- Don't answer now," he asked, "please. You'll answer me later. When... when... you're not tied up...
- Shaider, I don't want to give you false hope," I said almost desperately...
He stepped on me and suddenly he gave me a hug.
- Things are going to change, Vetriana. Everything will change, you'll see... He said quietly.
And he kissed me. He had tender lips, a little salty from mermaid nectar. And the persistent hands pressing me against the hot male body... I broke out so sharply that I fell a wreath from my head.
- Lord Darrell? Shaider... Xenia's voice was heard.
I bounced away from him even further, and I got scared. Xenia danced out of the trees and stopped looking at us. A gentle smile slowly slipped from her lips, and a white lake lily fell out of her hands. And the ink darkness spilled over her aura, almost completely absorbing it. The girl turned around and threw herself away.
- Ksenia! - I screamed frightened.
Lord Darrell grabbed my hand.
- Let him go, it's better... understand...
I pushed him so that he almost fell. And without answering, I rushed after Xena. After running under the trees, I jumped to the factory. The mermaids danced around Danila, and Xenia was nowhere to be seen. I unceremoniously pulled the guy out of the circle.
- Danila, we have to find Xenia!
- What for? - He insultedly asked her to send me back...to the forest?
- Danila! - I shaken a guy who was taller than me and twice as big - we have to find her! You hear me! Right now! She's going to be in trouble!
The abusive expression disappeared from his face, and he nodded seriously.
- Where did you see her?
- Over there! She went into the woods...
- I'll see if you can walk along the beach and see if she comes back.
He went that way quickly. I swept around looking into mermaid faces with hope. But Kseni wasn't one of them. Echo, feeling my anxiety, circled nearby.
The first arrow whistled in the air and stumbled into the sand next to me. If it hadn't been for my air beast, the black shaft would already be shaking in my chest.
- The morok has disappeared! - astonished and frightened screamed all over the coast of Aya.
Songs and music came to a halt. And then arrows flew at us. Echo circled around me in a continuous whirlwind, but I knew it wouldn't save me from the arrow... The sirens screamed and rushed into the water, one of the mermaids shrieked thinly when a black arrow broke through her arm. The transparent water immediately turned red.
- Chickenpox! - Solmeya shouted.
I looked at the forest. Somewhere behind the trees were my friends, Xenia... And there were enemies standing. Even from this distance I saw them: in the hands of the Village and Rogneda there were crossbows, and there were two men nearby. Both in black robes and long white hair. One hand was raised up, and it was probably he who broke the mermaid's guard and took the dirt off. And with amazement, I realized that they were elves...
But I did not have time to see them properly, because the Archharrion ran out from the side because of the stones and just took me in his arms and jumped into the water from the run.
- There's Xenya!!! - I screamed and choked.
Black arrows pierced the water, leaving traces of air bubbles. The air in me was running out, and Rion kept swimming and swimming, dragging me by the hand. And when my chest almost exploded without a sigh, he finally rushed up. I ducked out and coughed, grabbing the lifesaving air. And I cried out in terror. The forest was on fire. And the shore. And even the water! A strange blue fire voraciously choked, devouring trees, grass, rocks, sand... and crawled persistently through the agitated water, and it boiled with this magical flame!
- We must go," said Archarrion through his teeth.
- They've all stayed on the shore! - I almost cried," Ksenka said! We have to go back!
- It makes no sense. Listen! - He turned me towards him, - Vetryana, we must go. There are renegades. It's ridiculous to go against them without magic... and your wind won't help here. Do you understand me? If we go ashore, we'll just get killed, it won't help Xena!
He looked at the edge of the forest.
- None of ours are there. I think they were smart enough to get away from the forest.
There were blue flames flying in our direction.
- The darkness! Get some air! - The Archarrion scolded and went down, dragging me back with him.
Once again, we are farther from shore. The blue flame roared like a living flame, crawling to us in the water and stretching more and more. Its ends were wrapped, trying to take us into a death ring. The archpriest looked around, clenched his teeth. The dark water of the lake was black in front as far as the eye could see. And from behind, a greedy flame was getting closer.
- We must get to the other shore," said Archarrion, "do not be afraid. Do you hear?
I nodded, though I shuddered a lot. Even above water I could only hang because he held me. He'd let me go, I'd go straight to the bottom... And the flame was growing so fast...
- Get more air," he said. I sighed, and we went back to the depths. And suddenly it was light. I raised my head. The ring of fire closed, and now it was squeezing around us. The water boiled, and we had to go even deeper to avoid getting burned. The archharrion dragged me quickly away from the mortal grip, but I felt that we couldn't make it... Without me he would have swam out, but together... No. Because the demon couldn't breathe for long, and I... The air in my chest was running out too fast. And immediately I was burned by his anger, and I knew he could feel my thoughts. He squeezed my hand and rushed forward even faster. True, besides his anger, I managed to feel his fear, and I was surprised that he wasn't afraid for himself...
My chest ripped again without air and we had to get up to breathe. The ring of blue fire was raging right next to me, burning my skin.
I looked at the demon with despair. The dark eyes reflected the flames.
- We'll get out of here," he said confidently, "ready?
I nodded, though I wasn't ready. And then something big and smooth touched my leg. And a long muzzle sowed above the water.
- Grab the fin! - I was relieved in his voice," said Archarrion, "Vetriana! Quickly!
I grabbed myself, and almost immediately I sowed, dragging me to the bottom. A long black body swept under a strip of fire at great speed and carried me almost to the middle of the lake. I climbed up, anxiously examining the dark water. A moment went by, and Archharrion did not show up... Again and again I looked into the lake, into the raging strip of fire, until my eyes began to cut with tension...
He swam out from the other side and grabbed the triangle fin of the fish.
- You're a good swimmer," I exhaled. Rion smiled.
- Yes, though those born in Chaos are not too fond of this activity.
A silver spark shone in the depths and Solmeius appeared on the surface. I leaned towards her.
- Thank you for sowing," I said, "is the sirens all right?
- Three are wounded," she said quietly.
- I'm sorry... Solmeya, do you know where my friends are?
She kept silent, as if listening.
- The water says they have gone into the forest. It's a long way from here.
- All three of them? - She nodded, and I sighed lightly.
- It's burning," the mermaid said sadly. Blue flames were dancing on her scales.
- Rion, can this fire be extinguished by rain?
- Only if it's very cold," he replied and looked at the siren, "why are you helping us?
Solomyia bowed her head as if she were thinking.
- Perhaps because I like the way Vetriana tells fairy tales...," she said slowly and immediately sparkled her eyes, "or perhaps I don't mind doing a favour for the Ruler of Chaos!
The Archarrion grinned and nodded.
I sat more comfortably on the sower. I did not close my eyes; on the contrary, I watched the lake shore greedily devouri
ng the flames. The clouds appeared above us like clots of pain. The darkness crawled from all sides, gathering in one huge and heavy darkness, swelling in the icy rain. Dark swirls swept over the shore. But they could not touch the fours standing there. Apparently, Archarrion is right, my wind is powerless against their magic... But I can extinguish this blue flame!
I raised my head, looking at the grim pile above me. In her swirling womb, snakes were hissinging lightning, woven into a tangle and bitten by hot sparks. The thunder did not fall, but struck the water deafly, as if with a hammer, and immediately rain poured out from above, stabbing with needles of ice and snow.
Solomyia cried out, looked at me frightened and went deep, whipping her tail on the water. Then she woke up and came back.
- You have to go there," she said, waving her hand. From this side the whole bank is burning, and then the steep slopes. The sower will take you to a place where you can reach the land. There is an old orc's gatehouse in the forest, go there. I'll find you in the morning. In the meantime, I need to make sure the sirens are all right and calm them down. I'll see you later!
She splattered her tail again and made a sound calling the second sow.
- Thank you," I whispered, but the siren had already floated away, sparkling with silver scales. The Archarrion had already ridden the fish and grabbed the fin firmly. Their bodies were almost equally dark in the dark.
- The flames were going out," he said, "we must move.
I nodded and patted the fish on the slippery side.
* * *
When we did get to the shore and my feet touched the sand, I was already shaking a lot. The ice rain was pouring in a continuous stream, and the wind was pulling the wretched remnants of heat from my body. I slipped down from the fish, thanked them, and wiped ashore with no strength.
I was shaken by the cold and the splash of power, my living dress, despite its beauty, was not at all warm...
Somewhere by the shore, I did stumble and the Archarrion picked me up.
- I myself...
He didn't even pay attention. He carried me all the way to the watchhouse.
It wasn't even warmer inside. The old decayed boards didn't keep warm. There was a black hearth of ash, but it was impossible to find dry wood under such a downpour. The small shack was almost empty, except for a rough wooden bench and a darkened lodge. I sat down on it, and tried to rub my hands to warm up somehow. My wet body was shaking, and my eyes insistently saw a vision: a large reed filled with hot water... But alas, you could only dream about it.
- What are you doing? - I was surprised to see what the Archharrion was doing. He was quickly disassembling the floorboards, and then jumped into the formed hole.
- It's an orc's gatehouse, and they always make hiding places under the floor," his voice sounded deaf as from a barrel from below. And some shabby skins, dry wood, and even a couple of wines flew to the surface. Afterwards the Archbishop got out and immediately laid out the firewood in the hearth.
- We have no fire," I reminded him.
He looked into the interior of the hearth. He lifted up his palm and a tongue of orange flame burst on it. I awoke.
- The only thing you can't take away from a demon," he said thoughtfully, putting the fire in the hearth, "even in human form.
And immediately he came up to me, threw his hides at me, wrapping me up. He swallowed from the wineskin and crumpled.
- It's a terrible swill.
And he gave it to me, saying "drink!"
- Why should I drink if it's a creepy swill? - Knocking my teeth, I resented it. The old shabby skins didn't keep me warm, I was still shivering. Suddenly, I thought it was good to be a demon... standing there wet, in the same pants and not cold to him... The fire of Chaos always burns inside...
The Archarrion suddenly froze looking at me.
- Put the protection away," he said.
- What?
- Put it away! - He wrapped his hands around my face, making me look into my eyes," Vetriana, you're cold as ice. You need to get warm. People can't get cold like that, you're dying from it. Take it away.
- No.
- Get it out, I said! - He roared through his teeth.
I remembered how his flame on the shore burned me, and I imagined what would fall on me if I took away my protection. And I shook my head.
- Silly," he said and smiled, "and stubborn. If you don't want to let the fire of Chaos in... There's another way to keep the girl warm.
And he kissed.
I didn't know those cruel lips could be so gentle. So unhurried. Can't be tantalizing. I suffocated under his touch to my body and could not understand whose fire was burning me: mine or his ... Traitor's dress sprawled where he touched me as if he let me touch.
- Rion... Don't...
He got away from my lips. Yellowness trembled in my dark eyes, and the pupil was stretched out, becoming a beast.
- I don't want to...
- You're lying! - suddenly he got angry, why are you lying to me! You want it just as much as I do! Do you think your pathetic protection will hide your feelings from me? So why are you resisting me?
- Why? - I choked, - You know very well why! Because it's... it's not going anywhere! It's just a pernicious attraction to the blood! And it's only going to get worse... I can't... I don't want to... so...
- Should I get down on my knees like Spider and beg you? - suddenly he asks with anger. And cold fatal madness burned me. I twitched, trying to get out of his hands.
He squeezed my shoulders as if he wanted to break them. But only for a moment, and immediately he let go.
- He wouldn't touch you again. Not ever again. No one will touch you.
I pulled out and pulled back, though.
- You have no right to dispose of me," I said quietly, "you are nothing to me. And Shyder... he never hurt me. Unlike you.
- Yeah, he did.
The Archarrion stepped back a little, looking at me. And under that dark look, I really got scared.
- That's how..." repeated, they stepped towards me.
His hands squeezed me like rods of a cage, and in a moment hot palms were everywhere: hugged, stroked, caressed... He kissed me all: lips, neck, chest, belly... Hot hands, greedy lips... Very greedy... Demanding, persistent.
- Stop it! Rion! What are you doing?
- What I should have done long ago," he said sharply, "is about to complete the merger. You are mine, Vetriana. And you'll always be mine, remember that.
I twitched as his lips touched my chest and crawled lower. The fire burned me from the inside, and my walls collapsed. Only I didn't know whose wish was beating in me like a liquid flame, his or mine? Such wild attraction, mixed with fear and pain... A desire with a taste of blood...
- Just don't fight it," he said quietly.
The hands weren't fondling anymore, they were squeezing without giving a sigh. The lips had lost their softness and started burning, leaving red marks on the body. I woke up when he bit my lip to blood. I tried to push him away, and he wouldn't let me. I squeezed my wrists with my right hand.
- Only once," he whispered to my lips, "and it will get easier.
Only once," I repeated myself involuntarily. And I froze as if from a blow. Of course I did. Only once. Holy elders, what am I doing?? The sweetness of gravity is gone, there's only fear and bitterness left.
- No, I put my palms in his chest, pushing him away. But I might as well have pushed the rock away. He couldn't hear me, he didn't understand. My hot fingers were squeezing my thighs, and my lips were burning my skin. I bent out, trying to get free, but I only made it worse. Because when he raised his head, the yellow eyes of a hungry beast were looking at me.
- You're hurting me! - I shouted out in despair.
I didn't think he would hear, but the demon suddenly froze looking me in the eyes. The darkness crawled over his arms, circled around his body, his face... Behind his back, ghostly wings swept...
- Rion! - I whispered, - y
ou... change!
He looked in surprise at his hands, which already had fire patterns on them. He raised his head.
- It's impossible," he said.
He straightened, looked at me for another moment, and turned sharply and came out. The keeper's door squeaked complaining as it closed.
Chapter 22
I stuck my forehead against the wall and stood like this when I woke up. The Archarrion didn't come back and I listened carefully. He was somewhere on the shore, and I felt like the echo of his feelings: a strange confusion, so unusual for him.
And then somehow I was so tired, I climbed under my hides and fell asleep. I woke up in the warmth, pressed against his body.
- Do not be afraid," said Archarrion quietly, "sleep.
For a few moments I looked at his calm face. The fire in the hearth was almost burnt, the coals smoldering slightly, throwing reddish light upon the dark boards. Memories came back all at once, and I shuddered, broke out of his hands, and jumped out of bed.
- I must go down to the whirlpool at dawn! And I have to find the others...
He shook his head without getting out of the bed.
- After what happened that night, he wouldn't tell them," he said, "and Maira wouldn't let go.
I grabbed my head and walked nervously into the small room.
- So what do we do now? I was so hoping they'd get help! I should have convinced the Mistress to let me in yesterday! It's my fault, it's all my fault!
He sat down, looked at the frown.
- Chickenpox, calm down.
I sighed and stopped.
- Did you see the men who were with the Village? - I asked, you called them renegades... Do you know who they are?
- The Elves. Elves who betrayed the magic of the Light. Dark rituals and necromancy are forbidden around the Light, it preemptes the elven nature. But not everyone agrees with that, as you can see.
- But why are the renegades helping the village? Where did they come from, anyway?
- Knowledge, Vetriana. The knowledge of the moon priestess is a tidbit for the apostates! But where did it come from, the question is...
The Wind of the North Page 51