Bound By Blood

by C. H. Scarlett

  Like a breeze, she was in and out of schemes. Schemes of her mother, of Dĩas, of Evil, of Daŕēus. It made her dizzy. She exhaled and tried to calm down. She wasn’t making any sense. Why would her mother plot to end a curse she knew nothing of? Why did Samanthŕa keep harping on and bringing up her Awakening? The only thing she was achieving, she feared, was sounding like a broken echo. Well, she was broken wasn't she? And she was becoming her own senseless echo. Goddess, help me.

  “For someone who could say very little at supper, you certainly have found your voice now." He severed the silence. "And, you have made it very obvious that you have many questions and accusations."

  "So?" She prepared for his anger.

  "So . . . where should I begin?” He smiled, having no anger, and she could feel it though she could not see it. He cleared his throat. “Let’s start then with your Awakening. I’d be interested to know why it is you fear it.”

  This caused her fists to clench. “I fear nothing. Remember that if you ever intend on underestimating me. As for my reasons to avoid it, they are my own. You need not concern yourself with them.”

  “Well then, perhaps you can tell me if it is the Awakening you wish to avoid or the actual Awakener? I apologize for persisting, but you have me a bit confused.” He ignored her evasion. It was obvious that he knew he was pushing her buttons now and it seemed to bring him pleasure. She could feel his energy scream this from across the room and it infuriated her.

  “Did you not hear me?” She spun around without realizing he was right behind her. She nearly slammed into his chest as she stumbled back into the table. His power rained down upon her again like a storm. Not this time, she thought as she fought to hold her own against it. It was an invisible battle between them, her will against his.

  “I would never force an Awakening upon you,” Daŕēus said. “However, why you would fear such a thing baffles the mind. You seem to embrace any further advancement of your kind with open arms. Your desire to find knowledge, to learn, to discover, absolutely astounds me. It makes no sense that you would hold yourself back, or at least attempt to.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She forced herself to turn around again. She knew better than to be trapped by his eyes. His words played a tune across her mind. He had said he wouldn’t force an Awakening upon her. Did that confirm her mother was trying to force one between them? She wasn’t sure what anything meant anymore. Normally she could read between the lines, but now she was lost in his storm.

  Please let it all be a misunderstanding, she thought. Even if she came out looking ridiculous in the end, just let it be a misunderstanding.

  She sensed him move closer to her until she his breath fell against her neck. A shiver went down her spine. Not only must she avoid his powerful eyes but also his energy alone was reminding her that it was also a threat. Nothing could have prepared her for one such as him.

  “And as for stealing your dreams from your Awakener…"

  "You . . . you admit it then?"

  "If you had no intentions of Awakening, then I believe I did you a favor."

  Her breath ceased. Did he just have a point?

  "Besides, and allow me to ease your mind some . . . as High Priestess of my bloodlines, it was only natural that you connect with me on some subconscious psychic level.” His voice was deeply soft and alluring. She was having a hard time keeping a mental distance from him.

  She did know that what he said made sense-- or was it another trick? “What is it exactly that you want from me, then?” Her voice snapped because she had to know. Her nervousness showed but at this point, she no longer cared. “Somehow I have freed you; at least I am guessing this is the case, though I know not how, nor has it been confirmed no more than I remember, so on that account, in turn, you should just let me be. You should want nothing more from me.”

  “It’s not what I want, Priestess, it’s what I have to give,” he said smoothly. “You are right, though, in your assumptions. You did have something to do with freeing me.” He admitted it, but in a way as to say without words that he would speak of it no more. “I owe you much for that; and by the laws of the old ways, you must accept what it is I have to offer.”

  Her heart sank further. If Dĩas was ever angry with her before, he must want her dead now. No wonder he was not answering her calls. No wonder her father was ignoring her. She still didn’t know the reason they hated each other, but she did remember how her father reacted to him. She took a deep breath and worked up the courage to ask, “What is it you wish to give me, then?” Just accept the gift and be done with him. Maybe then he will leave.

  “Knowledge.” He reached around her and took the large crystal container holding the brandy. She felt her stomach drop as his arm brushed against hers. Electrical currents trickled up her skin. She heard him fill his glass and then he set the container back down, brushing against her again. She became stiff as a board, fighting the tempting bits of power he exchanged with one simple touch. Addicting.

  "Wha--what?" She made herself speak.

  “Forget about the Awakening and all these things which make you paranoid. Take what I am offering you."

  "Wh--why?" Focus!

  "Why? Because you are Priestess and I am offering you knowledge in which your imagination could not possibly grasp. I offer you forgotten things which no other aside from me knows. It’s a chance for you to learn the old ways and teach them to the bloodlines. Return what has been lost throughout the bloodlines since my absence. They are a shadow compared to what they once were, you know. ” He said this from behind her with a low and tempting voice.

  He noticed . . . he notices a difference within the families and openly admits to it? That was something she couldn't even get Dĩas and the Elders to do! Wait! No! He is baiting me. He is speaking only the things I want to hear him say. Focus! Finish this! Speak what is most important!

  “You laid a claim on me,” Samanthŕa remembered. “You triggered the first signs of my Awakening and then laid claim on me. I remember that much and what I couldn’t, my sisters told me. You think I am foolish enough to think that this is all about knowledge? Did my mother tell you to say that? How can I forget about my Awakening when you have made it all the harder now to fight it? You have ruined all my efforts to prevent--” She stopped abruptly. She almost said too much. Her moods were jumping again. She had no control over anything. Was it his power doing this to her?

  “I have every right to lay claim over you. You are High Priestess of my bloodlines. Your protection is my duty. There should be no secrets between us. Your mother has nothing to do with that. You are vital to the bloodlines’ survival."

  "My father sees to my safety." It nearly killed her to say.

  "Obviously, Dĩas is not suited to do so since you were out playing horse thief, getting yourself nearly killed. If I hadn’t showed up, who knows what would have happened to you?”

  “If you hadn’t showed up then I wouldn’t have run from the Tavern, stolen a horse and headed into danger,” she corrected him. “I would not have led the Nosophoros to the Lycãons. The festival and all those there would not have fallen under attack.”

  “You’re wrong. I intercepted the Nosophoros before they attacked the Tavern. The Vaŕlok that I went straight for served the one who was sending them out to attack. While Dĩas and his Elders met with Evil, Evil decided to take full advantage of it. How could they be blamed if they were in a meeting like everyone else, in the Higher Realms? Someone among them with great power knew you would all be sneaking away into the night. Those attacks were planned.” He drank his brandy, continuing without hurry. “If it was not for me, you would have never stolen my horse without my consent. He rode into the forest towards us because I wanted him to. He rode away with you because I willed him to do so. The Lycãons would have been attacked no matter what direction you took. It was all planned, even your running. You may have thought you were running from me, Priestess, but in truth, I was always with you.
”

  His words sent chills down her spine. They seemed so familiar. Then she remembered-- that’s what he’d said in her dreams. Curse him, she thought. She felt like a fool. Thinking those dreams were from a Vii’s bond. They were nothing more than his willing her to release him. And why did she care if he was? Her emotions and feelings were in turmoil. She felt like a Phãegen at the time of her moon.

  Her mind was wandering away from her people’s peril. She got back on track. “Who did this then? Who is controlling a species which could never be controlled before?”

  “That’s yet to be discovered. Maybe together we can solve such a mystery.” He suggested, “I am sure we can discover much, you and I, since you are High Priestess and more important than you realize.” He was attempting to make her accept what he was saying.

  “I don’t understand. The meeting was called because of the Storm and the power behind it, which was obviously you. Evil was just as confused about that and worried as we were.” She kept trying to sort it out in her mind, keeping her back turned, her eyes away from his.

  “That doesn’t mean they were going to pass up the chance to attack you. Evil never passes up an opportunity. Besides, have you forgotten the storm which moved beneath mine? The rain which destroyed your fires, the source which stole your ability to use your powers in order to protect yourself, the very thing that allowed the Nosophoros to flee the darkness and attack?”

  Somehow, she had turned to face him. He grinned. It caught her off guard. What is there to grin about? He was annoying her, as was her lack of control.

  “The bloodlines are in more danger than ever. You, Priestess, are in more danger than ever. It is vital to Evil that you are soon dead, and before your Awakening.” His directness made it so hard not to look into his eyes. “I believe you had a fear that you had been marked?"

  Yes, but by your hands, Giant.

  "In truth you have, but not by my hands.”

  She didn’t like what she was hearing. She searched his energy for some sort of sign that would reflect his dishonesty. She felt somehow though, that he spoke the truth.

  "What do you suggest?"

  “If you allow me to teach you, to make you stronger, protect you, then you will have nothing to worry about,” he said plainly, without riddle. “I need you stronger."

  "Do you now?"

  "You feel this is personal. You are right. I care for all of my bloodlines. However, I must pay special attention to you as it is in your best interest to pay special attention to me. For you are Priestess and if Evil claims your life then they can claim your power. It could be devastating to our blood. I would consider it a great loss.” He would say no more.

  “When and where?” She looked at him, avoiding a direct stare. He had her attention.

  "Excuse me?"

  “When and where? There is a lot to be considered, you know. I cannot just wander off with you. I don’t even trust you enough to wander off with you. My father-- if he finds out I will be even more doomed than I already am. After all, you said I played a part in your freedom, well, I am sure he is plotting my unspeakable punishment as we speak of it. Then there is my mother, whom I love but know all too well. If she knows that I am spending any sort of time with you then I will be harassed constantly about my Awakening. She will even slip me charms, I am sure, to get me to do as she wishes.” She was paranoid. She was out of her element.

  "Back to that, are we?"

  "You just let me worry about what I feel I must worry about for my own private reasons. Now, when and where?"

  Daŕēus laughed. “Each night, you shall come to my Realm. There, I have power enough to protect you. No one, not even your mother, will know what you are doing. No one,” he promised and she felt power in his words.

  Clearing her throat nervously concerning his dominance, her mind triggered another concern, “By myself? In your Realm? Alone with you? In your dwelling? Do you think I’m that much of a fool? Anything could happen to me there. You could do anything to me at all and are powerful enough to erase my memory of it so that I would never know.” She hissed this at him in a low voice, standing her ground. She admitted to herself that she desired to know the old ways, restore the families, and keep herself from falling victim to Evil, but being alone with him when he had already triggered her Awakening? That frightened her.

  “Bring your sisters with you. Bring them and they will keep watch so that I do nothing that you fear of me. A fear mind you, you should know better than to have,” he said, as if reminding her of who he was. But did he forget that it was who he was that had her fearful?

  He drank the rest of his brandy and then stared into the fire. “I feel many traitors mingling within the bloodlines. They are no longer pure, which is probably why they are on the verge of extinction. These traitors are off setting the balances, letting forces go that could do us all great harm."

  "You truly see that? You are not simply saying it only to lure me deeper into your web?" She tested him.

  "I am not under the dark spells that blind the rest of your kind, Priestess. I do not see these things through you. If anything, you have seen what little you have, through your connection to me."

  That astounded her.

  "Yes, through the dreams you claim I have robbed you of. Through that little bit, I have managed to keep the darkness lifted from your eyes . . . to a certain extent."

  "Then tell me more." Her inner emotions pleaded but her outer tone remained neutral.

  "Take these Creatures which attacked the Beal-Tene Celebration. The likes of them have not been seen before, yet here they are, running free and working under the cloak of a nameless one."

  "The Nosophoros."

  "They bring with them plagues and poisons, which not only harm all breeds of life on TEŔAH but are harming the universe itself in ways you have yet to understand. Yet they are nothing compared to what will come, if all this continues. So will you forget your suspicions and take me up on my offer for the sake of those you love and your position as High Priestess?” He asked one final time.

  “I can’t see as I have a choice,” she said, suddenly comfortable in his presence, though she didn’t want him to know it. Every time he said High Priestess, it was with such reverence and respect. It was as if he knew what it truly meant, which was something very rare. She savored that.

  “We all have a choice, Samanthŕa. Even if one of the choices is something you find distasteful, you still have a choice. And I will force nothing upon you." He smiled slightly.

  "Truly?"

  “You are under my protection now, which is why I laid claim to you."

  "Ah, but you did not give me a choice, did you?"

  "The claim was my duty and you have yours as Priestess. If I had my way, if I forced your hand concerning anything, you would be with me in my realm where I have complete power to ensure your protection, but to show you my intentions are honest, you are here with your mother."

  He had a point.

  "Now would I allow you to be here with your mother if my only plan was to force an Awakening? I would have taken you to my realm and done it already, no?” His smile grew.

  Again, he had a point. "What of my father, then? He will not approve of this."

  “Leave that burden between him and me. I will keep him from knowing what we are up to. I do so not because I fear him, but because it will ease your mind. You will have enough to focus on."

  "But what about the curse? What he did to you? Surely you want to harm him for that? And just why did he do that to you?"

  "Right now my concern is for you. As for him, our day shall come. As for you. one day I’m sure you will learn what causes our friction, as no secret remains buried for long, especially with you around.” He laughed, as if he knew her curious history concerning secrets. “For now, all you must do is open your mind to the knowledge I have to offer."

  "When?"

  "Tomorrow evening, shall we begin then?”

  “If my sisters will
join me,” she told him, wondering how to explain all this to them. “Even though you say you only wish to teach me, with my Awakening so near now and so invoked by your power, I…”

  “You do not trust yourself? You might lose your Vii wits and take advantage of me?” He’d made a joke. The Giant of intimidation made a joke at her expense.

  How lovely, she thought. “Doubtful,” she said coldly, putting an end to the humor. “As for my sisters then, I have to propose this to them.”

  “They will agree,” he assured her. “These things are easy for me to foresee.” He laughed again, partially, as if he was wondering why she so underestimated his powers, sights and intuitions.

  “I would feel a lot better if you told me why Dĩas imprisoned you and how he was able to do so. If he had such a power then, how do I know he will not find out about what you want me to do now and use it against the both of us?” She was still stumbling concerning that. “I mean, you did not try to destroy the bloodline or show the signs of being Evil, did you?”

  “No,” he said coldly. “And I gave him power to harm me then by trusting him. He has no such power now. Nor will he ever harm you in my presence." It was as if his words were etched in stone.

  "Then why did he do it?"

  "The time for you to know such things is not upon us yet; one step at a time, Samanthŕa understand your concerns though. You wonder if I was an Evil force, a dangerous threat, an enemy of my own blood. No." He poured a bit more brandy into his glass. He exhaled slowly and his thoughts seemed thick. Finally, he said, "If I was a danger to you, I would not have Chymeŕah’s trust, now would I? The Lycãons even trust me. They celebrate my return even now as we speak.” He had a point and she knew it.

  "Kaléé said she dreamt a prophecy. She--"

  “The Vlachŕa spoke of the Prophecy promising my return . . . one she whispered amongst her clans for many moons, even if my name was not allowed to be spoken aloud."

  "I never heard them."

  "The Strygĩ were not allowed to learn of anything concerning me. For this you have Dĩas and his Elders to thank.” His eyes became cruel but then immediately softened when he looked at her. “Now then, horses shall be prepared and left for you in the stable. Seems the safest way to travel these days without ones of power catching scent of it."