by LH Nicole
“I think she’s coming around,” a hushed voice said. A warm, soothing presence snuggled closer, cocooning her whole body.
“Go get Merlin,” another voice said.
Aliana lifted her heavy eyelids. She blinked, her vision focusing as she realized there were five figures crowded around her. She found Galahad’s blazing blue eyes, and the world righted.
“Water,” she croaked, pushing up onto her elbows. Her tongue stuck to the roof of her dry mouth. Dawn handed her a glass of cold water, and Aliana drank it gratefully. “What happened?” she asked. She was in her bed, safe in her bedroom. Arthur, Galahad, Wade, Dawn, and Lacy all hovered over her.
“You nearly killed yourself healing me,” Galahad said, his voice low and rumbly as he sat on the edge of her bed.
“What else was I supposed to do?” The terror of seeing Galahad so close to death because he’d protected her sparked her anger. She didn’t see any traces of bandages or a wound through his forest green T-shirt.
“Let’s not get into this now,” Arthur said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Wade came to the other side of her bed and sat down. He wore a rakish grin. “How you feelin’?” Aliana smiled, fighting sudden tears at seeing her friend healed. There was no evidence of his horrible injuries anywhere.
She threw herself into his arms, laughing. “We were so worried. You were hurt so badly.”
He pulled back. “You’re telling me! I felt like I was on fire for days!”
Aliana frowned, looking from him to Dawn. “How long were we on the Isle?”
“You guys were gone for almost three weeks,” her friend answered.
“What?” Aliana screeched. “Wow…” She peeked at Galahad, who was very quiet, very still, and very tense. “Can you guys give me and Galahad a few minutes alone? We’ll be right down.”
Arthur looked between them and nodded.
“Don’t take too long, Lia,” Wade said. “We have some very interesting company downstairs who I know you’re gonna want to meet.”
She was about to ask more, but Dawn grabbed Wade and dragged him out of the room. Arthur and Dagg left last, closing the door behind them. She stared for a minute, trying to figure out what to say to Galahad. She knew he was beyond angry, but so was she.
“Galahad—”
“Aliana—” they said at the same time.
“Please let me go first this time,” she said. Pushing aside her blanket and tucking her legs under her, she faced her white knight. “How can you be angry with me when all I did was the exact same thing you did?”
“I didn’t try to get hit, but I couldn’t let you be killed.”
“His magic wouldn’t have killed me! Mordrid’s made it pretty clear he wants me alive.”
“He doesn’t need to kill you to hurt you!” Galahad raged. “All he needs to do is weaken you enough to steal you away.”
“Galahad—” she tried, but he cut her off.
“No. What you did was foolish and reckless.”
Aliana scoffed. “That’s rich coming from you!”
His expression darkened. “That was a low blow.”
Her temper sparked, and her fists clutched the duvet. “You can’t be mad at me for this!”
“Can’t I?” His voice was dangerously low.
“No, you can’t because you were the one who got hurt by that magic! I had to save you.” Tears burned.
He leaned in so that his furious face was inches from hers. His arms barricaded her body. “Merlin said you pushed every bit of magic you had into me. If he and Lord Daggerhorne hadn’t been there, you would’ve killed yourself!”
“That’s better than letting you die!”
Galahad’s lips were on hers the second her last words left her mouth. He was rough and demanding, his tongue stealing past her lips as silver sparks, more powerful than she’d ever felt from him, rushed through her. His hand gripped her neck, tilting her head to the side as he continued to kiss and kiss her. Aliana moaned, clutching at his shoulders, riding out the angry passion flowing between them. She buried her hands in his chocolate locks, pouring all her worry and terror into the kiss.
Galahad jerked back, panting. She caught the swirling mass of darkness in his eyes before they lightened to their normal, amazing blue. “Your life is worth ten of mine.” His thumb pressed into her swollen lips, stopping her protest. “I’m not saying you shouldn’t have tried to help me, but you say I lose control when you’re threatened—you need to realize that you do the same thing.”
“It’s not the same.”
“Yes, it is.”
Aliana pulled at the rough hand still holding her neck. He released it only to grip her waist with both hands and pull her across his body so she was sitting in his lap. Sighing, she wrapped one arm around his waist and laid her head on his shoulder, looking down at her gauntlet-covered hand as she twined her fingers with his.
“We keep doing this. One of us gets into trouble and the other freaks out, and we end up in a crazy argument,” Aliana said.
“Then you need to stop getting yourself into so much trouble.” She couldn’t tell if he was joking or being serious.
“This isn’t my fault!”
“I wasn’t—”
“Then don’t say things like that!” she insisted, pushing out of his hold. He moved with his magical speed, suddenly in front of her before she got more than three steps away. He wrapped his hand around her wrist. She pulled away again, dodging him, but he caught her wrist again.
His touch was gentler now, just like his words. “Don’t run from me, Aliana.”
“You can’t use your crazy strength to hold me here forever.”
He leaned forward and placed a kiss on her temple, then her cheek and the corner of her lips. Helpless against their sparking bond, Aliana turned into him and kissed his lips, trying to figure out how to make him understand the crazy emotions ripping her apart.
“I need you safe, my love,” he said against her lips. “I can’t take seeing you so lifeless in my arms again.”
She sighed as a few tears escaped. “And I can’t take you dying because you were trying to save me. I felt your spirit leaving you! I did the only thing I could think of to keep you alive.”
He brushed away her tears and buried his hand in her loose hair, his lips pressing to her forehead before he rested his cheek against hers. They stood in aching silence for several long moments.
“Why am I clean and wearing my own clothes again?” she asked, finally breaking the heavy silence.
“Merlin. He used his magic to clean you up before we brought you in here.”
Aliana pulled back and met his cool blue gaze with her aching green one. “Wade said we have a visitor. Who is it?”
Galahad’s fingers massaged the nape of her neck as she rested her forehead against his, breathing in the calming, wonderful, wintery scent that was uniquely Galahad.
“It’s Merlin’s friend from Olympus. But I haven’t left your side to properly meet him or talk to him.” He held out his hand and she took it, their sparks zinging up her arm, warming the somewhat chilly mood between them. They made their way down the stairs, through the living room, and out to the backyard.
“Finally,” Owen called when they walked out. He swept Aliana up into a big hug and kissed her cheek. “Don’t you bloody scare us like that again!”
She smiled wanly. “I’ll try not to.”
Lacy and Dawn were immediately at her side. She wrapped her arms around her friends. “We so need to talk after you meet Rothik!” Dawn whispered as they joined the group.
“Why are we all outside?” Aliana asked. Her attention was drawn to a mountain of a guy standing next to Merlin. Her eyes widened, and her frustrated mood evaporated to be replaced by surprised wonder. The guy next to Merlin was easily seven feet tall and built like a bulldozer. His huge arms strained against a gauzy, long sleeved, Victorian-style shirt that hung open at the neck and gathered at the wrists. The shirt l
ooked odd yet right paired with a pair of baggy cargo pants. The man had a wide nose, bushy eyebrows, and two long scars running along the right side of his face. His feet were bare, and he had an animalistic feel about him that made Aliana wonder what kind of magic he possessed.
“The Destined One, I take it,” he said in a rumbling, baritone voice. “You’re not exactly what I imagined.”
Aliana glowered at the newcomer as Dagg settled onto her shoulders. “My name is Aliana, thanks.” She crossed her arms, waiting for the rude man to introduce himself.
He grinned and bowed his head. “I’m Rothik. It’s nice to finally meet you. Merlin has told me much about you.”
Aliana cut a glance at Merlin, wondering what exactly he’d told his friend. She opened her senses, feeling for his magical signature. All she felt was a sweltering presence, like the pelt of an animal. “What are you?” she asked before she could stop herself.
Dawn barked out a laugh, quickly smothering it behind her hand.
“I’m a Chimera,” he said, still smiling.
Aliana relaxed, glad that he wasn’t offended by her callous question. “You don’t have a snake tale or two animal heads.”
“Mortals have a way of twisting the stories they hand down or can’t explain,” the Chimera said, and Arthur snorted in laughter.
Aliana met the king’s gaze and smiled. “Then what’s a real Chimera?”
“We’re beings made up of three parts—magical, human, and beast.”
“That sounds an awful lot like a shape shifter or Werewolf,” Lacy said.
Rothik’s face hardened. “Please don’t ever call us either of those names. There are many of my people who would take that as an insult.”
Lacy held up her hands in apology. “Sorry,” she squeaked.
“I still don’t understand,” Aliana said.
“I’m both man and beast. The magic I was born with keeps a balance between the two halves and allows me to change into either form when I need to.”
Aliana studied him more closely, trying to figure out what kind of beast lived in him. She kept imaging him with a thick, golden nose ring and long horns like the Minotaur of Greek legend. “Is your beast a bull?”
Grinning, the Chimera nodded. Before the shock could set in, Merlin interrupted. “Rothik wanted to wait until you were back on your feet to share his news of the Grail.”
“And now that she is, here’s what I’ve been able to find out.” The man-bull frowned and added, “but you’re not going to like it. No one has seen the Grail since before Camelot fell. There have been rumors for centuries that it was in Avalon.” He looked at Galahad.
“It was stolen by a small Gargoyle,” Galahad said, his voice neutral, but Aliana could almost feel his anger and shame. Not liking that he was hurting, she stepped back, pressing her back to his chest. His hands came up to rest on her waist, his thumbs massaging little circles near her spine.
Rothik watched them with curious eyes but went on. “A century ago, an exiled Atlantian came to Olympus for sanctuary. He told us a legend about one of the remote tribes of his land and how they had a magical artifact that granted their people immortality.”
“Is this guy still in Olympus?” Aliana asked.
Rothik shook his shaggy head. “He left our sanctuary several decades ago.”
“Then we need to track him,” Lancelot said.
“Unless you can travel through time, you won’t find him.” Rothik’s deep voice made the statement ominous.
“What do you mean?” Arthur asked.
“He came to us because he has a magical ability that makes him unique.”
“Clear as mud,” Lacy muttered.
This time the Chimera smiled at her, his lips pulling back to reveal very large teeth. “This man has the ability to bend time. He can go almost anywhere in any time he chooses.”
“Was he certain about that legend?” Aliana asked, not letting this small defeat get her down.
“There are many items which can be said to grant immortality,” Merlin said. “Even if this Tribe does have the Grail, Atlantis is too large of a realm to search without some idea of where we need to go.”
“Did this Atlantian ever give any clue to its location?” Owen asked.
“He did not,” the Chimera answered regretfully.
“What do we do now?” Leo asked.
“Do you think Silzik would know?” Lacy suggested.
Dagg shook his angular head. “No. If he knew of the Grail’s location, he would’ve told us. He knows its importance to our quest.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t bring better news, my friend,” Rothik said to Merlin, clapping him on the shoulder.
“We appreciate what you did bring us,” the Druid said. “Aliana, we may have to try another summoning spell or possibly a tracking spell.”
She nodded, laying a hand over Galahad’s.
“I must return to Olympus soon, but there is another matter I need to discuss with you privately, Merlin,” Rothik said.
The two of them went back into the house. “Shouldn’t we be in on that?” Dawn asked, crossing her arms over her KEEP CALM AND CLICK YOUR HEELS shirt.
Lancelot shrugged. “We need to finish going over all that happened on the Isle.”
They all filed back inside, but as they gathered in the living room, Aliana caught sight of her bag next to the door and remembered the iron box and her dream. She needed to talk to Merlin and fast.
“Is everything all right?” Dagg asked quietly.
“Yeah,” she answered quickly. “I just need to talk to Merlin later.”
Within a few minutes, Merlin and Rothik reappeared.
“I wish I could stay longer,” Rothik said, smiling at Aliana. “But I must return home. When you need help, do not be afraid to call on Olympus. None of us want to see the witch and dark wizard conquer the realms.”
Arthur stood and shook Rothik’s hand in the manner of warriors—gripping each other’s forearms. Merlin led his friend out after a round of good-byes.
Settling between Galahad and Leo, Aliana kept glancing at the door while the others filled in Lancelot, Wade, and Dawn on all that had happened. Merlin soon returned and quickly caught up. Neither she nor Lacy had said a word about the secret room or the box. It was almost two hours later by the time the story was told and questions were answered. Aliana was ready to burst.
Sabine and Flora flew into the living room and announced dinner would be ready soon. Arthur and Lancelot stepped from the room with Dagg flying behind them while the other guys lounged on the couches, examining a map that was spread on the coffee table. Merlin retreated toward Aliana’s father’s office.
“Lacy, fill Dawn in on our little discovery,” Aliana said, keeping her eyes on him. “I’m going to ask Merlin about it. Make sure nobody follows us.”
“Lia?” Dawn asked as Aliana grabbed her pack.
“Let me explain,” she heard Lacy say.
Aliana saw Galahad glance her way as she left the room, so she gave him a smile as she followed the Druid. “Merlin,” she said when she caught up to him.
“Is something wrong?” he asked.
She shook her head but couldn’t help feeling that maybe he wasn’t all right. He looked like he hadn’t slept in weeks, and his skin was pale, seeming almost too tight over his face. “I found something in Camelot.”
“Why are you waiting until now to tell me?” The Druid’s expression morphed into one of confusion.
She glanced over her shoulder to be sure Galahad hadn’t followed her. “Lacy and I found a hidden room.” She licked her dry lips, hoping her next words wouldn’t upset him. “I think it was used by Morgana in secret, and we found this box…”
“What did it look like?” Merlin asked, his gray-blue eyes sharpening.
“I have it here.” She held up the bag. “Let’s go into my papa’s office and look at it.” They entered the room and shut the door. Aliana opened the bag with shaking hands. “Here.” She pu
lled the box out and handed it to the wide-eyed Druid.
“Impossible!” he said.
“You know what this is, then?”
He nodded solemnly. “This was created by a clan of black Dragons eons ago to store the most powerful kinds of magic known in all the realms.”
Aliana gasped. “How did Morgana get it?”
He shook his head, his fingers tracing the marks on the box. “Tell me everything.”
She did, including her dream and what she saw Morgana and the mystery woman putting inside. “In the dream, they left the box in the exact spot where we found it. Do you know who that woman was?”
“That was one of the high priestesses, most likely Viviane, Morgana’s mentor.”
Aliana rubbed her arms to suppress a shiver. “If those two hid something in there, should we try to get it?”
Merlin’s pale blue eyes followed the path of his fingers as he traced the carvings on the iron contraption. “We don’t know what else may be in there. This box was created to be indestructible. It has to be to contain such great power.” His already serious face hardened, his mouth pulling into a snarl. “Black Dragons are dangerously tricky bastards.”
A foreboding terror stole into her mind. “So you’re saying we should leave it alone.”
“No. I’m saying we’re going to have to be very, very careful. What’s inside could be too valuable to our quest to ignore.”
“Can you even open the box?”
“Perhaps.” Merlin set the artifact on the coffee table and lowered to the floor.
Aliana kneeled across from him and watched him hold his hands over the box like Morgana had. His orange rays of magic flared to life and encircled the box, bouncing off of it again and again until they finally penetrated the almost invisible seal. The top shook and slowly rose. Black smoke spilled out just like it had in the dream. Aliana saw the hidden paper and snatched it out. Her finger brushed against another object, but she felt Merlin’s magic straining, so she left it behind. The box snapped shut, and Merlin let out a wheezing breath, sweat coating his face.
Why was that so much harder for him than it was for Morgana? Aliana took in the shaking hands of her teacher and his grayish skin tone. “Are you okay?”