The Land Of Shadows (9 page)

He grabs me to him and holds on tightly as he starts to cry. Finally, with my fate sealed and knowing that the one person I’ve never lied to now knows the truth, I feel the release inside my soul.

A tear sparkles over my cheek and I get the feeling it will be the first of many.

~*~

Storm~

“Dear Awo! What did you do to your hair?” Elita is the first to notice the twins walking onto the field. We all follow Elita’s gaze and I end up gaping with the rest of them. Luna cut her hair! Why? She had beautiful hair.

“Peace be with you too, Elita. I felt like a change.” The normal bite in Luna’s voice is gone and her eyes are dull and listless. They resemble the charcoal color of Alchera’s disturbed orbs. Concern for her spikes in my heart. What happened since I last saw her on Friday evening? To make matters even more odd, Lucius just hugs her before heading over to Raighne and River’s side of the field.

“Lucius seems upset. He did not even greet us.” Elita stares worriedly after him as she voices my exact thoughts.

“Is all well, Luna?” Our inquisitive Willow asks the question that hovers on my lips.

“Why should there be something wrong? Come, we are missing out on valuable training time.” She walks right by me, not even sparing me a glance.

The morning passes and my concern doubles. Luna does everything I say and she does it perfectly. Usually she never does anything I say, going out of her way to argue with me.

By early afternoon I’ve had it with Luna when she once again answers me too politely. Her whole demeanor the entire morning has been worrying me more and more and I’m certainly not falling for this ‘perfect’ act she is putting up.

I flip her easily to the ground, proving her mind is not on training today. I pin her arms down, ensuring she isn’t going to move, and straddle her tiny waist. Her lips part to take the necessary next breath but she freezes when I lean in an inch from her face. I’m doing this on purpose, to rattle her a bit.

Luna turns her head away to try and avoid the contact, and shutting her eyes tightly, she waits for my next move. Why is this so hard for her? I watch her fill her lungs with a trembling breath.

“No sarcastic words for me? You are just going to let me defeat you?” She turns her head more into the grass, refusing to look at me.

“Yes.” The word sounds way too lost to my liking.

“Why have you changed like this? Did something happen since Friday?” I ask the question that burns in me. She still won’t answer me.

Luna opens her eyes and the wealth of emotions raging in them claws at my insides. I want to draw her up in my arms and assure her everything will be all right. She only has to trust in me.

“Let me up, Storm.” I watch her throat work as she swallows hard and stares past me at the blue sky. “Please.”

The barren sound in her voice closes like a tight fist in my chest. I am losing her too fast, and for the first time panic truly settles in my gut. I let her go nonetheless.

“I cannot help you if you do not talk to me.” I whisper urgently before I have to move on to Caia. The others are starting to fidget around impatiently.

But Luna just proves how out of character she truly is when she glances up at me with a ghost of a smile and stuns me with words I never expected to hear from her.

“Stop fighting me then and just be my friend. That is all I need. You can start by going to the Graduation Ball with me.”

Before I can respond to her odd request she walks off into the woods, leaving me more confused than ever.

~*~

Luna~

Later, when night falls, I follow Alchera into the forest. I don’t hide like I did on Friday, but show myself the second after Alchera finishes shedding her usual tear for Carter.

“Peace be, Alchera.”

Alchera swings around from where she just climbed down the tree. “Luna! It’s you.”

“Just me.” I smile a rare smile at Alchera and decide to push forward. “I thought we could try again to chase the shadows away? You must just keep still. Do not grab hold of me in return, no matter what.” I can see doubt waver on Alchera’s face. “Just trust me. You will get to speak with Carter again.” I walk up to Alchera and hold out my hand. All my focus is on my hand and the energy I’m about to pass to her. I will have to keep control in order to avoid the mess of Friday night.

Alchera doesn’t hesitate, not after hearing Carter’s name. She places her hand in mine and I watch her pupils dilate immediately. My smile grows as small trickles of energy pass to Alchera.
So far, so good.
The trickle turns to a constant flow of energy and Alchera flinches. She tries to pull away, but I hold on tighter and increase the flow. Alchera’s eyes widen even more and she grabs for her head. I know her head must be throbbing by now but it’s the only way to help her.

“Luna, it hurts!” she cries.

“Hold on! Wait for the mist.” I help Alchera to sit on the ground. My focus is only on her now.

At last a flash of swirling mist brightens my mind. I hear shrieking in the distance and know the shadows are not far off. Then … success! I leave my body and enter Alchera’s. Carter’s voice sounds through our minds. Alchera cries out, overwhelmed by Carter’s presence.

‘Alchera…’
He breathes her name with so much care she grabs at her stomach and doubles over onto the grass.

“Please come back.” Alchera cries hard and it makes me want to break the connection for her sake. I hate seeing her so upset. Maybe this is a mistake? Mara will surely have my head this time.

‘Stop calling for me. You do not want me to come back. You will regret it!’
His voice is callous, just like last time.

“You don’t mean any of that! We were best friends. I know there’s good in you.” Alchera won’t accept his words. I can feel her love for him and it leaves me in awe. Could I forgive Rue if he was so cruel and brutal toward me? I try to place myself in Alchera’s shoes. I can feel that the love she feels for Carter is the same as what I feel for my friend. I look at Alchera and how she’s crying for Carter. It’s because she’s concerned for his wellbeing. I would be devastated, too, if Rue ever left me.

When I feel myself growing weak, I pull back into my own body. When I try to free my hand from Alchera’s, she glares up at me. Her eyes are now sparkling emeralds with the shadows almost gone. The two sessions have done Alchera a wealth of good and I can see she is almost back to her former self.

“Don’t you dare, Luna!” She grabs hold of my hand with both her hands. My heart falters with shock as she takes double the energy from me.

“No, Alchera!” My panicked scream sends birds scattering into the air.

It’s too late. Alchera takes just about every trace of energy I have left. I don’t even have time to feel pain as my body grows numb. Shadows start to claw at my mind as they fight for control over me. I have no energy to fight them with. I’m unable to fight for my life.

‘Let go, Alchera. Let me go. You cannot follow to where I am.’
Carter’s voice is cool in my mind.

‘Where are you?’
Can’t Alchera see what’s happening to us? If she doesn’t let go we will both die. This will all be in vain.

‘I have told you before, and if you do this again I will end you myself. Stop this madness now!’
I can feel Carter retreating, leaving us with nothing but the foul smell of rotten eggs and burning embers.

I’m slipping away. I can’t hold on much longer. My eyes feel too heavy to keep open and I close them. I try one last time to pry my hand free but I’m sure I don’t even budge a muscle with the meager strength I have left.

‘You are killing Luna! Let go before you end her … and yourself!’
Carter’s voice is harsh and then, the mist is gone.

“Luna?” Alchera’s voice is soft and then her weight falls over me, hitting my breath from my lungs. I listen to the silence of the forest as I wait for Mara to come. I wonder if I’ll die quickly. Will I just fall asleep and it will all be over?

‘Raighne.’
Is that Alchera trying to call Raighne?
‘Raighne, we need you!’
She sends the message out so loud it sounds like she’s screaming inside of me. If this doesn’t work then nothing will ever bond them together again.

I’m thankful when the darkness comes and I don’t have to listen to her calling for Raighne anymore.

~*~

Storm~

I felt a disturbance in the air a while back and it’s been nagging at me ever since. I’ve let the girls go home. I’ve been watching Raighne train Lucius for the rest of the afternoon. I’m deep in thought about what Luna said earlier when Lucius gets a good blow in at Raighne. I almost applaud the boy, but Raighne’s reaction is what stops me. It’s not every day the man looks stunned out of his mind and I doubt it’s because his student got the better of him.

“Alchera!” I’m up and after Raighne before her name can grow cold on his lips. We might not be the best of friends but around here you help each other, and there is always the chance that Luna might be involved.

Moments later we near the forest and my heart grows cold. It’s the same spot as yesterday.

“Awo, please not yet!” Lucius shoots past me like a lightning bolt and that’s when I see them. I have never seen the boy move so fast. It’s a good thing Raighne is there or I fear Lucius would’ve thrown Alchera aside if Raighne didn’t lift her off Luna in time.

My eyes follow Lucius as he breaks the hold between the two girls’ hands. He sweeps Luna’s limp body into his arms and holds her tightly. He presses his ear to her chest and when he starts to cry my own stops. I drop to my knees and take her cold hand in mine. It’s too cold.

“Her heart is barely beating!” He cries.

She’s alive! That’s all that matters right now. “Let me warm her, Lucius.”

“Lucius, is she okay?” I’m glad Alchera has recovered but we don’t have time for questions. Lucius hands Luna over to me and I take hold of her as gently as possible. His face is grim and he doesn’t let go of her hand. I can feel Lucius’ energy already beating through her and I don’t waste time. I slip one hand under her shirt and place it over her stomach, sending my warmth and essence into her and praying we are not too late.

“Please, do not take her yet! It is too soon.” I turn my head slightly at Lucius’ tormented whisper. “It is too soon.” Lucius starts to burn bright and I fear he is giving all his energy to Luna. “Wake up, Luna!” He screams at her, and concern for both the twins has me glancing at Raighne.

“You should take Lucius home, Raighne.” It is seldom I instruct Raighne on what to do but I’m sure he will understand. Raighne nods and moves in on Lucius.

“I am not leaving my sister!” Lucius growls. He leans over Luna, his tears falling onto her pale cheeks. “You told me we had time. Do not dare die on me today!” His light fades out and all that remains is a brother weeping for his sister.

I glance up at Raighne, sure that he heard Lucius’ words too. Our eyes meet and I know we are thinking the same thing. The twins are hiding something from us. Fear for Luna knots my stomach.

“What are you talking about, Lucius?” Raighne kneels down by his trainee, his hand resting lightly on the boy’s shoulder.

“You never cared for her!” Lucius shrugs Raighne’s hand from his shoulder and stumbles to his feet. He holds his arms out to take Luna. “Give her to me.” His eyes are hard and I know he’s not thinking clearly anymore.

“You can hardly stand on your own feet, Lucius! I will carry her home for you.” It’s the last place I think she belongs. “We should take her to Alder.”

Lucius recoils from my suggestion. “No! Just give me my sister!” His reaction is intense and his face pales. The situation is getting away from him.

Alchera steps forward but Raighne stops her from coming too close. She peeks around his shoulder and says, “Storm is right. We need to get her to Alder for healing.”
Is that guilt I hear in her voice?

Raighne looks from us to Alchera and I wait for him to notice what I see. It can’t be missed. She looks even better than yesterday!

“I can sense you again. The shadows are really gone?” Raighne holds his hand up to us, as if he fears we’ll leave while he looks over Alchera. I don’t have time for this.

I get up and place myself between Raighne and Lucius. I’m scared the boy might lose it.

“She took them all away.” I meet Raighne’s intense eyes with the coldest look I can muster.

“It is what you wanted.” I lay the blame for Luna’s state at his feet. “Your wife is healthy at the cost of Luna. Go celebrate now.” I turn and walk past Lucius. “Come boy, we are taking her home.”

“Lucius,” Raighne calls after us. “How did she do it? Why only now? She could have healed Alchera long ago.” Anger bubbles up in my chest. I shake my head at Lucius, a clear indication to not answer Raighne and to do as I told him.

“Raighne, how dare you! Can’t you see how exhausted they are? Lucius can barely stand and Luna…” Alchera’s voice sounds like a whip cracking in the night. Good, she can stay and fight Raighne.

“Come, Lucius.” I walk home with the twins. Tomorrow I’ll deal with Raighne.

“That family has a secret and I want to know what it is,” Raighne growls his frustration behind us.

“You are impossible, Raighne! Look what she has done for me!” Under different circumstances I would smile. It’s good to hear the old Alchera again, but not at the cost of my Luna.

~*~

An ‘eye for an eye’ shall leave you all blind.

It’s sometimes better to walk away and know you will still be able to see the beauty that tomorrow will bring.

Luna~

My nerves are shot come graduation day. Everything is one big ball of scrambled nothing. I have fully recovered since Monday’s episode, thanks to Storm, Lucius and my ever present moon. But now I have to deal with Alchera’s stalking. She has been doing a very bad job of it. Alchera has found a sudden interest in training, and at night she wanders the forest until she finds me. I pretend I don’t see her as she hides behind a tree or bush. After all, Alchera needs to know she can trust me. She needs to know what I can do when Void comes for her.

I just hate the whispers. Rumors have obviously spread. As soon as I get close to the girls they stop talking, as if I don’t notice! It’s the same thing with Rue and Lucius. Everyone is extra weird around me. Ugh! It infuriates me endlessly.

What grates at my nerves most, are Storm’s probing looks, as if he is trying to solve a puzzle. Oh, and now Raighne has now joined Storm in asking me a zillion questions. I don’t like Raighne’s attention, he is worse than Storm.

A restless sigh drifts from my chest as I try to think of a way to handle all the weirdness. And then there’s the problem of graduation. What on Vaalbara made me ask Storm to accompany me to the Ball? At least he agreed to meet me at the hall and didn’t insist on collecting me at home. I sigh again and stare at the cloudless sky outside my window.

“Luuunaaaa!” I turn my attention back to Caia, where she’s jumping up and down on my bed like a two-year-old. When Caia is sure she has my attention she holds my gown up and waves it in the air. “You are going to look gorgeous in this.”

“I am going to look like an umbrella, just like I did when they tried to make me wear those awful training outfits.” The anger that is second nature to me by now flares to life just thinking about the gown I have to wear. I can’t believe my parents are making me do this! Why can’t I wear pants?

The day is growing older, and it won’t be long before the sun withdraws its last golden rays, making way for the silver face of my moon.

“Oh my.” Sarah pulls a funny face as she steps into my room. “You’re a fierce little bundle tonight! But fear not, I’m here to save the day.” Her hesitant laughter follows her deeper into the room and I eye her dubiously. Elita and Caia stare all wide-eyed at her and I roll my eyes. “Your mother asked me to come and help. I guess she thought you might need a nudge in the right direction. By the looks of things, she was right.”

“Peace be, Sarah.” Elita is the first to jump up. “Please sit. We are honored to have you here to help us.”

Oh my Stars, give me strength!
“Hush, Elita! It is just Sarah. You would swear Awo, himself, has come to join us. Besides, my mother would not ask you to assist me, she knows better than that.” Everyone is stunned to a deathly silence at my little outburst. Why does Sarah get the special treatment? When it comes to Alchera they treat her as if she has some disease?

“Luna, you need to calm that temper of yours, at least for tonight. We’ll start with you first, and don’t even try to argue with me. If you do, I swear by Awo I will hug you to death.” I give Sarah a look of sheer panic. There is no way she is touching me!

As Sarah approaches I shoot over the bed to the other side of the room. I almost fly in my hurry to put some distance between us.

“No, you cannot touch me!” I squeal like a pig being led off to slaughter.

Silence descends on the room with everyone looking at me, and as if
that
isn’t enough, the air now pulses with an awkwardness I can feel to my very core. I want so much to call it a night and head for the forest. Caia clears her throat and everyone’s eyes jump to her.

“You can start with me, Sarah.There is nothing you can really do to save Luna’s hair anymore.”

I smile at Caia and I don’t care that she just insulted me. I love her for saving me and owe her one.

Sarah starts with Caia’s hair, and ever true to Caia’s bubbly personality she carries on with her babbling. “Do not take it personally. Luna is always like that. She is allergic to people or something like that.” Caia squeezes Sarah’s hand. “How is Elora?” She is buzzing with happiness and it soon spreads through the room as if nothing happened a few seconds ago.

“Elora’s a darling. She can do nothing wrong in her father’s eyes. To Jason, she’s the world of innocence. I’ve just started giving her piano lessons.” Sarah’s face is beaming with love for her daughter. Even I have to smile.

“She was saved because of her innocence, right? If that is true then maybe when she is older she can become the High Priestess, instead of me.” There is so much hope in Elita’s voice we all stop what we’re doing.

Elita looks up from her dress. I can see the embarrassment color her cheeks. I think she just realized how inappropriate it sounded. One does not simply decline being the successor to the High Priestess.

“You do not want to become the next High Priestess?” Caia voices the words we only dared to think, astonishment masking her face. “But they already blessed you as a priestess on your sixteenth birthday. What about that?”

“Forget what I said.” Elita takes cover behind the dressing screen and starts to change into her gown. Sadness flits across her face. She might not think we can see it from here, but we do.

“You don’t want to take over from Aster on your twenty-fifth birthday?” Sarah moves closer to the screen where Elita hopes to hide her discomfort. Understanding and love shines from Sarah’s eyes and I take a few steps further away from them. The last thing I need is to be cuddled by accident.

I watch Elita swallow hard, as if choking on a ball of fear, and suddenly wish I was alone with her. If only I had known she felt this way I would’ve talked to her sooner.

“No. I want to be free like all of you. Free to make my own choices. I want to be able to have a real life.” I feel closer to Elita with her confession.

Willow slams the door open and bursts into the room. We all jump with fright. For a bunch of guardians graduating tonight we sure scare easily. Tall and elegant, she stands in the doorway staring back at our far too serious faces.

“What?”

I want to reach over and slap her. Willow is gradually wearing my patience thin. I can only shake my head when Caia bursts out in a fit of nervous giggles.

Willow grimaces. “I am not
that
late. You have not even finished your hair yet. Besides, it is way better to be fashionably late than to stand around in a half-empty hall.” She plops down on the bed, crushing her green dress in the process.

“Sometimes you have the most inappropriate timing.” I can’t help but scold her. I turn my curious gaze back to Elita who peeks shyly over the screen at us. I want to hear the rest. “Elita, you were busy saying?”

“It is nothing, really. I am just being over emotional because of graduation. Soon some of you will be assigned charges and I will receive a guardian. I guess I am a bit jealous.” She meets my gaze and I fear she’ll see the longing I feel myself. I won’t be given a charge. “If I have to settle for a guardian, then I do hope it will be you and not Lucius.” Her request stuns me. “I have been hearing rumors that they are thinking of giving him to me, and if there is anything you can do to change that, I will be forever in your debt.”

At first I can only stare back at her. I won’t even be around for her twenty-fifth birthday. By then I’ll be dead, long gone. I swallow the sadness welling up inside me and focus on the subject at hand. “Why not my brother?” I try to sound as surprised by Elita’s request as would be expected of me. I mean, come on, we all know she is in love with Lucius.

“It’s not that I do not think him worthy.” Elita’s breath comes out in a rush, as she tries to explain. I wonder if I look that uncomfortable when I talk about Storm. If I do, then I’m a dead give-away. “I think he is the best … we would have …” Elita’s face lights up for a split second and fades just as quickly. The poor girl. “I … it is just that I would feel more comfortable with you, a female guardian.”

I give her a reassuring smile. Everyone can see there are sparks between Elita and my brother, even if they don’t want to admit it. But I’ll let it be, for Elita’s sake.

Glancing out the window to where I know my moon is rising, I take a deep breath. It is early in the evening and the festivities must have already begun. We are going to be more than fashionably late.

I walk over to where my gown is on the bed. I can’t remember when last I wore lace and silk, or how it felt on my skin. I touch the material softly, taking in the texture of the gown. Distracted, I slowly start to dress myself, scared I might rip the gown. When I’m done, I brush my hands over the material, straightening out a few kinks. I adjust the long sleeves which are stitched in a pattern of leaves and fall just past my wrists. The bodice has the same pattern of leaves, with the silk adding an extra layer underneath to keep the dress from plummeting to the ground. From the waist down, the silk falls to my feet in pleats, with strings of leaves adding to the length. I pick at the silky material gleaming under the electric light. Knowing my shoulders are bare bothers me greatly.

“I need a shawl.” I turn to my friends who are all staring at me with their mouths wide-open. I lift my eyebrow, definitely not impressed by the attention. “What on Vaalbara are you gaping at?” I growl the words to help bring them back to reality.

“You! It is not often that we are so privileged to see you dressed like that. You look gorgeous. Now if Elita would do us the same honor and step out from behind that screen … perhaps we can get going!” Caia taunts her and it gives me an opening to get to my mirror so I can put on some lip gloss, which is the extent of my make-up.

Willow complains about her shoes getting stuck between the cobbled stones for the umpteenth time and I can’t help but smile. That’s why I’m not wearing those ridiculous shoes. They got me into the dress, but there is no way I’m torturing myself with those shoes. They are death traps!

We finally make it to the Great Hall and I let the others enter before me. I’ll let them take the spotlight and then I can slip in unnoticed.

~*~

Storm~

Willow’s tall and elegant figure captures my eye first. Her red hair stands out above the rest and dressed in that green gown, she is going to manage to capture quite a few men’s attention. I only see the trio of girls and wonder why I’m feeling disappointed that Luna didn’t come. It shouldn’t surprise me in the least. I look once more over the certificates in my hands before placing them with the rest at the podium. I’ll leave Luna’s in. If she wants to shame her family name by not showing, then it’s her problem.

Standing on the stage I have a clear view of the hall. I glance over all the familiar faces, making sure my other three girls are still here when my breathing fails me. I feel a need to grab at my heart to make sure it’s still there.

She’s so small, hidden behind the door. Luna forms a perfect picture of vulnerability. My hands tremble as I straighten my jacket, and without any another thought I leap from the stage and hurry through the people to get to her.

She’s fidgeting with the strings of leaves complimenting her gown. A few feet away I slow down and watch her. She’s clearly nervous to be here, her eyes are constantly flitting through the wall. I want to stand and watch her the whole night, but I also know if I do she will disappear within the next few minutes. I can see it on her face.

I walk closer and her eyes dart to me. “Peace be, Luna. You look exquisite tonight. Who knew we would ever have the pleasure of seeing you in a gown?” I keep my voice light.

Luna looks me over in the same way I did her, only I had time to do it without her noticing. She smiles and immediately continues fidgeting with her sleeves.

“You look … um … charming yourself.” Her voice can freeze the sun and I wonder why that is? “Have you by any chance seen Lucius or Rue?” I have, but I don’t want to share her with either of them tonight.

“I have.” I give her my most seductive smile and it hits the mark. I can see how it rattles her. Her eyes narrow and she balls her hands into tiny fists.

“I do not have time for this. Please tell either one of them that I was here.” She moves so fast she catches me off guard. By the time I catch up to her she is out the hall and rounding the corner.

“Luna, wait! You are not leaving now.” Anger makes my voice harsh, and people stare at us. I hate drawing attention to us.

I get hold of her arm and pull her back with more force than I mean to use. The gown tangles around her feet. She trips over her feet and slams into my chest.

“You do not have to fall into my arms. Just say the word and I will hold you.” I know now is not the right moment to tease her, but I simply can’t resist.

Her anger flames up and gleaming, snow-white eyes stare back at me. Her breaths come faster in quick offended gasps.

Glancing down at her arm to make a point that I should remove my hand, she growls, “Would you like to rip off my other sleeve too? Are you going to throw me over your shoulder next?” Her words register in slow motion.

“I did not mean … I only wanted to stop you from leaving.” I take a step backwards and let go off her arm. The sleeve is hanging by a simple strand. “I apologize, Luna. At least stay to receive your certificate from us.”

Luna gives me one of her famous ‘go to the pits of hell and die’ looks.

“Looking like this!” Her voice climbs, and although I’ve missed arguing with her, now is not the time.