Enthrall Me (The conclusion to Enchant Me) (5 page)

Finally my driver pulled in to our destination, the headlights bounced off a sign listing the Cliffs of Moher. Weak and bleary eyed, I tumbled out of the car, and with a wave, I sent her off with the thought she had just taken a drive, and now should return to Dublin. With that same odd vacant expression, she waved me off and left.

In the predawn light, I scanned the area around me, and saw with relief that I was alone. I took a deep breath of the fresh sea air, and made my way over the uneven ground of stone and grass, until I stood a couple of feet from the edge of the cliff. Rising more than 600 feet above the ocean, I could still hear the roar of the waves crashing against the craggy cliffs below. The winds buffeted me, pulling me closer to the edge.

My struggle could end here. I could be free. I dropped to my knees; I wanted to surrender. No more fighting, no more fear, guilt or shame, but alongside that thought was something even more powerful. I had never quit, never given up. And I wouldn’t lose to this. I had to fight this stranger inside of me, and win. I needed to go back.

Sunlight spread across the sky like a reward, then abruptly I felt Alexis…her anger.

CHAPTER 5

Before I could even turn around, I felt Alexis’s power wrap around me, and jerk me away from the cliffs edge. Then she whipped me around and laid me flat on my stomach. I tried to lift my head to tell her how un-necessary this was, but her power become so heavy I couldn’t move, could barely breathe. I heard the shuffle of someone run up to me, then a small pin prick in my neck, and before I succumbed to whatever drug they had injected, I felt how disturbing it was to be under the power of someone you love. But this is what I had done to her.

When I came to, I quickly looked around for Alexis, at the same time recognizing the stone walls of Ward House’s dungeon. Why was I here? Leaning against the wall opposite of me, she glared at me with furious green eyes. “You’re awake.”

I tried to sit up, and realized I couldn’t. I looked up to see chains around my wrists, pinning me to a wooden platform. I glanced back at Alexis, who had come to stand a couple feet from the platform. “Alexis, I am not going to run again,” I informed her in a calm voice.

Something like regret flickered across her face, but quickly disappeared. Emotionless she stared at me. “For what I’m about to do, I’m sorry.”

Suddenly the platform with me on it, jerked up into the air a couple feet from the ground. Trepediation wormed its way into my mind. What was Alexis doing? Then just as suddenly the platform slammed back against the ground. The jarring impact drew a more irritated than hurt groan out of me. “Alexis, what are--”

The platform rose up in the air again, but this time higher than before. “Ale--” I couldn’t even get her name out before I was flung against the floor. Pain radiated across my back, shoulders, even my head where it hit the back of the platform. Anger ripped through me, as once more I was launched into the air. “Stop it, Alexis!” She either didn’t hear me or didn’t care, because the platform hurtled back down to the floor again. I struggled to catch my breath, my whole body throbbed with pain, but the most agonizing part…I could sense that stranger again. Stronger than ever before, and angry.

I felt sick yet powerful, as control slipped from me. “Stop this, or you’ll regret it,” I warned, looking deep into her eyes. I could see her fear, but I knew it wouldn’t stop her. Someone banged on the door, I could sense the rest of our Grove on the other side.

“Alexis, don’t do it! He’s not himself!” Ciara screamed.

I could hear the sound of someone undoing the lock, but Alexis flung out her hand, and the sound of the lock being broken beyond usability, echoed through the room. I turned to Alexis, fighting the chains that held me. “Let me go.”

“No, she stated simply, and with a lurch, the platform stood on end, and with her powers she yanked it within a couple feet of her.

The cuffs bit into my wrists as I hung from them, the pain amplifying my need to defend. Mentally I lashed out, seeking that place in her mind I already knew so well. I instructed her to release me, but it had no effect. I couldn’t seem to control her mind like I could the normal people I had experimented on, but I could block or if necessary burn out her powers. I laughed in shock when I discovered she could block me.

This time she flung me backwards against the other wall, rougher than all the times before. I could feel blood trickle down my wrists from the cuffs, and a fury like I’d never experienced, took hold of me. Like a flurry of arrows being launched, I attacked her mental shield, looking for a way in, or past.

Unexpectedly the cuffs released, and I collapsed to the ground. I immediately got up and charged at her, only to be brought up short, a foot from where she stood, her hand out in front of her, holding me back. But I could feel her getting weaker. She wouldn’t be able to maintain this much longer, sweat beaded on her forehead, and tears sprung up in her eyes. Alexis…

Some shred of the real me roared to life. I had to warn her. “Alexis, I don’t think I can control it, get out of here!”

She shook her head miserably, and tears streamed down her beautiful face. “We can’t go on like this.”

She dropped the physical and mental shield, and I wrapped my arms around her, pinning her to me. Excited, the stranger rushed into her mind, the path to block her powers laid in front of me, vulnerable. As vulnerable as her body pressed against me. Like before, our minds connected, and I heard her voice in my mind. “I won’t stop you.” Her arms moved around me, holding me tight.

I couldn’t do this, I couldn’t hurt her again! The stranger clawed at me to get out; urging me to block or destroy her powers to protect myself. I clung to her tighter as the world seemed to spin around me, a dark vortex opened up within me, and I was falling--

I woke up in a dark forest. How did I get here? Did Alexis and the Grove abandon me here? Looking around, the place reminded me of my nightmare. A dark lonely forest, a night within a night, the only difference here was the flowers, trees and plants, glowed. It felt strange, like it pulsed with energy. I could hear whispers in the wind, and laughter. “Who’s out there?” I called out.

I heard a rustle in the bushes, and then the sound of someone running through the brush. I couldn’t see who it was, but I took off after them. Branches snapped against my face as I tore through the forest, but I refused to stop.

As I closed in, I could see it was a guy, about my own height and build with dark hair. “Stop!” I demanded, then reached out, grabbed his collar, and jerked him to a halt. When he whipped around, I stumbled back in shock. My own face stared back at me and sneered. No, not me. A shadow of me. Only this shadow had substance. “What you didn’t think it would be you?” The shadow me snarled.

I shook my head speechless. It moved closer, getting in my face, breathing my own breath. “Its been you all along,” it whispered. “You, who killed your own parents. You, who almost destroyed Nicolas. You, who invaded Ciara’s mind, and then tried to hurt Alexis…”

Seething with anger and guilt I slammed my fist in his face. My face. He retaliated with a hard punch right over my heart. I bent over from the pain, and he drew his knee up hard under my chin, knocking me to the ground. I wiped the blood off my mouth on the back of my hand. I hated this stranger, this side of myself that was ruining my life.

“You’re going to lose, and become the enemy to all those you want to protect,” he ground out, as he pulled his fist back to hit me again.

I shook my head. I couldn’t lose to this thing. “I’ll die first.”

“Yes, that part of you that isn’t me will.” He came at me first, and I punched him hard in the stomach. I swung again, but he blocked me, wrapping his hands around my throat. He squeezed hard, laughing when I couldn’t break his hold, and began to wheeze. I choked off his laugh with my hands around his neck. I felt our minds merge, and knew his thought; he wanted to win, needed to win, just as much as I did. He wanted to be free.

Darkness swirled up and around us, the forest grew silent, the only sounds were our gasps for air. He was right, if I lost to him, I would become a danger to everyone I loved. I exerted more pressure, and fear registered on my shadow self’s face. Its hands left my throat, and tore at my grip on his. My stomach turned at the vision of my own hands, choking the life out of myself.

And then he was gone.

I fell to my knees on the forest floor, exhausted. The darkness lifted, and sunshine filtered through the trees, and I sprawled out on the ground, numbly staring at the leafy green canopy above. More minutes passed, and the numbness faded, followed by resolution. No longer would I be my own enemy. Too many people depended on me, and I couldn’t afford to be so self absorbed that I wallowed in guilt or doubt. I closed my eyes in relief; I hadn’t felt this peaceful in a long time.

A heavy, damp feeling on my chest woke me up. I looked down to find Alexis with her head on my chest, crying silently. I lifted my hands up, cupping her head. What’s wrong?”

Her head bobbed up in surprise, her eyes swollen, and sparkling with tears. “You’re awake. Are you o.k.?” She demanded, throwing herself more fully on me, and gripping my face tightly in her hands.

I studied her for a moment. She didn’t look well. Her skin looked abnormally pale, and her powers were registering so low it worried me. “I’m fine,” I answered, alarmed. “What’s wrong with you? Why do you look sick?”

“She’s barely ate, drank, or slept in the last two days,” Ciara informed, moving out of a chair on the other side of the room.

I glanced at Alexis. “Is that how long I’ve been out?” I asked softly.

She nodded her head tiredly. “Are
you
really o.k.?” she questioned, looking deep into my eyes.

“Yeah,” I reassured her, and kissed her forehead, then tucked her head underneath my chin.

“I’m sorry we had to do things that way, but it seemed that side of you always came out when you were under attack. We counted on the fact that if Alexis was in danger, the real you would do whatever it took to save her. I sense none of that darkness from before, you must’ve been successful,” she said this with such satisfaction, it got on my nerves.

“Next time, could you please not use my girlfriend as bait?”

“I have no illusions that you would’ve cared as much about my safety,” she replied with a smirk. I started to sit up in protest when she waved me back down with a little laugh. “You two get some rest, then come downstairs. The other Groves have arrived, so we’ll be holding the council meeting tonight,” she informed us, then quietly closed the door.

I closed my eyes and reached out with my mind, and smiled. Powers and magic of infinite variety and strengths, were all around us. I squeezed an already sleeping Alexis; I could meet all of them now without fear. Rolling onto my side, I threw a leg protectively over Alexis, and slept.

CHAPTER 6

I woke up to the feel of Alexis’s curls tickling my nose, and late afternoon light filtering through the curtain. I cuddled her closer and she murmured happily in her sleep. Gently I rolled her onto her back, brushing back the curls hiding her face, and she wrinkled her nose adorably at being disturbed. She attempted to roll away from me, but I pulled her beneath me, and laid down on top of her.

Alexis blinked up at me, and then smiled. “What?” she asked, levering up, and kissing my nose.

I grazed her lips with mine. “Pay attention to me,” I breathed.

She turned her head away teasingly. “I have for the last two days.”

I nipped at her ear. “I was unconscious then, that doesn’t count.” I cupped her face, so she couldn’t turn away, and kissed her. Pulling back a little I looked down at her, hoping she could sense the change in me. “I’m sorry Alexis.”

Her cool fingers trailed down my face. “You seem free now.”

Not wanting to crush her with my weight I reversed our positions, and pulled her on top. I sighed, but this time with relief. “I think my guilt, anger, and fear, that I would hurt someone else just like my parents, created that darkness inside of me.” I wrapped my arms tighter around her waist. “It’s gone now,” I reassured her.

“I know,” she said, placing a kiss on my chest. “Ciara sensed the change in you before you woke up.”

I lifted her chin so I could look straight into her eyes. “Does she trust me now? Do you?”

She smiled softly. “Yes, and yes. The problem was you didn’t trust yourself enough to fight this.” Without warning she broke free of my hold, and leapt off the bed, eyeing me mischievously. “From now on you should just do whatever I tell you. Your life would be so much easier that way.”

I rolled off of the bed, onto my feet, and prepared to grab her. With a little squeak of surprise, she dashed out of the room. But we were both brought up short by the sight of Liam coming down the hallway, anxiety poured off of him. “Ciara wants you both to come downstairs,” he informed in an ominous tone.

For a second I worried that she still had misgivings about me, but I shook it off. She wouldn’t have left me alone with Alexis if she doubted me right? Grabbing and holding Alexis’s hand tightly, we descended the stairs behind him. He led us straight to the reception room that overflowed with people of all ages. Just as we reached the door, my head began to pound from being in close proximity to so much power and magic in one place. I let go of Alexis’s hand; I couldn’t get any closer to them yet.

“What’s wrong?” she whispered. “Oh. I keep forgetting that you’re more sensitive to it.”

I would glare at her if I could, but instead I just nudged her into the room. “I’ll be fine, go ahead.”

She had barely made it into the room before Neila was at her side, her expression sad and worried, as she wrapped an arm around her. Ciara dressed in hiking hear stepped into the middle of the room, but stared directly at us. The adult’s obvious fear and anxiety opened a pit in my stomach. What had happened?

“Brianna is missing.” Ciara announced in a calm tone, that didn’t match the look in her eyes. My heart dropped.