yet to be discovered. Maybe together we can solve such a mystery.” He suggested
,
“I am sure we can discover much, you and I, since you
are
High
P
riestess and more important than you realize.”
He was attempt
ing
to make her accept what he was saying.
             

             
“I don’t understand. The meeting was called because of the Storm and the power behind it
,
which was obviously you. Evil was just as confused about that and worried as we were.” She kept trying to sort it out in her mind
, keeping her back turned, her eyes away from his
.

             
“That doesn’t mean they were going to pass up the chance to attack you. Evil never passes up an opportunity. Besides, have you forgotten the storm which moved beneath mine? The rain which destroyed your fires
, the source which stole your ability to use your powers in order to protect yourself
,
t
he very thing that allowed the Nosophoros to flee the darkness and attack?”

             
Somehow, she had turned to face him.
He grinned. It caught her off guard.
What
i
s there to grin about?
He was annoying her
, as was her lack of control.

             
“The bloodlines are in
more
danger than ever. You
,
P
riestess
,
are in more danger than ever. It is vital to Evil that you are soon dead
,
and before your
A
wakening.
” His directness made it so hard not to look into his eyes. “
I believe you had a fear that you had been marked?
"

             
Yes, but by your hands, Giant.

             
"
In truth you have
,
but
not
by
my hands.”

             
She didn’t like what she was hearing. She searched his energy for some sort of sign that would reflect his dishonesty. She felt somehow though, that he spoke the truth.

             
"What do you suggest?"

             
“If you allow me to teach you, to make you stronger
,
protect you,
then you will have nothing to worry about
,
”
h
e said plainly, without riddle
. “
I
need you stronger.
"

             
"Do you now?"

             
"You feel this is personal. You are right. I care for all of my bloodlines. However, I must pay special attention to you as it is in your best interest to pay special attention to me. For you are Priestess and i
f Evil claims your life then they can claim your power. It could be devastating to our blood. I would consider it a great loss.” He would say no more.

             
“When and where?” She looked at him
,
avoiding a direct stare. He had her attention.
             

             
"Excuse me?"

             
“
When and where?
There is a lot to be considered
,
you know. I cannot just w
a
nder off with you. I don’t even trust you enough to w
a
nder off with you. My father
--
if he
finds out I will be even more doomed
than I already am. After all, you said I played a part in your freedom, well, I
am sure he is plotting my unspeakable punishment
as we speak
of
it. Then there is my mother
,
whom I love but know all too well. If she knows that I am spending any sort of time with you then I will be harassed constantly about my
A
wakening. She will even slip me charms
,
I am sure
,
to get me to do as she wishes.” She was paranoid. She was out of her element.