Trust Julian.
“No,” she said aloud, shaking her head as she climbed deftly over the back of the sofa. She knew it was silly, but just having the piece of furniture between them was a small comfort. Julian stood as well, but Ellie put her hands up. “No. Don’t come any closer.”
“Ellie, I’m not going to hurt—”
“No, Julian.” Somehow, she found the strength to put force that she wasn’t feeling into her words. Her heart hammered as she inched backwards toward the kitchen. “If you truly have my best interest at heart, you won’t come any closer.”
Julian bowed his head and clasped his hands in front of him.
“Fair enough,” he said quietly. “I would lay down my life before I hurt you, Ellie. I have twice now vowed to do just that. I will do whatever it takes to convince you of my loyalty.”
“Um… that’s… Just stay over there,” Ellie stammered. “The whole knight in shining armor act isn’t really helping.” Things were going from weird and confusing to weird, confusing, and really creepy.
“I am making you uncomfortable.”
It was a statement, not a question. An accurate statement, but Ellie wasn’t going to admit anything that would give Julian the upper hand.
“Well, you’re… um… No… I’m… uh… just going to go get a glass of water. Want anything?” She wasn’t very good at bluffing under the best of circumstances and this definitely was not the best of circumstances.
“I do not, but thank you.” Though he’d kept his promise and did not come closer, he still watched her carefully just in case she decided to do something foolish.
Keeping eye contact, Ellie backed slowly toward the kitchen. After everything she had been through, she didn’t need to add strange head games with the guy she thought was just her mom’s assistant. Though the more she thought about it, the more she realized she knew absolutely nothing about Julian. He’d come out of nowhere. Her mother hadn’t been in the market for a new assistant and Nicolette, the woman who had previously held the position, was still employed by Isa. Perhaps Julian was holding something over her mother, like blackmail. Suspicions of her family’s possible mafia involvement were beginning to sound like the most rational explanation.
“Ellie, please.”
She had almost made it to the back door before Julian realized what she intended and broke his promise to stay put. Two more steps and she could have run. But to where? Ellie was suddenly all too aware of the fact that they were miles from civilization, in a mountain resort town on the off-season. Worse, she found herself alone with a potential psychopath, or at least someone with an unstable personality, and she was having doubts about her own sanity.
“Stay back,” she hissed.
“You need not fear me Ellie,” Julian tried to assure her, but as he spoke, Ellie dove for the kitchen counter and drew a knife, holding it protectively in front of her. Raising his hands in surrender, Julian took a step back. “If I let you keep the knife, will you stay and listen to me? If you run, I can’t protect you. You are safer in here than you are out there.”
Ellie said nothing. She didn’t trust herself to speak. Instead, she cut her eyes back to the living room and gestured with the knife. Understanding her meaning, Julian turned, taking slow and deliberate steps, and settled himself on the sofa’s edge with his hands clasped in his lap.
“Will this do, El’iadrylline?”
Again, her name on his lips held a melodic dissonance reminiscent of walking through a forest of wind chimes. Though oddly beautiful, the sound sent another bout of anxiety creeping up from the pit of her stomach to crawl around inside her chest. It terrified her that she somehow knew his pronunciation was perfect, yet she herself could never mimic the sound.
Or could she?
The intrusive mental presence recognized that Julian spoke in a language called Eidyssic. Ellie had never heard of Eidyssic, but if her hijacked brain was to be believed, it was her native tongue.
“Who are you, Julian?”
Julian appeared to consider her question for a moment and Ellie held her breath. But before he had a chance to answer, a violent gust of wind blew through the living room, ruffling the pages of the magazine on the coffee table. With a faint pop, Isa appeared in the middle of the room.
“I think,” she began as she settled herself elegantly into an overstuffed chair, “that it might be a good idea if I explained a few things before you answer that, Julian.”
The knife clattered to the floor and Ellie swayed dangerously, flailing backwards in search of something to steady herself before she too collapsed, but her hands found only empty space.
Julian leapt from the sofa with an unnatural speed, catching Ellie before she hit the ground.
“Svoryk?” he asked Isa in a low tone as he led a shell shocked Ellie to the sofa. He hovered for a moment, as if unsure where to go, before settling on the opposite end, keeping himself between her and the exits.
“The spineless gresch was rescued by one of his goons before I could kill him,” Isa answered with a low growl of disgust. “Though not without injury. I made sure of that before I pulsed out of there.”
Julian eyed his employer with a look of horror. “Isa, please tell me you did not use a pulse flash all the way from Manhattan.”
“Mind yourself, Julian,” she scolded sharply.
In her confused and vulnerable state, her mother’s harsh tone actually caused Ellie to flinch.
“Forgive my insolence,” Julian said quietly, bowing his head as if he had actually done something wrong. “I only wished to remind you that pulse trails leave a strong lingering presence despite the pollution in this atmosphere.”
Their body language was strange, but it had nothing on the words they spoke.
“Pulse what?”
“Yes, Julian, I am quite aware.” Isa’s voice was frosty as she ignored Ellie’s interruption. “Just as I was aware this morning when you insisted that we fly to New York. And for what? Svoryk nearly got his hands on Ellie!”
“He may yet if there is a trail leading right to her,” Julian retorted in the same icy tone, dropping the submissive act almost as instantly as it had come.
Isa rose quickly to her feet and glared down at Julian as if he had just slapped her. “Are you accusing me of endangering my own daughter?”
“I have accused you of nothing,” Julian hissed, standing to meet her eye. “Perhaps the guilt you feel manifests for another reason, Isaverlline.”
“I said, mind yourself, Julian. That was an order.”
Ellie watched, both fascinated and horrified by the standoff. She spied her phone on the table in front of her and snatched it up, just in case she needed to call the police. Though she wasn’t sure that was a good idea either considering her mother was acting just as crazy as Julian. The last thing Ellie wanted was the news to get out to the journalists who would plaster tomorrow’s headlines with tales of Isa’s psychotic episode.
“Do not play dumb, Isaverlline. It does not become you,” Julian spat in an outburst of anger.
“You will obey me, Julian!”
“Isa, please, be reasonable.” Julian’s tone again changed, softening with a persuasive edge, but instead of calming, Isa became more enraged.
“Reasonable? How dare you! You will pay for your insubordination.”
Isa reached for her wrist and Julian flinched.
“You know as well as I do what has happened. We do not have time for this. If Svoryk was to get his hands on the Kyr—”
“No!” Isa put a trembling hand over her mouth. Fear mingled with her anger. “You’re lying,” she hissed.
Ellie watched their hostile display in paralyzed confusion, pushing herself into the far corner of the sofa.
“Am I?” Julian’s tone was sharp, but held a hint of sadness. “You knew this day would come. That you’re trying to keep hold of that which was never yours to possess makes you no better than Svoryk. Would you as well hold an empire under your feet, I
sa?”
“Why you insolent little—” Isa’s voice pitched higher than Ellie had ever heard and her eyes flashed with murderous intent. Ellie was certain that she could feel the air around her crackle with her mother’s rage.
“Did you forget who you serve, Julian?”
Isa’s voice was soft, yet threatening. Ellie puzzled over the seemingly ambiguous question, but Julian seemed to understand her meaning.
“Don’t do this, Isa.”
“Do you need a reminder?”
“Don’t… You made a promise. Don’t do this,” Julian gasped. His face twisted and his hands clenched at his sides as if he was suddenly in pain. Ellie’s eyes darted between him and her mother. She wanted to demand to know what was going on, but she found herself unable to do more than stare, wide-eyed with shock at the bizarre scene unfolding in front of her.
“Answer me, Julian!” Isa’s voice was no longer quiet or controlled. Her eyes were wild and she was clutching her wrist so hard that her knuckles had whitened. “Who is your master?”
“El’iadryov is my master!” Julian shouted at last, glaring in disgust at the woman who forced the confession. “You may have dominion, Isaverlline, but you are not my master.”
“Julian.” Isa swallowed as if trying to keep back the rage within. When she spoke again, it was with a scathing and accusatory tone. “El’iadryov, as you of all people know, is dead.”
“To a child of Eidyn, death is but the next opportunity.” Julian held Isa’s gaze for a long moment before turning his tortured eyes to Ellie. “But you are incorrect, Isaverlline. El’iadryov lives on as you of all people should know. My loyalty does not wane. El’iadrylline is the only one who can break my dominance. When the time comes, and it is coming sooner than you think, I shall serve Ellie as my one true master.” He broke his gaze from hers and slumped forward, burying his head in his hands.
Ellie didn’t think she could possibly be more confused, but Julian’s sudden, strange, and very uncomfortable declaration proved otherwise. She tore her eyes from his crumpled form, seeking her mother’s and gasped. The look of horrified accusation was baffling, but more than anything, it hurt.
“What did you do?” Though she tried to hide it, Isa’s question was accusatory.
“What did I do? Mom, what the hell is going on here?”
“I took measures to protect you, Ellie. Julian is mine to command. What did you say to him? What did you do?”
“Mom, listen to yourself,” Ellie tried to keep her voice steady, but her heart was racing and she couldn’t keep the panicked tremble from distorting her words. Sure, her mother was a famous supermodel and she could be a diva at times, but she wasn’t prone to crazy outbursts or erratic behavior. At least, not that Ellie had seen.
“El’iadrylline did nothing,” Julian cut in, lifting his pain-ravaged face from his hands. “You know that,” he added with a sudden strength.
“I was not speaking to you,” Isa spat.
“My loyalty is to—”
“Be mindful, Julian!”
“Don’t do this, Isaverlline,” Julian again begged. “I cannot protect Ellie if I must fight you as well. You know as well as I that this is not your heart speaking. Do not give in, Isa. Do not allow the lure of power to compromise your daughter’s safety.”
“Don’t you dare tell me what to do,” Isa growled. Anger flashed in her eyes. “I said, be mindful!”
“Stop it, both of you!” Ellie screamed as her frustration reached peak levels. “Stop arguing! Stop being cryptic! And for God’s sake stop acting like either of you have to protect me from anything! It’s insulting and patri—”
Ellie cut off, horrified. Neither her mother nor Julian were listening to her, but for very different reasons. Julian was once again writhing in pain. His already pale skin took on a waxen, almost blue sheen and he was curled into the fetal position.
“My god! Mom, what are you doing?”
Ellie had never seen such rage in her mother’s eyes before. Isa was clutching her wrist so tight that she had drawn blood.
“Mom, stop! You’re hurting him!”
Even as she spoke, Ellie knew her words were irrational. After all, Isa stood feet from where Julian fell crumpled to the sofa and yet, her mother was clearly the one causing Julian’s agony. She had to stop it.
“If he stops fighting me, the pain will end,” Isa hissed through clenched teeth.
Julian’s muscles were clenched so tight that it looked like he was being electrocuted. Ellie felt as if her own heart was being ripped in two as she tore her eyes from Julian’s pain contorted features and studied the terrifying malice that masked her mother’s normally beautiful face.
“Mom, that’s twisted,” Ellie protested, but pulled back with a sharp gasp as her mother turned to her. Her normally dark gray eyes flashed silver with anger.
“Enough! You’ll not take what is rightfully mine!”
Something within the cold and impersonal words snapped Ellie out of her paralysis. She crawled across the overstuffed sofa to where Julian’s lanky frame was now curled into a tight ball. “Leave him alone!”
“Ellie! NO!”
She heard, but ignored her mother’s shout. As her fingertips grasped his hunched shoulder, Ellie felt pain unlike any she’d experienced before. Every one of her nerve endings felt as if it were on fire. A horrible, agonizing cry assaulted her ears and it took a long moment to realize that the awful sound had issued from her own throat.
With a sudden jolt, the sensation ended, leaving the empty shock of understanding. Ellie heard another anguished cry and opened her eyes. Her mother had collapsed to the floor, shaking and staring at her with horrified remorse.
Chapter 5
Isa watched as torment twisted her daughter’s face into an unrecognizable mask of pain and anguish. Pain and anguish that intentional or not, she inflicted. With this realization, the blood red haze of anger governing her actions dissipated, leaving only shame.
“By the gods, what have I done?” she whispered, raising a shaking hand to her mouth.
“You allowed yourself to be consumed by power that was not yours to command,” Julian replied in an icy tone. “You knew the consequences.”
“I had no choice, Julian,” Isa hissed, pulling herself to her feet. “You have yourself to thank for that.”
“I’ve done everything I could to convince you of my intentions. More than was prudent, I dare say.”
“You have hidden your intentions behind a rather convenient ruse.”
“Isaverlline, look into your true self and know what I speak is true. Look beyond the corruption—”
“Will you both please shut up?”
Ellie groaned and brushed the water from the corners of her eyes, blinking at the two familiar strangers in front of her. Her stomach muscles ached and it felt as if an army of insects were crawling around inside her skull. What had started out as a foreign presence was now a strong thrum of impossible and mostly incomprehensible information. Oddly enough, all of her mounting panic and anxiety was gone, as if blasted away by the physical torture. That she might now be able to think rationally and assess the situation she found herself in without fear was comforting, however, the ideas and concepts that were now filling her mind were anything but rational.
“Ellie, I’m sure you—”
“El’iadrylline I know what—”
Both her mother and Julian began to speak, but Ellie held up her hand.
And immediately lost her train of thought.
Every one of her spots glowed, as if tiny fairy lights had been implanted under her skin. She swallowed in awe and slid her eyes from her upturned hand to her mother’s grim expression.
“You said you were going to explain a few things. I think this might be a good time to start.”
“I’m sorry sweetie. You are correct. You deserve an explanation. I just wish there was a simple one to give.” Isa sighed and disappeared into the kitchen. She returned a moment later wi
th a bottle of wine. Ellie waited impatiently as her mother fiddled with the fancy corkscrew and poured three glasses.
“As you’ve likely figured out,” she began, setting one of the glasses in front of Ellie, “We’re not exactly from London.”
“Got that much,” Ellie muttered, taking a long and unladylike draw from her glass. “I guess this is where you tell me you weren’t born in Cameroon either. So, Isaverlline, where exactly are we from?”
Isa nearly choked in response.
“I guess I deserved that,” she sighed, setting her glass down. “No, Ellie, I’m not from Cameroon. I’ve never even been to Cameroon and were it not for Richard, I wouldn't even know where on a map to look for Cameroon. While you were indeed born in London, neither I nor your biological father are of this world.”
Under any other circumstances, Ellie would have laughed and told her mother she had missed April fool’s day by nearly two months. But as she waited, glass halfway to her lips, she knew there was no punchline. Nor was it an elaborate dream. Isa was rather terrible at keeping a straight face when she was lying, yet no hint of an impish smile graced her lips as she spoke.
Not that it mattered. It would have been impossible for Ellie to dismiss her glowing spots or write off the foreign presence in her mind as a practical joke. Instead, she braced herself for what was likely to be a much more far-fetched explanation than mafia activity.
“I am Princess Isaverlline of Korghetia.” Isa paused, allowing her daughter a moment to process what she could.
“Of course you are,” Ellie muttered sarcastically, taking yet another long gulp of wine. “Alright then, Princess Mom, is that a planet? Land of the fairies? An alternate universe where everyone has super powers?”
She almost felt bad for the snide retort, but her mother didn’t even flinch.
“Korghetia is a planet in the Ghowrn system, an area which astronomers here on Earth call the Sagittarius arm of the Milky Way Galaxy. There are two stars and thirteen planets in our system.”
A Space Girl from Earth (The Kyroibi Trilogy Book 1) Page 4