That insufferable idiot. I know he won’t take no for an answer. I look down again at Killian’s still body before closing my eyes. I focus all my energy and thoughts into my powers. Visualizing the golden swirls, Killian breathing again, anything for my powers to work.
I feel a tingle in my fingertips and I open my eyes to see my fingers encased in golden swirls. They begin to wrap and twist around Killian, but nothing happens.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Shadowbolt move closer until his horn presses against Killian’s head.
Blue sparks appear before me. Spiraling around his horn toward Killian. As the blue light edges closer to my golden swirls they begin to join, entwining together.
"What… what's happening?" I blurt out transfixed by what I'm witnessing.
"Shhh. I'm concentrating." He squeezes his eyes shut, his muscles tightening more in concentration.
I focus on Killian lying in my arms. I'm still covered in his blood. The wound is still fresh, but I watch in fascination as Shadowbolt's blue sparks gracefully mix with my gold swirls and dance across Killian's throat.
I concentrate harder and my swirls glow brighter. I glance to Shadowbolt who is doing the same, with his horn resting carefully on Killian’s forehead. Killian’s throat begins to seal shut, the skin joining together until only a jagged line and dried blood remains.
To my astonishment, Killian’s chest starts slowly rising and falling.
“It worked! I can’t believe it actually worked! We did it!”
“You did it, Sparky. You just needed some encouragement.”
Killian startles me by taking a sudden deep breath, his body jolting with the movement. His lids slowly peel back to reveal tired, bloodshot chocolate eyes. They stare straight at me and I can’t help but notice the edges of his mouth curl up in a small smile.
“Are you okay?” he croaks out. His voice sounds strained and raspy.
“Am I okay? Are you kidding me? Killian, you just died! Are you okay?”
“I died? What? When? Is that creature gone?” Killian tries to sit up and look around him.
I carefully pull him back into my arms. Too frightened to let him go. Too worried it’s all a dream.
“Careful. You can’t go rushing to get up. Don’t you remember Vemnos slitting your throat?” I ask looking down at the man currently sprawled in my lap.
“Uh, yeah. I think I do. It just happened so quick. I remember the pain, struggling to breathe, then nothing. Just darkness.”
“Only darkness? That’s unusual. Usually when a person dies, Darythys the Goddess of the Underworld would be there to claim his soul. Did he really see only darkness?”
“Was that all you saw Killian? Nothing else?” I ask, absentmindedly running my fingers through his curly brown locks.
He lets out a contented sigh and I feel him lean into my touch. So much for keeping boundaries.
“There’s not going to be any boundaries anymore, Sparky. You watched him die. You saved his life. You have a deeper connection now.”
“Who has a deeper connection? Why does your voice sound so deep?” Killian’s rasps out.
“I didn’t say anything about a connection.” My fingers still as I see confusion cloud his features.
“Huh, I thought I heard something about boundaries and deeper connections. I must be losing my mind.” Killian reaches up to rub small circles on his temple.
I look up to Shadowbolt whose eyes are wide, his large jaw hanging open.
“What is it?”
“Nothing. I thought for a minute Killian heard me.”
“I can hear you Alina. Why does your voice sound rough like a man?” He continues rubbing his forehead with his eyes closed.
“I didn’t say anything Killian. That wasn’t me.”
Killian opens his eyes, puzzlement staring back at me before he looks at Shadowbolt.
“Can you hear me?” Shadowbolt bends down toward Killian as he moves in my arms to prop himself up.
He gingerly reaches his other hand out to touch Shadowbolt’s muzzle. His fingers still when he reaches his horn, but he doesn’t say anything about it. “I can. What? How? How can I hear you?”
“I don’t know.”
My gaze shoots between Killian and Shadowbolt. They can hear each other. What else can he hear? “Wait a minute. Can you hear me too?”
Killian looks taken aback for a moment. He looks from me to Shadowbolt and back again. “How can I hear both of your thoughts? I never could before.”
“Could it be because of the deeper connection you mentioned? I wasn’t the only one to save him after all. You helped heal him too.” I query looking between the two in awe.
“That could be it. I’ve never heard of a human possessing the power to hear the thoughts of the mind.”
“So, I can hear you? Fuck.” Killian has managed to pull himself up into a sitting position with his back still resting against my legs.
“Well, it should make conversations easier.” Shadowbolt chuckles.
I can’t help but chuckle along with him. Killian not far behind. “Ha, it’s funny to think all these years I wanted to be able to communicate with horses and now here I am. Only took me dying to work,” his chuckles filter out to silence.
“Was there really only darkness? Nothing else? Nothing at all?
“Not that I remember—” he stops abruptly, his eyes squeezing shut again, “—I did see something. I remember now. How could I forget? “Killian’s breathing accelerates, his eyes widen. Pain and anger wage war across his features.
“What did you see? Was it a blue goddess?”
“No, it was two people. At least, I think they were people. One had red skin and black horns. The other was so white and gaunt. They were laughing. They were standing on something.” Killian stops, his gaze focusing on me. “Bodies. So many bodies. I remember now. That’s what they were standing on. There was destruction everywhere. The sky was dark, rain pelting down. I can see the blood mixing with the rain water. It was… It was horrifying.” Killian’s expression looks haunted, he reaches for me and I let him pull me close. “I couldn’t see you or Shadowbolt. I was the only one there. It was like there was this vortex around me, stopping me from moving in any direction. All I could do was watch. I—” he takes a deep breath, coughing a little as he breathes out, “—I saw them grab a young woman. They… they tortured and raped her in front of me and there was nothing I could do. I couldn’t get to her. I couldn’t help her. I… I was trapped. Then—” he turns away to hide his face, but I notice silent tears beginning to fall. “Then the white one used his hand to rip out her heart. With his bare hand. No weapon. Nothing. He just twisted his nails and tore it out. I couldn’t stop them. I tried. I fucking tried. I had to watch them do it over and over again to men and women. They strung children up and beat them before slicing their throats. It all happened so fast, just different horrifying images flashing in front of me. All I could do was stand there. Useless.”
I watch in dismay as Killian runs his hand down his face, trying to hide the tears I’d already seen. “Killian. It was a nightmare. It wasn’t your fault.” I place my hand on his back which is now facing me and rub large comforting circles on it.
“I don’t think it was a nightmare, Sparky. I think it was a vision.”
“What do you mean, you think it was a vision? How can that shit be real? What kind of person would do that?”
“The kind that have no morals or any kindness for anyone. It sounds exactly like Vemnos and Ebris. If anyone were to cause that kind of chaos it would be them. They’re vile creatures who don’t deserve to breathe,” Shadowbolt bites out.
“They destroyed that village before, the one responsible for my creation. How can you be so sure it was a vision and not just a glimpse at the past?”
“I’m sure. Everything Killian described has been foreseen for centuries, even before your birth. Neris has always warned me that Ebris and Vemnos working together would result in the end
of the world. They don’t care for anything other than pain, destruction, and agony for others.”
“But how come I saw it, and not someone else, like you or Alina? I’m nothing special,” Killian asks facing toward us again.
“Don’t ever say you’re not special. Everyone is special in their own way, just not everyone realizes it.” I glare at Killian, who looks at me sheepishly as he mouths ‘thank you’.
“To be honest, I don’t know. But Alina is right, you are special in your own way. I can sense your pure heart and your compassion and empathy for others. Maybe you saw the vision because you shine like a beacon amongst the dark hopelessness of what Ebris and Vemnos could create together.”
“Aren’t unicorns pure of heart too though? Why didn’t you see it?” Killian asks, cocking his head to the side. It’s the first time he had acknowledged Shadowbolt’s new form.
“You would think that, but no. Only true unicorns are completely pure of heart. Not… creatures like me.” Shadowbolt bows his head low, almost as if he was ashamed.
“Creatures like you? I don’t understand,” I ask puzzled. Both Killian and I look to each other, our expression matching, full of confusion.
He breathes out a strained chuckle. He looks back at us, something unknown clouding his blue eyes. “Ha. I was hoping I didn’t need to tell you this before I could change properly. This is going to take some explaining.”
“Change properly? What do you mean?” Killian is the first to ask.
“Shadowbolt?” I query, rising onto my knees to be closer to him, Killian mirrors my actions.
“Well, one thing's for certain I won’t miss that name,” he sighs looking between us.“My name isn’t Shadowbolt. Never has been. Not until I arrived here and met you, Sparky.”
“I… I don’t understand. If Shadowbolt isn’t your real name, then what is?”
He stares right at me, his eyes suddenly clearer and brighter. His smooth voice washes over me as he breathes out his real name to me for the first time.
“My name is Galen.”
GALEN
“Galen?”
Hearing Alina say my name gives me a sense of warmth and comfort.
It feels like forever since I heard someone say my name and for it to be Alina’s soft gentle voice repeating my name back to me feels amazing. “Yes, that’s my real name. I’m sorry I had to deceive you, but I was under strict orders to not reveal my true self until my mission was complete or unless it was absolutely necessary.” It’s the truth. I never wanted to lie to her or even Killian for that matter, but I had to.
“Strict orders from who? The Goddess Neris?” Alina asks, her brow furrowed a little.
I nod in response. I’m not sure how much I am meant to say, but I feel like some weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Hopefully once I’ve told her the whole truth, it will relieve the rest.
“So, let me get this straight. Your true form is a unicorn, but you were prevented by a goddess from revealing it and your real name. So, you had to be a horse because she told you so? That seems like a shitty relationship if you ask me,” Killian comments with a croak.
“Ha, when you put it like that, I suppose it is. I’ve never known any differently though. I have always obeyed Neris since before I can even remember. It’s just ingrained in me.”
“What about your free will? Do you not get any say in anything?”
“No, Sparky. I do not. I have been threatened on numerous occasions if I disobeyed her, I would be trapped in this form forever.”
Alina moves onto her knees and shuffles a little closer to me, “Trapped, how? Do mean trapped as a regular horse?”
I can’t help but let out a small chuckle. How is she going to react when she finds out the truth? Will she run away and leave me? So many questions run rampant in my mind. They’re giving me a headache. “Horse, unicorn it doesn’t matter, I’ll be stuck like that.”
“Wait a minute. If you would be trapped as either a horse or a unicorn, what actually is your true form? Dragon?” Killian’s brow is furrowed, filled with confusion.
“No, Killian. As far as I’m aware, dragons were killed off many centuries ago. Even before I was born. Shame really, I heard they were stunning creatures. Translucent wings and reflective scales that made them near impossible to see. I’ve read about them so many times, wishing I could see one. But unfortunately, they were hunted to extinction by men wanting to use them for medicines and potions. One of the many things I despise about people is their disregard for creatures.” I feel pain in my jaw from clenching it hard at the thought of innocent animals being harmed for stupid reasons.
“Stop stalling. So, you’re not a dragon. You still haven’t said what you actually are,” Alina snaps. I know she’s probably growing impatient with me. I’ve kept so many secrets, I’ve probably hurt her feelings seeing as she has told me so much about her past.
I have my reasons though. Letting out a deep breath I gather my courage. “Very well. I am, what is known as, a unicorn shifter. I can assume the form of a unicorn or a horse depending on what is needed at the time. Neris thought it was important that I concealed my true identity as she feared you would not be receptive to another magical creature, given your history.”
“But you said you didn’t want to be trapped as a horse or unicorn, which must mean you’re something else. We’ve already established you’re not a dragon, so what are you?” Killian asks before Alina has even opened her mouth.
“I was getting to that part.”
Both Alina and Killian are watching me expectantly. I can feel their minds so open and trusting. It scares me to think I could risk hurting them both. Neris didn’t prevent me from shifting to my unicorn form, so maybe I can shift to my normal one. I concentrate for a moment, when nothing happens I know I’m still trapped. Okay here goes, courage don’t leave me now.
“I was born human.”
What happens next is a barrage of questions, firing so quick it makes my head spin.
“What do you mean you were born human?”
“Are you still technically human?”
“What happened?”
“Are you cursed?”
“Did Neris do this?”
“Are you stuck as a unicorn, horse thingy forever?”
I take a deep breath trying to wrap my head around the chorus of their voices mingling together. Taking a step back I gaze down at them.
“And breathe. You do realize I can’t answer that many questions in one go, don’t you? Did either of you take a breath amongst any of that? Gods, I thought I talked quick,” I lightly chuckle. So far they haven’t run away, hopefully a good sign.
“Sorry, but you can’t just drop a bomb like that on us, then not elaborate.” Alina’s eyes are soft and welcoming. Maybe she won’t run. Maybe she can forgive me for lying.
“I was going to tell you more, before you started shouting out questions.” I chuckle again. How can they make me feel so light under all this pressure?
“Sorry about that. It’s just a lot to take in. First you can talk, then you’re a unicorn and now you tell us you’re really a human. You have to admit it’s a bit of a mind fuck,” Killian rasps out. I wonder if his voice will ever be the same again?
“I agree it is a lot. It may be the reason Neris didn’t want me telling Alina so soon. I’m not sure where to even begin.”
“How about at the start?” Alina suggets, moving her legs out so she’s no longer kneeling. Killian subconsciously copies her movement. They are sitting quite close together now. Their sides brushing against each other and I’m filled with a small pang of jealousy again. Fuck that sucks.
“Okay, so start at the beginning, right?”
Many Centuries Ago…
Thunder crashes against the windows. The storm is intense tonight. I can feel the ground shake and rumble under my feet. It scares me. Always has. If it wasn’t for my mistress, I would be crying. She doesn’t like crying. She says it’s childish.
&nbs
p; Though I am but a boy, a mere ten summers old, I want to be someone my mistress can be proud of. I try to excel in my studies, even though they are hard. I listen to the beautiful stories she tells me. Oceans, forests, and deserts, she describes them all for me. My mistress promises one day when I’m older, she’ll let me see them. Oh, how I long to explore and meet other people. Maybe even someone like me.
A streak of lightning brightens the sky and I stare at the wonder of nature before me. How can something so beautiful be scary?
“Galen? Galen? Where are you, boy?” I hear my mistress call my name and I turn from the window and run toward her. She hates it if I’m late.
“I’m here Mistress Neris.”
“Ah, so you are. What have you been up to, Pet?” She smiles down at me, her eyes glowing kindly.
“I was watching the storm, mistress.”
“I see. I notice you’re not crying. Are you becoming braver, my pet?” She uses one of her long fingers to tilt my chin up to look at my eyes, which for once are dry. Maybe I am becoming braver. “Well, you can watch the storm a little longer if you would like. But remember to meet me in the library in a little while so we can continue your studies, okay?”
“Yes, mistress.” I bow, then straighten up and watch her walk away. Her heavy skirt swishes from side to side and her bangles jangle as she moves. I have never known any differently than calling her my mistress.
Although, I suppose in a way, she could be seen as my mother. Even though she was a goddess, all wise, powerful, and strong with what looked like everything she could ever want. She still realized she was lonely, always wanting children, but unable to have them.
Then I was born. Not to her, no. I was born under a shooting star, on a stormy night similar to this. Or so I’ve been told. Apparently, I was materialized from a combination of the star, the lightning and Neris’ powers. She wanted a child so badly, it seemed the universe granted her one.
Although I am unlike other children.
I may have been born a human, but it didn’t take long before Neris realized I was more.
Echoes of the Past (The Alina Chronicles Book 1) Page 14