by Hayley Todd
He peered at me, catching me watching him. He grinned in a way that reminded me of Anton’s playful arrogance. “See something you like?” he asked, with a laugh.
I knew my cheeks had blossomed with red by the heat in them. “N-no...I mean, there’s nothing wrong with you...I mean…” I stumbled over my words, trying to shove them into coherence and clarity. I paused, took a deep breath, then tried again. “I wasn’t...I mean...where do you get those knives from?” I finished the phrase in a rush, forcing down my embarrassment. I got these kinds of comments from Anton daily. Why did it bother me so much from a stranger?
Eolis bellowed a joyful laugh, opening a line of buttons across the front of his shirt. I hadn’t realized that the pocket opened before as it ran flush against the fabric. Within the pocket, he revealed a strap riddled with slim silver blades. Behind the first, was a second, adorned with blades as well, then a third, and a fourth. His pocket might as well have been one large piece of metal.
“You’re pretty handy with them,” I said, drawing my eyes away from his chest as he tucked the pocket closed again. I hadn’t watched all of what he had done, but his quick flicks resulted in half a dozen deaths before the fight had really begun.
He paused, fingering the outside of the pocket for a moment. “It’s...taken a lot of practice. They seem pretty adept at taking down wolves.” He grinned, as though those wolves hadn’t nearly taken a bite out of us both.
Suddenly, he pressed his hand against my chest, stopping me in my tracks and reaching a hand out before us. His other palm pressed against the open air, a bright blue bubble lining the area around his hand. He turned and looked at me, but chanted, his hand glowing with a pale yellow light. The blue pressing against his palm severed, his hand pushing through it.
He stepped past the invisible barrier, into more of the same woods. I hesitated, looking around the shield curiously, distrustfully, before stepping after him. It felt like walking through gelatin for just one solid moment. Like hitting a wall that allowed you to press through after checking you out first. And then, I emerged before the other trees with him.
It was odd, if not for him stopping, I wasn’t sure I would have noticed the barrier. I cocked my head to the side, gazing curiously at him.
He peered back at the hole as it sealed closed, little by little, folding in on itself until there was no longer anything indicating it had ever been there.
“What was that?” I asked him, glaring into the invisible field, struggling to see anything that may indicate the wall’s presence.
Eolis stepped forward, pressing his hand through where the spot had been. Nothing happened. His hand plummeted through empty air. “We’re...not from around here,” he said cryptically, gazing over his shoulder at me.
I paused, waiting for him to expound on that statement. He didn’t. “What does that mean?” I implored, growing impatient at always being left in the dark. Eolis’ icy blue eyes peered at me from the darkness. He pushed a lock of hair behind his ear, exposing its tapered edge.
“If you hadn’t noticed,” he said, gesturing to the side of his head, “we aren’t exactly human.”
I nodded. “I’ve noticed.”
He nodded in return, as if accepting that he could move forward then. “We are elves, Babui Aka, Mailene, Akalya, and myself. We are from a different land. There are layered dimensions above and below your own. Many supernatural creatures are not from this world, at least not originally.”
I watched him, eyes wide. He pulled his hair from behind his ear again, covering the abnormality. Other than those ears, everything about him appeared completely normal. “I’ll let you in on a little secret,” he said, mischievously, darting his eyes about as though looking for eavesdroppers in the empty forest. “We have a symbol--all elves--that humans can’t see. Even vampires have to force it to expose itself.”
He thrust out his hand, jutting it beneath my own, urging me to grab him. After a confused moment, I wrapped my palms around it. “Do your magick thing and give me a tiny--tiny--shock.”
I did as bid, gathering power into my chest and urging it ever so gently down to my hand. As the sparkles of electricity danced across his skin, blue tattoos appeared across his skin. They decorated him in a way that was both part of him, and equally completely alien. He had swirling arcs that spun over his neck, down his shirt, peeked out from beneath his sleeves, down his arms and hands, and coalesced into a pattern on his face. One triangle stood out beneath his eyes across his cheek, like a blue scar.
I lurched back from him, something in those splashes of ink startling me. He pulled his hand away slowly, not looking bothered by my reaction. “What are those?” I asked, staring as the blue lines faded from view.
He shrugged, staring down at the backs of his hands where I could no longer see the stain of blue across his skin. “We all have them. And unlike you, it doesn’t take magick for us to see them. Akalya’s consist of a nearly closed horseshoe shape with a dot in the middle. Mailene’s are more purple than blue and have a lot of sharp edges. Mine are all swirls and loops. It is just how we appear,” he finished, dropping his hands back to his sides.
“Okay,” I said, dragging the word out while I thought about this. So they really were different than humans, even if I didn’t exactly know how. “So, what’s with the force field? And where did it go?”
Eolis chuckled. “Not a force field so much, as a portal,” he explained without much explanation.
“A portal?”
He nodded. “The village you were in, it is not of this earth. That was a microscopic taste of the planet that we hail from. It is equally Earth and not at all your Earth at the same time. It’s...another realm. We aren’t technologically advanced but our non-human creatures don’t hide in the shadows either. Sometimes that’s a good thing, sometimes not so much.”
“What about the wolves?” I asked. They had been following us since the car had been wrecked. Or someone had anyway.
“They exist in our world, as much as yours,” he said. “That particular pack seemed to be drawn to you though. They may have crossed over on their own. Or with a witch.”
I stared around the forest, not seeing the trees before me but puzzling through my own thoughts. It made more sense now that the village had consisted of ancient looking huts instead of large buildings or homes. It had seemed like a temporary residence, like the circus coming to town, but I wondered now if that wasn’t their permanent home.
“So, some things can cross realms?” I asked, pulling that tidbit from the conversation.
He nodded. “Witches usually can, though the spell it requires takes a lot out of a person. Werewolves can because they are from both places. Vampires...usually need assistance, though I wouldn’t be surprised to find that your magick could allow you there.”
“So, why take us there?” I asked him, thinking over the events of the night. I had to push some of those thoughts away when Carson crossed my mind and bitter agony seared my chest for a moment.
Eolis shrugged, fishing around in his pocket. “There had been way too much of our world touching yours to be purely coincidental. I was patrolling the barrier when I found you. I...got a feeling,” he said shivering, “I knew that you were supposed to be there. Though, I’m sorry about your friend.”
His eyes traced the forest floor. It was nearly comical how he avoided my eyes.
“And, I found something,” he said suddenly, diving his hand back into his pocket. “I’m...not sure why, but I believe that it is yours....or that you’re supposed to have it anyway,” he said pulling it free.
He lifted a medium length silver chain that shone in the moonlight into the air. At its base, attached by an extravagant setting, was a large blue tear dropped gemstone. Something hit me, smashing across my consciousness as I settled my eyes on the gem. It was familiar, so, so familiar. But I had never seen it before in my life.
I hadn’t noticed myself lifting my palm until he eased the gem and chain into it. I cl
osed my fingers around it, the stone cold against my skin.
“Don’t lose it,” Eolis commanded and I stuffed it as deeply into the inner pocket of Carson’s coat as I could, sealing the pocket closed with a quick flick of my fingers.
“Now,” Eolis said, grabbing my hand and leading me forward through the trees. “Let’s get you home.”
Chapter Seventeen
We walked through the forest for what felt like hours. We eventually lapsed into silence as I had plenty to occupy my mind. I shied away from that dark box in my mind that was eclipsed with pain. But, Eolis had expanded my mental horizons. I don’t know that I had expected all of the supernaturals in existence to dwell in the same world--realm as he phrased it--but I surely hadn’t considered that Earth may be overlaid with a dozen other versions of it, inhabited by entirely different creatures.
Eolis made for fine company. He was playful and silly, which helped to keep my mind off of the more bitter things that I wasn’t ready to confront. It did remind me of Anton though, which had the lid of the box shaking and shivering in my mind, ready to explode.
No. It wasn’t time yet.
Eolis helped me cross more treacherous parts of our journey, the path seeming familiar to him. He had explained that he was taking me to my father’s. He had given the reasons as safety in numbers and that he had heard of Damien’s might but I was secretly just glad that he wasn’t going to leave me alone.
I hadn’t been away from Carson for long, but already I ached for him. Maybe it only hurt so bad because I knew that I was traipsing back to my normal life and he wouldn’t be there waiting. When that line of thought became painful, I geared myself more toward my anger, my hatred, of that evil woman that I had hoped I was rid of, as much as I didn’t want to be the cause of her death.
I had no idea how Valeria had survived the breaking of the imprint that Henrick had done. The only reason that Carson, myself, and Anton had survived was because of Anton’s ability to create an imprint. An imprint was a mystical bond between two people’s souls. It was rare and powerful and wonderful. And imprinting on two people was entirely unheard of. Anton, as an empath, possessed the ability to touch, alter, and even break imprints.
At Henrick’s urging, he had imprinted me before my life had spun into this supernatural world that I had landed in. Before he had gotten to know me, or Carson, Henrick had convinced him to claim his bride. Anton had obeyed, imprinting on me forcibly. But, then he had felt me. He had felt who I was and what I believed and he had decided that he simply couldn’t take all of that away from me. He had been tasked with imprinting me back on himself as well, but he had refused.
It was the first of many actions that had led him to turn against his father altogether. It was the first of all of his decisions that had made him one of my best friends.
Imprints were somewhat understood, but by far, not completely. Henrick had pushed against our imprint, not caring that his son would be killed in the process. He cared for Anton that little. It saddened me for Anton.
He had intended to break it, allowing me to live, but killing anyone attached to me, and then attached to them. Carson and I had imprinted each other naturally, loving one another from the start. It wasn’t until far later that we discovered Anton’s imprint, but it had been there too. He had felt Carson and I--drawn to one another--connect, which he had told me later. Valeria too, had been part of the mess. Hundreds of years ago, Valeria had imprinted Carson, though he had not returned the bond. She had actually worked with Henrick to sever us, though letting Carson live had never been part of Henrick’s plan.
The imprint ran off of our very lives. It was powered by the relationships between us, making Valeria’s the weakest of them all. The bond relied on each of us and if shattered, would kill anyone and everyone that was attached to the people involved. The breaking would’ve shattered both Carson and Anton, and by extension, Valeria.
The only reason we had survived had been because Anton had forced mutual imprints between all three of us. Where I had only imprinted on Carson, and Carson only I, now Anton and I shared that bond as well. Valeria, however, was only imprinted on Carson, making none of us truly feel her like we felt each other. But the moment when the bond had been broken, she should have died. Hell, even with Anton’s influence, we had still nearly died.
I had to wonder if her imprint had somehow never been broken. How had she survived? Why was she in the village? Why had she come back? And what was she planning to do to Carson?
I fingered the necklace in my pocket as we walked, wishing that I knew what he was doing now. I missed him so thoroughly. Misery ached in my chest, pulsing upon my very organs. I lifted the silver chain out, watching the sapphire gem as it spun in its setting.
The jewel reflected the moonlight, casting shimmering glimmers across the trees. I dripped the amulet into my open palm and an excited thrill shot through me. It felt as though every nerve were alight, electrifying me with sensation. My vision went black but I didn’t feel as though I were asleep. I still had an eerie sense of the forest around me, but I saw and heard nothing.
Except the man on his knees before me, shaking. He peered up, his heavy green eyes staring at me. He ran a hand through his hair with a sigh.
“Carson?” I called, stepping nearer to him with outstretched fingers. My skin brushed a strand of hair, making my body feel as though it were on fire. It was like the sensation was too much for me like this.
He leapt up, crashing into me, heavily muscled, warm arms wrapped around my frame. He buried his face in my hair, breathing deeply. He ran a hand down the back of my head, over and over, as though trying to draw comfort from it. He didn’t even notice how manic the gesture was.
“Oh, my Kyra, my beautiful Kyra,” he moaned, as though speaking to himself. He pulled away, staring into my eyes with such passion that it hurt to behold it.
I covered one of his hands with my palm. “Carson, I am here,” I said, trying desperately to draw his attention.
It seemed to work. His blazing green eyes whipped to mine, staring hard as though confused. “Kyra?” He asked.
Was he expecting someone else?
He held me at an arm's length, looking me up and down suspiciously.
I looked down. I wasn’t me. Or I was? I flickered in and out of focus. Slipping into someone who...looked an awful lot like Valeria. I wore a thin black nighty, leaning over Carson, laying on a bed. His eyes were wide and staring, blankly blinking at the canopy above.
Valeria has her fingers pressed to his—no, my—forehead, a purple glow appearing on his skin. Her face was contorted with concentration. She opened her eyes wider, glancing into mine as though she hadn’t been staring there all along.
She froze, her entire body rigid. Then she darted away, to the side of the room. She rounded the room to a cheap looking dresser with fake wooden sides. Above it hung a television.
I could faintly see a cheesy comforter beneath my back and hanging lamps lined the bed. Off to the side, I could just barely see a full-length mirror, reflecting light from what appeared to be a bathroom.
Valeria rooted around in a small satchel that shed fished from the dresser. She dug through it furiously, apparently not finding what she was looking for, since she upended the entire bag, splashing its contents into the dresser’s top.
She passed over the items more furiously, picking some up and hurling them across the room. She whipped back to me, a snarl on her face.
“No!” She hissed, leaning down and glaring into my—no, Carson’s?—eyes. “No! You won’t ruin it again!” She screamed, thrusting her hand toward my face.
It felt like I’d been dealt a physical blow, slamming backwards until I came face to face with Carson again. My chest ached, a throb pulsing within me. I clutched at my chest and he wasted no time throwing his arms around me.
He rubbed my back, whispering hushed apologies. It took me a long moment before I could shove away the distraction of his warmth.
I peered up at him, his green eyes calm now. “Carson, what is happening?” I asked him, having to force the words out past the lump in my throat.
He pressed a palm to my cheek and for a moment, I felt terror fill me at the soulful look in his eye. Would he not speak to me? Then, my pain eased as he said, “Valeria is trying to break me. She wants to make me her thrall and she has the power to do it.”
I breathed a pointless sigh of relief before gazing up at him again. “What can I do?” I asked, the words a strangled sob.
The entire world shook, the blackness cracking, letting through rays of light like a broken window. Carson clutched my shoulders so hard that it hurt, his fingertips digging into my skin.
“Tell Damien everything that happened. Everything,” he hissed, his voice a rush. “Tell him everything about Sage. All of it.”
I gazed up at him, pulling him to me and pressing my cheek into his chest. His warmth was all-consuming, a shield from the oncoming pain.
The world shook faster, more light pouring in.
“Carson, I love you,” I gasped.
He grinned, that microscopic smile that changed his entire face, shining from him. “I love you too, Kyra,” he said, his voice smooth as silk and sweet as honey.
He had only just pressed his fingers to my face when the image shattered and I was blinded by light.
Chapter Eighteen
I came back to myself in a rush, lurching forward and jostling myself within someone’s arms. I hesitated looking up, hoping far too strongly that it was Carson who held me, and knowing far too assuredly that it was not.
I peered upwards to find Eolis carrying me. He glanced down at me as my eyes widened. I pressed my palm against his chest and he stopped, lowering one arm to allow my feet to reach the ground.