The Dark

by Marianne Curley

  He sucks in a painful short breath and allows himself to pass out. How long has he been in this state? Hardly able to breathe? How long has his body been struggling to get oxygen to damaged organs and cells?

  Ethan drops down on Arkarian’s other side and gently strokes his blue hair. Without saying anything Ethan gulps deeply, and catches my eye. I don’t need to be a Truthseer to read his mind or scan his thoughts, or whatever it is Truthseers do. Ethan’s concern is there on his face, etched as if in stone. ‘Can you help him, Isabel?’

  With trembling hands, I lay them on Arkarian’s chest. His lungs will have to come first. With my vision blurring again, adrenaline thumping through me, I find myself unable to hold thoughts still long enough to find a stable meditative thought.

  Ethan picks up that something’s wrong. ‘Are you OK?’

  With Arkarian’s eyes closed it’s easy to think I’ve lost him. I feel his heart beating slowly beneath my hands, but how much longer does he have? His severest injuries are the ones I can’t see on the surface. I need my healing skills – but something’s wrong! They don’t seem to be working. I try again to visualise Arkarian’s internal injuries, but nothing happens. How can this be? Healing is second nature to me now.

  I experience a moment of sheer panic. The room spins away from me and everything takes on a strange sense of unreality. My hands fly up to either side of my face. ‘What’s wrong with me?’

  Ethan takes my trembling hands in both of his. ‘You need to get a grip. You’re losing control.’

  ‘I can’t seem to focus.’

  ‘Yes you can.’

  A single tear runs down my face. ‘I’m so scared, Ethan.’

  John comes over, with Matt trailing behind him. His boots make loud noises on the shiny floor. The sound is almost too much for my strained nerves; while their presence just increases the pressure. I spin half my body around and scream at them with words that echo with an hysterical note around the hollow room. ‘Go away! Get out of here! Can everybody leave me alone!’

  They stop still at my screams, probably thinking I’ve gone and lost it completely now when I’m needed most.

  Matt assumes the worst. ‘Is he gone?’ he whispers to Ethan.

  Ethan shakes his head. ‘She needs to compose herself before her healing skills will work.’

  Matt lays his hand gently on my shoulder. ‘You can do it, Isabel. You healed Ethan’s leg from that bite wound. Look at it, there’s not even a mark now.’

  Ethan reminds me of another time. ‘You healed my father after Marduke stabbed him through his heart. And you did this under the threat of your brother’s imminent death.’

  But their words fall flat because here, right now, while precious seconds pass that could mean the difference between Arkarian living or dying, my healing power has disappeared. ‘Why can’t I heal him, Ethan?’

  ‘You have to step back. Gain perspective. Take control of your emotions. Isabel, you love him.’

  Matt jerks his hand away as if stung by a poisonous insect. ‘You love Arkarian? But he’s … he’s not like us.’

  Ethan scowls at Matt before purposefully drawing my attention back to him. ‘Isabel, you’ve been trained for this very thing. Shut everything out. Don’t let your emotions cause a block.’

  I take a deep breath and exhale slowly, and, closing my eyes, lay my hands back on Arkarian’s chest. This time an image of torn ligaments, dislocated joints and broken ribs appears before me. One rib pierces through a lung.

  Somehow I manage to keep control and visualise the healing that must take place. First I disengage the broken rib, join it with its other half, seal the lung, then inflate it once again.

  My reward comes in the form of Arkarian taking a strong deep breath. But I have a long way to go before he’s completely healed. At least now that I’ve started, surely it’s only a matter of time.

  Returning my hands to his chest, I repair his flesh wounds, then his damaged joints and ligaments. Yet there is still much more to be done. He has a lot of blood and fluid pooled in dangerous places, drowning cells and vital organs. I start working at re-directing the blood back to appropriate tissue, while channelling the excess fluid through Arkarian’s kidneys. But it’s here I find a serious problem, as these vital organs have ceased working altogether, probably caused by their severe bruising and swelling. Their repair could take precious time.

  I am vaguely aware of noises around me, but my concentration is deep now, and they remain distant enough not to disturb me.

  ‘You have to hurry, Isabel,’ Ethan says, returning from wherever he disappeared to. ‘The temple is surrounded by dogs. Huge ones. And they sound hungry.’

  Still it takes me a long time to reduce the bruising and swelling of Arkarian’s kidneys. So long, that at times I think it’s hopeless, that these badly beaten cells will not – cannot – repair.

  Ethan comes back a second time. ‘Isabel, seven hounds are circling the temple.’

  My concentration is so deep, for a second his words don’t penetrate at all. I finally have a hold on Arkarian’s kidneys, somehow healing them enough to get them working again. With the worst of Arkarian’s internal injuries restored to health, his recovery should only be moments away. I sense this with every fibre of my being, though as yet Arkarian hasn’t regained consciousness. I stare across at Ethan as I realise he’s still here, waiting for my response to something. ‘What did you say?’

  ‘The hounds, Isabel. Lathenia won’t be far behind them. Either that, or she’s playing with us.’

  For a second I wonder what he expects from me. I’m exhausted, and have more healing yet before Arkarian is well enough to come back with us. ‘You deal with it,’ I snap at him. ‘I’m fine with whatever you choose to do. OK? We’re a team, aren’t we?’

  He looks surprised for a second as if in shock, but walks away looking pleased with himself. I hardly give his strange reaction a second thought and get back to healing Arkarian.

  Only a few moments later an angry lion’s roar penetrates my senses. I jump at the sound and look up. The room is filled with hungry-looking lions! At least a dozen of them. One spots me looking at it and roars in my direction. Goose bumps erupt, making every soft hair on my body stand on end. What on earth is going on?

  My glance finds Ethan’s and I realise the lions are his creation. Outside Lathenia’s hounds snarl. They’re very close now and that’s why Ethan has created the illusion of lions.

  Ethan cracks a whip sharply and the lions give a wild roar. Another crack and the lions leap, charging out the door, chasing the hounds away from the temple.

  I can’t help but give a soft gasp of admiration. Ethan hears and gives me a nod.

  Matt and John come over and get down on their knees. ‘How’s the healing going?’ Matt asks.

  ‘I’m nearly—’

  But I don’t finish this thought as a pair of warm hands cover mine. I look down to see Arkarian moving into a sitting position, my hands now firmly gripped in his. With violet eyes beginning to re-focus, he smiles at me. ‘You are amazing.’

  Seeing him like this, not only recovered, but just … seeing him alive and knowing he’s going to be all right, overwhelms me for an instant. Tears hit the back of my eyes that I struggle to contain. I’m not going to fall apart now!

  Sitting up, he pulls me to him fiercely. ‘I thought I’d lost you.’

  Out of the corner of my eye I see Matt frown. I try not to analyse my brother’s look; it’s not unusual for him to over-react where I’m concerned. At least Arkarian is well again. He’s not going to die! And as long as we get out of this place in one piece – there is a chance for us.

  After holding me tightly he looks into my face. With the tips of his fingers he wipes away my tears. Then he leans his forehead against mine and slowly kisses me. At first it is a gentle meeting of our lips. Then the pressure increases, and the kiss becomes a mixture of sweetness and passion.

  I don’t ever want it to stop.

>   Chapter Thirty

  Arkarian

  Ethan almost knocks me over with his greeting. I grip his shoulder with one hand while hanging on to Isabel’s with the other. I’m finding it impossible to let her go, even for a second. And she hasn’t tried to pull away.

  ‘I thought I was never going to see your ugly face again,’ Ethan says.

  ‘It probably would have been better if you hadn’t,’ I tell him as we pull apart. ‘Lathenia will be back for you.’

  ‘Don’t say things like that,’ Isabel mumbles softly.

  I turn to her and see Matt for the first time. Matt! So Matt is the third person on their journey. Oh no! This has got to mean trouble. I wonder why Sera couldn’t identify him? And how did they get Matt’s inclusion past Lorian? A sickening thought takes hold at the growing look of discomfort on all three of their faces. ‘I can’t imagine Lorian agreeing to Matt coming along.’

  ‘Well,’ Ethan says, looking at the floor, ‘Lorian didn’t exactly.’

  Just what is he saying? Something isn’t right. He looks too uncomfortable. ‘Which one of you is in charge?’

  No one answers, but it’s not difficult to guess what they’re trying to conceal. ‘The Tribunal didn’t sanction a rescue attempt, did it?’

  Ethan says softly, ‘No, but I’m sure they would have. It was Lorian who gave the direct command against it.’

  Sadly this action I understand. ‘All three of you risked too much for me.’ No one meets my eye, and I tell them what I think will happen. ‘Lorian won’t punish you all. Not during a time of such crisis. But one will have to be made an example of. Who will be held responsible?’

  They remain silent as their eyes skim around each other. Finally Isabel says, ‘I guess that’ll be me.’

  My hand squeezes hers tighter. ‘You went against a direct order?’

  ‘Yes, and I would do it again!’

  Her courage is breathtaking, but it will be her downfall. ‘Isabel, we humans can’t presume what’s in the minds of those who are above us. They know more, they understand on a higher level.’

  Stubbornly, as only Isabel can be, she pushes her argument, ‘This time Lorian was wrong!’

  ‘You did this for me?’

  She nods and I pull her closer to me. Would I do the same had it been Isabel taken to this world? I don’t even need a second to think. I would fight the devil itself to get to her.

  In an attempt to lighten the tension, Ethan introduces me to their ‘friend’ John Wren. My first instinct is wariness. But it’s clear by just looking in his eyes, that this wren is unlike Marduke’s disciples. He grips my hand in a firm shake.

  The second he releases it, I take Isabel’s again, just to make sure she stays close.

  Matt’s keeping his distance and I’m getting an inkling of why. I catch his eye and we nod our heads by way of a greeting. Then his eyes drift downwards to where my hand is linked with his sister’s. It’s as if this sight disturbs him. He moves to my other side. ‘Look, I don’t know you like Ethan and my sister do. And, as I’m not one to believe in rumours or take notice of hearsay, tell me in your own words. Is it true that you’re six hundred years old, and that your body will never age?’

  I see where he’s heading, it has me squeezing Isabel’s hand tighter again. Her eyes fly up to my face, then fasten on her brother’s. I hear her sharp intake of breath when I give Matt the answer to his question. ‘Everything you heard is true.’

  His eyes bore into mine. ‘Then where can this possibly lead?’

  I whisper back, ‘All my life I’ve been empty inside. When I’m with Isabel I am whole.’

  ‘But you don’t live in our normal world. It’s impossible!’ He glances at my blue hair as if to make a point. ‘What sort of life would Isabel have in your world, growing old and watching you stay young? Listen to me, Arkarian, you have to stop this now before my sister’s heart is broken. I’ve never seen her look so lovesick or so driven, not even when she had that crush on Ethan. This is serious. It can’t continue!’

  The reality in his words explode through me.

  While Matt’s words stem from brotherly love and his strong sense of protection, what he says is true. But seeing Isabel beside me, feeling her, it’s just too hard to let her go.

  She peers at us both carefully. ‘Stop whispering! I want to know what you two are talking about. What the hell are you saying, Matt?’

  I raise my hand to the side of her head. She leans her face into my palm. I want so much for her, to love her with an open heart. And it’s because of this love that I can … I must do what Matt bluntly points out.

  So, after one final caress, I force an impersonal tone into my voice. ‘Matt is concerned that too much time is passing.’ The sound of lions roaring outside proves timely. ‘And he’s right. We have to hurry and find our way out of here.’

  Without giving her a chance to say anything in return, I spin away, pretending to look for something. I don’t want Isabel to see through my façade. Right now I’m nothing but a fraud. It’s then I see Sera, still hiding under the table, still trembling.

  I hold my hands up to the others. ‘Wait here, don’t move.’ Bending down, I try to coax Sera out.

  She twists her head sideways. From her position on the floor she would only be able to see their legs, but it’s Ethan’s legs her eyes are glued to. ‘Come on, Sera, how long have you waited for this moment?’

  Taking my offered hand she comes out and totters on unbalanced feet to stand before the others. She lifts her eyes and catches sight of the wren that accompanies them and starts screaming and gripping me so hard her hands go almost all the way through my arm. John screams too, leaping towards the door. Matt grabs him before he makes an exit, dragging him back.

  Seeing Sera, Isabel gasps softly in surprise. Ethan simply stares. With eyes fixed on his sister’s spiritual presence, he comes right up close. ‘Sera?’

  Calming down a little, but keeping a watchful eye on the wren, Sera peels herself off me. Turning to her brother, she flings herself into his arms.

  Ethan embraces her back, but stares up at me alarmed when his arms go slightly through her, and her body comes to rest slightly through his. I smile and give an encouraging shrug. ‘It seems to be the way.’

  She stands on tip-toes and he lowers his head to the top of hers. Now it appears as if their bodies are melded as one.

  Isabel looks at them with tears in her eyes. She too knows how much Ethan has suffered. ‘Will we be able to help her, Arkarian? Release her from this prison?’

  ‘If we can get her out of this world with us, then her spirit should be free to go wherever it was meant.’

  A distant lion’s roar and the sounds of yelping remind us exactly where we are. ‘Do you think you could lead us back to the rift that brought you into this world?’ I ask hopefully.

  Isabel and Matt share a strained look, while Ethan gives his head a thorough shake. ‘No way. I’m not going through that mountain again.’

  ‘Why not the mountain?’ Matt asks.

  It’s the wren, John, who decides it for them. Peering suspiciously at Sera, he leaps over with a flap of his wings. ‘There’s another rift that joins with your world. Unfortunately, I don’t know where it is.’

  Sera’s eyes grow huge and she grips her brother’s arm tightly again at the sight of the wren so close. ‘It’s all right, Sera,’ Ethan explains. ‘John is our friend.’

  Sera looks at John sceptically, and Ethan says, ‘Trust me. For this once, you can rely on me.’

  With a tremor in her voice she asks, ‘What does this rift look like?’

  ‘A black flash in the sky,’ I tell her.

  She thinks for a moment, her forehead creasing deeply. ‘I’ve seen this rift when the blood moon rises.’

  The hounds draw nearer. Ethan’s illusion must be breaking up. We have to hurry and get out of here.

  ‘Can you lead us to this other rift?’ Ethan asks.

  Sera nods excitedly. ‘
I know exactly where to go. It’s right in the middle of—’

  Her words are interrupted by a loud bang near the door. Someone is there, half hanging on to the doorway. I take a closer look. It’s Bastian, battered and bleeding, his clothes torn to shreds. I run over just as he slides to the ground. ‘Isabel! Quickly, you’re needed here.’

  Before the others arrive, Bastian holds his hands up. ‘No,’ he heaves. ‘It’s too late. But …’ He tries to take a breath. ‘The other rift … you can’t. It’s over Marduke’s garden.’

  Ethan and Matt arrive and recognise him instantly. ‘Dillon!’

  ‘Ethan? Matt!’

  Matt gets down on his knees. ‘What happened to you?’

  Ethan, on his other side, is more cautious. ‘What are you doing here?’

  Isabel pushes both Ethan and her brother to the side. ‘Don’t ask him any more questions until I’ve finished.’

  It takes her a few minutes, but eventually Bastian – no, his real name is Dillon – is healed. He gets up, still looking shaken, and grips Isabel’s hands. ‘How can I thank you?’

  She tugs her hands out. ‘Are you one of them?’

  ‘Yes,’ he says. He flicks a look quickly over his shoulder. ‘Lathenia will be back soon. I have to get out of here. But I just had to tell you, the rift over Marduke’s garden is inaccessible.’

  ‘Why?’ I ask.

  ‘It’s drugged. You can’t go near it. It will numb your mind and you won’t be able to think for yourselves.’

  ‘Hell,’ Ethan exclaims. ‘Then how—’

  John Wren runs in from outside, making a high-pitched squeal. ‘Hurry. The master is coming!’

  Dillon looks around frantically. Seeing nowhere safe, he closes his eyes, preparing to use his wings. I grab his arm before he takes off. ‘Where will you go?’

  His head shakes. ‘I have no idea. But I can’t stay here. She’ll kill me.’

  ‘You will come with us,’ I tell him.

  He gives me a wary look. ‘Why? So the Guard can kill me too?’

  ‘You have my promise you will not be hurt.’