by Glenda Diana
A chill shivered through her as he took another step forward. The fine hairs on the back of her neck sprung to life. He was a tall, largely built man. The cloak that covered him from view was tossed to the side in one smooth move. Black hair fell down past his shoulders to lay near his waist. His shoulders were wide, his hips narrow and his legs long and thick. She also noticed the cut of his clothing. It seemed odd and yet familiar. He wore a vest of dark blue shimmering material and black pants that fit him like a second skin. What held her attention for a several moments were the boots he wore ... boots like the ones Connor wore in the portrait.
She tipped her head slightly, as she continued to observe him. Then her eyes met his. Suddenly it felt as though the air inside her lungs was being forced out from within her. Her heart began beating painfully within her chest. Their eyes were locked, as he moved forward with lethal, graceful strides. Absently, she noted how Edmond and Reese moved as if to block him from getting too near her.
His gaze dropped. The heat of his eyes seemed to scorch her as they moved over the length of her body. Instinctively, she moved to the step behind her and collided with Justin's hard chest.
The man's black eyebrows slashed over eyes of brownish/black. He stopped at the foot of the stairs, ignoring Edmond and Reese. "Just as lovely as I remember you," he stated, with a lift of his brow.
Arysa felt Mrs. Reed's hand on her arm, but she couldn't seem to pull her gaze away from the stranger. "Do I know you?" she asked, not recognizing her own thin voice.
"Aye, you do," he replied with a smile.
Another shiver washed over her. The urge to run was almost to powerful too ignore. She wanted nothing more than to run to Zebual's side. The stranger seemed to find her lack of response amusing, for his eyes twinkled and his sensuous mouth grew into a wide smile.
She narrowed her eyes on him. "Then be so kind as to give me your name."
"Ahhh, true heart, don't say that you have forgotten me so quickly?" he laughed. "Time does have a way of making one fade from the memory, does it not?"
The tension was building around them. Fearing that one of the men would do something rash, Arysa centered her thoughts on remaining calm. This man reeked of danger and for that reason alone she wanted none harmed because of her.
"Perhaps it was your bad manners that caused my forgetfulness? One tends to discard those that have bad manners." She could have bitten her tongue! One thing she did not need to do was provoke this man.
His laughter echoed around them. "I see your tongue is as sharp as the last time we met."
"I'm afraid I have no memory pertaining to you, so again I ask ... who are you?"
"Ahhh, Arysa," he murmured with a shake of his head. "I am the man you were promised to since before your birth. I am your destiny."
A warning signal shot through her. "No," she whispered. She tried to move back, to flee, but suddenly the world around her turned black.
Chapter Seventeen
The Beginning ...
"Don't be out in the woods too long."
"I won't." Arysa promised, as she kissed her grandmother's soft cheek. "I must hurry ... darkness is falling quickly."
Her grandmother smiled and nodded her head.
Arysa grabbed her cloak and ran out the door and into the woods that surrounded the small cabin. As the semi-dark surrounded her Arysa could feel the blood within her begin to pump fast as she ventured deeper and deeper into the woods.
Once she reached her favorite spot she sat down upon the dry leaves and closed her eyes. These were her woods and here and only here did she feel as though she could be herself. She loved her grandmother more than anything, but she spent most every minute of the day beneath her watchful eyes. Only when she escaped the close scrutiny and boundaries of their cabin did she feel free.
Though she had been schooled in the dark society of which she had been born, it didn't stop, or in truth explain, the yearnings that churned within her. As a young girl she had fought against these unknown feelings, wondering if she were perhaps different from other girls her age. But she had never been around other girls to know. Was it normal to feel the way she felt?
She had been fourteen years old and did not understand the things that were happening within her nor the changes that were occurring to her body. Finally, she had asked her grandmother. It was the only time that she could recall seeing fear in her grandmother's eyes of age. At the time her grandmother's words had meant little, but as Arysa grew so did the meaning behind the utterances. Even now, four years later grandmother's words still drifted deep within her.
"Your course in life has been dictated since the moment of your conception ... only you can change that course ... only you can fight the instincts that were born in you."
She had found some small relief from her confusing longings by spending time in her beloved woods. But what had started out to be just a few stolen moments alone had grown. Now she stayed within the shelter of the woods from dusk to dawn.
But there was something else that pulled her to her favorite spot ... a man. Though she had never seen him, she felt his presence in her woods nigh on four years time. Her eyes did not need to see him for her love for him to grow. It seemed as if was always there ... and his presences comforted her. She knew not who he was nor did she care. All that concerned her were the feelings that he stirred inside her.
Coming to her feet in a fluid movement, Arysa let her cloak fall from her shoulders. Raising her hands up to the sky she began swaying to the music that played within her head. Piece by piece she removed her clothing. Her feet firmly planted on the ground, her hips began swaying gracefully to the silent music as the moonlight warmed her naked body. Her long black hair fell from the confines in which it was normally worn, to flow down her back. The thick silky curls brushed against the back of her thighs, almost touching her ankles.
It was a pagan dance, a dance that was meant to free her powers. Her movements quickened only slightly as her blood began to hum within her veins. Her heart pounded and the sound of her breathing whispered against her ears. The hunger deep in the pit of her stomach came rolling to life, demanding that which she had no knowledge of. A soft cry broke past her lips as she fell to the ground. Tears prickled her eyes as she lay back to stare at the sky above her. Each night she craved for what she did not know. And each night she felt more and more unfilled.
"Sometimes one must go against everything they are in order to find a path in life." Her grandmother had spoken those words many times throughout the years. Arysa knew that somehow those words were part of her learning. She just did not know where they would fit into her existence.
Her thoughts halted as a wave of raw tingles shivered down her spine making the hairs on her neck stand up and bringing all her senses into focus. The wind whistled through the dark branches as the moon shimmered upon the leaves. Coming to her knees, her muscles tensed. Then she recognized it source.
He was there ... in the woods ... she could feel his aura. It was useless for her to attempt to reach out toward him with her powers, for he always remained elusive. Though her powers were quite good, his were stronger, blocking hers from reaching out to him. Even now, she could detect no more than his familiar presence, though he'd ventured inside her perimeter.
Through the darkness, the undergrowth and the tangles of weeds and limbs she could almost imagine the glowing embers of his eyes. She could almost feel the hot steaming breath of the ravenous being as it moved closer still. She held her breath, waiting, hoping that he would finally come forward.
No sooner had that thought taken shape in her mind when she felt him draw away. He was leaving. "Wait!" she said, coming to her feet. But it was too late. He was gone. For several minutes she stared into the dark sightless woods. Finally, she gathered her clothing and dressed. Though she knew it was rather childish, she always felt abandoned when he left.
Four years of his presence told her one conclusive fact ... he would return. Knowing this made wal
king back to the cabin much easier. One day she would look upon him.
Her grandmother sat at the small table near the hearth. One look at the sorrow upon her face and Arysa knew that something was dreadfully wrong. Tossing her cloak to the side, she rushed to her grandmother, kneeling at her side.
"Are you feeling poorly?" she asked, taking the hands of soft wrinkles into her own and gently patting them. Eyes much like her own filled with tears as her grandmother shook her head.
"Nay, lovely. No worse than usual."
Arysa let her powers gently probe over her grandmother. "'Tis a lie," she whispered.
Grandmother waved her hand slightly. "We'll talk of my illness later. You look as though your time in the woods was not pleasant."
Arysa smiled. "It was fine, truly."
Grandmother stared into her granddaughter's lovely face. "Now who tells a lie?" she asked. "There was someone in the woods with you tonight."
"How did you know?"
"He has visited our woods many times over the years. Do you know who he is?"
"Nay," Arysa shook her head.
Grandmother nodded. "I suppose one day he will make his presence known. Just as one day you will have to choose a path to travel."
"Just as you taught me," Arysa murmured with a soft smile. "I will make my destiny."
"Aye, you will, lovely. Just as surely as I will have to answer that particular deed with a high price. Do you comprehend the fate you must answer to if you go against our people?"
"You know I do. You did not raise me to be ignorant nor naïve with my actions or my powers."
Grandmother smiled and nodded her head. "If you travel a foreign road, then the one that you were promised to will not rest until he has had his vengeance. He will bring war down upon you and yours."
"I know, grandmother." Arysa placed a kiss on the wrinkled hand and smiled. "I will be ready."
"I truly hope so, my lovely. You have never met the man you were promised to."
"He must not be a likable person or else you would not have taught me to choose my own destiny and my fate. If you had liked him you would have taught me to be submissive to the fate that was etched out for me."
"There has never been a submissive fiber in your body," grandmother said with a laugh. "But you are right. I do not like him. When it was found that your mother was expecting a child he made claim to you and nothing could sway his decision."
"So you then decided to raise me in a different fashion, a fashion outside the dark realm of our society and its beliefs?"
"Aye," grandmother whispered. "And now it comes to the point where I will answer for my transgressions."
"Nay! I will let naught happen to you!"
Grandmother leaned forward and kissed Arysa's brow. "You have no say in the matter. I will gladly answer and pay the price, for you are worth everything to me. I should have raised your mother as I raised you ... and that is a worse crime than this. If I had, perhaps then I would not have lost her. But we cannot change the past. And I would do nothing different when it comes to you."
"The price for such a deed is too high. No one will harm you!"
"Just as you will choose your path, you will travel it without me and you know this. Do not worry over me. Should you go against our people and our beliefs, then you must concentrate on the one that will come for you ... the one that will bring havoc in his wake. Be prepared at all times. Do not act in a rash manner. Remember to use your powers wisely, sparingly, and to the best of your ability. Otherwise you will change the course of your destiny."
"So much too remember," Arysa whispered.
"You will recall all that you need as the time approaches." Grandmother assured her with a smile. "You make me proud, always remember that. Follow your heart and love as those of our people never do. Your destiny sits within your own hands. Sometimes it takes us many years, decades, and centuries to reach our goal, but in the end it will be worth it."
"I will use my powers to protect you," Arysa said, as tears filled her eyes.
"Nay. I have existed longer than most and I have kept you safe from those that would have taken you from me. Now, it's time to move on. I have no fears of what will come, for my greatest joy is you and through you I will continue to exist."
"Let me help in some way," Arysa pleaded. "Please, grandmother."
"You have learned your lessons well. You show love and care-both emotions that are foreign to our race. You dare to love, you dare to dream, and you dare to give of yourself."
Arysa sniffed and wiped her eyes. "I am what you taught me to be."
"Through you a new race will be born ... if you fight the final battle and win."
"And if I should lose?"
"Then you will be guarded for the rest of your days. You will live with the mark of a deserter and traitor upon you. The one who will come for you will mark you as his own with his cruelty. He has great powers and is cunning. He has made his way to the top of his ranks by performing the most dastardly deeds. He will stop at nothing in order to claim you as his own."
A chill ran down Arysa's spine. "You know so much," she murmured softly. "He is not the one in the woods, is he?"
"Nay."
"What of him? Is he part of my existence?"
Grandmother closed her eyes. "He cloaks himself in darkness," she murmured.
"And?"
"If you are asking me will he be strong enough and powerful enough to do battle with the one that will come ... I do not know." Grandmother shook her head. "I have felt his aura. He has strength, but I am unsure if it is strong enough to conquer the fate that awaits you."
Arysa chewed her bottom lip as she sorted through the thoughts that were running wild inside her head.
"As I said, you too will have to be cunning. That is the only way to fight the enemy. If you let him have the upper hand then he will play games ... games that are deadly. He wants you as his own, but never forget that he will destroy you if he thinks he is losing the battle. Your existence means very little to him. You are to be his trophy, his claim to that which he has never possessed ... one of the utmost positions in our society."
"Why? Why me?"
Grandmother hesitated. "Sit here across from me, lovely."
Arysa took a seat on the other side of the small table. Her nerves were jittery and her mouth had suddenly grown dry. Instincts told her to stop grandmother's words before they were spoken, but she could not. Grandmother had raised her well and backing away from something was not in her nature.
"Perhaps I should have told you sooner," grandmother whispered, rubbing her hand over her brow. She would give anything not to have to broach this subject with her granddaughter, but such was not the way of things. Arysa needed to be prepared and to have all her abilities functioning before the final battle came resting at her feet.
"Perhaps it would be best not to tell me," Arysa said in a calm voice that belied the emotions churning inside her.
"Nay. You must know. Would that I could not speak of this, but to do so would leave you vulnerable and that must not be."
"Then say it quickly, 'tis less painful that way."
"You, my lovely, are the daughter of our High Ruler."
Arysa sat back in the chair and stared at her grandmother. Surely she had misunderstood? But then how could she have? A hundred words she might have misunderstood, but not ten simple words. She shook her head only to have her grandmother nod hers. "How can this be?" she whispered.
"It has long been the tradition for the High Ruler to pick out the comeliest of maidens from our people and from them he picks one that will carry his seed. Among our people this is considered a great honor. Your mother was as lovely as you are and when the High Ruler took note of her beauty he declared that she would be the holder-the fertile land where his seed would grow.
"Though I tried my best to hide her from his sight, it was all for naught for she was young and foolish and thought it was thrilling to be chosen. Before there was ought I could d
o, he had claimed her and planted his seed within her womb. You are the product of that union.
"After your mother's death, I was granted the right to raise you-just as the one who has claimed you has the right to come for you. The High Ruler knew I would raise you differently than I had your mother, but he looked on it as a challenge. When the one you were promised to claims you, he will be placed in high standing among our people ... but only if he can break you from all that I have taught you and make you accept our people's rule and way of life."
Arysa was silent as she digested her grandmother's words. "A challenge," she murmured, her eyes meeting those of her grandmothers. "And what should happen if I win this challenge? What grand prize will I be granted? Why is it that men play games with the lives of others?"
Reaching out, grandmother placed her hand on one of Arysa's. "Nay, 'tis not men alone that play these games. Women play them too ... smart women ... women who are cunning and elusive. Though you might not like to face the truth, you are one of these women. I have raised you to be so, just as I raised you to know the meaning of love. My love for you is an example and it will be my burden to carry as I stand before the High Ruler. But you would do me an injustice if you forget this love and turn away from all that you were taught."
"I will not forget. But I will not let you stand before the High Ruler in defense of me."
"It would be in defense of myself, child, not you."
"Nay. You can dress it up as pretty as you like, but the truth cannot be hidden. You will be safe beneath the cover of my power until I can find a safe haven for you."
Grandmother shook her head. "My termination is at hand, lovely. I have no fears."
"Well, I do!" Arysa jumped to her feet and began pacing.
"Have no fears for me. I knew that my time would come and that I would have to answer for my misdeeds. What you must focus on is your future and the road you are about to travel."
Arysa stopped pacing and turned to look at her grandmother. "The High Ruler is coming for you, is he not?"