Mortiswood: Kaelia Falling (Mortiswood Tales Book 2)

by Gina Dickerson

  ‘What, I have to tell you—’

  ‘Take her!’ Thom suddenly materialised beside Bran, interrupting the necromancer. ‘Take her now!’

  The Vallesm looked at each other and charged up the slope, jumping over a very still Calix, who was sprawled in a flowerbed with his eyes closed.

  Thom loomed above Bran, his thin, blue lips twisting into a hungry grimace. ‘Take her now, stop prolonging this. We do not have time for games.’

  Bran held out a hand. ‘Join me, Kaelia, and the others shall live. Fight, and Calix, and your pet, will die.’

  Kaelia looked from Thom to Bran. Firing one with her light would momentarily stun. The Thorn of Isandr, on the other hand, could kill a truly evil heart. The Vallesm were still bounds away. Kaelia’s eyes stole over to where Calix still lay, unmoving, on the ground. She made the choice, blasting one with the full force of her powers; stabbing the other in the heart with the blade. The instant the blade broke flesh a burst of white light exploded, from which tiny star shaped sparkles fizzled and shot into the air.

  Thom’s eyes widened. ‘The Thorn of Isandr, I thought it was a myth!’ With a screech, he shrank back, twisting into a violet plume of smoke which spiralled into the air before shooting towards the ground. The earth split open, and through the ragged slice in the ground, the smoke that was Thom disappeared. The tear in the ground remained after the Draugr’s departure—a scarred reminder of his power.

  Bran’s hands wrapped around Kaelia’s and he eased the bloodied blade from his chest. He collapsed, his pale skin growing even paler.

  Kaelia stared at the blade in her hand, Bran’s blood staining it to the hilt. She opened her hand and the knife thudded dully on the grass.

  ‘It was supposed to instantly kill a person with a pure evil heart,’ she stammered.

  Bran, his voice weak, held out a hand. ‘You only had to take my hand and we could’ve destroyed the Draugr. I was tricking him, not you. Remember what I said before?’

  Kaelia dropped beside him and gently grasped his hand. Minute embers fizzled between them. The usual crackles of connective energy whenever they touched were weakened by Bran’s injury. Purple light sparkled around their hands but there was no surge of power, no head-dizzying-giddiness. Kaelia shivered, feeling strength beginning to ebb from her. What had she done?

  Bran touched Kaelia’s face, his blood streaking her cheek. ‘We’re stronger together, Kaelia. Together we could have destroyed Thom. I thought I was doing the right thing. Thom would’ve been gone forever if only you had taken my hand.’

  ‘But being part of The Salloki is in your blood. You said you come from a line inherently evil. When you turned up here with Thom, I thought you had finally joined them.’ A lone tear ran down Kaelia’s cheek and she wiped it away. Her face paled, pronouncing the rash of red freckles covering her skin. ‘How was I supposed to know you were tricking him? You didn’t exactly tell me the plan!’

  ‘I would never join with Thom. I brought him here so we could kill him. Together,’ Bran whispered. ‘I hate him. I wanted you to join with me so he couldn’t have you. You are too precious to end up as one of his Draugr brides.’ He struggled for breath, blood bubbling up his throat and out of his mouth. ‘I would have treated you like a princess.’

  Kaelia felt a touch on her shoulder.

  ‘Is that why you helped the Draugr curse me to be locked in Vallesm?’ Bay’s voice was hard. The amber in his brown eyes sparked. ‘Oh, you thought I didn’t know your part in it? I could smell you, Necromancer, as you chanted the words, even the trees of Mortiswood could not hide you from me, even the distance between us was not a match for my sense of smell.’

  ‘You cursed Bay?’ Kaelia gasped, she let her hand slip from Bran’s. ‘You sided with Thom, you helped him!’

  Bran struggled to speak. ‘Actually it was the other way around.’

  Kaelia’s red freckles darkened with anger. ‘The Draugr helped you...you really are unbelievable!’

  Bay grasped Kaelia’s right shoulder, steadying her, and glared down at Bran. ‘You thought cursing me to stay in Vallesm meant Kaelia would never trust me let alone love me but you were wrong.’ He squeezed Kaelia’s shoulder. ‘We have a love you could never comprehend. Our connection transcended the restrictions of your curse in a way you could never have anticipated.’

  Kaelia looked up at Bay. As Vallesm he had laid down his life for her. His breath had freed her from the Sleeping Death spell. As a man, he loved her and she loved him. Their love had to be why they had been able to connect in her dreams. She touched Bay’s hand and squeezed it. She turned her gaze back to Bran; a jolt of regret stabbing her heart in a way not dissimilar to how she had stabbed Bran with The Thorn of Isandr. She shivered again, feeling strange. Lifting her chin, she told herself to pull herself together.

  Bran smiled weakly. ‘I really didn’t mean for it to be this terrible, Kaelia. I simply wanted you to depend on me and to trust me.’ He choked on his blood, spluttering it over his face. ‘I wanted you to want me.’

  ‘Sending those Dybbuks after her was your way of gaining her trust, was it?’ Bay interrupted angrily. ‘I always knew you were behind it but couldn’t say anything. You tried killing me in Margate by the Stone Pier because I knew too much and you were afraid. I was glad Hel told Kaelia she sent the Dybbuks at your request, and I was even gladder when Kaelia punched you in the face for it.’

  Kaelia stiffened. ‘You weren’t attacked by a Draugr creature in Margate, were you? Yet another of your lies. How do I know you’re not lying now just so I heal you?’

  Bran’s eyes squeezed shut. ‘I’m not asking you to save me. I did deceive you, over and over. I’m not proud of it. At first I thought all I wanted was to control your power, especially after we touched for the first time. It was so intense it blew me away. The way our powers transfer and ignite when we touch is electric. I know I’m not the only one who thinks so. You do, too.’

  ‘You don’t need to listen to this, Kaelia,’ Bay growled, his human voice rumbling in a similar timbre to his Vallesm growl.

  Kaelia waved Bay’s words away and spread her hands over Bran’s chest. ‘You should’ve died the moment I drove The Thorn of Isandr into you but you didn’t, which means you’re not all bad.’ She smiled wryly. ‘Even if you think you are.’

  ‘So, you’re going to save him?’ Bay asked incredulously. ‘You, The Chosen One, is going to save The Dark One who brought on my curse early and would’ve killed me given a sniff of a chance?’

  Kaelia nodded, crying hot tears onto Bran’s shallow breathing chest. ‘I can’t let him die, Bay. It’s not who I am. You already know this. You have been by my side throughout the scariest times of my life, as my Vallesm. You know I have to save whomever I can. Please, be the Bay, the Vallesm, I trust and let me do this.’ Light radiated from her palms into Bran, the healing orange-red glow lending colour to his pale skin. The light was not as strong as Kaelia had hoped. She removed her hands, shook them, and tried again.

  A deep, older male voice called to Bay. ‘Leave them, Son. Kaelia will come inside once she’s ready. She must do this.’

  Bay sighed, and rubbed his forehead. ‘But Dad, I don’t—’

  ‘Now, Bay!’ Bay’s father’s voice bode no arguing. ‘Kaelia is The Chosen One and healing people, be they those who may harm us in the future, is part of who she is. It is part of her destiny to care for others. Let her be.’

  Bay’s footsteps were reluctant as he followed his father inside the castle.

  * * *

  Bran closed his eyes while Kaelia healed him. It took longer than usual as Kaelia felt weaker. Forcing herself to carry on she reasoned it was due to the fight. She studied Bran’s face as she worked; the spots of blood staining his face reminded her of her own freckles. The scar running across his left eye and biting into his cheek was raised more than usual, and it shone silvery-pink. Could she heal it for him? Would her powers remove a centuries old scar? Keeping one hand over Bran’
s chest, Kaelia gently stroked the edges of his scar, radiating orange-red light from her fingertips with intensity seemingly back to normal. Bran’s eyes flickered open and a grin spread across his face.

  ‘A kiss would give me a real boost right now.’ He laughed. ‘You know how exhilarating it is when we touch.’

  Kaelia extinguished her light and removed her hands. ‘And with that comment I know you’re perfectly fine.’

  ‘Aren’t you glad to have me back to my normal self?’

  ‘I’m not bothered either way.’

  Bran propped himself up on one elbow. ‘That’s why you healed me is it, because you’re not bothered either way?’

  Kaelia jumped to her feet. ‘Shut up, Bran.’ Her eyes fell on the still body of Calix. ‘What have you done to Calix?’

  Kaelia reached Calix in a flash and cradled his head in her lap. ‘No! You killed him again. I don’t believe you. You’re a real piece of work, aren’t you? There was me trying to help you, deliberating if I could heal your stupid scar, and all the time you didn’t even tell me you had killed my friend!’

  Bran was instantly beside her. ‘I had to kill the idiot.’ He shrugged. ‘Thom wouldn’t have believed I was on his side unless I killed someone. I’ll admit it was going to be your knight in shining fur but I couldn’t find your pet anywhere. Now, I realise, the curse had already been lifted. You loved him, even as a wolf.’

  Kaelia stared at Bran and cogs whirred in her mind. She flexed her hands. ‘And I’ve grown stronger, my powers have increased. When I reached the end of healing you I felt better than I ever have done. Does this mean Bay is Marrock? Is he the one I’m supposed to be with?’

  Bran tut-tutted. ‘There’s nothing to say that blasted mutt is your Marrock. You really do need to swot up. Am I the only one with an ounce of intelligence? Marrock means a knight who is secretly a wolf, whether Bay is that particular wolf is for you to discover. He can’t just jump up and wave his arms in the air, yelling, “Hey, Kaelia, here I am, let’s get our groove on, I’m Marrock and I’m here to make you reach full power”. You, and you alone, have to find Marrock. Until the two of you unite you won’t know you’ve even stumbled over his tail.

  ‘Uniting with Marrock will release your full potential, and it is the only way you’ll know you’ve found your knight, but Bay was always a Vallesm. All I did was to speed up his transformation into the wolf. It shouldn’t have happened until he turned twenty-one. All Vallesm discover their wolf at twenty-one. It’s some sort of archaic wolf ritual.’ Bran’s eyes were surprisingly sad. ‘I thought if I could curse him to stay in Vallesm form until he was loved as a beast then you would never truly love him. I never thought you would love a Vallesm. I underestimated you. You are becoming who you should be and even I can’t stop you. You aren’t the only one who has much to learn about who they are. It would appear I still don’t have a full education.’

  Kaelia watched, silenced by a multitude of emotions. Bran splayed his hands and radiated violet light into Calix’s chest, lifting Calix’s lifeless body from the ground while his death reversing light poured out. Calix took a sudden gulp of air and his chest rose and fell normally.

  ‘Hey!’ Kaelia protested as Bran allowed Calix to crash to the floor. On the ground, Calix moaned in discomfort. ‘Haven’t you hurt him enough?’

  ‘He’s alive again, isn’t he?’ Bran winked. ‘Just because I wanted to save you, doesn’t mean I have to be best-buds with the wimpy physician.’ He cast a glance at the castle. ‘Or any of your other friends. You may want to tell them to cast a more secure protection if they want to keep The Salloki out of here. Now Thom knows where the Vallesm castle is, there’s no doubt he’ll be back to try and regain entry.’ He held a hand out.

  ‘I’m not holding your hand.’

  ‘I wasn’t asking you to. You still have my coat.’

  Kaelia blushed and shrugged the massive coat off. Electricity sparkled between her fingers and Bran’s as she handed his coat back to him. She gasped; Bran grabbed her wrist and pulled her close. Was he about to kiss her? Did she want him to? Energy surged between them, enlivening her senses. She closed her eyes, not realising she was holding her breath. She felt Bran’s lips near hers, the warmth of his breath on her face, the tickle of his hair against her skin, the tip of his nose against her cheek.

  ‘Keep The Thorn of Isandr close,’ Bran whispered. ‘It can easily kill a Draugr if you are close enough.’

  With that he dropped her wrist and when Kaelia re-opened her eyes, he had disappeared.

  * * *

  Chapter Six

  The table in the castle hall had been cleared by the time Kaelia helped Calix inside. She made sure she retrieved The Thorn of Isandr on the way in and secured it back in the waistband of her jeans. Bay and his father were sat in comfortable chairs by a log fire in the furthest corner of the great hall. Bay’s father was the same as Kaelia remembered him, except he now sported a moustache tinged the same colour as his hair; brown flecked with traces of silver-grey. Bay saw Kaelia and Calix approaching and hurriedly pulled two more soft chairs up to the fireside. Bay’s father rose and clutched Kaelia in a bear-hug.

  ‘It’s been a while.’ He held her at arm’s length, searching her eyes with his own. ‘You have strengthened. I can see it in your eyes.’

  Kaelia smiled shyly. ‘I’m not surprised. I have seen a hell of a lot since we last met.’

  ‘And fought a lot,’ Bay teased. ‘It was a pain being trapped in Vallesm but being a wolf came in useful against all the Dybbuks we saw.’

  ‘You’re the pet,’ Calix interrupted. He held out his hand and winced, clasping at his ribs with his other hand. ‘Nice to meet you properly. It makes sense now why you were the one able to break the Sleeping Death spell put on Kaelia.’

  Bay grinned and shook Calix’s hand. ‘Calix, I always knew you were a good guy, even when you shot me in the backside with Cassie’s shotgun.’

  Calix flushed. ‘Yeah, erm, sorry I shot you. I’d always heard Vallesm are evil so I thought....’

  ‘You thought you were protecting Kaelia,’ Bay finished off. ‘It’s okay, I get it.’ A flicker of amber sparkled in his eyes. ‘Although every time I saw you after you shot me I kind of wanted to bite you. It took a lot of strength not to.’

  Calix’s eyes widened. ‘I’m glad you didn’t!’

  Bay shrugged. ‘I didn’t much fancy paying you back with a like for like wound.’ He grinned. ‘I couldn’t exactly hold a gun with my paws and these.’ He tapped his teeth. ‘Weren’t going anywhere near that!’ He gestured at Calix.

  Calix grinned. ‘Well, I appreciate it. You Vallesm have pretty big teeth.’

  ‘Calix. I’ve heard about you.’ A lighter flickered in Bay’s father’s hand as he lit a cigarette and took a long drag, before settling back into his chair. He nodded at Calix. ‘I’m Bryson. Welcome to my castle. Now, all of you sit down and I’ll answer any questions I can.’

  The younger men and Kaelia settled into the comfortable chairs. Flames flickered in the fireplace, dancing reflections on the marble floor.

  Kaelia spoke first. ‘Were Bay and I always destined to be together? Is he Marrock?’

  Bryson flicked his unfinished cigarette into the hearth of the great fireplace and shrugged. ‘We do not know, only you will know Marrock.’

  ‘Who else knows the meaning of the name Marrock besides Bran?’ Kaelia asked.

  Calix looked surprised. ‘Bran knows the meaning of the name? Even I don’t.’

  Bryson folded one long leg over the other, rubbing his moustache at the same time. ‘Marrock,’ he explained to Calix, ‘means a knight who is secretly a wolf. Why do you think The Salloki killed so many Vallesm, and tried desperately to obscure the real meaning of the name Marrock? They forced us to go into hiding.’

  ‘The Salloki thought destroying all of the Vallesm would ensure Kaelia would never meet Marrock and never reach her full strength!’ Calix surmised.

  Bryson nodded. �
��If The Salloki can keep Kaelia from realising the full extent of her powers she will be easier for them to control. Once you awaken your full potential, Kaelia, The Salloki will be a tame match for you. Even Thom.’

  ‘Why didn’t you speak up?’ Calix interjected. ‘Weren’t you friends with Kaelia’s parents?’

  ‘Our families have always been friends.’ Bryson rubbed his chin. ‘But Vallesm numbers are still few in Britain, I couldn’t risk saying anything for fear of The Salloki tracking Bay and I down. I did not tell Kaelia’s parents of our true identities—that we are Vallesm. I helped keep them safe without them even knowing. If word had slipped out, The Salloki would have killed us. I needed to make sure my son survived, not only because he is my kin, but so he could protect Kaelia, the way I did her father. Who would have protected her if all Vallesm were extinct? She needed protection so she could begin to fulfil her destiny.’

  ‘What is my destiny exactly?’ Kaelia looked at Bay, who was sitting beside her, and reached for his hand. ‘Is Bay Marrock, could it be I can choose my own knight as long as he is already a wolf? What about my mother? She’s still missing. No-one was protecting her.’

  Calix shifted in his seat. ‘I don’t know about your mother but Father Peter uncovered the main reason The Salloki want you, Kaelia. I clean forgot to mention it in the hunt for a Rosealrium bloom, and this attack.’

  ‘Father Peter, the priest from the Isle of Stone, the one who gave my parents the book of Vanadis, my grandmother’s old friend?’ Kaelia frowned. ‘How come he knows and I don’t?’

  Calix shrugged. ‘He was close with your grandmother, I think they have always suspected but weren’t entirely sure until now. I bumped into an old friend, Gunnarr from the Isle of Stone, while I was looking for a Rosealrium bloom to break Cadence’s transformation into Draugr, and going the wrong way thanks to Bran-the-dick might I add.