The Land Of Shadows (15 page)

‘You were not tricked, Sweetling. You were negligent, thoughtless. You were selfish. You simply did not think of your father. Do not blame another for your mistakes. Your father died because of you, my Sweetling.’

“Stop calling her that!” I scream, totally losing control of my temper.

‘He is right. Void is right. I should have thought of asking for my father’s life that day. There is no one else to blame.’
Alchera sounds more barren, as Void’s words delve deeper into her, causing her to doubt herself.

“No! No, he is not! Alchera, you are not listening to me.” An endless frustration makes me even angrier.

‘On that note I will be leaving you alone for a while. I will return shortly though, and then we will have some real fun.’

I feel Void leave and the feeling of utter desolation lifts.

‘Luna, what is happening over there?’
Now is not the time for Storm to interfere!

“I told you to stay out of my mind!” I gather what energy I can from my moon and concentrate hard to build a barrier between myself and Storm. I’m tired of his interference, once and for all!

~*~

It is a perfect deception when you can lie to yourself and believe it. You cannot love two people the same. One will always fall by the shadows … even if that one is you.

Storm~

We’ve been running at a good pace and should catch up with Luna soon. A strong wave of anger burns through me again and brings me to a quick stop.

Out of breath, I take a moment to focus on Luna.
‘Luna, what is happening over there?’

I feel her anger surge and then she hisses,
‘I told you to stay out of my mind!’

I feel her trying to block me and it makes my own anger bubble up. How am I supposed to protect her if she won’t let me in? I shake my head, feeling a little hopeless.

“What is going on?” Raighne asks after a while.

“She keeps trying to block me. What is the point of making me her guardian if she will not accept it?”

“This bond is not about you, Storm. You are her guardian, no matter what she does. She has to come first. You can never put your own feelings ahead of hers. Even if she abandons you, this bond between you will not break. You are bound to her for all eternity, Storm. You are the one person who can never give up on her. You are the one who must die for her.”

Raighne’s words hit hard and fill me with a great sadness. That might be all I will ever be to Luna – a guardian.

“Luna?” Her name slams back into me. I can’t believe she actually managed to block me out!

Desperately, I look to Raighne for help. “She blocked me! I cannot believe she actually blocked me.”

Raighne walks up to me and with an unwavering look on his face takes hold of my shoulders. “Calm down, Storm! Everything you feel is intensified because of the bond. Her rejection of the bond makes you feel unwanted, when in truth, you would have not cared at all before the bond was formed. You know how stubborn she can be and it has never bothered you before. Now, one last time,
you
are the guardian.
You
are the strong one. You cannot have a breakdown! Pull yourself together.”

I take a deep breath, listening to every sensible word Raighne is speaking.

“I understand this is sudden. I had years to prepare, but you better learn fast or she will not make it.”

The thought of Luna failing because of me doesn’t sit well in my gut. “I understand, Raighne.”

I take hold of his arm as if I can take some strength from him in the process.

“Good. While we are running you can focus harder on breaking through the wall Luna has managed to construct.”

I do just that, and not far into our run I get through to Luna.

Luna is flooded with frustration and anger. With the erratic emotions Luna is feeling I can only imagine how tired she must be growing. As calm as possible I send my question out to her, hoping she is well.
‘Are you alright?’

‘I said, leave me alone!’

I glance at Raighne of all people for strength before I attempt to break her wall down.

“Whether you like it or not you have a destiny to fulfill and that is my business. I am your guardian and your life has been placed in my protection. So, Luna, whether you agree or not, whether you like it or not, I am and always will be in your life until I give my last breath for you.”

I cut the connection and look to Raighne nodding once.

“We better really get going now.” Raighne smiles through his words. “There is nothing like a good threat to anger a woman.”

~*~

Luna~

After the speech Storm gave me I’m not sure if I should be angry, disappointed, or grateful. Why does it even bother me? Because, I’m not used to so many people. I’m used to it only being me and Rue, or me and Lucius. I can do this with just Rue, I don’t need Storm.

Rue! I forgot about him with all that happened. Looking around I realize he is staring at me with a puzzled look on his face. “Care to tell me what is going on!”

“What is there to tell? Alchera is being tortured. I am doing a horrible job at getting to her, and if you do not keep up, you might as well go back to the village!” I snap at him and immediately feel guilty for the outburst. I start to jog at a slower pace. From the flashes I’ve received from Alchera, I know the Living Springs should be close by. It is where the River of Life begins its journey to the Holy City. Once there I will take a short break and form an actual plan.

“Are you not going to tell me more about Void and what we are facing?”

Rue falls into place next to me, and for a moment our rushed breaths are all I can hear.

“
We
are facing nothing.
I
am facing Void alone. I appreciate the company, but you are definitely not crossing the border into the Shadowlands.”

I can see Rue doesn’t like what I’m telling him one bit. His jaw sets tightly. Usually everything between us is so easy, but since Rue joined me on this journey … everything has changed.

“Did you not hear me when I said you are not going alone?” He normally keeps this dominant side quiet, unleashing it only when Caia is around. My eyes widen as I realize what’s happening.

“I am not Caia! Do not for one moment think you can come on this journey and tell me what to do. This…this…” I wave my hands in the air as I search for the right words, “just because I am letting you come along, it does not mean that you will go all the way.” I huff and glare at Rue. “Look, one domineering man is enough for me and Storm already fills that spot. You are my best friend. I need your support, not another person who is going to try and hold me back. I have enough of those already.”

If Rue’s eyes could change color they would. Waving his arms in the same manner I did, I can see I only managed to upset him more.

“I am not domineering. This,” Rue points from himself to me and I can’t help but roll my eyes, “me coming along, is because I care! You will always have my support, Luna. When I said I love you I actually meant every word. I just want to help you. I will never forgive myself if something were to happen to you.” Rue’s words curbs my anger a bit.

I have never seen this warrior side of Rue and it warms my heart in a way I thought only Storm could. “You really are the best friend any girl could ask for.” I punch him playfully on his shoulder and smile.

Rue grabs hold of my arm and pulls me to a stop. There is a look of pure anguish in his eyes. “What is it?” I ask, feeling worried for my friend.

“Lucius told me,” he whispers.

For a moment I’m not following Rue, but it only takes me a split-second to catch on. The anguish in his eyes suddenly makes sense.

“So this is what it is? You find out I will die in a matter of days and you … what, Rue? You are here because you pity me? I thought you would stand by me. This is my destiny!” I hate the idea of Rue pitying me so much I want to cry.

“No, Luna! I wish you would listen to me!” Rue reaches for me but I step away, and somehow the all too familiar ‘avoidance dance’ I have always shared with Storm is now happening between me and my best friend. “Luna, I am here because I want to spend every moment I possibly can with you. You know I love you. I will never pity you.”

“Well,” Raighne’s voice echoes loudly and I jump with shock. “The two of you will have plenty of those moments to enjoy later on. Let us first get the unpleasantries out of the way and then get back on the road. I want to save my wife.”

My whole face is tingling with the shock of seeing Storm and Raighne appear just a few feet in front of us. How much did they hear? Did Storm hear that I will die?

~*~

Storm~

I keep my face neutral, so none of the rampant emotions I’m feeling will show. Watching another man declare his love to the woman who is literally my heart and soul – and not killing him after his declaration– is taking my control issues to a whole new level. I’m more than willing to let Raighne take the lead while I calm myself down.

“Storm, would you like a moment with your charge?”

My eyes jump to Raighne’s. The slight nod he gives me speaks volumes. I haven’t seen it in ages but it’s all I need to calm me. The telltale signal from Raighne always used to tell me when Raighne knew I was ready, and he never made a mistake. I didn’t wait for the signal on the day I died and now that we are guardians facing death once again. I can only hope we will all survive.

“Alder gave me your destiny,” it’s hard to look from Raighne to Luna but I do it, while standing rooted to the spot, “and before I tell you what it is there is one thing you should know.”

Luna’s eyes waver before mine and then she drops them and stares at the ground. Yesterday we were dancing, kissing - now we’re dancing around each other. How I wish we could turn back time.

“I want you to know I will not let anything happen to you. Hear me out first before you draw your own conclusions.” I take a deep breath as Luna shakes her head.

‘You cannot stop it from happening, Storm.’

I close my eyes and allow myself this one sign of weakness as Luna fills my mind.

“You no longer have to kill Void. He is not the threat.” Luna looks up with wide eyes and the hope in them almost makes up for the hurt I’m feeling.

“Varia, Void’s daughter is now the one you need to focus on. You need to kill her, seeing as that she controls Void in the same manner Adeth controlled Carter.” I regret mentioning Carter in Raighne’s presence when he flinches.

Luna’s hope vanishes and in its place turmoil sets hard on her face.

“I still die?” Her blatant question stabs at my heart. Her feelings swamp me again, but the one that hurts most is
betrayal.

‘I said I will not let anything happen to you!’

Luna takes a step toward me and I stand my ground.

‘How? For me to kill Varia I have to give all of me. Did Alder not explain this to you?’

I glance to Raighne for strength and again he nods at me.

“What Alder explained and what will happen is two different things. Did Alchera not bring back eleven people?”

Luna opens her mouth to say something but ends up shaking her head again. “I am not Alchera. It was meant for Alchera to live. It is written that I must die.”

I feel my control slip with Luna’s stubbornness. “Why are you so unrelenting. Do you
want
to die, Luna? Do you not trust me to keep you safe?”

In true Luna manner, she lifts her chin in defiance. “Mara told me my fate years ago. Why do you think I have been this way? Do you think I love being such a hateful person? No, Storm, I do not! She told me to prepare myself to kill Void. She was the
only
one who told me the truth … all of
you
lied to me!”

~*~

Luna~

Getting the betrayal off my chest doesn’t feel as good as I thought it would. Letting Storm and Raighne know that I’ve known all along doesn’t take the bitterness from my soul.

Raighne and Storm both move in on me, their faces masked with worry. This is not the reaction I expected, maybe a little regret, but not worry.

“You have spoken with Mara!” Raighne snaps.

I narrow my eyes, and snap back, “Yes, as in Mara the angel.” Still I can’t keep myself from being sarcastic. They must be upset because I’m ruining their perfect plans.

“Luna, do you even know who you have been dealing with?” Raighne wipes his face and looks to the heavens as if he’s praying for strength.

“Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. Mara told me from the start that I will have to die. She gave me my destiny and she said she will be there when I succumb to death in order to take me.” My voice drops as I remember her last visit. “She also warned me that I would be cast from the village. I really did my best to save Alchera but still it was not enough for you, or Alder! It will
never
be enough for you, Raighne!”

“Mara is Azreal’s sister!” Raighne’s thunderous tone silences me and I flinch back at his anger.

“Let me, Raighne.” Storm’s overly calm voice grates in my ears.

Stunned, I watch how Raighne turns away from me and actually listens to Storm. It must be great to be one of the guardians now. Storm is now one of them.

“Mara
is
Varia,” Storm says, much calmer than Raighne, but I can still see his eyes burning with worry and anger. He takes a step towards me. “Luna, they are one and the same. She is orchestrating this whole ploy to kill Void and take control of the Shadowedlands so that she can open the gates to the pits.”

Mara can’t be Varia! My angel can’t be that vile creature!
I shake my head in denial. “No!” Tears wet my cheeks, and this time it’s not because of a flash. It’s not Alchera’s pain. This time it’s my own reality. They are my own tears, my own pain. “You are wrong. Mara will not betray me like this. This is all lies! You are lying to me.” I turn away from them. I need to speak with Mara myself.

‘When have I ever lied to you? I have never left your side, not even when you turned your back on me, Luna. You know you can trust me.’
Hearing Storm speak the truth only confuses me more. It was Mara who told me to stay away from Storm, that he would only be a hindrance in reaching my full potential.

“This is all so confusing! I need time.” Time I know I don’t have.

“We do not have time, Luna.” Raighne sounds as troubled as I feel. “I need to know if you can do this. Can we count on you to kill her?”

I swing back, my jaw hanging slack at the audacity Raighne has shown to even ask me such a thing!

~*~

Storm~

“Of course you can count on me to die for Alchera. I am only questioning who I will be killing. I do not want to kill the wrong person just because you tell me to.”