“What do you want?”
“The Rokis.”
Aura shuddered. “What would you do with the Rokis?”
“Doesn’t matter. But if you bring it to me, you’ll have more power than you could ever imagine. I can give you anything you would ever want.”
“I will never bring it to you,” she said forcefully. She gathered her strength back and kept eye contact with him.
“You will. I can see it. You have jealousy in you. Just one ounce, and the darkness will make it grow. Can’t you feel the madness already?” he asked, a large grin growing on his face.
Aura screamed at him. “You will never get what you want from me!” She picked up the sword and glared at him.
“We’ll meet again. And you will beg me to take it from you,” Zakar said as he disappeared into the shadows.
Aura trembled and let out a guttural scream.
“Aura! Aura!” Felipe’s voice came from the opposite corner of the room, and she turned as he opened a door and ran towards her.
She dropped her sword, and he enveloped her with his arms as she cried.
“Shhh, shhh,” he said, rubbing his hands down her back and pushing her in front of him. His hands cupped her face and wiped the tears off her cheeks. “What happened?”
“We have to get out of here. Now!” Aura said in between sobs.
He took her hand. Before she knew it, they were running out of the tower and down the pathway, toward the gate. They pushed through the gate, and Aura kept running, staying a few feet ahead of Felipe.
Exhausted, she stopped, fell to the ground, and wept. It’s not true! I won’t let it be true.
Felipe walked slowly up to her and sat on the ground, behind her, holding her. When she had settled, he asked, “What happened?”
She faced him. “Just promise you’ll always see me as me. Nothing else.” That will not be my Fate. I will not bring him the Rokis. She wiped the remaining tears from her face and looked longingly at him.
His eyes were dark but inviting.
He nodded.
She moved forward, nearer to him, and implored the eagerness in the pit of her stomach. He will always see me as I am. Zakar was wrong. She wouldn’t bring him the Rokis. Her Fate was wrong. She could choose her own destiny. Felipe’s words bounced around in her mind. You cast your own shadow.
As their faces inched closer, an electricity ignited on the tips of her lips. They touched his, warm and welcoming. She felt them part, kissing her softly at first but then with an urgency and passion she matched. Their tongues met for an instant, but that was all it took. Something inside her burst. She pulled him closer as each of her senses begged for more of him. They fell back into the dirt, his body pressed against hers. Aura’s mind raced. In that moment she was sure everything would be okay.
They lay underneath the silver light of the moons, pulling away to catch their breath. Aura’s head fell to his chest as he hugged her tight.
“Uni will be rising soon,” he said. “We should get going. Will you tell me more when we arrive back to camp?”
She nodded, and he helped her stand, smiling as she held his hand, intertwining her fingers with his. They hurried back toward the huts.
Guided by the moonlight, they returned to camp. Gossamer and Hontak stepped out from their hut. “Where have you been?” Gossamer asked.
“We began packing and noticed you both were gone,” Hontak added. “I sent Linerah out, following your scent.”
Aura and Felipe exchanged awkward glances. “I had to go to the bathroom,” Aura said, keeping eye contact with Felipe. She prayed they couldn’t see her tear-stained cheeks. “I didn’t want to go in the forest alone, so I woke him.”
“You’re covered in dirt. And that scrape on your hand?” Gossamer asked.
Aura released her grip from Felipe. “I fell.” She shrugged. “It’s just a scrape.”
“Just a scrape,” Hontak said, punching Felipe in the arm.
Linerah came running toward them as a shriek came from behind, startling them all.
Gossamer turned down the lantern.
“Sights!” As Linerah sniffed the air, her nostrils flared. “They’re a few miles away. Probably at the gate leading into Vadim.”
Aura could feel Linerah’s eyes on her but avoided her gaze.
“We need to head back now,” Felipe said.
“Don’t worry about the huts. Grab a few lanterns and any weapons you have!” Hontak shouted.
“Your sword?” Gossamer asked Aura as he grabbed a lantern.
Aura reached down to her side. “I must have dropped it when I went . . . to the bathroom.”
Felipe came by her, grabbing her waist. “She will stay close by me.”
“Come!” Hontak said, passing another lantern to an elven-kind.
They ran through the woods, moving at a fast pace. Aura could feel her heart pounding. Zakar’s words echoed in her head. You will bring me what I want. You will beg me to take it from you. Her legs burned from the running, but the fear kept her moving forward.
Uni started to rise, and the shrieks grew closer.
“We must keep moving.”
Aura noticed the concern in Hontak’s tone as he spoke.
“If we hit the part of the forest where the trees start to light up again, we’ll be close enough for the others to help,” Hontak shouted.
Linerah pulled a tusk-like horn from a pack on her side and blew it. A loud, deep note resonated through the air.
Felipe dropped his lantern and held on to Aura’s hand with a tight grip. “She’s signaling the others at the bay who will come aid us,” he said.
Aura looked ahead, surprised to see Gossamer in front of them. She stole glances at the trees, waiting to see the sparkling light come from them again. She didn’t remember it taking this long last time.
“Vow now, sayeth aye.”
She turned and swatted at her ear with her free hand. “Did you hear that?” she shouted. She looked over her shoulder, despite everything in her that told her not to. Aura froze when she didn’t feel Felipe’s hand in hers. “Felipe?” She took a deep breath. Her heart sunk low, hiding from the fear that froze her to the ground. “Felipe?!”
“Vow now, sayeth aye.” The voice repeated next to her ear.
She swatted again and turned around.
Nothing.
She turned, running straight into a tree as an orange flower blossomed from its center. “No. I will not give you what you want!”
A shriek came from behind her. She turned to face the tall, dark creature towering over her. Its skin glistened. It walked forward effortlessly, unlike the others. A dark cloud shrouded it like a blanket floating in water, coming toward her, ready to take her under.
“What do you want from me?”
It pointed its dark boney finger at her.
“What do you want?” she yelled, tears filling her eyes.
It shrieked, and the noise echoed in her ears. She covered them, falling to her knees. The pain radiated through her body, and the air escaped her lungs, not returning no matter how hard she tried.
She lay on the ground as her body went numb. The world around her grew hazy. Felipe appeared above her, caressing her cheek.
“Felipe,” she tried to whisper as everything around her faded.
23
Adie
She inhaled, a rush of freezing air filled her lungs, making her wince. Her breath created tiny clouds that swirled above her before vanishing into the air. Adie brought her arms close to her, rubbing them, hoping to feel some warmth. A single window that started at the floor reached upward to unknown heights. Moonlight seeped in, bathing her in an eerie light. The ice-cold radiated from her feet, and she looked down. A thin whitish-blue layer of ice covered the floor.
“Hello?” she whispered, squinting her eyes in the dark room.
As if responding, a gush of wind appeared, creating a soft fog that billowed around her. Her white nightgown swayed in the bree
ze.
From behind her, she heard the soft cracking of the ice and turned as a shadow stepped closer. The moonlight illuminated its features.
Adie gasped.
There stood a man, or what used to be a man, who was now nothing but a skeletal frame. But he wore clothing—a long pleated jacket and pants, withered and worn, and no shoes. He walked toward her. His bones cracked along with the ice. He reached out into the shadows, and another skeletal hand appeared, taking his.
A light yellow, possibly once-beautiful dress with intricate floral lace covered the skeleton. Her dress swirled around her as the man spun her, then brought her close. He stepped back and she followed, swiftly moving along the ice.
Adie watched as the pair continued around the large room, dancing to no music. The couple neared her, seemingly unaware of her presence. Quickly moving out of their way, she bumped into another skeleton and turned as more emerged onto the dance floor, each with a partner. She gulped, swallowing her fear, and began looking for a way out of the room.
She shivered and spun, missing a couple that slid by her, again only to move into another’s way. Big dresses with long trains twirled as their skeletal feet scraped against the ice with each turn. Before she knew it, she had returned to the corner where the light ended in the room. She turned and faced the shadows as a bony hand reached out for hers.
She took a sharp intake of the cold air and exhaled as her hand rose on its own, placing itself gently into the hand of the skeleton. As the skeleton, clad in a black suit, came out in the light, it spun her around and brought her close. They moved about the room in an unspoken agreement of steps that seemed like a faint memory she longed to hold on to. With each step, a sense of peace fell over her and the coldness left her feet.
As her fear left, a soft melody rose from their feet with each swish and turn. Adie smiled as a crescendo of notes leapt through the air. As the music softened, so did their swaying. Her smile stretched across her face as she held on to the white bony hands of the skeleton man. Her eyes fell upon his face, and for a moment, his bones were replaced with flesh and gray eyes looked at her.
The image faltered, and the skeletal bone structure returned. Adie’s eyes narrowed, and her smile faded as an uneasiness made her heart quicken. Hollow sockets peered at her. She tried to release her hand, but it only gripped her tighter, forcing her to continue the dance.
The music grew softer, eventually ceasing, but the dancing continued. Adie swayed with him, dizziness consuming her as she tried to break free. The scraping of their bones on the icy floor was now followed by hushed whispers from an unknown origin.
The harder she struggled, the louder the whispers got. The coldness of the floor returned to her feet, making her teeth chatter.
“Death,” the whispers chanted together as they twirled. Again and again, the word circled her with each spin and step she was forced to take.
Adie twisted her hand, breaking the arm of the skeleton and freeing herself. She ran through the dancing crowd as the chants grew louder. Her arm ached, and she looked down, realizing she’d taken the arm of the skeleton man with her. His hand was still gripping her tight.
“Death,” They chanted louder, each turning their head to look at her as they continued to dance.
Adie fell to the ground, letting the icy floor numb her as she curled into a ball. “Just a dream. Just a dream,” she repeated.
Their whispers grew to shouts, and some became shrieks. Adie looked and saw the skeletal frames now had red eyes coming from their hollow sockets, and a black silky substance fell down their bodies, covering the white of their bones as their clothes melted away. The light from the room faded as they inched closer to her, shrieking.
Adie covered her eyes. “Wake up! WAKE UP!” she shouted at herself. “Wake—”
* * *
Adie shot up from bed, screaming as she crawled out from her covers, onto the floor. She ran to the lanterns in her room and turned on all the lights. It was a dream. It was just a dream. Whimpers escaped her as she whipped around, searching every corner of the room for a Sight. They will never come here. You’re safe.
She huddled back into bed, rocking herself slowly, trying to sing the lullaby Aura would normally sing her. Aura. Tears welled in her eyes. I need her to come home.
Adie continued to rock, sobbing between the verses. “Blue bird, don’t you ever forget to fly.”
24
Aura
Aura felt the warmness of a wool blanket around her and gentle rocking. She opened her eyes and tried to focus. The room seemed blurry. Felipe immediately came to her side.
“Aura. Aura! Oh, thank Fate! Gossamer! She’s awake!” he shouted.
Gossamer rushed in from the stairs, breathing a sigh of relief.
“Aura. I’m so glad you’ve woken. We were so worried,” Felipe said, kissing her forehead.
“What happened?” she asked, trying to sit up. Dizziness overwhelmed her. “Whoa,” Aura said, holding her head.
“Take it easy. Take it easy,” Gossamer said, helping her back down. “We’re aboard the ship. We left Nitari and will soon be back to the Bay of Holdtra. What do you remember?” he asked.
Aura heard Zakar’s voice ringing in her head. “I remember hearing the shrieks, and we were running back toward the bay. I was holding your hand.” She looked to Felipe. “And I saw a flower . . .” And there was a Sight. She bit her lip.
“You saw a flower?” Felipe asked.
“Hallucinations,” Gossamer said.
No, it was all too real. “What happened?” she asked.
“We were running, and you just, you blacked out,” Gossamer said. “Felipe had to carry you. You kept muttering under your breath and ended up fighting him. Linerah had to help hold you down. We assumed you were having the hallucinations because of the running and the heat.”
“I hit you?” Aura asked, looking at Felipe, reaching for his hand.
“It wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle.” A small grin formed on his face. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
A elven Guard came barreling downstairs. “We’ve reached the bay.”
Gossamer left, and Aura slowly sat up, thankful that the dizziness didn’t return. But now the thirst in her parched throat felt debilitating.
“Water?” she said, her voice cracking.
Felipe quickly handed her the water pouch on his side, and she gulped down the cool liquid. Her body instantly felt refreshed.
“Gossamer has placed a call on the Globe to let Ambrielle know we’ve returned. She should be here shortly to transport us.” Felipe helped her stand and continued to gaze at her. “I’m really glad you’re okay, Aura. I was . . . worried,” he said, looking away from her.
Aura opened her mouth to speak, but Bokah shouted from the stairs above. “Come on you two, we gotta make our way to the sand.”
Aura smiled at Felipe as they walked up the stairs. When they reached the top, she found Linerah, Toni, and three other Etoyoc on the ship, along with Gossamer and Bokah.
“Toni wanted to meet with Ambrielle,” Felipe said.
Aura nodded as the small group left the ship and headed in the direction of the beach. The white sand sparkled in the morning light, and she looked up at the bright blue sky. She hummed the words to the lullaby that had comforted Adie so often in hopes they’d comfort her. But all she could see was the Sight. All she could feel was her body gasping for air as it felt like her life was draining from her. All she could hear was Zakar’s voice in her head. I created you.
The wind picked up in front of them, and the image of her mother appeared. The look of concern on her mother’s face didn’t ease her worry. I wonder what happened while I was gone.
Gossamer stood in front of her and shouted to those behind him. “Put one hand on the person in front of you and don’t let go.”
Aura held her breath anticipating the return of the tugging sensation as they transported back to Giriveen. A bright light surrounded her, penet
rating her closed eyelids as a strong force pulled at her limbs. Relief flooded her as the Council Room came into view. At least this time I didn’t lose my breath or almost throw up. The dizziness quickly subsided and Aura relaxed.
Her mother walked over to the table. “The final testimonies are still being gathered from the Tribes. What news do you bring back to us?”
Your brother, Zakar, is alive and behind everything. He wants me to bring him the Rokis. I am nothing but a curse. Aura bit her tongue as she looked over at Gossamer and Toni. The Etoyoc towered over everyone.
“Ambrielle, this is Toni, the Watcher of the Etoyoc,” Gossamer said. “He’s told us of a point in their history about an Etoyoc who was imprisoned after reporting a Sight attack. He wanted to meet you and speak of this story.”
Ambrielle turned to Toni, and Aura noticed the guilt on her mother’s face.
“I have spoken with the Sandman and learned of a brave Etoyoc who came with his father to warn a past Ruler of such an event. We now know both the Etoyoc and the Sandman’s father were discredited and punished.” Ambrielle paused, looking at Gossamer. “They had their lives taken from them to cover up something we’ve yet to fully understand the importance of. I believe it’s all starting to come together, and Vadim has had this planned for a while. I’m deeply saddened that the loss of life has been so large in the last few days and for the loss of the Etoyoc years ago. They will not be forgotten, and they did not die in vain,” Ambrielle said.
Toni’s husky voice responded, “I’m only saddened that it took this long to redeem their reputations, but I’m appreciative of your response to the Etoyoc’s loss of life. We’re happy to have representation on the Council during the next ruling. I’m afraid I don’t know much more, but I felt a need to express to you how insistent my father, the past Watcher of Nitari, was about keeping this information hidden. He said it will cost Nitari dearly for expressing such truth, but I wanted to make sure no more lives were lost to keep it hidden.”
The Halves of Us Page 19