Fated Release (Fated Keepers Series Book 2) (10 page)

Chapter 16

Reine

I can’t help but feel a connection with the poor comatose girl. I see her laying there withering away day after day while her family is out searching for her soul keeper. I wish I could help her. I really do. I feel like somehow she and I are connected on another level, even though we have never spoken. I feel her emotions at time
s
like they are my own. Her spirit calls to mine relentlessly. At first I would try to ignore the pull. I would try to make myself not care. She is half Craecia after all, but my shaman spirit would not allow me.

I look in on her now laying there so perfectly beautiful. Her copper red hair is brushed over the left side of her shoulder and braided in a fish tail. I notice the dark black circles under her eyes and the shallow look to her cheeks from being in a coma for so long. Her skin is tinted yellow instead of the natural olive tone it use to hold, but I know all these things will be fixed when her soul keeper, Lyon returns. I pray for her sake he returns soon.

I sense the power and the overall goodness beneath the surface that Arsema holds within. I am not sure if she has tapped into her full power yet or if it is something she is still learning to embrace, but I can feel that when she does she will be a force to be reckoned with. The question I keep coming back to, the same one on everyone’s mind, is she going to be enough to defeat Ose? She seems so frail and lifeless right now. I know one thing. This girl has captured my heart. I will stand by her side until the end, battling any Orfeo that come our way.

Chapter 17

Arsema

I feel like I'm slowly fading in and out of nothingness. Most of the time my spirit feels detached from my body. I no longer feel the pain from the loss of the bond. I can't feel anything. Occasionally I will drift back into my body and the pain I feel is so intense I beg for the darkness to take me again. It is like nothing I have ever imagined before. The only time I have any relief from the pain is when Reine is with me. Her light squelches the pain into a bearable form. She has taken to coming and sitting with me more often now. Sometimes she will talk, other times she will just be. I think my spirit calls to hers as well.

We are sitting together…
well I am laying
;
she is sitting…
when I hear Erik and Haas arguing.

“He’s my responsibility; I will go fetch the boy. Besides you need to be here for Reine. I know her soul calls to you.”

“Yes sir. I understand. I will protect them both. Be safe.”

I feel my heart quicken at the thought of Erik leaving, knowing that he is going to look for Cash. I want to ask so many questions. I need answers. Where is my brother? Reine senses my distress and calms my nerves.

“We believe your brother has followed the scholar. I think he has developed a bit of a crush and seeks to protect her.”

Casher, you idiot! Please don’t get yourself killed! I send up a silent prayer for the safe return of my brother and then I feel myself drift into the beyond.

Chapter 18

Tris

It feels like only minutes have passed since my last vision when I suddenly find myself thrust into another one. This one feels different. More urgent. I feel that something is happening that I NEED to see. Looking around I search the area for what that could possibly be. I don't see anything out of the ordinary. I am in another forest. The wind is blowing fiercely throw the area. I see the trees lean with the power of the gust. The ground is covered in leaves and pine straw. I am turning in circles wondering why I was forced to see this when I hear the first battle cry to my left. I rush through the narrow rows of trees until I find the source of the yelling.

Erik is standing to one side of the clearing, separated from Ose and Rochelle by nothing more than the tall wheat grass in the empty field. I see him swinging his sword wildly through the air, spinning in every direction, trying and failing to hit his mark. It’s obvious that Ose is filling his mind with empty mirages that don't really exist in an effort to keep the upper hand. Meanwhile Ose stands back and taunts him.

“You will never when this war old friend! Give up now and join me. We always made wonderful partners until you let that bitch come between us.”

This statement fills Erik with even more rage. He closes his eyes and stalks toward Ose blind, his sword rose high, “That BITCH was my SOULKEEPER!!! And you allowed your jealousy drive you to this monster! I will never stand down! I will NEVER JOIN YOU!” He screams and rushes forward.

“No!!!!”

I scream out seeing Rochelle step forward in the path of Erik. Her sword held level in front of her body. He can’t hear me. I am just a viewer of the events happening here. The momentum Erik has carried him forward, straight into Rochelle’s path. Her sword pierces his body, just above his stomach. I hear the sound of flesh as it rips through his body. Ose grabs the handle of the sword and pulls it free from Erik’s body, back handing Rochelle as he does so.  I see Erik fall to his knees, clutching his midsection. The blood is pooling all around, gushing through his fingers as it drips in a steady stream to the ground.

“It never should have come to this brother.” I hear Erik say before closing his eyes and slumping forward.

How could this happen? Erik is not just an original, he is, WAS, the Original. He can't be gone! What will I tell Arsema? She can’t handle this on top of everything. 

As soon as Erik is gone I am released from my vision. I sit silently for a few minutes while I attempt to call Erik’s cell phone over and over, I don't know what else to do. Orin comes over to me and sits quietly next to me. He gently strokes my back trying to comfort me while patiently waiting for me to tell him what my most recent vision held.  I don't want to voice it, fearing that if I put it to words that will make it real. Thankfully he doesn't push me to tell him anything; instead he is content to just hold me.

Chapter 19

Arsema

              When I return to my body it is by force. I am thrown forth. One minute I'm no-where, feeling nothing, and them BAM! I am back in my body and immediately I sense something is wrong. I don't hear anything out of the ordinary in the house and yet I have a horrible foreboding feeling. I listen closer and hear Reine talking to Haas, it sounds like they are arguing over The Vampire Diaries. Reine is in love with the show even she isn't able to watch it often and Haas believes it is all crap. I chuckle to myself completely agreeing with Reine.

I am distracted by their banter and that causes me to drop my guard for just a moment. I feel like my heart is being ripped from chest and the pain is so extreme I think I may pass out. Then I hear Erik in my thoughts.
Go forth mo inion, my daughter, go forth and conquer the great evil. Fulfill your destiny just as I have fulfilled mine. And know that I will forever be with you.

NO!!!!!

I know what his cryptic message means even if my mind won’t allow me to accept it. He is gone. I don't know how and I don't know why, but I feel deep in my soul that he is no longer here amongst the living. Suddenly I feel a rush of power, the strength of which I never could have dreamed of flood my body, my mind, my soul. I sense Erik and his love in the undercurrents of the power and as it joins with my own I know that this is his gift to me. This is his way of helping me now that he can no longer guide me.

              I feel the power expand within me, stretching to new limits and molding with my own to become one force. When the process has been completed I feel exhilarated. I will make him proud. I will do anything and everything I can to be the person I was born to be but not until I get out of this coma. I am sick of being here and I'm ready to go! As soon as I think the thought I'm awake. Whatever fissure in my soul that caused me to be weakened and vulnerable is now gone, healed thoroughly by the last gift of a loving father gone too soon.

              I attempt to pull my legs over the side of the bed and realize pretty quickly that even though I may be awake, I am not completely healed. My body is weak from lying motionless for the last few months and I know it will take some effort to get it back in the shape it was prior to falling into a coma.

“Haas! Reine! A little help here!” I yell to the living room with my scratchy voice. Reine is the first one through the door and she is by my side in seconds. Haas stops in the doorway and by the look on his face I know he understands that something big has occurred for me to be able to awaken. I can't even begin to comprehend the last few minutes. I don't want to think about continuing my life without my dad in it, even though I know deep in my heart that I have no choice at this point. He is gone. I feel that. My heart breaks a little more every time I think of him being killed out there all alone. I should have been there, fighting by his side. I should have protected him or at the very least had his back in battle.

“Arsema, I'm so happy to see you awake and moving. But how?” He asks.

“It’s a long story, I think... I can't…” I tell him, tears filling my eyes at the thought of my father’s death.

I have literally just found him after seventeen years of not knowing about him at all and within the first year I have lost him too. How much more loss can I handle? How much more must I endure? First my mom and stepfather die in a house fire and then just months ago my Grans, my rock after the loss of my parents, and now my real father. Gone. I didn't even get to tell him how much I cared for him. How much everything he has done for me and Cash has meant to me. And now I never will.

“It’s ok, Arsema, We can talk about the details later if you want. Are you ok? That is what matters now. Lyon and Erik are going to be so happy when they hear this.”

Hearing him say Erik’s name tears through me. I feel like my heart is literally breaking inside my chest. It doesn't want to continue on anymore. The pain and loss I have endured over the last few months have left me empty and longing for something I don't think I will ever have the chance at again.

“No Haas, they won't. Can I borrow your cell phone please? I really need to call Tris.” I tell him skipping over all the niceties and getting down to business. I promised myself that I would be the best I could be and I will. Starting right now, I will prove to everyone, including myself that my family did not die in vain. I will fight this war until I can't fight anymore. I will become the person I am needed to be. I will become the Chosen.

Chapter 20

Tris

I am standing under a tall Cypress tree trying to stay dry when I get the most unexpected call like ever!

“What’s up Haas? Kind of busy here.”

“Too busy for your best friend?”

“AHHHH! Arsema is that you? What...where... How! When? Tell me everything!”

She attempts a laugh into the other end of the phone, even though I can hear the pain reflected there, I swear I have missed hearing that laugh more than ice cream and coffee.

“Calm down crazy chick, I'll tell you everything, but first, have you found Lyon yet? He needs to get back here soon. If he doesn't, we will both die, Tris, and I think I have had enough of death to last me a lifetime.”

She says as the flood gates of emotion open up.  She explains to me and the others that are listening in on our conversation about the rush of power she felt when she was in the coma and how she believes that Erik has died. My heart breaks listening to the pain in her voice. I know I need to tell her about my vision and the things I have seen, but I can't. Not yet.  I want to be right there with her, for her, but she refuses to even think about allowing me to come back home. We each have our own part in this battle. Something that I have come to understand first hand. When she finishes her retelling, I am able to answer her first question.

“Oh my god, A! I’m so, so sorry! No, we haven't found Lyon yet... we ran into a little problem.” And then I tell her about my visions and it’s her turn to freak out.

“Are you serious? Tris! I am so sorry I was not there for you!” She screams into the phone.

“Oh stop! I had Orin here the whole time and let me tell you that man worried enough for the both of you!” I chuckle thinking back over the last few months. I look around for him, to see if he overheard my snarky comment, but I don't see him anywhere around. He must be killing poor defenseless bunnies again.

“Good. I am glad your keeper is there for you. I miss you Tris. Please find Lyon and bring your cute little butt home. We will all sit down together and hash all this stuff out.”

“I will A. I'll be back before you know it babe, but listen Arsema, the last vision I had was weird. I saw and heard something that I think everyone needs to know.” I say and then I explain what I heard Ose and Rochelle discussing. I don't bring up the vision of Erik’s death. I still can't wrap my head around the fact that I saw him die. I mean I know I saw it happen, but to realize that everything I'm seeing is coming true… that’s a big whammy.

We all discuss the details of the vision and the possibilities until I feel blue in the face. I am beyond exhausted and ready for some rest, but I don't want to hang up with Arsema yet. I haven't realized how much I needed to just hear her voice and even though we aren’t together right now, I already feel better about so many things. We are in this together.

I realize after we hang up together that nothing is the way it used to be and yet I believe for the moment that everything will work out. Sticking my phone in my back pocket, I step out of the shade of the trees and twirl through the rain soaked leaves on the ground, dancing to my own beat. Orin appears out of no-where and soon I'm tangled in his arms as we dip and spin through the forest.

“I am so happy!!!! Arsema is AWAKE!” I tell him as he spins me out and brings me in close again.

“Really? That is awesome! How?”

“I have no idea really. But she thinks that when Erik was killed while he was out looking for Cash, his power transferred to her. Speaking of Cash, the Shaman thinks he may be following Elmeri here.”

We slow the tempo of our impromptu dance until we are just swaying against each other.

“We will handle that when they arrive. I can't believe Erik is gone. The original Craecia, dead.”

I look up at him agreeing with his shocked words… I think a part of him realizes this is what I saw yesterday in my vision. He does not question me or get angry for not talking to him about it then. Instead he wraps his arms around me tightly and pulls me closer.  I realize suddenly that I am in big trouble. This man has already captured my heart. I didn't want to care for him. I don't want to love him and he seemed fine with that, but over the course of our journey, I have done just that. I have fallen in love with this man. My friend, my caretaker, my keeper. He has been here for me through hell and helped see me through to the other side. Of course I can't tell him that. I swallow a chuckle thinking of the fun I can have with him.