Pariah (The New Covenant Series)

by Bond, Casey L.

  The mixture of sweat and humidity slowly unrolled them as we trudged deeper into the forest, though I’d never seen the forest so thick before. The leaves were thick and green, the brush tall and riddled with briars. Long fibrous vines hung down from the evergreens, their hairy tendrils reaching out to cling to anything within reach.

  “Uh, Cain?”

  “Hmmmm?” He hacked through a patch of briars and brush, blocking our path.

  I stepped carefully to avoid another large briar bush. “Have you ever seen a forest like this? I mean, is it possible that we’re lost?”

  “No, this is pretty dense, but my plan is to make it up there.” He motioned to the top of a very opposing mountain that lay in the distance. “I think we could get our bearings and start toward civilization.”

  I handed him the small leather pouch of water, and he gulped some down, streams flowing down his chin and throat. I gulped some too before securing the pouch across my body and starting forward again.

  “Lara’s gone! She’s gone! She isn’t in the room. She isn’t at the beach. Martus hasn’t seen her. She’s gone!” Fist met table in fury.

  “What? What do you mean she’s gone? Did you check with

  Lil?” he asked, looking annoyed over the book he held in front of his nose.

  “Did you hear me, Faric? She is gone. Lil and Matthias haven’t seen her either. She’s gone. She left.” I sat in the chair opposite my twin and raked both hands through my hair.

  “She’s probably just walking or something. Maybe she wants to be alone. Just give her some time. She’ll be back before dinner, I bet.”

  “No,” I said dejectedly, my eyes feeling heavy with dread. “She won’t. She took her bag, some clothes, and her stuff. She’s not coming back.”

  Faric put the book down on a nearby table and leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. “Brother, it’s not like you’re really married. If she wants to go, let her. You know Athena wants you.” He shrugged and raised his brows at me.

  “You don’t understand,” I groaned.

  “Hey, you love the girl. I get it. But if she left you, she obviously doesn’t feel the same way, bro. Let her go. Maybe she just needs to figure out the whole chosen thing on her own you know?” he asked, tilting his head to one side.

  “She’s Ladybug,” I finally admitted, watching Faric’s eyes closely.

  He blinked hard and shook his head. “What are you talking about Riven? You aren’t making any sense.”

  “She. Is. Ladybug.” I paused on each word to make sure they sunk in to his thick skull.

  Faric’s face fell. “Ladybug? Does Annette know?” I nodded.

  “When were you going to tell me, Riven? Or were you?” he roared.

  Standing up, I roared, “Do you even care? Or are you still mad that she ‘took your mommy away from you.’ Do you get it now? Annette had to leave us. She knew. She knew from her birth that she was the chosen. Annette protected her until she could no longer do so. Solara only learned about everything before the introduction.” I shoved his chest, pushing him back out of my face.

  Faric cursed under his breath. “I get it. And I do care, Riven. I just don’t know how to fix it now. How do we find her?”

  Shaking my head, I admitted, “I don’t know, but we need to before Martus does. He’s pretty much lost it since I asked if he’d seen her. He’s definitely put two and two together. I’ve heard the guards gathering for the past hour. A search party will be dispatched soon if it hasn’t been sent out already. You know what he wants from her, right?”

  Exhaling, Faric nodded. I could see turmoil swirling inside my brother’s eyes. “What’s the plan?”

  He stood silent for a long time and then his head jerked up at me, a strange smile pulled on his lips, curling them in an evil smirk. Faric’s eyes flashed from deep teal to a strange green. I stumbled back, catching myself against the wall. Grinning maniacally, he answered, “We find the chosen, brother. Let’s go.”

  Faric secured Jacob’s boat to the small wooden dock. The wind and currents had been favorable, and we’d made it back much sooner than I had imagined possible. Thunderheads built overhead and lightning began to flash over the sea in the distance. Rumbles were barely audible, but I knew we were in for quite a storm. Matthias and Lillian ran up the path to Ruth and Jacob hand in hand. The two were becoming inseparable and annoying. They disgustingly enjoyed touching and giggling with one another despite Solara’s absence.

  I could think of nothing else. When she left, she’d taken a piece of my heart with her. I know she thought we were friends, but I wanted to be so much more. I’d told her that I had applied to marry her, but I didn’t think she had any idea how deep my affection for her ran.

  She’d really gotten under my skin. The kiss with the strawberry flirtation had been almost too much for me to handle. I could easily have lost control with her but somehow managed to restrain myself. I knew she’d never forgive herself or look at me the same if I helped her betray Wesley adulterously. Even though she’d been released of her marriage with his death, as Altair planned, I knew the feelings there were still tender and didn’t want to push her yet. I wanted to bide my time and slowly see if her feelings for me would become as intense as those I held for her.

  I enjoyed being her husband, even if we were only pretending. The feel of her long soft fingers intertwined with mine, of her plump bowtie lips touching mine gently, the smell of her hair— lavender and femininity. I had to constantly remind myself that we were only pretending. I had to guard my heart in case in the end she didn’t want me.

  Faric started toward me and Rebekah. His eyes hadn’t flashed crazy green again, but something in him had changed. When he realized who Solara was, that she was Ladybug, it was like an entire different side of him appeared. A side that I wished would remain hidden forever. Until that moment, my brother had never scared me. Afterward, he terrified me and what was worse,

  I terrified myself. We were twins. What if the evil that emerged in him was also lingering under the surface in me just waiting to be released?

  “Coming, brother?” Faric yelled back at me. He held Rebekah’s waist, and the two sauntered toward the house. She looked over her shoulder and winked at me. My skin crawled. I knew she wasn’t the sweet girl she’d been around Lara. She’d always been a manipulating witch. That’s why Faric loved her. I don’t know what he told Lara to get her to bargain for their union, but it had undoubtedly been a lie. They had been betrothed for a few years and knew a wedding would take place upon his return.

  The next morning’s light shone through the window, slapping me in the face. I dragged my hands down my face and stretched to wake up. Faric and Rebekah, who had camped out across the room from me were gone. Ruth came in from her bedroom.

  “Good morning,” she said. “Your brother was sure in a hurry to leave this morning. Jacob went down to see him off.”

  “What? Where’s he going?” I asked, my voice still hoarse from sleep.

  “He said he was going to find Solara. You didn’t know? I thought it was weird that you weren’t going, but he said you were staying with Athena.” She looked uneasily at me. “Rebekah went with him. They are taking Jacob’s boat back out. If you run, you may be able to reach them before they set sail.”

  I grabbed my shirt and shoes and took off running out the door. Jacob met me halfway down the trail. “Whoa. Your brother’s gone. They’re already out of sight.”

  “Where? Where were they going to look for her, Jacob?”

  He shrugged. “Not sure, just said he’d find her. I hope he can. I’m not sure where he’d even start though. How do you find someone who doesn’t want to be found?”

  “Yeah.” Maybe she didn’t want to be found. Maybe she was lost or hurt. I had to find her. I had to get to her before Faric. He was possessed or evil or something. I couldn’t forget how his eyes flashed and the arrogant malice held within their depths.

  “Aaaahhhhh!” I gasped for air. Sh
arp pain erupted in my back and shoulders. I grabbed my stomach and collapsed onto my knees. Jacob came to help me, but after I could only answer his questions with more pants and screams, he ran to get Annette and Ruth. The two women ran to me as fast as they could. Ruth’s stomach hit my back before she did. Another burst of pain ripped through me. Annette’s eyes grew wide and frantic.

  “Jacob, we need to get him inside. Now!” she yelled. Lillian and Rachel came running outside. Jacob grabbed me under the shoulders and Lillian, Rachel, and Annette grabbed my knees. Violent tremors tore through my body and cold sweat dotted my flesh.

  “What’s happening to me?” I gritted out between the torrents of pain.

  Annette ordered them to place me on my stomach and to get water and rags. She sent everyone outside to look for ginseng and some other herbs that I couldn’t hear over my screams. Shaking and sweating, I gripped the blanket on Jacob and Ruth’s bed, praying I wouldn’t tear holes through it.

  When everyone had gone outside on the hunt for healing herbs, Annette wetted some of the rags and dragged them over the back of my neck, shoulders, and back. “Shhhhh.”

  “Am I dying?” I shivered out.

  “No, you are in transition, Riven.” Aniya knelt beside my head and said in a calm steady voice.

  “T-transition? What are y-you t-talking about, Aniya?” I screamed through another bout of pain when I felt my skin tear open at the blades of my shoulders on both sides.

  “You’re one of the fallen, Riven. Do you know what that means?” She bent down to look at me in the eyes. I tried to open mine to meet hers, and then another portion of my back ripped open. She grabbed my hand and held it tight. Black dots swirled through my vision. I was going to black out. Maybe for the best. “N-no.” I shook out.

  “Riven, listen carefully to my words,” she said then leaned down to my ear. She started speaking in a melodic, beautiful language that I didn’t recognize at first. Then scenes from my entire life flashed through my life and not from only this one. I was in heaven. The Father stood beside me as we strolled around the shore of a glistening lake. My wings fluttered behind me. I had wings. I was an angel.

  Then I saw Lucifer, the most beautiful and charismatic of all of us, and he had his arm around me, whispering about how great earth was and that I should go with him, be independent, indulge in all the world had to offer. He said that the Creator loved humans more than he loved us, that he had given them everything and that we only need to travel to the Earth to get a taste of that glory for ourselves. The next scene was terrifying. I was falling—falling from heaven toward the earth. When I woke up, I had no wings. I was a baby. I saw Martus and my mother. She held me wrapped tight in a blanket. Martus held another squirming infant—Faric.

  I felt the sadness of when Father told us that Mother wasn’t coming back. Abandonment and anger filled me as he placed us on the ship to the kingdom. Apprehension upon meeting my new family, Annette and John. Happiness as John took us fishing, played ball with us. Joy at family dinners and holidays. Jealousy when Annette brought an infant girl home. Love as she grew bigger, and we tried to be big boys and play with her gently. She was so tiny and beautiful—Ladybug, Solara. Sadness and heartache when Annette left with Ladybug.

  Happiness as John told us he would be our guardian forever and that Annette would be visiting as she could. He explained she had been assigned an important job in the fortress and that one day we could visit her there. Boredom with school studies. Awkwardness with the village girls who wanted my attention. Sadness and determination as I decided to leave the kingdom once I reached the age of emancipation and headed off to discover myself. Fear and awe upon seeing the forbidden city. Amazement to see the treasures that I could pull from the ruins and exuberance as I began trading.

  Anger as I discovered my brother had been placed as a guard in the fortress. Relief as I captured him without a hitch and chained him in the cave, assuming his identity. Awe as I saw Solara for the first time. No woman I’d ever seen compared to her. Her beauty left me breathless. Nervousness as I ushered her to the introduction. Fear and anger as I pulled Altair from her there. Hope when I applied for her hand. Disappointment and grief when she was married to Wesley.

  Terror when Annette told me to get her out of the kingdom that she was the chosen and that the council would take her if they found out. Arousal when seeing her with Wesley that night out of her dress then back in the beautiful garment as she knelt to drink from her hands at the stream. Anger at myself when I snapped at her and told her to cover herself.

  Horror when the angels marked her. Helplessness when I rushed her to Maylon. Jealousy when she danced with Jonas. Amazement when she sang with me. Fright when I found Maylon dead and Solara gone. Frantic fear while searching for her. Anger when I found her with Faric, although thankful that she was unharmed. Happiness while introducing her to Jacob and Ruth. Amazement and arousal upon seeing her in a bikini at the beach actually carefree and enjoying herself. Anger at Athena’s sharp treatment of her. Disappointment that I let Athena touch me at all, despite needing a distraction from Solara. Sympathy as she vomited during the entire voyage to the seafarers.

  Anger when the guards pointed their spears at her. Joy when she agreed to pretend to be my wife. Awe with the dress she wore at Faric and Rebekah’s wedding. Disgust with how my father unabashedly made passes at her. Worry when I found her alone with him. Anger at myself for confronting her about it and making her run. Beside myself with anger and worry when I found that she’d packed her things and was nowhere to be found. Horror when Faric’s eyes changed, and he said we would get her back.

  I blinked, and light stung my eyes as I came back into myself. Annette was still seated on the bed beside me. Jacob had Ruth tucked behind him in the corner. Rafe, Athena and Aniya stood behind Annette. What had happened? I tried to push myself up but fell back down.

  “Easy there, buddy!” said Rafe with a chuckle. “Take it slow.”

  “What? What happened to me?” I groaned, trying to push myself up again. I was able to sit back on my knees this time. My head started to spin, and I was just glad I was near the mattress. Just in case.

  Annette looked at me wearily. “Did you recover any memories, Riven?”

  “What? Oh yeah. I remember everything. What happened?

  Why did I see all of that stuff? I turned to look back at Rafe and the girls but heard a loud clang behind me. I looked back, and a giant white wing had knocked some bowls off of a nearby table. Wait! What the? Wing? I felt a strange tugging and vibration on my shoulder blades and looked behind me. Sure enough, I had enormous white wings sticking out of my back. I looked slowly toward everyone. Ruth smiled sweetly, and sympathy pinched her lips together. Jacob grinned like the ornery guy he was. Annette smiled and nodded her head. Aniya looked down, and Athena smirked seductively toward me—nothing new there. Rafe smiled proudly.

  He clapped me on the middle of my back and said, “Welcome back to yourself, brother! We’ve been awaiting your awakening. You have transitioned!”

  I glanced back again and fluttered my wings a bit. It gave me cold chills. It was such a foreign feeling but also felt right somehow. Annette moved, and Rafe helped me up and guided me outside slowly. The others followed.

  “Okay,” he said. “Let’s teach you how to use these things, and then we’ll go find your girl. Hopefully, Faric hasn’t transitioned yet.” Faric? Faric is an angel too? Are my eyes crazy?

  “Hey,” I grabbed Aniya’s wrist. She looked startled. “What color are my eyes? Are they freaky green or yellow or something?” I opened them as wide as I could.

  She leaned toward me and whispered, “They are unchanged, Riven. You are not like your brother. You fell to earth. He fell all the way into hell. That’s why his eyes are different from your own. But if you have seen his eyes, then his transition isn’t far off. We need to hurry. Listen to Rafe. He’s the best flyer we have.” She winked and pushed me forward.

  I nodded. I needed
to learn, excel, and find Solara before Faric transitions. Piece of cake, right?

  I collapsed at the top of the hill that Cain had all but dragged me up. It was a serious mountain with cracks, crevices, loose nightmarish rocks, and snakes as I unfortunately learned after hearing a creepy rattling noise. Luckily, Cain heard it too and knew what it was and jerked me away before the stupid sucker could strike. He collapsed beside me, and we passed the water pouch back and forth and worked on catching our breath.

  I lay on my back with my knees in the air for the longest time. It felt good to have solid earth under me again, and I didn’t even want to think about descending this God-awful rock. Cain stood and began to search the valleys below for signs of life. He squinted and covered his eyes with his hand. “Hey, Lara. Come here.”

  I groaned and made my muscles push me off the rock. My legs were vibrating with exhaustion. I took a few steps and stood beside him, squinting in the direction that he was looking. “Is that smoke?” I asked. I thought I could see a few plumes of smoke coming from the valley floor just below us. It was a long way down though. I grew dizzy even by just looking down this direction.

  The mountain had lost part of its former self, and nothing but a sharp sheer drop off menacingly stood under our feet. I backed up a bit. Cain caught sight and started laughing. I rolled my eyes and stepped back even more.

  “Well, we can’t go down this way, so…” He searched the other sides of the mountain and found a more suitable path down, or so he thought. I prayed he was right. I had grown fond of my unbroken extremities. He had made it clear during the climb up that he wouldn’t leave to go home until I was safe somewhere. He was nice and actually had a dry sense of humor. Sarcasm suited him. For his friendship and assistance, I was grateful. Deep down, I think he appreciated having a friend to talk with as well.

  We made it to the bottom of the mountain and were curving around its base when we saw the first man-made structure. It looked like a rustic cottage made of river rock and wood with a wooden planked roof. Smoke rose from its chimney, curling seductively into the sky. A small boy of five or six years old came running around the back of the house but froze when he saw us.