Discovery: Altera Realm Trilogy (9 page)

Mellisandrianna fixed her icy-blue glaze on him. She had known Thomas her whole life. He was a faithful member of the council and a cousin by marriage. But he also had been one of the first to rejoice in the news of the Chosen One. "There are simple spells to check heredity. And, of course, her innate powers must be tested. If she really is from before the divide, she still might have the ancient royal powers, many of which are very dangerous."

"It might be prudent to be cautious," Leaf said with a small nod. Leaf was seated close to the royal family, having earned his place by being the head of the Royal Guard of Lycins.

Mellisandrianna gave a small smile. She was pleased to have an unlikely ally in Leaf. This would be easier than she had thought. "And on the matter of the Protector issue?"

Leaf stiffened and looked toward his queen. "No other names came from the fire."

"That is unfortunate, but someone else must be chosen," Mellisandrianna said, her voice turning colder with each word.

Leaf dropped his gaze. "I will be meeting with the elder Lycins this afternoon. We will evaluate the situation and decide on a course of action."

Mellisandrianna smiled again. "Please inform me when a new Protector has been chosen."

Every Lycin in the room shifted uncomfortably, except Grass, who snickered and leaned in close to his charge. "I'll attend that meeting. Don't worry."

Mellisandrianna gave him a quick nod and stood. "Good. Now that will be handled properly. Justice." She turned her gaze on a man to her left. "You will be in charge of the Chosen One once she arrives. Please prepare a suitable room for our guest and arrange for a hand servant. Also arrange for all spells and trials to be performed the second she arrives. I will not have an imposter under my roof for any longer than I have to."

With that she turned and walked quickly from the room, her long velvet skirts swishing as she walked out of the council meeting room and through the great hall. After a moment she walked out on to a large open walkway that
overlooked the entire Village. She gazed out onto the wooden and brick houses, the cobblestoned streets, and the faithful subjects who looked like little ants scurrying over the expansive Village. Just past the houses stood the great stone wall that served as the Village's defenses. It had been built just after her grandmother, the first Crystallianna queen, had taken over the royal bloodline. It had taken a great many years to be built, but it was majestic. This right here was her Village, her lands.

"I'll make sure everything runs smoothly, my queen."

Mellisandrianna smiled at Grass's voice. If there was anyone in the world she trusted, it was her Protector. She looked over his handsome looks as he came to stand next to her. Five names had been pulled out of the fire when she was born, and Mellisandrianna had gone through the first four—all ending in strange deaths—before she finally had found a Protector who shared her passions and beliefs. Grass had been the youngest, which was unusual in the Village. Most charges looked much younger than their Protectors. Looking at Grass's hardened smooth face, Mellisandrianna was reminded that her own age was beginning to show on her face. There were more and more wrinkles every day, and no cosmetic spell could smooth them.

"I know you will." She grinned and turned back to the Village. "You are the only one who understands. This is mine—all mine—and no bleeding-heart human will take it from me."

"Is there a way to beat the trials?"

Always on the same page
, she thought, pleased. "Of course. And there is always the chance of death during them as well."

A calculating smile spread across Grass's lips. "What a shame that would be."

Mellisandrianna laughed softly. "Such a shame."

This was her Village, and no one would take it away from her, prophecy or not.

Syney

Syney woke up with a crick in her neck. She hated motel beds; they never felt like home. She sat up slowly and yawned. Not only had the bed been a torture device, but she'd also had the dream again. Glowing red eyes that scared her beyond belief—and thanks to yesterday, she had a lot to be scared of. But these eyes had so much evil behind them. It was hard to shake that feeling, even now that she was awake. She scanned the room for Hunter, but he wasn't there. He was probably outside, waiting for Raine and Cass. It was still dark outside, so she hadn't slept long. She glanced at the alarm clock to her right—three thirty a.m. It was hard to believe that only forty-eight hours ago she had been safe at home in her own bed, dreaming about normal teenager things.

"I'll never be normal again," she said to the empty room. The question was whether she was OK with that. The jury was still out.

A loud thump sounded from the direction of the bathroom. Syney slowly got out of the bed and inched closer to the room. It was quiet again, but an overwhelming feeling of dread boiled up into her throat. She wasn't going to hang around to test her uncanny ability to sense danger. It had worked all too well the day before. She walked backward toward the front door. She heard the door behind her open slowly. Hunter? She turned and came face-to-face with glowing red eyes in a sleek furry body. The cheetah bared its large teeth, saliva wetting them and dripping onto the floor. The bathroom door opened violently
as a large black gorilla pounded into the room, its red eyes glowing. Four large snakes followed, their pink tongues flicking in and out as they raced toward her.

Syney felt tears well up in her eyes, and she opened her mouth and screamed.

Suddenly she sat straight up in bed and continued to scream.

"Hey, hey, hey," Hunter said quietly. He grabbed her arm gently.

Syney stopped screaming and looked around the motel room. No cheetah, no gorilla, no snakes. It was all a dream. She let the tears flow freely from her eyes as they mixed with the cold sweat dampening her skin. "I can't do this. I need to go home," she said between sobs.

"Shhhh. It's going to be OK." Hunter awkwardly sat down next to her and rubbed her back in a circular motion. "It was just a dream."

Syney shook her head; even the calming feeling of Hunter's touch couldn't stop her overpowering emotions. "No, it wasn't just a dream." She looked at him. "It was animals, like the ones from the store. They're real, and they're trying to kill me."

Hunter sighed. "Yes, they are, but they won't get near you—not as long as I live."

Syney took a jagged, sob-ridden breath. "Thanks."

"It's my job, remember?" He gave her a small smile as his hard expression softened.

This was the Hunter that Syney was so attracted to. Once his thick wall fell, there was something about him she couldn't seem to shake—or want to shake.

Hunter dropped his gaze and stiffened a little against her. "You should probably get some more sleep. We have a while to go before we're safe from attack."

"I don't think I can sleep—not with them stalking me in my own head."

"I'm right here."

Syney looked into his brown eyes and felt a little lost. "Can you, like, stay right here. You help...keep me calm."

Hunter's expression hardened, but he nodded. "Sure."

Syney smiled and relaxed back into the bed. She reached out a tentative hand across his chest before lying down against him, her head resting on his chest. His body warmth filled her body. It was much warmer than a typical human's. For the first time since she had left her house, she felt comfortable... calm. She felt Hunter shift as he laid his legs in front of him on the bed. Her head sank further into his chest, just like a pillow, as sleep crept closer to the surface of her brain. The sound of Hunter's heartbeat pounded in her ear. It was odd, almost like a double beat.

"Your heartbeat is different," she said sleepily.

"I have more heart chambers than you."

"Interesting," she whispered, as sleep completely enveloped her.

This time her dream was different. She was still in the large stone room, but now she was wearing a long, flowing white gown. It was absolutely beautiful, almost shimmering in the sunlight that shone down from large windows in the ceiling. She turned, ready to run, from a sound to her right. There in a doorway, bathed in bright sunlight, stood Hunter, wearing a long-sleeve white cotton shirt and matching pants. He smiled at her, the sun reflecting gold strands in his brown hair.

He reached out a hand to her. "Are you ready?"

She nodded, her heart pounding even harder. She wanted to cry out of happiness. But she stopped herself from running to him. They had just met. She shouldn't feel this way this quickly. Maybe it was magic. He did say something about magic, right? She looked into his deep-brown eyes. Magic or not, she really didn't care.

She opened her eyes, Hunter's quick heartbeat still beating in her ear. She took a deep breath and glanced at the clock—six thirty. She hadn't gotten a lot of sleep, but she felt fully rested this time. She realized quickly that Hunter had fallen asleep as well. His breathing was much slower now, and a low snore escaped his mouth. She didn't want to move, but a sleeping Protector did her no good if any wild animals showed up. She sat up slowly, and Hunter woke quickly at the movement.

"What's wrong?" he asked, his voice heavy with sleep.

"Nothing. You fell asleep," Syney said.

"Oh." He stood up. "Guess I was more tired than I thought."

Syney nodded and sat cross-legged on the bed.

There was a knock at the door. Both Syney and Hunter turned to look at it.

"Get down on the floor," he said, walking toward the door.

Syney quickly did as he had asked. She said a silent prayer that it wasn't a cheetah at the door. She heard Hunter say something to the door. It sounded like gibberish, probably a code of some sort. A deep muffled voice came from the other side. Hunter opened the door, and Syney assumed it to be Raine. She moved onto her knees and peered over the bed. Raine and Cass walked slowly past Hunter into the room.

"Where is she?" Cass asked, worried.

"Here," Syney said, standing up. She looked at Cass and Raine with new eyes.
Raine must be a Lycin like Hunter, and Cass must be a Magic User
, she thought. Cass must have used some sort of magic on her parents the previous day. No wonder they let her go with them.

"Oh, thank the goddess," Cass said walking straight over to Syney and engulfing her in a big hug. "I was so worried."

Syney wriggled out of the hug and took a step back. It may have seemed cold, but this girl had lied to her and used magic on her parents. It felt like a violation of some sort.

"What?" Cass asked, and looked over to Raine. "Did something happen?"

After a moment Hunter stepped forward. "I told her."

"That wasn't your place," Cass said sternly.

"Hey, back off," Syney said, walking to stand in front of Hunter. "At least someone was honest with me!"

Cass sighed. "You don't understand. There's a protocol in place for this. You aren't supposed to be informed of what's really going on until we reach the Village."

"I don't think you understand. We were nearly killed by a panther! Hunter has a wound the size of your head on his side! Screw your protocol! I needed answers, and now I need more!" Syney yelled.

Cass looked at her, her blue eyes filled with frustration. "Look, I'm sorry about the lying and the attitude. But if Hunter told you the basics, then you know how important you are to our race, to hundreds of people. We have to get you home safely."

Syney took a deep breath to calm herself down and nodded. "OK."

"I promise I'll tell you all you want to know once we cross over to Altera Realm." Cass's eyes held some desperation.

"Fine." Syney turned to Hunter. "We should change your bandage before we go."

Hunter gave her an odd look and placed a hand on his wounded side. "Yes, we should."

Syney nodded toward the bathroom and led the way, giving Cass one last wary look before shutting the door. "Is it still bad?" she asked Hunter.

He looked into her eyes for a moment before returning his gaze to the floor.

Syney frowned. That was odd. He seemed as though there was something he wanted to say but was struggling with whether to say it. "What's wrong?"

Hunter took a deep breath and looked back at her. "It doesn't...hurt."

"Did you finally break down and take some aspirin?"

He shook his head slowly.

Syney sighed. "I'm confused. I think this is one of those things you're going to have to explain to me."

Hunter lifted his shirt and pulled the bandage from his side. His skin was completely healed. There wasn't even a red mark.

"How the hell did that happen?" Syney shrieked.

"Shhhh." Hunter put his hands on her arms and moved her to the farthest part of the room, away from the door. "I don't know...for sure."

"But you have a guess."

He stared at her and nodded, glancing down at her hands.

"Me?" Syney said, realization sweeping over her face. "You think I did this?" She thought about it for a moment. It would have happened while they were sleeping. She turned Hunter so that his side faced her and put her arm around him. Sure enough, her hand fell right over where his wound had been. "Oh, god. I did this." The world seemed to spin a little as she fell to sit on the toilet.