The Comyenti Series Book Bundle, Volume 1 and 2 (Epic Romantic Supernatural Fantasy)

by Natasja Hellenthal

  ‘Very much so. It’s so peaceful. We have been on many a holiday, but to me home is the best place. I have seen a lot of divine places on earth but all around here is my beautiful home. I want to take over the farm some day and grow old here.’

  ‘Really?’ he asked.

  She stared back at him, straight in his eyes, unashamed, for she could hear the hint of disdain in his words.

  ‘Yes, really. After all, it’s important to feel connected to someplace special, where you were born and raised. Where your history was started. My dad always says, “To be no part of anybody or anything, is to be nothing.” His roots are here as are his parents’,’ she said looking up at the canopy. ‘and so are mine. One half of the family tree is rooted here and the other half?’ she shrugged her shoulders. ‘I love my mum and all she has given me, but it isn’t always easy being among people as you know. No one knows, but still…they can be so envious of our beauty and so…stupid sometimes, but Mum says we will always be different from them, so there is no use in trying to be like them.’

  ‘I was hoping your mother taught you and your siblings at home, rather than send you to school with so many narrow-minded children, parents perhaps and teachers. The ignorant, and those who are unwilling to open their minds and hearts, are the most dangerous of all. Miss Rhema seems to be one of them?’

  Valera chuckled at that.

  ‘Yes, she is a funny one, but harmless. Not many of the children take her seriously. I never did but she still is a good teacher. My parents are home tutoring us for the most part, but there are a few classes they don’t have much expertise in. There is a special arrangement for us to attend history and maths classes. Mum says it is important to know about our human side too so that we will be less prejudicial. We are very carefully in how we act, you will be pleased to know. We can never fully be ourselves amongst the villagers but no one suspects anything. We are good at staying out of trouble.’

  ‘That’s very reassuring to hear.’

  His thoughts moved to Ashanna and how she had loved teaching at the local school miles away from where they lived at the coast. She had loved all those children as if they were her own. And Twello; how tiny and fragile he had looked on her lap and so very young while he slept against her breast. He could tell from her eyes, which so rarely shone with inner happiness, when she had had a good night; one free of nightmares. He had been teaching her to deal with her bad dreams and it had proven to be successful. She had learned to fight her own demons, instead of running away from them. Shazar had taught her about lucid dreaming; an ancient form of dream therapy used amongst the comyentis, as well as some native human tribes. Shazar had been out all night in the woods searching for a specific creature to borrow a gift from to show her when he came home that he felt a love for her so deep, so intense he could hardly contain it. She looked like an angel sitting by the fire with her face lit up by the golden glow of the flames. His heart warmed upon seeing it, as if it had its own fire burning. They did not share one word as he silently, without waking the boy, came to sit by her and kissed her on the brow.

  Her short life had been so full of pain and suffering. With every oracle reading she did, she slowly built up her knowledge of and insight into the world, but she suffered in the process. Ashanna had brought a great deal of light and had given much help to others in her shrine by her hometown, and to Twello and Shazar as well. But no one knew what a price she had really paid. She was tormented because of it. Wise before her time, she suffered for their sins, through their lives and crimes, not her own; for she had none.

  Shazar could not even begin to understand how she could continue to live on with all those memories and pain, for he had felt them too to a degree; ever since the day of their bond, their Heartmerge. He desperately tried to heal her with his love for her, trying to wipe out her past by teaching her to focus on the present, the now. Looking at her he hoped he had succeeded, him and their son Twello. She truly was an angel, put on this world for others, not herself. She could not always bear the goodness, the love and light offered to her by Twello and Shazar. Sometimes it hurt her just as pain did, because during those loving moments she realised what she had missed all those years alone in her temple. Moreover, she could not always trust the love offered still, even after many years. The past had been her greatest enemy. Despite all of that, Shazar’s love and patience had done her much good. It had begun to heal her, slowly, and this had filled his heart with joy when he remembered her smiling. He could live off that alone: her smile.

  ‘You look miles away. Someone special you are thinking about?’

  He felt caught and shook his head looking down.

  After a moment of silence Shazar answered, ‘Nothing escapes you, does it?’

  Valera gave a hearty laugh, so much like her mother.

  Perhaps…when she is in child-bearing years, he shook his head at the alarming thought.

  She is Sula’s daughter! Yes… so perfect for you, another darker voice said; a voice in him that he had heard ever since he had first killed…

  His two sides were duelling with each other.

  I have a full comyenti son. He will continue the line, not these quarterlings, not even with me.

  But that negative thought alarmed him. It was like his old self had come back to him. His evil self.

  No, your true comyenti self; not your weakened, soft, almost human side! Sula is still young and she is the only one perfect for you. And she is still fertile!

  ~~~

  ‘Something wrong?’ he heard a familiar voice ask suddenly.

  He looked up to see Sula, with a slightly upset face, coming to join them.

  ‘You were so silently sitting here, I was wondering if you had argued.’

  Valera laughed at that.

  ‘Comyentis arguing? We were just enjoying the good vibes here, Mum.’

  Sula gave her a rueful smile, knowing what she meant, looking at the trees.

  ‘You have lovely children, Sula. My compliments.’

  ‘Thank you. I will pass on your compliment to my husband.’ Sula peeked up at the tree with her two youngest in it and waved at them.

  A few moments later all of them sat together enjoying their lunch under the protection of the trees.

  ‘Thank you, Sula, for this time with you and your children.’

  ‘Well, don’t thank me. It’s good for my children to meet with another comyenti.’

  He smiled sadly at that, a little hurt. He could feel her withdraw from him, both in mind and body.

  Why did you take him to this place, so dear to us? she asked Valera in her head, blocking her thoughts from Shazar.

  Valera looked at Sula, aware of her mother’s discomfort and the tension between the two. Sorry, I wasn’t thinking.

  But it couldn’t be helped now, so they ate in silence.

  ‘How is Fay?’ Shazar asked out of the blue.

  Valera glanced at her mother waiting with curious eyes for her to answer.

  ‘Fine, she’s a big girl now, taking care of her self.’

  ‘Has she met anyone yet?’ Shazar asked.

  ‘What kind of a question is that?’

  ‘Mum, just answer him. It’s a normal question. She is ten years my senior, so you would think she is allowed to court someone,’ Valera said in a whining voice.

  Sula narrowed her eyes at her and Shazar had a bite of one of the apples offered.

  ‘Yes, she has, but don’t worry, it’s not a human male.’

  Shazar almost choked on the piece of apple in his throat.

  ‘What do you mean by that?’

  Valera laughed, throwing her head at the unintentional pun. But it was Almaz that answered before her mother or Valera could, ‘She has met a woman. They’re in looooove!’

  Jolaz giggled in his fists at that.

  ‘Oh,’ Shazar simply responded.

  ‘Why yes, you should be pleased about that. At least, she won’t be creating any halflings or quarterlings like you
feared so much!’ Sula said grumpily. In reality, she was perfectly happy with Fay’s choice: Tana Woodwolf, a lovely brunette, who had grown up on a northern mountain farm just like Fay had. They had met a couple of years back and had been travelling together ever since; something Sula envied the girl, and her girlfriend, for. Again she thought of Feline…

  Shazar smiled, ‘True enough. I’m happy for her. She at least remains close to her roots.’

  ‘What do you mean by that?’ Sula asked with a puzzled face.

  ‘Why, didn’t you know? Comyentis are bi-sexual by nature. Our souls are after all genderless and choose for us, be that a male or female partner.’

  ‘Oh,’ it was Sula that was speechless now. It is starting to make sense…

  ‘I’ve had not much opportunity to meet many people obviously, but I’ve always steered towards women,’ Shazar elaborated. ‘as most comyentis seem to!’ He laughed as if he knew about her and Feline, Sula noticed in shock, but he couldn’t, could he? No, he must have referred to himself and Fay…

  ‘And when I met you,’ he added. ‘I knew my soul had made its choice. It appears Fay has too. She always was a free spirit and knew what she wanted, didn’t she?’

  Sula smiled, relieved at first but then she grew cold and started to worry because her children were there. She didn’t want Shazar mentioning his feelings for her in front of them! She warned him in her mind and he nodded silently.

  ‘Yes, indeed,’ Sula answered nonchalantly. ‘Her heart has made the right choice and she is very sensible and keeps a low profile. She is a nomad for the most part, but she and her girlfriend do have a lovely tree hut in the northern woods, which they reside in during winter. Felix helped them build it, it’s truly magnificent!’

  ‘I can imagine! It sounds great!’ He looked actually amazed to hear this.

  They all ate in silence, and Shazar picked up some old memories through Sula, memories of Fay. Sula thought about her with pain in her heart. Shazar felt it as well and somehow understood.

  ‘Some birds are not meant to ever touch the ground,’ he spoke softly. ‘Their feathers are meant to carry them; the open skies are their homes. And when they spread their wings away from you, the part of you that knows that rejoices. But still, the place you remain behind in is that much more empty when they’re gone.’

  Sula’s eyes grew misty and she smiled gratefully at him. He knew how to soothe a woman; a mother, she gave him that much.

  ‘Well, thank you for the food, it was delicious,’ Shazar said, standing. All he had eaten was one apple. They were all finished eating and he knew it was time for him to go.

  ‘We have to do this again some other time. I would like to see Aigle too before I go. We haven’t been introduced properly. Any idea where he could be?’

  ‘Helping dad make cider,’ Almaz answered him.

  ‘Oh, well I would hate to interrupt them.’

  ‘I am sure they will make time for you, uncle,’ the girl suggested.

  Both Valera and Sula stared at the girl. Uncle?

  I told her they could call me that if that’s alright with you? Shazar asked her through their bond.

  Sure why not? she answered him a little cynically, but aloud she said,

  ‘Perhaps you could meet at the bridge, I’ll tell him to meet you there at sunset?’

  ‘I’ll come with you.’ Almaz said, clinging to Shazar’s leg.

  ‘No, you can’t, love,’ Sula said worriedly.

  ‘We could all pick berries at the riverbank!’ Jolaz shouted.

  ‘Sorry, dearies, but I have to talk to Aigle alone,’ Shazar said raising his hands up in defence. ‘But I tell you what, the three of us could talk some more later. I have so many stories to tell.’

  ‘Really? We love stories don’t we, Jolaz?’

  ‘If they have knights and dragons in them,’ the boy replied.

  ‘Yeah, or unicorns and lots of heroes!’ the girl added.

  ‘Hmm, those are just for babies, I have real stories to tell, with real heroes and villains.’ He grinned, his eyes gleaming like he was a child again too.

  ‘Great, we could have a party, couldn’t we, Mum?’ Almaz asked with excitement.

  ‘And we could dress up as knights and dragons!’ Jolaz added, also getting exited.

  ‘And I could sing my mermaid song, and we could bake pies and roast chestnuts on the fire and-’

  ‘Hold on, you two,’ Sula laughed, hugging her children tenderly. ‘We don’t know how long Shazar will stay for.’

  All of them looked at him in anticipation of an answer.

  ‘Surely long enough for a party?’ Valera asked, joining them, after tidying up.

  ‘I have no other plans, but,’ casting Sula a glance he added. ‘It’s really up to your mother.’

  All eyes were fixed on her now. She sighed, giving in.

  ‘We will have a small party for our… brother, Shazar, tomorrow afternoon and you can tell your stories then.’ She smiled defeated.

  ‘Yayyyyy!’ The children laughed and jumped up and down, except for Valera who felt too old for that, but she was happy too, because it meant she would have a little more time with Twello before he would be on his way again with his father. Twello and Valera had spent hours talking at the inn, and had gone for a stroll in the valley that morning. She could tell he was dubious about leaving for home with his father again. There were things on his mind she could tell and it had something to do with Shazar. But that was all she could figure out, as she couldn’t mind read other people’s minds word for word like Aigle could. Aigle had offered to teach her how to, but she had had no real interest in it until now... Perhaps she could convince Twello to stay longer though? She could tell he liked her, and they enjoyed each other’s company very much, but she didn’t think her mother would agree to it.

  ‘Thank you, Sula. I am most honoured.’ Shazar touched his heart as he spoke.

  Sula simply nodded.

  ‘I hope you can make peace with Felix again. He is willing to, for the sake of the children.’

  ‘Great Yentil! I am glad. I will behave. I just hope he will too,’ Shazar replied.

  ‘Don’t worry about him. Now, why do you keep saying “Great Yentil”?’

  He glanced at her with a quizzical look and touched the pendant around his neck through his black shirt.

  ‘I…don’t know. It’s something my father used to say as did his father before him.’

  ‘Hmm, it’s like Felix says “Great Bhan”, but I’ve never heard of ‘Yentil’; where is this place? You never refer to Bhan as your home, do you?’

  ‘Why do you say that?’

  ‘Because you act like you don’t belong here.’

  ‘Neither do you.’

  ‘What are you saying?’

  Shazar pulled the pendant out for her to see it, after all these years she recognised it instantly and was again, drawn to it like a fish to water.

  ‘This pendant is proof that we don’t belong here, Sula… among other things. Are you too blind to see? Even you can feel its pull, can’t you?’

  ‘It’s just an excuse to make sense of your alienation!’

  ‘Ai, Sula. Don’t say that, you’ve surely felt the same before you became more human than comyenti! Bhan has welcomed us, been good to us, and has given us a home for many centuries, that’s true! But I believe…Yentil is our real home; wherever it may be. Humans could have welcomed us into their world like the other animals did, but they didn’t. Instead they hunted us down because we’re freaks of nature, their nature! We’ll never have peace until we know the complete truth of where we belong and why we have the powers we do. Where is our star? We are not related to animals, not even to the humans on Bhan, Sula, though we are, of course, mammals… And whether we like it or not, humans will always remain… our enemy.’

  ‘Creatures big and small! End of discussion,’ Sula narrowed her eyes at him before disengaging.

  This was starting to sound more and more like one
of her mother’s talks and she didn’t like the direction it was going, even though she knew that there was truth in what he had said; she didn’t want to hear any more of it. Let alone be reminded of the lizard people and their attacks. Did they originate from Yentil too? She was going to tell him at some point about them, but she felt reluctant to, especially now. Not only would he lecture her to leave, but he might know more about them and Sula wasn’t sure if she wanted to know any more at this stage, no matter how curious a person she usually was. Old fear tugged at her heartstrings and she felt dread that with Shazar’s arrival and his knowledge, everything was about to change again. She had not forgotten Feline’s warning either, that he was a threat to her.

  ‘Go and see your son!

  Shazar relented, however, she saw a change in him. His eyes were darker and she somehow didn’t trust him.

  It’s not over until I say it is, he spoke sternly to her in her mind and out loud he said to the rest, ‘Ladies, gentleman, I’ll see you all tomorrow.’ He made a funny bow. The children, who luckily had not picked up of any of Sula’s mind conversation with Shazar, laughed. Valera however stared at Shazar and then at Sula. She had picked up the vibes and a shiver had run down her spine.

  Once he was gone, and the children were out of hearing range, playing with the goats, Valera whispered, ‘I don’t want to interfere, but I had not realised the closeness of the bond you shared with him, but now I do.’

  Sula looked at her daughter with a tight expression on her face.

  ‘It doesn’t matter, you’re old enough to understand.’

  ‘Why am I the last to know? I had my suspicions, I mean, when I saw the likeness between Shazar and Aigle, I suspected Aigle was the result of some mutual agreement between you and Shazar, without too many feelings involved. The fight between Dad and Shazar, and just now, you and him glaring at each other with deafening silence! I should have known! What are we, after all, without our feelings?’

  ‘Valera!!!’