The Land Of Shadows (20 page)

“But that is all it remained, little moonflower … a dream.” Void hisses the words at me.

This is all a dream! How do I kill him if this is all it is? How do I kill him in a dream?

~*~

Storm~

I wake up with a start. That was the worst dream I’ve ever had!

I need to see for myself that the twins are all right. I can’t get the image of Lucius dying out of my mind! Feeling sick in the pit of my stomach I run to the other side of the village, not caring what Lorcan might think of my untimely visit. Can it be that Luna left my house only a few hours ago? I’m surprised to see their front door open as I approach, and when I hear Raighne’s voice the foreboding feeling the dream has left increases.

I step into the house. “What is going on here?” I look to Raighne for answers. It really feels as if the dream has washed away the animosity between us, as if we really went to hell and back together.

“You had the same dream or else you wouldn’t be here. All of us returned … everyone but Luna and Lucius. They are still asleep.”

I stare at Raighne, not comprehending. “But it was just a dream. Dreams do not hurt.”

The look on Raighne’s face tells me I’m very wrong.

“No! Not Lucius!” I sprint up the stairs and freeze when I see Lorcan standing in the doorway at the end of the passage. He looks stricken … lost.

“Lorcan?” I want him to tell me different but his eyes are drowning in sorrow. The walk to the room feels endlessly long. It feels as if I’m walking on some sort of sponge and it’s sucking the life out of me. When I enter the room my heart stops. Sage is on the floor holding Lucius’ lifeless body in her arms. It is the most heartbreaking sight I have ever seen. No parent should have to hold their child’s body in death.

“Sage, I am so sorry,” I whisper, feeling the full horror of the moment.

“Storm! Save Luna! She is not waking up. You cannot leave her there to face that monster. Bring my child back!”

Luna is on the bed just like she was in my dream when I came to check on her. It feels like I’m having a déjà vu moment, only this time I know what’s happening to Luna. The first thing I do is remove the long sleeve shirt. I take her in my arms and, holding her tight, I give her every bit of my energy I possibly can to help her fight whatever battle still rages.

~*~

Luna~

Warmth spreads through me and I know it from Storm, I can smell him in this black hole I’ve been sucked into.

“How dear of your love, still trying to save you from afar. I will still overshadow your light no matter what meager energy he tries to pass your way. With Lucius dead, your true link is gone, and there is nothing you can do.”

It is only a dream, a great deception by Void. Lucius is well and alive at home.

“No, he is not,” Void answers my thoughts. “Well, he is at home, but far from alive. Ah, I think it best I show you.”

I experience the same wobbling effect as before, as if I’m about to fall.

“I have you, Love.” Storm’s arms are around me. I’m safe. I won’t fall.

When I look into his icy eyes, I know it wasn’t
just
a dream.

~*~

Storm~

I can’t believe it when she wakes up. Her eyes search mine with a dying hope I wish I can rekindle.

“No! He is not!” she screams and rips herself from my arms. I wish I could protect her from the pain of losing Lucius.

Luna rushes to Lucius’ side, her face grief stricken. “No!” she cries out, her voice raw with sorrow. “No, no, no, no, not my Lucius.”

When she crawls over him I know what her intention is. Luna starts to glow as she gives her energy to Lucius.

“Luna, it has been a while now. I do not-”

She glares at me, a wild look in her eyes. “Do not dare say it!”

“Did you need to say goodbye to him?” Void’s mocking voice sounds darkly through the house. “You only need to look into my eyes. Your beloved brother is right here.”

Luna stiffens and glares out the window. I can see her rage building.

“Let me look into your eyes then,” she whispers. Luna slowly rises from the floor and walks over to her window. I follow her gaze as she spares a glance at her waxing moon. Then her head snaps down like a predator’s that has just spotted its next meal. Glass shatters, and with stunned amazement I watch Luna catapult her body from the window over to Raighne’s roof where the menacing figure of Void awaits her.

Adrenaline shoots through my veins and I follow Luna in much the same manner. There is no way I’m standing on the sidelines this time!

I land a few feet behind Luna and struggle for balance on the steep tiles. Luna’s grief seems to have her more focused on killing Void than ever. She doesn’t have any difficulties in keeping her balance as she faces her brother’s killer.

“I can give him back to you.”

“Why do that if I can have the pleasure of killing you and join him at the same time!”

Luna rushes forward and tackles Void to my utter horror. The noise of crashing tiles as they slide down the roof strikes fear into my very heart! I struggle down, trying my best to not bring more tiles down on her.

As I jump to the ground I bounce off a wraithlike force field. I can’t turn to land on my feet. The cobblestones are not the softest landing I’ve ever had and truth be told it hurts like hell. An energy blasts over me, pressing me hard into the floor and it takes all my strength to just roll to my side so I can see what is happening.

Luna colors the night electric blue with energy coming off her skin in waves. Void strikes back with a surge of his own and the force of the two colliding blasts causes the front of Raighne’s house to be blown away. I cover my head as debris rains down all over us, and when I dare to look again Void breaks through Luna’s light and seizes her by the neck. My heart pounds cold when he lifts her high and I fear he might throw her like he did in the dream.

“Join me, my moonflower. We will make such an unconquerable team. Come with me and I will let everyone you hold so dear live their lives in peace.”

Void lifts Luna higher still and she grabs hold of his arm with both hands. I try to lift myself off the ground but it feels as if I’m being sucked into the cobblestones.

“I will go with you, Void. I will go with you to the pits!” Luna screams piercingly and doesn’t stop.

Light pours forth from her mouth and eyes. It looks like the moon itself is bursting through her!

“Luna!” My scream is drowned out by her own.

My heartbeat slows as anguish fills me. This cannot be happening! I push hard against the stones but still all my efforts are futile in the battle between shadow and light.

Luna screams louder and hope ignites within me when Void drops down. Shadows pour forth from his mouth and form a dark swirling cloud above them. She might beat him yet!

The electric blue of the night starts to fade into a softer yellow and I finally get to push up from the stones. Not wasting any time, I run to them so I can lend Luna my energy and help her. A few feet away from her I slam hard into an unseen wall.

“Raighne!” I glare at him where he’s standing only a few feet away. “No! Let me help her!” I can’t believe he is keeping me back.

“This is her battle and hers alone. You cannot help her, Storm.”

My eyes dart from Raighne’s adamant face to Luna’s fading light.

“You cannot do this! She will die.”

My whole being is thrown into disarray as the thought of Luna dying sinks in. I can’t lose her! My heart explodes from my chest as an unholy pain fills me when Luna grabs Void’s head and pulls him in. The shadows churning above them pour down on her, and as her final ray of light fills Void’s mouth, the shadows envelope Luna in their grasp.

Silence. Silence falls around us as both Luna and Void collapse to the floor.

“Nooo!”

Raighne pulls back and I rush to Luna … a breathless, lifeless Luna.

‘
Awo, please, do not let this be the end.’

~*~

One foot in Hell, one in Heaven, but there will always be a devil.

Storm~

I only stop when I blow through Alder’s front door. Hail and debris fall everywhere announcing me to the Elder who didn’t even come to see his own brother and Luna die. I walk right by the stunned man I want to kill, and place Luna’s body gently on the bed. Alder is still standing in the same place. I grab him by his shoulder and spare him no respect for his age, shoving him into the room until he is leaning over my beloved.

“Look what you have done!” I shove him closer still. “Happiness should flow through your very veins knowing you are responsible for her death, and Lucius’ too!”

The heartless man tries to rise but I don’t let him.

“It was her destiny. The whole village was well aware of it. We will all mourn her passing and Lucius, his death is a shock for everyone. You have to understand! I had to think of the village. Her life was no less significant than anyone in this village, but it is a whole village, Storm! Our people!”

“The only one I care for is dead!” I throw him over Luna, my breathing ragged as I struggle to keep control over my anger. “There will be no peace for your people now, old man. Do to Luna what you did to me all those years back. Keep her body alive until I can find a way to bring her back, or so help me, I will bring destruction to all you hold dear!”

“You cannot bring her back, even if the possibility exists! She took every dark shadow with her. She will not be the same.”

I can hear the utter fear in his voice and it makes me cringe to think what she is still battling in the afterlife!

“All the more reason to bring her back. I will not leave her there to suffer that kind of horror. Wake her, Alder!” I hiss at him and thunder rumbles over the house. “I do not care whether I die. Just know that if you do not do as I ask, I will take you and this whole village with me.”

“Everyone will want to have an honorable burial for her, Storm. They will come and seek us out.” I shove Alder hard, causing him to fall over Luna. I will not believe she is gone.

“No one will take her from me. I will kill every Vaalbarian who tries.” I take Alder’s hand and place it over Luna’s still heart. “Wake her, or join her – everyone joins her!”

“Forgive me for what I am about to do, Awo. There will be no resting place for this child’s soul.”

To want forgiveness you must have a soul, and I do not believe for one moment this village harbors such a thing. Alder’s eyes gleams yellow as he kisses her forehead and whispers softly in a language I don’t understand.

Anxious minutes go by before the impossible breath passes through Luna’s lips. I want to lunge forward, but Alder motions for me to wait. Alder’s voice grows more persistent as he utters the last word to give Luna’s body existence.

“
Spiritis
!” Luna’s body takes another breath into her lungs.

“Leave us! I no longer need you.”

All I care for is to reach Luna in some way. I wrap her cold body up in blankets and hold her close. Hours or days pass by, I don’t keep track. I don’t let go of Luna. I send what energy I can into her unresponsive body. I talk. I weep. I even beg. No one seems to be listening.

Rue comes into the room and I glare at him. I will kill him without thinking, but he surprises me when he says, “My life for hers.”

“Is it not too late?” I can’t fight off the hope stirring in my frozen heart. The house shudders under the intensity of my unleashed emotions.

“I have thought on this. Today I buried my friend and I will not lay Luna beside him.”

We might’ve had our differences, but it was only because of Luna. We now share one common goal, to bring her back, which is not an ability I have.

“What do you want me to do?” My voice cracks, knowing this boy will give for Luna what I so badly want to give.

“Tell her I love her. Tell her to watch her temper.” He tries to make a joke as he lies down on the bed. I lay her beside him, and whether it makes me less of a man, I do not care. I don’t stop the tears for this brave boy I now respect.

“Go in peace, Rue. I will hold you in the highest regard for all time, without end.” My voice cracks at the end and I take a step back. What more can I give him but my vow that he will live on in my memories forever. Rue simply nods his head, and with a trembling chin he takes Luna’s hand in his. A sad smile tugs at his lips as he whispers his binding words.

“I heal you, Luna.”

His whisper first lingers only in my ears before it starts to echo around me.

~*~

Luna~

It’s easy to convince myself I’m just asleep if I keep still and stare into the darkness. I don’t think of anything - not what I had, what I lost, or what I could’ve had. Thinking is what I now fear most.

‘Luna.’
My name is a desperate whisper traveling from a far place.
‘Come on, meet me halfway.’

Rue! It’s his voice. How did he manage to enter this forsaken pit? I peer into the blackness until dots spark in front of my eyes.

‘Where are you?’

‘Right here.’
Rue appears an inch away and I can feel warmth as he holds my hand. Tears stream down his cheeks and I feel mine coming fast to join his.
‘How dare you leave without talking it over with me first?’

I shake my head and try to pull my hand free, because as wonderful as it is to have him here, he shouldn’t be here.

‘You should not be here.’
My tears glimmer over my cheeks. I pull him into me and hug him tightly.
‘I do not know how you got it right, but go before you are stuck here.’

‘I will not be the one leaving, Luna. I have offered my soul for yours.’

Shockwaves numb me … what has he done?
‘No Rue, not you! I will not be able to live a day knowing you died for me. Go back! Find happiness with Caia.’

I push him away but stumble backwards in shock when I find that we have swapped places. Light warms my back as the darkness frames Rue’s body.

‘Rue!’

‘I love you, Luna. Let me do this for you. I will not stay here anyway, you know that. I will go to Lucius.’

Horror fills me as he starts to drift away. I try to run after him but my body is being sucked back - all that is left is my hands reaching out to hold him one last time.

‘Rue! I love you, too. I love you so much!’

I try to fight the vacuum. I need to be sure that he heard me – heard the only words he ever wanted to hear from me.

“I love you, Rue.” My voice echoes down the tunnel as my eyes come into focus. I feel a cold hand in mine and instinctively know its Rue’s. I take a shaky breath as I turn my head to the side. Tears soak my hair as I take in his ashen face.

“Rue,” I cry his name, and for just a moment my breath warms his lips as I kiss him goodbye.

~*~

Storm~

Even though the moment calls for great sadness I can’t take my eyes off Luna. She’s here. She’s back. I have her back.

“Luna?” I stand cautiously to the side, not knowing what her next reaction will be. I want to comfort her, hold her to me.

“Leave me,” she whispers softly, her eyes focused on Rue.

Luna moves closer to him and her fingers caress his hair lovingly before gliding softly over his face.

“Are-?”

“I said, leave me! Get out and leave me alone so I can mourn my friend!” Luna’s scream echoes through the house before turning into raw sobs. “I should be with him and Lucius right now. It was always the three of us.”

I decide to give her the moment she needs and go to Raighne. If I can bring Alchera back with me, Luna will see it wasn’t all for nothing. That is, of course, if Alchera is all right. I haven’t been to check on her.

I find Raighne working on his house. “What brings you here, Storm?”

Raighne’s cautious greeting isn’t exactly one of friendship. “I have come to see Alchera. I am hoping she might have a word with Luna.”

Raighne drops his hammer and his face pales as I expected. “And how do you intend to do this?”

“She is alive. Thank you for the compassion you have shown.” I can’t keep from dropping the sarcastic remark. They all got what they wanted, and forgot about Luna as soon as she died.

“We were advised to keep our distance. We heard what you did with Alder and thought it best to give you time to mourn. But what is this of Luna being alive? What have you done?”

“I did nothing. Rue gave his life for hers.”

I give Raighne a cold look, daring him to say something about Rue.

“I am sorry. Alchera is in the back.”

I find her tending to some plants. She looks better than the first time I met her, as if a new life has been blown into her soul.

“I am glad to see you are well.” I fail miserably at faking friendliness and sound as cold as ever.

“Storm! I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“I am sure you are, but save the condolences. Luna lives, but only because Rue sacrificed his life for hers.” Hurt flickers across Alchera’s face and for a moment I feel guilty for being so harsh. “It is now your turn to help Luna. She is grief-stricken by the loss of Rue and I am hoping that if she sees you healthy, it will be of some encouragement to her.”

Alchera smiles sadly and I am forced to look the other way. “I’ll do anything to help.”

I’ve already wasted too much time here, and as I rush back with Alchera I can only hope this will work.

I’m not surprised to see Lorcan and Sage outside Alder’s house.

“She will not see us! What have you brought back, Storm?”

I rush to get to Luna. Midway through Alder’s living room I hit a force, much darker than the night Luna fought Void. It flings me back against the wall and again I find myself unable to move.

“Why does no one listen?” Luna’s hissing voice sounds malevolent, and as I make eye contact with her, I cannot find any sign of her light. There are no silver eyes glaring back at me, only the deep intensity of sheer blackness meets my gaze.

“Luna, listen to me. Look how you’ve healed me!” Her head twists in Alchera’s direction and Luna’s face distorts, as if she is experiencing physical pain.

“Enjoy your healing. It is because of your dreams and weakness that my brother and best friend are gone. Instead of fighting you only cared for Carter. I am going to make his life a living hell, Alchera, and you are going to live every day knowing you brought it down upon him.”

I drop to the floor as Luna strides past me and right out the door without so much as a glance in my direction.

I run quickly to catch up with her, but once outside I see that a crowd has grown. They have come to see for themselves what’s happening, yet when Luna had given her life for these villagers, not one of them had been anywhere in sight.

“Luna, wait!” She doesn’t listen and I grab hold of her shoulder to make her stop. “Talk to me!”

She swings around. “Talk to you?” The way she hisses the words sends chills down my spine. “I never could. What makes you think anything is different now?”

“Do not shut me out, not after all we have shared.” Maybe if I remind her of the dream? Maybe I can coax her back to me?

“We only shared pain! You never stood by me! You threw me away just like this village!” Her accusations stab at the very heart of me.

“You were not the one who watched you die! I had to stand there and just … watch you go. I had to…” My voice fails me and I grab her to me for one blessed moment. “My lungs will not breathe unless I see you breathe. You have to understand that I was never a part of them. I
did
fight with you,
for
you.”

Luna shrugs me off like an old rag and her black eyes glare hard at me before she walks a distance away and stops. I feel the air churn and my insides clench as all hope begins to die.

~*~

Luna~

I turn to the gathering crowd and Storm, not caring who hears me as I unleash the hatred that has taken hold of my heart.

“I gave my all for you and these undeserving souls. I gave and you took, without a care in the world. Rue gave, yet no one mourns him!” I start to shake with anger and grief. “You mean nothing to me. You only sought my death – you counted on it. And you will do so again.”

I breathe the air that was meant for Rue and it kills me all the more.

“The mind is a powerful thing. You can bend it to do your will. One foot in the pits and one foot on this Awo-forsaken ground – that’s where I reside now. I stand here ready to master the shadows that stir in my soul – the shadows that caused my light, my brother, my friend – everything I loved to die.”

Storm snaps out of his stunned state and walks threateningly towards me. “This is madness, Luna! You know you are not this person. Let us talk.” He takes another step towards me when I raise my hand in the air. As I make a fist, he starts to choke.

“I am who
you
have made me to be. I will go to where my own shadow will love me because not one of you can. The two who truly did love me are dead, as I wish I was. Only the dark loves me now.”

I turn and walk away from the village and all I despise.

“Do not do this, Luna. Do not leave me for this evil.” Storm makes one last attempt at begging. What a woeful man he has become!

I don’t stop. Instead, with no regrets and only revenge in my heart, I walk until I fade into a shimmering darkness, heading home to my Shadowlands.

~*~

Storm~

I drop to my knees. I’m sure my face reflects the gray of the dead man who now lives inside me.

“That was my mistake! I never told her how much I love her. I thought she knew…” I look up at the darkening heavens as my hurt spreads throughout the whole of nature. “I thought she knew.”