Secret Worlds (308 page)

How does your fear of their reaction toward us affect the prophecy Enid told me about?
I asked.

We need to go slow; we can’t rush in on them unannounced. It would create too much chaos and turmoil, effectively doing more harm than good. We must take our time to re-introduce ourselves and re-educate the humans of our ways.

You really don’t like the Denai, do you?

Jiren? No. But not for reasons you’re thinking of. Our history is full of more than bad blood.

We changed directions, heading toward some cliffs to a cave nestled in thick trees and well hidden from sight. He turned to me, holding my face in his hands. “We need to stay here for the night and wait for the hunters to move on. We’ll head back in the morning.”

I nodded.

His lips pressed against mine, taking in the taste of our kiss. I kissed him harder, tasting blood. He didn’t seem to mind.

Jump up,
his words filled my head. He caught my legs in midair, pulling them around his waist and pressing my back against the hard wall.

Are you not worried about the hunters coming in here?

Uh-uh.

Why?

Because the stories that surround this cave frighten them. So they stay as far away as possible.

His kiss deepened, filling me with a rush that bubbled and boiled within me. He pulled away from me before I gave in. “What’s the matter?”

“Waiting for Enid’s call for the clear.”

“Why?”

“The other Ancient’s might renege and come after us.”

“Why would they do something like that? I thought we satisfied their requests.”

“Some of them have been plotting to get rid of me for quite some time. I’m too much of a threat to them. And if I pull off the prophecy, they will be rendered almost powerless over the people they govern, losing what control they’ve gained over the years.”

“I had the impression crossing back into the mortal realm was what everyone wanted? And why would you be considered a threat? You seem pretty compliant to follow the laws about as equally as them.”

“Not everyone wants to cross. Some fear a repeated war with more lives lost. Some believe they are above humans. I’m a threat because I was chosen to be the leader for the other races I govern, whereas the others were appointed by the Ancients they succeeded.”

“How did the other Ancients die? I thought you said that was nearly impossible?”

His face darkened and my own heart wept at his sadness. “I lost my family during the cross over. The wars were horrific. Humans did everything possible to provoke the races just to get rid of us. My mother and my grandmother died. I lost my father long before I could remember.”

“I’m sorry. That’s horrible.”

He hugged me closer. “You are my family now, so all is well.”

“What are we going to do if the Ancients do fall back on their word?”

“Tonight? Anything we can. After crossing over? Convince enough of them to our side and defeat the others.”

“Can you do that?”

“We can, yes. But I hope it won’t come to that.”

“Me too, by the sounds of it. But if it does, how are we going to defeat the other Ancients?”

“By proving you’re my heart song.”

“Didn’t we just do that?” I asked as my heart leapt higher.

“Don’t be fooled. Jiren will make sure the races are convinced we’re using some sort of trickery. You only passed their initial assessment to be allowed into the immortal realm. From there, a test will be devised to stretch the limits of our bond. They’ll try to break it. When they discover what we’ve said is truth, all will be well.”

“I thought the prophecy said you rejoin the realms?”

“I can, with you. But, it’s not enough. I must have the races and the other Ancients behind me, or it will cause a war that would tear apart both worlds.”

“How do you suppose we take down a hand full of Ancients?” I asked as he moved to the center of the cave and sat down.

“They aren’t as powerful as you think.”
Come sit with me.

I took a seat in front of him then slid my legs around his waist, closing the space between us. He hugged me tight against him as a howl broke through the night. Enid gave the all clear.

Now, where were we?
Marren asked, pressing his lips to mine.

We took our time on the way back, enjoying each other’s company. Marren kept silent, except for the occasional whispered thought. I sensed something in him. Something off and heavy on his shoulders. I searched for ways to lighten his mood but always fell short of keeping a smile on his face.

When we got home, he remained cold and distant. Later in the evening, Marren shouted in his native language. His words were harsh as they filtered into my room where I dressed into my robes. The amount of anger within his words frightened me. I strapped on my sword then rushed down the hall to find out who he yelled at.

Marren stood on the stairs in front of about fifteen servants gathered in the foyer. One servant stood in front of the rest, closer to Marren. The same woman who served me since my arrival. She had her head bowed with her hands folded in front of her as she faced the other servants. Everyone stood motionless, too afraid to move.

I slipped behind Marren, taking a seat on the stairs. Enid stood with his hands in front of him at the end of the railing. He turned his attention toward me on my approach for a quick nod then returned his gaze back to the servants.

The difference in Marren and the way he spoke set me on edge. The enchanting buzz that filled my head when he spoke in his language was barely noticeable. Whatever the servants did wrong to deserve this lecture, I doubted they would do it again.

Marren shouted one final command and gestured with his hand a dismissal. Each and every servant dispersed, hurrying on to their necessary duties, fear of further retaliation written clearly on their faces. Only one servant remained standing—the woman.

Sitting this close, the cloth of her fabric trembling caught my attention. I wondered what she had done. She seemed so pleasant and polite to me, I couldn’t imagine her doing something so terrible it affected Marren this deeply.

Marren glanced over his shoulder and gave me a wink. My lips pulled into a smile. His simple gesture helped reassure me about his mood. He approached the woman, speaking calmer to her, though his words still came out sharp and quick. She nodded a few times and kept saying something over and over in her native language. I imagined it was an apology. Then she shifted her eyes to me, which promptly got her smacked. She fell to the ground, sobbing, with her hand covering her cheek.

“Marren!” I stood then rushed to her side.

“Relena, you don’t understand what she’s done. If you did, you wouldn’t be so quick to protect her.”

“I don’t care what she’s done. She doesn’t deserve to be treated like this.”

Marren’s eyes turned cold and fierce.
I’m trying to protect you.

I helped the woman to her feet. She trembled and refused to meet my gaze.
Then protect me honorably. Banish her; don’t beat her. You are a man, not a boy. Do the right thing.

My gaze shifted to Marren. His nostrils flared, and his chest exaggerated each breath. His hands, clenched into tight fists, were stiff at his sides. For a moment, I feared he was going to strike me. His breath caught, and his eyes grew wide with alarm. He relaxed his hands and lowered his gaze to the floor. I realized, then, I had spoken my fear to him.

He stood several moments taking deep breaths before he said something else I couldn’t understand. The woman ran away from the room sobbing, disappearing through the dining hall doors.

“You have a lot to learn about my world,” Marren said in a reserved voice, pulling my attention back to him.

“Maybe I do, but that doesn’t change my stand. The poor woman didn’t deserve to get hit for looking at me. You should exercise mercy where others exercise fear.”

“She—”

“I don’t care what she did! She didn’t deserve to get slapped!” My voice echoed through the walls.

“Fine,” he muttered then stomped up the stairs without a look back, sealing himself behind the doors to his study.

I stared at them, waiting for him to open them. He never did.

“A’lainn, there is something I want you to do,” Enid said.

“Anything, Athair.” I smiled.

“Take a walk with me. There is someone I want you to meet.”

I raised an eyebrow as my smile widened and followed him to the door. Before we walked through, my eyes fell to the wolf on the floor. Sad eyes met mine, and they held the light of a fire behind the sadness. My heart sank a little.

I love you, Marren,
I whispered in my mind as we walked out the door.

Strong winds blew around us, whipping our clothes around our bodies in tugs and pulls. The sun played peek-a-boo with the earth each time it hid behind thick puffy clouds. As it broke free, its warmth would pour down then fade away as another cloud moved over. In the distance, a storm brewed, lighting up the sky with the bright flashes of purple and blue. The clouds were at their darkest just along the horizon, beyond the line of trees and the long dirt road that had led me here. Enid kept his arms around his chest and walked with his head bowed, taking steady steps. The fold of his elbow held the hilt of his sword to his body.

We walked toward the stable made of marble walls and a thatch roof. Branches tied together formed the doors. A chimney poked out from the top, made from grey round stones. The contrast from the palace was extreme.

Marren…
A pang of guilt struck me hard in the gut. I had upset Marren and accused him of being merciless when I was unable to understand he did what he thought was right to protect me. I still didn’t agree she deserved getting hit. That was harsh. But, I was wrong to interfere.

“You are quiet today.” Enid’s voice took over the break in the wind.

“Do you think I was wrong to jump in like I had?”

He exhaled a heavy breath. “What I think is, both of you have a lot to learn about the other. Both of you thought you were doing what was right. He was trying to do his duty to protect you, which sometimes entails not showing as much mercy as you think he should. While you were doing what you thought was right, which was saving Farrah from unnecessary punishment.”

“She’s Farrah?” I hardly believed it. She’d been so cordial before.

“Yes. Now you understand?”

“Not so much.”

The crunch of the gravel filled my mind in an even rhythm along with Enid’s words and echoed like a chant. The more they replayed, the more I understood I had reacted out of haste. I jumped into the middle of something I didn’t understand. Inside a world I could see but didn’t understand enough to grasp the customs. My heart lunged in my chest, adding to the guilt.

A faint whisper, carried on the wind, said, “Turn around.”

I turned, removing the hair that had blown into my face. Marren walked toward us. I smiled as he approached, arms swaying with his steps, making my heart drum faster with every step he took. His lips curved and his eyes drank me in, taking my breath away.

“You didn’t think that you could leave me after saying something like that, did you?” His voice hinted at playfulness.

“You heard me?”

“I did.” He wrapped his arms around me and held me to him. I didn’t miss the sun anymore.

“I wasn’t sure if it would work in my human form, considering the distance.”

He pressed his lips to mine. I took in his sweetness.

I can always hear you. I’m sorry.

Me too.

Enid cleared his throat. “I don’t mean to intrude on this private, tender moment, but there is the matter of the stables to take care of…”

As an afterthought he added, “Which, you’ve charged me with doing, Marren.”

“That’s right. I will take my leave.”

His eyes dropped to me with a glimmer of bright light.
Gvgeyu
.

You need to teach me your language.
I sighed as he walked away from me. It never ceased to amaze me, the affect Marren had on me, changing the darkest, most stormy skies into ones painted bright blue and filled with the light of the brightest and warmest sun. Enid held his bent arm for me. I slipped my hand through and continued walking with him.

The wind blew into my nose the pong of hay and the thick bittersweet scent of the horses. I picked out the oil for the leather that bound the horses to the carriage and the grains from the oats they ate. There was even a hint of burned wood of a fire that had long grown cold. The air also had a heavy metallic tang, carried by the wind as the storm grew closer. There was even a twinge of sulfur. But there was also a scent I couldn’t place, a familiar floral scent that once brought me comfort but now brought fear that clawed at my stomach and clenched it tight. The pain increased as we stepped through the doors into the shelter of the stable.

“Are you alright?” Enid’s voice reached me as a distant echo becoming clearer and louder as the last syllable was spoken.

I tried to find a reason for his question as my attention caught his clenched jaws and lips pressed in a firm line. There was no hint of anger in his sad blue eyes. He gave a firm nod toward his arm. I followed his gaze, shocked to find my fingers were tipped with wet blood from my nails digging into his arm.

“Gods! I’m so sorry!” I released his arm and pulled the sleeve of his robes to blood already dried around four crescent-shaped wounds. The skin mended itself, erasing the punctures as if there was never any intrusion to begin with. I found myself captivated by the way his arm healed right before my eyes.

“It is quite alright, A’lainn. I see now you don’t like surprises.”

“What surprise? I thought I was meeting someone?” I asked, forgetting about the fear I had. I searched the four stalls, which were about the width of both of my arms stretched out from my sides. Each one had a black steed standing inside, with a wooden door keeping them in. They stared at me with their beady black eyes and tails lashing back and forth. Their ears were perked yet pointed toward the back of their heads.