“Who are you?” I asked again.
"A friend who wants to help you find closure." The air around her began to shimmer. "Oh, and you need not worry. Everything will work out. Art is yours, he just doesn't know it yet." She winked at me, and the next second she disappeared, vanishing into thin air.
I sat up on the bed confused, what the hell had just happened?
Taking a deep breath, I stood and walked to the washbasin. I splashed cold water on my face to help me wake up and walked out of the hut.
* * *
I knocked on Cyn's door and stepped back to wait for him to answer. I felt so weird actually knocking on a door when I had been barging into people's homes since I got here. I silently chuckled and smiled the moment the door opened.
“See? I can behave like a decent hum…” My words cut off, and my smile died. Art was standing on the other side of the door.
“Are you alright?” Was the first thing out of his mouth when he saw me.
I crossed my arms over my chest, looking straight into his eyes. "I should be the one asking you that. You disappeared without even having the decency of letting me know you wouldn't spend the night at home. Yet, here you are, perfectly fine. I guess I worried over nothing." His expression instantly changed. Regret filled his eyes. I finished him. "Maybe I should do the same to you, and see how you like it. Cathair keeps asking me to stay the night with him. I might just take him up on his offer and forget to tell you about it."
I pushed him aside; walking right past him and into Cyn’s hut, but not before noticing the red flames igniting in his eyes at my remark. Oh, he didn’t like that, did he? Good.
“Hi, Cyn,” I said kissing his cheek. He repressed a smile looking at his brother as the door banged against the frame.
“Briana is not here right now, I’m afraid,” he said, but his eyes never left Art who planted himself beside me.
“Oh, it’s ok. I was looking for you actually.”
“You were?” They both asked in unison.
“Yes, Cyn.” I enunciated his name so a certain someone would realize I wasn’t talking to his butt. “I came to ask you for a favor.”
“Anything you need,” he answered, amused by my behavior.
“Um, I was wondering if you would take me to the cave to see Felix.”
“What??” Art exclaimed as Cyn’s gaze became troubled.
I ignored Art. “I have been working really hard in trying to heal from what happened to me.” I swallowed and took a deep breath, forcing myself to continue. “I’m trying to find a way to forgive Felix, and Ronan pointed out that I should at least give him a chance to apologize before I decided whether or not I could.”
"No. Absolutely not. You are not going anywhere near him," Art roared.
"Uh, excuse me, but I'm a grown woman. You can't tell me what I can, and can't do," I answered, without taking my eyes away from Cyn.
“I don’t think you should go.”
I sighed. “Well, I didn’t ask for your opinion, Art. Or your permission for that matter.”
“Well, I’m giving it to you anyway, Lia.”
I faced him. “If Cyn will take me, I will go whether you like it or not.”
“Then I’m coming with you.”
“I don’t want you to.”
“Too bad!”
“Arrg! Why are you so exasperating, Art?”
“If you are going, I’m going. There is no way I’m leaving you in the same room with him. I’m trying to protect you!”
“Fine!”
“Fine!”
We crossed our arms at the same time, and I turned to look at Cyn. He cleared his throat, and frowned trying to remain serious, but I could tell he was a second from falling on his ass with laughter. He cleared his throat again, fighting it with everything he had. I rolled my eyes and waited until he composed himself.
"Are you ready to see him?" Cyn finally asked.
I sighed letting my arms fall. “I don’t know, Cyn,” I answered honestly. “But I figured I should at least try, and find out.”
His eyes filled with understanding and he nodded. “I shall take you there.”
* * *
The portal opened in front of a mountain.
The sound of rushing water reached my ears, which led me to believe we were close to the river. Art and Cyn moved forward on each side of me, walking towards the entrance to the cave until we stood in front of what seemed like a curtain of green vines. It covered the rocky surface of the mountain.
Cyn lifted his hand and waved it in front of them like a Jedi, I internally smiled. My Star Wars casting was legit. He was totally a hot Obi-Wan Kenobi.
“Glanadh an t-slighe”—Clear the way.
My eyes widened when the vines slowly moved, and slid out of the way resembling snakes. Art took my hand in his, but I pulled it away and took Cyn's instead. The hurt in his eyes reached my heart, but ignore it. I wasn’t ready to give in.
We began to walk through the wet cavern, and my heart got stuck in my throat. The cave was dark, but the magical torches on the walls illuminated our way. They were a cool shade of blue, like the ones in Art’s hut. The air suddenly shifted behind us when the vines settled back into place, concealing us.
The reflection of the blue flames flickered on the rock walls, as we walked towards the cave. My hands began to tremble and my gaze became hazy. The images suddenly blinded me. This place was too much like the cave where Briana and I had been kept in, while being tortured. I stopped walking and shut my eyes, fighting the memories that inundated my mind. The memories that had prolonged my suffering, during my time at the village. The same ones I had tried so hard to repress. Art reached for me, but I stepped away, opening my eyes.
“I’m fine,” I lied, and took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. I would not fall apart. Not here, not now.
"It is all right if you are not ready," Cyn said, caressing my arm in an attempt to ease my anxiety. "I shall take you back to Art's hut, and you may try again another time."
I shook my head. “I’m fine.”
His gaze settled on Art’s. “Perhaps Ronan should be here.”
I didn't hear Art's response, and I didn't turn to look. I kept my eyes focused on the hallway ahead of us. A brighter light shone there, and I assumed it was the entrance to Felix's room.
“Very well then.”
Cyn retook my hand and began to walk. My heart slammed against my chest, and my breaths came faster and faster each time. With each step, a new image played in front of me. I blinked and tried to slow my breathing before I lost it. The anxiety grew inside me, before I even saw Felix's face. Cyn and Art stopped at an archway. I could see the worry in Cyn’s eyes.
"I'm fine," I repeated trying to convince myself. I wasn't sure if I could do this anymore, which was too bad because we had already arrived at Felix’s cave.
Art stepped before me and looked straight into my eyes. His hand cupped my cheek, and his thumb caressed it slowly. I stared at him, while my chest squeezed at the tenderness of his touch. No sound came out of his lips, yet my heart received his silent promise.
He would be there for me.
I nodded, swallowing but my throat had become dry. Art placed himself in front of me, like a shield, and walked inside. Cyn began to walk, and I knew my brain had told my feet to do the same but I wasn't moving. I took a deep breath, and forced myself to move entering the cave last. My steps were small and slow, and my hands trembled at my sides. Cyn and Art stepped to the side, and when my eyes finally found Felix my world shattered. Leaving me in an empty and cold darkness where I could only see his face. I froze in place. I couldn't feel my legs or my arms. I was numb as the fear took over every inch of me. My breathing changed until I was panting.
Felix stepped closer to me, and our surroundings changed. Suddenly, I was sitting on that damn chair again. My arms and legs tied to it, while Julius sliced my skin and I relived the horrors they had put us through. I looked into Felix's eyes w
hile the tears ran down my face. The sound of my own voice startled me as I begged him to help us.
"Felix, please help us! Please!" I sobbed looking straight into his eyes. "Please, Felix. Stop them, please!"
Felix took another step towards me, lips moving but I couldn't hear anything past my own screams, asking him to stop them. Before I realized what I was doing, my hand connected with his cheek. The sound echoed in the cave. He turned to look at me once more, and I slapped him again as the tears that blurred my vision finally and began to fall.
"Again," Felix whispered, and my hand complied with his request.
I slapped him over and over, while the images one by one played in front of my eyes. In every single one of them, I pleaded. I begged, and he did nothing. Absolutely nothing. He just stood there and watched. Pure anguish traveled through me and ripped apart every inch of me until my fists began to beat his chest.
"Why did you do that to us, you bastard? Why didn't you stop them? Why didn't you stop them?"
I demanded, while my fists slammed onto his chest repeatedly. I could feel my hands and knees shaking, while my veins split wide open, and the raw pain I felt poured out of them, drowning me.
Cyn held my arms, pulling me away from Felix. I turned around, throwing myself into his arms. The sobs wrecked my body as I gripped Cyn’s shirt, looking for support. Nothing could offer that to me right now. I was paralyzed with fear and so much pain.
“Don’t stop, Lia. Hit me again. I deserve more than that. Hit me again.” Felix asked, his words barely registering. “Again!”
I shut my eyes tighter and pressed my face into Cyn’s chest trying to hide from Felix’s voice. I wanted him to disappear. I wanted to get the hell out of here.
"Let me take you home," Cyn whispered, as though reading my mind and I nodded, forcing my shaky legs to move. We had only walked a few steps when Art stood beside me. Taking my hands in his, he loosened my grip on Cyn's shirt. I looked into his eyes and threw my arms around his neck as he carried me, holding me tightly against his chest.
“Art...” I sobbed as I clung to him.
“Shhh. It’s ok. I’m here, Bòidheach,” he whispered, kissing my cheek softly, and took me away from the cave.
ART
* * *
I rushed through the portal and into my hut while Lia shook in my arms. Seeing Felix again had pushed her into a full nervous breakdown.
Damn it, Ronan was right. Felix was her trigger.
“It’s ok, Bòidheach. You are with me now. Safe. I'm not leaving you. I'm never leaving you again."
I laid on the bed with her, wrapping my arms around her fully, and pressing her against my body. Her sobs were tearing me apart. I cradled her head into the curve of my neck as her body shook in my hold. She was crying so hard, I wasn't sure she could breathe. I needed to calm her down.
"Make it stop,” she begged, the sobs so deep she could barely speak, but I knew exactly what she meant. She was reliving what they had done to her. I could see the terror in her eyes. The realization ripped my heart in two.
"You are safe in my arms, Lia. You are here with me. Focus on my voice. You are here with me."
A new portal opened, and Cyn stepped into the room. "How is she doing, brother?"
I shook my head, restraining my own pain. "I haven't seen Lia like this since that first night she was here. This is actually worse," I said, rubbing her back soothingly. Trying to help her calm down. Her hands were trembling against my chest. Her body began to shake violently in my hold, while her skin turned cold under my touch.
"Lia, look at me," I said, pulling away. Alarm filled me when my gaze settled on her face. Her eyes were unfocused, and she had turned pale. "Lia..." I called again getting no response.
“Brother, her temperature is dropping. Prepare a hot bath!”
Cyn rushed to the partition and moved it out of the way. The magic flowed down his arms in glowing blue tendrils, as he lifted the full barrel and poured the water all at once into the tub. His hands began to glow and he placed them over the water, whispering the spell. The light transferred to the water causing shimmering bubbles to surface.
“It is done. The water will remain hot until you finish using it.”
“Lia, look at me.” I gently slapped her cheek trying to help her focus. The sobs escaped her while the tears fell freely down her face.
She suddenly gasped as though she needed air and her eyes rolled back into her head.
“Lia!” Panic gripped me, when I saw her lose consciousness.
Cyn rushed to her and placed his right hand on her chest, the other one on her forehead. His hands glowed once again, and he closed his eyes. I remained silent as he sensed her essence to identify what was happening. My eyes closed too, while I prayed to the Goddess that Lia was ok. Nothing could happen to her. I'd rather die than see her hurt.
“She’s all right.” I snapped my eyes open and looked at my brother. “She has fainted because of the high level of distress she was under, but her essence remains strong. It is her mind and body, which became weak. She fainted to cut off the pain. It was an unconscious reaction of her mind to shield her.”
The oxygen returned to my lungs in a rush, making me dizzy. “She’s all right?”
"Yes, brother. Her emotions got the best of her, but she is well."
I nodded, kissing Lia's forehead and silently thanking the Goddess. My lips made a trail along her face until I placed a soft kiss on her lips.
“Do you require me to stay and help you take care of her, brother?”
"No. She's mine to take care of." I answered absentmindedly, tightening my arms around Lia, and lifted her from the bed. As I walked past my brother, I noticed the look of recognition in his eyes. His lips slightly curved with an appreciative smile.
“What?”
He shook his head and remained silent while I stepped into the tub with Lia in my arms. The water overflowed falling to the floor when both our bodies filled the tub. I leaned back fixing her body on mine, cradled her head against my neck again and kissed her cheek. I pulled her shirt down as the hot water covered her, and my fingers slid through the long strands of her hair. They floated in the water with every stroke. I held Lia close, securing her to me as the steaming water warmed her body.
“A lot has changed since the battle, brother. Has it not?”
I looked at Cyn who still stood by the dresser, but I didn't answer. My gaze returned to Lia. She was all I could focus on at the moment. I felt the air shift as the portal closed. Cupping Lia's cheek in my hand, I lifted her face and kissed her lips as softly as I could manage. My lips linger on hers, then kissed her once more. Taking a deep breath, I willed my heart to calm once and for all. Lia would be well. I would make sure of it. I rested my forehead on hers and closed my eyes.
“The Romans will never touch you again, Lia. I swear it. The Goddess herself won't be able to stop me from ripping them apart if they even dare to try.”
CHAPTER 13. MY DREAM, MY MISSION
LIA
* * *
Day 106, confused the hell out…
I slowly came out of my daze and stretched on the bed. The second I felt the warmth of his body close to mine my heart went haywire. Art wasn’t holding me, but he was lying on the bed with me. He hadn’t done that in a long time.
“Are you watching me sleep? What a creep.”
I mumbled keeping my eyes closed, while I tried to get a hold of myself. Knowing Art was this close after he had emotionally pulled away from me, yet again, was messing with my nerves. I expected him to chuckle, but he remained silent. Was he asleep? I tentatively opened my eyes, and found Art laying on his side while his gaze was fixed on me. My heart constricted, as I noticed the tortured look in his eyes.
“Are you ok?”
I asked turning to face him. He shook his head, and the need to soothe him and be there for him overwhelmed me. My hand immediately caressed his chest and his eyes closed. He exhaled as though my touch had give
n him relief.
“What happened, Chewie?”
He opened his eyes. “I miss you.”
My heart squeezed, so hard. “Then why do you keep pushing me away?”
"Because I have to." His hand reached for me, and the back of his fingers caressed my check. He moved closer.
“I miss you too,” I whispered.
"I know." Art answered, looking straight into my eyes. His hand cupped my cheek tenderly. "Something is screwing with me, Lia. It's messing with my sanity. I have this pressure in my chest that makes it hard to breathe. A need that grows every day, and no matter what I do it seems impossible to satisfy. It's torturing me, Lia. I've never felt this out place in my own home, and among my own family before. In the past few months, it seems as though my emotions change at the flip of a switch, and seeing you suffer just makes it even worse. Then I'm forced to be around Felix, and no matter how much they tell me he's changed all I see when I look at him is you. Crying in the middle of the night, shaking, rubbing your legs from the pain he allowed them to inflict, while you frantically beg him to help you. Every time I look into his eyes I see myself, trying to bring you back from the nightmares and my heart rips all over again, Lia. I know I should try to forgive like you are, but all I want is to drive my swords through him." His hand trembled on my cheek. "I'm sorry. I just can't… He hurt you."
The light in Art’s eyes suddenly changed, and he closed them as though trying to contain himself. He rested his forehead on mine.
“Why do I need you like this?”
“Art…”
He shook his head. "It feels like my soul has been split into pieces, and each one of them is demanding something different from me. A part of it wants to please my brother, and be the man he wants me to be. Another intends to find a purpose to this never-ending life, make sense of the reason why I'm even here. The next one is forcing me to commit to the woman I always believed I was meant to be with. Except, there is one more part that only wants to be here, with you, in my arms."
Worthy of Magic (The Ancient Magic Series Book 4) Page 22