Eden Forest (Part one of the Saskia Trilogy) (31 page)

As you know, we live a long life, as in a couple hundred years,

but the exiles can live to be a few thousand years old. That is

why they take on the form of a creature, from the harsh weather

and conditions. They usually go mad from the lack of living

amongst people, and then we believe with their dark thoughts

they lose their souls so they live forever as soulless and tormented

creatures. The more intelligent ones can still communicate.”

I feel sick. Why not just put them in prisons?

“So if Carew carries on the path he is on, yes, one day a long

time in the future he would become one of them.”

My stomach tightens at the possibility of someone like him

turning into one of them. “

But if he has a reason to fight for his soul, he will remain

human.”

I look at Mirium. “How do you mean fight for his soul?”

“If he truly asks for forgiveness for his crimes.”

This sounds simple. “He seemed nice, well, kinda. So why

would he not?”

“Carew would never ask for forgiveness. He would do it all

over again if he had to. You see, he killed his own father by

stabbing him twenty times in the heart and then strangled his

mother.” I am shocked. Jesus, he could have killed me. What a

monster. “So I do not believe there is any way to save Carew.

How did you meet him?”

“He saved me when his exiles tried to kill me.”

Mirium rises. “What do you mean his exiles?”

“He said he was their master. Why?”

Mirium sits back now “Sorry. Nothing. We will leave it there

for now. I have other matters to discuss with Musa.” Mirium’s

abrupt departure rattles me. It has something to do with Carew.

“Oh, I have chosen Tristan and Alana to be your guardians

until you have fulfilled your calling.”

“What about Kiar?” I ask

“Do you want him as one also?” Mirium looks ready to leave.

“Yes, please.”

Mirium waves his hand. “I will inform them all straight

away. I must go. We shall talk tomorrow.”

Not five minutes later, Kiar bursts in my door with Tristan

and Alana trying to calm him down. “I will not guard you.”

Tristan is fuming, but I shake my head to let him know I can

handle this.

“Yes, you will.”

Kiar walks up to me. “Why are you doing this?”

I try to act calm, even though his hate for me is tearing me

apart. “I want to be protected by the best people, Kiar, so you’re

one of my guardians.”

He moves in circles, breathing heavy. “I won’t protect you.”

“Though, Kiar, you are, so we’re done for now.” He leaves

and Alana chases after him. I flop onto the couch, feeling

overwhelmed.

Tristan is still here. “Why do you want him to protect you so

bad?” I look at Tristan; he’s angry.

“I just do Tristan, okay.”

He kneels down in front of me, his hands in fists on either side

of my thighs. Too close, my mind is screaming. “He reminds

you of that boy from the ball?” Tristan accuses me.

I can’t look him in the face. This is too close for comfort. My

heart races. “So what about it?”

Tristan grabs my face, making me look at him. “You love

this boy, do you?” Why is he so angry?. I push his hand away.

“Maybe I could have, Tristan, but I never got the chance. As

I remember, you dragged me out of there before I knew how I

felt.” My own anger at the injustice of all of this starts to boil.

But Tristan doesn’t look satisfied.

“So you want Kiar because he is like the boy?”

I am taken back by his tone. “Tristan, are you jealous?” I feel

foolish saying it in case he isn’t.

His answer is abrupt. “Yes.” He rises then, running his hand

through his long hair. “You know how I feel. I make it perfectly

clear, yet—” He cuts himself off, looking frustrated.

My heart is in overdrive. “How do you feel about me?” My

voice shakes. He turns to me, looking defeated. “I don’t want

him near you, Sarajane, or any other man.” He runs his hand

through his hair again.

“I don’t like Kiar like that. I just made a promise to Neve to

look out for him so what better way if he is always with me?”

I confess, even though I’m really enjoying seeing him jealous.

He looks thrown off for a second and a little lost for words.

“Good, that’s good.”

I raise both eyebrows. “Yes?”

He kneels back down and smiles at me, a real smile. I think

I might pass out. He is divine. “Yes,” he says and then kisses

me. It isn’t gentle. The kiss feels urgent and full of need, but I

return it with my own urgency. He is the first to break the kiss,

both of us breathless. “You need your rest.” He kisses my nose

and smiles his full-watt smile, making my heart pound at my rib

cage. “Sleep, princess,” he says before he leaves.

I sleep, but the faces keep haunting me—Neve, Clive, Taurus

and the guard I stabbed, who calls himself Ovid. When I awake,

his name circles in my head. It isn’t possible for the dead to

speak in your dreams.

I change into fresh clothes and wash my face and teeth. Mum

and Jessica are leaving today and I need to put on a brave face.

I leave my hut and find Alana waiting outside for me.

“Good morning.” She throws me an apple.

“Is it poisoned?” I ask before taking a bite.

She bats her eyelids innocently. “Would I?”

I laugh and take a bite. “Yes, you would.”

We make our way through the settlement. It is back to being

full of people, but there’s an undercurrent of unease. “What’s

going on?” I ask Alana.

“I don’t think we are welcome anymore,” Alana says, but she

sounds like she doesn’t care.

We make our way to the main barn where Morrick, my mum,

Jessica and Legis are waiting. I haven’t seen Legis in a long time.

I feel bad that I haven’t missed his presence. Tristan and Kiar

arrive after Alana and me, and then Mirium follows. I don’t

sit down, but lean against a wall, eating my apple. Every bite

I’m finding it hard to swallow, as Mum and Jessica’s departure

shadows over me, so I give up.

“Legis and myself will take both of you across,” Morrick

says, holding my mum’s face. I look away, feeling like I’m

invading a private moment. Alana must have felt the same. She

comes over and stands beside me.

“Really, you will come with me?” Astonishment sounds in

my mother’s voice.

“But I can’t stay, Marta.” He sounds like he wishes he could.

“I understand,” my mum replies.

“How are you holding up?” Alana asks while nudging my

side.

I shrug my shoulders, not sure how I feel. I’m trying not to

allow myself to feel anything. “Fine.”

Alana raises one of her pointed eyebrows. “Yes, you look the

picture of calm.” Her sarcasm is always there.

“Sarajane.” Morrick’s voice makes me look up. “Tristan,

Alana and Kiar are now your personal guardians, I believe?”

he asks.

“Yes, they are.”

“Good, they will stay with you at all times as I cross over. On

my return, we will leave for Hummus.”

I just nod and look at Jessica and my mum. Bad idea. My

stomach tightens with fear. What if I never seen them again?

I am allowed to go with Morrick, Legis, Jessica and my mum

to the front gates to say my good-byes. My mum is in a flood

of tears and she won’t let go of me. “Mum, it will be fine. I am

safe. Please don’t worry.”

She kisses my forehead. “My brave child, how did you come

to be so brave?”

I smile back at her, “From you, of course.” But tears sting my

eyes. I hug Jessica “I wish I could come, Jess. I really do.”

“I know, Sarajane. I will miss you.” I give her another hug,

but we can’t wait much longer. The drawbridge is being let

down.

“Mum, will you do something for me?” I ask before she

climbs up on the horse.

“Anything, sweetheart.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. “Tell Josh I’m safe and

that… Tell him I’m sorry.” My mother races back over to me,

grabbing me, and I cling to her for dear life. “Please don’t forget

him, Mum.”

“Marta, I am sorry. We must go,” Morrick calls from the

horse.

My mother kisses both my cheeks. “I will see you soon. This

isn’t good-bye, Sarajane.” And she leaves, sobbing. I don’t watch

as the horses leave. I just can’t.

Tristan is waiting a short distance away. “Are you all right?”

His face is tense with worry.

“Distract me, Tristan.”

He looks at me so seriously. “Okay.”

He takes my hand, leading me to my hut. Once the door is

closed, he stands right in front of me, just looking at me. “You

are so beautiful,” he says while stroking my face. I look away. I

don’t feel very beautiful. He moves my face around, forcing me

to look at him. “Look at me, Sarajane,” he says just as he kisses

me gently.

I keep my eyes open and stare into his deep green eyes. My

body buzzes from his touch, his kiss. I push against him, letting

him know I want more. He picks me up while still kissing me

and carries me to the bedroom, where he lays me down on the

bed. His gentleness still amazes me.

Our kisses turn more urgent. The more I realise what

we’re doing, the more I want him. I pull at his top and he

takes it off in one quick movement and lies on top of me. I

pull at his trousers and he doesn’t hesitate to remove them.

He stands there naked. I don’t have it in me to speak, only

stare. He is so powerful and manly looking. He moves down

over me and unbuttons my tunic, revealing my breasts. He

sits back and just looks at me. It feels so surreal to have

Tristan look at me like this.

“I love you, Sarajane.” He doesn’t shy away after saying it

but keeps his eyes locked with mine.

My heart pounds in my chest and neck. “I love you too.”

His face breaks into his rare and divine smile and I melt as

he bends his head down and kisses my neck, his hair tantalizing

my skin. It takes a second to strip me down and both of us get

under the covers to explore each other’s body with our hands.

And then we make love, the most passionate and amazing thing

I’ve ever experienced.

I lie in his arms afterwards, the covers tangled around our

naked bodies. He sits up, leaning on his elbow, looking down

at me as he wraps curls around his fingers. He is smiling, and

my heart is still racing every time I snatch a glance at him. He

lies down and tucks me into his chest protectively. I don’t know

why, but this makes me think of Liber.

“Tristan, what happened to Liber?”

He raises my head by lifting my chin with a finger. “Don’t

worry. You have my word nobody will ever harm you.”

I feel like laughing at his serious expression. “I’m not worried.

I mean, is he dead?”

Tristan’s expression softens. “No, but I will kill him once I

find him.” I can see he means it.