Tatyanna

by Lindsay Johnston

  “Cale is just a friend,” Tatyanna explained, hoping Emmett couldn’t see the truth.

  “No, he’s not. He is trying to poison your mind. You need to stay away from him.”

  “Really? And why is that?” Tatyanna asked, feeling the red heat flare up inside of her.

  “Because he isn’t good for you, and I don’t trust him.”

  “That’s not a good enough reason. He has been there for me. He has apologized for being an ass, and he isn’t who we thought he was.”

  “No, he is exactly who we think he is. He is a power hungry SOB, and you need to stay away from him.”

  “No,” Tatyanna said firmly.

  “What did you say?”

  “I told you no. I will not stay away from Cale. I like him. He saved my life twice on the side of the mountain, and where were you and Dimitri? You knowingly left me out there, while you took the shortcut and left me to figure out what to do. How can you say I can’t trust him when I can’t even trust you? It’s not Cale I don’t know. I don’t know you.” With that, Tatyanna walked away from him, back to the camp, heat radiating off her. Cale was right. She needed to stand up for herself, not just with Medo, but with all of them. She was the princess, they needed HER help, not the other way around. She sat down, refusing to help, and for once, let the others wait on her, instead of the other way around.

  It didn't slip past anyone that Tatyanna and Emmett had gotten into it. Neither one looked at each other, or talked to anyone when they came back to the camp. They both ate, and then they rolled over and went to sleep. Cale had the first watch. He walked far enough away and deep enough into the trees. He took out his knife, cut his hand, and called out for his master to come to him.

  Larik appeared and smiled when he saw that Cale used the blood oath to call to him. He might let Cale live after this was all over.

  “What do you have to report?” Larik asked, stiffly and bored, as if he had more important things to be doing.

  “Tatyanna and I have grown closer, but I think instead of killing her, we might be able to bring her to our side.”

  “We? Our?” Larik asked.

  “I mean your side. She has an anger inside of her, brewing, and I think, with some coaxing, she would be able to embrace her dark side, and use her power for harm, instead of good.”

  Larik took in the human's words while he thought it over. He already had Princess Seraphina on his side, even if she wasn't ready to admit it. If Tatyanna came over as well, they would easily gain control of this world, and maybe even the human world. They would become unstoppable. “How close is she to losing control?”

  “Close. Her hands have glowed twice when she and Medo verbally fought, and I can feel a red heat burning in her heart.”

  Larik smiled, “A red heat, you say? Yes, she is close. Now, tell me, I thought she pulled all the power out of you. How were you able to gain some of my power back?”

  “I don't know. After I was hit by one of your fireballs, the power consumed me, and some of it lingered even after she healed me. I am told she lost control.”

  Larik's eyes flashed, and he was pleased with this news. The young princess was not in control of her feelings, or her powers. If she used her powers once to harm a person, she might forever be stuck on the dark side. Once those powers consumed a person, they never went away. He should know.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Brothers and Sisters

  The next morning came, and Tatyanna was surprised to be the first one to wake up. She was still angry at Emmett, but knew he was only looking out for her. She lost some of the anger she was holding onto. She knew he kept secrets from her, and knew more than she did.

  Tatyanna glanced over at Cale and smiled as she watched him sleep. She was drawn to him, but she wasn't able to put words to what she felt. One by one, the others woke up and went about their morning, cleaning up their camp and eating breakfast. She took a short walk with Lilly to relieve herself, and was delighted to find a stream where she could freshen up.

  Lilly hadn't spoken a word to her that morning, and Medo refused to acknowledge her. Tatyanna was perfectly okay with that. She glanced over the side of the mountain and wondered where the shortcut was. Tatyanna heard Terran snicker, and knew he had heard her thoughts. She thought back to all those times she wished her and Lilah could reach each other’s minds and took back her wish. This was starting to get annoying!

  Terran laughed even louder that time, and shrugged his shoulders when she glared at him. “You broadcast, Tatyanna. I would have to be deaf not to hear you.”

  “Whatever,” she said, good naturedly. “So how do we get down?” she asked.

  “You are going to fly like a bird,” Terran said as he clapped his hands. She saw a row of bushes flip over to reveal a toboggan slide.

  “Is that what I think it is?” she asked, feeling apprehensive.

  “Yep,” Terran said proudly. “Marek and I made this a lifetime ago with his dad. What?” he asked when he saw everyone staring at him strangely. “We had visited the other world, and saw people sliding down hills and wanted to recreate it. It's harmless, and much faster than walking down the hill.”

  “I'm in,” Tatyanna said immediately. She was not going to give Medo the satisfaction of watching her fall on her face, trying to gracefully climb down the hill.

  “Yes!” Terran said, sounding like a little boy. He grabbed her hand, and pushed her down on a make-shift sled and then climbed on behind her. “Hold on tight!”

  Tatyanna wasn't given a chance to change her mind. Her feet were off solid ground, and she was holding on for dear life as she and Terran careened down the side of the mountain at break-neck speed. She leaned back into Terran, who was laughing with wild abandon and begging to go faster. Meanwhile, Tatyanna was trying to figure out if she should take the chance to let go of the slide to cover her head for the impending crash waiting for them. The slide twisted and turned as it wound itself down the mountain, and Tatyanna could feel branches pulling at her hair and face, scraping her arms as she flew down the hill.

  The ride was over almost as fast as it began, but instead of flying into a tree, the slide dead ended into an open lake. Tatyanna and Terran continued their adventure by becoming human skipping stones as they crossed the cool water. Tatyanna's fears evaporated as soon as she felt the water splash up and onto her face. She felt like she was home.

  A laugh escaped her mouth, and Tatyanna was surprised. She reveled in the sound, and laughed even louder as the sled continued to skip along the water, slowing down with every skip, until they came to a halt in the middle of the lake.

  “Well, crap,” she said, “Now what do we do?” Tatyanna looked down at the raggedy sled.

  Terran slapped his leg and started laughing again.

  Tatyanna looked at him bewildered. “What's so funny? I don't get it.”

  “Are you, or are you not, the Water Princess?” When Tatyanna continued to look lost, Terran pointed to her and then the water. “You have the ability to control water. You can get us to shore.”

  Tatyanna looked down at her hands. She had only ever used her power before to heal, and somehow to create a water barrier to protect her and her friends. She looked at Terran, with the question on the tip of her lips. Terran rolled his eyes at her, and shook his head. “Talk to the water. Feel it come to life in your veins. You can do this. Don't be a baby.”

  “Well excuse me for never knowing about this gift and having the ability to learn how to use it.”

  “Whatever. Can you get on with it? I really don't want to swim to shore. You have no idea what could be living in these waters.”

  Tatyanna felt her heart stop. “What? There are creatures living in the water? Are we going to die?” she asked, starting to feel like her life was in danger.

  Terran dropped his voice, and said, “You should be scared. Under these waters are creatures that can breathe under the water, and they have big, sharp teeth.”

  “What are they
?” she asked, feeling nervous, thinking about it being anywhere between the Loch Ness Monster to evil sea people.

  Terran leaned in real close to her. “Fish.” He burst out laughing again.

  Tatyanna shoved at him, but he barely even moved. “You're such an ass,” she said, causing Terran to laugh even louder.

  “And you are so gullible. I can't believe you even fell for that. Now,” he said, waving at the water, “you have some work to do. I'd like to be on solid ground before the others get here. I wouldn't even mind a nap. I don't think Medo could get off his high horse to approve of me getting one.”

  Tatyanna snickered and closed her eyes, trying to block out Terran and his good mood. “Nothing. I'm getting nothing.”

  “It's because you aren't trying. Do it again,” he said, sounding bored.

  Tatyanna looked up to the sky and slightly counted to ten on her fingers, lightly tapping them against her leg. She took a deep breath and held it for five seconds before letting it out in a five second count. She concentrated only on the water surrounding them. She felt at peace, at one with the water. As she zeroed in, Tatyanna could see each individual ripple and how it was caused by another. She could hear the water lapping at the shore, begging to be played in. She lowered her right hand and gently touched the water with her fingertips, languishing in the coolness and wishing the water was warmer. “Ooh,” she said, shocked, and pulled her fingers out of the water.

  Tatyanna lowered her hand again. She moved it back and forth, and she could hear the water speak to her. Not in words, but by the movement and the warmth on her skin. Her power felt alive, and she opened her eyes, half-expecting her hands to be glowing, but they weren't. She pulled her hand out of the water. Tatyanna made a motion, like she was pushing against the air, only to feel the water beneath her propel them toward the shore. The water gently pushed them, until they were about twenty feet from the shore. She made the motion again, but nothing happened.

  Terran spoke for the first time in several minutes, and said one word. “Walk.”

  Tatyanna did a double-take. “Are you nuts?”

  Terran gave her a lopsided smile. “What could go wrong? You'd just fall in, and get wet...or maybe you are scared of some fish?” he said, toying with her.

  “Whatever.” Tatyanna pondered for a second, before stepping out with one foot. Instead of sinking to the bottom of the lake, her foot connected with the water, she took a step, and then another. After walking about halfway to the bank, Tatyanna figured out she was actually walking on water. She jumped up and down, as if she was seeing things, and laughed. Terran leaned over and started to paddle himself, and the sled, inland.

  They both reached the sand at the same time, and collapsed to the ground laughing. Tatyanna took a second to study Terran.

  “Your tattoo just changed,” she stated, mesmerized by the action.

  Terran glanced at her, and then flipped his hood back up on his head. Tatyanna wanted to tell him he didn't need to hide from her, but he only glared, and she opted to keep her mouth shut.

  Tatyanna couldn't sit still anymore, and think about nothing and everything. “You've changed,” she said at last.

  “How so?”

  “Well, you are still cryptic with me, but you've been freer, and you are more relaxed around me. Why is that?” Tatyanna could feel Terran pull his walls back up mentally, and she cursed herself for saying the wrong thing.

  Terran tapped the sand three times, and small, round stones came rolling toward him. He tapped the ground again, after a small pile formed next to him. He picked up a stone and skipped it across the water six times. Tatyanna could hear the water ripple with excitement, waiting for the next stone to come across to play. Terran didn't wait and threw another rock, skipping it only five times. He cursed silently, but stared out at the water.

  “You remind me of my sister,” he said at last.

  “You have a sister?” she asked, shocked because he had never referenced her before.

  “Yeah. I haven't seen her since we were kids.”

  “What happened to her?” Tatyanna prodded.

  Terran grew thoughtful. “After the death of your dad and Marek's father, my parents started to get scared and thought they were doing the right thing in sending my sister away. They believed she would be the next in line, but we both knew better. The earth responded to her, but it never spoke to her, not like it did for me. We tried to tell our parents, but they accused me of being jealous of her, and I left it at that. There has always been a woman with the earth power, never a man, so I don't blame them for thinking I was jealous.”

  “But, didn't you show signs you were the true leader?”

  Instead of answering her, Terran walked back to where Tatyanna was sitting and sat down next to her, holding out his hand to her. Without hesitation, she grasped it and was immediately pulled into his mind. One particular memory came to life, as if she was sitting back and watching a movie.

  She could see a younger version of Terran, with jagged brown hair that fell past his jawline, and a beautiful raven beauty, with eyes the color of the forest. The child was only about five or six, but already Tatyanna could see that she was wise and mature beyond her years, and currently in a heated battle with her brother.

  “Kaia, we need to tell Mom and Dad the truth. They are preparing to send the wrong person in hiding.”

  Kaia was leisurely laying down in the grass and playing with a small flower, allowing it to blossom in response to her hand gesture. It grew a few inches tall, and then, with a flick of her wrist, it shrank down in size. “It doesn't matter, Terran. They won't listen to us. Remember what happened when you showed them your tattoo? They were furious with you, thinking you had gotten it done in the other world. If they don't accept what we say now, they never will.”

  “You aren't the least bit concerned? They could be sending you to your death.” Terran asked his little sister, thinking she was much too young to fully comprehend what was happening.

  Kaia rolled her eyes at her brother. “It is better that they send me, instead of you. I can manipulate the earth, maybe not in the same way, but I still have some power. We can pull this off. Anyway, in the other world, I won't be able to use my power openly, so it isn't that big of a deal.”

  “It isn't that big of a deal?” Terran practically exploded. “And what happens when your guardians deem you worthy to come back to this land to rule? Our deception will be caught, and we will suffer for it.”

  “For a guy, you are awfully melodramatic. Things will be fine. You have to see it from my perspective. This is the better way.”

  “Fine,” he stubbornly said. Kaia smiled. Terran didn't like to admit it, but she had him wrapped around her finger pretty good. She knew he would see her way was the better option. She stopped in her musings, realizing he had agreed to her faster than any other argument they shared.

  “You will leave this world, but I am coming with you,” he countered. Kaia did another exaggerated eye roll, this time making sure her brother saw it. He only responded to her by narrowing his eyes. He didn't scare her; he never did.

  “No,” she said flatly, “We need to stay apart. People can't find out the truth. Later, it won't matter, but now this is the only chance we have of you staying alive.”

  Terran continued his pacing in front of his sister. Kaia took enjoyment in seeing little red flowers pop up in her brother's wake. His own personal red carpet, she mused, wishing the flowers would do that for her.

  “Fine, but I'll come and visit you, and make sure you are okay.”

  “No.”

  “But—”

  Kaia rolled onto her feet, the flower she was once playing with forgotten, sighing in relief. Kaia walked over to her brother and purposely blocked his path. When he refused to move or acknowledge her standing there, she reached over and took his green and brown stained hands into her own fragile ones. “Your life is more important than my own. I may not have the ability to control the earth like
you do, but I do have my gifts. I won't be defenseless.”

  “I wouldn't say having earth's wisdom is a weapon. You don't know how to fight.”

  “Of course not! I'm only five. No one here would take me seriously when I asked to be taught. But, I can still manipulate the earth. I won't be showing off. I will just be a normal human child. I can adapt. I will be given the chance to blend in and start new. But you won't be, dear brother. The earth is bound to you, and there will be no way you will be able to hide who you really are.”

  “We both know you are mature far beyond your years, but you are still a child. Neither one of us has ever been to the human world. Don’t assume things, and don’t even use your magic while you are over there.”

  “I know,” she whined. “You’ve already told me this before. I will be fine. I will hide my powers, no one will ever know.”

  “All the more reason why I should come and check in with you, to make sure you are okay and not struggling. You’ve never tried to withhold your powers before,” Terran persisted.

  “And I would love to see you, too.” She gently shook her head. “You are needed elsewhere...” she trailed off.

  “Where?”

  “Here.” She tugged on his hands and pulled him down to her eye level. “You need to stay and watch over Seraphina and Tatyanna. They will need you more than I will, especially Tatyanna, because she won't remember anything, and Sera will have lost her way. You will need to help bring both of them home.”

  Terran refused to meet his sister's clear green eyes. He looked everywhere but at her, knowing and hating that she was right. How he loathed that he was the next ruling king, instead of the trusted adviser. He wasn't sure who was playing the mean joke on him.

  Terran looked down at the picture of innocence, even though he knew better, and felt himself agreeing. “You are right. I will stay behind, and hope our charade will throw people off.”

  His sister patted his hands. “They will for as long as we need them to. Eventually, everyone will know it is you who is the true ruler, and they will leave me alone.” Terran felt sad, knowing this would be their last time together.