by Regan Claire
“Sorry about that. My cousin hasn’t been properly trained yet,” I said while trying to hold my chuckles in.
“Shut up.” He elbowed me in the ribs.
“Why don’t I grab you both a drink, before you maim each other,” Derek offered, laughing lightly at our immaturity. I’m glad someone thought it was funny.
“Great idea, Derek.” My uncle had been, apparently, standing right next to us. “Better yet, Cash, why don’t you come with me so we can grab some food. Maybe if your mouths are full you might be civil to each other for once. Derek, would you like anything other than a drink?”
“No, thank you. Charles,” Derek motioned to someone on his right who was speaking with another group, “Please help the Dux and his son with their plates.” With a bow-like nod to Derek, the man immediately left his group to follow Connor and Cash. Derek’s familiar manner with Cash and me had let it slip my mind that he was a powerful man and leader of powerful people. Charles’ obedience forcibly reminded me of Derek’s status.
“Della, I’m glad that I have you alone for a few moments. I have a request of you while you remain here,” he paused, looking at me as if requesting my approval to continue.
“Shoot,” I said. Derek raised his brows in question, not understanding for a brief moment. Guess I should have said something a little more sophisticated.
“There are those among us who are unhappy with your presence here. I would like for you to remain in the company of your own family, or of my own, for the rest of your visit here. For your own protection, of course.” Derek said to me with a voice laced with command.
“Why do I need protection? I can handle people griping about my presence, it doesn’t hurt my feelings.” I didn’t want to say I was used to it.
Derek lazily looked around, making me feel as if he were avoiding eye contact. He took a step closer, and with a lowered voice he said, “Though the council has not told anyone, our people suspect your rather unique abilities are the result of your rather unique parentage. It is the greatest taboo our people have, and if your mother’s condition had been discovered before your birth, you would not be standing here now.” He took a moment to look me in the eyes, and I realized he hadn’t been avoiding eye contact with me, he’d been searching the crowd for eavesdroppers. “Some feel that it is not too late to correct the issue.”
The weight of his words sank into the pit of my stomach. Gulp. “Why is it so bad? I haven’t done anything wrong!” I could hear my heart pumping loudly in my ears as anger and fear fueled my words.
“Be calm, Della. I’m not telling you this to make you afraid. Our people have feared what a union could mean. The powers in your family are the counterpart to our own. A person who has all of the powers of both peoples, someone who can control all five elements, is a person of terrifying strength.” His eyes bored into my face, making sure that I was fully understanding his words. “My people have seen how power can corrupt. The ranks of the Clades are made of loved ones who have succumbed to it. That is where their fears lie. Some are saying that your sire must be Clade, and that your conception was intentional.”
“Even if that’s true, that doesn’t mean that I’m going to be bad! I mean, I make my own choices, I shouldn’t be judged on what my father did! We don’t even know who my father is! It’s not fair to just assume the worst.” At my raised voice, Derek’s eyes darted around again, and he stepped closer so that he could be heard.
“It is not fair, but while some of our people continue to choose a path of darkness, none of the born-Clades have ever turned to the light. The taint is bred into the child if its parents are already infected at its birth.” He was speaking more quickly now, and more softly than ever. “There is no taint in your blood, though. They are insulting Gabby’s memory by even suggesting such a thing. I wish… Just know that none will harm you here, without offering my Family offense. Just be careful.” He looked behind me and I turned to see Cash and Connor returning with hands full of food. The arena had also somehow filled with tables while we were talking. “I wish we had more time.”
I whipped my head around and opened my mouth to ask his meaning, but was interrupted by his jovial greeting to my family.
“Ah, I see that you found the spanakopita. A personal favorite of mine,” Derek said as they walked closer.
Cash handed me a plate and a beautifully blown glass full of a lightly glowing drink. I floundered for a moment, having no idea how to hold both things and eat at the same time. Derek noticed our hesitation and grew a round stone table from the earth. It was shiny black with lines of silver and red spread through it, and was surrounded by enough chairs for us all to sit, plus a couple of extras.
“That is awesome! How’d you do that?” Cash asked.
“It’s simple. I believe that you can use your abilities to bend a chair into place. It is not quite the same as what I just did but the land here is accustomed to shaping itself to the needs of people. Try it,” Derek told him, making one of the chairs sink back into the earth so that Cash would have room to create his own.
While Cash tried his hand at creating a chair, I sat in mine with the intention of eating. The chair looked like a stone that matched the table, but the top of the chair was soft and molded itself to my shape. The next several minutes I kept my mouth full, hardly laughing at the lumpy stool that Cash proudly made, and focused on what Derek had said during our conversation.
Despite the fact that there was a faction of people who possibly wanted me dead, I was comforted by Derek’s support and staunch belief in my mother’s loyalty. Of course, the question of who my father really was would not leave my mind and I promised myself a trip to the safety deposit box the next day to take a look at the letter and picture that had come with my armlet.
After my plate was finally cleared of food, I looked up and took a drink from my glass. Moonlight exploded on my tongue, and I felt its coolness travel down my throat and settle in my stomach. My eyes widened in delight.
“Della, be careful with the ambrose, it has intoxicating qualities. This batch is especially potent. It is a celebration, after all,” Derek said as he raised his own glass to me before taking a drink.
“I want what she’s having then. My glass just has water in it,” Cash complained, eyeing my cup as if he were planning the best way to steal it.
“You already are drinking the same thing. I’m afraid the effects can only be felt by Elfennol.” Derek’s mouth quirked to the side.
“I never knew that.” My uncle eyed his own glass skeptically and took a sip. “It tastes like spring water. Just like always.”
“We infuse the water with energy. Since it’s spirit energy, I’m not surprised that you haven’t been able to tell,” Derek told us.
“Cool. So, what does it taste like?” Cash asked, curiosity thick in his voice.
“It depends on where the energy comes from. This particular brew has been made with some lunar energy as its main contributor. I’m sure there are other things that went into it, but the recipes are closely guarded secrets. My own favorite is a brew from orange trees. Very refreshing.” He leaned back in his chair.
“But it will still just taste like water to us?” Cash’s mouth was frowning a little in confusion. Derek nodded his head in affirmation, then Cash continued, “So, if you infuse it with Spirit energy, could we make something similar with our elements?”
“No, I’m afraid not. Being able to take energy and put it elsewhere without using it ourselves is something that only Elfennol can do. But perhaps Della would be able to make something with all the elements.” Derek’s brow was furrowed, thinking of the possibility.
“What would it do? If she could, I mean.” Connor leaned forward.
“Well, if she were successful, the drink could give you a jump of energy. You wouldn’t have to Gather for it. I’m not sure if she would have to use individual elements for it to be useful in any sort of battle. I’m not sure how practical it would be for you since you ca
n store so little and can Gather so quickly. We use ours on long journeys, and to help with healing, since our life forces are so tied with our energy levels. It would, at the very least, be an interesting experiment.” Cash, Connor, and Derek continued with the conversation of my possibly mutated abilities for the next few hours, until, finally, I excused myself for bed.
“Della, let me escort you back to your room.” Derek started to stand from the table, but was stopped by the arrival of Toby at my side.
“No need, Derek. I can take her back, at least as far as the entrance.” Toby put his hand on my shoulder in what probably looked like an affectionate manner. I fought the urge not to shake him off, nodded my head to Derek when he asked if I remembered the way to my room and walked side-by-side with Toby until we were out of sight from all observers.
“I’m sure I’ll be fine from here.” I remembered what Derek had said about my safety, but there was no one in sight and I was reluctant to spend more time with Toby.
“I’m sure you would be, but I need to talk to you first.” He didn’t turn to look at me as he spoke. “Your father isn’t a Clade, Della. But that doesn’t make your presence here any less dangerous.”
“I know, Derek told me all about it.” I was surprised that he was going to warn me.
“Derek told you?” Toby briefly stopped his walk, and raised his eyebrows in surprise, then continued. “Then you know why it was better for you to be raised with the humans. It’s far too dangerous here for you and Gabby knew that. I still can’t fathom what she was thinking, being with him, but what’s done is done. Now it’s too late for you to run. They already know about you and I suspect they’d track you down if you tried to leave-“
“Wait, you knew? Knew that my father was an Elfennol when my mother ran away? That’s why she left, to protect me?”
“Of course. Who do you think helped her leave? I was trying to save her. The council can be very severe. Derek must have done some very quick talking to grant as much leniency as you’ve had. That was probably his doing, convincing them to call forth your father in two weeks. Makes the fault lay with him instead of you.” We arrived at the entrance just then, and I turned to look at him, speechless. Sure there were tons of questions I wanted to ask him, but they were all jumbled in my mouth and before I could get my act together, Alexander came up from behind us.
“Derek asked me to make sure you didn’t lose your way. Toby, do you need assistance back to your quarters?” Alex asked in his stiff manner.
“No, I’m going to head back to the party. There is something I need to discuss with my son. Della, sleep well.” I watched as my grandfather walked away, finally turning to see Alex waiting for me inside the open door.
“Thanks, Alex, but I remember the way,” I told him as I walked into the door.
“I’m sure, Duxa.”
We walked with nothing but the sound of our padded footsteps filling the hallways. If he already knew that I could find my own way, why was Alexander following me? Did Derek really send him to help, or were his intentions less than honorable? To be cautious, I started to build up my Shield, wishing that I had eyes in the back of my head to see Alex behind me.
“Duxa,” he said “I’m not going to harm you.” I guess he noticed my Shield growing.
“Oh, uh, I know. I was just-“
“Shielding yourself so much I could hardly see your aura.” He said, cutting off my denial. “No one in the Leoht family will do you any harm. We are committed to our Lord, and he to his oath to your family. I don’t fault you for being careful, however I was merely following my own orders to ensure your safety.”
We reached my door, and to be honest I was glad that he had come since I walked right past it and would have spent several useless minutes trying to get into the room next to my own if he hadn’t stopped in front the correct one.
I let myself in, took another glorious shower, and slipped into the nightdress that was now on the dresser. I looked uneasily at the bed, wondering how I was supposed to get in since it was waist-high and hanging from the ceiling. Remembering the stool, chairs, and tables that the Elfennol seemed to grow from the ground, I took moment to try my hand and make a step-stool for myself and was pleased to find that it took the barest concentration to create the steps. They matched the table and chairs that Derek had made earlier, black with silver veining, and I wondered if you could specify the materials you wanted. I was too tired to play around though, and crawled into the oval shaped cocoon, amazed when the thinly laced vines closed themselves behind me.
It was the first night that I didn’t have Llewellyn’s diary to read myself to sleep, but it was just as well because the last few pages were torn out and I was almost at the end. My last memory was of the lights dimming down to darkness, and I slept peacefully until the morning.
CHAPTER TWENTYTHREE
August 1st, 1969
Dear Journal,
My visions are coming more frequently, without consciously using my powers to see. My subconscious knows that something huge is coming on the horizon, something that will change everything. So far the images are broken and senseless, but like a jigsaw puzzle I’m beginning to see how they fit together.
We left early the morning after the testing, staying only long enough to make a breakfast of some really crusty bread and delicious soft cheese. I continued to keep my distance from Toby that day, glad of our inability to speak on the trip back home. I wanted to hate him, but it took too much energy to do that, so I made a promise to myself to try and keep an open mind when it came to him. I wasn’t ready to forgive him, I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready to forgive him, but I’d be more civil in his presence. Maybe.
The morning of the memorial was also my last morning staying with Connor and Ellis. It was a strange feeling. All of my things were already at the new house, except for one small bag, and Ellis kept wiping her eyes with a tissue because her “baby boy” was moving out.
Cash had picked the room across from my own at the house, and we had spent the previous day unpacking and talking, telling Dove about the Testing. Luke had spent our day away by completing the floors and recruiting Dove to help move most of the furniture back in.
Ellis, the saint, had gone to the store and brought back a carload full of “necessities”, which were mostly groceries. I don’t know how she found the time to do it, what with all the last minute preparations for my mother’s memorial service, but I was thankful she did. My cash supply was dangerously low, and I intended on having a word with Luke about picking up more shifts at the store ASAP.
I borrowed Cash’s Jeep that morning to get to the bank. I would have gone the day before but had gotten caught up in all the unpacking and preparations. My key was around my neck, my armlet was easily visible, and I was already wearing the black wrap dress and ballerina shoes that I had bought for the memorial. When the bank teller brought me the box, it seemed to look different, as if the metal were shinier or glowing slightly. It was something that I’d noticed more and more often, as if I were Tempering Fire when I wasn’t. Maybe it had something to do with my Elfennol abilities coming through. I’d been too self-conscious to ask anyone while I was at their base, too afraid to bring up my mixed heritage the morning before we left.
I took my key from around my neck and unlocked the box. The faint glow seemed to flare for just a moment when the lock clicked, and my gaze immediately fell on the velvet bag that held the letter and picture of my possible father. I held it in my hands for a few minutes, rubbing my thumbs across the smooth texture of the velvet bag. I reached two fingers into the bag and grabbed hold of the paper inside, but I lost my nerve. After putting the small bag inside my purse with a promise to look at its contents later, I couldn’t resist the sparkle in the box and picked out a pair of ruby drop-earrings from the pile of jewelry to wear.
The bank teller took the deposit box to return it to its special slot, and I left the bank. I was meeting everyone at the restaurant where my mother’s memo
rial service was, and when I pulled into the parking lot of the Black Pelican a few minutes later I took a few deep, calming breaths. This day had crept up way too quickly for my liking, and I had to prepare myself for an onslaught of distant relatives, awkward questions, and sympathy hugs. Oh, dreaded hugs. I was just about to grab hold of the door handle and let myself out when I nearly had a heart attack.
“Della, you okay in there?” Dove’s eyes peered in at me, knuckles still against the window; it had been their rapping that had caused my cardiac arrest.
I let myself out of the Jeep before answering. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just, you know…” I took a shuddering breath “I’m just nervous, I think. What are you doing here?”
“Thought you might need the moral support. Mom’s already inside helping set up; being her ride gave me an excuse to come early.” A small-smile graced his lips. “Why are you nervous?”
“I don’t know. Because of all the people who are supposed to be here, I guess.” That was the most that I was willing to admit and I started walking towards the restaurant.
“Oh. Well, nothing to be nervous about. Everyone is here to pay respect to your mom, and to remember her. This is the perfect opportunity to get to know her. That’s what you’ve been planning to do, right? Find out who she was?” He was walking backwards in front of me so that we were facing each other while talking. It was distracting.
“You’re right. Though I think I’d feel weird asking people about my mother. I mean, I should already know her! She’s my mom, after all.”
“I have the feeling that people will be telling you about her, whether you ask them to or not. Don’t worry. I’ll come in and rescue you if you get too scared. You look amazing, by the way.” He winked at me.
With all the feelings running through my mind at that time, having my heart flutter at a wink and an offhand compliment was… ridiculous. Yes, ridiculous. As if flirting with an admittedly sexy boy was just as important to my emotional brain as my dead mother and my non-human father. Yeesh, hormones.