The Land Of Shadows (2 page)

Misjudging my steps, I walk into the breakfast counter. At least the kitchen is on the other side of the counter. Not far to go now. I feel my way around the counter, and into the kitchen. I open the faucets and then search for a bucket. Finding one by the backdoor, I fill it to the brim with water. I take a second to rinse my face and it clears my vision somewhat. Now to find Storm. I head back in the direction where the heat is most intense.

“You are mesmerizing, Love.” My head snaps up at the sound of his voice, not so sure I want to help him anymore. I’d rather kill him myself for saying that. My heart wars between anger and sadness. I miss our friendship. I long for the future we could’ve had together and it makes me both sad and angry. I shouldn’t long for something that can never be!

I’m still contemplating his demise when flames erupt a few feet from me.

“Love-” Hearing him repeat the endearment he used to call me, only makes my temper match the heat of the flames. I find Storm lying on the couch and without a second thought I turn the bucket of water over on him. That should put out his fire!

“Would you stop saying that and wake up before you burn your own house down!” I step back as Storm bolts up from the couch. Whether it is from the cold water or shock of seeing me in his house, I don’t know. He wipes his face with his hands before fixing his ice-blue eyes on me.

“Luna?” Well, he certainly looks surprised to see me.

“No, it is the Sandman.” For the life of me I can’t hold back my sarcasm, not when I find myself in his presence.

He glances at the black spot on the couch where he was only a few seconds ago. He pulls at the tattered piece of material sticking to his chest. There’s not much left of his clothes. Charred, smoldering fabric now barely covers his body. My eyes start to wander down the length of his muscled body, and I can’t help drink it all in. I get stuck on his abs. When my eyes drop lower, I sigh with relief. Luckily all the important parts are still covered.

I feel his eyes on me and in the midst of me trying to do a good thing I’ve gone and managed to embarrass myself by gawking at Storm’s half-naked form. I quickly look back to the black spot on the couch, but it’s too late. I know I have to get out of his house and fast.

“What are you doing here?” He asks and takes a step towards me.

I scowl at him. The ungrateful … oh! I’m going to scream if I stay any longer!

“Really?” I’m thoroughly annoyed. “I am saving your backside! That is what I am doing here. But it seems I should have left you to roast a little longer.” I drop the bucket on the floor and head for the door. Seeing Storm in almost all his naked glory is too much for me.

“Wait! That was uncalled for,” the words rush from him. He moves fast toward me. I didn’t anticipate Storm’s sudden movement and I barely manage to side-step him. I hold up my hands in warning. The only time we touch is when we battle as opponents on the training field. Then I’m at least fully covered in a long sleeve shirt. We never touch skin to skin, not since that stupid electrifying kiss.

“Thank you for helping.” He says quickly, and all the emotion drains from his face, leaving me with the expressionless face I’m more comfortable with. It’s the face that’s always in the back of my mind – a harsh face, with ice for eyes. It always feels like he’s only a breath away from snapping my neck. I shake my head lightly to clear my thoughts. His moment of weakness is gone and that’s good. We can’t have moments of weakness between us.

“I thought you lost your talents.” I have to ask before I leave.

“Well obviously, I have not. It is late, you should go home.” It’s Storm’s turn to be curt.

With a sharp nod I turn and disappear out the door and into the night. I’m growing stronger with each passing night and I’m sure I surprised Storm with my speed back there. I must be more careful though. Storm likes to ask questions and I don’t want to give him food for thought. He might be my trainer but that’s where it ends. We have grown so far apart in the past seven years that we have practically become strangers.

I suppress a bitter laugh bubbling up. Actually, I’m the one who has become a stranger to the whole village. It’s not like I have much of a choice. I have to walk the path that’s been set out before me.

On my eighteenth birthday, Alder explained my destiny to me. He told me Void and Carter need to be destroyed. The choice of who would be given the destiny was between Lucius and me. There was no way I was going to let my brother face them. I took the destiny of ending Void and Carter’s reign, whereas Lucius got the destiny to become a guardian for Elita, who will follow up Aster as High Priestess.

Where Void and Carter are filled with shadows, we have the light to fight them. Lucius could use his power over the sun and I could use my power over the moon. I love my twin too much to condemn him. It was an easy decision to make.

I’ve been training hard every night, keeping my strengths and weaknesses a secret from everyone, everyone but Alder and Lucius.

I slow my pace as I enter the heart of the village. My silver moon hangs low in the sky, offering me the strength I need after my little run-in with Storm. It hurts more and more every time I see him. The guilt seems to double up on the days he doesn’t try to bite my head off.

A cry pierces the night. Spending my nights training, I’ve grown used to hearing the villagers’ cries. Alchera has been tormented by nightmares since the destruction of Earth, and as hers worsen, the villagers suffer under the strain of their own restless dreams. Things were supposed to get better on Vaalbara after so much was sacrificed for the ‘Chosen Ten’. It didn’t and now Alchera is only getting worse with every passing night.

I pass my house and stop in front of Alchera’s. Every night I come to her house and wait. Any second now it will be her turn to scream. It has become such a routine the humans can set their watches by her. I’ve been keeping a close eye on her for the longest time. She will try to stay awake but in the end exhaustion always wins.

I glance up at the Celestial full moon. It’s one of my special moons and only comes once a year. I have heard rumors that Awo walks among us on this night. How true it is? Well … I’ll find out soon enough.

I drop to my knees in front of Alchera and Raighne’s house. It’s time. All my other prayers have gone unheard, or maybe they’re just going unanswered. Tonight is my only hope.

“Awo, please hear my prayer,” I start to beg. Please ease Alchera’s suffering. Take these dreams from her.” I’ve just started praying when Alchera’s first scream echoes through the night. It urges me on, making me feel more determined than ever. “Hear me, Father! I will do anything,
anything
you ask of me! I will give my life for hers …”

I let my words trail off for an instant thinking about what I just said. I mean it with all of my heart. If I take her nightmares from her, Void might set his sights on me, instead of Alchera. I need to draw him out. “
I will!
I will trade places with Alchera in a heartbeat. Please ease her suffering and save her from Void’s attacks. Allow me to complete my destiny. Allow me to take her burden from her.” When another cry sounds through the night, I look to my moon and whisper with all the essence I have in my soul, “Please pass her suffering to me … ease her pain.”

Nothing happens. Anger wells hot in my chest and I yell into the night, “She does not deserve this!”

I stumble to my feet and my heart aches with despair for Alchera. I can’t stop the anger from bubbling to the surface. I dig my nails into the soft flesh of my palms.

“She has done everything you have asked of her!” That small and annoying voice deep inside of me cautions me to back off, not too push this too far. No one dares to speak to Awo in such a manner. I growl as my anger wins. “She is innocent. Let me fight for her. Let me carry her burden.
Please!
What is the use of me having a destiny if you keep it from me?” Breathless, I stand with only my consuming rage as the answer for my prayer.

From out of nowhere a blast knocks me backwards. I try to twist my body so I can land on my feet, but instead end up slamming my shoulder into the cobblestone road. My head spins and all I see is a rainbow of colors before there is only darkness.

“You want to share in Alchera’s pain?” I recognize Alder’s voice and try to force my eyes open again, but they won’t obey me. Small pebbles press hard into the side of my face. The taste of copper fills my mouth. “Do you really want to take the shadows that eat away at her and carry that burden? Are you ready to fulfill your destiny?”

I try to open my mouth but it’s as if my lips have been sewn together.

“Answer me!” Alder’s voice thunders through the dark.

I growl and force the word though my lips, “Yes!” I try to move again, only to be pressed harder into the road just outside my house. My muscles start to scream with pain, but I won’t give up so easily. This could be Alder testing me and I need to show him I’m ready. “I’ve waited seven years! Let me fulfil my destiny.”

“Then so be it.” I wait for the pressure to lift … for anything to happen. An icy wind whips my across my face. There’s a soft whisper by my ear, sending chills down my spine, “The path of the good is paved with loneliness, child. Remember what I told you, you will give everything and receive nothing in return. You will be selfless to the selfish. The village will cast you out.”

My breath sticks in my throat at remembering all I will have to sacrifice for my destiny. I am already a stranger in my own village. I’ve already given up my dreams. Sacrificing my life for Alchera’s is all that’s left for me to do. After all, what is a life without dreams and acceptance?

I can feel the pressure lift from my back and then flashes of the Weeping Forest and the Shifting Mountains flood my mind before I see the terrible Shadowlands.

Breathless, I turn around only to find that I’m alone. It’s only me and the breaking dawn. My moon will be gone soon. Wearily, I get up. I stumble towards my house, needing desperately to get to my bedroom. My shoulder aches fiercely and patches of my skin burns from the hard fall. I try to draw energy from the moon, just so I can get to bed. Dizziness overwhelms me and I stumble.

I’m unable to heal myself and my moon is still visible? How is this possible?

My bed, I have to make it to my bed! Now there’s a joke. I don’t sleep much anymore, not since my talent came into full effect seven years ago. My head is spinning horribly and there’s a weird numbness in my limbs. I glance up at my moon and my vision blurs.

I’m growing weaker and I don’t understand why. Why can’t I draw any energy from the moon?

A murky shadow stirs to my right as I stagger onto the porch. I try to swing into a fighting stance, but I only manage to lose my balance and end up falling backwards against the front door. I can’t believe how helpless I’m feeling right now! Even Elita could beat me in a fight.

The shadow stirs again and I know better than to just stand around and be an easy target. The shadow lurches at me and I let out a shriek of surprise. My heart starts to pound in my ears, drowning out the surrounding sounds of the village waking up. Claws fill my vision and I bring my hands up in defense. Nothing can touch my skin without being electrocuted. It’s my only protection at such a close distance.

An icy and empty feeling sweeps through me as soon as the shadow makes contact, and then it screeches. Its scrawny fingers grab at my clothes instead. My light is too strong for it and must be hurting the shadow. As the light of the moon pulsing through me beats back the shadow, I feel a surge of relief wash over me. The relief is short lived as a mind-numbing pain shoots through my skull.

I grab at my head, as I try to make sense of the hollow voice booming in my mind. ‘
Come to me, Alchera. You belong with me!
’

I hear Alchera scream, but I can’t go to her as a searing pain tears through my mind.

“Void!” Hate and vengeance for the monster torturing Alchera fills my heart to the brim, until I feel like I am incapable of feeling anything else.

The front door opens suddenly and I tumble into the bright light of our living room. “Luna!” I can barely make out Lucius, but I’m relieved it’s my twin and not my parents. I don’t need their worried doting right now.

“Bed … Lucius.” I manage to whisper the two words just before I fall into a world of dreams and pain.

~*~

Dreams come at night and speak of your desires and fears.

You can’t run from them.

You can’t hide from them.

Dreams weave your fantasies into existence, and sometimes lead you down the road to insanity.

Luna~

His screams cut through my mind and all I can do is press my head deeper into the pillow. What I first thought were dreams have turned out to be constant flashes. It’s as if I’m jumping from one person’s head to another, or should I say from Alchera’s to someone else whose identity I don’t know yet.

This other person … this man, I don’t know if I should focus more on him or hide from his pain. In all honesty, Alchera’s pain is more than enough. I don’t need another’s added on my shoulders. But I know it is of Alchera he thinks, and no matter how he tries to banish her from his thoughts, she still manages to dominate his dreams. He might be able to help me save her and it’s for that reason alone I probe deeper into his shadowed mind.

Flashes of a man gripping his sweat-soaked hair with trembling hands fill my mind. When I feel the shadows swamp his mind with their barren darkness, I grab my own hair to keep myself from joining in his screams.

It’s as if the darkness, the very unknown mocks him. I can smell his blood and taste his fear. It might as well be my very own. I don’t see any wounds on the man’s powerfully built body. If only he will turn so I can see his face!

He moves to stand by the window. A deep, wounded growl escapes his chest. He presses his face against the iron bars covering the window. It’s the first time I notice them. The room is decorated elegantly with fine linen and leather sofas. The bars are in stark contrast with the elegance of the room. It looks like a gilded cage, and by the way he grips the bars I think my guess is right. It looks like something is haunting him. I just wish I knew what it was.

“I’m so sorry I failed you.” I zero in on his pitiful words and hold my breath as sobs shake his large frame.

There is something so familiar about him … if only I could see more of him.

His breaths grow faster until they are nothing but ragged gasps. “I tried so hard,” he cries, “but I fell even harder … and so very fast. The shadows … they are everywhere!” Then he turns away from the bars and I look into his eyes, wild with a mixture of fear and rage.

When I recognize him, horror swamps me. I want to escape from these flashes before he sees me, but I’m held captive by his pain. I can only stand helplessly and watch. I’m sure my fear is about to make my heart leap from my chest. I can’t fight him like this!

“It grabbed me from every side. But, I swear I tried!” He falls to his knees. My heart is beating uncontrollably, scared that he will sense me at any moment.

“Awo … why?” His face distorts as if he is enduring physical pain. I want to leave this place - his mind, far behind.

He claws at his shirt as if he’s trying to ease the pain in his chest. I can feel it, because that same pain is building in my chest, threatening to choke me.

Is this how he tricks his prey? The thought hardly has time to take root when he cries out again. “I would have given my life for this world had you only asked it of me!”

I’m left feeling confused at his words. He’s the last person who will do anything for Vaalbara, or so I thought.

I watch as the all too familiar rage sweeps through him like a hot flash. I know anger. I know how he feels, but I caution myself not to trust his words.

“But instead you sent me with only false illusions! You set me up to fail!” He flinches and for a moment I pity him. I actually pity the monster in front of me.

“We deserved better!” I watch him scream his misery into the swirling darkness outside the window. He drops to his hands and knees, his spit and tears falling onto the cracked, cold cement. “How could you allow this to happen to us?”

Lifting his head it feels as if he’s looking right at me, but it can’t be. He can’t know I’m here! Hatred starts a slow burn in his eyes that are filled with remorse and the guilt. The hideous evils he has seen and done must be weighing heavy on him. He glares back into the nothingness lying beyond this cage.

“She was only eighteen!” Is he talking about Alchera? “How could it be allowed for her to suffer like that at my hands? I was an animal, a beast set loose on her fragile body!”

He sounds haunted. Raw sorrow is thick in every word. Sobs wrack his body.

“She will never forgive me.” His head drops forward, as if he has given up. “Can you forgive me, Awo? I keep saying I was forced but I should have fought harder! There was no excuse for my brutality.” A new wave of tears engulfs him and he weeps as though he is mourning the loss of something precious to his soul.

For minutes I watch him sobbing, until he lies tired and drained on the floor, staring at the metal door that completes his gilded cage.

“How has it come to this?” A sigh shudders through him. “Why, after all these years of torture and only a few days of freedom, has it come to this? Is this truly my new life? Am I cursed forever to be crushed under your feet like a vile snake?” Grinding his teeth, he forces out the questions that leaves me breathless. “Will I forever pay for the sins of my parents? Why should I be the one to be cast out?”

I try to wake but I’m left to drift between flashes of the Shadowland, and of Carter, begging for forgiveness he will never receive.

~*~

Storm~

I am normally a patient man. Especially if you compare me to Raighne, who of late has been walking around like a predator stalking his prey. I truly pity the soul who dares to cross paths with him. It can’t be easy to watch your wife fade away in front of your eyes and know there’s nothing you can do to save her.

Getting back to the part about me being a patient man … I can only last so long then I’m all thunder and lightning. I’m about to rain on Luna’s parade. No one skips training with me three days in a row without a valid excuse.

So we had that little run in. She better get over it fast and get back to training. I have never set foot in Luna’s home, but today will be a time for firsts.

I straighten my shoulders and knock once. Luckily, I only have to wait a few seconds before the front door swings opens. The hostility I expected is nowhere to be found on Lorcan’s face. Luna’s father smiles as he steps aside to let me in. “Storm, what a surprise. Please, come inside.”

I smile back at him as I step inside the modest furnished house. Who would have thought a farmer and a baker would become parents of the most powerful twins on Vaalbara. “Peace be with you, Lorcan.”

“Peace be with you.” He looks at me with a questioning gaze.

Now that the formalities are out of the way, I take the opportunity to glance around the house Luna calls home. The house that greets me is in stark contrast with Luna. It’s warm and smells of flowers and freshly baked bread. It’s as close to a family home as you can get. I can’t keep the scowl from settling on my face. Why would Luna be such a difficult person, if she comes from a home like this? What happened to her that she changed into the bitter person she has become?

“I have come to hear about Luna,” I get right to the point.

Lorcan is a large man and one of King Evan’s finest landsmen. He knows how to turn any piece of dirt into healthy farmland. When he shows me to the nearest chair, I take a seat.

“What about Luna?” Lorcan shifts in his chair, looking uneasy. I don’t buy into his act for one minute. He’s an honest man and doesn’t carry a lie well. He’s definitely hiding something.

“She has missed three days of training. Is she not well?” For Luna to miss training she would have to be half-dead. I take in every movement Lorcan makes.

“No … all is well-”

Before he can lie to me again I put him on the spot. “Lucius seems to be avoiding me on the training field at all cost.”

Lorcan nervously glances toward the ceiling.
Is she up there listening?

“Is Luna here? Can I have a word with her?” I try to keep my tone as pleasant as possible.

Panic flits across Lorcan’s face. “No!” The response comes far too fast. “I have to get back to the lands, Storm, and I am sure you have other trainees to attend to. Luna has just gone away for a little while, but she will be back soon.”

Does he really expect me to believe that?
Nonetheless, I stand and walk with him to the door. “Thank you for seeing me, Lorcan.”

A cry sounds through the house. I glance at the ceiling for a split-second before I run for the stairs. By the time Lorcan realizes I’ve moved I’ve managed to make my way up to the second floor. Only Lucius can prove to be a problem for me, if he is even here.

I keep going from room to room until I stand before the one at the end of the hall. As I reach for the doorknob I notice the slight tremor in my hand. Pushing the door open, the first thing I see is Luna’s mom, Sage. She turns from the window as I enter and the blatant signs of fatigue tell me she hasn’t left Luna’s room for a while.

“If Lucius finds you here there will only be trouble! It is best you go, Storm.” Sage sounds as tired as she looks, but I’m not about to make this easy for any of them. Concern for Luna is urging me forward.

“As her trainer she is my responsibility,” I remind her before I finally allow myself to look at the bed. My heart clenches at the sight of Luna. I’m used to seeing a cold hearted woman with steel in her silver eyes, not this quivering, curled up ball that is clenching her pillow as if it will save her from whatever demon she has been facing the past seven years. It seems the demon has finally caught up with her and it’s beating her down.

I rush to her side and the closer I get the more worried I become. Her hair is soaked and matted against her face. No matter this constant fighting between us, what I said is true, she is my responsibility. I pull a chair closer and rinse the cloth out next to her bed so I can wipe her face down.

“You cannot stay, Storm! You have to leave.” There is a clear note of panic in Sage’s voice, and again I choose to ignore her warning. I’ll deal with Lucius when he gets here.

“Like I told Lorcan, she is my trainee and the law states I have rule over her until she graduates.” I keep my eyes on Luna as I fear Sage might see how I’m struggling to control myself. This constant interference as if I will hurt Luna when I have never done anything wrong to her, eats at my heart.

Sage bites back, “Let me at least dress her.”

I frown at this, but get up and turn my back to them. Seconds later, Sage’s hand rests on my shoulder. “Storm, you know she will only hate you more for this.”

I watch Sage leave, knowing she is right, but that too is something I will simply have to deal with later. Turning back to Luna I can only shake my head. Sage has dressed her in one of those awful long sleeves again. Luna is already burning hot! For the life of me I will never understand why they insist on this ridiculous wardrobe for her.

I reach for the cloth again and move it gently over Luna’s face. Her lips are moving but no words are coming out. She seems to be suffering from a nightmare. We’ve all been having them, but I have never seen someone struggle with one this badly before.

My fingers brush her skin as I keep wiping her down, and I feel sparks shoot up my arm. I’m shocked at the strength I feel coming from her. The last time I got to touch her was years ago, I don’t remember her talent being this strong. She’s been hiding it from me, and that’s upsetting. I remember how fast she moved after leaving my place the other night. She’s definitely been holding back at training.

“Luna?” I can kick myself for not asking Sage or Lorcan what happened to Luna. I can only hope it’s not something to do with her talent being so strong, and that it will work out of her system soon.

“Love.” If anything, that one word will get her attention. She will come back from whatever darkness she is in simply to kill me for calling her that.

Clinging to her pillow, she pinches her eyes tighter. She’s either in a bad place or dreaming about taking me down. I’d rather have her dreaming about killing me than have her suffer.

Time is not your friend when you don’t have any answers for the questions mulling over in your head. It feels like days have come and gone after only hours of sitting next to Luna’s bed, never taking my eyes off her. I’ve done just about everything to restrain myself from sweeping her up in my arms and cradling her against me.

“What are you doing here?” Lucius rushes into the room, a look of anger brewing in his eyes.

I get up and stretch my sore body. At least now I’ll get some answers.

“You should have advised me that she has taken ill,” I scold Lucius.

I know he is overly protective of Luna but Lucius still knows his place when it comes to respecting a trainer. I hate imposing my will, but it’s Luna we’re talking about.

“It has nothing to do with you,” He bites the words out.

The poor boy. I can see he’s torn between his duty as trainee and future guardian, and his loyalty to his twin.

“Now, Lucius, you know that is not true. We do not want to get Raighne and Queen Alandra involved in this.” Just mentioning his trainer and Alandra should be enough. No one wants Raighne sniffing around here, not to mention having to answer a million questions from Alandra. Since Alandra took control of all the guardians we’ve been doing well, but she rules us with a firm hand.

“She needs to rest, Storm. She just pushed herself too hard.”