Eden's Mark (20 page)

Chapter Thirty

             
“Eden, wake up. Something is amiss.” I felt hands gently shake me.

             
I wiped at my eyes to scrub the sleep away, “What is it?”

             
“Do you see the smoke in the distance?” I looked up to the sky and a faint red smoke rolled across it.

             
“Yeah, so?”

             
“It is coming from Koren’s village. We need to go.”

             
“Okay, let’s go.” I rose to my feet a little wobbly but soon steadied myself. “You want the dragon again, or something smaller?”

             
“We need something stealthy that can blend into the night but can carry a man.”

             
“The hawk will be good then.” I didn’t have to ground myself to shift. I just knew I could do it. My mark hummed and I felt my body contort into a large hawk with night colored feathers.

             
You never cease to amaze me. I am one lucky vampire.

             
Don’t forget it.

             
I sent a mental push of laughter with my response and felt Gregor’s weight as he seated himself on my back. I extended my feathered wings and took to flight, carrying us higher into the air towards the red smoke.

             
When we get close to the village, I want you to get as low to the ground as you can and glide in for us to check the situation.

             
No problem.

             
My hawk flew towards our destination, scanning the ground below for enemies. As we came closer, I smelled the foul stench of shadows and burned skin.

             
Do you smell that? Shades are here.

             
I wanted Gregor to know what I was seeing so I sent the images into his mind from the eyes of my bird.

             
Drop down here, Eden. We can survey the area.

             
I coasted along the ground and found a place to conceal us as we watched. My hawk eyes took in the carnage of the fight that was still going on. Shadows surrounded the villagers, while a cloaked figure stood in the center. I searched for my aunt and uncle and my two friends. I found them on the ground in front of the hooded person as if chained. I attuned my ears so I could hear what was spoken.

             
“I do not want to hurt any of you, to spill our blood is a waste, all I am asking for is information about a young girl who is new to our world. Surely that isn’t much to ask for?” Her voice dripped with evil that left me chilled. I shook my feathers to erase the feeling. I had felt that before though and it hit a nerve inside me somewhere.

             
Gregor, I know who that is.

             
As do I, my heart.

             
Circenn, my grandmother. I must go help; I can’t let them die to protect me.

             
You going in there isn’t going to help anyone if she captures you, or worse, kills you.

             
Gregor, do you trust me?

             
Eden…

             
Do you trust me? I can do this.

             
I shifted quickly back to my natural form and left Gregor on the ground. I walked towards the village and my grandmother.

             
I walked through the tall grass quietly tapping into the power that was just below the surface now. The birthmark on my wrist vibrated and set about surrounding me in an aura of white. I used my power to knock the shades out of the way, as I approached Circenn.

             
Be careful my heart, I am coming up behind you. I will not let you do this alone.

             
Gregor’s essence glowed bright in me as he sent his love my way.

             
“What do we have here?” I could hear her excitement as I approached. “It’s my dear sweet granddaughter.” Her shadows started to come at me, but she raised her hand signaling to stay back.

             
“Hello grandma. Wow, grandma, guess that means you are up in age, huh?” I plastered the sweetest smile on my face and watched hers drain of blood. “So, word is, you’re looking for me. Now that I am here, what can I do for you?” I stood by my family and friends and watched her anger rise.

             
“Eden, go now! You should not be here!” Lex shouted at me from the ground. I looked at them all crouched in a bow before Circenn and my heart broke. My angered surged, but so did the love for them.

             
“I have been looking for you, my long-lost granddaughter. How I have longed to see you in person.”

             
“I bet you have. By the way, how are my parents?”

             
Circenn walked around until she was no more than a few feet away from me. “Sad to say, they are not well at all, my sweet. I’d say, given the circumstances, they are on their deathbeds, unless one could help them, of course.”  She reeked of evil and I watched the black aura pulse around her much as mine did around me.

             
“I see, and how would one help them to recover?” I knew what she was going to say, but I had to hear it for myself.

             
“They could join me, and help eradicate those that stand against what I am trying to accomplish. This world needs order. I am the one to bring it.”

             
“Never. My path is for the people to become united, free of your tyranny and darkness!” I steeled myself against her retaliation, which would not be pleasant.

             
Easy Eden, do not rouse her too much.

             
I can handle her; there is nothing she can do to me that I haven’t already seen, real or not real.

             
“Such a pity you feel that way. I was hoping we could come to an agreement, but it looks like brute force will have to do instead.” Circenn dropped her cloak and large black winds unfurled behind her. “Maybe I should start with your family here, and then end with ‘dear old’ mom and dad?” Circenn laughed a wicked laugh causing the air to cool considerably around us.

             
“You would hurt your own child? What kind of mother would do that?” My energy was buzzing under my skin waiting for my order; I reined it in for the moment.

             
“A mother who was betrayed by her own blood, the fruit of her womb. Marcus chose a filthy mage over his own parents.” Her rage surface distracting her from Gregor creeping up behind me.

             
Focus and keep a straight head, you are doing well, my heart. As long as she stays busy I can get to you.

             
I could feel Gregor’s anxiety as he slowly paced his way into the crowd.

             
“The rule of Ellethny belongs to the Fey. We are of royalty!”

             
“By whose authority? I was under the idea that all races here are equal. You think that because you have power, you deserve to rule over a land of free people. I don’t think so.”

             
“Like you intend to do, my sweet? Do not patronize me with your self-righteous attitude. I know what the prophecy says. I am here to let you know that you will never defeat me. I am all-powerful.” Circenn gave her cackle and sent a rain of fire over the village.

             
I raised my hands and covered us all with a shell until the barrage stopped. “I see we have come into our power. That’s good, very good. Once I turn you over to the darkness, we can rule side by side. We can make this world all we want it to be.” Her eyes told me she wanted to get her hands on my unlimited power.

             
“You can’t turn me. I know my destiny, and it isn’t with you. Now release these people and I won’t have to kick your old saggy butt.” I smiled at her, letting her know I wasn’t scared.

             
“So be it. Shadows… kill them all, but leave the girl for me.” Circenn flew high in the air and watched her shades attack the villagers once more. Gregor ran in and started ripping apart shadows. Val, Lex, Koren, and Maiya could not get up and shadows were coming for them. I focused my energy over the four of them and felt it turn white hot, burning through the imaginary chains that held them down. Circenn wailed and flew at me. I evaded her long enough to send the shadows back from my friends and family.

Chapter Thirty-One

             
Circenn turned and came at me once more, and this time I met her head-on. Her long, red nails grazed my neck. I lifted myself in the air, calling on my power. My fingertips buzzed with energy and I sent white balls of pure magic at her. Circenn weaved in and out of them and they hit the ground with loud reports. Circenn raised her hands and lightning came at me from the red smoke that hung in the sky. My hands rose and captured the electricity, sending it back at my grandmother.

             
“Give up; I don’t want to kill you. Let my parents go free and take your shadows away from here. This land will never be yours.” My body glowed white and my hair turned silver. My energy filled me, and I felt the charge of how much power I really had.

             
“You do not intimidate me, my sweet. This is but child’s play; do you think I want to kill you? I mean to capture you.” Her voice was sharp like a blade, and she sent black ropes of smoke to entangle me. I felt them slide around my body squeezing the air from my lungs. I tilted my head back and sent an echo from my mouth that vibrated down my torso to my feet until each tendril dissipated. I countered with beams of light that singed her flesh as they reached her. She screamed as the white light touched her body, making my blood run cold. I watched the white flesh on her body burn and blister, her face contort in pain and fierce hatred towards me.

             
Circenn descended to the ground, her voice riddled with agony, “I will have what I want, either now or later. Shades to me!” In a puff of red cloud, she was gone and her shadows slunk back into the dark leaving the village empty but in ruin.

             
I let the power in me recede, but always close to the surface now, where I could use it at a moment’s notice. My mark had taken to humming all the time now in remembrance of what I truly was and would be.

             
I searched the bodies for my family and found them on the outskirts helping the wounded. I ran to my aunt. “Are you all right?” I hugged her and then Lex. Happily, they were unscathed.

             
“What about you? That was reckless and foolish, especially in your condition.” Lex scolded me like a child.

             
“I know, but I knew I could hold my own.”

             
What does he mean by your condition, my heart? What are you keeping from me?

             
Gregor, I am pregnant.

             
You are what? Why am I just hearing this? I never would have let you do any of this had I known!

             
He growled at me mentally and I sent a laugh back at him. Always my protector.

             
Seems I am not doing the job justice of being your protector.

             
Gregor was beside me and we looked for our two friends in the crowd. Koren was helping an older woman to her hut and Maiya was carrying wounded children to the woman for care.

             
“Maybe we should help first and then discuss things afterwards?” I didn’t wait for a response; I simply walked to the children and began healing them. My energy never wavered as I healed each child one by one.

             
Val used her spells and after a day, the two of us had healed those that could be saved. Gregor called to Mother Earth to destroy the black ooze and wash the blood of battle away. I connected to our Earth and helped her remove the scars the fighting had left behind. When all was finished, it was hard to tell a battle had even occurred.

             
On the second day, the village made a huge pyre to burn those that had perished. We stood around it and listened to the villagers sing their goodbye to the fallen. Tears slipped down my face as the song of mourning went on. When the last flame died, the people went back to their daily routines.  The six of us hung back for a minute. The dawn was upon us and Gregor would need cover soon.

             
“We have important matters to discuss, as you all well know. I met with the Elders of my race. Things are about to get worse. How does a Fey access Mage power? This changes things drastically.” Gregor held my hand tightly, “Not to mention there is a matter of the baby to think about.”

             
“I would like to know that as well, it is unheard of. I was under the impression only the chosen would have powers like that. Circenn has delved deeply it seems into the dark magic.” Lex had his professor look on his face telling me he would be researching this until he found a suitable answer.

             
“The baby is what I am more concerned about. If they find out about her, it would only be a matter of time before they come back with more reinforcements and take what they want.” Val’s words hit me deep. If they found out, they would take my child, my long-haired grey-eyed girl. My gut tightened from the thought.

             
“I should have told you, but I thought it was just a silly dream.” I looked down at my hands in my nervous way, knowing that if I gazed into his eyes, they would be hard as steel.

             
Eden, I am not angry with you, I am in shock. I had no idea we would be doing this so soon.

             
I sent all my love to him and felt it come back to me ten times more. I loved my vampire and there was nothing we couldn’t get through together.

             
You and me both. What if I am a horrible mother?

             
You won’t be. I hope she is just like you, strong and beautiful.

             
“There is only one thing left to do then, before we get down to business. I promised you all a formal ceremony to appease your culture. I mean to follow through with that now.”

             
Koren slapped Gregor on the back, “We could use something cheerful, this is a great idea.”

             
“Really? Now?” I was still unclear as to what the ceremony entailed, but I knew it meant a lot to Val.

             
“Thank you, Gregor, for taking care of our girl. She is very precious to us and we would be honored to give Eden away to you.” Lex put his arm around Val and they beamed with pride.

             
Maiya chimed in with her tinkling voice, “I know just the flowers to use, I am sure Valora and I could have her ready by dusk.

             
“Wait! What are you going to do to me?”

             
“Oh, you will see. Come on, Eden, say goodbye to your suitor.” Maiya practically shoved me at Gregor.

             
“All right.” I giggled like a schoolchild. “I guess I will see you tonight. I love you.”

             
“Enough. Let’s get you presentable, you do look a little worse for wear.” I was ushered away by the shifter.

             
“Thank you, Gregor. This means a lot to us.” Val hugged Gregor and then followed behind us to Maiya’s hut.

             
Be safe, my heart.

             
You too, things happen when we are apart.

             
Tonight, nothing will go wrong. I will take every precaution see that we are safe.

             
Gregor, let her alone, she needs to concentrate on becoming beautiful!

             
Maiya had joined the conversation now and I felt the mental laugh of Gregor and Koren at my expense.

             
She is already beautiful.

             
Fine, she still needs to listen to Valora’s instructions.

             
Yes, and Lexington has some words of advice for me as well.

             
The connection broke and Maiya set out to scrub and cleanse me.

             
“Do we have to go through all this hassle, really?” The basin of smelly water had gone cold by now and I was tired from the last few hours of concoctions being pored over and rubbed into me.

             
“Yes, we do. This ceremony is sacred to our people, Eden. Gregor bound you with his words, now; you will bind him with the magic of the mages.”

             
“When Koren and I went through our ceremony, we were covered in sacred mud and had to walk the fire path to each other. This is much nicer.” She winked at me and poured another vial of sweet smelling oil over my hair.

             
“I have heard about that. They say you see your spirit animal.” Val rubbed the oil into my hair and it dripped in my eyes.

             
“Each family has an animal on their hut, which is their spirit animal that joined with them at the time of shifting. It joins their mate at the ceremony. It is a wonder, really.” Maiya and Val worked me over as they talked. I was feeling so tired from the treatments I was receiving that I finally closed my lids and let them do what they willed as I napped.