The Land Of Shadows (6 page)

‘
I’m killing Luna. I can’t let go off her
!’ Alchera’s thoughts are filled with guilt but it’s not her fault. Memories of how her father and brother died surface and I feel even worse for putting her in this position.

‘Listen to me!’
Another burst of strength comes from Carter and the mist grows thicker in her mind.
‘Open your hand, Alchera. You merely have to open and let go.’

Using the last bit of her strength, she twists her hand loose from the grip of death we are caught in. The second the link is broken the mist begins to fade and I lose my hold on Alchera’s mind. I start to slip away from her and back to my own body.

‘Carter!’
I hear Alchera’s panic filled cry.

‘You have to let go off me now. I have caused you so much harm.’
His voice fades fast with every word he speaks.

‘No! Come back!’
Anguish fills Alchera’s worn mind.
‘Where are you?’

‘I am where you cannot be.’
I can feel the shadows creeping back, as my hold grows weaker on her. Their familiar coldness soaks up all her warmth. I want to save Alchera from their clutches but I have no strength left in me.

‘Just tell me where you are.’
She begs once more.

‘The Shadowedlands.’
His voice is faint. I feel him slipping away with the waning mist.

‘
No!’
Alchera’s soul weeps and I want to cry with her so badly. Alchera’s last thoughts whisper to me. ‘
I lied to you. That night you asked me if I loved you, I lied.’
She tries in vain to tell him the words she needs him to hear.
‘You’re my best friend. I love you so much, and now I’ve lost you forever.

Back in my body, I start to shiver. My body is cold and drained of all its energy. Alchera sits hunched over, crying. “Alchera?” I can’t move yet but I need to know that she’s okay.

She lifts a hand, showing that I should give her a moment. “I’ll be okay. I just need a second.” The sorrow in Alchera’s voice chips away at my heart.

I struggle up so I can sit. I want so badly to reach out to her. “I am here and I will not tell anyone. I will protect your secrets. I will protect your life with my own.” Guilt settles in Alchera’s eyes as I try to make her understand how I feel.

“Who are we trying to fool? The dreams are no secret, Luna! Half of Vaalbara knows of them already.” I know she doesn’t mean to lash out at me. Her heart is broken and her anger misplaced.

“I do not mean your dreams,” I whisper softly.

“What do you mean?” Fear flits across Alchera’s face.

“Carter.” If I want to win Alchera’s trust it doesn’t help if I keep secrets from her anymore. “At first I did not know what to make of the sights I saw before my eyes, but when I saw his face and heard you call his name…” I glance at Alchera before continuing, “I knew I was seeing Void as clearly as you were. It started with the Celestial moon. Since that night I have been able to see flashes of your dreams and now, as you held my hand, I heard Carter speak with you.”

“How is that even possible?” When she finally finds her voice it is filled with worry.

“It is my destiny.” Rising, I lean against a tree for support. “My bedroom window overlooks yours, and ever since Raighne brought you home I have heard you wake from your dreams screaming
that
name. Alder told me of my destiny when I turned eighteen. It is my destiny to destroy Void. The night of my Celestial moon I prayed for your pain to be passed on to me.” I remember the flashes and the shadows I fought for three days.

“Luna, you prayed for me?” Out of everything I just said
that’s
what Alchera is taking from it? “You asked to help carry my burden? Why would you do such a thing?” I glance at Alchera and there’s no anger on her face, only gratefulness. This is why I love her so much. This is why I will fight for her until my end. There is so much beauty and good in her. She’s everything I’m not.

“Because, you of all people do not deserve to suffer this way! You gave your life so that baby Elora could be saved. As you laid down your life for her, I am willing to lay my life down for yours. You offered so much and everyone has simply forgotten your sacrifices!” Anger bubbles up in me as I think of the village turning their backs on Alchera. “Everyone has turned their backs on you! But … but, they are wrong about you. I know you. I know how you suffer when you think no one is watching. I believe in you even though you do not believe in yourself.” I blink back the tears as my breaths come hard and fast.

“You believe in a fool, Luna. I will only lead you into the shadows.
He
will come for me and I don’t want you close to me. You’ll only get hurt.” How can the village be so blind? Why am I the only one who sees what’s happening to her? Why am I the only one that cares about her?

“I can keep you safe. I can defeat
him
.” I’m adamant to help her. I will not just stand by and let her be consumed by Void’s darkness.

“Don’t talk like that! You can’t go up against
him
… no one has and lived to tell the tale.”

I shove away from the tree. I’ll have to show her that I can. I have to win her trust. I look up at the stars, now shining brightly. My moon has just made its appearance. It may not be a full moon, but it’s enough for me to draw energy from it. I feel the light of the moon as it starts to pulse through my body, replenishing my energy. The air starts to crackle around me as I feel my energy prickle my skin.

“I can! I have been training myself. I am much stronger than you all think.” Strands of my hair start to stir, even though there’s no breeze in the evening air.

Summoning every bit of energy from my moon hanging low in the sky, I cup my hands and feel energy start to build. It jumps from the one palm of my hand to the other. The waxing moon grows darker as I continue to drain all the light it has to offer. It is the first time I am going to show someone other than Lucius and Rue what I can really do. It has taken me years of training to grow this strong. My whole body starts to hum as my energy increases and my skin starts to sparkle.

I glance at Alchera and watch as her eyes grow wide. I bring my hands together and a pearl-colored light sizzles to life. I’m concentrating so hard on what I’m about to do that I don’t hear Raighne and Storm approaching us.

I turn slowly to Alchera and make eye contact. “This will only hurt a little … but the result will be for your own good. It will chase the shadows away.” My voice sounds distant, but it’s only because I’m concentrating so hard.

When I’m ready, I throw the orb at Alchera. It envelops her, lifting her feet from the ground. The pearly color surrounding her quickly turns to an awful murky black as the shadows are drained from her. When every last shadow is sucked from her the orb slams back into me and sends me flying backwards. A nearby tree breaks my fall and I hit the ground hard. The shadows taken from Alchera screech and claw at me and for a moment I’m too dizzy to fight back. I didn’t expect them to be so strong. They bite and scratch at my mind. I grab at my head to try and ease the pain searing through me. I can’t let Alchera see me like this. She will only feel guilty. I drag myself off the ground, my body aching from the blow. Alchera’s voice cuts through my torn mind. Everything sounds too loud.

“What the hell have you done?” Alchera storms toward me but I sidestep her before she can touch me. The shadows will only creep back to her. She’s the easier prey.

“No!” I try to form a coherent sentence in my disordered mind. “No touching.” My mind aches as the shadows grow stronger, and I know I have to get away from Alchera so I can fight them. I can’t let her be a witness to the battle. This is something I have to do alone. If I can’t do this, what good will I be to her when Void comes?

I start to stumble, moving deeper into the forest.

“Luna, let me look at you!” Alchera sounds panicked but I ignore her and keep going, a little faster with every step I take. I’m growing stronger again as my light wars with the shadows.

~*~

The casualties of war are true heroes that everybody forgets to remember, even those who fight wars within themselves…

Storm~

The last person I wanted to meet up with tonight is Raighne. I’m in no mood for one of his lectures. Honestly, I have not heard a word he has said since he stopped me down at the river. All I’m interested in is finding Luna so she can explain to me why she has been holding herself back in training.

“Storm, not listening to me will not make me go away.” Raighne’s suddenly tired voice gets my attention and I stop dead in my tracks.

“I am tired of listening to you, Raighne. It is all I have been doing for the last fourteen years.” We had great times when I used to train under Raighne. Those lost years still sadden me at times. “Look, things happened and I more than anyone wish I could go back and change it all.”

A bright light flares up not far from us and then an unholy screech sets us both into motion. Raighne is the first to get to the spot. I don’t know what I expect to see but it’s not Alchera. She’s sitting on the forest floor, a look of shock on her face.

Raighne rushes to her side. “What happened? Alchera, why are you out here alone?” Raighne’s concern for her is written all over his face. I can’t help but wonder if Luna and I will ever know the kind of love Raighne and Alchera share.

“Luna.” Alchera whispers. She looks up at Raighne, confusion written all over her features. “She … she…” Alchera shakes her head as if she can’t wrap her mind around something.

My blood literally freezes over. If she did anything to harm Alchera, Raighne will kill her.

“We have to find her!” Alchera struggles to stand. Her eyes dart wildly around her. “She needs us!” Before she can run deeper into the forest, Raighne stops her. My eyes jump from one to the other as they just stare at each other for a moment.

“What?” I snap. I’m growing nervous, thinking of all the things Luna could have done wrong.

Raighne glances at me, wonder on his face. “Can you not see it?” Raighne reaches for Alchera’s face and his fingers barely skim her glowing skin.

My eyes widen. Oh Awo! “Alchera! You are healthy!” I take a step closer, my heart pounding in my chest. She hasn’t looked this good in years. Her cheeks are even flushed with a healthy glow.

“I am,” she smiles briefly before worry clouds her face, “but we have to find Luna.” The look on Alchera’s face chills me to my bones. “She took my shadows from me. I–”

She did what? How is that even possible? Panic floods me. Luna might have taken on too much and lying vulnerable somewhere. We never explored her talent during training. “Which way did she go?” Ice drips from my voice. “Which way, Alchera?” I snap. An urgency to find Luna makes me feel frantic. Alchera flinches at the volume of my voice and manages to point me in the right direction.

Raighne shouts something as I run in the direction Alchera pointed out. I race through the trees as if a thousand devils are on my heels. I can only hope I’m still heading in the direction Alchera indicated. The further into the forest I run, the more upset I get with Luna for placing herself in danger. It is getting dark in the forest and with the meager moon hardly casting any light through the tree tops, it becomes hard to see. I send an orb of light out before me to illuminate the path. As I run, the trees start to thin out and the forest opens up into a small clearing. I brighten the orb and send it up higher so it can cast light over the whole clearing.

She has to be here somewhere! I reach the middle of the clearing and turn in a slow circle, taking in every inch. When I see her standing to my left I break out in a run. As I near her, I notice her shoulders are slumped. Her hair hangs wildly around her face.

Now that I’ve found her, anger burns hot through me. “You will always find a way to get yourself in trouble! What were you thinking? Raighne will wipe you off the face of Vaalbara if you so much as touch a hair on Alchera’s head!” I move in front of her and grab hold of her arms. There is no resistance from her as I shake her lightly. She is like a rag doll, just going with my hands. The anger fades and my worry doubles at the sight of her pasty complexion. She is naturally pale, but I’ve never seen her look this haggard. I immediately regret my hasty words of anger.

I duck closer to her so I can see her eyes. The usual spark is gone. Her eyes are clouded over, the same way Alchera’s have been for the past few years.

“Luna, what happened back there with Alchera? What did you do?” I brush her hair from her face, so I can see her. Something is very wrong with Luna! For the first time since our kiss she is allowing me to touch her. She is always quick to shy away from me.

I slip my hands over her shoulders and down her arms. I take her hands in mine and when I feel how cold and clammy they are, I feel a sickening panic start to rise from my stomach. I raise a hand to her cheek. Her skin is cold and clammy all over. Luna’s lips part as if she wants to say something and she turns her cheek into my hand, as if she’s seeking my warmth. She closes her eyes and a vague smile forms around her dry lips.

“Lucius, you came,” she whispers, sounding relieved.

I’m about to correct her when she closes the distance between us. She wraps her arms around my waist and presses her face into my chest. I stand stunned for a moment, this is so unlike her. I feel her hand fumbling at my back, and then she slips her hand under my shirt. My eyes widen as a surge runs through me and passes over to Luna. I have never felt something like this before.

I feel the pulsing between us grow stronger until it changes into a strong constant stream. Shocked to my core, I can only stare down at Luna. I try desperately to make sense of what’s happening. She’s taking my energy? Since when can she do that? No one should be able to take another immortals life essence!

The realization hits hard
. Luna can kill an immortal by simply touching them! If she had to touch any of the others they wouldn’t stand a chance against her. Is that why she has kept her distance from the village? How long has she known this?
A million questions race through my mind.

I lift Luna’s face to mine and the change is clear. Her skin is getting its normal snow white glow. She opens her eyes, and twin silver orbs widen as recognition registers in them. She breaks away from me as if the very touch of me burns her.

She lifts a trembling hand to her mouth and slowly starts to shake her head. “What have I done?” Her eyes sparkle with tears. I have never seen Luna cry, not even when Alchera was taken and tortured. A tear slips over her cheek, glistening like a diamond. “I beg your forgiveness, Storm,” she whispers hoarsely. “I could have killed you again. Oh Awo! What have I done?”

I take a step towards her. She looks so distraught that it squeezes my heart. I hate seeing her so upset.

She holds a hand up between us, stopping me from getting closer. “I am so sorry,” she chokes the words out. She turns and runs into the forest at a speed I haven’t seen before.

Stunned by what just happened, I shove my hands through my hair and link my fingers behind my neck.

What was that? What just happened?

I won’t be able to rest until I have all the answers. I can’t leave it like this, not after what just happened.

~*~

Luna~

I can’t believe I did that to Storm! Oh Awo! I even cried in front of Storm. I never cry.

When I’m sure I’m far enough away from Storm, I climb the nearest tree. I make myself comfortable on a branch and lean back against the trunk.

Horror seizes me again, as I remember what I did to Storm. It took everything I had to fight off the shadows. It drained me completely, but that is still no excuse for what I did! If only my moon wasn’t in its waxing stage. A full moon would’ve given me all the energy I needed to fight the shadows.

How could I have mistaken Storm for Lucius? How was it at all possible for me to take his energy? Because Lucius has power over the sun, it makes it possible for me to take of his energy. We’re similar that way. But Storm? I don’t understand it!

“Luna, I can sense you! Show yourself so we can talk about what happened today.” Storm’s sudden call almost makes me lose my grip on the branch. Sense me? How can he sense me?

“I have nothing to say to you, Storm!” I know it won’t be that easy to send him away but it’s worth a try.

“Do not make me force you down.” A clear warning reverberates in his voice. I know what I did was wrong but I don’t have the energy to face him right now.

I drop my head back against the trunk of the tree and grind my teeth. “You and what army? Are you going to use your so-called non-existent talents? I would love to see you make me come down.” I laugh, even though laughing is the last thing I feel like doing.

I know he won’t use his talents. Just like Raighne, Storm stopped using his talents after that day. Knowing why makes the guilt gnaw at my soul.

The air suddenly grows cold and a shiver runs over my arms. A raindrop hits my face and I scowl up at the heavens. My eyes almost bulge out of my head when I look up at a dark and threatening sky. There’s no sign of my stars and moon from just a second a second ago. What’s wrong with the weather?

It can’t be! He won’t use his talents. “Storm-” The whisper hardly has time to form on my lips as it starts to rain heavily. It comes down hard and I scramble to climb down the tree. The drops come down hard and fast. My footing on the tree trunk slips and with a shriek I fall.

The fall is unexpected and I need to draw on my moon to stop my fall. I try to get as much energy from the moon before I hit the ground. I’ll need all I can get from the moon to heal myself, because this fall is going to hurt.

My body slams into a branch on the way down and then a wind comes up from beneath me, slowing my fall. The winds around me are a dizzying experience. The second I touch the wet ground, I stagger back on wobbly legs. I shake my head to clear the dizziness.

When I look up it’s in time to see Storm reaching out to me. I jerk away and completely lose my balance, landing hard on my backside. I glare up at Storm. Wrath builds up inside me. Long gone is the needy girl from earlier this evening.

Storm crouches down in front of me. His eyes are on my arm and I follow his gaze to where the branch has torn a piece of my sleeve away, leaving a nasty cut behind.

He reaches for the cut and I scramble backwards. “Touch me and die!” I quickly rise to my feet. I look and feel like a drenched mouse that has just gone a few rounds with a cat. “I am glad to see you at least still know what a talent is.” I spit the words at him. I immediately regret my outburst. It’s my fault he doesn’t use his talents. I have no right to throw that in his face.

I wipe the water from my face in an attempt to gather myself. I’ve been doing so well the past seven years to hide my growing talent, and today everything has conspired against me to destroy all my hard work.

“What happened back in the clearing, Luna?” Storm takes a step toward me but I hold my ground. I might be in trouble, but I won’t back down. “You took my energy. How did you do that?”

My heart starts to beat nervously. I don’t know what to answer him. My eyes dart everywhere but Storm’s piercing gaze.

Taking another step closer, Storm is within touching distance of me. “Why did you hide your talent from me? I am your trainer.” I can hear the accusation in his voice.

At a loss for words I shake my head and turn to walk away. There is no way for me to explain myself.

I hear his footsteps come up behind me and my shoulders drop. Why can’t he just let me be? I swing around, just in time to see his hand inches from taking hold of my shoulder. My wet hair slaps his hand instead, and silver drops splash against his fingers. I watch with a sinking horror as some spray into the air like fireflies taking flight. My eyes are fixed on Storm. Amazement lights up his face as he looks from the spray to the silver drops on his palm and fingers.

“It is not-” I begin to try and put together a lame excuse, as Storm’s face grows serious. My eyes dart nervously from his face to the watery silver streak in his palm.

“I did not use electricity on you,” he whispers deep in thought. Storm will never forgive himself if he hurt someone with one of his talents. I feel awful for letting him think for one second that he may have hurt me. I can see the cut on my arm bothers him, but his talent of electricity can easily kill. His eyes flit over my whole person to make sure I’m alright and then words of worry rush from his lips. “Are you all right? I did not hurt you?”

My face softens at the panic in his voice. He looks horrified.

With a small reassuring smile I whisper the words that I know will bring a flood of questions, but I can’t let Storm think he has hurt me. “You did not hurt me, Storm.”

“Why then would you have a current running through you?” His voice is a low rumble and eyes lock with mine. My mouth dries and I wish I could find a place to hide. Storm can be very daunting when he wants something.

“Uhm … I …ahh,” I stutter, trying to think of an excuse he will believe. I bite my bottom lip, silently cursing myself. Storm’s eyes pierce through me. His look turns predatory and a sudden feeling that I’m being hunted spreads through my bones. Storm moves fast and in an instant he’s standing in front of me. His hand is inches away from mine as he reaches for it. Like a child, I shove my hands behind my back and out of his reach. I glare up at him and take a step back.

“Why do you move away from me? Why will you not let me touch you?”

I don’t want to tell him my secret. I’m scared he’ll get involved and in the process hurt, or worse. I’m so tired I can’t think of a good lie so I stutter, “I have to … I have to go.” I drop my eyes to my feet so he won’t see the truth in my eyes.

“Go where?”
Oh, he is so persistent!
I try to step around him, but he moves to block my way. “For once in your life face me, Luna!” Storm sighs heavily. “Your constant running is starting to leave me very frustrated. I want to know what happened in the clearing. Help me understand what is going on with you. Let me help.”