by S. E. Myers
Tristan sat in the middle of the living room floor. Ryleigh sat across from Tristan – facing him.
Tristan put his palms up facing Ryleigh. “Illeana and I used to do this to practice cycling energy without our imps. Sometimes the draw could really drain them and we would rather that we were exhausted instead of them.”
Ryleigh took a deep breath and placed her palms against his. They both closed her eyes.
“Concentrate on my breathing,” Tristan instructed. “As I breathe in, you breathe out and vice-versa.”
Ryleigh could hear his breaths, slow intentional. As he let his air out, she took it in. Cycling breaths helped with cycling Chi. It was a way to regulate the ebb of energy they would send and receive.
As the breath beats continued, the energy hum beneath Ryleigh’s skin began to tremble. She felt Tristan and heard the tune of his Chi rumbling in his core. Opening their eyes, they attempted to send energy from one to the other as they were breathing. As Ryleigh breathed out, she sent a tendril to connect with Tristan and he did the same.
This cycled the energy between the two, carrying Chi from Ryleigh to Tristan and back again. The temperature in the room began to rise. Vee and Nissa paced back and forth feeling a rumble beneath their rabbit-like feet.
Tristan and Ryleigh were locked in an eternal dance that continued to spiral and syphon each other’s Chi. Ryleigh could feel the difference in Tristan, the strength in his own core, and thought she could even feel the presence of Illeana. She knew what he meant now by the two becoming whole. Tristan recognized Ryleigh’s presence. He also felt that she was more than herself, but she didn’t have two vibrations, she only had one where his had the melodic undertones of Illeana.
He pushed a little harder allowing a little more of his own Chi to cycle into Ryleigh. Ryleigh did the same. This was the same practice for younglings. It helped them practice control, and also understand much energy an imp, when they received one, could take. Tristan wanted to see exactly how much energy he had and how much he could cycle.
He pushed again, harder this time. Ryleigh felt the intensity of it and accepted what he was flowing into her. Ryleigh mirrored his actions, but she also sent little bits of Tristan’s own energy that was melded with hers. On the outer breath, he attempted to do the same, but found he couldn’t. He couldn’t expel her energy.
Tristan absorbed whatever she gave him and started to pull faster. It became uncomfortable for Ryleigh as a ripping sensation generated from her solar plexus. With their energies conjoined, it became more and more difficult for Tristan to sever the connection. Tristan started to panic because he couldn’t control the flow of energy.
His eyes pleaded with Ryleigh begging her to shut it down. While connected, speaking was improbable and their psychic link was distorted because of Tristan’s anomaly.
Ryleigh got the message and concentrated on the energy he was pulling from her. She figured that if she blasted him with enough it might break the connection. She imagined a ball of light at her core increasing in size. As the ball grew brighter in her mind’s eye, it grew brighter in front of her and started to stunt the flow of her energy to him and cycled only his back to him.
She continued to concentrate on the ball of light attempting to solidify the mass. Don’t be mad! She thought as she pushed the mass toward Tristan.
The impact shot Tristan backwards into the couch and was enough to break the connection, instantaneously.
Nissa immediately jumped into Ryleigh’s lap, providing her a replenishing supply of energy. Ryleigh was breathless and gasping for air.
Tristan sat forward grabbing his chest. His face riddled with pain recovering from the energy blast, “I knew… you could do it… I needed you to do it.”
Ryleigh was still gasping for breath, “What – was – that?”
“I’m not sure, but - I think I am like you - and not.”
Ryleigh shook her head and wondered what he was talking about, “What do you mean like me?”
“You are more - more than just part Fae. I think that is why Finar wants you.”
“Finar wants me? Why would he want me?”
“I’m not sure,” Tristan replied. He lied to her. He had a feeling that Finar wanted to do to Ryleigh what he made Tristan do to his own sister.
I need to talk to Aunt Vera,” Ryleigh resolved. She needed to make a trip back to the house. By now, Vera would be pretty ticked off that she wasn’t home. Her cell hadn’t gone off which was a bit concerning – she figured that by now, Vera would be hounding her every thirty seconds.
Ryleigh absentmindedly stroked Nissa’s ears as Nissa was healing her. Nissa didn’t mind at all. She actually liked it but didn’t want to say anything. Although she was a lower cast Fae, she was still more powerful than these younglings. Nissa had the ability to heal, to hurt, and to cause destruction. She was growing to love her Mistress. She loved the attention she got. She knew some of the other imps didn’t get the same attention she received and was saddened by it. But they had no choice once they were bonded with their Masters or Mistresses. So, for now, she reveled in it.
18
What is the truth?
Once recovered, Ryleigh knew going back to the house was probably a mistake. Tristan and Ryleigh decided to go together. They were going to use the imps to fade into the house and back.
The plan was to get in and get out. Ryleigh knew that Vera and Fin were connected. She wasn’t sure whose side Siegfried was on, but she was sure it was with Vera.
Tristan wondered about the FP’s and his real parents, “I just don’t know if my parents are still alive.” He was also slowly coming to grips over killing his sister. It was hard and it tore him to the core, but knowing that Finar made him do it gave him something else to focus on. Having Illeana’s energy within him also provided him comfort. He’d started noticing her voice in his head, telling him it would be okay and he was reminded of the dream. “I’ll be with you always,” she’d reminded.
They were ready to go. Tristan and Ryleigh figured that if they connected their Chi, as dangerous as that could be, they could stand up against Finar if he approached them. Tristan grabbed a switchblade and handed it to Ryleigh.
“I have no idea what I would do with this,” she remarked.
“Well, if worse comes to worse, you face the pointy end away from you and make stabbing motions at the one attacking you. Has worked for me in the past, I’m sure it could work for you,” Tristan said half-jokingly.
Ryleigh took the blade hesitantly hoping she wouldn’t have to use it.
“Okay, we’re ready,” Tristan motioned to the imps.
The linked hands and just like that, they were in the mansion foyer.
Ryleigh handled fading for the first time like a pro. She collapsed to the ground only for a moment before regaining her stability.
The house was almost as she left it, Ryleigh thought to herself. But it felt… off. She turned to Tristan and mouthed, “Something feels wrong.”
He mouthed back, “I know. I feel it too.”
There was residual grime in the air that coated their senses. Ryleigh grimaced at a horrible smell that curled her upper lip and roiled her stomach. Tristan could smell it too.
The initial plan was to sneak into the study. Ryleigh had a feeling that because Vera spent most of her time in the study, there might be some sort of clues lying around.
They headed that general direction and Nissa whispered to Ryleigh, “Be careful. I can feel him.” By him, Nissa meant Finar. She could feel whose energy was used last and she could really feel the pull of him.
Ryleigh motioned to Tristan, “Nissa says to be careful.” Tristan nodded.
Tristan went first toward the study door and froze. He saw Siegfried first.
He turned around to Ryleigh, “Siegfried is dead.” Ryleigh pushed Tristan sideways and saw for herself that he was lying in a pool of his own blood. There was a hole in his back that showed floor beneath it. She shook the nausea awa
y. Determined, she pressed into the room.
She moved to step over Siegfried’s body and Tristan grabbed her shoulders to pull her back but she shrugged him off. Then she saw her. Vera. She was nothing but a shell. Her skin was the color of smoke and looked as fragile as rice paper.
Ryleigh covered her mouth and made a muffled cry.
Tristan came in behind her, “Ryleigh, I’m sorry.” He was genuinely apologetic. Although they believed Vera had an ulterior motive, she was only family that Ryleigh had left, besides him.
Ryleigh knelt beside her body. The azure sky that reflected outward was cloudy and grey. Her entire body seemed as if it were just sucked dry. Ryleigh reached out to touch her one last time and as she did, Vera’s body turned to ash.
Ryleigh jumped back, crying out in shock. Tristan grabbed Ryleigh and pulled her into his chest. Ryleigh sobbed for a minute before Tristan refocused her, “We have to get moving. I know Finar did this and we don’t know if he will be back here…for you.” Ryleigh sucked in a deep breath and in and decided she could mourn later.
They headed for the desk.
Riley started going through the top drawers pulling them all the way out. She’d seen too many movies and detective shows that showed a false bottom or area that people never looked.
She then noticed a book with the same sigil she’d seen everywhere else.
She opened the smooth leather cover. The Diary of Vera Whitmore it read. “I found her diary,” she mentioned to Tristan. He turned toward her and away from the filing cabinet he was rifling through.
Ryleigh continued to thumb through the journal, “It’s just her private thoughts. There is a lot here; I will have to go through it later. Are you finding anything?”
Tristan shook his head, lying. Tristan decided he would come back later…without Ryleigh.
They continued through the drawers and before walking away from the heavy mahogany desk, Ryleigh decided to run her hand underneath the main drawer. She felt a button and depressed it.
Behind her, a door swung open from the bookcase. Tristan and Illeana both were curious to know what was behind the bookcase but Nissa spoke up, “That’s the way down.”
“The way down?” Ryleigh asked.
“Yes Mistress. It’s a portal…to the Sanctum”
Tristan had explained to Ryleigh the place where he was but only faded there and back, “Vera didn’t have an imp and this must have been the only way for her to access it.”
“Why not?” Ryleigh asked.
“I am not sure but we don’t want to go there yet. I am sure that Finar has to know someone is here now if the door has been accessed.”
“Then I guess we better hurry,” Ryleigh clicked the button to close the door.
Back at the safe-house the two were extremely disappointed. They tried accessing Vera’s laptop but couldn’t figure out the password so they brought it with them. Tristan tried to show outwardly how disappointed he was, but he had to get back to that house without Ryleigh.
Ryleigh was exhausted. “I think I am going to rest for a bit,” she told Tristan.
He muttered a response as she left. He decided that he would go back now. Now as good a time as any to retrieve the files he found. He knew he would find more information about his parents. He had to.
“I am going to go out for a bit,” he called to Ryleigh.
Ryleigh looked at him with dead determination, “You need to stay safe.”
He would stay safe alright. That was his intention. To keep him… and Ryleigh safe.
19
To find out for one’s self
Tristan felt kind of guilty that he didn’t tell Ryleigh where he was going. But he had Vee with him and that made all the difference. Tristan’s self-assurance could be his downfall. He never thought about the consequences of his actions. He knew it was a risk, but it was a risk he was willing to take. Obviously something happened that made Finar leave him alone in his cell. Risking him escaping.
“Well Vee, looks like it’s you and me this time,” he told his faithful companion.
“Yes, Master, it is.” The imp said. He was always willing to help but it was also his duty to protect his master. Although Tristan had changed inwardly, Vee had the capability to match it. Because Tristan and Vee both matched their energy during the selection process, Tristan originally wasn’t sure if he would be able to cycle energy through his imp any longer. However, because his twin’s vibrations matched his own and were only slightly different, Vee was able to handle it.
“Let’s go to Vera’s,” he said and Vee faded them back to the mansion.
Tristan hesitantly stepped back through the door. Fading was becoming easier, it was much like swallowing the medicine you hated to take as a child that your mother promised you wouldn’t taste so bad. After the first couple spoonful’s it starts to taste like normal and you forget about the ugly shudder you have after the swallow. Ugly shuddering aside, Tristan was feeling much better than he had for the past couple of days.
After enduring the torturous side of Finar, he was ready to meet him. He was hoping he would know he was here and stop him from finding out the truth. He wasn’t going to enter the Sanctum; he wanted to go back through the files. While rifling through them earlier, he saw his family name. He wanted… No, he needed to know and understand the truth and what was going on.
He re-entered Vera’s office, her ashes on the floor and Siegfried’s body left to rot. He motioned toward the mess, “Vee, can you?” The imp nodded and immediately got rid of Siegfried’s corpse and Vera’s ashes with a flash.
Tristan turned his attention to the filing cabinet he rifled through earlier. He saw the files he wanted to glance through. Simmons. Young. Rayme. Their family names. Ryleigh’s parents changed their last name to Simmons when leaving to protect her. And Finar, he never used his last name…Young.
He wasn’t sure where to start. He sat at Vera’s mahogany desk and laid the files in front of him. He closed his eyes and sat in silence for a moment.
He opened Simmons first. A copy of birth certificates, mortgage documents, loan applications, pictures of Ryleigh when she was an infant through her age now, her parents wedding invitation. It looked like Vera was starting a collection. She hadn’t known about them before, had she?
Whitmore. Vera’s file. Tristan only found one document, but it was in a foreign language. He was sure it was some type of European language and would take that with him.
His file. Again, copies of birth certificates, mortgage documents, leasing contracts, pictures, phone numbers, and school information. The file was about an inch thick and would take time to go through. Tristan wondered what was so important. Why were they so important? It didn’t’ make too much sense to him at all.
He ruffled his spiky hair and sat back thinking for a moment. Then he heard something behind him. He thought it was the swing of the door. He started to turn but it was too late. The parents who weren’t his parents grabbed at him and pushed him to the floor.
“What do you think you’re doing?” the faux mother said.
“Get…off… of me!” Tristan shouted as he struggled to break free of their hold. He didn’t want to pull his energy yet. He just wasn’t sure what he could and couldn’t do.
The faux father stood over him looking down, “Not yet. Finar wants you and is very upset you didn’t appreciate how gracious he was.”
This ticked Tristan off. He closed his eyes and tried to quite the rumble that was growing inside of him. He wasn’t even sure how the faux mother was holding him down but he was determined to get back up and defend himself.
All Fae were trained from the time they learned to walk, how to physically defend themselves. Tristan was calling upon that recollection of memories.
The faux mother holding him down was unbelievably strong. Tristan had the advantage. He knew he was much stronger than her. She was pinning his arms down and using the remainder of her weight to sit on his chest with her knees on his should
ers. He just needed one second.
When Tristan opened his eyes, they had changed. They were no longer the pretty purple color that reflected his soul. They were darker, blacker, pits that showed the hatred he was feeling. He wanted these FP’s to tell him where his parents were.
The faux mother looked down, “Oh crap!” she said unexpectedly. The faux father stood above Tristan and became extremely nervous.
This was the moment he needed. He bucked his hips throwing the mother up and over his head into the father. He rolled in one swift movement to stand to his feet. Standing his ground he pulled himself as tall as he could. He could see the fear in their eyes.
“Where are my parents?” he demanded.
The mother looked at him strangely, “We are your parents.” She swallowed hard.
“Do not piss me off. I don’t know what I’m capable of, but I see that you might.” He took a few steps forward for good measure expecting them to cower. And cower they did.
He was pretty impressed with himself. He smiled and he saw that even invoked fear in these people who were not his parents. “I know you are not who you say you are,” Tristan spat with venom. “You need to tell me where they are….now!”
The father stood forward. “I don’t know where they are.” As soon as he said that, the guise fell from their faces. Before Tristan stood new faces that he did not recognize.
“Why are you here,” Tristan asked, the anger building with each passing moment.
“Finar… Finar made us. He has our children.”
Tristan wasn’t sure whether or not to believe them. The father looked sincere as he said it and the mother was distraught. “How many,” Tristan continued to interrogate.
The mother replied, “Two. My twins. My girls.” She allowed a small sob to escape between her lips. Tristan’s heart lurched but his gut told him they were lying.