Gaia's Secret (8 page)

The cave turned. Up ahead, beyond the glow of
the nearest torch, the blanket of darkness lifted with a soft,
white light.

Daylight.

We were almost at the end. My need to move
forward bordered on irresistible. It was all I could do to keep
from running. With each small step, the invisible string pulled
harder, gripping my consciousness until I could hold myself back no
longer.

My legs moved faster and faster. I walked
ahead, brushing past Alex, Sonya, and Cicero. My speed walk turned
into a dead run. The light amplified as I ran, pitching headlong
toward the opening. I could feel the Del Contes’ eyes on my back,
but I was compelled by an insane desire to keep moving. Leaving
darkness behind, I ran from the mouth of the cave and was bathed in
blinding sunlight.

My spirit was ablaze; my skin tingled as a
myriad of emotions engulfed me, drowning out my awareness of self.
My surroundings felt alive and I felt connected to all of it.
Overwhelmed and dizzy, I sat, closing my eyes. So many feelings
pressed against me and I swam against their strong current trying
to stay afloat. The world encased me with its life force,
holding me in strong, invisible hands. Like my body had returned
from a long sojourn, and the world was my spirit, rushing to unite
with its flesh. A few long moments passed, the chaos in my mind
abated, and I became aware of my own feelings again. 

Waves of concern poured over me. Even though
my eyes were closed, somehow I knew the concern was Sonya’s. I
could
feel
her approaching. My hand was in hers just as I
felt Cicero beside me. Then I sensed Alex.

I opened my eyes and found his at once. They
were burdened and heavy, but the joy flowing from him was so pure
and potent it was intoxicating.

For a few moments I struggled to push their
emotions away so I could find my
own
again. Once under
control, I peered at Sonya, who looked a little worried.

"Are you all right?" Her eyes searched
mine.

“I think so.” I stood, releasing her
hand. 

My senses were acute and powerful, more so
than I thought possible, and had connected to this strange place
without my permission. The Del Contes said this world was a magical
world, but this? They hadn’t said anything about this.

Reaching a new sort of equilibrium, I finally
looked at the land before me.

We stood on the rim of a deep, lush valley
with a glittering blue river dividing it in half. Magnificent
mountain peaks stood all around, their caps like white arrowheads
piercing the sky. The valley itself was veiled with giant trees,
while exotic wildflowers dotted the rare open spaces, accenting the
deep green with splashes of bright colors. Everything here was
vibrant, like I was looking at a world in high definition. The air
tasted crisper and cleaner, and the light breeze was scented with
flowers’ perfume. The thrum of rushing water echoed throughout the
verdant vale. Everywhere I looked I felt life—in the air, in the
trees, in the rocks—everywhere.

This place made me
feel
to the core of
my being; it held a knowledge and wisdom of its own.

It was then I realized my need to press on
had left. I had arrived. There was no turning back, not even if I
wanted to. No more brown fields, no more fences. No more
loneliness.

Just…life. Pure, powerful life.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Sonya said beside me.
I'd almost forgotten they were there.

“Yes,” I said, but I didn’t think the word
“beautiful” was enough. I wasn’t sure there was a word that could
capture the magnificence of this place.

Cicero moved to my other side, his expression
curious. "Are you all right to keep going?"

I nodded. "This place is incredible."

“This is only a piece of it.” He grinned, and
then his eyes narrowed as he gazed ahead. "Better get moving before
someone sees us."

He began walking down a narrow, rocky ledge
that hugged the granite wall behind us. Sonya touched my arm and
smiled, and continued after him.

Alex remained. He stood fixed, staring beyond
with that same weighted gaze, the light breeze ruffling his cloak
and dark hair. He looked majestic standing there, as if he were a
prince watching over his realm, burdened by the safety of its
citizens. Deep down inside, a part of me ached. It was a part that
wanted to throw my arms around him and tell him how much I missed
him and how happy I was to see him again. I was furious at that
part of myself.

His gaze met mine then, those deep green eyes
seeming to understand everything I didn’t say. And everything I
didn’t want to feel.

I quickly glanced away and hurried after
Sonya and Cicero into the veil of dense foliage.

It was much cooler beneath the shade of the
trees. Shadows slithered along the ground as light fought to pierce
through the barricade above. I glanced up, tilting my head to the
green cathedral that walled us in, and felt dizzy. Boughs creaked
and moaned as they strained with all their might, reaching out to
cradle me in their arms, their leaves rustling in the breeze.

When I looked back down, I realized I was
alone. I didn’t see Sonya or Cicero anywhere.

Just as I opened my mouth to call out to
them, a hand grabbed me by my cloak and yanked me off the trail.
The hand belonged to Sonya, and we were now hiding behind a large
boulder with Cicero. Alex appeared right behind me.

“What’s going—”

"What is it?" Alex cut me off.

"Guards. I think someone saw us enter."
Cicero’s brow furrowed as he peered off into the forest. I couldn’t
see anything but green.

“We’re hiding from—”

"Are you sure?" Alex interrupted me again.
His eyes narrowed as he peered around with his father. Sonya held
her finger to her lips, motioning for me to remain silent. As if
talking got me any answers.

My ears perked. I heard something off in the
distance, a sort of muffled patter. Something about the sound was
familiar to me but I couldn’t figure out what. The patter was faint
at first, but grew louder and louder with each second. I knew that
sound. I knew it like I knew my own voice. It was the rhythmic
pounding of hooves.

Cicero mumbled something and Alex shoved me
on the ground so that I was lying flat between him and Sonya.

The pounding roared in my head, drowning out
my racing heartbeat. Whoever was coming was riding hard, and it
sounded like there was more than one of them. Whatever they were
after, I was about to find out.

The pounding ceased. They were here.

After a few seconds of unbearable silence, I
had to look. I lifted my face inches off the ground and peered over
Alex. Silver glinted through the trees on the ledge where we had
stood moments ago. I counted four riders, and they looked like some
sort of guard. They wore breastplates of silver, dotted with greens
and blacks, their baldrics holding long swords. The hair on their
heads and faces was long and unshaven; their expressions were
filled with such cold hatred that my breath stuck in my chest.

They were searching for something.

A fifth rider appeared in my line of sight,
but he was different from the rest. His face was hidden beneath a
drawn hood and the rest of his powerful frame was veiled in rich,
black wool that blended with his velvety black stallion. An
enormous silver blade hung at his waist, glinting in the sunlight.
He looked out of place in this world filled with color and life.
Like the night had delivered Death himself.

My head was shoved back down and my eyes
locked with Alex's, his face rigid with warning, his eyes flashed
with violence.

One of the riders jerked his horse around and
started in our direction. The others followed him. My heart thudded
in my ears. The rider stopped in front of the boulder we were
hiding behind, his horse raking at the ground.

I held my breath.

"So he was wrong,” the soldier barked in a
gruff voice.

“Keep searching,” answered a deeper, velvety
voice. The black rider. “Considering the current circumstances, you
should not be hasty to give up.”

His voice unnerved me. It touched my newfound
awareness with a stiff chill.

"We're wasting our time," said a third.
"There's no one here."

“My Lord is never wrong,” growled the black
rider.

Everything went silent and I felt smothered
by the anxiety of my companions. I didn’t move. I didn't breath. I
didn't even dare to blink. 

The silence menaced.

A stiff breeze barreled through the forest
and the trees bended and creaked loudly in response.

“Search the grounds, and stick to the main
road,” barked the voice. “I shall notify my Lord at once.”

Leather reigns snapped, horses whinnied, and
the riders vanished down the trail. All but the black rider.

He lingered there, just on the other side of
our boulder. There was a darkness to him—a malevolence that made my
soul recoil. Ice-cold fingers touched me then, searching and
sifting through my thoughts. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I shut
my eyes tight, fighting against the strange invasion. Another gust
of wind ripped through the forest. At once the chill ceased, the
rider spun and rode off after his companions.

The moment the guards were out of sight, the
Del Contes were on their feet, their concern and anxiety
overpowering. Running from guards didn’t seem like something any
honest person would do. Which made me wonder, what if my dad’s role
in this other world was bad? I hadn’t thought of that. What would I
do then? But I saw those guards, how dark and frightening they
were, and I was still shaken by that voice. It didn’t matter
whether or not Dad was good or bad. I needed to see him, to know
that he was safe from men like them. And to know that he was
alive.

Sonya tugged on me to move. The shadows in
the forest were much deeper than before. I glanced up. Thick clouds
loomed overhead, just visible through cracks in the green barrier.
These clouds were darker and more menacing than anything I’d ever
seen—not the sort of thing you want from a storm.

We strayed from the path this time, winding
around huge trees and thick underbrush. The wind gained strength,
ripping through the forest, nipping at my damp skin. I kept seeing
movement in the corner of my eye, but every time I looked, all I
could find was a rock or pile of shrubs.

Then I bumped into something.

Not again.

"Sorry.” My cheeks burned hot. And,
unfortunately for me, Alex noticed this time.

He lowered his mouth to my ear. "You know, if
you wanted me closer, you could've just asked. It'd be a lot less
painful for both of us."

My eyes narrowed. “Like you know anything
about pain.”

His lips formed a tight line and he stepped
aside. When I walked on, I felt his eyes burning into my back.

You got your wish. You wanted him to say
something last time.

That’s it, conscience. If you don’t keep
quiet I’ll tie you to a tree and leave you there.

The breeze continued to beat at my hair and
cloak. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to contain my body
heat, hoping that wherever we were headed wasn’t much further.

 My teeth were chattering by the time a
solid gray structure came into view. The roof was made of thatched
coverings and the walls were composed of neatly laid stone. Ribbons
of smoke rose and curled from the chimney and my spirits lifted at
the prospect of a warm fire. Soft light flickered behind one of the
beveled glass windows, shadows moving beyond. Someone was inside.
Was it Dad? Was he safe?

The front door creaked open, and my heart
sank. It wasn’t my dad. It was a young man about my age, maybe
younger. His light-brown hair was a disheveled mess and his hazel
eyes held an awareness that contrasted with his youthful features.
He wore a loose-fitting tunic that looked slightly large for his
skinny frame, and the extra fabric of his tan breeches was tucked
into tall leather boots. If this was the style, no wonder the Del
Contes wanted us to wear cloaks.

The boy halted right before us and even
before he opened his lips to speak, I knew the news wasn’t good.
His apprehension was strong.

“Thad.” Cicero nodded once.

The boy called Thad nodded in return. “Sir.”
His voice was scratchy.

“Where’s Alaric?”

The boy’s gaze flashed to me. “Gone,
sir.”

Cicero stepped forward. “What do you
mean…gone?”

“He left this morning. He said there was no
time to waste. Someone helped the Pykans through the portal.”

I felt the sharp anxiety of the Del Contes,
but knowing my dad had come and gone turned my heart to lead.
“Where’s my dad?”

“Quick, inside,” Sonya said as she looped her
arm through mine and pulled me after her.

Thad stole a few glimpses of me as he led us
to the cottage. Thunder cracked above, rumbling throughout the
valley as large droplets began falling, and my sense of despair
expounded. Since I’d been told about this crazy place, the one hope
I’d clung to had been seeing my dad. Without him, I wasn’t sure how
much longer I could keep it together.

We reached the protection of the porch just
as the clouds unleashed their fury. Rain fell in a curtain behind
us, blurring the landscape as we walked through the doorway.

Dad wasn’t here.

Everyone scattered but I stood in the foyer,
frozen with anxiety. What should I do now? I was in a strange world
with no one I could trust. My dad was here—somewhere—but I had no
possible way of finding him. Not one clue where he could’ve gone.
Even if I knew, how in this world would I get there?

Quick patter echoed from somewhere. There was
a blur of movement and then a large mass of grey fur lunged at me.
Its paws landed on my chest, shoving me against the wall, and
lavished my neck and chin with dog drool.