After they finished eating, Diana and Eric walked together to their History class. On the way, she told Eric the name of the town where the Flinders house was located, and by the look on his face, it was obvious that Diana had just confused him. When they arrived at class she drew him a makeshift map on a piece of paper.
Surprisingly, Diana stayed awake through class. Luckily the subject matter piqued her interest—the ancient Greeks. The only civilization left in the semester was Rome. Diana could only marvel at how fast time had flown by. Fifteen weeks wasn’t nearly enough time to adequately study four thousand years of human history. Although, Diana often wondered how much of that history had been altered by the elves. She’d probably never know.
At least she had good grades.
The rest of Diana’s classes failed to hold her attention and she went through them in a haze. She managed to not fall asleep but she’d been in a waking coma, nonetheless. It was most likely her steadily growing anxiety that kept her awake while consuming her mind at the same time.
She hadn’t heard anything from Darien at all today, which wasn’t like him. Diana usually found him waiting with a warm smile just outside of her Quantitative Reasoning class, eager to eat lunch with her. Today, he’d been alarmingly absent.
With classes over for the day, Diana felt the uncontrollable urge to venture to the Shepherds’ house but stopped herself before taking one step in that direction. It would be dangerous—and stupid—for her to go over there. Diana had no way to know if Terra would be there or not, and she could be burning alive from the inside out before she reached the doorbell.
I wish they could just use a damn cell phone. It was highly inconvenient not to be able to contact Darien anytime she pleased. At least she wasn’t in any danger of seeming too clingy.
With an anxious sigh, Diana headed towards the library. Maybe reading The White Wraith again would take her mind off of Darien.
Diana stopped in front of the Gothic church building of stone and stared up at the bell tower, unable to cross the threshold into the library.
When the bell chimed once to signal the half-hour, she turned around and walked the other way. Diana’s desire to know Darien’s fate eclipsed her sense of self-preservation and she began the trek to the Shepherd house.
Regardless of Terra’s murderous intentions, it would be ludicrous for her to make a magical attempt to end Diana’s life in the middle of an area so densely populated by humans. Someone would definitely notice a fiery explosion of death.
When Diana finally found herself standing before the front door, she couldn’t bring herself to ring the bell. What if Terra answers the door? She may not use magic—she may just use a knife.
With beads of perspiration quickly forming on her brow, Diana reached for the metal door-knocker. She felt the finality of each bang deep in her chest.
After a few moments, the door opened wide and Diana sighed in great relief when she saw Marjorie’s kindly visage in the entryway.
“Ah, Miss Selene,” the elderly woman greeted her with warmth. “Darien is currently indisposed at the moment. Would you like me to pass along a message for you?” Marjorie was all politeness but Diana knew the housekeeper was only being a buffer.
She didn’t know what to do. What if Darien was in danger? What if he needed her? Diana couldn’t simply just turn and walk away. Terra was now keenly aware that Diana knew their secrets—what greater danger could there be for her?
“Marjorie, please take me to Endymion,” Diana politely demanded, stressing Darien’s true name.
The housekeeper’s old gray eyes lit up with shock for a moment, but Marjorie kept her composure. “Miss Selene, I believe you are confused—.”
“Marjorie,” Miri’s voice interrupted as she descended the staircase. “I will take her to the Sanctuary. The matter concerns her as well, and it would ease Endymion to see her.”
The buffer dismissed, Marjorie opened the door wider, and with a politely bowed head, ushered Diana into the house.
Miri took Diana gently by the hand and escorted her through the kitchen and out into the backyard. Diana kept silent, not really knowing what else to do. At the edge of the yard, before they stepped onto the path through the woods that led to the Sanctuary, Miri stopped and turned to Diana with warm, pleading, eyes filled with worry.
“Do you understand the magnitude of your situation, Diana?” she asked, holding Diana’s hand in both of hers like a lifeline. “If you go forward, there will be no turning back. Your life will likely never be your own again.”
Diana felt the terrible truth of Miri’s warning and tore her eyes from the Alma to look behind. It would be easy enough to let it all go, wouldn’t it? I could turn around right now and walk straight to the dorms. What’s the worst that could happen? They would just eventually come by and slap a thrall-ring on me one day. Being a Thrall doesn’t sound too bad. From then on, they would simply track Diana and keep an eye on her—no harm would come to her. She could continue with her studies, return home to her family, and live a normal life. She’d have a good life—maybe even a great one, if she played her cards right.
But it wouldn’t be a full life—not for me. Her thirst for knowledge would get the better of her, eventually. No; she could never go on living the way she had before. She’d always want to know more—about the true histories, the Naphalei, their civilization, the Veil, and probably most important of all—the truth about herself. No; Diana would most likely just become a liability to be executed.
And what of Darien? Could Diana be content with never knowing if they truly belonged together? In her rational mind, Diana knew that her romantic feelings for Darien mattered very little in the grand scheme. What was one extremely complicated relationship when her entire way of life was on the line? In her irrational heart, however, Diana knew that her life would forever be an empty shell, contemplating the possibilities of what might have been.
Her thoughts finally began to dance on the thin layer of ice that she had been avoiding. Did she love Darien? Was she willing to risk everything she knew just to be with him? Did he truly love her, or was he simply infatuated with an intriguing human girl that might just lead him to the treasure he seeks? If Diana gave her heart to Darien, would he eventually grow tired of her and cast her aside? If I leave now, I’ll never know.
“It’s not in me to turn away, Miri,” Diana said with finality. “Come what may, my place is at Darien’s side.” She was surprised by her own words and the commitment they held. The ice beneath her feet was beginning to break and deep trouble lurked underneath.
Miri smiled with compassion. “Somehow, I knew you’d say that, but I thought I’d ask anyway.” She took Diana by the arm and they continued on into the forest.
“What exactly is going on?” Diana finally asked. “Why did Terra attack us? I thought she didn’t know about me.”
“That’s what we all thought, but it appears we were wrong.” Miri looked apologetic, as if she somehow blamed herself for Terra finding out the truth. The general attitudes of the two Naphalei women contrasted greatly.
“Why are you so different from her?” she asked. “You don’t treat humans like they’re forsaken animals.” Diana often found religious leaders to be the first to throw scowls of judgment at those they deemed to be unworthy.
“My brother calls me an idealist,” Miri replied with a pained smile. “Humans aren’t evil, Diana. You may not be able to touch the Veil, but you still have the spark of the divine within you. Is it wrong to respect that?”
“Terra certainly thinks so.”
“Terra has had a hard journey.” She looked sympathetic to Terra’s views, even if she didn’t adhere to them herself. “As to why she attacked you, that is currently being discussed. The Council has probably just assembled.”
“Council?” Diana started to ask, but stopped short and shut her eyes as the familiar—and always startling—jolt of energy passed through her body as they stepped into the Sanctuary clea
ring.
In the midst of the pillared shrine to the Fallen, Darien and Terra stood before the altar of un-hewn stones while Andrew stood a ways behind them. In the center of the altar, a strange fire burned with hues of green and purple that reminded Diana of many she’d seen within the Veil.
Nearing the three, Diana could hear a handful of different voices arguing in the Naphalei tongue, a few even spoke from the swirling flames. Even though they called this shrine the Sanctuary, Diana didn’t feel the safety that the name implied.
“Ah, it would appear that the offending party has graced us with her presence,” a man’s voice said from the fire, switching to English.
Miri led Diana to the front of the altar, stood her next to Darien, and then politely moved to stand next to her twin.
Diana stole a glance into Darien’s troubled eyes, which were filled with a mixture of gladness and sorrow, and then turned to look into the green and purple fire. In the middle of the flames, three shadowy figures looked at her with glowing yellow eyes.
“So this is the notoriously dangerous Diana Selene,” said second male voice. She couldn’t tell which of the shadows had spoken.
“Indeed,” said the first voice. “She appears to be just another generic Tanar girl. Barakas, why did you order this one to be neutralized?”
“Excuse me,” Diana spoke up, her voice timid. “Forgive my ignorance, but may I ask why I’m considered a notorious danger in need of neutralization?” She looked to Terra, whose emotionless face could have been chiseled from stone.
“Watcher Terraiyah Dawnbringer,” said a third male voice. “Restate your report for the Council—in the Tanarai common tongue, if you please.”
“As you wish, Overseer Barakas,” Terra said with a bow. “I’ve had my suspicions regarding the relationship between Watcher Endymion Stoneheart and the Tanar Diana Selene for some time. Several weeks ago, after an altercation during one of Watcher Anderon Swiftriver’s unsanctioned social gatherings, Endymion felt compelled to let Miss Selene and her friends stay the night in our house—this was Endymion’s first breach of the Watcher Code. Following this event, Endymion began spending a fair amount with the girl—much more so than he had with any human student in the past—and I grew suspicious.
“As I was making my way home yesterday afternoon, I caught a glimpse of Endymion and the human girl driving away from the campus. I deduced that their journey must have been of some importance for Endymion to risk driving in an unsanctioned human vehicle, so I made some enquiries into his recent activities. A Thrall serving at the university library informed me that she had been doing technical research for him regarding the late antiquarian and religious leader, Alexander Foxwell Flinders. She informed Endymion of a property Flinders once owned in the southeastern portion of the state. I concluded that Endymion and the girl had gone to this location.
“I then contacted Watcher Overseer Barakas Lightmourne via soul-flame and reported my suspicions, as well as Endymion’s intended destination. Overseer Barakas then ordered me to proceed to their location, observe the situation, and then report back immediately for further instructions.”
“How did you follow us?” Diana interrupted. “We had a hard enough time finding the house and you can’t drive.”
Terra scowled at her and Diana could feel the echo of the fire mage’s burning hatred within her own chest. The feeling was mutual.
“How dare you interrupt my report with your ignorant questions,” Terra said with venomous bile. “You know virtually nothing of our people and what we can and cannot do.
Darien broke in to answer Diana’s question. “Well-trained fire mages can power personal transports—it’s why Shadowstalkers tend to be flame-wielders. They can also use the soul-flame technique for instant communication in the field.”
“Terraiyah was one of my best,” said the disappointed voice of Barakas from the flames. “It pains my spirit to have lost you, my dear. The most decorated Shadowstalker of the Age, throwing her talents away to study the healing techniques of primitives—the Fallen weep in their chains. Please continue with your report.”
Terra nodded to her superior. “Using the map provided, I flew to the location of the house and arrived shortly before Endymion and the girl, and then picked an adequate vantage point to observe their actions.
“Over the course of the afternoon, the two explored the house from top to bottom. As the sun set it appeared they had decided to leave, but their vehicle failed to work, so they went back into the house to spend the night.”
Diana went rigid with anxious fright. Terra saw us kissing. There would be no hiding their romantic involvement, now. They were going to kill Diana and cast Darien into the Nightmare, for sure.
“As they prepared the upper room to spend the evening, Endymion performed magic in plain view of the human—who showed no signs of surprise—indicating that she knew that Endymion was Naphalei.”
Terra quickly glanced at Darien before continuing on and Diana prepared herself for what would be coming next, wondering if a person can be white with fear and red with embarrassment at the same time.
“I then contacted Overseer Barakas with my report, informing him of Endymion’s severe breach of the Watcher Code.”
Diana exhaled a breath that she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. She didn’t see us—or decided not to report it. Was she trying to protect Darien? If so, why did she attack them?
“Upon hearing my report, Overseer Barakas decreed that Endymion would be properly reprimanded and the human enthralled, however, I then noticed that Endymion and the human had vanished from the room. Unable to determine where they had gone, I waited. A short time later they both emerged from a hidden room, looking distressed. I then reestablished my link with Overseer Barakas and reported the new information, at which time he ordered me to eliminate both Endymion and the human as quickly as possible.
“Somehow, Endymion was alerted to my presence and escaped the upper room with the human before my attack fully manifested. We then proceeded to duel while he protected the girl, until an unknown accomplice attacked my flames with ice magic and I was forced to flee.”
Darien glanced at Andrew for confirmation but the ice mage just shrugged and shook his head—it hadn’t been him.
“One wonders, Barakas,” said one of the shadows. “Why you would order the deaths of both Watcher Endymion and the Tanar girl, simply for disappearing from view for a few moments.”
“That is sensitive information, Lord Peridor,” the voice of Barakas replied.
“Then give us any information you can Barakas,” said the voice of the one called Peridor.
“All I can say is that it involves the heretic Traevion. Destroying the potential threat was well worth the lives of a single Watcher and a human who already knew of our existence.”
Traevion? Why does that name sound so familiar? Looking to Darien, she found his eyes filled with startled shock, and fair amount of seething anger. His expression jarred Diana’s memory—Traevion had caused the deaths of his parents.
“That heretic has been at large for well over two centuries,” said the still unnamed third voice.
“If you please, honorable Lord Nikav,” Barakas was trying to hide the obvious anger in his voice. “Traevion was publicly executed for his crimes.”
“What is this about?” Darien finally demanded to know. “Traevion is still alive; and at large?”
“Yes,” confirmed the voice of Nikav. “The heretic Traevion successfully evaded capture and fled the dominion. His whereabouts remain unknown.”
“But I watched him die…” Darien said, sounding unsure. “We all did.”
“The High Inquisitor and Grand Alma thought it best to stage a public execution in order to extinguish the flames of heresy,” Peridor said.
“What does Traevion have to do with Foxwell Flinders?” Darien asked. Diana felt his confused tension twisting within her chest. The world he thought he knew was imploding around him.
“Watcher Endymion is obviously ignorant of anything pertaining to Traevion or his whereabouts,” said Nikav. “Neither he nor the Tanar girl gained any dangerous information that requires their immediate execution.”
“I concur,” Peridor said. “Overseer Barakas, you were too quick to order the execution of a distinguished Watcher—who is also a clan Archon and the Lady Raven’s twin, I might add—not to mention an innocent human girl. The repercussions would have been disastrous. You are hereby reprimanded for excessive force and will step down as Watcher Overseer for the Midwest regions, until a time when your situation can be reevaluated.”
“As you command, honorable Lord Peridor,” said the shadow of Barakas. “In your wisdom I thrive.”
“You may go now.” A few moments after Peridor’s dismissal, the shadow of Barakas vanished from the emerald flames.
“My lords,” Terra began, sounding confused. “What of the questionable relationship between Watcher Enydmion and the Tanar girl?”
“Ah yes, I’d almost forgotten,” said Peridor. “Watcher Endymion, would you care to explain your relationship with the human, Diana Selene, and how she came to know of our existence?”
“It’s a simple matter, Lord Peridor,” Darien replied, his face void of emotion and indifferent to Diana.
“Some time ago, the girl was attacked on Watcher property and I felt that, if I did not do something to help her, my honor would be in question. In the process, my beguile ring slipped from my hand and the human caught a glimpse of my true form. I managed to convince her that stress had made her see things and left it at that. A few days ago, I came across some information that required immediate investigation but was unable to procure appropriate transportation. In my haste, I made the decision to reveal myself to Miss Selene—who had already witnessed my true form once before—to draft her into enthrallment so that she could take me to the location.”
“Indeed,” Peridor didn’t sound entirely convinced. “Why is the girl not wearing a thrall ring?”
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