Earth Child (Romance Novels of The Fae Realm) (8 page)

            “Oh” I mumbled lamely.

            “I think that’s my cue to leave.  See you at school tomorrow Lex” Sam stood, patted me on the head and stomped down the stairs and out the door.

            Cerus was softly stroking my knuckles.  The simple sensation sent ripples through my body.  I shifted my position leaning into Cerus and wrapping my arms around him.

            “I’m sorry” I whispered again, kissing his cheek.  His arms wrapped around me and we sat like that for a long time, just holding each other.

            “I thought I had lost you.  I was powerless, helpless.  I never want to feel that way again.”

            “You won’t.  Next time will be different.”

            “Yes it will” he paused, “There’s something else I need to tell you.  We’ve been summoned.”

            “What do you mean, summoned?”

            “Time’s up.  I have been ordered to present you to the Terra Council in four days.”

            Suddenly I was afraid.  In my mind I had resigned myself to leaving my life behind after graduation.  There was still time.  Time to say goodbye; time to build a few more memories.  Now all of that was being taken away from me.

            “Will I get to come back?”

            “I don’t know.”

            “I’m scared.”

            “I will be with you” Cerus said as he stood, pulling me to my feet and into a deeper embrace.  Cupping my chin he gently kissed first my forehead, then both cheeks and finally on my lips.  “Good night, Alexa.  I will see you in the morning” he turned and started out the door.

            “Cerus wait” I reached out to him.  He turned, “Please stay.”

            “I don’t think that is a good idea.”

            “No, not for that.  Just please stay until I’m asleep.  I just – I need you.  Will you hold me for a little bit?”

            He nodded and grateful I reached out for him.  He lifted my blankets and I slid into bed.  Carefully tucking me in, he lay next to me on top of the blankets, one arm under my head and the other pulling me close to him.  I deeply breathed in his scent.  Spicy woods, green grass, earth and snuggled deeper into his embrace.  Fatigue overcame me and closing my eyes I drifted off to sleep.

            The week went by in a blur.  Before I knew it, Friday had arrived.  Not sure what to do about Richard and Nancy, Sam had come to the rescue with the perfect cover for my absence all weekend.  He had put together a group of students from our graduating class, a couple of adults to chaperone and told them we were going on a weekend float trip.  Cerus agreed it was perfect.  After school we packed up Cerus’ car and prepared to leave.  The moment was surreal.  This could be the last time that I saw my parents.  My actions became slower as I put off leaving as long as I could.

            Nancy knocked on my open door, “Can I come in?”

            “Of course mom.”

            “Come sit with me for a minute” she said, sitting on my bed and patting the spot next to her.  “I just wanted to tell you how proud your father and I are of you.  You’ve done so much and come so far.  I love you Lexi.”

            My vision blurred as unshed tears surfaced in my eyes.  “I love you too mom” I said wrapping her in a tight embrace.

            We sat for a moment intertwined.  Nancy pulled back and looked me in the eye, “Now about this weekend.”

            “Yes.”

            “We know Cerus will be there” I nodded.  “Your father and I just want to make sure that you’re being careful.”

            “Yeah I have bug spray and sunscreen, we’ll be fine.”

            “That’s good, but that’s not what I meant.  Are you being safe?”

            It finally dawned on me what she was referring to.  “Mom!”

            “You’re still very young, and you are an adult so I can’t tell you what to do, but you don’t want to find yourself in a familial way.”

            “Oh my goodness Mom” I blushed standing and crossing the room.  “Trust me.  You have nothing to worry about.  I care about Cerus, and he cares about me.  He’s never pushed me or forced me to do things I don’t want to do.  I want to wait until after I’m married, and Cerus respects me for that.”

            “Thank God!” Nancy exclaimed in relief giving me an awkward hug.

            “Really mom, it’s all good.”

            Knocking on the door stood Richard.  “I’m glad you haven’t left yet.  I wanted to say goodbye before you did.”

            “Hey dad” I stepped over to him and gave him a hug.

            “Have a great weekend Lexi.  I love you.”

            “Love you too dad” once again I struggled to stop the tears from flowing.  It was a losing battle and Richard saw me wiping my eyes as we separated.

            “It’s only a weekend, Lexi.  No need to cry”

            “I know dad.  It’s just that I’m leaving home soon and it just hit me how much I’m going to miss you guys”

            “Well you’ll be home during holidays.  It’s not like we’re never going to see you again.”

            “Sure mom” I nodded not wanting to break her heart and tell her that this was likely goodbye forever.

            “Alexa it’s time to go” Cerus called from down the stairs.

            “Bye mom, bye dad” I gave them one last hug, and quickly joined Cerus downstairs.  I didn’t stop, just swiftly walked out the door and into his car.  I wasn’t going to make it without crying and I didn’t want them to see me like that.  In a few moments Cerus entered the car and all too soon we were driving away.

            I let the tears fall freely, looking back on the only home, the only world I had ever known as Richard and Nancy got smaller and smaller in the background, finally being obscured from view as we turned the corner and headed for the river.  Cerus was silent through my tears and I was grateful that he let me work through my emotions on my own.

            Wiping the last evidence of tears from my face I settled into my seat and looked toward the future.  The drive along the river was peaceful and relaxing and when we finally pulled up to the trailhead my spirits were much lifted.  Cerus helped me to shoulder my backpack before shrugging into his and hand in hand we made our way to the campsite.  Most of the students had already arrived and the party was in full swing.  Music was blaring and students were dancing around, hot dogs were roasting on the open fire and some students were jumping into the river, letting the current carry them for a bit before swimming to the shore and rushing to repeat the process.  For the human’s this was normal, fun and relaxing, how they spent their time outdoors.  A month ago I would have gladly joined in the boisterous fun.  Now that I was in touch with my Fae side it was garish and rude.  The music was louder than the song of the birds and reaching out briefly with my senses I could tell the animals and plant life around us were just as offended.

            I stole a quick glance at Cerus.  Outwardly he looked cool and serene, greeting a few of the friends he had made the last few weeks at school.  I could tell that he was just as appalled as I was.  We found Sam and set up my tent next to his.  For appearances Cerus would be bunking with Sam and he would cover for both of us while we met with the Terra Council.  Sam isn’t the best actor though and I had my doubts that he would be able to distract the chaperones.  Surely if they didn’t notice that we were both missing, one of the students would.  I asked Cerus if he could spell the group like he had my mom, but he just shook his head.

            “There are too many of them” he explained, “With your mom it was easy, just extending her memory from seeing you in your bed, to at the table for breakfast and then you were so exhausted from school that you skipped dinner and went straight to bed.  It’s a complicated spell and in the gray area of being a dark spell.  People’s thoughts are sacred and shouldn’t be tampered with.”

            His explanation reminded me of something Jariah had said at prom; that the powers were meant to serve us, not the other way around.  The more I thought about it, the less I wanted them to be spelled.  While I wasn’t close to a lot of them, they were still my friends and I really didn’t want to trick them.  The guilt I felt over tricking Richard and Nancy was bad enough.

            To keep up with our plan Cerus and I joined in with the kids around the fire, cooking hot dogs and just laughing and joking at our upcoming graduation.  Cerus managed to eat four or five hot dogs.  I pretended to, but I was so nervous I couldn’t bring myself to eat.  When the sun had finally set and the students were calming down and gathering around the campfire Cerus gave me a nod.  We stood and faded into the crowd of students, hanging on the back edge for a while before turning and heading deeper into the forest.  Hearing the night sounds of the forest helped to relax me.  I reached out with my senses, enjoying the feelings of peace and contentment from the world around me.  The birds flitted from tree to tree above us. 
Earth Child!  Earth Child! 
Echoing in their calls.  Mice and rabbits followed along both sides of the trail. 
Earth Child!  Earth Child! 
They whispered to each other.  I couldn’t help but smile.

            “What are you smiling about?” Cerus asked.

            “Listen.  Look.  I kind of feel like Snow White.”  I watched him reach out with his magic; he glowed a little when he tapped into nature, and soon our smiles matched.  “This is a good thing.  If nature already accepts you, so will the Terra Council.”  He took my hand and we continued on the path. 

            The further we walked, the darker it became as the trees grew dense and close together.  I felt like the darkness was closing in on us and I couldn’t take another step.  Cerus walked on for a bit until our joined hands stopped him short.

            “What’s wrong?”

            “Do you feel that?  We don’t belong here.”

            “I was afraid of this.”

            “Afraid of what?”

            “It’s your human side.  We’re nearing the gateway into the Fae realm.  It’s spelled to keep out humans.  I was hoping that your Fae side would be strong enough.”

            “So what do I do?”

            “Do you trust me?”

            “Of course.”

            “Close your eyes.  Don’t let go of my hand and just keep walking.  We’ll be through before you know it.”

            Tightening my grip I closed my eyes and started walking.  Afraid that I would lose his hand I gripped his forearm with my free hand.  It slowed our progress considerably.  The further we walked the worse I felt.  The air turned thick and foul and I started to choke.  I couldn’t breathe.  I tried to call out to Cerus, but no noise came from my throat.  Unaware he kept walking forward, half-pulling, half-dragging me along.  I stumbled over a stubborn root and fell to me knees, straining my grip on Cerus’ hand.  He kept walking.  The pull on my hand and arm was too much and I felt my fingers slipping through his until finally our connection broke.  Panic hit me full in the face.  I opened my eyes, futile in the thick darkness that surrounded me.  Lost, sick, and alone I started to cry, certain that I was going to die.

            My instinct was to turn and go back the way I had come.  I pushed to my hands and knees.  Instead of turning, something deep inside pulled me forward and slowly I crawled; right-left-right-left inching further along.  The pace was maddening.  The pressure on my lungs was almost more than I could bear.  Small twigs and rocks dug into my palms tearing at the tender flesh, still I kept going.  I pictured my mother, running through the forest, scared and alone.  I pictured Cerus, battling Jariah on the hiking trail.  I pictured my students, frozen in the darkness at prom.  This was not going to defeat me.  I am Fae.  I am of noble birth.  I am the Earth Child!

            Immediately the darkness dissipated.  I took large gasping breaths finally sucking air into my starved lungs.  Rolling to my back I looked at the clear sky littered with stars.  It was as if all I had to do to break through the Fae spell was to accept my calling.  I was still crying, but now they were tears of joy.  Laughing I stood, brushing the dirt and blood off my hands and onto my jeans.  Cerus was standing there waiting for me.  I rushed to him, throwing my arms around his neck and kissing him with all the joy and happiness that was overflowing from my heart.

            The sound of a throat clearing pulled us apart.

            “Alexa Kassabrov.  You have been summoned by the Terra Council.  I am Thorn.  Follow me” without waiting for my reply or to see if I followed he turned and began a fast paced walk down the lit path.

            “Here goes nothing” I whispered and leaving Cerus behind I hurried to catch up.

            At first the path was dirt, then gradually became gravel and finally smooth white marble.  The simple wooden torches were replaced by soft lanterns emitting an ethereal glow.  We walked in silence.  I was afraid to ask Thorn anything.  Instead I took in my surroundings.

            There were no real walls anywhere.  The corridor and surrounding hallways were open to nature, with columns and more lanterns lining the sides, guiding people in the right direction.  In the distance courtyards and other rooms could be glimpsed, but not wanting to lose my guide I couldn’t really explore them fully.  Moonlight streamed down from above, a blanket of stars serving as the only ceiling.  I wondered what they did when it rained.  Finally we stepped into a large circular room.  Vines and climbing flowers wove around and between the columns, perfectly screening the room from any prying eyes.  Torches blared in sconces high on the columns bathing the room in bright light.  A half circle table sat at the front.  There were eight seats, four on each side with two larger throne-like chairs in the middle.  The thrones were empty, but the other chairs were full of Fae.  The Terra Council.  Thorn escorted me to the very center, then turned and left me to my fate.