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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 14:09:20 GMT -5
“Yes, but this is the real one people, trust me.” Rose said. “Let’s not split up again.” Kylara pleaded. “Who else is gone, besides David, Kaslon and Roland?” “Ross, Tallith and Raythor.” Markus said, in his best diplomatic voice. “But you’re all right.” Ketra said, her usually hard expression softening considerably. Markus smiled at her. “I’m sorry for what I put you through.” He said. “I’m sorry for what you went through.” Ketra replied, studying him critically. She had the very familiar urge to want to wash away all his pain. He was all grown up now, she would have to try and remember that. He didn’t need her to take care of him anymore. “I know where they are probably taking them,” Markus said, formal again, “I can take you there.”
****
Lydrion’s house wasn’t quite what they expected. Lined up in front of it, on their knees and tied up in the same manner the girls had been, were all the missing boys. “As a male, this personally makes me nervous.” Theo said with an uneasy laugh. “We just have to free them again.” Laura said, trying to remain calm, but looking in all directions as she spoke. She knew, as they all did, that this was most likely a trap. There was a bright flash of light and Laura covered her eyes. When she opened them again Markus, Blade and Theo had joined the ranks with the other boys. Kenetari marched out from behind them with a smile on her face. Laura whipped out her bow and aimed at Kenetari’s chest. “I wouldn’t do that.” The dark girl said lazily. A group of soldiers appeared behind the boys, swords drawn. “I die, they die. Besides, isn’t it nice to be rid of the weaker sex for once?” “What if I kill them?” Laura asked, changing her target and taking out one of the soldiers. He made a terrible gurgling noise and fell over, but Laura just watched, eyes hard. Kenetari smirked. “I guess then the question becomes how many can you take out before you die.” Thirty more soldiers appeared from all directions, closing the female Royalty of Everglade members in a circle. Each of the soldiers was armed. “Great,” Kylara groaned, “Eleven on thirty and Rea can’t even fight.” “Let’s try and get some of the guys free before they get too close.” Dasher suggested. Her star lit up and Theo, Blade and Markus started spells as well. None of them went anywhere. “Fairy Circle spell. It cancels magic.” Dasher said shortly. “The light elementists…” “You know, my brother is right. Light spells do have really girly names.” Firelight commented. “Can we focus here, please?” Rose commanded. They formed a ring around Caldria and Laura, who were archers, and Rea, who didn’t even have a weapon. The rest of the girls drew their swords. Laura fired off a bunch of arrows over her comrades’ heads, killing with almost every hit. She and Caldria managed to take out a few more before the fighting really
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 14:09:46 GMT -5
started. For awhile, the ring held. When it broke, chaos descended. Kylara left the others and sought out Kenetari. She had to see, had to know, how, why, Raythor could look at her and see Kenetari staring through. “I hope you fight better than my brother.” Kenetari said with disinterest. “You’re the one who loves him, aren’t you?” “Shut up!’ Kylara yelled, swinging blindly. The older girl barely had to move to block the attack. “You’re a disappointment. Try a little harder.” The dark girl said. Kylara moved quickly and cut into Kenetari’s arm. She grinned. “Still disappointed?” “How are you going to block my next attack?” Kenetari said, digging her own sword deeply into Kylara’s shoulder. Kylara cried out in pain and backed up. “Always stay on your guard. Never take a hit that could be fatal.” She grabbed Kylara’s wounded shoulder and dug in her fingernails. Kylara involuntarily closed her eyes. No matter how much it hurt she wouldn’t give up… Kenetari forced Kylara to the ground and jerked her wrist back, forcing her to drop her sword. “You just love playing god, don’t you?” Kylara spat, pulling out a dagger. She threw it forward and it went into Kenetari’s leg. Kenetari calmly pulled it out and tossed it away. Kylara reached for another weapon in her belt, but Kenetari was already drawing her sword back. She knew her dagger wouldn’t be able to block Kenetari’s sword for long, maybe no more than a few seconds. She gritted her teeth. Metal clashed against metal. Anella stood in front of her, fending off Kenetari’s death blow. “Find your sword and do something,” Anella called back, but she wasn’t exactly sure why. Kenetari moved to strike again but Anella blocked that too. The dark girl started forcing Anella’s blade back toward her face. Anella felt the familiar pressure in her arms and reacted automatically, dropping her sword and slashing at Kenetari’s stomach. Kenetari just barely avoided being hurt and she didn’t look happy. “I knew I recognized your fighting style. Markus taught you, didn’t he?” Kenetari scoffed. “Because my brother ran away again. He’s never going to stop running, you know.” Anella tried her best not to listen. She rose to her feet and attacked again. Kenetari danced carefully away. “You don’t want to think about that, do you little mouse? I don’t blame you.” Kenetari crooned. Anella swung her sword again and again, getting no where but at least managing to hold her ground. “He’s going to die tonight, after you’re dead. Markus too, and his pretty little wife.” “You said you couldn’t kill him!” Anella burst out, “You said that you loved him!” “I couldn’t kill him,” Kenetari agreed, “but I could watch him die.” Anella slashed quickly and the blade tore across the skin of Kenetari’s arm, where she had been hit before. The older girl actually faltered, actually stepped back, even hesitated. “You didn’t learn that from Markus,” She said, wincing very slightly, “I guess I won’t toy with you any longer.” She punched Anella in the gut before she could react and Anella’s sword hit the ground with a clatter. Gasping, Anella covered her stomach and stood up straight. Gray eyes locked on blue. She was struck by how alike Kenetari and Raythor looked, how cold both their eyes were… but Raythor wasn’t cold. “You’re not afraid of me?” Kenetari said blankly.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 14:10:32 GMT -5
“No, I’m not.” Anella said boldly. Kenetari stabbed her through the side and she managed to hold back the scream. Blood welled in the back of her throat, but she fought it down, she wasn’t going to give Kenetari the satisfaction. “Still alive? How very tedious of you.” Kenetari said. She took hold of Anella’s hair and carelessly threw her on the ground. Her head hit the dirt with a sickening thud and she stopped moving. The blood began to pool beneath her and Kenetari seemed to lose interest. Once they were dead or dying, they were useless. Kylara, still bleeding as well, just stared at Anella’s body with mute horror. She’d promised Raythor, she’d promised him that she would keep Anella safe. Behind her, a bow string twanged and an arrow lodged itself in Kenetari’s shoulder. Laura, eyes burning with tears, stood ready to fire a second. Before she could a light flashed and Kenetari, along with the few remaining soldiers, were gone. Laura dropped her bow and went to Anella’s side, trying to stop her tears and failing miserably. “Dasher, hurry!” She nearly shrieked. Dasher loped over, star already glowing. Again, nothing happened. “Kenetari left the spell.” Kylara said, voice hollow. “That bi-” Dione started and Rea nudged her. “Sorry.” “Wait, I’m still the vessel. Channel it through me.” Laura said determinedly. She spread her hands over Anella and Dasher rested a paw on her back. “Firelight, go out and try to get rid of the barrier. Run as fast as you can.” Dasher said. Firelight nodded and ran off. The other girls all started trying to get rid of the light bonds tethering the boys manually. “Laura, you’re hurt all over the place. This might not work.” Dasher cautioned. “We have to try.” Laura said. Dasher started the healing spell again and, to her amazement, it worked. Anella’s flesh began knitting itself back together and the blood flow lessened considerably. Dasher tried a little harder and the wound shut completely, leaving only the red-stained, ripped up dress in its place. “That’s all I can do. If she’s bleeding internally or she has a head injury…” Dasher trailed off. There was a slight popping noise and Firelight rushed back over. Numerous spells started at once and soon the boys were free. The girls all looked as though they’d been through a war. Markus was the only male to have gotten injured at all. “I guess you really don’t need us.” Kaslon said, half jokingly, half just plain pathetically. “Shut up, Kaslon.” David said. He headed straight for Caldria. “Is there anything I can do?” Raythor asked, kneeling by Anella’s side. His blue irises were terribly blurred and he could hear his heart pounding in his chest. The noise was so overpowering, the sound of Dasher’s voice was almost lost within it. “I’ve done all that I can, but she’s lost a lot of blood and she hit her head pretty hard.” Dasher said quietly. His face was the same expressionless, impassive mask that it always was but she could see his emotions…. And she felt like crying. “You can carry her back, Raythor, but…” “I know… she might never wake up.”
Chapter Thirteen Sleepless
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 14:11:00 GMT -5
“This is all my fault. I never should have let my guard down.” Markus said. “If I hadn’t, Anella would be fine right now and we’d all be safe in Everglade.” “She got hurt by my sister, because Kenetari hates her because of me!” Raythor shot back loudly. “It’s my fault.” “Yeah, well, I was right there and I froze up. I could’ve helped her.” Kylara joined in. “This is clearly my mistake.” “You never would have been in that position if it wasn’t for me.” Markus argued. “If I was never born, none of this would have been a problem.” Raythor put in. “If I was a better fighter, Kenetari would be dead and we wouldn’t be having this conversation.” Kylara said. “Bicker, bicker, bicker…” Ross mumbled. He glanced at the door they’d taken Anella through. Dasher and Laura were still in the room with her to see if there was anything else they could do. Ross decided that he had to do something. “Hey, people, this is no one’s fault.” Ross yelled over the other voices. All three sets of eyes focused on him. “What?” Markus, Kylara and Raythor demanded. “It’s no one’s fault.” Ross repeated calmly. “Calamari was just two steps ahead of us the whole time.” “Kenetari!” “Details.” “Maybe Ross has a point.” Markus said, but with a sigh. “None of us could have predicted that this would happen. We have to concentrate on keeping everybody safe.” Behind them, the door opened and Dasher and Laura filed out. “She seems better.” Laura said, but her gaze dropped to the ground. Raythor clenched his fists but didn’t speak. “Frankly, I’d like a few people in there with her.” Dasher said, much more matter-of-factly. “So that I can make it in time if she stops breathing.” “Saria would be a good choice, she has that scream…” Markus mused. “I’m her cousin.” Ross said. “It’s only fitting that I should be with her.” “I’ll protect her.” Kylara said. “This is my…err…” “Someone get Tallith. He’s the only healer who isn’t completely exhausted.” Markus said. “I hear that some of them haven’t been sleeping lately.” “I’ll get Tallith.” Laura said stiffly. “Laura, wait! I’m just worried about you!” Markus called after her. She didn’t stop. “Laura!’ “What about you?” Dasher said, staring at Raythor. “I’m not a healer or her cousin and Kylara’s protecting her. What could I possibly do?” Raythor said. “You could be there when she wakes up. I know you want to be.” “What I want doesn’t-” “What about what she wants?” Ross jumped in haphazardly. “Fine.” Raythor said with apathy. “I don’t care.”
****
“Thanks Tallith. It’s nice of you to take over for Dasher and I.” Laura said.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 14:11:51 GMT -5
“Anything for Anella,” Tallith replied over eagerly. He went down the hall and Markus passed him going the other way. “Laura,” Markus very nearly begged, stopping a few feet away. “What?” Laura responded tersely. “Don’t be angry with me. I’m just worried about you, really.” “I know…” She said, voice softening. “I just thought I was going to lose you.” “You’re not going to lose me, sweetheart. I’m going to try really hard to not do anything stupid for at least a week.” Markus assured her. She laughed. “I love you, my prince, but please don’t scare me like that again.” Laura hugged him, but she pulled back and frowned at the cuts on his arms. “You haven’t washed these yet?” “I’ve been a little busy. Besides, these fade fairly quickly. They’re part of the spell.” “They’re all over your face, too.” Laura said, worry in her eyes. She touched one of the cuts on his cheek with her finger. Markus winced. “It still hurts?” “Just a…just a little bit.” “Oh, Markus… it must have been horrible.” “It was just painful when I fought against it.” “You never stopped fighting it! You kept screaming!” “I wasn’t going to let her touch you.” “Her?” “The one who was controlling my body, the shadow elementist.” “Of course…” Her eyes widened when she saw his wrists. The top layer of skin was pretty much gone. Though the blood was caked and hardened around the initial cuts, she could still see how deep the gash really was. Carefully, she slipped her hands beneath his. Little white lines went across every joint in his fingers, almost like scars. “What did Kenetari do to you?” Laura asked, starting to cry. She pulled his hand against her heart and met his eyes. “You weren’t going to tell me?” “I was going to… tomorrow…” “How was I going to miss it, Markus? We sleep in the same bed now, remember?” “Oh…right…” “I’m going to clean this because otherwise they’ll get infected.” “Laura, I-” “None of that.” She said briskly. She walked off, leaving him standing there speechless. Rose saw him a few minutes later and stopped, lifting an eyebrow. “Something bothering you, pretty boy?” “No… It’s just that Laura’s obviously been worrying about me every waking second.” Markus said unhappily. “And she’s still taking care of me.” “She just missed you and, on top of all that, there’s Anella…” “I’m trying to make her feel better, but it’s not working.” “That’s strange, usually all you have to do is stand there and look attractive and poof… there goes the problem.” Rose agreed. Then she looked slightly sympathetic. “She’s going to be fine, Markus. She’s not that easy to break.”
****
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 14:16:01 GMT -5
“Laura,” Markus tried, for the sixth time. “I told you not to talk until I’m finished.” Laura cut him off, still working on his wrist. “Just one more minute.” Markus shut his mouth, watching her perfectly focused face and how her hair spilled over her pretty green eyes. “You look so beautiful when you do that,” He said quietly. She met his eyes again. “When I do what?” “When you’re healing. You just put everything into it.” “Sometimes it’s not enough.” “Laura, you know there’s nothing else you can do for Anella. You’ve already done everything you can not just for her, but for all of us.” Markus said earnestly. “What do you want? No matter what it is, I’ll get it for you.” “What I want?” Laura said blankly. Then she let go of his wrist, along with the cloth and the bowl of water, which spilled on the floor and shattered. She ignored it completely and leaned against his chest, shaking with sobs. He put an arm around her, feeling his heart drop. He had done this to her and he knew it. “Just let me take care of you.” Markus said softly. “I’m not going anywhere anymore.” She put her arms around his neck and started kissing him very tenderly and very gently, as though he were going to break. “I love you, Markus…” “I’m fine, Laura. I’m all right.” “I couldn’t sleep without you.” “What do you mean? You slept without me for eighteen years.” “It was just so nice to know you were there next to me, and that nothing was going to happen to you.” “I’m here now,” Markus smiled at her, “and I don’t have to leave you anymore.”
****
Kylara woke up in the middle of the night, her arm throbbing. Ross, Saria and Tallith were all asleep with their heads resting on their chests, backs against the wall. Raythor was standing perfectly still, staring vacantly into nothing. Kylara got up and put a hand on his shoulder. “Can’t sleep?” She asked. “I gave it a shot.” He lied and she knew he was lying. “I think I understand how… why you love her.” “I don’t love her.” “Yes you do.” Kylara told him calmly. “She makes you forget. All I ever do is force you to remember, just like Kenetari.” “If you know that, then why do you love me? You know all I ever do is run away.” “Because you think you’re nothing, and you’re not.” Kylara said. He didn’t respond, and she wondered what it must be like to have the power to make someone as strong as him crumble, wondered how it felt to be held in his arms, to kiss him… she continued in a much more conversational tone: “Does she care for you?” “I don’t know. I’m bad with emotions.”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 14:16:23 GMT -5
“I think she does. You should tell her how you feel.” “I can’t do that,” Raythor said weakly. He glanced at Anella’s face and then swiftly away again. Something in him seemed to break. “I don’t want her to die, Kylara…” “I know, darling, but it’s up to her this time. You can’t jump into this fight to protect her and come out bleeding and barely alive.” “But that’s so much easier… it’s so simple, to be the guardian, to be the one lying there with your eyes closed and your mind shut off…” Raythor slammed his fist against the wall and left it there, fire flashing in his eyes. “This… this is impossible. It’s like torture, just looking down helplessly and feeling so useless. Wondering if someone you love is ever going to wake up again…” His stomach lurched as he realized what he had just said and his face fell back into the mask. Kylara’s hand dropped from his shoulder, hanging limply at her side. She had always known what he felt for Anella, probably even before he had admitted it to himself, but hearing this… somehow it made it all solid and permanent and inescapable. Raythor was looking at her with his cold blue eyes that refused to give anything away, and she realized that for the first time. She couldn’t see right through him. She didn’t know everything about him. She just knew the little boy in the myth better than she knew her own brother, but not this being of flesh and blood that she had spent barely over five months with. Raythor wasn’t a story that had a prewritten ending. He had taken her heart and broken it just because he hadn’t followed the guidelines she had expected him to- he had fallen in love with her instead. “Kylara…I…” Raythor said. He shook his head, smirking. “I don’t know what to say.” “You don’t always have to know what to say.” Kylara said. Her entire body felt heavy and weighted down. “It’s just… letting you go is going to be difficult no matter what either of us say. Ask her to marry you when she wakes up, Raythor. It will be easier for both of us.” “Ask her to…?” He seemed taken aback. “What?” “You hadn’t thought about it?” “Well…no… it’s not like…” “You love her don’t you? You don’t want to see her with anyone else, do you?” Kylara pressed. Raythor flicked his eyes over Anella’s face again and sighed. “I love her…”
****
Rose yawned loudly as she started down the stairs. It was going to be one of those days, she could already tell. Her suspicions were confirmed when she stepped into the next room and found Markus and Laura kissing in it. They didn’t seem to notice her there at all, or anything else for that matter. “Guys,” Rose said, slightly irritated. They didn’t move, didn’t seem to hear her. “Markus and Laura!” She tried again. Still nothing. “Prince Markus Audrion Everglade and Princess Elaura Aralia Everglade!” She very nearly yelled. “Audrion?” They both finally replied, jerking away from each other. “I’m going to have to remember that one.” Rose said. Markus blinked at her. “I don’t see my father.”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 14:16:39 GMT -5
“It was just your middle name, blue boy, he’s not actually here.” “Oh, good, because if he was I’d be dead right now.” “But you two are married now!” “I really don’t think that’s a fact that keeps him up at night.” “Did you want to ask us something?” Laura said, her cheeks very slightly red. “Yeah, I wanted to know how Anella’s doing.” Rose said. “She’s pretty much the same.” Markus said gloomily. “Dasher’s in with her now. By the way, how long have you been there?” “You didn’t hear me?” “Hear you say what?” “Never mind.” Rose said, rolling her eyes. “Sorry…” Laura said. “I thought we were alone…” “I figured. Is it all right if I go and see her?” “Oh, absolutely.”
****
Rose closed the door behind her. Ross, Tallith, Saria, Kylara and Raythor were all still there, with the addition of Dasher. “There’s blood in her mouth?” Dasher said, looking up at the various assembled humans. “Yeah, she opened her mouth this morning and it just sort of… came out.” Ross said awkwardly. “That’s not good. There’s definitely internal bleeding.” Tallith said, taking Anella’s hand. Both Raythor and Ross glared at him but he didn’t seem to notice. “Can’t we have Firelight locate where she’s bleeding, like we did with Ray?” Rose interrupted. “Don’t call me that, princess.” Raythor said half heartedly. “You look awful.” “And yet I feel so great. How very strange.” “Why do you always have to be so stupidly sarcastic?” “I’ll get Firelight.” Ross said, hurrying from the room. “Well… never mind. I don’t care what I look like.” Raythor said. He tilted his head back and stared moodily at the ceiling, a very miserable expression on his face. “There are circles under your eyes! Doesn’t anyone sleep around here?” Rose demanded shrilly. “You obviously didn’t sleep much for a period of two years.” “That’s because I needed you!” Rose shouted. The whole room went eerily silent. “Did I miss something?” Ross asked, coming in with Firelight. They both were confused. “Nothing at all.” Raythor said evenly, taking Rose’s arm and leading her into the hall. The door slammed behind them. “You needed me?” Raythor asked incredulously. “That’s why you seem healthier every day? Because of me? You hate me! You call me stupid on a daily basis, you hit me all the time, you’re always yelling at me… how could possibly need me?”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 14:17:00 GMT -5
“You’re like my brother. It was weird not to have you around,” Rose said, fighting down the urge to yell at him. “I mean, Markus makes me feel better too… but he doesn’t understand what it’s like to watch someone you love die because you couldn’t protect them. You’re the only one who understands.” “Rose…” Raythor said, almost inaudibly. To her surprise, he hugged her. “You don’t want to be in my dark little world of continuous guilt, it’s almost impossible to get out of.” It felt weird to have his arms around her and she stood a little stiffly, unsure of what to make of it. He let go, rubbing his eyes. “I’m sorry…” “It’s all right.” Rose said carefully. They both stood in silence, studying each other with slight suspicion. “I’d better go back inside.” Raythor said finally. “Yeah.” Rose agreed. She laughed in a nervous way. “Nice doesn’t work for us, does it?” “Not at all.” “I hate you.” “You’re stupid.” “I feel better now.” He grinned at her, but they were both relieved to have the door between them once again.
****
Markus finished wrapping the bandages around his wrists. He wasn’t going to let Laura do anything for him today; she and Dasher were overworked as it was tending to Anella. He knew all he could do for the shy girl now was make it easier on the healers. He looked down at the harsh white that covered his own injury and a strange sense of foreboding overcame his entire body. He pushed his back against the wall, and his hands went up to his temples. It felt like the sides of his skull were caving in, and the immense pressure forced him to a sitting position. He could only see flashing white before his eyes, and the castle around him became broken and disjointed. A thousand whispered voices surrounded him at once and the room started spinning. Just as soon as it had started, it stopped. Markus took a deep breath and got to his feet, still feeling a little dizzy. He was sure it was nothing- just stress and lack of sleep. Just a head ache. Clearly he had just imagined the voices. He was fine. Still, as he continued down the hall, he let his hand trail along the stone for support. He found himself passing through the soldier’s hallway and out into the stables. He went to the stall they were keeping Eclipse in and slipped inside. Markus put his forehead against her neck, breathing in her familiar smell. Eclipse had been with him since he was eleven and she was a foal. She was firmly built with black fur and a white mane and tail, and everything about her was so much like home that he felt instantly better. He knew he shouldn’t be so silly and childish, but still… locked in that small room for three days… “We’re going home soon.” Markus said into the mare’s fur. She shifted and tapped her front hoof against the ground. He left the stall and started out of the stables, but Laura’s bow caught his eye. He wasn’t sure why, he had seen it hundreds of thousands of times. Still, he picked it up and fitted an arrow into the bow. Taking careful
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 14:18:09 GMT -5
aim, he shot an arrow into a haystack. Shaking his head, he went to get it, not understanding himself why he had done any of this… Next to the haystack was a rack with all the Calthan archers’ equipment. What they wore to support their arms… it covered their wrists. And suddenly there was nothing in the world he wanted more than that.
****
Laura ran the brush through her hair without putting much effort into it. Markus was rubbing her shoulders and she turned to give him a vague smile. She put her hand over one of his and then remembered his wrists. But there was something there now, something solid… “Where did you get those?” She asked vaguely. She was so tired, but it was her turn to check in on Anella soon, and sleep would have to wait. “I found them.” He said, just as vaguely. “I figured if I have to fight again, they’ll be helpful.” “Mmm. I’d better go.” She set down the brush and gave him a quick peck on her way out. “Laura?” “What?” “I love you.” He said softly. She smiled and went on her way. Markus went and sat on the bed. The strange feeling from earlier was gone. He was sure that was the end of it.
Chapter Fourteen Everything to lose
Three days had passed since Anella’s injury. The bleeding had stopped, but so had her breathing twice before and Dasher had just barely been able to revive her. She and Laura stayed with Anella almost all the time now and at least one of them was in the room every second. Kylara, ever present, had taken to biting her nails. At this point they were virtually gone. Tallith never stopped playing with the ring he’d wanted to give Anella for the past two years. Ross paced, if not in the room, then in the hall, all of which just made his overflow of energy more obvious. Saria spent all her time cheering them up and telling them that tomorrow Anella would wake up, tomorrow everything would be ok. Raythor did absolutely nothing. He just stood and stared. Unless directly addressed, he made no comment. He hadn’t slept in five days and his mind was playing tricks on him. He didn’t mention it. Both times, he’d been the one who had noticed that Anella had stopped breathing. If he didn’t keep up his vigilance, they might not be so lucky next time. So he wouldn’t sleep. Rose came in every day and forced him to eat, but she couldn’t get him to sleep. Dasher knew something the rest of them didn’t and she was hesitant to share it. Anella wasn’t going to be able to breathe on her own for much longer, and there was only so much she could do, even with the assistance of Laura’s vessel powers. They were losing her, and they were helpless to stop it. Dasher glanced up at Raythor and knew what she had to do… she just wished it didn’t have to hurt so much.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 14:18:33 GMT -5
“Laura, you go rest. All of you, go rest.” Dasher said pointedly. Ross, Saria, Tallith, Laura and Kylara made it out of the room but she stopped Raythor. He shut his eyes. “What is it, Dasher?” Raythor asked, voice shaking. Dasher felt her voice freeze in her throat and tears burn in the sides of her eyes. “She’s dying, isn’t she?” “Yes.” Dasher forced out. “I thought you might want to…say goodbye to her now, before she gets worse.” “You’re still going to do everything you can, aren’t you?” “Of course I am. If there’s still a way, I will find it and bring her back to you… I mean…” “It’s all right…” Raythor said. She quietly left the room. Raythor took a hesitant step forward but beyond that he couldn’t move. “An… Anella.” He started hesitantly. “I always thought I would be the one you had to watch die, I thought Kenetari would kill me… but I was wrong, just like I was about everything else. Except you, Anella… you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I know it sounds stupid, but it’s true… You’re one of the first good things that has ever happened to me, from the first word you said to me. I never thought I’d have anything to lose and now I have you… I’ve got everything….” His voice broke a little again. “I’m not sure what it means now, but I love you. I don’t care if they can hear me, I love you. And if this is when I have to say goodbye…” He shook his head. “I’m not going to. Dasher will come through for you; I know she will, somehow. I’m not going to lose you.”
****
“Blade,” Rose said. “Could you do me a favor?” “Sleeping spell on Raythor?” Blade said instantly. “Yes. How did you know?” “I’m a psychic.” “Really?” “No. You’ve got to catch him for me.” “Catch him?” “I’ve done this before, they fall fast.” “To who?” “Laura. He was with me at the time, actually, so you’re really going to have to distract him.” “How? Raythor’s eyes haven’t focused in days.” “Think of something.” Blade said dismissively. Rose sighed and went into Anella’s room, this time leaving the door open. Blade ducked out of sight and started the spell. “Hi, Raythor.” Rose said, moving to his side. “Hello,” He said blankly. He didn’t bother looking at her. She saw Blade moving impatiently. The spell was ready and it was bothering him not to use it. “Uh…” Rose said, grasping for something. “Let’s get married; I love you more than anything.”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 14:20:32 GMT -5
“What?” Raythor said. He turned his head, his eyes focusing on her face. Blade’s spell hit and he fell so fast that Rose was just barely able to catch him. “I blame you for making me say something that vile to him.” Rose said with displeasure. “Ross, get your butt over here and help me.” “What the heck did you do to him?” Ross asked. He took Raythor’s other arm and assisted Rose in lowering the dark haired boy to the ground. “It’s just a sleeping spell.” Dasher said tensely. She was just watching Anella’s chest rise and fall. Her ears flicked back. “Why can’t I do more?” “She needs blood.” Tallith said. “Firelight said it had replenished itself already.” “That’s not what I meant. She needs Markus’s, it has healing powers, and he never gets sick.” “What are we supposed to do, cut open Markus’s arm and drip blood on her?” Ross said. “That’s completely ridiculous.” “Maybe not completely.” Laura put in. “Markus learned how to use his powers with his blood. He has control over it.” “Yes!” Dasher said excitedly, “He can put it into her veins. Its magic might be enough.” “We’ll cut his arm and her arm at the same time, and then he can control the blood into her system.” She agreed. Dasher nodded a few times. “Who cuts is important. We need someone very precise.” Dasher noted. Blade’s eyes opened wide. Markus’s memories had gone through his head so quickly, but still he had this image of Kenetari… “Swords are quite exact if you use them correctly. That’s what I love about them. They always cut… in a straight line.” They didn’t have Kenetari, but they did have… “Raythor,” Blade said insistently. “Like sister, like brother.” “We could never induce him to hurt Anella.” Kylara protested. “That is the absolute last thing in the world he would ever do. He’s terrified of even the thought. And besides, even if you could blackmail, force and torture him into doing it, you just put him under for several hours. ” “Dasher!” Ross said frantically. “She stopped breathing again!” Dasher’s star flashed and her pupils went totally white. Anella gasped for air in her sleep and she started breathing independently once more, but shallowly. “She’s barely alive as it is.” Blade said bluntly. “He’s going to have to hurt her to save her.” “Then we do this when he wakes up?” Ross said, gazing around at a room full of stony, serious expressions. “We have no other choice.”
****
“No.” Raythor said firmly. “I can’t cut her and I won’t cut her. That’s the end of it.” “Raythor,” Laura begged, “anyone else wouldn’t be as careful as you would be. If she loses too much blood, she will die. There’s no question of that.” “No.”
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 14:21:18 GMT -5
“I told you.” Kylara said smugly. “Stop being such a damn stupid moron and save Anella’s life.” Rose yelled. “I’ll screw it up and kill her, I know I will. No.” Raythor said. “Do you want to watch her die?” She demanded. His eyes flickered, and they could all tell that his resolve was weakening. “No…” “Raythor, I promised you that I’d save her if I could and this is the only way. If you don’t do this, we’re out of options.” Dasher said in remorseless voice. “All right… all right, I’ll do it.” “Great,” Laura said, taking control. Markus said down in a chair next to Anella’s bed and placed his arm next to hers, palm facing up. Laura stood behind him with her hand on his back to steady his powers. Carefully, she rotated Anella’s arm and pushed back her sleeve so that it was the mirror images of Markus’s. Dasher went to one side and waited, she was going to close both wounds immediately afterwards. Raythor drew his sword and examined it for a moment, resigning himself. “This…” Kenetari’s voice ran through Blade’s head once more, “is what brings chaos.” “Which one first?” Raythor said without emotion. “Me.” Markus said. “I’m ready when you are.” “Fine,” He returned. He took hold of Markus’s wrist. He cut across his arm very carefully, just enough so it would bleed. Markus winced but didn’t otherwise react. He began focusing the blue energy, and the blood gathered quickly, thanks to Laura. For a moment, Raythor’s blade hovered over Anella’s skin. Then he let it cut through, every tiny motion he made completely and carefully controlled. Not too deep, not too shallow. It would take hours for her to bleed out, if it came to that. When he stepped away, he started shaking and he couldn’t stop. Rose took his arm and he managed to sheath his sword. Markus made his blood flow from his wound to hers, so that the red liquids mingled together. Dasher’s star lit up and both gashes mended themselves shut. Anella’s arm began giving off a blue light, and her color returned almost instantly. “We did it,” Markus said with an encouraging smile, “She already looks better.” He got up and they all looked at Raythor, who was no longer shaking, but had gone a full two shades whiter than before. “Would you like to sit down?” Laura asked. “He’s going to.” Rose said, pulling his arm and forcing him to sit. Raythor just sat there like a lump and Rose became frustrated. “Hold her hand, you nit wit.” “I…I…” Raythor faltered, but he just numbly obeyed orders. He no longer had the will to do otherwise. All they could do now was wait.
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Lila had known about the bruises Elizabeth had done her best to cover up. She just wished Markus had come in time to save the poor unfortunate girl from Gervase. There was no way Amaria would have let any of this go on if she wasn’t so distracted, first by her passionate affair with Gregory and then by the resulting pregnancy. Gervase had been hitting Elizabeth for almost a year, and she’d done nothing to stop it. Lila knew it all, the late night, whispered ‘I love you’, the assurance that this was the last time, the
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 14:22:20 GMT -5
excuses… Lila’s own father had been like that, and she’d known what was going on from the start, she was just too terrified to deal with it. If it weren’t for Gregory, Amaria would have. Men were all the same, on the inside. No matter how smooth they seemed or how kindly they looked, they all wanted to destroy you. And yet… Lila couldn’t see that in Markus. Laura was so happy around him, they’d been friends for so long and he’s never laid a hand on her. It didn’t make sense. Markus was a royal, the class that was the bane of her existence as well as Caltha’s. She couldn’t get the moment he’d pulled back his hood and looked at her with such trusting eyes out of her head. Lila wanted to trust anyone that much, and Markus had been a stranger. Perhaps it was only the security of royalty, but just maybe… maybe it was the kindness in his eyes, the softness of his voice, the way he’d risked so much to help them all. And it had come back to haunt him. Lila had no idea what he’d gone through in the days he was missing, and a large part of her didn’t want to know. Ever since her mother had killed her father when she was under attack, Lila had not only distrusted relationships, she had feared them. After all, her father had hit her too… Her hand passed unsurely over the burn based scar on her shoulder…. She watched Gervase go by and she didn’t do what her heart and her mind screamed for her to do: kill him. She just stood, and let him walk away. Rest in peace, Elizabeth, she thought, where ever you are can’t be as terrible as Caltha.
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Raythor jerked out of his half doze when he felt Anella’s hand moving in his. His eyes darted to her face, feeling the now familiar stab of pain as he did. Anella’s eyes opened and she blinked at him drowsily a few times. “Raythor?” She said. “How long have I been asleep?” “Almost four days.” He said stoically. Then he broke down and buried his head in his hands. “Oh my god… everyone, she’s awake…” Ross, Tallith, Saria, Dasher, Blade, Rose, Kylara, Markus and Laura all came forward, talking at once. “You stopped breathing there a few times. You can understand me, can’t you? Your head doesn’t hurt or anything like that?” Laura asked, her eyes shining with tears. “No, I feel fine.” Anella said. “What’s going on? Is everyone all right?” “Yeah, we are now.” Markus said with a smile, putting a hand on her shoulder. Her arm glowed blue and he pulled back. “Guess I shouldn’t touch you for awhile.” “Why did I just glow?” Anella questioned, brow furrowed. Markus explained everything that had happened to the best of his abilities and as quickly as possible. “Raythor had to cut me?” She said when he finished, feeling slightly cold. “But it didn’t bother me.” Raythor said, lifting his head and rubbing the back of his hand under his eyes. “You were crying…” “No I wasn’t. I never cry.” “Yes you were.” Anella said, putting her arms around his neck and hugging him. She started crying too. “I can’t believe you did that for me, that all of you did…” “I’d do anything for you.” Tallith said; with such complete sincerity that she felt a little guilty.
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Post by Markus Everglade on Jun 19, 2009 14:23:34 GMT -5
“Family is family.” Ross said matter-of-factly. “I can barely accept that this all worked.” Dasher said, but with relief. “I’m so glad that it did.” “Welcome back to us.” Blade said in a hushed tone. “Now the smiles are back.” Saria added excitedly. “It’s scary how much Raythor loves you.” Rose said. “He was such a wreck. We had to force him to eat, drug him to sleep.” “Is that really true?” Anella said, referring to the second half of her statement. “It was a spell, not a drug.” Raythor said, finally sounding like his old self. He studied all the faces around him, all the people who had been with him the entire time she hadn’t been conscious and brought Anella back… “And I really do love you.” “Oh, Raythor… I thought you’d be… I thought…” Anella stammered. Then she pushed away her fears and her inhibitions and kissed him full on the mouth. She could feel all the worry seep out of his body. “I’m sorry…” Anella said, terribly self aware. “Are you going to apologize every time you kiss me?” Raythor asked softly, putting a hand tenderly against her cheek. “Every time?” Rose interrupted. “We lose sleep for days and you say ‘every time’?” “We’ve been together since he got back,” Anella admitted, blushing. Ross and Kylara just turned away in a resigned sort of way, but Tallith was shocked. “It’s about time, you two.” Markus said with a grin. “This coming from the guy who didn’t notice that his best friend was madly in love with him for over a decade.” Raythor said dryly. “Aw, did you open your mouth, Raythor?” Rose said evilly. “Why would you ask so vile a question?” “She’s just being her regular, loveable self.” Markus jumped in quickly. “You know Rose, such a kidder.” “Mark-” Rose started to protest, but Tallith’s quiet voice rose above hers. “Anella…” He said. “Is this why you wouldn’t marry me? Because you were in love with him?” Raythor leaned to the side, so that Anella could see Tallith, but Raythor’s blue eyes were still in her line of vision and it was hard to look away. “I loved him when you first asked me. I’m so sorry, Tallith…” Anella said. “It’s not his fault though, I had no idea how he felt about me until he came back.” “I… I understand.” Tallith told her comfortingly, but he didn’t really seem to. “Tallith…” “It’s all right; I guess I always knew it.” He insisted, shaking his head and leaving the room. Anella bit her lip, this time feeling tremendously guilty. She supposed there was nothing she could do. Chapter Fifteen William
“He’s so sweet with her.” Laura said, the corners of her mouth turning up. She watched as Raythor helped Anella walk up and down the hall. He was always smiling now, always laughing. It wouldn’t be long before she regained her strength and they could all go home.
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