Renhala (23 page)

Chapter 31

Exposed

The fighting seems to have died down, and there are only a few scrappy battles remaining. We find our friends at Lupa’s house, all eating homemade pineapple upside-down cake, but they don’t seem to be truly enjoying it. Conner gives me a glance and continues eating. There’s some blood on his face from a cut, and I step forward to tend to him, but he brushes me off.

“Leave it. I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure about that?”
I ask, reaching my feeler to examine him, but somehow he blocks my advances as he suddenly stands up and strikes up a conversation with Bu, who seems startled that Conner is talking to him while he’s busy eating.

Gunthreon seems oblivious to my many problems. “I think that Meadow’s Edge is safe for the time being,” he says. “Greer seems to have some things under control for now. This attack had to be Velopa’s doing. It seems they all fanned out from Mortimer’s shop. I fear for him.” Gunthreon looks tired. “I tried persuading information from a captive of mine, but he didn
’t know Velopa’s whereabouts. It could be that only a select few know. But we must continue searching for Neda. I think if Neda was destroyed, we’d all be dead at this point, or prisoners of war. The balance still exists, but it’s teetering.”

I furrow my brow. “I’m sorry. I don’t understand.” Without realizing I even do it, I take out my father
’s ring and run it between my fingers.             

Gunthreon nods. “Kailey,” he says, then hesitating, “we believe we may be on the edge of another
‘Surge.’”

“Oh my god!” I exclaim
, truly frightened as I think of Gunthreon’s tale of the original ‘Surge’ –the very one that gave birth to war and strife in Abscondia.

Gunthreon says, “But I myself am confused about the way things are proceeding, like there
’s a goal, but no organized plan of action. Things are messy and random, unlike anything I’ve seen before.”

“My exact thoughts,” add
s Ladimer. “Uncertainty creates chaos. It seems as though armies are being sent out with a known mission, but no map.”

Gunthreon seems to be concentrating. Finally, after what seems like much gathering of courage, he says, “I’ve heard from a reliable source that Devoten has been talking of something he calls ‘the releasing.’”

I think to myself that the
reliable source
may otherwise be known as Dena May, Mom.

He continues with, “I have no clue as to what this
‘releasing’ is. And also, he...has an unidentified informant feeding him some very valuable information
about us
.” He looks to each face before him. “Devoten somehow knows we are working to get to the bottom of what is going on, and that we plan on stopping it.”

“Whoa!” Conner shout
s. “I’m well aware that we are searching for information, but I think of us as ‘intelligence’ vs. ‘the front line.’ I suggest we settle on doing the research, then passing it on to those more equipped for fighting a possible war.”

I have begun fidgeting even more with my ring and drop it on the ground. It rolls from me, and as I watch, nobody moves to pick it up for me, instead they watch it continue on its seemingly endless roll. I think of Ladimer not touching my pendant.

I walk to pick it up as each look at one another.

Ladimer breaks the silence and says, “And this is what war does, doesn
’t it Gunthreon? Makes mutiny in your own battalion quite believable. How long have you been sitting on this information? Secrets kept between old friends?” He is offended, and makes sure we hear it in his voice. “Just who might this informant be? Perhaps someone who might be the biggest surprise of all,” he looks at Gunthreon, “or maybe someone of whose history we know nothing?” He says this loudly in Conner’s direction.

Conner turns, taking the comment as the blow it was meant to be. “Yes, Gunthreon, who among us would have such a past?” Then Conner says something in soulspeak, and we all turn to Ladimer, knowing Conner has spoken something to the effect that he’s innocent.

Ladimer, frustrated, turns to each of us, examining our expressions, then walks out Lupa’s door. I run after him, grabbing at his arm. He tries to pull away, but I’m ready to put up a fight. I continue holding his arm.

“Georgie Parker, eh?” I say. “Tell me, how would you know about that, Ladimer?”
             

“How would I know of a heartbroken little boy who was the only one not invited to your ninth birthday party? Take a guess, Kailey. You’re really not as dumb as you appear.” He tries to walk away again, but I refuse to let him go, even if he’s trying to hurt me.

“Luke Levine?”

He sighs. “Kissed for the first time by the cutest little redheaded vixen.” I hear his words, but cannot believe what I am finally realizing—a unique coincidence. A scar below each of their left eyes. Georgie’s scar freaked out my best friend, hence no invitation to my party, and Luke’s was mysterious and intoxicating, hence my affection.

“Why?” I say, shakily. Scared, I let go of his arm, now knowing that Ladimer, blessed with his special abilities, has been present in my life for longer than I know. Flashbacks of Philip’s strange touches and odd behaviors play in my mind. I’m afraid of Ladimer’s deception—how deep, and in what direction it may be running—yet I feel nothing harmful from his energy. But, he is indeed powerful and I consider the possibility of his powers managing a change in his energies.

“What? Think I’ve been scheming all these years
to get you into Velopa’s hands?” he says. “Well, perhaps I had a good reason for following you around your whole damn life. Maybe I was actually foresworn to protect you—karmelean, daughter of Quicksilver. You see, once upon a time, a young woman gave birth to a very special girl. This mother feared for her daughter and asked one of her very best friends to follow her through life, protecting her, for the girl’s father had fallen from grace. So, this best friend wasted a portion of his life following a girl he grew to love in so many ways. I gave up fighting in my own realm to live here, in this stupid, good-for-nothing realm. The complexities of living as different people, of different ages, is in no way a blessing, Kailey. It’s been a curse.” He pauses to look at me with his wet eyes. “And the one day I was needed most, I wasn’t there, and the beautiful girl I swore to watch over was hurt, badly. So, yeah, maybe I am not to be trusted, for I cannot even carry out what I have sworn to do.” He then looks away.

I am filled with s
uch mixed emotions it feels as though something is eating its way out through my gut. He seems to feel that it’s his fault I suffered the assault by the monster, that unforgettably painful day in my apartment. “Ladimer, I... ” I don’t know what to say.

“No need,” he says. “I must leave now, for I am not trusted here. I will not allow myself to feel more pain from you and my so-called friends. You could never even
begin
to understand the angst I’ve experienced throughout your lifetime. Goodbye, Kailey.”

With this, he turns and walks toward the rocklands. I sit on the nearest patch of grass. Then I see movement out of the corner of my eye. It’s Conner.

“I’m assuming you overheard that, right?” I ask.

“Yes, I did. Let him go,” says Conner. “Does he speak the truth?”

“He’s not you, but yes, I believe he does.”

“You know straight from my soul that I am faithful to this mission, Kailey, and I will not let anything bad happen to you while I am on it. I care about you, and will
not
deceive you,” he says. I start to say something, but he shakes his head. “Do not patronize me and tell me you care about me too. I want more than that. I saw that kiss with Ladimer, and
ours
should not be resultant of some life-threatening situation.” His hands move slowly to my face and then slowly, once he sees no rejection from me, his lips meet mine. There’s a small shock of static electricity as he touches me. “What, no strawberry lip gloss?” He’s spews determination, yet there’s an underlying sense of uncertainty—an undercurrent of something shaky.  

Despite my confused feelings, and need for something concrete in my life—something I can lean against without fear
of falling—to Conner’s surprise, and mine, I pull him in with more force and kiss him back, tasting my salty tears as they run between us. My need for some sort of solid foundation has me suddenly reaching for his nervous energy and gently coaxing the uncertainty away, wanting him to be the support I desire. He opens his eyes, definitely feeling my workings, and I feel the muscles relax in his kiss. He whispers in my ear that everything will be all right as I realize that I may have just taken advantage of Conner, and that he honestly must believe that everything will be all right—exactly what I need.

*********

At night, I sit near the window closest to the fireplace, watching and hoping for Ladimer to return. He never does.

Before bed, Lupa makes us all some deliciously smooth and creamy hot cocoa that goes down easily—not too sweet, not too thick. I myself am falling in love with this woman, for her love and ability to cook make her something special in my eyes.

Soon, Gunthreon starts shooing us to our rooms, as he wants us all to have a decent night’s sleep. I ask to sit a bit longer, because the fire calms my nerves. After several assurances that Gunthreon never knew of Ladimer’s promise to my mom, Gunthreon and Lupa agree. They say their goodnights.

Conner lingers a bit. He sits next to me and kisses me on my head while he covers my feet with my blanket. 

“You need sleep, Kailey,” he declares. “He will return in due time. I can honestly admit we need him on this journey.”

“You need sleep, too. Today was a rough day for everyone,” I say. “Goodnight.” He stays seated, just staring at me. I see the fatigue in his face, but that doesn’t make him any less handsome. His whirlpool blue eyes steal my thoughts, and I want him to whisk me away on a current to some secret island, where there is no fighting and I can sit beneath a willow tree and drink wine and eat gummy bears and be merry all day. He smiles warmly at me, and I smile back.

“You sure are something special,” he whispers. “I hope you realize that.”

It’s what every girl wants to hear, but for some reason it
’s something I can’t truly believe of myself. “Yeah, well, I wish I could believe that. But I know me best, and I feel I cannot live up to what everyone thinks I am.”

“Ladimer’s stories aren’t the only ones I’ve heard from my parents, you know,” says Conner. I
’ve heard stories of great ones to come, and within you my dear, I feel something great and powerful.” I think of Greer’s words near the life pool. “Don’t be afraid to let it out, Kailey. Be the woman to spark a thousand more stories,” he says.

These words and his firm belief in me
ignite something deep within me, and the emotion I sudden feel has my hands on his chest holding him down, and again we feel the same static shock, but it fires my emotions further. “Wow, that’s a start,” he says. He’s surprised, but a twist of his weight flips our positions, and he’s suddenly on top. I feel a flame of power inside which awakens a bit of anxiety, and increases my breathing, but he whispers in my ear and it all melts away, replaced by a hunger so strong I cannot hold back. “Relax, Kailey. You know you can always use the whistle.” Again, that wonderful sexiness of his soulspeak warms me up. He smiles, and I laugh a throaty laugh, full of want. I pull his lips toward mine, and he holds back, still looking in my eyes. “Are you sure?” 

“Relax, Conner.” Cool moonlight highlights his face, and his magnetism is mesmerizing. His hands are gentle, but his want for me is not. The eyes staring back at me are puddles: mirrors for reflection, but of shallow depth, for his need of me is concrete and unporous, preventing the escape of a single hint of contemplation. His hair has fallen in my face, and it smells like summer sex—beach, cocoa butter, and sweat. I breathe in, and it makes all my worries disappear, like clouds dissipating as the sun bursts with heat.

My pulse rises as my head clears, bringing forth my simple need and want for him. He breathes in my ear, whispering sweet truths to my soul, then lowers his face to mine, and his kiss is enrapturing, giving birth to a passion so intense, that when he grabs a handful of my hair, it sends a spark of energy between us, extending to the furniture, along the floor, and to the walls.

His hand finds my breast and caresses with such care that I squeeze his hand, harder, wanting more from his grasp.
I quickly work my shirt up and off. He grabs a nipple with his fingers and squeezes, sending me pleasure that bows my back as he kisses my neck. I find him under the blanket, and he’s ready for me, which only makes my own need so intense that I start pulling his shorts down with my legs and feet. My pajama pants make their way to my knees, and he finds me and the wet heat that seems to increase with every second. My power increases and I feel energy pulsing through my veins, quickening my heartbeat even more, while opening my mind to the same pleasure I felt while kissing Ladimer.
Ladimer.

Before I can control
it, at the same exact moment Conner enters me, I scream at the top of my lungs, expelling an energy to the walls, surrounding us, and once the room is fully engulfed in the energy we create, a huge explosion of light and sound threatens to wake everyone within three miles. Every hair on my body stands straight up, and I see nothing but light. An ethereal song is being sung and I am suddenly standing naked before a huge castle. I’m afraid, but feel drawn to this magnificent castle, which reeks of age and of stories untold. I touch the entry doors, and they whisper to me secret tales of happiness, tainted with moments of pain and sorrow. The doors are heavy, surely guarding treasures within, but I push with determination and they open, moaning from the intrusion.