“What?”
“How did you do that?” he finally managed to get out. “You connected…”
“Connected?” My eyebrows curled in confusion. “So?”
“But,” Alexander was still having a hard time speaking. “Only the Jarwin can do that. How were you able to? And how did you keep from changing?”
Kiera fell silent. I got the impression she wasn’t pleased, but what could she do?
“Well,” I began, trying to remember exactly what I had done to connect. “I guess I just willed it. I desired guidance from a source outside the situation, so I let my energy connect with the stars. I couldn’t just float up there, so I spiraled my energy up until I reached them.” I tried to keep my explanation simple. Like it hadn’t really been that big of a deal. “But there is something more important to discuss at the moment.”
Alexander gasped. “More important than connecting? Do you understand what you’ve done?”
“Yes,” I answered swiftly. “Like I said, there are other things to be discussed.” I straightened my body. “We are going to help Jaden, because it’s the right thing to do. The Jarwin are wrong. I know what to do, and I need you all to trust me.” The energy I had received from my connection seemed to lend me the extra confidence I needed.
Alexander’s face expressed sheer surprise, but he also seemed to enjoy my newly found courage. Kiera’s however, held no expression at all. Hope smiled, and Samara had already left the room.
“You know what to do?” Alexander asked curiously.
“Yes.”
“Okay, then. Let us have it.” His eyes held warmth I hadn’t seen in him before. Had he known this would happen? Alexander seemed so controlling moments ago, and now he was going to let me make the decisions? Just like that? Whatever had changed gave me the opportunity I desired, so I took it.
I looked at Kiera and Hope. “I need you two as well.”
They both looked at me expectantly, but Kiera’s face was unyielding.
I faced everyone. “I feel the Tirates want information about me, so I’ll stay and speak with them. Alexander will stay with me to lend support or protection should I need it. But I don’t believe I will. I can give the Tirates what they need, given the opportunity. I’ll trade my information for Jaden.”
“How do you know the Tirates are close by? What if they’re out of the country or something?” Alexander asked.
“They’re close; I can feel them. In fact, I think they’re back by the state park, just hidden.” I looked to Hope before returning my gaze to Alexander and Kiera. “Earlier, Hope told me I needed to get back to my dream, and the ones I just spoke with said the same thing. I know now what I missed…” I took a deep breath. “In my dream, I was in my changed state when I found Jaden. That’s the key. I can only find her if I shift, and will myself to her.”
“Are you sure?” Alexander asked. His face was serious.
“Yes,” I answered quickly.
“Okay,” he said. “Let’s go get her.”
I looked at Kiera. “I need you to take Jaden out of there once the Tirates agree to release her. Then Hope can come and get you both.”
Kiera nodded just a tiny bit, but it was enough.
I turned my gaze to Hope. “Head toward the state park, and wait for Kiera and Jaden by the entrance.”
“Will do,” Hope replied.
“Good,” I breathed a sigh of relief. “Once you’re gone, I’ll make a deal with the Tirates to give them the information they seek, as long as they seek the information from me next time. If they won’t agree, then we’ll flee. They’ll agree, I think. They’re desperate.”
“How do you know all of this?” Alexander asked.
“I already knew the answers, but now that I’ve connected, I am able to see them. Or feel them, to be more accurate. It was only fear that was keeping the answers from me.”
“I see.” Alexander’s mood had lifted into a very pleasant one.
“I’m not sure I understand your change of mood, Alexander.”
“I’ll explain things after we get Jaden back.” He smiled, but with a sense of deviousness.
“Deal.” I returned his devious demeanor.
“All right, then. I’ll go first. See you all soon.” I closed my eyes and drifted into thought.
Internal silence washed over me, blocking out all the sounds of their breathing, the creaking in the house pipes, the bushes brushing the siding as the breeze rustled them, any external distraction. I gathered all the energy in my body again, but this time much more quickly. As soon as I willed my energy to take me to Jaden, my essence spiraled away. Heat rushed through me at an alarming rate, causing me to cry out internally at the fire that raged within. Sending just my energy somewhere was apparently easier than shifting my body there.
By the time I opened my eyes, my essence hovered in the round room. Jaden remained in the center of a large and intricate circle. I had to focus all my intent so as not to accidentally shift into solid form. It was much harder than I had anticipated.
I closed my eyes, calling out to Alexander and Kiera with all my will. In a flash, they were by my side, but far enough away to keep from mixing energy. I signaled them to follow me to the back of the room. They did as I suggested.
The three men weren’t in the room, just Jaden. Once we were out of her line of sight, I willed myself into solid form. Alexander and Kiera did the same.
“Wow,” I whispered. “That actually worked.” They didn’t share my enthusiasm.
“Now what?” Alexander whispered, his eyes darting around the room, watching for threats.
“Now, I speak with Jaden. Once she understands that I need her to go with Kiera, I will find the men and attempt to make a trade.”
Kiera was still silent. I began to suspect that something more might be troubling her. She did as I asked and followed me to Jaden, despite whatever was on her mind.
I wasn’t nearly as fast or as quiet in my solid form, but Jaden didn’t hear me coming. She must have been too emotional to comprehend much.
I crawled up onto the small circular platform and touched her shoulder. She jumped, mumbling incoherently under her breath.
“I told you… I… she… hates… we’re… not… even…” Her voice shook. Jaden didn’t recognize me.
“Shhh… Jaden,” I whispered. “It’s Aislinn. You have to be quiet. We’re going to get you out of here, but you have to trust me. Can you understand what I’m saying?”
I could see the terror in her breathless body. The veins in her neck throbbed, and tears stained her once perfectly made-up face. After a moment, I could see the comprehension in her eyes. She was snapping out of her delirium.
“Aislinn?” she whispered. “What are—” Sobs interrupted her speech. “What are you doing here?”
“Coming to get you,” I assured her. “Like I said, I need you to be as quiet as possible and trust me. Can you do that?”
“Yes,” she mumbled so softly that I had to read her lips.
“Okay, then.” I pointed to Kiera. “This is Hope’s little sister, Kiera. She’s going to help you out of here when the time comes. Hope will pick you two up in her car. It’s vitally important that you don’t ask questions about this. Just trust that I can get you out of here and that Kiera will help. They will take you home, or to Cooper’s, wherever you want to go once you leave here.”
Jaden nodded and pointed toward the door. “They come in over there. One of the men will be checking on me soon. They don’t let me leave this room, so I have no idea where to go once we’re out.” Her voice trembled as she spoke.
I rubbed her arm. “Like I told you, you need to trust us. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“For now, Kiera will stay here with you. Alexander and I have to go over there and wait for the men.” I kept my voice calm and powerful.
“Wait.” Jaden grabbed my arm, the look on her face desperate. “I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am. This experience has
given me a lot of time to think, and I wish I had done things differently. Please, can you forgive me?”
I didn’t really know what to say. Part of me felt irked that she was taking up time with apologies. Getting out should have been the only thing on her mind. But Jaden needed to get it off her chest, in case our plan didn’t go well. I didn’t speak it aloud, but I smiled in forgiveness before standing up. Jaden’s breathing grew heavier when she saw my face, and her eyes closed in relief.
The moment we reached the door, Alexander pulled something shiny and black from his boot: the obsidian knife I’d seen at the Celtic store in town.
“What’s that for?”
“Protection.” He eyed me like I was silly for having to ask. “It’s natural, so it can shift with me. You didn’t expect me to come unarmed, did you?”
“No,” I replied. “I suppose not.” I turned back to the door, and waited.
It seemed like we waited for an hour, though it wasn’t nearly that long. Finally, the door creaked open, and I could hear two guttural laughs. The men had no idea what waited for them behind the door, and when they saw me, they froze solid.
For being so large and muscular, they sure seemed shaken by the fact that a teen, a child, and a young man were standing between them and their captive.
One man reached behind his back, fumbling for something. Kiera clasped her hand over Jaden’s eyes, prepared for what was coming. Alexander immediately changed into his translucent state. The men did as well. I, however, stayed in solid form.
They must have sounded some type of alarm with whatever had been behind the broody man’s back, because within seconds, the large warrior-garbed leader rushed the room, sword drawn. The weapon looked like the same Celtic sword I’d seen in my dream.
The leader appeared stunned when his eyes found me. I kept my face void of emotion. I had no idea who the man was, and I didn’t see the need to try to intimidate with dirty looks.
The silence gnawed at me. I could feel Alexander floating above me, as the other men floated above their leader. After a quick survey of the room, and the men in front of me, I decided I would speak first.
“Hello.” I stood up straight to appear strong. “My name is Aislinn. I’ve come for Jaden. You’ve taken her against her will and asked her questions about me that she obviously doesn’t have the answers to. We have come to take her out of here.”
I waited for the man to catch his breath. The leader seemed to have complete control over the others. Odd, since Tirates were supposed to be too selfish to work together. I must have been their common goal.
“You look just like your mother.” His eyes flickered with curiosity, and he sheathed his sword. “Except her irises were emerald, not blue, and your eyes hold power that hers did not possess.”
“I will gladly stay and speak with you about whatever it is you were trying to get out of Jaden, whether it be about Relina or not. But you have to stay in solid form, all of you.” I looked up at the men hovering above us, Alexander included. Such hot heads. “I want to discuss things in a calm manner. Otherwise, I’ll be forced to take her out of here.”
“Humph.” The large man sounded like thunder. Just like my dream. “You are indeed like your mother. I’m not sure that I have many questions now that I have what I needed.”
“So you won’t mind if we just leave now?” I asked curtly.
“Why the rush?” His words began to sound like the hissing of a snake. My stomach turned into a knot, and I tried to focus.
“If you have no questions for me, then what’s the point of staying?”
“Ah,” the man bellowed. His crooked smile made me quiver. “Don’t you have questions for me?”
“No.”
“You don’t want to know why I took your friend?” His scowl was eerie. He began to pace back and forth along the floor in front of me, and I could see a heat wave around his feet, just like the one I had seen a couple of nights ago. Panic set in as I realized I did have some characteristics of the Tirates.
“No.” I shook my head as I backed away. “It can’t be.”
“Why not? Don’t tell me you didn’t suspect?” His deep laugh mocked me as my heart began to race.
I looked straight into his eyes, and my face hardened. “I guess I do have some questions, but first, you let Kiera take Jaden out of here. Once I know they’re okay, we’ll talk.”
“If you insist.” The man motioned to the two floating above him. They reluctantly became solid again and went to retrieve Jaden.
Kiera uncovered Jaden’s eyes, and Jaden looked terrified as the men approached. They didn’t harm her, however. They simply helped her to her feet and waved Kiera and Jaden to the door. One of them stayed behind; the other led them out.
I waited until I had some indication that they were free, safe. Soon, Alexander changed into solid form as well. “They are far enough away. They’ll be fine.” He spoke urgently.
I turned back to the strange man, who was now staring at me with his arms crossed. “I told you my name, do I get yours?”
“Huh,” he chuckled, a bit less like thunder this time. “I’m Farrow. I used to be very close to Relina. Of course, that was many years ago.”
“Why did you take Jaden?”
“To get you here, of course.” His dark eyes sent another surge of disgust through me, and a loud voice in my head warned me to be careful. “I had to know if the rumors were true… if Relina’s daughter did become a Ewlishash, and if you were Relina’s daughter. It seems that you very much are.”
“Why didn’t you just ask?” I snapped, and Alexander shot me a look of warning. I forced myself to calm down. “As far as I know, I am Relina’s daughter, but I don’t know who my father is, and I only recently found out about my mother. I don’t know very much about her yet.” I hoped my offer of information would get Farrow to lighten up and speak more casually.
“First, I didn’t ask because I wasn’t able to get close enough to you. You are very well protected.” He paced again, this time putting one arm behind his back.
“Second,” he met my gaze. “The only reason we took Jaden was to see if you truly were Relina’s daughter. I know the Jarwin would not have authorized this little visit you have made, which tells me that, despite starting to change less than a day ago, you are already defying the Jarwin. Only the daughter of Relina would so blatantly go against the Jarwin like that.” He smirked. “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t blame you for going against them. They do tend to be a tad controlling.”
“I will not comment on the Jarwin. I haven’t had the chance to get to know them. In this case, they were clearly wrong, and I chose to act anyway.” I really didn’t like Farrow comparing his feelings about the Jarwin to mine. He made me want to vomit.
“Figures. I guess you have chosen a side, and it does not appear to be ours. Pity. Your mother was so good at getting what she wanted.” His wicked smile widened.
“My Mother was a Tirate?” Something caught in my throat as I tried to speak.
“You didn’t know?” Farrow’s question taunted me.
“Does it sound like I knew?”
“Your mother was one of the most powerful. She knew exactly what she wanted, and she got it every time. Even now, I am still bound by the spell she put on me. It is sad, a pity that she is gone.”
“Spell?”
“I am not able to bring harm to you. Relina cast that spell on many of us. She even cast a spell on your father. That is how she got him to impregnate her.”
“Do you know who my father is?” I didn’t want to give Farrow any ammunition against me, but my desperation to know more about my father was too strong.
“No,” he admitted. “But Relina and I were together until she met your father. She never told me his name out of fear that I would destroy him, keeping her for myself. But she did admit that when he refused her because she was a Tirate, she cast a love spell on him. When Relina got pregnant, she withdrew the spell, and your father left imm
ediately. He left your mother alone to raise you.”
“But Relina didn’t raise me. She died,” I objected.
“On the contrary. Relina went into hiding, out of fear that—” He cut off abruptly.
“Fear of what?” I asked impatiently.
Farrow narrowed his eyes. “I think I have given you all the information I can right now. Maybe it is best for you two to leave.”
“If that’s your wish, I would like to get back home myself.” I took a piece of paper from my pocket and handed it to him. “This has my cell phone number on it. I thought I might need it, so I came prepared. Next time you want information, call.” I forced a smile, trying to make him see that we didn’t need to be enemies, even when every fiber of my being twisted with revulsion.
“I will keep that in mind. It has been interesting.”
“Likewise,” I replied flatly.
I turned to Alexander. “See you in a moment.” I nodded to give him the okay to leave.
I closed my eyes and tried to will myself back to Hope’s house, but my mind circled with thoughts of Relina. I kept thinking about how Farrow had information about me, information about my mother, and he kept it secret.
At first, my frustration kept me from shifting. Then fear kicked in. I’d sent my only means of protection back to Hope’s, and now I was unable to make it there myself. My fear made me even heavier than the frustration.
19
TRAPPED
I pushed all my questions aside and focused once more on Hope’s house. With relief, I felt myself begin to shift. I became a floating mass of nothing again, and willed myself out of the Tirate’s lair.
I couldn’t leave. What was happening? Fear fired off like pistons throughout my essence. Panic vibrated through me, slowing me down, though not back into a solid form.
“Why?” I shouted. “I made a deal with you! Why have you trapped me here?”
Farrow floated before me, and smiled his wicked smile again. “I am not holding you any longer than I need to.” He gave a thunderous laugh. “You told me you would answer my questions, and I have one more.”
“Hurry, then,” I urged him, trying to stay calm. “Alexander will return for me if I don’t make it home soon.”
The Heart-Shaped Emblor (The Ewlishash Series) Page 25