Chapter Seven
Too Far Gone
Flames from freshly chopped wood, burning within a white stone fireplace, made loud crackling sounds and cast flickering lights and shadows upon the wall. The small but elaborate study housed a few oak bookshelves, along with a lounger sitting across from the fire. A long table was arranged between the seats and the hearth upon a glossy hardwood floor. Behind the lounger was a window shrouded in thick creamy drapes, and to the right of the fireplace, stairs climbed to the top floors of a three-story home.
To the left of the fireplace, a door stood open where Bella, dressed in a loose-fitting light green gown, waited as she peered about the vacant room. From her vantage point, she heard footsteps coming down the stairs and saw the shadow of a figure cast along the wall until Luminear came into view, wearing a long flowing black dress with a slight smile upon her face.
"Bella," she said as she came into the study.
"Lumi!" Bella cried in relief as she ran and threw her arms around her sister. "You're all right." Bella smiled, clasping her.
Luminear did the same, but her smile did not reach her eyes. "I'm doing fine," Luminear said softly, but Bella sensed she was not fine at all.
After their embrace, Bella took Luminear's hands in hers and studied her face. "Lumi, we must get out of here. What have they done to you?" Bella asked, glancing around the shiny room. It appeared as if the floors and furniture had been polished moments earlier.
"Done to me? Everything is fine, Bella. This is where I live. I paint. I write and attend classes as a teacher to small children. It is really nice," Luminear said as she continued to smile, but her eyes were filled with sorrow and belied her words.
Bella saw through the charade and began to cry. "No. Who's making you say this? What's going on? Are you trapped here? Those guards outside. Are you allowed to leave?"
Luminear kept shaking her head and said, "Bella, I promise. All is well. You shouldn't have come. I would have written you like I always do."
Bella was suspicious. For the first time since waking up in Magwhen after the siege, she had begun regaining her memories, a rude awakening from what she had believed was the truth. Now she was certain Luminear was lying, but couldn't imagine what she was hiding or why.
"Something isn't right. Markus and Fern were plucked from Garroth and put into my regiment. When they showed up, I started getting headaches. I've been lied to, and you probably have too. Lonewolf is not the man we think he is. We need to go. Don't pretend with me, Lumi." Bella raced through her explanation as her heart pounded in fear.
Luminear teared up and set her forehead against her sister's. "Shh," Luminear whispered. "I know, Bell. I know what they did to you, and they know your memories are returning. Coming here was a mistake."
Bella's eyes shot up. "Why are you whispering?"
"We aren’t alone." A tinge of panic accompanied her words, and with them, Bella’s eyes widened, and she surveyed the area.
"Who's here? What are they doing to you? In a dream, they were talking about using your power for something. What power? What is going on here?" Bella demanded, raising her voice.
Luminear grabbed Bella's shoulders to shake her. "Quiet," she insisted, but Bella stubbornly resisted, drawing her sword as she gazed up the staircase.
"Who's here?" Bella shouted, ignoring Luminear's pleas.
"Me." The voice came from within the room. Bella pivoted toward the sound to see Neighraellium coming from behind the closed window curtains, holding up a red glowing orb. "Stop," he said cheerfully to Bella.
"No. Please don't hurt her. I didn't say a thing," Luminear cried out to her captor. Neighraellium grinned as he stepped forth, dangling his medallion like a pendulum.
"Dear Bella. Tsk tsk. Here we go all over again. Focus here and forget those worries. Stop thinking." Bella was already lost. She stood no chance.
Luminear fell to her knees and sobbed uncontrollably. "Don't hurt her. Let her go. Please. You have me. I promise I won't try to leave. Just let her go." As Luminear begged, footsteps sounded from the stairs. Lonewolf descended with a distraught expression on his face. He glanced at Bella and Neighraellium before walking between them and giving Luminear his hand.
"Come. Let him work. He won't hurt her, but he doesn't need you bellowing like a stuck pig." Luminear did not take his hand but stood up in obedience. Lonewolf led her a few paces away from Bella and stopped to watch Neighraellium work.
"Wolf, won't you let her go? She is not involved in any of this," Luminear beseeched her onetime protector, but Lonewolf no longer looked Luminear in the eye and tried to block her out when she spoke.
"I want her memory erased. I want this fixed, and her back as she was. Permanently this time." Lonewolf said. Neighraellium looked to his partner from the corner of his eyes menacingly.
"I never said this would work forever. Your love of this child is outstandingly inconvenient."
"I never ask for much so you can do me this favor without complaint," Lonewolf said.
"I am," Neighraellium spat back as he watched his mindless victim stare into nothingness.
"Wolf, I'm not sure what happened to you, but you can come back from this. You don't look at me anymore, and you pretend I'm not the same person you once loved. Don't hurt Bella. I'm sure you don't want to." Luminear persisted, trying to force Lonewolf to look her in the face.
"What we are working for is more important than anything else. Sacrifices are to be made. I do what I must because few possess the courage or stomach for such business."
"Courage? She doesn't love you. You are forcing this upon her. If she understood who you really are, she would kill you. You are living a lie because you can't stand to lose the last person who makes you feel normal, but you aren't normal. You are sick. You need help. You weren't this man before, and you can fight it. You are a prisoner as much as I am, but you allow yourself to be. Let Bella go, Wolf. Just let her go."
"I agree with our pretty little witch. Bella is a pain!" Neighraellium added, finding it hard to concentrate while overhearing the two talk. "Now shut up."
"Listen to me, Wolf." Luminear grabbed at his shoulder, trying to force him to make eye contact. "Part of you knows this is wrong, and that part eats away at you. That's why you tried to erase my mind, and why you asked him to make you believe I was dead, but I am not. I am the same girl you used to hold in your arms." Luminear's attempt to get through to Lonewolf was too much. He turned to her with cold, vicious eyes refusing to budge, and backhanded her hard, followed by shoving her into a bookshelf.
"You know nothing about me! You aren't Luminear. Luminear was murdered by whatever you are. You're a damn key, bred for one purpose. You ever try to get into my head again, and I'll have you beaten half dead." Lonewolf grabbed her by her hair and forced her to her feet as she screamed.
Neighraellium giggled hysterically at the ensuing chaos. "Don't be so mean. And go somewhere else," Neighraellium ordered between laughs, also angered by the constant interference.
Lonewolf dragged her toward the stairs and said, "You're going upstairs until this is over."
While Bella was in a trance, she was still aware of everything going on in the room. She was powerless to do anything as she felt Lonewolf and Luminear brush past her to ascend the steps.
Neighraellium shuddered, pretending to be afraid. "I can't stand the temper on that man! Scary. I miss the nicer man too. This one's too serious, but I guess I'm to blame for how he turned out. Fine fellow, but they call me mad?" Neighraellium laughed again. "Wolf embodies disturbed. He's unhinged and two different people. Very nasty business, my sweets." Neighraellium spun back around to face Bella, taking a sober attitude. "Now, where were we? I do apologize. Misfits will be misfits. Let us continue."
Neighraellium once more chanted orders into Bella's mind to erase and replace her memories. As the distorted thoughts took over, her mind went black for many moments. Inside, she could hear Neighraellium's words but could do nothing excep
t helplessly watch selected memories diminish from her mind. The truth withered away once again as Neighraellium twisted her reality. Every detail slipped into a chamber within her head where they would linger locked away.
***
Bella slept in the forest upon Markus's lap as she uncovered this memory. As she witnessed Neighraellium rip apart her mind, Bella discovered the truth of her life that had been stolen. Within her dreams, she learned the full effect of what had happened to her. Every single piece of the puzzle slowly latched into place as Bella understood the tragic reality of her life.
Chapter Eight
The Bridge
Lonewolf rode out from Kinelenn with his two hundred dragoons, but he was not as much in pursuit of Bella as he was determined to meet Icaz and Luminear. For a while, he had supposed his old partner had left with Luminear the moment he got word of their victory. Lonewolf imagined Icaz’s excitement prevented him from taking the time to write back. Lonewolf was correct. He also suspected Bella might ride south to find her sister, but could not be sure. If they crossed paths with her, it would be a bonus, but his priority was reaching Icaz and informing him of Bella's returning memory. They needed Icaz's crafty magical relic to play its part once again.
Through the night, he and his dragoons rode, and into the next day, they raced onward with little rest. Two days after leaving the city, they approached a grand breach within Tragmont's mighty walls. The walls towered several dozen feet tall and surrounded the entire elven ancient country. This location where Divoxian troops had broken through several years ago became the site of the colonies. The gap in the wall spread quite a few dozen feet too, and amongst the old fallen rubble lie a small encampment of Divoxian guards.
The camp comprised enough huts to house fifty guards and was established for communications and to keep watch for incoming enemies as the Divoxian troops had feared Lamisdoria might rally to aid the elves after their war with the centaur, but it never happened. When Lonewolf and his riders came upon the camp, they found it abandoned. Where were the guards? Their absence boggled his mind and left only more questions. How long had the camp been vacant, and why? Not knowing the answers left Lonewolf unsettled. He wondered if Bella had taken these soldiers under her command.
Sard this mess. Would she attempt to rescue her sister with so few troops? Lonewolf cursed in silent frustration. He could be sure of nothing at this point.
He ordered one hundred of the dragoons to remain in the wall's shadow and make camp before taking the others further south to the river bridge that led into Divox. Fortunately, the bridge had been reopened for the past eleven years as one way to cross the turbulent river. It was the same river Kadwalador and Edward had taken a very uncomfortable and forceful ride across many years before, and much too wild to cross by boat. Hence the bridge was a necessity.
"If General Bella arrives here, arrest her. Kill anyone with her. Protect this post. I'll be back when I can." Lonewolf ordered the dragoons that remained at camp. While he held no personal grudge against Markus or Fern, he didn't care anymore, and he told himself the two men caused her relapses. He even blamed himself for allowing them to reunite.
Onward he and the one hundred other men and women rode. By the third day of their travel, they reached the long stone bridge that would take them to their homeland. Here Lonewolf finally stopped to give his people time to rest. He would allow for a half a day of rest to fully regenerate their strength and benefit from a full night of sleep. Lonewolf needed a strong bracing drink himself. He had begun this habit during his days at Magwhen, but it only increased over the years. It kept the shadows and darkness that lingered in his mind at bay while settling his nerves and erasing the guilt. He was too smart to deny his drinks were nothing more than poison, but his fondness for the concoctions remained.
Hours after the sun came up the next morning, Lonewolf stumbled out of his tent, holding his head in annoyance. He drank a little more than usual the night before and now paid the consequences. All around him, scattered soldiers either fished or prepared to ride out. Nearly all of them woke long before he did and waited on their leader to wake up and give orders. Lonewolf said nothing to any of them and instead focused all his attention down the stone bridge heading to Divox. He staggered from camp and walked up the bridge alone. Some soldiers stared at him while others just went about their business. He didn't care, and at that moment, he was in no hurry.
He wandered about halfway up the bridge before he took a seat and dangled his legs off the side. The fierce water ran rapidly below, while the sun boiled, making it oppressive like an oven, but other than the heat, the day was pleasant with not a rain cloud in sight. On the rolling river, he stared blankly, trying to figure out what to do.
Where are they, and where is she? He asked himself. Where am I? Every so often, he'd get a glimpse of himself, but never for long. Now all of his and Icaz's planning would pay off at last. No elves remained in Tragmont. Finding the gate Icaz had been so obsessed with for years could only be a few days away. Somehow Icaz's obsession had also become his, but what the gate hid or what it did no longer mattered to him. At least it did not seem to worry him at that moment. Maybe it was the alcohol wearing off, or maybe he regretted his choices, but for a moment, he wanted to jump into that wild river. He wanted to be swept away. He didn’t fear death. Part of him already felt dead.
He recalled when he was young and had run away from his violent parents. He had always dreamed he would become more than what they had been. Back then, he imagined one day he would have children and cherish and love them, thus correcting all the wrongs his parents had bestowed upon him. What a joke that was! Early on, he had been accepted by gangs and cults of ruthless men and women. At the time, he told himself he was not like the others, and he always came out unscathed. He'd befriended terrible people to get by but laughed behind their backs, for he believed he only used them. He found love and married, even had a son. That had been a promising start to getting his life right where he always knew it should be. However, again one bad thing led to another and another, and somehow it all fell apart. Alone and back on the road, he’d been once more.
Then came Icaz. Just another criminal to use for his money. He found love in an unlikely place in Luminear and Bella. He truly cared for them in his way. The children didn’t belong to him, but he wanted something special for them. He failed horribly. He may have wanted the best for them, but he also wanted what he wanted. Lonewolf convinced himself they all could get what they wanted, but it didn’t work the way he originally planned. He wondered if going to Frenmere Pass had been a mistake in the first place. Where they ended up was his fault. He doubted Icaz ever would have found a path to his goal. The only reason Icaz waited on the brink of success was because Lonewolf showed him the way. He came in and destroyed everything. For all he knew, Zynoa might have run with those girls while Lockage was under attack. For all he knew, he was the reason all of this happened.
During that moment on that bridge, he drowned himself with the weight of all of it. He wished he had never run from home as a youngster. He wished he hadn’t been so selfish and wretched, but he couldn’t turn back now. Long ago, he chose this path, and the only way out would be to throw himself into that raging river below. He considered for a time, but then he remembered the gate. That sparkle of curiosity to find out what lay behind it returned. If his actions had already destroyed his life along with Luminear's and Bella's, he figured he might as well see it through.
He looked up to the sun, and into the heavens where birds flew, and clouds, filled with wondrous white fluff, floated above. Sitting there alone took him to a place he had not been in a long time.
Xio. I don't believe in you. I don't believe in anything. But if you are out there, and you listen then- Well, it’s true I deserve no forgiveness, but I would like to go back and see if I did anything right ever. I’m not sure what I'm-This is sarding absurd. But if you are up there watching like these sodding fools imagine you are, then it i
s about time to show yourself. Come have a chat with me. Lonewolf laughed at his thoughts. "Sarding shite, what am I even thinking?"
Feeling silly, he dropped backward to lie upon the road and stare a while longer. It was peaceful here. After a few moments, he looked at the camp in the distance. I guess it is time to leave, and for me to get my worthless arse to work. Before standing, he turned his head and glanced at the other side of the overpass. Unbelievably at that moment, two horses stepped onto the bridge, and upon the horses rode two familiar people. Icaz and Luminear approached. Lonewolf smiled in disbelief.
Well, thank you, Xio! Certain their sudden appearance was nothing other than a coincidence. I believe I have my sign. Still chucking, he climbed to his feet and jolted off to greet them. His doubt in himself was erased once again. Certainly, he was on the proper path.
Once Icaz spotted Lonewolf, he hopped off his horse and embraced his comrade. Lonewolf patted his partner’s back uncomfortably, while Luminear looked on.
Icaz backed away, grabbing Lonewolf by the collar. "Why are you here? Are we ready? It is time?"
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