I was enveloped.
I was being smothered.
I was drowning in fear and no one could help me…
“That’s right Kel. Only me… there is only me…. Surrender.”
Chapter 12
My soul screamed. My mouth opened to scream, but Lek’s hand at my throat kept me from making any loud sound. The scream was a strangled, wailing sob. No, no, no! Dear God, help me! Please help me! My soul cried.
Lek hissed in displeasure. Snarled in a rage. But his grip lessened. I took advantage of it and bolted. Burning pain seared my sides, but I didn’t stop. I fled blind. But I fled. The forest did not take kindly to my desperate flight, whipping me with branches and leaves. Tripping me with roots and rocks hidden in leaves. I just picked myself up and kept running. Eventually, I became aware of Ferna and Teilnon catching up to me.
“Slower, Kel.” Ferna cautioned. “Keep running like this and your liable to break your neck at the very least.” I didn’t want to slow down, but fatigue was catching up. I slowed down to match Ferna’s pace. She gazed at me with concern while we walked. “Kel, what is going on?”
It didn’t matter how far we went from where Lek had attacked me, I couldn’t stop trembling. His malicious voice still echoed in my ear… My sides still burned. I’d have to look at them soon. But when we got home. When I could crawl into my room and hide. I didn’t like the looks that Ferna and Teilnon kept giving me.
Judgment.
Confusion
Worry.
The worse part was I couldn’t respond to any of it. I couldn’t tell them what happened. I couldn’t speak… I couldn’t. I don’t know if it was simple fear that kept me mute or if Lek had done something to me… I just don’t know. Besides, I was too shaken up to say anything at all to them.
I tried to ignore Lek’s words from before… but he had slipped them under my guard. Was I truly alone? If I wasn’t right now, I might very well be if I said anything at all. I need somewhere safe. I thought. At first, I pictured my little room. Then the shadow of Lek appeared in my memory of the place, just as he had appeared when I had first seen him.
Shuddering I shrank a little more upon myself as I walked between my cousin and Teilnon. Not my room. It isn’t safe… so then where? In answer, I thought of the sanctuary of the town’s church. Lek’s shadow never darkened the room. A gentle peace started to thaw the icy grip fear had on my soul. I had called out for help and Lek had to let me go…
“Its all about catch and release.” Lek corrected from just behind me. My heart thudded against my chest in a frantic attempt to escape. Adrenalin hit my veins with a jolt of energy. I pulled free of Ferna and Teilnon and was running again. My companions struggled to keep up. Both shouting at me to slow down.
No way in hell. I thought as I ran.
Lek chuckled.
***
Nimla and her friends crossed paths with Kel and his companions several times over the day. Kel would always subtlety greet her while his companions never noticed her existence. She had wanted to talk to Kel but knew it would be difficult for him to reply with witnesses around. So she bit her lip and refrained from doing anything other than wave.
It was just after noon when she saw Kel and his companions again. She grinned and approached to at least say ‘hi’ to him. But her companions stopped her. “Something is wrong,” Tavlin warned her. It was then that Nimla noticed the chill in the air. Her body stilled in instinctual fear.
“What is that?” She asked just as softly as Tavlin.
Tavlin shuddered as the chill deepened. Nimla shivered too. Then she saw it – or rather him – dressed in a rusty red robe. “Abyssian. Shadekin!” Tavlin’s tone transformed both names into curses. And Nimla agreed with that assessment.
The Shadekin released a corrupted shapeshifting elemental, which Kel’s companions immediately noticed. But Kel was standing, frozen. Nimla struggled against Tavlin, wanting to go to Kel’s aid. Warn him. Get him out of harm's way – something!
“You would make a more disastrous weapon than a shapeshifter if the Shadekin gets his hands on you.” Tavlin hissed yanking her back.
“But Kel’s in danger.” Nimla protested though she did stop her struggling.
Tavlin’s hold became comforting. “I know.” He said with anguish. “But there is nothing you or I can do. Not with a Shadekin right there.”
The sha’meir watched in distress as the corrupted shapeshifter stormed right past Kel toward his companions. The mages fought the corrupted elemental bravely… but they didn’t see the more dangerous enemy. The one that had leapt upon Kel like a predatory cat on prey. Kel struggled, but it was clear to Nimla that the human youth was beyond terrified.
“We have to do something!” She cried. But Tavlin was right. A corrupted elemental was bad. A corrupted spirit elemental was catastrophic. But Kel was in immortal danger…
“He’s okay.” Avna pointed out happily as the Shadekin vanished. Feeling a little better, the sha’meir watched Kel’s companions help him to his feet. But their relief did not last long. Not when the shadekin remained nearby. He stalked after Kel. He trapped Kel in his arms. His ebony wings wrapped around the youth in a parody of a lover’s embrace. Kel’s eyes went wide, his skin extra pale.
“We’re going to lose him,” Tavlin whispered to himself.
Nimla shook her head frantically. They couldn’t lose him. “We need help that can actually do something!”
“The Espiramora might be able to do something… but it may be too late right now.” Avna said. At that moment Kel broke free of the Shadekin and bolted. The shadekin snarled, but he didn’t pounce on Kel again. He did follow unfortunately. All the way back to the village.
“There is still time.” Nimla surmised. She turned to Avna. “Please go to the Espiramora. Tell them what has happened and that their assistance would be greatly appreciated.”
Avna nodded. She and several others split into numerous shadow ribbons and disappeared into the forest. Nimla and Tavlin continued to shadow Kel. The entire time she kept praying that the boy would remain safe. Help is coming… I hope.
***
Ferna and Teilnon caught up to me at the edge of the Old Wood. “By the First … Forge…Kel… you’re a fast one.” Teilnon panted catching his breath.
“You know its dangerous to run like that in the Wood!” Ferna scolded me. She was panting too, but apparently righteous anger gave her the breath to scold before she panted for breath.
I replied to neither of them. I clung to the tree I had stopped by and caught my breath. It was the only reason they had caught up to me in the first place. My whole body hurt. My lungs and limbs were not pleased with me. My throat burned. And the funny thing was I knew it would hurt even more once the numbness of fear melted away. I have a very odd sense of humor…
But I didn’t think the fear numbness would fade anytime soon. Not with Lek still nearby. I could feel him… more acutely than I had ever felt his presence in the past. I knew that if I turned to look, I would see him ten feet away, perched in a tree. He seemed to enjoy pretending to be a bird of prey.
“Kel, what is wrong with you?” Ferna demanded. I continued to catch my breath. It was coming easier now. “Kel, you will answer me.”
No, I won’t. I thought. It was almost humorous… except it wasn’t that I wouldn’t. It was that I couldn’t. The fist of fear was around my throat in a stranglehold… or at least tight enough that I didn’t feel like a single word could escape.
Fed up with my silence, Ferna grabbed my arm and pulled me from the tree. I let go of the tree and let her swing me around. Mostly because I knew that would hurt less than just keeping my grip on the tree. I already hurt enough… The twisting movement of my body flared another pain to the forefront of my attention – my sides! They hurt badly. Burned like hot metal. I almost wanted to look, but part of my mind was shying from that idea. If I looked, it would make it more real. Attention might possibly give my abused body more of an exc
use to hurt. Dumb, I realize that. But at that moment I felt like I was separated from my body. Separated by the fear, connected by the pain.
Ferna met my gaze and something in it must have disturbed her. I don’t know what. I felt like I was just staring at her distantly. “Kel? What is wrong? You’re pale…”
“He looks scared out of his mind,” Teilnon added. Ferna shot him a glare, but she didn’t correct him. I’m not entirely sure why she got mad at him. I was scared out of my mind.
Lek came closer. “She finally sees how truly pathetic you are, boy. How easily afraid you are. What a liability you are. She will tell others and they will all leave you. You will be alone… except for me, of course.”
I shuddered, shaking my head in denial. I didn’t want to believe it, but that voice had a way of sounding so… sincere. Had a way of sinking into my thoughts and beliefs. You’re lying! I protested in an attempt to protect myself. I couldn’t believe him. Believing him gave him power over me.
I pushed away from Ferna and started to make my way toward town. We had returned to town by the main gate this time instead of the Plavean backdoor. That was great news because the church was closer this way. It was also bad news because there were people going about their business in the town square. People turned to greet us… before catching sight of me. I really don’t know what I looked like, but their expressions looked much like Ferna’s. I heard my cousin talking to someone. I kept walking and didn’t turn to see who.
Beside me walked Teilnon. He was a steady presence that I was quite happy was there. It was like having a guardian mountain keeping pace beside you. One whose sheer size split the crowd, so I didn’t have to push past people. One that kept people from bothering me. They didn’t know him. They knew Ferna. So they approached her. I kept walking to my goal: the church.
Lek kept pace with us.
And no one noticed him. No one could see my personal nightmare… Despair knocked at my conscience, but I struggled against it. I prayed and kept my eye on the church, concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other.
***
Councilor Shellna was in the towns square doing a little shopping since her four o’clock had sent a message saying they were sick. Shellna didn’t know if that was the truth or not, but she figured it was since that patient tended to be on time since they had started. Unlike another certain patient of hers…
About three months she had been seeing Kel once a week, and she still hadn’t figured out what scared him. They would converse, but Kel wouldn’t really say anything, though he spoke. If she hadn’t been trained as a counselor, she might not have realized what he was doing. But that was when he came to their sessions. He always seemed to find a legitimate excuse to get out of several of their sessions.
Why won’t he talk? She wondered.
A commotion caught her attention. Like everyone else, she pushed forward to see what was going on. The crowd’s emotions told her that they were more curious than concerned. Though that concern was building slowly. She eventually got close enough to see that three people were the subjects of curiosity. Shellna instantly recognized Teilnon del Kivna walking beside two Plaveans. It took her a little longer to realize that the youth he was walking beside was none other than Kel.
All three looked worse for wear with scratches all over them and twigs and leaves caught in the Plavean’s hair. Teilnon’s short hair kept him from suffering that indignity. Teilnon and Kel’s cousin looked concerned as they kept glancing at Kel. Shellna could immediately see why as she approached. The youth was as pale as a ghost. He moved woodenly, not looking right or left. He wasn’t saying anything either though his cousin kept trying to talk to him.
“What has happened?” Shellna asked once she got close enough.
“I don’t know.” The Plavean mage said shaking her head. “He hasn’t said a word since we were attacked by a corrupted shapeshifter that had decided to confuse itself and the rest of us by not choosing a single shape.”
Shellna frowned and caught Kel’s arm, determined to help him. Upon touching him, Shellna immediately wished that she hadn’t. An agony of fear swamped her empathic senses to the point she lost all sense of self. She couldn’t pull herself away because her hand seemed burned to Kel’s arm. An evil, dark laugh filled her head. Or seemed to.
Suddenly the fearful agony faded. She found herself sitting on the ground in the middle of the street. Kel crouched in front of her, but at a distance far enough to keep her from easily touching him again. She figured he must have pulled his arm away from her touch, saving her.
A shocked silence hung in the air around her. Kel’s cousin was beside her with a cloud of worry surrounding her. She wasn’t touching Shellna out of respect. But it was clear that she wanted to. “Are you okay, Councilor?”
Shellna nodded slowly, hoping she wasn’t lying to the woman before turning her attention back to Kel. He watched her warily. “You are that terrified of a corrupted elemental?” Shellna asked quietly.
For the first time, Kel showed emotion. He blinked in surprise. “What elemental?”
“The corrupted shapeshifter monstrosity that nearly trampled you!” his cousin shouted.
Kel frowned and shook his head. “I didn’t see an elemental. I didn’t see anything but…” His mouth snapped shut, and he shook his head again.
Still shivering from the after effects of sharing such a strong fear, Shellna nevertheless felt that she was close to getting the answer that had always just been out of reach for the last several months. “Then what scared you so badly?”
Kel looked at her with the most haunted expression she had ever seen. She almost wanted to tell him not to answer, to ignore her question. In a soft whisper that only Shellna heard because it was so quiet, Kel replied: “He does.”
An echo of that dark laugh whispered through her thoughts. Both Shellna and Kel shivered.
Chapter 13
“What has happened?” My father demanded a moment later. People parted away from him like leaves before a wind. I got to my feet. Having been taught manners I started to reach out a hand to Councilor Shellna to help her to her feet, but she blanched, and I instantly understood. She felt the fear too. I nodded in understanding and backed away. Teilnon was the one who helped her to her feet.
Ferna bowed to the head of our house. She was opening her mouth to tell him what had happened.
But I opened my mouth a second before she could. I couldn’t keep standing here. I had to get to the church. Instinct demanded I run there, not stand here and talk. And that was exactly what my father would expect until he was satisfied. “It doesn’t matter really what happened. What matters is what happens now.” I answered. Ferna gaped at me. Everyone did. I didn’t really care. Lek was laughing his head off. I closed my eyes against that evil sound. Unable to stand it anymore I turned away from my father and continued my march to the church.
People got out of my way. I think mostly because they were not sure what to make of what just happened. It was not every day that someone made a scene like this. Nor was it every day that an Heir reprimanded their father like that. In public. Right before everyone. Maybe I would care later, but at that moment I really didn’t care what they thought. Just as long as they got out of my way.
“Kel! You will answer me.” My father said following.
“If you really care to listen then I’ll tell you at the church,” I said without turning around.
His strong hand caught my arm and whirled me around to face him. Apparently having me openly disobeying him was not something he appreciated. I didn’t like doing it either, to be frank. But I needed to get to safety. The motion had me crying out.
The numbness had worn off some. Being pulled around this time didn’t just cause the burning pain in my sides to ache, it caused them to scream in agony. I yelped and crumbled in on myself. Dear God! the pain was worse than before. The heat more intense.
“What is wrong with you?!” My father demanded.
Shellna hissed. “Your son is hurt.” She gritted out. Apparently, she was close enough for her empathic sense to pick up on my pain.
“What?” several people asked in surprised. I could pick out Ferna’s and Teilnon’s voices as well as my father.
I shied away from my father’s reaching hands. “Where are you hurt?” He glanced down and gasped. He moved fast this time and lifted one side of my shirt high enough to see the three gashes that marred my skin. Blood was not the only thing oozing from the wounds. The six -to eight-inch-long gashes were angry with infection. They looked like I hadn’t taken care of them for a week instead of an hour.
“Lord in Heaven! Kel! What the hell is this?” My father asked in visible shock. Shock was on the expressions of those who could see the damage. Murmurs spread through the crowd, like a ripple on a pond.
Lek knelt beside my father and smiled down at the wounds he had made. “Beautiful, aren’t they? Are not the marks I have placed upon your body and soul lovely?” I froze in terror as he spoke. He slowly reached for my side. The burning in the wounds heightened. I whimpered. And just as Lek’s gloved fingertip was about to touch my wound, I moved. Moved far faster than even I expected. My body down right hated me, but I couldn’t hold still and let that monster touch me. I fled to the church, family shouting after me.
I had seconds to enjoy the peace and satisfaction of knowing that Lek could not attack me. He couldn’t even enter the building and very openly hated that. But as I said, I only had seconds. The wounds on my sides were quick to take away my enjoyment. That and my family intruding upon my solitude.
My father kept peppering me with questions as to what happened. Ferna kept trying to get my shirt out of the way so she could treat the festering claw marks. Tired and in too much pain to put up a fight I gave up. She soon managed to wrestle my shirt out of the way. And of course, that was when they discovered that I had a second set of oozing claw marks.
Lore Rune (Rune Trilogy Book 1) Page 9