Raining Light (Fate's Intent Book 5) (28 page)

“Yes, sir.” Trever smiled, pretending to sound obedient. “My apologies.”

It was quiet again while my father went up the stairs.

“What did he mean?” Jaylyn asked.

“What? Nothing.”

“So, we’re just supposed to believe he’s talking crazy?”

“It must be the Senian air. It makes people do and say crazy things. Keen example sitting next to Red.”

Ruby put her hand on Darius’s chest so he wouldn’t go after him and Jaylyn hit Trever in the shoulder. “Seriously, Trever. You know something you’re not telling us.”

“I know a lot of things I’m not telling you, Jay. You need to be more specific.”

“You know what I mean. What should we know that you’re not telling us?”

“Nothing. Everything’s fine.”

All the while, Trever sat with his arms tense at his sides and his fist clenched tightly. I laughed when I noticed and sat up from leaning on Zayden. “Really? Because there’s obviously something wrong with you.”

“What?”

“Why else would you be sitting there so tense? If you had nails like Jaylyn, they’d be drawing blood.”

Trever looked down at his fists and hid them by crossing his arms in front of his chest, tucking them away. “That’s crazy.”

“So, why are you doing it?”

“Worry about something else. I have everything under control.” I heard a loud crack coming from his direction and he pressed his lips together, trying not to even flinch.

“What was that?” Jaylyn asked.

“That was one of my ribs.” He said it casually like it was nothing.

“Breaking?!”

Chapter 35

Jaylyn

I was appalled but noticed Ruby was looking across at Trever and somehow knew what was happening. “Trever, no. Now?”

“I’ve got it, Red. Relax.”

“I honestly don’t think you do.” Ruby got up and sat on the table in front of Trever to get closer.

“You know what’s happening?” I asked.

“He kind of already told us. Remember, the winged-lion he was hoping we’d never have to meet? Now, just remember the story of it. The one he used to tell us as kids.”

I immediately gasped and looked at Trever, moving to the table with Ruby. No one could forget a story like that, especially being told it at a young age. It was when my father was still alive. “You’re lying.”

“Why are you looking at me?” Trever asked. “I didn’t tell you.”

“But it can’t be true.”

“I wish it wasn’t.”

“Wait.” Adele cut in. “The lion thing?

“And it’s happening now?” I feared.

“Not if I can help it.” Trever gritted his teeth together and became tenser than before. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back like he was trying to keep something under control. The veins in his neck turned black and started showing like his skin was thinning. It seemed more horrifying now and the others all got to their feet around us.

“Oh, no.” Ruby muttered.

“Aleksander!” I shouted.

He came rushing to the top of the stairs from the urgency in my voice. “What?” He didn’t hesitate when he saw Trever. He flew down the stairs and approached as fast as he could.

“What’s happening to him?” Adele asked in worry.

He ignored her question. “Trever relax. You know you can’t fight him.”

“I won’t let him come now.”

“You’re not strong enough to hold him at bay. No mortal is. You know that!”

Trever opened his eyes and his beautiful green glowing eyes were replaced with terrifying yellow retinas and the rest were black like Zayden’s. “You know what he can do if I release him here.”

“Then do it. He wants a voice so give him one.”

“He’s angry.” Trever stood up, hands to his sides as stiff as ever. “He won’t listen and I won’t let him out to kill all of you because he will!”

“He will listen.”

“You can’t be sure of that!”

“Yes I can because this time, we have him.”

I turned my head over to Zayden when they looked at him. “What? Now wait a second. What are we talking about here?”

There was a pause and Trever seemed as if he were thinking in his tense mode. “Maybe you’re right. He’ll listen to another pure blood.”

“Yes, exactly. Let him come to us. We’ll take care of the rest.”

“Are you sure?”

“It’s the only way. Outside though. Glass house and all.”

Trever turned and walked outside a distance from the house.

“You can’t be serious.” I said in worry. “You let him do it?”

“It’s not that I let him but it would have happened anyway. He can’t be held back again no matter how hard he tries.”

I couldn’t watch. I honestly couldn’t. I could already feel his pain and it was already too much. I just wanted it to be over.

Chapter 36

Troy

Jaylyn’s worry worried me but I looked out the front of the house anyway. Trever was starting to calm himself better than we’ve seen before like Bryce was with him again but this time he was brought to his knees when the bones in his chest and ribs broke and shifted into their desired position. That’s all it took for Adele and Ruby to turn away into Zayden and Darius’s arms but the rest of us continued to watch with a curiosity we couldn’t explain.

From there it only got worse. Trever couldn’t even stay on his limbs anymore and collapsed down on the ground. His body was breaking and reforming, making him shake all over. We’ve kind of seen that before but he was never in this much pain. He was no longer beginning to look human. His skeleton formed into the shape of an animal under his stretched out skin. Even his face has changed and his blonde short cut hair started turning black and grow then his clothes bursts out in a deep black coat of fur.

The creature struggling on the ground that I had once remembered as Trever was now an enormous black lion that started growing black reptilian-like wings out of its back. I watched on in amazement as it took flight and circled high above the house.

“Okay, we’re going to make sure this goes the best way possible.” Aleksander said quietly. “Our way. Do not address him. He’s from the old times and he’ll most likely only talk to you, Zayden because you’re an authentic Vendel. He’ll smell it in your blood.”

“Okay. What do I say?”

“Well, the goal would be to try to reason but you’ll soon notice he’ll only want answers.”

“Rift, stay inside.” The pup lowered his head like he was quivering to stay out of sight of the large beast and we walked outside and stood in a line. Aleksander stood in the middle with us to his right and the Kalu Assassins to his left. The winged lion circled the house one more time and then landed in front of us.

We were all startled when he shook the ground underneath our feet. He was more enormous than I thought. Twice as large as the Shadows, standing taller than our own height.

He looked upon us and let out a roar. It echoed all around and shook the house behind us before he started to speak in a deep furious tone. “What is the meaning of this?!”

Aleksander held out his hand to his right at Zayden and took a step out of the line and bowed his head. “Perhaps my lord would specify his question so that we may answer it properly.”

“Silence!” The beast shouted, taking a mighty proud step forward. “Who are you to speak for?”

“He’s speaking for me.” Zayden said, pulling Aleksander back to the line.

The animal let out a grunt from the base of his chest and stepped towards Zayden. He was face to face with the creature and it took in a deep breath through its nose. “Ah, finally.” He backed up and sat down in front of him, still just as tall. “Someone at my level and this one is your hired voice?”

“Correct. He will be answering for me, more knowing the information you request.”

“The improbable King. Sons of peasants ruling my kingdom. It brings shame to me.”

“Nevertheless. He speaks truthfully in my stead.”

“These your men then?”

“They’re my royal guards.” Zayden confidently glanced to his right at us. “I don’t go anywhere without them.”

“And the females?”

“They serve under you, my lord.” Aleksander said, bowing his head.

The large animal huffed as he stood up and walked to them.

“They bear the mark of your allegiance, my lord.”

He saw the marks on Ruby’s hips and brought his nose up to her. She looked frightened and shot a worried sign towards Aleksander. He held out his hand and she let the beast get closer. He nudged his nose against her right hip and she did her best to keep her balance. The large animal seemed skeptical as he paused for a moment then licked her.

Ruby had a repulsive look on her face as she tried to hold as still as possible and not offend him while we had to try to keep from laughing.

“Hmm.” The beast said to himself as he backed off and started walking back to the center. “Exquisite. It’s precisely the way he’s described it.”

Adele and Jaylyn looked at Ruby standing in between them, trying to hide their smiles.

The beast only took another step before freezing and breathing through his nose a few times. When he paused from it, his head snatched towards Jaylyn and she was a little startled but stood completely still. “You.” The beast circled around her and pushed her forward with one of his wings.

“Jaylyn!” I took a step forward, ready to defend her.

“Be still!” Aleksander whispered. “Don’t make it worse!”

I stopped but was still worried.

The beast stepped to her and walked around so he could see her eyes but didn’t speak directly to her. “How is it that this one exists? Females are not worthy of this blood.”

“She’s special.” Aleksander explained. “She has a purpose.”

Jaylyn stayed completely still as she was looking into the yellow and black eyes of her brother’s curse.

“A special power I sense. You do not serve me, child. For you possess something much greater but I see you haven’t been told. What a shame. I should be asking you these questions.”

“She wouldn’t be the right one to answer them, my lord.” Aleksander said.

“Silence! I am quite aware of that and you will speak after I have asked said questions!”

“Of course.”

The beast looked at Jaylyn one more time and turned away from her. She stayed there for just a moment almost in shock and Adele and Ruby went to her, bringing her back to the line.

“Since it is obvious I can’t speak directly to whom I need, tell me why he hasn’t stepped forward? Tell me why he let you become King?”

“The times are different from when you ruled, my lord. The world has long been at war.”

“All the more reason he should take his place!”

“I understand that, my lord but we’ve journeyed to end it. In that case it wasn’t probable.”

“Insolent fool! Give me one good reason I don’t kill you where you stand!”

“We’re fulfilling an ancient prophecy set after your time, my lord. Only by uniting the six can we complete it.”

“And these are the six you speak of?” The beast wondered looking at us by his side.

“Indeed, my lord. Even through war, they find themselves perfectly matched to their other half.”

“I see. So I’m to let this slide? Have my heir lay low till this is settled?”

“He requests when he’s ready, my lord.”

The large winged lion paced back and forth in front of us, his giant reptilian wings twitching with concentration and his rising anger. “No! That is unacceptable!”

“My lord, please.” Aleksander tried to explain.

“No!” He pounced over and pinned him to the ground with one of his large wings. “He proceeds to his place or I take it for him!”

“Father!” Adele hollered. She was about to step towards him but the beast looked over at her and growled, stopping her in her tracks.

“I don’t think so.” Darius muttered. He walked up behind the lion and reached for his tail. “Bad kitty!” He grabbed a hold tightly and pulled the animal back, throwing him towards the trees. The beast roared in anger but he only saved himself by flying.

“No.” Aleksander said as Adele helped him to his feet. “Don’t fight him. We need him to phase back.”

“How?” Adele asked.

“We get him to submit.”

“Then we fight.” Darius said. He pulled out his sword and the winged lion landed in front of us.

“Fools! The death penalty proceeds.”

“No!” Aleksander shouted. “You kill him and Trever dies.”

Jaylyn gasped and covered her mouth.