Niklas looked from one to the other. “Will you two stop it?” He was furious. He paced between the two, his anger lending him energy he obviously needed to expend. “We don’t have the time for you two to sit and trade insults. We need answers!” He stopped to stand in front of Larin. “And we need them now.”
“You heard him,” Brianna challenged. “Just pretend that every time Niklas asks you a question, it’s really coming from me.”
Larin gave her a curt nod.
She closed her eyes and heaved a sigh of relief. Holy moly! Did you always have to be so literal with the Fae, or was it just him?
Niklas gave Larin a hard look. “Who wants to stop us?”
Larin shrugged. “I have no idea who is doing these things. They haven’t asked for our help, and we are honor bound not to interfere unless we are asked. Even our powers are not unlimited.”
“Can you help ward off this attack?” Brianna asked quickly. She glanced back at the giant ship that hung in space over them like a thief. It sat framed by the viewscreen. It looked intimidating with its weapons charged and glowing orange like eyes in the blackness of space. “Can you help us ward off this attack?” she repeated.
Larin shook his head.
Disappointment welled within Brianna. She’d been hoping for his help. She really wasn’t looking forward to getting blown to bits. Her shoulders slumped visibly.
Larin sighed. “I can’t help you repel them, Brianna. If I destroy the ship, I will be imprisoned in the land of Fae one hundred years for every mortal life I take.” He glanced back at the ship. “There are nearly one-thousand mortals on that vessel. I do not care to be imprisoned for one hundred thousand years. The last two thousand six hundred and seventy-two years were enough!”
Niklas nodded. “I understand. We cannot ask you to sacrifice yourself for us like that.” He resigned himself to the fact that they would die this day. He gazed at Brianna with longing, wishing they had more time. Even one more day with her love would be a precious gift.
Brianna smiled at him, letting him know that she had heard his thoughts and felt the same.
Larin looked at them and smiled. He threw a glance over his shoulder toward Brianna. His eyes shuttered. “Yet I am not totally without the power to help you.” He looked toward the viewscreen, held his hand in front of his face, blew across his palm and disappeared.
The bridge returned to the previous chaos. Minra sat in her seat with a stunned look on her face. The rest of the crew looked confused for a moment before the sound of the proximity alarms caught their attention.
“I don’t believe this! Where did that ship go, and how did we get back to Terrna so fast?” Rodel exclaimed. “Brace for emergency shutdown. Docking compound in three, two, one.”
They were nearly knocked from their feet. Niklas reached out and steadied Brianna so she wouldn’t fall. She closed her eyes said a small prayer of thanks to the Gods. She also sent a heartfelt thanks to Larin. Thank you, Larin, wherever you are. Maybe I will call you just to chat sometime.
I will hold you to it, lovely Brianna.
She smiled and hugged herself. He’d heard her. She turned to face Niklas.
“We need to return to our quarters and retrieve your stone before we leave.”
She nodded. Butterflies had taken up residence in her stomach. Apparently, Larin had somehow transported them to Terrna. She so wasn’t looking forward to meeting her mother-in-law. Sighing, she realized her week had been taken away from her. After only one day of listening to the subliminal disks, she was going to have to learn to function in a totally alien environment. No matter how much she tried to stall, Niklas had her off the ship in record time.
Brianna wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but it sure wasn’t this. It was Earth with two moons. Well, sort of, that’s what it felt like anyway. It looked like Earth, smelled like Earth. Some of the animals were different, though.
She spent the first twenty minutes off the ship with her mouth hanging open and Killer cradled to her chest. Everyone here was tanned and beautiful. It made her feel like the ugly duckling.
Niklas leaned down, pressing his lips into her hair. “There is nothing ugly about you, Laharra. You are loveliness itself.” He pulled her through the milling crowd. Family members of the crew hurried toward the docking compound to welcome their loved ones.
Word of their return spread quickly, that they had appeared virtually from thin air already legend. No one could explain it, and no one really cared once they saw the blast scars on the hull. They were just glad their families and Niklas had returned home safely.
“What’s this?” Brianna asked, when Niklas led her to a hoverpod, fastened her safely into it, placed Killer into a small caged compartment in the back and climbed in behind the controls. She inhaled sharply when they took off. He drove slowly, most likely not wanting to frighten her. He was ever mindful of her condition. She wondered what his mother was going to say. Like it or not, the woman was about to acquire another daughter and three grandchildren.
After a while, they left the city, and Niklas gradually drove faster and faster. Brianna rode silently, thinking and watching the scenery as they passed. It was exhilarating. They flew across the ground at speeds she’d only dreamed of. She inhaled deeply. The air was fresh, clean.
Niklas had told her that the industrial revolution had been over for centuries and scientists had perfected the process of drawing the unlimited energy from crystals. It was an ideal world, with virtually no pollution, no crime.
“Terrna is beautiful, Niklas.” She smiled, turned her head to look at him. Even his profile was perfect. She loved the way the air that entered through the opening in the top of the pod blew his hair back away from his face, making him look so young, so free. She loved his soft sensuous lips, strong jaw and chocolate eyes that could melt her with just a look. “How can anyone be so perfect?” she whispered.
“Did you say something?”
Brianna’s cheeks flamed. Had she really spoken aloud? If there was one thing she had learned to do over the last few months, it was to think quickly. “I said, how can anything be so perfect?”
Niklas smiled at her. “I’m glad you like it.”
She looked out over the field to her right and saw a herd of horses grazing. Their colors were beautiful. White, black, roan and a palomino. She pointed. “Oh, Niklas, look at the horses. Are they wild? I don’t see any fences.”
“No fences would hold them, Laharra. The Abicon is a magical animal. It stays if it wants, it leaves if it wants.” Niklas turned the hover pod closer to them, knowing she would want to see them up close. “Only a precious few have ever been tamed.”
Brianna’s breath hitched. “Oh, Niklas!” Her hand covered her mouth, her eyes filled with tears. “I never thought to ever see one of these.” She stared out the side glass that revealed the herd of unicorn. She swiped at her tears. If this was the only good thing that came of her coming here, it was enough.
He squeezed her hand gently. “I knew you would want to see them. I saw the pictures and figurines in your house.”
She turned, focused her blurry eyes on a small town in the distance. They seemed to be heading straight for it. She pointed, “Is your home there?”
Niklas nodded. “Yes, that is my home.”
She squinted, tried to distinguish between the buildings. “I can’t seem to make out a difference between the buildings. Where exactly do you live in town?” She had expected to see some sort of castle or something, or at the very least a big house. She peeked at Niklas from the corner of her eye, then frowned. Why did he look worried?
He cleared his throat. “Ah, Brianna, that isn’t a town.”
Her eyes widened as she turned back to what appeared to be a huge structure in the distance. Oh, boy! She was in way over her head!
Chapter Nineteen
Brianna shook her head in wonder. “Don’t even tell me that’s your home.” She pointed to the structure in the distance. “That’
s a—”
Niklas put his hand on her leg and squeezed gently. “Breathe, Laharra, you must always remember to breathe. In and out, in and out.” He made a sweeping motion with his hand.
Brianna reached over and slapped his arm. “Don’t you dare tell me to breathe,” she snapped. Then she drew in a gulp of air because she wanted to breathe, not because he told her to. She glared at him, quickly losing her courage. Any anger she could dig up would be helpful. “You didn’t tell me that you lived in a…” She glanced at Niklas. “What do you call something that huge?”
“A palace?” Niklas offered helpfully, his eyes wide and brows raised.
Brianna dropped her head into her hands. “Gods, Niklas, I can’t live in a palace,” she groaned.
He stopped the hoverpod near a grove of trees, climbed out of the vehicle and walked around to help her stand on rubbery legs. He held her for a moment, trying to still her trembling, letting his warmth and strength seep into her.
After a moment, he stepped back, took her face in his hands and looked deeply into her eyes. “You are my Queen, Laharra. But if you wish, I will surrender the mantle of rule to my sister, and we will return to your world. I only ask that you fulfill your destiny and save mine.”
Brianna looked into his eyes. He was serious. He was willing to give up everything for her. Could she do any less? Tears rolled down her cheeks and Niklas wiped them away with his thumbs. “Niklas, I don’t—”
He covered her lips with his finger. “Do not answer now, Laharra. Right now, all I ask is that you walk with me.” He turned, held his hand out, waiting.
Brianna took it and followed him across a meadow into a stand of giant trees. She looked around. The trees looked like giant redwoods. She’d never seen any up close, but from the pictures she’d seen, she would almost bet that redwoods were not indigenous to Earth. The trees were huge, some of them so tall she wondered if it would even be possible to see the tops. The trunks were so wide she was sure they could cut tunnels through them if needed.
Niklas inhaled deeply, obviously glad to be home. “I wanted to show you where I go when I am troubled. It has never failed to give me peace.” He led her to a small stream. The water moved gently over the boulders, dotting the surface and lapping gently at the rocks on the bank.
Brianna could see through the surface of the water to the colorful stones below. The soothing sound of the babbling stream and the familiar scent of evergreen calmed her, reminded her of home. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. She could almost imagine she was on Earth, her father was still alive and they were camping.
“This is a soothing place, Niklas.” Brianna opened her eyes and looked at him, noticed the worried frown he wore as he looked from the stream to her face. Reaching out, she took his hand.
“Don’t let me ruin this place for you, Laharru. See the beauty.” Lifting her hands to his face, she put her fingers over his eyes. “Close your eyes and hear it.” She leaned her head back and inhaled deeply. “Smell it.”
Niklas released her hand, knelt in the damp soil of the bank and whispered, “Taste it.” He reached into the stream with his cupped hand and brought it to his lips.
“Eeeew!” Brianna cried. She grabbed his hand, pulling it away from his mouth. “Don’t drink that, you don’t know what kind of germs could be growing in there. That’s so disgusting. If you’re that thirsty, let’s go, we aren’t too far from your home.” She flat out refused to say palace.
He smiled and leaned down. Putting his mouth to the stream, he drank deeply.
Brianna grimaced, “I don’t believe you just did that.” She waved her arm. “There’s probably some animal upstream using it as a toilet and you’re drinking it like it’s nothing.” She wrinkled her nose. “Yuck!”
Niklas laughed. “Don’t upset yourself, Laharra. I have drunk the water from this stream more times than I can remember. It is said that those who drink from the Shantamoura have unfailing health and longer lives.”
Brianna looked down at the stream with interest. “It sounds like the legends on Earth about the fountain of youth.” She kicked a stone into the water, watched it ripple. “It looks like any other stream to me.”
“Reach down and feel the water, Laharra. Let it speak to you.”
Brianna looked skeptical. “Let it speak to me, huh? Okaaay…” Kneeling down, she reached out and dangled her fingers into the water. It was cool, smooth and silky feeling. It was strange that it didn’t make her feel wet. Not really. She withdrew her fingers and stared at them with disbelief. They weren’t wet. Her shocked eyes met his. “How can this be?” She plunged her hand in and pulled it back out. Still, her hand was dry. Only a few drops of the water remained in the creases between her fingers. “I don’t understand, Niklas. It’s wet, but it’s not wet.” She looked to him for an explanation for the phenomena.
“I do not know why it is this way. It has always been the same. It is water, yet it is not water.” He plunged his own hand in and pulled it back out, watching it as he spoke. “The Shantamoura is the only stream I have ever seen like this.” He cast his gaze downward, looking at the stones lining the bed. “I have seen no other like it anywhere.”
She watched him struggle for the words.
“I know there are still some words in my language you don’t understand. I’ve been forced to try to translate some of them to English. It is a difficult and sometimes confusing exercise for me. I also realize, even though you haven’t that you are slipping in and out of Terrnan speech. It’s a confusing mixture that keeps me on my toes.” He grinned. “I never know what language you will use next.”
“I didn’t realize I was doing that.” She didn’t. How could she use another language without realizing it? Was it the disks?
Niklas stayed on the subject of the water, steering it away from her language skills. “The water has healing properties. It heals the sick and strengthens the weak.” Reaching down, he cupped his hand and dipped it into the stream and brought his hand to her lips. “Try it, just this once.”
Brianna frowned. “I swear, Niklas, if this makes me sick, I’m gonna puke all over you.” She scrunched her eyes shut and parted her lips. Brianna’s eyes flew open as she took the water into her mouth and swallowed quickly.
“It’s sweet, it’s really sweet.” How could something that tasted so good be bad for her? Ahem. Her mind always had to mess things up, making her think about things she’d rather not. You do remember bacon, greasy hamburgers, and fried chicken? Hello! Those tasted great, too, but were they good for you? Brianna put her hand on Niklas’s shoulder for support as she stood. She didn’t want to think about it.
Niklas stood quickly, giving her a worried look. His gaze alternating from her to the stream and back again.
“What?” she asked. “What’s the matter, Niklas?”
He swallowed. “I don’t know what has happened, Laharra, but you have changed. The water has never changed anyone before.” He tilted his head to the side watching her.
Her hands flew to her face. “Changed? What do you mean changed?” she cried. She bent from the waist, trying to get a glimpse of herself in the clear water.
Obviously recognizing the shock and dismay in her voice, Niklas took her into his arms. “I didn’t mean to frighten you, little one. There has to be some logical explanation for the way your body has reacted to the water.
“Your indigo eyes are now threaded with glowing silver. They flashed a kaleidoscope of color as you spoke. Your once, slightly rounded nose is thinner, your ears took on a more pointed shape. And your skin is now like cream silk, flawless. Whatever else the river has done, it has enhanced your beauty tenfold.” He took her in his arms when she whimpered.
“I am sure there is nothing to worry about, Laharra.” He smoothed the hair back from her forehead and looked into her eyes. “Somehow you are even more beautiful than you were before.”
Brianna looked into his eyes, her mind a jumble of horrifying pictures that brought chaos
in their wake. What had she done? She never should have drunk the water. She laughed hysterically, “This is just what everyone always warns you about when you travel. Don’t drink the water.” She called for Larin without thinking, hadn’t realized until that moment that she did like him, smart aleck attitude and all. He felt comfortable to her, familiar.
“You called, oh beauteous one?” Larin appeared in a full bow, sarcastic as usual. When he straightened, he noticed her stricken expression. He immediately waved his arm, using his immense power to pull her from Niklas’s embrace and into his own.
Niklas glared at him. “What do you think you are doing with my wife?” He lunged toward them, trying to free her from the faery’s hold.
Larin grew taller, more muscular, his eyes glowing a strange iridescent orange, an ancient Fae warrior in full glamour. “Do not test my patience, mortal!” he roared. His voice echoed through the glade, sounding eerie and hollow, and not quite human. Larin’s hand shot out and a blue beam wrapped itself around Niklas, locking him in place.
Niklas couldn’t move. He could only stare at them. The contempt in his eyes directed at Larin. He glowered at the faery, his eyes filled with hatred. Niklas lurched forward, trying to exert enough energy to drive his way through the force field the faery had erected around him.
Brianna looked from one to the other. “What have you done to him, Larin? Please, let him go.”
* * * *
“Not until you tell me what he has done to you.” Larin said softly, pointing his chin toward Niklas. He took her chin in his hand, tilted her head back and studied her thoughtfully. “You have changed.” His eyes narrowed and he looked thoughtful.
She wrenched free of his hold, wrapped her arms around herself and stared at her husband. “That’s what Niklas just said.” She bordered on hysterics. “He said my eyes nose and skin are different, but I can’t see myself—even in the river.” She was nearing hysterics, her hands, her whole body shaking.
Briannas Prophecy Page 21