“Right Ruby,” the woman clapped her hands together in a business-like way. “Let’s gets started. Like Blaze said, we just want to talk to you, so if you answer all our questions nothing bad will happen. If, however,” she cautioned, “you don’t comply, bad things will happen. To you anyway.”
“What do you want to know?” I asked.
“Why did Lynk steal the Eternal Light?”
I shook my head and the agonising hold intensified. I screamed, straightening my spine to try and ease the pain but it didn’t work.
“I don’t know!” I wailed desperately. “He never told me.” Blaze pulled my arm further up my back, “I don’t know, I swear!” I screeched, frustrated tears streaming down my face. “The only thing I know is that he wants to experiment on it, to find out what it does.” There was a brief, intense hesitation so I persevered, “Why would I lie to you? I hate my father. I wish he was dead for what he’s done to me!”
“How did you get into the Tower?” Blaze asked calmly, but that lascivious note had entered his voice; slow and passionate. It made me shiver in disgust. This guy was seriously creepy.
I paused uncertainly, but then the woman came forwards, brought up her hand and slapped it hard across my cheek. My neck pivoted downwards, my face felt like it was burning and prickling at the same time.
When I felt capable of lifting my head, I managed to glare at the woman. “I put all the guards to sleep using Chyun’ju. It saved their lives.”
“Why would you save lives,” she spat poisonously. “You’re the daughter of Lynk Swartette.”
My eyes narrowed, “My father is only related to me by blood. I’m nothing like him.”
“Liar,” the woman accused.
“Why else would I be going back to Forenna; knowing they’ll arrest me?” I pointed out; panicking.
“You could be his person on the inside.” Blaze suggested, suddenly placing both of my hands in one of his, pulling my arms up higher so I screamed. I heard something snap with a deafening twang; then he was running his fingers up my spine in a gentle caress. The pain was astonishing. “Tell us Ruby,” he whispered, and then his hand swept around my stomach. I thrashed out of the way, but my dislocated shoulder was too painful to move so I surrendered, slumping and crying as his horrid fingers explored my body. “You don’t want me to keep going, do you?” He uttered threateningly.
“Get your hands off me,” I yelled, shrieking. Why didn’t I just stay in the tent like I was supposed to? I’m such an idiot.
“Not until you tell me the truth.”
“I am!” I exclaimed, frustrated, “I am going back to Forenna and will get arrested and taken before the Council and they will mind-check me. So even if I am working for Lynk, the Council will find out and lock me up. So if I was lying, why would I be going back?”
There was a short intense silence.
“I think she might be telling the truth,” commented the woman finally, though her hooded eyes remained sceptical.
“How do we know you’re going back to Forenna?” wondered my attacker; still not relinquishing his snaring embrace.
I stifled a sob determinedly. “Because I just told you!”
There was another length of petrifying quiet then finally the woman sighed, coming forwards and dropping to her knees before me. All I saw was her fierce eyes, the colour unrecognisable in the faint light.
“Fine,” she said, “We will follow you to Forenna and make sure you stick to your word. If you go a step in the wrong direction we’ll know.”
She lifted something metallic in the air; at closer inspection it was a bracelet charred with ancient symbols. Blaze released my shoulders and I fell to the floor. The woman picked up the hand of my dislocated arm and forced the silver band through it. As soon as it was around my wrist the marks flashed and the band shrank so it was skin-tight and irremovable.
By the time I’d gathered up enough energy to lift my head, they’d vanished.
Suddenly a gust of freezing wind blew through the cave entrance and specks of snow landed on me. I could feel them thawing, melting through my clothes and making me shake vigorously. The pain in my arm was unbearable and for a long time I just lay there, wallowing in it; unable to move.
Waiting for someone to rescue me.
Chapter Ten
Eventually I was found.
Space was cleared in the centre of the tent as I was dragged through by Nikolas and Jayson; convulsing violently from the freezing weather and my accelerating panic. They gently positioned me so that I was on my knees with them supporting my body upright. Kieran was looking at me, his expression impossible to decipher. He looked like he was torn between two conflicting judgements. Swiftly he came over and lowered to his knees before me, he looked calm and decided as he glanced at Jayson.
“Jayson, go find me some clean water,” he ordered authoritatively and before Jayson could protest Kieran thrust a container in his hand and spoke with an earnest conviction; “You can get it faster than the rest of us.”
Jayson stared at Kieran suspiciously -like he knew Kieran was trying to get rid of him- but then glanced at me; withering in agony with soundlessly shrieking eyes. He left without a word.
“Ruby,” Kieran lent over, whispering seriously, “I can’t heal you. Something this extensive could really impact our connection. And even if I could heal you I’d still have to put your shoulder back into place first.” His gorgeous emerald eyes were pleading with me to understand.
“It’s okay,” I breathed, trying to put on my brave face despite the excruciation pounding through my body; the relentlessly spasming muscles.
Jayson was rushing back now, ducking under the flap of canvas that was our makeshift doorway. In his hand, bless him, was a canister of crystal-clear liquid. He passed it over to Chara, who lay it down beside me and came to hold my good hand –Nik seized my arm in uncompromising restraint.
Kieran retrieved a small knife from his belt and came closer. With his fingers he delicately tugged at the sleeve on my t-shirt. It hurt as he cautiously ran the sharp edge of the blade all the way from my sleeve to the neck of the fabric, tearing my shirt open on one side; exposing the bare skin of my shoulder. Kieran’s eyes were serious; preoccupied with the damage done.
“Hold still,” he said calmly.
I froze, trusting him unconditionally. Gently, he picked up my trembling left wrist and very slowly moved my arm so it was resting just below my chest. I winced involuntarily, shutting my eyelids tightly, bunching up the skin around my eyes.
“You’re hurting her,” Jayson exclaimed unhelpfully. Kieran glowered.
“Do you want to do it?” Kieran challenged.
Jayson looked from my face to my lifeless limb and then sighed; “No.”
“Well then, shut up or get out.” Kieran snapped.
“Is this the only way?” Adrian said with a particular emphasis.
Kieran didn’t answer aloud; instead he gave a sharp military nod and turned to me. Sweat was clinging to my skin, making my surfaces slippery and hard to grasp. Kieran grabbed the material he’d ripped from my shirt earlier and placed it at the top of my arm for grip. He then very slowly stretched my arm out, extending it slightly to the side. Pain darted up me like wildfire across a dry summer crop. I bit my lip to muffle the moan of pain.
“Ruby,” Kieran said my name softly, “I only want to do this once.”
“I’ll try and be good,” I promised.
“On three, okay?” he said. I nodded frantically; just wanting it to be over. “One, two, three,” he said, carefully lifting my forearm upwards while simultaneously pushing my shoulder back into the socket.
I could help it, I cried out. But then I heard a click and felt it as my arm locked into its corresponding place. At first the pain was worse, like an violent explosion, but then gradually the waves levelled and it seized to a dull aching. I slumped against Kieran, not giving a crap who watched, and he put his arms protectively around my waist; purposeful
avoiding my tender injury. Chara hugged my good shoulder and Nik squeezed my good arm before releasing his restrictive hold.
Awkwardly Kieran pried me off him. I looked up at him; hurt by his rejection. Then I saw that more than one person in the tent was giving us a funny look; and grudgingly understood. To make things less obvious, I gestured towards Jayson and he automatically came over and sat cross-legged on the furs beside me. I half-smiled and he affectionately wrapped an arm around my waist –avoiding my shoulder. I relaxed and rested my cheek on his shoulder; finally feeling safe and secure.
“What happened, chick?” Chara asked quietly.
“You remember the guy who attacked me in Temardra?” she nodded. “Well,” I informed her grimly, “He’s back, and he brought a friend.”
“How did they get you?” Nik asked. “I mean, surely one of us would have woken up if they’d entered the tent?” The others nodded in agreement.
“They called to me in my sleep and I kind of followed their directions.” I muttered sheepishly, feeling like a moron.
“Wait a minute,” Kieran said, “You wanted to meet the guy who dislocated your shoulder?”
“They tricked me,” I grunted. “They told me they’d taken you.” I glared at Kieran; realising. “Where the hell were you anyway, you were supposed to be on guard duty?”
“I left for one minute to piss,” Kieran glowered. “And that was the highlight of my evening. When I came back you’d vanished.”
“Oh,” I said. They must have been waiting for Kieran to leave before my attackers tricked me into finding them.
Kieran was consuming every detail of my battered frame, the gash splitting my neck, the lump swelling on my forehead, the wiry pink scratches wriggling up my forearms like worms in open air.
As his eyes travelled down the wrist of my bad arm, he saw the metal bracelet. “What’s that?”
“I think it’s a tracking device,” I admitted reluctantly. “They thought I was going back to Forenna to be Lynk’s spy.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Chara frowned, flustered.
“I know,” I agreed. “When I convinced them otherwise they put this on me and said they’d be watching to make sure I wasn’t lying.”
“Who are these people?” Chara’s wondered incredulously.
“I don’t know.” I grimaced.
“I bet they’ve only been interested in you because you’re Lynk’s daughter, though,” Chara soothed.
“As opposed to it being because of her history of nudism,” Kieran said irritably, sarcastically.
“You know what I mean,” Chara replied. “They’ll want to keep an eye on her because of his influence.”
“It’s only because I’m his daughter that my life is in such a state,” I muttered. I lowered my head, my arm still throbbing and just felt like crying. Everything seemed to suck at the minute.
Jayson gently drew back the hair that had fallen across my face and tucked it behind my ear; then smoothed it down rhythmically. I smiled half-heartedly; at least I had my good friends to be grateful for.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” I said, glancing up at everyone in the tent. “I’d be screwed without you.”
“Perhaps that’s because you’re completely and utterly incompetent and lack even a basic form of common-sense.” Kieran grumbled. “Only you could get knifed in the middle of nowhere, where there’s no civilisation for a hundred miles in any direction, in a cave.” His expression transformed into something stern and uncooperative, “From now on, you are not allowed to go anywhere alone. Does anyone have a bell I can put around her neck?”
“You can’t tell me what to do,” I objected angrily.
“I bloody well can,” he snapped. “And if you had half a brain you’d agree with me. You’re not responsible enough to be left unsupervised.”
“I’m not a child!” I retaliated.
“Then stop acting like one,” he suggested.
“Bite me,” I snapped furiously.
“I’d rather not,” he replied calmly, gazing at me steadily. “I’m the only healer here, remember? Who will look after me if I get a disease?”
Instead of responding with a bitter retort I did something that I knew would truly infuriate him. And he couldn’t even protest.
I smiled and replied sweetly with: “I’m tired Kieran, we can battle verbally tomorrow?” Then I twisted carefully –watching my injured shoulder, which was throbbing persistently- and pressed my face into Jayson’s chest. I squeezed my eyes tightly shut; as if to show everyone that I was ready for sleep. Eventually the others followed suit and I heard everyone lie down.
Jayson shuffled back so he was comfortable and then cupped his palm against the back of my head and stroked my hair. I smirked petulantly, feeling Kieran’s scolding glare. Someone went outside to guard the tent.
Kieran hated Jayson, but he despised watching me and Jayson together.
I must have drifted to sleep. When I awoke I was still in Jayson’s arms. I could hear him snoring. My eyelids opened and I groaned at the lightness of the tent; dawn was breaking. I looked about the tent, everyone was asleep but Kieran was nowhere to be seen.
I grimaced, carefully wriggling away from Jayson without him stirring. I winced as my arm throbbed and I clutched it tightly against my stomach as I ducked under the tent flap. I stretched my spine upright, ignoring the lancing pain in my shoulder, and spotted Kieran fifty feet away. He was sat on the mountain ledge, his long athletic legs dangling recklessly over the edge; watching the sunrise sear the sky.
I walked over to him, analysing the icy ground with suspicious steps, and sat down beside him. He didn’t turn at my approach; instead he kept his eyes fixed permanently on the scorching disk that elevated on the horizon. It was a breath-taking view, the skies richly decorated with tumbling pink clouds and streaks of gold as if from an artist’s brush. Mountain peaks thrust heavenwards, the frozen formations sparkling; refracting the sunbeams.
Kieran gazed at it all, his face expressionless but his deep green eyes shining under lowered black brows. Eventually I noticed his stiff posture, the defiant set of his shoulders and realised: “You’ve been out here all night.”
“I wanted to watch out for your new friends,” he muttered. “And Jayson’s expression practically begged me to punch him so I had to get out before I made a mess of his pretty face.”
“Jealous?” I wondered, nudging him with my elbow with a childish grin.
He suddenly stood up and stomped off.
I sat there, the smile rapidly fading from my face, and then rushed to catch up with him. “What’s wrong?” I asked nervously, surely he wasn’t that pissed. He didn’t answer so I said, starting to feel irritated. “There’s no need to get all moody; you annoyed me last night, that’s all.”
“That’s all?” he repeated, whirling on me with a face like thunder. “I could have beaten the shit out of him for the look on his face. All smug and cocky; like he thought he’d nearly got you.” His pupils expanded, his eyes were consumed with a black ferocity that both fascinated and terrified me. “Well he hasn’t,” he stated darkly. “And he never will.”
“Jayson is just my friend,” I protested.
“Don’t act so blind,” he snapped sharply. “Everyone can see the way he looks at you, like he wants to rip off your clothes right then and there.”
I frowned, “Don’t you think you’re exaggerating ever so slightly?”
As I spoke I remembered, with a flicker of confusion, what Jayson had said the other night. It’s to do with me isn’t it? Me and the person I love.
“No,” Kieran said absolutely, folding his arms across his chest. In that moment I wasn’t sure what he was; boy or man. Petulant teenager was probably most accurate.
“I didn’t think you’d be that bothered,” I muttered. “You don’t care usually.”
His expression morphed into surprise, “Do you really believe that?”
I looked up, startled by his question, but an
swered honestly. “No, but you aren’t the easiest person to understand either.”
“Then don’t try to,” he growled, but the colour had returned in his eyes.
I reached out with my good hand, cautiously at first, to lightly trail my finger down the soft skin of his cheek. The harshness of his features, the anger that blackened his iris, calmed instantly at my touch. His expression softened. He’s so gorgeous, I thought. There was no way he was destined to be with me.
The sadness of this fact reflected in my eyes.
He closed his eyes momentarily; then cupped his hand over mine. He lay each individual finger over each of mine; the way one might carefully place a finger over the spine of a fragile, ancient book. I stood there, frozen into position, feeling our shared anger draining away.
I spoke quietly. “I know you’ve been through a lot Kierakai Ashaik.” I didn’t know why I said his full name, but it slipped off my tongue like honey. “So I guess for now, that’s enough for me.”
His eyes flashed open and he gazed at me with a sudden hunger. My stomach lurched with pleasure and I shuddered longingly. Forgetting my agonised shoulder, I unthinkingly lifted my arm to wrap it around his shoulder as he drew closer…
Then I remembered my arm.
The pain was astonishing. I made a screeching noise half-way between a scream and a gasp. Grasping my shoulder with my other arm, my head spun faintly. My face scrunched up from the searing agony, tears escaping from the corners of my eyes and washing my face of a sudden sticky perspiration.
Kieran froze where he was, then slowly stepped nearer. As he examined my arm he said, “It’s still in place.”
“It hurts,” I whimpered pathetically.
“I’m not surprised,” Kieran said, lightly probing my shoulder to make sure it was alright.
He pulled something from his jeans pocket. It was a square piece of canvas –presumably cut in case the tent ripped. He folded it expertly into a sling and helped me into it.
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