Eden's Mark (8 page)

             
“Val, what did I do? I don’t understand any of this. Why can I feel Gregor?” I sat up on my pallet and played with the dirt. It hummed and its melody filled me as I waited for an explanation to what had happened. “Right now, I feel him waking. His body is sore and his throat is burning as if it is on fire. How is this possible?”  I felt horrible for making him feel this way. My body had a dull ache as his did and my throat burned, feeling his pain made me feel sick for hurting him.

             
“Eden, what you did, even unintentional, was very dangerous and an outlawed practice among our race. Mages use energy from the earth, plants, animals, insects, etc. The reason for this is, when you take energy from something with a soul, part of their essence is trapped inside you. You gain a part of them and are forever connected. This also opens the pathway for the dark magics, such as possession. When a person uses another’s energy, it makes you feel giddy and powerful. If a person doesn’t cut the connection in time, you can drain another to the point of death.”

             
I felt tears on my cheek as I realized I could have killed the one man I had fallen for. I wanted to be with Gregor more than anything, but all I had done was create disaster. No way would he even be able to look at me after this, let alone be around me.

             
You did not know what you were doing. I am not angry with you, Eden. It is our fault for not explaining this to you. This is the fundamental rule by which all Ellethny lives by.

             
Gregor, I am so sorry. Your energy was the brightest. I had no idea it was yours or I…

             
You do not need to explain. My energy reached for you, as it has been since I met you in the woods that night.

             
I thought…
Things were taking an unexpected turn.

             
“Eden, are you ok?” Val had noticed me staring off into space.

             
“I am ok. I feel so horrible. I never want to do that again.” I looked her in the eyes and she saw my sincerity. I never wanted to hurt another as I had hurt Gregor.

             
Do not feel so bad, I will be fine. I need to leave for a little while and we can talk more when I return.

             
Be careful.

             
The connection was cut off abruptly. My only solace was that I could feel him. Gregor had an intense hunger I didn’t understand. I felt a predatory hunt in him as he left the mountain.

             
“Let’s go see Lex. I know he is anxious to see you.” Val and I rose and walked into the kitchen, where Lex, Maiya, and Koren all sat.

Chapter Twelve

             
We sat at the table, drinking hot tea, when I felt this strange surge. Gregor was hunting something. I felt his senses become keen, as he made his way through the forest, silent as the night itself. I felt everything he did; the limbs brushing his arms, the rush of adrenaline as he hunted, then out of nowhere, a feeling of gratitude. I couldn’t see what was going on, only felt his joy as he filled his hunger and the sadness that followed.

             
The emotional carousel I was on made me dizzy. Val completely downplayed the whole connection thing when using someone’s essence. I felt everything, his excitement, need, hunger.

             
“Whoa.” I stared at the table and tried to get my breathing under control. I must have been caught up in his hunt, because when I came back to myself, my knuckles were white from gripping the table too hard.

             
“What is it, little one?” Maiya asked me in her soft voice.

             
“Um…nothing. I am going to get some air.” I smiled my best fake smile and left them. I climbed the stone stairs to my solitude. I sat down and breathed deep, using the cool air to clear my mind. Things were so strange anymore. For months, the dance between Gregor and me was becoming exhausting, now all this.

             
“Eden, you are in serious trouble here.” I rested my face in my hands trying to get a grip. I reached out with my mind and felt the familiar energy from the earth enveloping me. I let her caress and calm me. I replayed the things I had felt from Gregor in my mind. There was something strange about his hunger that made me a bit frightened.

             
I would never hurt you. What you felt from me was my thirst. After our linkage, I became very weary. Normally I can contain my thirst for many weeks if need be, but you took so much out of me I needed to replenish myself. I did not mean to frighten you, but as you can see, neither of us can disconnect from this. There are things we need to talk through.

             
Before I could even get a word out he was sitting beside me. His swoopy super speed was getting annoying. He could give a girl a chance to get her bearings before he goes “poof” and materializes out of thin air.

             
I did not “materialize out of thin air”. I was on my way back anyways and as you know, we are extremely fast.

             
Gregor gazed out over the mountainside. His hair fell over his eyes and blew casually in the slight breeze. My body reacted to his closeness and that flippy thing was going on in my belly.

             
“I would call that more than fast.” I followed his stare. “I would say you are superhero speedy, like the Flash.”

             
Gregor gave a small chuckle under his breath. “I have been reduced to being compared to a small human who wears red spandex in a comic book. Well, such as it is, I have no intention of wearing spandex of any kind, no matter the color.”

             
‘Oh, I don’t know. You would look pretty hot in pink.” I gave my best serious face and Gregor scowled back at me.

             
“I do hope you are kidding. I see myself more as an autumn, not a spring.” That familiar grin crossed his face and sent me rolling.

             
I broke out into a full belly laugh and bumped him with my shoulder jokingly. When we touched, I felt his essence inside me flare to life and my birthmark began its tingling. I leaned closer to Gregor and our lips touched briefly. The moment his cool skin was on mine, the light flared from my birthmark illuminating the dark. Gregor pulled back and I saw the storm cross his eyes. His expression was of horror.

             
“What, is something wrong with me?” Tears were in my voice.

             
“Cover your wrist Eden, now!” he snapped. 

             
I did as he said. Gregor was on his feet in a blink, grabbed me up in his arms, and rushed me into the opening and down to the kitchen.

             
“What is it?” Koren looked from Gregor to me in confusion.

             
“I don’t know.” I didn’t know what to say to anyone. I was just as confused.

             
“Shadows are coming.” Gregor bit the words out and a chill came over me. His emotions were so tangible that they screamed at me; anger, protection…fear.

             
“What? How? I thought we were safe here?” I was panicking.

             
“The light from your mark lit up enough of the dark that anyone within a hundred miles of us would have been able to see it. Shadows must have been sent to find us and your scent brought them close enough to the mountain that they saw it.” He was very mad at me.

             
“I am sorry, I can’t control it. What are we going to do?” My fear caused the pulsing in my wrist to burn. All the feelings from Gregor mixed with my own. Intense.

             
“
We
are not going to do anything. You are going to stay here and hide. Koren and Maiya, scout how many are coming and if there is a wielder with them. Lexington, grab weapons from the cache in my study, bring as many as you can use. Valora, we need extra wards and anything else you can do.”

             
I watched everyone jump to action and I was left standing in the kitchen staring into the face of steel.

             
Eden…if they get past us, there is a tunnel passage that leads deep down into the mountain. Just go into your room and ask the earth to open the door.

             
I want to help. I am not going to run.

             
I straightened my body so he knew I was serious.

             
You are our hope for a better life; we cannot risk something happening to you. You must stay safe. If they get in, do as I say. Our Mother Earth will keep you protected; she has claimed you as a daughter.

             
You cannot expect me to sit by while my family and friends risk their life for something I did. Gregor, you have no say over what I do and I chose to fight.

             
Do not tempt me, Eden! I cannot protect you and everyone else while fighting off shades. Do as I say.
He bared his teeth at me and I saw gleaming white fangs elongate trying to threaten me into submission.

             
Are you baring your teeth at me? Let me just say…
my laughter rang in his mind.

             
This. Is. Serious. You should not be laughing, Eden.
Maiya rushed into the room breaking me from my amusement.

             
“We saw seven shadows and I could feel a wielder, but I never saw him.” Maiya kept a level voice as if she was calm with no worries. I noticed a small bird on her shoulder, it was no bigger than a kumquat with an olive green beak that was long, thin, and curved down slightly on the end. The head was crimson, as was the tail. The body and topside of the wings was caramel colored, the rest of the bird’s body and wings were two shades darker.

             
I watched the bird fly off Maiya and land on my shoulder. “That’s a good idea, Koren. Stay with Eden and keep her safe. She knows where to go if the shadows get inside. Just follow her. Maiya, we need the cat this time.”

             
“I told you, I am going to fight. End of discussion.”

             
Gregor came so close to me his breath cool on my heated skin. “I am no longer going to argue with you. Do as I request, this is no game.” His stare pierced me and I felt dread in him.              

             
“Maiya, the cat if you please.”

             
Her smile went ear to ear. I watched in astonishment as her delicate features distorted into a feline shape. Her bones cracked and popped as they dislocated from sockets to fit her changing form. In mere seconds, she went from Maiya, warrior of shifters, to a large cat. Her coat was the color of her hair, moonlight silver dappled with light gray rosettes. There were irregular lines and curves of white and gray where some of the rosette markings had blended. I thought she looked like a larger version of an ocelot.

             
Maiya stretched her body and extended her claws, they were curved and long, a nice weapon to have. I imagined they were razor sharp. As she yawned, I saw fangs that equaled her claws. Deadly. Maiya was beautiful before, but in her cat form, she was a different kind of beautiful, lethal. She padded quietly over to me and rubbed against my thigh. I reached down and ran my hand along her smooth soft fur to her tail. Maiya turned and padded away.

             
Lex came into the kitchen with an armful of weapons. There were a couple of swords, a bow and a quiver of arrows over his shoulder, a few mean-looking maces and daggers of different sizes. Val also returned to the kitchen with her carpetbag and a book…my book.

             
“Why do you have that?” My wrist throbbed and I felt the pull of the book.

             
“Eden, this book has very powerful spells in it, if you look, you will find some protection spells. Use them.” She thrust the book in my hands and began to chant her wards over us. The familiar colored symbols showed up and disappeared.

             
“I don’t think I can. I am still learning, and this stuff is way beyond me.” I felt the weight of the book in my hands. So much to learn and absorb from it, but something made me afraid to delve too deep into its contents.

             
“Eden, I know you’re scared of this power, but we need you to be strong. We cannot afford for them to get their hands on you. No telling what the Gelseys would do with you.” Val and Lex both gave me that sympathetic look.

             
“Here, take this. If you can’t use the book, this will cloak you and anyone touching you.”

             
I took the small flask of blue liquid from my aunt and clutched it tightly.

             
“I will do what I can. Be careful, I love you both so much.” I didn’t want to think about them possibly dying.

             
“Lex to the opening, Val, you stay hidden in the passage so you can use magic. I will meet them out front. Koren, keep her safe.” Gregor looked at me one more time and then left.

             
Be safe.

             
I sent it out to him hoping he would hear it. Koren chirped on my shoulder and flew towards my room. I followed him reluctantly. My gut was telling me to go outside with Gregor.

             
You feel that way because you are tied to me. When I begin fighting, I will shut down our mental connection, but you will still feel what I feel. If I am in pain, do not come to my aid. I will be fine, trust me.

             
But…how can I just sit here while everyone I care about is fighting?

             
Use the book. It called to you because you have the power to use the spells. No one else has dared to use it as the magic in it is too strong. Eden, you are our only hope for the future we need.

             
I cannot. I am not strong enough.

             
You are. Believe you are.

             
With that last sentence, our connection was broken. I felt that hollow void whenever he closed me off. I sat in the middle of the room on the soft ground. I buried my feet in the dark earth and opened the book in my lap. My birthmark thrummed and pulsed with electricity that made me feel awkward. Koren was perched on my shoulder again watching the door. His sharp bird claws dug into my skin as he paced.