I needed to make the winds stronger, but the more I fought to push out the raw power, the weaker I became. They were going to wear me out! If I kept the Cloakers in the winds, they’d scorch my flesh to pieces, but if I released the winds, they’d take me away. Soon, I wasn’t going to have a choice…
A misty finger ran down my arm for just a moment and intense pain rippled down it. I screamed, my winds diminished and I crumpled to my knees. Tears brimmed near the surface. I looked up to see Raina standing over me, a sly smile on her lips. She reached out, when suddenly I vanished.
“Hold on!” Nakari screamed locking her fingers over mine.
“No!” Raina bellowed.
Nakari had saved me…
The shadowy vapors trailed inches behind us. Just like before, whispery limbs stretched out, and what was left of my jacket fell off. Each and every touch set my skin on fire like a thousand burning needles. I struggled to take a breath.
Daniel appeared alongside us. He and Nakari exchanged glances.
I blinked and was thrown in Daniel’s chest; his arms came around me as my legs gave way. Nakari was gone.
“I’ve got you,” Daniel whispered. “We’re almost there.”
I clawed onto his shirt and held on. I began shaking, and I couldn’t control it.
A wild shriek echoed beside us. Nakari was covered with the mists.
“Daniel!” I screamed. “We have to help her!”
Daniel made no reply, only held me tighter.
A tingling sensation ran over me, and we suddenly stopped. Daniel’s hold loosened, and we turned. The black forest was behind us, and the waters of the estate lake sparkled under the moon.
We’d made it back.
“Nakari…” I whispered, barely able to speak.
We both stood motionless, watching, waiting. Finally Nakari appeared. She collapsed on the grass, fighting to catch her breath. Her jacket was etched with burn holes, her normally neat hair tousled. She looked up, her face dirty and cut.
“Get her to the manor, Daniel,” she said breathlessly, “The rest are waiting for you.”
Daniel’s arm around my waist held me up, and we disappeared. We were safe now within the enchantment’s borders. We’d all made it back, but in pieces. We couldn’t keep doing this, hiding, living in constant fear of being discovered. Sooner or later, I was going to have to face Marcus and end this once and for all…
“You were right,” Daniel whispered. “Callon told me about the vision. Colt’s alive.”
I closed my eyes. In spite of our close escape, I couldn’t deny it had been worth it. At last, I had proof Colt was alive. I hadn’t been imagining it. But now he was Marcus’s prisoner. How were we going to free him?
A horrible taste suddenly filled my mouth, and I doubled over. Footsteps rushed around, and I heard a gasp.
“Get her inside, Daniel!” Lilly cried.
The grass disappeared, replaced by the warmth of the manor hall. Seconds later I was taken from Daniel and carried to the dining room table. The taste got worse, and I felt my body quake. Bile rose in the back of my throat, and Dex grabbed my neck, tilting my head as I vomited a vile black liquid. I heard him shout, but I didn’t make out the words.
Exhausted, sick and hurting all over, I sank down onto the table. Lilly murmured, stroking my forehead, while Dex began to check my injuries. My eyes closed, and I felt a hand wrap around mine. Peace filled me, and I squeezed Daniel’s hand.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
As sleep began to creep over me, I could only replay the vision I’d seen. Colt was alive. He was a prisoner and in danger, but he was alive.
And this time, I’d be the one to rescue him.
Chapter 15
My lashes fluttered, and I shivered from the cold. I was face down on my bed, and it was dark except for the dim light of a fire. I moved to roll over, then shrieked as pain ignited across my back. I collapsed, gasping. Footsteps neared.
“Be still, love,” Callon said softly. He sat on the bed beside me and stroked my cheek. “Between the Cloakers’ attack and the visions with Tre and Jayna, it took a lot out of you. You’re not healing as quickly.”
The battle in the forest with Raina and the other Cloakers floated through my mind, but it was still a little unclear. It had all happened so fast. The black mist, and that scorching smell…
“They burned me.”
“Yes.”
In answer, a sharp pain shot across my shoulder blade. Of all the things I’d encountered, from the Tracker’s whips and the Tresez’s teeth, the Cloakers had to be the most ruthless. I didn’t doubt that Raina would have preferred to bring me back to Marcus in several pieces. I guessed that was why he’d tried to avoid using them, but I’d made him desperate.
“I really don’t like them,” I muttered. “How long till I get better?”
Callon tucked the hair behind my ear and sighed.
“Layla and Nakari are making new compresses for the burns. Things should start looking up soon.”
I shivered again.
“I’m cold,” I whispered.
“We had to cool the burns in the meantime,” Callon explained. “They’ll be here soon. These new ones will warm you up.”
The floorboards creaked in the hall outside, and soon a shadowy figure appeared in the doorway.
“I brought more firewood,” Maes said. He dumped a load near the fireplace and added some to the fire.
“How long have I been lying here?” I asked.
“About twenty-four hours,” Callon replied.
“Is everyone else okay? What about Daniel and Nakari?” They’d been with me, attacked by the Cloakers as well.
“A little beat up and bruised, but everyone is safe. You seem to have gotten the worst of it.”
“So much for me being precious,” I murmured, remembering Marcus’s words to Conall.
“They only know how to do it one way, Cheyenne,” Maes said. He stood near the side of the bed. “They only know how to make one submit through pain.”
“Obviously they haven’t figured out I’m not the submitting type.”
“Obviously,” Maes muttered.
My mind wandered back to the incident…what Raina called Maes, mi ceilo, my heaven.
“Raina knows you well, Maes?”
His gaze grew dark, cold.
“She called you my heaven.”
He didn’t respond. I pondered for a moment the significance of it, but let the thought drop. It was obvious I wasn’t going to get an answer.
“So now what?” I asked. “We know Colt’s alive. How are we going to rescue him?”
Callon stilled, his hands coming to rest on his lap. His expression was masked, hiding his true feelings. I frowned. I thought we’d gotten past this.
Before I could question further, Maes broke in.
“It’s too risky,” he said.
I closed my eyes again, fighting to push back the emotions rising up inside.
“Colt is Marcus’s prisoner,” I said through gritted teeth. “We abandoned him once. We can’t do it again.”
“And we have the entire Timeless race to think about, Cheyenne!” Maes snapped. “We can’t just run off and risk everything we’ve been fighting for in the hope that Colt’s still alive. What you saw was a memory; it took place in the past. For all we know, Colt could be dead by now.”
“No!” I snarled and fought to rise up. I knew in my heart, felt it in my soul. Colt was still alive and calling out to me. He’d always been there for me; I wasn’t going to ignore him, either.
Callon pressed me back down gently.
“Calm down, sweetheart.” He looked at Maes. “We haven’t come to a final decision yet, Maes. We need to look at all our options.”
Hope swelled through me. Callon wasn’t giving up on Colt, either.
“It’s risky having him out there,” Callon went on.
“Because he altered the enchantment?” I blurted. I knew it wasn’t a questi
on any more. He was the only one who could have done it.
“That’s one thing, yes.”
Maes moved closer to the fire and began stoking it.
“I don’t like any of this,” Maes mumbled. “The only reason Marcus would’ve kept him alive is to bait you into a trap. The enchantment is only a problem to him if you remain behind it. He wants to draw you out and pick you off one by one. He can’t do that here.”
“Perhaps,” Callon replied, “but until we sort through all the facts, we’re not going to make any hasty decisions.”
My heart sank a little. Sort through the facts…Callon wasn’t completely sure what to do yet. Was Colt a captive, or did Callon think something else? What exactly was he willing to do? I knew I felt guilty over what had happened at the ridge, and I was sure Callon was as well. But would he allow that to factor into the decision, or would he turn towards the rules he’d always known?
Callon sighed and his hazel eyes looked at me again. His eyes were filled with worry and concern, and his shoulders heavy with the burdens of the Timeless clans. I didn’t need him to say it, but if we were to rescue Colt and bring him home, that might change things between Callon and me.
I worried as well…
“Don’t I have anything looser?” I cringed as Andre and Lilly tried to help me into a T-shirt. Even my bra straps were digging into my shoulders and back.
“You can’t walk around topless, Cheyenne,” Andre stated.
“Although I don’t think there would be any complaints,” Bree giggled.
“I wasn’t thinking of going topless!” I snapped back. “It’s touching my skin, and it hurts.”
“Let’s try something else then,” Lilly said. She helped me out of the T-shirt and I leaned over the bathroom sink while she disappeared into the closet. A total of forty-eight hours had passed since we’d escaped the Cloakers, and yet these burns still hadn’t healed. It was like a horrible sunburn, and I could feel the skin peeling at the edges.
“How about this?” Nakari suggested.
Looking up, I saw her reflection in the mirror. She was holding a men’s blue button down shirt.
She stepped closer, and I saw the remnants of burns on her neck and hands.
“It’s one of Callon’s. He didn’t seem to mind you borrowing it when I made the suggestion.” She held up her other hand. “I’ve also brought you more ointment.”
“Thank you.” I leaned down with my head on the vanity, pulling my hair forwards.
“Here, let me,” Layla said and began dabbing the ointment across my burns. “It should be better tomorrow.”
I nodded, wincing every time her fingers ran down the wounds. I knew I had to hurry. Callon and the others were waiting for me downstairs.
Lilly and Andre helped me put the shirt on. I looked at myself in the mirror. I was swimming in Callon’s shirt. I sighed at my reflection, but at least now I wasn’t topless.
“Come on.” Andre waited in the doorway while Layla, Bree and Nakari passed her. “I’m sure Maes is growing restless,” she added.
“Big surprise there.” I smirked.
“I think they’re all growing restless,” Lilly stated. “There’s a lot to discuss.”
There was a lot to discuss. Colt’s future rested in our hands.
I had to walk gently to stop the shirt from rubbing the burns. I paused at the top of the stairs, and took a breath. Somehow I had to convince the other clan leaders that it was a wise decision to rescue Colt. I looked down at my hand on the rail, my Servak and Kvech rings staring me in the face. This was no longer just about me. I couldn’t run off and do this alone. As a leader, I needed to be open minded, listen to all the input and then make a decision. How much I’d changed…a year ago I’d have already run off to do things on my own. I was transforming right before my eyes.
“You okay?” Lilly asked, her hand coming to rest over mine.
I faintly smiled. “I’m fine, Lilly. I’m just noticing that I’m not the same anymore.”
“No, you’re not the same anymore, Cheyenne. You’re developing into a beautiful young woman. You’re becoming the capable leader that Dex and I have always seen in you.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
We continued down the stairs. Callon stood in the library’s doorway, a stoic look in his eyes.
“We’re meeting in here, Cheyenne,” he said.
I nodded and entered the library. Andre followed, but Lilly headed for the sitting room. He closed the door behind us. Apparently not everyone was a part of this discussion.
Koda rose from the chair and gestured for me to sit. Maes kept his back towards me, stoking the fire. Dex sat on the sofa; he turned and gave me a worried glance.
“It still hurts?” he asked.
“It’s more like a sunburn now.”
I sat in the chair leaning forward so my back didn’t touch.
Brogan lounged in a chair, his feet resting on an ottoman. He lowered his book.
“About time, princess,” he sneered.
“Brogan,” Dex said, giving him a clear warning to back off.
Daniel appeared beside me.
“Feeling better?” His blue eyes looked hopeful.
“Getting there.”
He moved to the sofa and sat beside Dex. Callon stepped in front of the fireplace and Maes rose, facing us and crossing his arms. Andre sat on the arm of the chair beside me.
“We’ve got a lot to discuss,” Callon said. “Decisions have to be made, and it’s not going to be easy.” His gaze circled the room. “As I told you earlier, we’ve reason to believe Colt is alive and in Marcus’s hold.”
“What you saw was a memory. For all we know he could be dead by now,” Brogan replied.
“Not so,” Koda said. “Someone had to open the enchantment, and it wasn’t Daniel or Callon. He’s the only living O’Shea descendant. It must have been him.”
“Colt would have never done anything without being forced!” Daniel exclaimed. His cheeks flushed; he hadn’t meant to shout so loud.
“I’m not saying he did it willingly,” Koda said gently.
Callon sighed.
“That is exactly what I think,” Maes growled. “Without a doubt, Colt is being manipulated. Chances are that’s the only reason Marcus hasn’t killed him yet. He’s a threat and should be handled accordingly.”
My brows narrowed.
“He’s a threat and should be handled accordingly? What does that mean?” I said.
“It means he needs to be removed by any and all means possible.” Jade-rimmed eyes stared me down.
“No!” Daniel shouted. “Colt needs to be rescued, not removed.”
“How do we know he hasn’t already given out valuable information that would lead to our deaths, Daniel?” Maes shot back. “How do we know that—”
Daniel leapt to his feet, and stared up at Maes, his blue eyes on fire.
“Colt would never do anything to cause us harm! He’d rather die!”
“Then what do you call the break in the enchantment, Daniel?” Brogan growled.
“He sacrificed himself to save us, Callon,” Daniel pleaded, grasping his brother’s arm. “He held onto Cheyenne and took Marcus’s hits even when we were both screaming at him to drop her. He gave his life for us so we could escape!”
“You don’t know the powers Marcus has, Daniel!” Maes hissed. “You haven’t witnessed how the mighty have fallen under his command.”
“Colt would never…” Daniel lowered his head, tears brimming in his eyes. I leaned forward and grasped his hand, pulling him back. I knew in my heart, as Daniel did, that Colt would never betray us.
Callon cleared his throat.
“I think the first thing we need is proof that he’s alive, but honestly I don’t know where to start,” he said.
“Do we have any spies out in the field that we could send?” Dex asked.
“And risk their life and possible capture for the life of one?” Brogan sneered. His
fingers tightened on the book’s binding. “Since when did his life become more important than the lives of the rest?” His brown eyes narrowed in on me. “And what does our resident princess have to say about this? Colt was her favorite, after all.”
I gritted my teeth. Brogan wasn’t going to get under my skin this time.
“Colt would have willingly risked his life to save any of you,” I said, taking care with my words. “He’s already paid a larger debt. He’s trapped with Marcus. Death would have been easier.” I knew this firsthand. “And if all you’re going to do is sit here and tell me that all he sacrificed isn’t worth a thing, then I don’t want to listen anymore.”
I stood and left the library. My heart was getting the better of me, I knew, but what there were saying was just cruel. Colt was out there and possibly under Marcus’s control. I understood he was a risk, a threat that needed to be handled, but not in the way they saw fit.
I headed for the sitting room, the dim lights illuminating enough of the furnishing to tell me that I was alone. Darkness loomed outside the windows. I stopped before the fireplace and sat down, staring at the remaining flames.
It was a two-edged sword knowing Colt was alive. A two-edged sword that had the potential to leave even more wounds in our ragged clans, wounds that could hurt Callon deeply. But it had also cut through my despair. He was out there, waiting for me.
I couldn’t just abandon him…
I glanced to my left where the music area had been set up. I knew this was Daniel’s doing. He’d made sure I’d have it if I needed it. He knew one day I’d need a release, that one day I’d find all of me again.
I stood and took deliberate steps toward the piano. Sitting on the bench, I opened the lid on the baby grand, exposing the black and white keys. It had been too long since I’d allowed myself this freedom, too long holding things in and bottling them up. It was time to open myself up and allow Callon to know what my heart held for him. It was more than just a responsibility. I was choosing him.
I closed my eyes, resting my fingertips over the keys. It was time to let go.
The first note caused my body to tremble, the crimson-eyed creature waking. It moved inside, unsure of what was taking place. Soon my mind and heart took over, and I felt the notes wash over me, cleansing and healing. Trails upon trails of notes danced before me, spinning and twirling like ballerinas. Weaving in and out of the room, dipping and curving with each spike and tap of the key. The delicate rhythm finally wrapped itself around me, calming the crimson-eyed creature inside. I’d never let it take control again.
Daylight, a Timeless Series Novel Page 23