The Land Of Shadows (14 page)

“A child of the light, who is Lucius, and a child of the night.” The sadness in Alder deepens. “Only one is meant to live, the child of light. The child of the night has to stand and fight. Her light is not meant to be her own, but to pass to another. But she had to make that decision for herself, willingly.”

I can only stare in utter shock at the old man before me. “Only one can live?” Lucius’ words from a few nights back are starting to make sense in a way I don’t want to understand.

“Luna is a sacrifice, Storm. It is not meant for her to have a full life.” Every word pierces deeper into a part of my soul where I keep my hope for Luna alive.

“How can it be for anyone to say this? It is not for you to decide who lives and who does not!” The floor beneath my feet freezes and I draw my emotions in with a strength born out of one goal – Luna has to live. “A new destiny has been written. Let us hear what words of depravity you come up with now!” I spit the words at him, unable to accept his revelations.

Alder simply opens his right hand to the heavens. I’m about to think he’s lost it along with the whole of Vaalbara when suddenly, a golden light begins to weave near his hand. The intricate outlines soon form a scroll, and as much as I want to grab it from the air, I let it drop into his hand. His eyes dart over the divine words.

“You are to guide her to Shadowedlands. She must save Alchera and-” Alder’s eyes widen. I simply cannot wait anymore. I grab the holy scroll from his hands but it crumbles to golden dust at the touch of my flesh.

“Tell me, Alder!” I will strangle it from him if I have to!

“She must save Void, too,” Alder says in amazement. “My brother is under the malicious manipulation of Mara, Azreal’s sister.” Alder struggles to his feet. “All this time…” he murmurs. “All this time I thought I’d lost him to the darkness, when in fact he needed me.”

I don’t care about Void! I need to get to Luna. I can feel her getting further away from me. “Who is Mara?” I snap.

Alder shakes his head. “Oh … oh yes. Void has two children. One is his daughter, Varia. Mara has taken over her body. She wants Void dead so his power can become hers. What better way than to impersonate one of his children.”

I know Azreal is the Angel of Death, but I’ve never heard of Mara. I didn’t know Azreal had a sister, or that Void had children!

“Why would this Mara want Void’s power? I thought the angels were on our side.” As if Void hasn’t been enough up until this point, there is now another problem to contend with!

“She is no angel. Where Azreal is death, she is darkness. Azreal collects souls and Mara reigns over Hell. She wishes for one thing only – for the pits of Hell to run over with suffering until Vaalbara is nothing more but a shadowland. There is no beauty to be found in her demonic manifestation. Her obsidian eyes hold the gates to hell, and her hair falls like burned ash around her. Mara’s skin is a map of vile looking veins. She smells of rotten eggs, as if she has been molded from the depths of hell itself.”

Alder sighs, dropping his shoulders even more. I just stare at Alder for a while before I try to speak, but when I open my mouth nothing comes out.
How has it come to this? That my Luna has to face such a darkness?

I have to be strong for Luna. She will need me now more than ever.

Raighne steps forward. I’ve totally forgotten about him “So we go and we kill this Mara, or Varia, whatever she wishes to call herself - and we bring back my wife. All will be well then?”

“No, you do not!” Alder shouts, but he quickly composes himself. “It is Luna’s destiny and one Storm will guide her on.”

“He has not prepared for this, Abba!” Raighne shouts. “It took me five years to prepare for Alchera. I will go with him so I can at least assist him with his charge. No one will keep me from Alchera!” His face darkens. His eyes might as well have been chipped from the icebergs that I draw my blizzards from.

~*~

Luna~

Running seems like the best option. Standing on the border of the forest with the unknown stretching out before me, I feel more alone than ever and truly wish for Lucius or Rue to be here with me.

Something snaps behind me and I swing around in time to see Rue come through the lining of trees. He’s an answer to my prayers. “Rue!” I’ve never been so happy to see him, and this time I don’t care about the ‘no touching’ rule. I run to meet him and practically throw myself at him, making sure my hands only touch his clothes.

And it is worth it, because the moment his arms wrap around me I know everything is going to be fine. My friend is here. I’m not alone.

“Void was here!” It’s more an accusation than question on his part and I see the hurt reflected in his eyes. “You were about to leave without me?”
Another accusation
.

“I have to go. I have to get Alchera back.” Even if he is angry with me, I don’t move from his arms. I need the comfort of his chest for one more minute.

Suddenly a dark wave hits me and I blink furiously to clear the haze clouding my sight. When it finally clears, I find myself standing in Carter’s room. I can feel Alchera’s presence close by, and it maddens me to know Void has her. That fortress will now become her prison too.

From lessons and stories told to me as a child, I know Void’s fortress stands like a mighty beast against the backdrop of a sleeping volcano, constructed from its very rocks. Below the fortress run deep tunnels, littered with the tormented screams of those stuck in the pits. The tunnels lead to the belly of the dungeons – the gateway to the pits.

The fortress rises terrible and dark into the ominous tunneling clouds that swirl above it. I hear thunder rumbling in the distance, like a demon whispering of sufferings yet to come.

Movement draws my attention to where Carter stands. He’s angry with someone. I follow his enraged gaze to where the foulest creature I’ve ever seen lurks.

“My father has returned with her,” the creature says.
Father? This vile being is Void’s daughter?

My eyes drift over her dreadful appearance, from her cinder-covered head to the darkest depravity dwelling in her eyes. She reeks of death and burned flesh. How Carter can even stand to be around her is beyond my understanding.

“What do you want, Varia?” Carter snaps.

She laughs, and if at all possible, it sounds darker than Void’s laughter. “Tsk … tsk, do not forget who holds the power.” My eyes widen as she starts to transform into …. into Alchera? She can change form? I’ve never heard of someone who can do that and it makes me wonder what other dark powers she has.

“Your tricks are nothing more than foul ash. It will not work to come to me as Alchera anymore, now that I know she is here!” Carter lashes out at Varia and for a moment I fear for his safety.

What Carter says rattles me. He has been kept here by Varia and not Void? I don’t understand any of it.

“You may know she is here, but there is nothing you can do about it.” Varia’s voice slithers to him from across the room and instinctively I move closer to Carter. “She is here and you cannot see her, not touch her. How does it feel to be so powerless … so at my mercy?”

Carter turns his back to the creature and looks right at my stunned face.
Can he see me? If he can sense me can Varia, too?

Carter shakes his head once and then walks right through me. He punches a wall in desperate anger. My breathing explodes from my lungs. How did this happen? How did I end up here? Why am I watching this?

“Swear husbandship to me and I will give her to you.” Is that what Varia wants? She wants Carter, and she’ll give Alchera up for him? I can’t just stand here and do nothing. He needs to know I’m coming.

‘Do not do this Carter! I am coming to help.’
Carter turns his face slightly in my direction and I know in my heart of hearts he just heard me.

“You will really give her to me?” he asks. “You will let her come to me as she is, without causing her any harm?” He knows better than to trust the devil’s spawn!

“By day she will be yours and by night you will be mine. Make your choice now.”

Carter turns to Varia and I can already see his answer marked all over his face. “Anything! Bring her to me now.” It seems he will give his soul for Alchera.

I hang my head. I don’t even want to think what suffering is in store for both Carter and Alchera. I wish this flash would come to an end so I can continue on my way to the Shadowlands.

“As you wish.” Varia strolls over to him, and my heart clenches. “But first we need to seal it with a kiss.” She leans into him, remaining her awful self, and not transforming into Alchera as she did earlier. “Kiss me, Carter. Show me how thankful you are for my act of kindness.”

He swallows hard. I cover my mouth as if I can stop him from kissing her. The smell and look of her repulses me to my core. I can only imagine what he must feel like, but still he pushes through.

The smell of burning flesh fills the air as he touches her. My eyes are glued to the horrific sight of his hands on her shoulders. He leans in and presses his mouth to hers. His whole body tenses and I don’t even want to phantom the pain he must be in.

‘Let go, Carter! That is more than enough.’
I want to scream the words.

He seems to listen to me and breaks away, sparing me an awkward glance.

“Your burned flesh smells the sweetest yet. I will bring her to you now, but know my father is not finished with her.” Varia shimmers away without explaining herself further.

Carter paces the room, his eyes flitting to the door every so often.

‘You should not be here! Go now before she returns with Alchera.’
Carter suddenly snaps at me. It takes me a second to realize he’s talking to me.

‘You think I am here because I want to be?’
I snap back
. ‘I am stuck here as much as you. I would rather be running, so I can help Alchera, not hovering around like a worthless ghost.’

The fact that Carter can see me now is unnerving. I know what he is capable of and I have been taught to be wary of him. He turns towards me and I shrink back without thinking.

‘You are our hope? You are scared of me! How will you face Varia and Void?’
I blink with fear as Carter comes right at me. He looks as menacing as ever and I try my best to end this flash. He attempts to grab my arm but his hand goes straight through me. Thank Awo! Relief fills me to my very core.
‘What good will you be to Alchera? Varia and Void make me look like an angel in comparison, yet you stand here and fear me!’

Varia suddenly appears next to us with Alchera. The fear in Alchera’s eyes turns Carter into a raging animal, and I’m reminded why it is that I fear him so much.

Darkness starts to swirl around me. I wait to see Rue, but instead a wealth of emotions overwhelms me. I blink faster to clear the fogginess. My vision clear and I feel a searing pain, while my eyes are glued to Carter.

Oh no!
Alchera! I’m in Alchera? This can’t be good!

I don’t have time to contemplate this new predicament I find myself in. Carter is clearly not thinking straight at the sight of Alchera in Varia’s hands. He yanks Alchera to him, shimmering us to the corner of the room where he then crouches protectively over her.

I fight the dizzy feeling of the shimmering experience. That is definitely a first and hopefully the last!

“How delectable.” Varia’s laugh is a taunting one. “You make my mouth water at the sight of your rage. If only you will keep some for later, it will make for great excitement when I return.” With her laughter echoing through the room, she shimmers away.

“Alchera? Alchera! You came? Why did you come? You … why?” Carter lifts her face to his and panic fills me from head to toe. I can feel his touch as if he’s touching my chin. I’m stunned for a moment as I watch the fierce animal in his eyes vanish. He stares into Alchera’s eyes and then cocks his head to the side. His fingers skim gently over her jaw and my eyes widen at the soft, intimate touch.

Carter’s eyes glide further over her, and I remind myself that he is seeing Alchera, not me. Still … the look in his eyes causes my breath to catch. It is as if he is trying to drink in every drop of Alchera’s beauty.

“It is really you?” Relief wavers in his eyes as if he is still not sure. “I thought I would never see you again.” Alchera slips her arms around his neck and hugs him. I can feel her relief at finally seeing her dear friend.

I
must
get back to Rue now! I need to get to the Shadowlands so I can help them.

“I’m really here.” Alchera’s voice sounds so distant.

Before I can think anything else Carter frowns and then I hear him.
‘Do you really want to play this game with me, Luna?’
Carter’s voice is loud and clear in my head but to Alchera he says, “It feels as if Awo has blessed me with an angel. I never want to let you go. I have longed for you so, Alchera.”

I’m still too stunned to move.

Salty tears wet my lips for the first time and I know Alchera is crying for Carter. His eyes search her face.

“You cry because you are pleased I am alive? I am as powerless as you are here.” He sounds frustrated. I glance up into his dark blue eyes.

The air becomes charged with electricity and my heart skips a beat. I can’t feel Carter’s touch anymore and then I’m yanked back to my own body.

~*~

It is in a time of hardship and failure that one learns who their true friends are.

Storm~

Two hours! That is how long it takes us to get going. All because Raighne felt like he had to give me a rundown on how to handle Luna. Alright, I admit he has some valid points. Especially with the telepathic link now open between me and Luna. She’s going to freak out about that!

We’ve taken the only road Luna could possibly have taken to the Shadowlands. We’ve just entered the darkest part of the forest when a wave of fear suddenly hits me. I glare at Raighne. “She is scared! We need to move faster.”

“Close your eyes and focus on her. Try and see her surroundings.” He says it as if it’s something I’ve done my entire life.

I give Raighne a dumbfounded look. “See her surroundings?”

“Just do as I say, Storm!” he snaps. Raighne is just as anxious as I am, and this one time I do not go against him. I close my eyes and focus on the one being I am trying to find – my charge. It all happens too fast for me to get a firm hold on Luna’s mind. I only catch a glimpse of a luxurious room. I force myself to focus harder.

‘You cry because you are pleased I am alive? I am as powerless as you are here.’
The voice is as clear as if I was facing him myself. My heart almost stops. Carter?

‘Luna!’
I use everything I have to link us for our first telepathic attempt.
‘Let go of that man or I swear I will kill him myself.
’ I pour every drop of anger I can into my voice so she knows I mean what I say.

Silence follows my warning. I’m just about to think I’ve failed when a wealth of emotions floods me. I grab at my heart and I feel the sweat beading on my brow. I hate asking Raighne for anything, but this is something they never prepared us for in class!

“The emotions! How do I control them?” I can’t bring myself to look at Raighne. Asking him is already a bitter pill to swallow.

“Take a deep breath to begin with.” Raighne surprises me by sounding every bit the trainer I remember him to be. “You do not want to control the emotions. It is important for you to try and separate the one from the other. You need to try and find out what it is she is feeling. Is she in danger?”

I do my best to differentiate one feeling from the other. The desolate feelings bring tears to my eyes. Knowing Luna feels that way breaks my heart.

“Is she in danger?” Raighne is trying to be patient but I can hear the agitation building in his voice.

“Luna seems to be in control. I was just overwhelmed by all she feels.”

I turn in the direction we have to go. “I think it is best if we get going.”

“Yes, wasting time will not save lives.”

~*~

Luna~

The first thing I become aware of is a swaying motion. “I am going to be sick,” I mumble.

Like a sack of potatoes Rue flings me from his shoulder. He hardly gives me time to find my feet before he steps away from me. My glare vanishes when I look up into his scowling face.

“What? Why do you look so upset?” I apologize for the first thing I can think of. “I am sorry you had to carry me. I cannot help it when the flashes come over me.”

“That is what you choose to apologize for?” Rue’s voice is low. If he is trying to confuse me, he’s being very successful.

“Did I miss something? I pass out, pay a visit to the Shadowedland and when I come back you are acting like this?”

Rue spares me a dark glance that doesn’t sit well in my gut. What did I do? “Do I really have to drag every word out of you?”

Rue turns away from me and I huff, contemplating whether I should let his odd behavior slip.
Oh, I don’t think so!
I grab at his shoulder and force him back to me, my own look now matching his. “Tell me what is wrong with you!”

“You were going to leave without me!”

Our screams echo through the trees. We stare at each other for a moment before Rue repeats his words, softer this time. “You were going to leave without me. Does our friendship mean so little to you?”

“Of course not! You know you mean the world to me. I did not even think. Alchera is all I can think about.”

Rue huffs a frustrated breath, still scowling at me. I can’t help but sigh. Rue’s whole reaction is confusing the moonlight out of me.

I grab hold of my head when the familiar stabbing pain shoots through it. No, not again!

‘Luna, are you there?’
Alchera’s voice is weak with pain.

I bite back the tears as I whisper to her, “Alchera.”

‘You have to come, Luna. You’re the only hope I have now.’

Silence follows her plea and I feel the air tighten - a stiffness is pulling at the very particles surrounding us.

‘He’s coming,’
Alchera gasps.

“I will never leave you. I promise, Alchera.” The words barely leave my lips when the pain increases, almost taking me to the ground. I watch Rue take a step closer to me and a new fear settles over me. Void must not attack Rue!

‘It is so dark here, so dark it surpasses any blackness I’ve ever seen,’
Alchera whimpers. The silence stretches so long this time I’m just about to call out to Alchera when her voice comes to me, filled with utter fear.
‘Wait! I can see something stirring in the background. The shadows are like that of Azreal’s wings.’
I can taste the air getting thicker.
‘He’s here!’

“Alchera, who? Azreal? Hold on for me, I am coming to get you. I will not leave you!” I don’t wait for another word and set off as fast as I can. Rue will just have to catch up later but for now, Alchera is all that matters!

‘How touching. I have tears in my eyes. You race to try and save her. But, it will all be for nothing.’
He sounds every bit like the dark and vile creature he is.
‘I have to say, Alchera, you do make for great entertainment – you and Luna both. Come, Sweetling, it is time to convince Carter to join me. He seems to be fond of you.’

An eerie wind flutters through my mind and I stumble. I can’t catch myself and I fall, hitting the ground hard. Lying on the grass in the dark of the night I know I can’t leave Alchera even if my own fears are begging me to.

I can feel her fear. I can feel it prickling on my tongue. ‘
There’s something in the shadows! I’m scared, Luna.’

I wish I was already there. I roll over and get up again and I will repeat this motion a million times if I have to. I won’t stay down. Void will not win. “Alchera,” I breathe her name, my heart shattering for her. “I am here. I will not leave you. I am coming.”

‘I have a visitor for you, someone who would like to speak with you, Sweetling,”
Void sneers. This is just one big game to him!
‘Are you ready? He missed you so much. After all, he gave his life for you.’
Void’s words have a wicked teasing tone.

The air freezes around me, causing white puffs to come out as I exhale. “Storm … is that you?” I peer into the dark night. Behind me there’s only Rue, waiting to see what’s going to happen.

A warm breeze eases the chill in my mind.
‘Is what me? Where are you?’
Storm breezes into my mind with all of his usual attitude, and then some.
“What is happening over there?”

“How are you doing this?” I glance around looking for him.

‘Telepathically, Luna. Guardian and charge bond. Have you forgotten your lessons on Guardians and Charges so quickly?’

I don’t have time for Storm’s sarcastic reminder of him being my guardian of all things! “Get lost, Storm! I do not need you.”

I refuse to have this conversation telepathically, and with that said, I do my best to block him out. Now to focus on Alchera again.

“Storm can communicate with you?” Rue’s perplexed look breaks my concentration.

I’m starting to think I should’ve done this on my own.

“They made him my guardian and he is using that telepathic thing to get into my head.” It’s the one thing they teach us on a training camp once a bond is established, and now that it’s happened to me, I truly think their way of doing things are way off the mark. They should prepare us better.

‘My dearest, Alchera.’
My heart skips a beat when I hear the all too familiar voice in my head. A faint weeping in the deepest parts of my soul tells me a different story and a horrible feeling tugs at my gut. This is Void manipulating her mind!

“No, Alchera, it is not real!” The whisper hurries from my lips, as if I can stop the vision from happening. “Do not listen to him. Close your eyes!”

I did not expect Void to use this form of attack! This is so cruel.

‘It can’t be,’
Alchera’s voice cracks as she must be looking at her deceased father
. ‘Daddy?’
I can hear all the guilt and shame Alchera has been carrying in her heart with that one word.

‘Yes, Daddy,’
his voice is soaked in venom as he goads her. ‘
You sent me to my death! You, my own daughter.’
The venom spreads, numbing our minds with a cold and desolate throbbing.

I have to try and convince her otherwise! This is Void trying to break her. “Alchera, do not listen to him. He is not real. It is not your father!” Alchera’s pain fills my heart and the weeping deep within me escalates which only makes it all worse. “It is not your father. Please focus on my voice.” Alchera still doesn’t listen, and in frustration I grab fistfuls of my hair in my hands.

‘I didn’t. I begged you to stay.’
I can feel her defenses weakening. She doesn’t believe in her own words. How can she blame herself for King Eryon’s death?

“Please, do not speak to him. He is not King Eryon. Please stop, I beg you, Alchera.” My whole body trembles with the emotions swamping me from both Alchera and her father weeping in the back of my mind for the suffering his daughter has to endure. It’s all too much.

I force myself up and feeding off the rage inside me, I speed through the night to get to Alchera, while wiping angrily at my cheeks as the tears keep flowing.

‘You could have asked Michael any question! Any question!’
the illusion of Void screams.
‘But instead you asked him to save a human’s animals. You chose animals over me, your own father. How could you do that to me, Alchera?
’ The smell of death fills the air and it urges me to run even faster.

“Please close your eyes. He is just a twisted illusion,” I whisper the words desperately to Alchera, but I can feel I’m not getting through to her. It’s like I’m talking to a wall. “I am coming for you. I will come for you.” I whisper to her anyway, hoping she will hear me.

‘
I didn’t know. I didn’t know I could ask. If I had known, I would have begged for your life. It was unfair what they had done to you, to us. Part of my soul died that day, Daddy. I still mourn for you.’
Alchera begs for forgiveness, her agony clear in every word.

‘You killed me, Alchera. You murdered me. You, my own daughter, might just as well have taken that blade and stabbed me through the heart yourself.’

‘No, don’t say that! You don’t mean that.’
Alchera’s cry is a hopeless one, as empty as the merciless land she now finds herself in.

My mind feels as if it’s being squeezed and stretched at the same time. On the one side King Eryon is desperately trying to get through, and on the other is Alchera, who is suffering at the hands of the manifestation Void created. If only I had known how she blamed herself all this time.

‘I will never forgive you for what you have done to me, Alchera. You are no daughter of mine.’
The harsh words fall hard on Alchera. I can feel her heart breaking.

“No!” The word explodes from my parched lips on behalf of Alchera. “Stop this madness!”

‘I do not love you.’
He says it with such egotism, as if he is a Lord looking down upon a banished servant, and then he fades back into the shadows.

‘Nooo! No, Daddy! Please, don’t leave. Don’t say that. You can’t leave me saying that.’
Alchera’s cries lash at my worn mind and broken heart.
‘Come back, you can’t leave me like this.’

“I am so sorry, Alchera, it was just an illusion.” My chest feels raw from all the heaving and running, but still I push onward.

“Oh my, that was truly an amazing performance. I am glad I brought you into the equation, my Moonflower. You are quite the dramatic one.”
Void’s voice crawls through my weaker state of mind, followed by a slow applause vibrating through me. My body shivers in response.

“It was not a performance, you sick bastard!” Gone is everything I’ve ever been taught about being proper and staying in control. I just want to rip the monster to shreds!

“Who knew if I brought her father to her that I would have such a display of emotion? Tsk, tsk. Such a pity she is to blame for his death. That a daughter could kill her own father. You barely had time to get to know him, did you not, my Sweetling? Tragic, that is what this is.”

“Stop it!” I scream. “It is all lies. Do not listen to him, Alchera. It is all a sick trickery.”

I stop when my legs won’t go anymore, my chest burning something fierce.

‘I didn’t … I,’
Alchera stammers.
‘It was an accident. I was tricked.’
Alchera’s voice sounds emptier than ever in my mind.