Vaalbara; Visions & Shadows (13 page)

“You are being rude, Alchera.” Raighne’s impersonal tone slammed me in the gut.

I turned from Raighne’s cool expression and focused on the newest ’character’ being thrown at me. “Hi,” I groaned. “Sorry. Peace be, River. Call me Aislinn.” I was so deep in thought I didn’t realize I gave him the wrong name.

“I beg your pardon?”

“She meant to say Alchera,” Raighne corrected. “She is still adjusting.”

A feeling of pure exhaustion settled over me. “I need to be somewhere else right now.” With one last nod, I walked away as fast as I could.

The problem in being on a new planet was that you had no idea where anything was. You didn’t have a clue where to go, and ended up walking aimlessly through picturesque fields and woods that all looked alike.

Oh, Sid, I’m so in need of GPS right now!

Eventually I found a path and followed it for what felt like an hour. My body was aching something terrible by then. As I rounded a bend in the forest I walked directly into Fleur. I was so happy to see her that I didn’t notice how her face completely drained of color.

She looked me up and down. “By Awo! What
happened
to you?”

“You were there,” I answered.

“Alandra did all that?” Fleur’s ashen face turned even whiter.

“What’d you think we were doing out there on the field? Dancing?”

Fleur’s face was a mask of confusion, as she tried to process what she’d seen. “I have disappointed you.”

I shook my head. These Vaalbara people were certainly guilt-ridden souls. “You didn’t do anything. It’s all on me. I should’ve fought harder.” Hooking my arm through hers, I leaned into her for support. “Please take me to the healers before I pass out.”

“Of course. Come!” Placing her arm around me, she tried her best to hurry. I started to get the feeling that if she could, Fleur would’ve picked me up and carried me all the way.

Raighne and River’s familiar voices echoed behind us. Fleur’s head whipped around, slapping me with her pigtails.

“Damn, Fleur. I’m in enough pain as it is.”

The smile that appeared on Fleur’s face grew wide, and no matter how hard she tried to look nonchalant, a person would have to be blind not to see that Fleur had a desperate crush on ole’ River.

Looks like love, Sid. She didn’t even yell at me for swearing.

I groaned as they walked closer. I, for one, had enough of men for the day. I looked at Fleur. “You stay and wait for them while I make a run for it.”

I tried to pick up my pace, but my feet suddenly flew off the ground. The pain was excruciating; I didn’t know whether to scream or cry.

“Be calm, Alchera. We are almost there.” Raighne’s voice didn’t have the calming effect it usually had. I tried to fling myself from his arms and pushed weakly against his chest, but it was useless. I was already bordering on hysterics.

Heat flooded my body. The ’magic’ treatment seemed to be coming from Raighne’s skin, as his power and warmth flowed through my veins. I didn’t want him close to me right now, but he felt so good. The warmth was lessening the pain and, in that moment, my exhausted mind lost the battle and I fainted dead away in his arms.

~*~

I woke up to an awful sharp pain shooting through my arm into my back and I shot up into a sitting position, as if I was an arrow released from a bow. A pair of strong arms took hold of me and pushed me down whispering comforting words to me.

“Peace be, my Princess. All will be well shortly. We need to tend to your injuries, but it will not take long. Please lie still.” The voice was neutral and calm, as a healer’s should be.

My feverish eyes rested on him. Lean in build, his face was paper thin, and dark, exhausted rings were visible under his weary eyes.

“Princess, does it hurt when I touch here?” His fingers pressed into my ribs and it hurt like hell.

Acting on impulse, I shoved him away - pain was shooting through my chest and side. “You bloody ass, of course it hurts!” Stumbling off the bed, I tried to take a few steps away from the ‘demon healer from hell.’

Raighne came bursting through door, but his menacing eyes settled on
me.
“You cannot speak to the Healer in that manner!”

Me
? I hit the reverse button. Unfortunately, I was now backed against the wall, and I was going to have to face the wrath of Raighne in my underwear with the Healer watching the whole show. Sid might as well sell tickets and popcorn to the most embarrassing event of my life. I suddenly had to fight through a fit of giggles.

Oh, yeah. Sid? You there? I have finally lost what was left of my mind.

Raighne slammed his hand against the wall. “You are becoming unbearable!” Although he was practically hissing his words at me, it felt like I was stuck in the most ridiculous scene ever shot.

He slapped himself on the forehead. “You speak with total disrespect to your brother who, in fact, will be crowned the next King at the celebration given when you return with The Chosen Ones. You insult a Healer who is only trying to help you. You cuss? You giggle? By Awo, Alchera! I do not know how I am going to make a princess out of you.”

I glanced at the Healer and was surprised to see him shaking his head at Raighne.

“
Now
you have nothing to say!”

My humor turned to anger at the volume of Raighne’s voice. I refused to ever let him get the best of me again. “I’ve got plenty to say. But, so help me Awo - what I have to say would only embarrass your prim and proper ways…Your Highness, sir.” Not remembering my wounds, I shoved passed him, and had to grab the nearest bed for support when the pain shot through my back.

“Princess! Come back. I need to help you.” The Healer’s gentle hands supported me and led me back to the bed.

I felt dizzy from the fever and pain. “Do it…quick. Whatever you…have to do - do it…quick. I want to…get the hell out… of here.”

“It will hurt a great deal if done fast”

I clenched my teeth. “Fine. What doesn’t…kill me…will make me…stronger.” My voice was raspy and weak in my ears. “Begin.”

Placing a piece a wood between my teeth, the Healer then gripped my shoulder. I didn’t expect the flash of scalding pain, and I bit down so hard on the wood that it splintered in my mouth. I thrashed in the Healer’s firm grip. 

Raighne was by my side in a flash and I spat the pieces of wood in his concerned face. “Get…away…from…me!”

The Healer bandaged my shoulder, and immediately tended to the cut on my throat that’d begun to bleed again. Stitching the wound, I began seeing red and white dots shooting in front of my eyes. Whatever he’d given me for the pain was not strong enough to knock me out - only enough to make me delirious.

“I want to…go home.” I grabbed the Healer’s hand. “Please…?” I began to sob like a baby, as he pulled his hand free to bandage my bruised arm and ribs. “No one…wants me,” I continued, trying to get the Healer to understand. “I can‘t be this person!” The feelings of hopelessness and despair were overwhelming me when I barely heard the Healer’s soothing voice through the fog.

“May I say something, Raighne?”

“Your words of wisdom are always welcomed, Healer.”

“I know it is not my place to speak, but the Princess is a young, young woman. She has been raised as a human and taught to live in their world. She is not trying to upset you, Raighne. The lady is simply trying to find a place where she fits in - and both the worlds she’s seen have rejected her thus far. Perhaps we should not enforce our own ways on her too fast. Perhaps keeping her own individuality is the will of Awo where she is concerned.”
             
Silence followed his words as the blissful darkness took me away.

~*~

I again opened one eye first and saw River walking slightly ahead of me. River was quite tall. With his dark blond hair and good build he was highly attractive. I could understand why Fleur had the ‘hots’ for him - any girl with working hormones would.

             
“Who are you, River?” My mouth was dry and my voice still sounded hoarse.

“River is a guardian. Well, he is one of Aurian’s guardians. I am so glad to see you are with us again.” Fleur’s chirpy voice answered the question.

“If Aurian’s the best trainer here, why would he need a guardian?”

River issued a small, modest laugh but it was Fleur who answered again.

“There is no one faster than River. He has the best hearing, too.” A light blush rose in her cheeks, as Fleur’s voice took on a tone of worship when she spoke about the mighty River.

“You should not be talking so much. The cut on your throat might start to bleed again.” Raighne’s chilly voice made every hair on my body stand on end.

I was actually trying to avoid acknowledging his presence by making small talk with the others. “I can walk. Put me down.” My words were as clipped and cold as his. Like everyone else here, however, Raighne just kept on walking, ignoring me completely.
             
“Raighne!” I screamed. “I said put me down!” My command brought him to a sudden stop.

Shoving as hard as I could against him with my good arm, he dropped me at once. The sudden landing sent more ripples of pain through my body, but I forced myself to my feet and stumbled forward.

Glancing behind me, I saw three stunned faces staring back. I had to admit I didn’t care anymore. I wanted to be alone. I stumbled to my tent and dropped on my bed like a ton of bricks.

First thing tomorrow, I’d find my way to that waterfall and get my butt back to Earth. I was finished with this place and these people.

Seriously, Sid. Who the hell did they think they were to treat me like this and order me around, yet do nothing to make me feel at home? I’m supposed to be one of them!

“Alchera, we need to talk. We have both said things we regret and you have had a very exhausting day—”

I cut him off. “Raighne, just leave me alone. I don’t have any strength left to hear more of your insults.”

His footsteps stopped right beside the bed. In my exhausted state something else came to mind.

“Alchera, please understand…”

“I’ve seen this,” I whispered. “This conversation…me lying here… I’ve seen all this before.” My voice sounded distant in my own ears, as I pushed myself off the bed.

“A vision? When?” 

“That day in school when I said I had a daydream. I didn’t understand them then.”

“
Them
? There are more?” Raighne sat down on the bed behind me.

“Yes.” I scooted away and took a seat in the dark corner.

“I apologize for what I said to you earlier. I was upset that you had reacted so defensively when I had introduced you to River.” He moved out of the shadows into the middle of the room. “My behavior was uncalled for and, for that, I apologize, Alchera. I should not have allowed for things to have progressed as far as they have between us, and will keep myself in check from now on.” He took a deep breath and then sat down next to me.

I couldn’t keep the sadness from my voice and brought my knees slowly up to my chest. Every movement I made still ached like hell. “I suppose it takes two to tango.”

Well Sid, maybe Raighne has a point. I should control my feelings better. After all, being an emotional teenager isn’t going to win anyone’s respect around here.

“I do not know if you heard what the Healer said, but he was right.” Raighne leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “I failed you as a guardian
and
as a friend today and—”

“It’s over.” I didn’t want to talk about it. All I wanted was to go to sleep and get on with the rest of whatever was in store for me.

“Please, do not be negative.”

I frowned at him. “You keep doing that – as if you are reading my thoughts.”

He offered a smile that looked like the old Ryan had returned. “For all you know I am seeing into your mind. But the only way to know for sure is to wait until the training starts.” His face turned serious. “We need to talk about more pressing matters. Tell me about your other visions.”

I got up slowly, desperately trying to stretch my sore body. “The one bothering me the most is about a disaster. At least, it looked like a disaster. I was standing in a city surrounded by people panicking. Others were already dead - their faces were…burned.” I took a deep breath, trying to fight the feelings of loss that flooded my memory. How could I mourn people who weren’t even dead yet?

“Go on.” Raighne got up, too, but kept his distance - allowing me the space I needed to recall images I’d just as soon forget.

“It was raining ash,” I whispered. “I looked up to see where it was coming from and, I saw a cover of dark clouds; the middle was swirling, and the edges of the black cloud were dark red.” I tried really hard to keep my voice from trembling. “The clouds were on fire.” I couldn’t carry this heavy weight, and sat down quickly when my legs turned to jelly. 

“This… volcano.” I looked at Raighne, trying to separate myself from my memory. “It’d erupted. I wasn’t concerned for myself, Raighne. I just felt so empty, like a wasteland.”