Veiled Shadows (The Age of Alandria: Book Two) (5 page)

“You did it!” the woman said excitedly and with a bit of awe.

Kaeleigh, stunned that it had actually worked, lost her words as she just stared at this woman that literally came out of thin air.
Lame, Kaeleigh,
she chided herself for the inappropriately timed pun.

“H-Hi,” Kaeleigh stammered. “I’m sorry, I think I’m a little in shock.”

The woman smiled with understanding then quickly changed to business. “Kaeleighnna, we do not have much time. There are things that I must explain to you before I am discovered.”

Kaeleigh nodded, though she had no clue what this woman was talking about. “Who are you? Where am I? I’m sorry, I know I ask a lot of questions, but it seems that is all I have these days—more questions,” Kaeleigh’s smile was mixed with wide-eyed awe.

The woman just stared at her with a prideful gleam as she took in Kaeleigh. There was something familiar about her, but Kaeleigh couldn’t put her finger on what it was. The woman before her was incredibly beautiful. She had long wavy chestnut hair with deep auburn streaks. Her skin was flawless, like pearlized marble or porcelain. She had large, wide eyes the color of turquoise. Her features were soft, yet she had a little point to her chin and on the tops of her ears as well. She was wearing a long flowing sapphire blue dress. She wore gold bands intricately swirled around her upper arms. It was beautifully ethereal and
other.

“I know you are in need of many answers—they will come in time—but my time is very short. I am not supposed to be here, but I felt a surge in energy, and then I felt your presence. My connection to you immediately drew me to you.
You
are not supposed to be here either. It is not yet your time. There is much for you to do in Alandria. The people need you.” The woman lovingly smiled and approached Kaeleigh with an outstretched hand.

Kaeleigh cocked her head in confusion and gazed into this woman’s eyes. She was astounded at the love she saw there and she didn’t even know who she was.

“I never thought I would have this chance to be with you... for you to see me,” she said. A single golden tear slid down the woman’s cheek and fell onto Kaeleigh’s hand as the woman tenderly placed her hand on her cheek. At contact, images flashed before Kaeleigh’s eyes of a young woman—the same woman standing before her—and a young man who looked an awful lot like Hunter standing within a clearing of the forest surrounded by various beings. The woman looked out at the gathering, giving Kaeleigh a clear view of her face. Not only had Kaeleigh had this vision before but she had been in that same clearing on her way to Hunter’s.

Suddenly she was brought back to the current version of the woman standing before her as if no time had passed at all. Kaeleigh, still shocked when these visions happened even though she was getting quicker at adjusting, had to briefly close her eyes and shake her head. After a moment of silence Kaeleigh spoke first. “It was you. In my visions...” Then, as a new possibility occurred to her, she gasped. “Are you... could you be?...” She looked again at the woman’s face before her. “You’re my mother, aren’t you!” And although she didn’t say it as a question the woman nodded anyway.

“I am. Do you think you could accept me after all this time?”

With a strangled hiccup, Kaeleigh launched herself into her mother’s arms—arms she always hoped, but never actually thought, she would be held in.

After what wasn’t remotely long enough, the woman pulled back to look into Kaeleigh’s tear-soaked face, a reflection of her own. She lovingly brushed the hair away from her face as if it was something she had done hundreds, if not thousands, of times before. Her eyes filled with love and pride, but also fear of their lack of time.

“Did you see what I saw... in the vision?” Kaeleigh asked, sensing the shift in the woman’s emotions.

Nodding with tears in her eyes, the woman replied, “Yes, Kaeleighnna, I gave it to you to see... a memory.” She looked away for the briefest moment before continuing. “I have tried to guide you when I was able to. You see, the connection for communication has proven to be most challenging. I had some help and it seemed like it was getting easier as you came of age. The wards around you were quite strong as well.” Her gaze grew thoughtful. “Hunter.”

Kaeleigh interrupted her mother’s quiet musing. “Can you show me more?”

Her mother smiled and nodded. She held out one of her hands. “Put your hand on mine and open your mind.”

Kaeleigh placed her palm on top of her mother’s outstretched hand then closed her eyes, focusing on the feeling and texture of her mother’s hand. Just then, not just images, but an entire scene—a memory—began to replay in Kaeleigh’s mind...

A woman with long dark hair flowing down her back, waving with the light breeze as she stood looking at a lake beyond her. She turned her head to look back at someone approaching. She was radiant as her face lit up with a smile full of affection. As she fully turned, she cradled her round stomach with pride... she was glowing not only from joy but from the extra ethereal energy surrounding her from the life within. Instantly, she looked around suspiciously then tamped down the energy she had allowed to briefly be freed. A man’s hand reached out to her belly and caressed it lovingly. The woman’s smile was infectious, the love burst through her eyes for whoever was before her. He held her hand as they both looked out at the water. She gazed up at him and nodded. They turned toward the forest and quickly walked into it.

As the scene faded away, another one took its place:
A toddler with waving dark hair and eyes of green and gold ran carefree through a copse of young saplings as she kept looking back to see her pursuer chasing after her. She giggled and clapped. Her smile could bring the strongest of men to their knees... and the one that came to visit her often did—anything to get her approval of his presence—as he did even now. The man on both knees with arms outstretched not far from the young girl awaiting his hug, which she wouldn’t disappoint as she ran to him—big smile complete with girlish squeal... he laughed as he picked her up and twirled her around.

Her head whipped around suddenly at the entrance of another guest. This smile even larger than the ones before if possible as she reached out her arms and wiggled to be let down. The new company stole her focus. A man not much younger in appearance than the other, although instead of silvering hair he had dark straight hair tied back at the nape of his neck as the rest reached his shoulder blades. Other than that, this man looked much the same as the other one. His eyes... his eyes had the same green as the little girl’s and his smile was just as big as she ran to him, embracing him without question. The man gazed lovingly beyond the little girl as she nuzzled into his neck and he carried her forward. Reaching out, he clasped his hand with a delicate female hand.

The scenes disintegrated as the reality Kaeleigh was currently in began to refocus. Her heart felt full to bursting as emotion, both joy and pain, ran down her face. Trying to form words, she spoke, “Was that Hunter?” Her mother nodded quietly. “And the other man... is that my father?”

Her mother smiled sweetly at her. “Yes. It was
his
memory that I shared with you first. He had allowed me once to share in that specific memory because he did not want me to ever forget how much he loved us both.” She swallowed back the emotion. “And now you have shared in our joy and happiness and the love we felt—still feel—toward you. Do not ever forget. It will help guide you in the future.”

About to burst and not sure what to say, Kaeleigh embraced the woman before her with more emotion than she had ever exhibited in her life so far. Nearly knocking her over with her sudden burst, she could tell that she had surprised the woman as she was caught off balance. Kaeleigh could feel her strength and solidity as she hugged her... her mother. She never thought she would be able to do that. The woman embraced her back with as much if not more emotion—emotion in its most pure and raw form... love—than Kaeleigh had ever felt. So much had happened and changed in the recent days she was reeling to try to grasp what was happening to her. Now here in this strange and rather unbelievable place, when she never thought she would know where she came from or who her family had been, was not only her grandfather, but now her mother. She felt the urgency emanating off the woman in front of her, but she couldn’t help but be enveloped by her mother’s presence and try to hold onto her energy for as long as she could.

Obviously not wanting to step back and end the hug, but feeling that time was short, the woman pulled away from Kaeleigh but continued to hold onto her shoulders while she looked into her eyes. “You are truly a beautiful young woman, Kaeleighnna. I have thought of you every moment and have tried to reach out and guide you when I have had the power to do so.” She took a deep breath, her words caught in her throat, but she continued, “I am truly proud of the woman you have become.” She lowered her eyes in guilt. “I am sorry for not being there for you physically. I have regretted not being with you every moment of my continued existence, but you must know that we—your father and I—only wanted to protect you.” She sighed. “I hope you can forgive us... forgive me.”

Kaeleigh could feel her mother’s hands shaking as she held her shoulders. She had been hurt and angry for so long in her life, but always knew there had to be a reason, that there had to be family out there somewhere wondering about her, and she’d been right. This was what she had wanted: to get answers, to find what she could about who she was and where she came from. This was an opportunity that she was not about to let out of her grasp just because she was furious about having to grow up without her own parents. Looking her mother in the eyes and seeing the hurt and brokenness and longing for her daughter to understand, Kaeleigh burst with love all over again., “I do. I forgive you... Mother.” Then they embraced again and both were crying tears of loss and tears of joy.

Suddenly Kaeleigh jerked her head up, looking curiously into her mother’s face. “What is your name?” Kaeleigh asked softly with a hint of a giggle.

The woman smiled with a twinkle in her eyes. Releasing Kaeleigh’s shoulders, she gripped her hand, pulling her over to a large boulder that suddenly appeared so they could sit and talk. She looked at Kaeleigh, “My name is Eva.” She paused, anticipating Kaeleigh’s need to jump in with another question.

“You, Hunter, and that priestess from the forest all called me ‘Kaeleighnna.’ Is that my real name?”

Eva nodded with concern in her eyes., “Yes, it is... Kaeleighnna iliathe´yll Sayaelílth. I was not aware that Andreinna spoke to you. That is... interesting,” she said, trying to work something out in her mind. Kaeleigh’s forehead creased with confusion, and. Eva amended, “I am not sure what that means, but it is very rare that she speaks with anyone.”

“She welcomed me ‘Kaeleighnna of the Orchaedia.’ What does that mean... Mother?” She hesitated as she tested out the word “mother” but then felt right about it. Apparently so did her mother; she practically glowed with the biggest smile back at Kaeleigh.

Hesitantly approaching the answer, “Kaeleigh, how much has your grandfather explained to you?”

“Not very much,” she replied, a bit disappointed. “Where am I? Am I... Am I dead?” Kaeleigh stuttered out.

“Do you feel dead?”

“Well no, actually. I feel more alive than I ever have now that I think about it,” Kaeleigh said, stretching out all her limbs and rotating her head like an athlete preparing for sport. She closed her eyes. “I can feel, um, life... or energy coursing through my body,” she said with excitement.

Eva nodding in approval. “Good. And no, you are not dead. You are very much alive. However, you are in a place called the In-between—a type of limbo between the realms. We cannot tarry long here for fear that you could get stuck... it can be a very dangerous place for that reason, but it was the only way for us to meet.” Her mother looked sad.

CHAPTER FOUR

Pacing the floor in front of the window, Chel nervously wrung her hands over and over while she periodically shot a glance over to Kaeleigh lying very still on that wooden table. She didn’t know what to do. Hunter said that Kaeleigh wasn’t gone completely; all that meant to her was that she wasn’t dead
yet
. She apparently was still breathing, but barely, and her heart rate had slowed way down, but he said that was to be expected anyway with her new changes. Chel could tell by what he wasn’t saying, though, was that it wasn’t supposed to be
that
slow and he was worried. Not doing anything for her friend... her sister... was going to drive her insane. For the first time since they began this adventure, she wished her parents were with them. They might not know what to do for her friend, but they would be there. Chel heaved a deep breath. She was scared, but she needed to be strong for Kaeleigh.

Finn was standing hunched over Kaeleigh’s feet at one end of the worn wood table staring intently, willing Kaeleigh to open her eyes. Every line and muscle of his body was taut. His hands were fists as they gripped either edge of the table where he leaned. His breathing was deep and a muscle in his jaw kept ticking with each clench. He looked like he was either going to erupt and take down everyone in the room with him, or he was going to have some kind of breakdown. Every so often, he would spare a glance from Kaeleigh to watch Daegan, who stood statue still at the opposite end of the table, by Kaeleigh’s head. The edges of Finn’s mouth would curl reflexively, then soften as he remembered Kaeleigh needed him... needed them all if she was going to make it back. He couldn’t believe that this was where her story would end. He wouldn’t.

Chel watched Daegan out of the corner of her eye as he stood solid next to Kaeleigh at the table, whether out of some developing loyalty or he just didn’t know what else to do. Chel wasn’t sure what to make of him. One minute he was ice cold to everyone, including Kaeleigh, and then another moment he seemed to be, well, less cold,
especially
to Kaeleigh. He stared intensely at the floor next to the table, but Chel caught him on a couple occasions shift a quick glance to Kaeleigh’s face, but then something akin to concern flitted across his eyes and they’d shift back down. Perhaps it was just concern that they wouldn’t make it to their initial destination; to take her before his leaders for whatever reason they could possibly want of her. She didn’t think that was all of it though. She had good instincts about people and situations. And Chel had bad flutters in her stomach when she thought of Kaeleigh going before stuffy royalty. She would talk to Kaeleigh about it if she woke up from wherever she was... Not
if
, but
when.
Chel shook herself for even doubting her friend’s return. Kaeleigh was strong, she would make it back to them... she
had
to. Chel turned back toward the window as tears began to fall from her eyes.