The Song of Eloh Saga (117 page)

My fingers played across his chest. He’d put his pants on, but had waited to shrug into his shirt. “Yes. I mean, no, we have to leave in just minutes.”

I gestured toward the window at the nearly setting sun. Chase sighed and stood up. He sauntered over to the bed where his shirt still lay on the floor, crumpled up in a hurried mess. His biceps flexed as he pulled it over his head and chest. Disappointed I’d lost the view I’d enjoyed so much, I stood up. I took quick steps toward him, planted both of my palms on his chest, and pushed him toward the door.

“I need to get dressed now.” I pushed until he stumbled backward. “I’ll meet you at Johna’s chamber.”

“You’re kicking me out? Just when the view is getting good?” He waggled his eyebrows at me.

“Let me get dressed in peace.”

“Don’t you need me here to tie or button something?”

I laughed. “No, I don’t. Now get out!”

He wrapped hands around my waist, pulling me up to his height, my tiptoes just barely grazing the tile. His lips took mine and I surrendered. Then he pulled back and lowered me gently to the floor. “Stay,” I said in a breathy whisper.

“No, I’ve got to go. See you soon at Johna’s chamber.”

Before I could stop him for one last kiss, he spun around and left the room.

“Men.” I rolled my eyes. Grabbing my dress from the floor, I shimmied in it. The orange beams of sunset streamed into my room. I worked faster, pulling on my stockings and boots. My fingers fumbled with the laces. I didn’t care if they were perfect as long as nothing fell off.

I flicked my fingers, opening a portal. Instead of landing in Johna’s chamber, I emerged just outside her door. Chase stood against the wall, perfect as usual.

“Hi,” he said. His demeanor had totally changed. He was back to acting just like he always had around me. Caring, but not too personal. I was relieved. I didn’t want everyone knowing what had just happened between us. Then he winked. I felt a blush creep up my cheeks.

“Hi,” I said back, stupidly, unable to think of anything more coherent.

Chase walked past me and knocked on Johna’s door. I wanted to reach out, touch his shoulders, but I held back. I had no idea it would be so hard to control myself in public.

The door opened. Johna looked at Chase. Then she looked at me. A smile blossomed. “So Lianne told you?”

“Johna!” I squeaked. Did she have to be obvious?

“What? I’m glad you told Chase to come with you to the council meeting.” Her eyes were wide. Innocent. I didn’t buy it for a second. “Now come in, come in.”

I shuffled into her chamber behind Chase. “When do we leave?” The butterflies had taken up residence in my stomach, reminding me that I was about to embark on a huge undertaking.

Johna closed the door behind us, locked it, and then flicked her fingers, opening a portal. “Now.”

She stepped through. I glanced at Chase. “You first,” he said, holding out an arm.

I hesitated. I didn’t know where the portal lead, or who sat on the council. All I knew was that I had to take a stand and suggest the one thing no one would understand or agree to.

“You’ll do fine.” Chase planted a chaste kiss on my cheek. “Now get in there and rip their heads off.”

I smiled, feeling my resolve harden. With a slight nod, I stepped through the portal.

I emerged into a cave littered with stalagmites. Light drops of water echoed in the dark cavern. The faint light of candles danced upon the rocky walls. My breath caught in my throat as I remembered the cave my mother had trapped me in. Where she’d tried to take my magic. Where she’d killed Bryden. My heart skittered out of time. I reached out behind me, flailing for Chase’s comforting grasp.

He stepped through. Seeing my discomfort, he grabbed my hand and squeezed. “It’s not the same place.”

He knew. Of course he knew immediately how I’d feel.

“This is a cave my mother found years ago. It’s safe from the enemy. From all of our enemies. It’s not the same place your mother took you.”

My breath slowly regulated itself. Breathing in, pausing. Breathing out, pausing. Moment by moment my heart slowly regulated itself.

Johna shuffled over to me. “Dear child, I had forgotten your mother had taken you to a cave. Chase is right, this is not the same place. You’re completely safe here. It’s protected by magic far greater than anything your mother ever had. Our combined gifts work together to shield it from the world. There are evil, dark memories here. We must keep everyone away from it. We choose to meet here because we know we won’t be disturbed.”

“It’s okay,” I said. I meant it too. I couldn’t allow my past to stop me from doing what I needed to do. “Where is everyone else?”

Johna nodded ahead. “In the chamber to the left. I thought it might be better if I went in and announced you to them, instead of having you just appear in the room.”

“That’s probably a good idea.” I looked to Chase and he shook his head in agreement. “We’ll wait here until you tell us to come in.”

“I’ll be right back.” Johna stared deep into my eyes. “Don’t let them intimidate you, Lianne. When you come in, show your confidence.” She squeezed my arm, leaving us alone in the cave.

“Can I have just a moment?” I asked Chase. He stepped back, dropping my hand.

I closed my eyes and dropped into deep lunge. Moving through the motions of my forms, I punched and blocked, centering myself. The meditation worked, allowing my body to relax. My mind quickly followed suit.

When I arrived back at the same place I’d started, my arms hung at my sides, fists tight. I took one last breath, letting it out slowly as I opened my eyes.

“Better?” Chase asked. He stood against the wall of the cave, his arms crossed over his chest.

“Much. Thanks. I’m centered now. I can do what needs to be done.”

“I know you can.” He sauntered over to me, wrapping his arms around my waist. I felt my heart start to flutter again. Damn him. He’d just ruined all the peace I’d brought to my body. At least this time it wasn’t fear coursing through my blood.

I reached behind my waist, grabbing his hands, and forcing him to release his grasp on me.

“Later?” He kissed my neck, lingering for a moment longer than necessary. I wondered why I’d waited to so long to tell him how I felt. I’d been missing out.

“If there is a later for us. If we remember…” My voice trailed off, reminding us both what was at stake tonight.

“I will always remember you. Nothing can change that.” His thumb stroked my jawbone.

I wanted it to be true, but after seeing my mother, I knew that the moment I’d put my plan into motion, I’d lose Chase forever. “I will never forget you.” I tried to make the lie soothing. We were fooling ourselves, but it was worth it. There was nothing wrong with hope. We wouldn’t remember, but maybe there would be an unspoken bond or attraction between us.

“They’re ready for you,” Johna called to us from the other end of the dark chamber.

Chase let go of my hand, gesturing for me to go first. I smiled, and then nodded my head. We walked silently toward the hole in the cave wall. I felt calm, centered. I could do this.

Johna stood to the side as I walked into the small room. Nine pairs of eyes bored into me, poking holes in every ounce of confidence I had. In the center sat Chase’s mother. I’d been under the impression everyone on the council had magic, but it appeared the one person who would probably oppose anything I wanted sat in a position of leadership.

“What is it, Lianne?” Reychel asked, clearly annoyed. “Son? Johna said you have something to ask of the council. I assure you, there’s nothing you can ask that we will agree to.”

I cleared my throat. My feet were planted firmly on the ground, but I felt my knees waver. Instead of torturing myself by staring down Reychel, I looked at the other members of the council. Most stared at me with vacant eyes. Warmth danced in the eyes of one - Chase’s father, Mark. I focused on him, knowing that he’d always given me the benefit of the doubt.

“Has Reychel told all of you that I have been having visions of Eloh?” Even if I wanted to deny the prophecy to destroy everything, I knew it would mean something to them.

The council immediately broke out into angry chatter, all directed at Reychel. Mark grabbed his wife’s hand in his own, but didn’t say a word. He supported her no matter what the others thought. I knew where Chase had inherited his loyalty.

I waited until the voices calmed down slightly, before raising my hand in the air. “Hear me out, please.”

One man sat forward in his chair, placing his chin between his palms. “So you’re the one in Chase’s visions? I never quite believed it and here you are, in front of us, bringing forth what could be the end of the world. I suppose you have the dagger too?”

I nodded, patting the bag hanging from my hip. I never went anywhere without it anymore.

“You don’t even know what Eloh wants you to do,” Reychel said, smug. I wished I could understand why she was so against me. I couldn’t do anything to make her less suspicious of my motives.

“It’s true, I don’t know for sure. But I have found a way to stop the Malborn war. I know how to end it all for good. It might be what Eloh talked about, it might not, but I’m determined to end this magical war you all insist on fighting. I’m going to bring everyone to a level field.”

I stared down Reychel. If I kept avoiding her gaze, I’d never earn her respect. The council had secrets to severing that I needed to know. If I couldn’t get past her, it was possible none of them would side with me.

“How do you propose to do that?” A woman on the other end of the table asked.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. It was now or never to announce the ridiculous idea I’d stolen from my twin sister’s wistful ramblings.

“I want to sever everyone all at the same time. Once magic is gone, the Malborn won’t have a reason to come after any of us. Not only that, but they should forget they ever wanted to. Everyone will be safe.”

If I’d thought they were surprised the first time I spoke, I’d been wrong. A couple of men banged their fists on the table. Women shouted, telling each other how ridiculous I was.

Reychel opened her mouth to say something, but everyone else was so loud, I couldn’t make out anything she said. She slipped her hand out of her husband’s and stood up.

“Stop!” She screamed it at the top of her lungs. All eyes were on hers in seconds. No one dared say another word.

Reychel placed her hands on her hips. Her eyes jumped from mine to Chase’s.

One brave voice spoke up. It was the first man who’d originally questioned me. “There’s not enough gifted people to make that even possible. Severing needs to be done in a circle of gifted. You can never completely eradicate it from the world. It would takes years to accomplish this. It would be pointless to use severing to stop the war.”

Reychel’s head snapped to the side. She gave him the poisonous look I thought she’d only reserved for me. “I have a question. You will all wait until I’ve asked it before you speak again.”

The room fell silent. So she held ultimate power here too. Mark still had a quiet grin on his face. I never understood what was going on behind that.

“How soon can we make this happen?” Reychel asked.

My jaw dropped, sure I’d misheard her. “Excuse me?”

“I think the idea is brilliant,” she said. Part of me expected a friendly smile from her, but I didn’t get it.

“It’s impossible,” the man said again.

Reychel turned to him. “No, no it’s not. And I know where the answer is.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Reychel grabbed my elbow, whisking me down the hallway of the castle. Her fingers dug into my skin, causing me more than a little pain. Still, I followed behind her. Chase held back with his father. They whispered quietly behind us.

I glanced back at him more than once, pleading with my eyes, but he’d just shrugged and continued to converse with his father.

“Where are you taking us?” I asked the back of Reychel’s dark hair. Her silence rang in the hall. “Why can’t you just tell me?”

She stopped abruptly, and I nearly ran into her. “You need my help, Lianne.” Her voice almost sounded excited. “I know where to find the answers.”

Maybe she’d snapped. Sometimes people went insane after being severed, knowing that everyone around them knew who they were, yet they couldn’t remember. Perhaps the madness had finally caught up to Reychel.

“I’m going to check if this will work. You don’t have to come if you don’t want to. None of you do.” She shot an angry look back at her husband and son.

“We’re right behind you,” Mark said. He clapped Chase on the shoulder.

“Yes, Mother. We’re all coming. Maybe just lay off a bit on Lianne, okay?”

Reychel rolled her eyes and let go of my arm. For a brief moment I saw Chase in her. Who would she have been without being severed? Would she have been as kind as her son? As giving? There was so much about her that was still a mystery to me.

“Of course. I’m sorry, Lianne. You both better thank Eloh that I was able to retain my memories, otherwise you wouldn’t be so close to answers. I know where to find them.”