Rhen closed his hands and crossed his arms over his chest. He studied Crystam for a moment before saying, “Are you asking me to remove your powers of love?”
“Yes, please.”
“Can you be more precise? What is it exactly that you want so I understand?”
“Exactly?” Crystam repeated. Rhen nodded. “Well, if I could have exactly what I want, I would still like to be the Goddess of Love like my mother, but I want to be able to touch my family and loved ones. I want to be able to live with Tgfhi for the rest of my life and not have to worry about him passing out in my presence. I want to be able to touch my friends and live among other people, but still be able to protect my planet.”
Rhen lowered his chin towards his chest, digesting her words. The room was silent as they waited to see what he’d say. Slowly, he lifted his eyes to Crystam’s. “I… might be able to take away the component of your powers that makes it impossible for you to touch the people you love.”
Queen Chara gasped loudly startling them and causing Aaron and Shno to lose consciousness. “Please, Rhen,” she begged, “Save my daughter. Let her lead a normal life.”
Rhen frowned. He didn’t want to get their hopes up. “I can’t make any promises. It won’t be easy. Your powers are genetic, Crystam. You received them from Themrock.” It was well known that Crystam’s ancestor had been Themrock’s first love. At her request, he had given her the ability to rule as the Goddess of Love. That power had been passed down in her family ever since. “Pulling your powers out of you will hurt and it won’t be quick and that’s assuming I can even do it.”
“I’m willing to suffer what I must in order to have a normal life.” Crystam looked so determined that Rhen knew he would have to try. He stood up and walked over towards the windows. After a little while, he said, “Okay. Give me a minute to check on something first.”
Charlie stood up. This whole situation was off. There was no way that Rhen could take away Crystam’s powers without turning into Themrock. He wanted to yell at Rhen to stop what he was doing. Unfortunately, he was pretending to be a mortal right now, so he couldn’t say anything in public. The mortals had no idea that what they were asking Rhen to do might force him to realize his identity.
Charlie watched Rhen as he communicated with Layla with his eyes closed. He wondered what Layla was saying. She certainly didn’t know how to remove Crystam’s powers. A moment later, Rhen’s body began to glow white. Charlie eased himself back down onto the couch. That was interesting. It appeared that Rhen was somehow accessing Themrock’s memories, without touching his powers. Was Layla pretending to let him sort through her memories? Whatever she’d said, seemed to work, because Rhen hadn’t turned into Themrock, at least not yet.
Charlie felt a shift in the air which meant one of the Genisters was coming.
Rhen stopped glowing and opened his eyes. “I think it’d be a good idea if you lie down,” he told Crystam. As Crystam made herself comfortable on the couch, Thellis flew into the room. He hovered in the air over Crystam while Rhen asked her, “Do you want to do this in privacy?”
Crystam couldn’t care less where it was done. She’d do it in the bathroom if it meant being able to touch Tgfhi and her future children. “It doesn’t matter to me.”
“Do what in privacy?” Thellis asked the room, his green powers flaring with curiosity.
“Rhen’s going to try to make it possible for Crystam to touch other people and still have her powers,” Latsoh told him.
Thellis tilted his head, considering her words. Charlie had thought he’d stop Rhen, but instead, Thellis merely looked interested. Idiot, Charlie thought to himself.
Rhen turned to Tgfhi, who was sitting on the edge of the couch holding Crystam’s hand. “I have to put my mouth on hers. Will that be a problem?” He wasn’t sure if he’d want another man kissing his wife on his wedding day so he thought he’d check with Tgfhi first.
Tgfhi didn’t look happy about it. “Why? You didn’t have to do that with me when you gave me my powers.”
“This time it’s different. I’m taking Crystam’s powers from her and her body doesn’t want to give them up.”
“It’s fine,” Crystam said, squeezing Tgfhi’s hand. She couldn’t understand why Tgfhi would care. Rhen wasn’t kissing her romantically. Tgfhi wasn’t finished though. “When the Zorthans attacked Thestran, you took their powers away from them with a twist of your wrist. Can’t you do that now?”
Rhen was seated on the coffee table beside Crystam. Glancing up, he took in the tightness around Tgfhi’s mouth and the worry lines by his eyes. His friend was scared. “The Zorthans’ powers weren’t genetic. Layla had given them their powers so she had no trouble taking them away.”
Charlie dropped his eyes to the floor as Thellis grunted. They’d told Themrock not to show Layla how to move powerballs around. It wasn’t right, her giving mortals powers. Charlie heard Thellis mumble, “She always did love playing God.”
“Also, for Crystam, it’s different,” Rhen continued, “I’m not taking all of her powers; rather I’m sorting through them to weaken a few of their bonds while keeping others intact. It’s not going to be easy.” He turned to Crystam. “Are you sure you want to do this? It’ll be painful and it might not even work.”
Crystam nodded. “Definitely.” She arched her neck to look up at Tgfhi and saw him nodding too. They both knew that without Rhen’s help, Crystam’s powers would be so strong that by the end of the school year, they’d no longer be able to touch. They needed Rhen to succeed. “Do the best you can, please,” Tgfhi said.
“I will.” Rhen stood up and pushed the coffee table out of the way, then pulled a chair over to the couch. Crystam appeared to be ready, so he placed a hand on her forehead and leaned in, placing his mouth on hers.
Crystam felt the cold rush of Rhen’s powers as they flowed from her mouth into her mind and then down through her chest, entering her body. She felt uncomfortable, but held still. Sleep, a man’s voice said softly. Crystam didn’t recognize the voice. As she blacked out, she wondered who’d said it.
Shno stood up to stretch. Rhen and Crystam hadn’t moved in a while. “Well, this is exciting,” he remarked dryly, grabbing a wine bottle off the coffee table.
“Yeah, shouldn’t something be happening?” Sarah asked.
Charlie lifted his glass, indicating he wanted Shno to refill it. “I thought we’d see something too.” He nodded his thanks to Shno before adding, “I can’t believe Rhen’s trying to remove something that Themrock gave to Crystam’s family years ago. It’ll be a miracle if he can do it.”
Ceceta shifted in her chair. She’d been very quiet this whole time. “Can he do it without using his full powers?” The others looked at her. “I’m afraid.”
Bosternd stepped away from the wall to place his hand on her shoulder. “If he flips into Themrock, we’ll grab him and take him back to Surpen. It should give us some time before Therol arrives.” Ceceta nodded. She was glad that Bosternd had a plan.
“He’s not turning blue,” Tgfhi said, drawing their attention back to the couch, “but Crystam’s turning white.” Crystam’s body had begun to glow. It became brighter and brighter, until it hurt their eyes to look at her. The light was so intense that they had to face in the opposite direction with their hands clasped over their faces. Just when they were beginning to wonder if they should leave the room, the light vanished. Turning, they saw Rhen pull away from Crystam. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and sat up. “All done?” Tgfhi asked. Rhen nodded and slid his chair back.
“Were you successful?” Chara asked. Rhen nodded again. Chara lunged forward, hugging him. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” She shook Rhen back and forth, making him laugh. A cloud of swirling, white energy wisps escaped his mouth.
“Whoops,” Rhen mumbled through clenched teeth before lifting his head to suck the dancing white energy back into his mouth. He held his finger to his lips and rolled his eyes upward to indic
ate that he couldn’t talk yet. He was trying to absorb Crystam’s powers.
When Rhen was finished, he swallowed. The energy had left his throat dry. “Tgfhi, she probably won’t wake up until tomorrow morning. Everything went well. Her body may feel sore for a day, but after that, she shouldn’t notice anything.”
“Thanks,” Tgfhi said, holding his hand out to Rhen. “Thank you so much.”
“Happy to help.” Rhen clasped Tgfhi’s hand with his own then lifted his other hand into the air beside Tgfhi. A tiny white power ball hovered an inch off his palm. “Are you ready for your gift?”
Tgfhi hesitated. He really wanted to be able to fly, but he noticed his father standing by the windows and he knew he had to ask Rhen for a different gift. “Actually, I want the same thing that you gave my wife.”
Rhen was confused. “You want me to take away your water powers?”
Tgfhi snorted. “No. I want you to do for Chara what you did for Crystam so Chara and my father can have a normal life together.” Tgonar and Chara had been in love for years, but Chara’s powers were so strong that not only was it impossible for them to touch, but Tgonar couldn’t even meet her eyes, if he did, he’d pass out.
Everyone in the room gasped. “No,” Tgonar said, stepping forward. “That’s very kind of you, Tgfhi, but you don’t have to do that. I know how badly you want to be able to fly. Take your gift. It’s your wedding. It should be a gift for you.”
“Crystam’s gift was for me and for her. I don’t need anything else. But you and Chara, you need each other. Your love has been hard on both of you. If Rhen could make it possible for you to touch, then that would be a gift for our whole family.” Looking determined, Tgfhi added, “It’s what I want.”
“Selfless bastard,” Rhen mumbled. He tucked the energy ball back into his chest and pulled his chair back over towards the sofa. “Are you going to move Crystam or does Chara need to lie down on top of her?”
Tgfhi picked Crystam up in his arms, “Thanks, Rhen.”
Chara lay down on the sofa and gazed up at Rhen looking nervous. Rhen smiled. “Do you trust me?”
“More than anyone else in the Universe,” she whispered fiercely.
Rhen laughed, thinking she was joking. “Ready?” When Chara nodded, Rhen leaned over to put his mouth on hers. Just after she felt Rhen’s powers filling her body, Chara heard a male voice telling her to sleep. She lost consciousness a moment later.
It took Rhen a lot longer with Chara. They were relieved when she finally began to glow white, but then she continued to glow for so long that Tgonar suggested they separate them. As Bosternd stepped forward to pull Rhen away, Chara stopped glowing. They expected Rhen to sit up, like he had with Crystam, but he remained connected to Chara. Bosternd cleared his throat to suggest they do something when Rhen shuddered and turned into Themrock.
“Crap,” Charlie whispered as Thellis shrieked and fell to the ground. He’d been floating by the back wall when his body had suddenly become solid in Themrock’s presence.
Themrock broke his connection with Chara and sat up. Latsoh was stunned. He looked exactly like his portrait in the elfin castles, his eyes were glowing blue, his dark brown hair fell to his shoulders and he had a short, trimmed beard. She could see tattoos on the exposed parts of his arms and legs. When Themrock’s eyes faded to black, Ceceta put up her hand up to tell the others to wait before speaking. She wasn’t sure if he had switched back to Rhen or if he was still Themrock. She wanted him to make the first move. Charlie closed his eyes and thanked the Gods for giving them Ceceta. She was brilliant.
A tall, elfin woman suddenly stepped out of Themrock’s body. She was stunning with long, black hair and large, bright green eyes that matched the colors of her traditional Water Elf robes. She had a tiny nose and full lips. “What’s up, menial second wife?” she sneered at Ceceta, while turning to face Themrock.
“Layla,” Ceceta hissed. She tried to run forward to get to Rhen first, but found she couldn’t move. Ceceta swiveled her eyes to the right to look for Bosternd. Why wasn’t he pulling Rhen towards the portal? From the frustrated look on his face, she realized that Layla had immobilized all of them.
“I’m back!” Thellis yelled behind them. He laughed hysterically touching his body all over. “I can’t believe it. I’m back!”
Layla ignored him. She flipped her hair over her shoulder and stepped over Themrock’s bent legs, sitting down on his lap; she grabbed his head and kissed him. “Hey babe, let’s go to Tetong,” she whispered huskily, after breaking their embrace.
Thellis was now rummaging through the desserts that had been set up on the back table. Ceceta could hear him grunting and slurping as he stuffed everything he could reach into his mouth. In front of her, Themrock was silent. Although he was with them in body, his mind seemed to be elsewhere. Layla kissed him again, sliding her hands inside his open tunic. When she pulled away this time, Themrock blinked. “Layla?” he said in voice that was richer than Rhen’s. “You’ve been riding around within me for years now. Why don’t you go to Tetong and wait for me?”
“No, all-powerful one.” Layla brushed her lips across his chin. “Ditch the second wife and then we can go there together.” She put her slim hand onto his thigh and slid it up under his tunic towards his crotch.
Her comment seemed to confuse Themrock. He shook his head and glanced over towards Ceceta. As soon he saw her, his eyes flashed blue again before turning black. Layla screeched as her body turned into a mist that swirled around in front of Rhen before flying into his chest. “No!” Thellis cried out as the plate he’d been holding clattered onto the table. Ceceta gasped as Layla’s powers disappeared. She rushed forward and threw her arms around Rhen.
“Ceceta?” Rhen asked in a small voice. He stood up on shaky legs. “Did I finish with Chara?” He turned back towards the couch. Seeing Chara, he put a hand to his forehead as if he had a headache. “Yes.” He yawned. “I’m tired. Let’s go.”
“Yes, love. Let’s go.” Ceceta was furious with Layla and wanted to have some alone time with her husband.
Rhen bent his head down to rest it on Ceceta’s. When his hair fell forward into his face, he groaned. “Oh, no.” He swiped it away from his eyes. “Did my hair grow while I was with Chara?” Ceceta nodded. Rhen yawned again. “I think I’m too tired to walk to the portal. I’ll transport us home, okay?” He glanced at the others. “Who am I taking to Surpen with us?” Everyone but Tgonar raised their hands. Rhen noticed Thellis floating in the air over the dessert table. For some reason, he looked furious. Rhen didn’t feel like dealing with whatever was bothering him. He turned away from the Genister in time to see Tgonar lean over the couch to touch Chara’s cheek. Tgonar’s face lit up and he raised his eyes to Rhen.
“It worked. I didn’t pass out.”
“No, you didn’t,” Rhen said. Before Tgonar could thank Rhen, he disappeared, leaving only Thellis behind.
Once they were on Surpen, Ceceta and Rhen headed off to bed as the others sat down to talk. “Do you think Therol will come?” Jack asked Bosternd.
“No, he wasn’t Themrock for a long enough period of time. We should be safe.” They talked about what actions they would take if Therol did appear. When they were done, Sarah blurted out, “What was the deal with Layla?”
Bosternd, Charlie and Orpel laughed. “She’s awful,” Orpel said.
Sarah sighed. She and the others had felt the same way but they’d been afraid to admit it.
“Themrock’s first wife is nasty, cruel and conniving. No one likes her. Even the other Genisters find her distasteful. We never say anything about her to Rhen, though, because he was married to her and we assume he loves her, but what a piece of work,” Bosternd added.
Charlie nodded. He couldn’t have said it better himself.
***
Te was surprised to find Loreth waiting for him in his office when he got back from the Thestran Council meeting. “I haven’t seen you in a while.”
Loreth had been leaning back in Te’s chair with his feet on the desk. He lowered his feet to the floor and sat up, placing his elbows on Te’s papers. “I heard Ceceta broke down in tears during school today.”
Te walked over to put his computer on his desk. “She did. Thank you for covering the students’ tracks.”
Loreth cocked his head. “How’d you know I was involved?”
Rhen had become angry when he’d seen Ceceta crying. He had gone in search of the ones responsible, but hadn’t been able to find them. Only a Genister would have been able to keep EFT’s members hidden from him. “It seemed obvious.” Te reached out for the papers under Loreth’s elbows and jerked them free. “The Supreme thinks we will have Ceceta where we want her before the end of this semester. He’s been pushing the Club members hard. Especially after the supposed appearance of Layla on Ventar.”
Loreth’s head jerked up. He’d been considering whether or not to zap Te with his powers to remind him who was boss, when he heard Te mention Layla’s name. “Wait, what?”
Te turned and walked towards the door that led to his bedroom. Opening it, he said, “You didn’t know?”
Loreth frowned. Why had Te opened his bedroom door? He knew that Loreth preferred it when the doors were closed.
Te crossed his bedroom to open the door that led to his balcony. A breeze blew in, lifting the soft green curtains beside Te into the air. “It seems Rhen did something for Queen Chara after Crystam’s wedding and it caused Layla to appear. Supposedly, she was mean to everyone. The elves are now questioning their religion.”
When Te reappeared in the doorway to the office. Loreth said, “I don’t understand.” Loreth had never paid any attention to the elves’ religion. He knew they worshiped the Genisters, but that was about it.
“Really?” Te walked over to Loreth and lifted up on the arm of his chair, tilting it backwards in such a way that he forced Loreth to stand up. Once the chair was free, Te sat down in it. “The elves furnished their religion around worshipping Layla, since she is their mortal connection to the Genisters. Everything they preach is based on writings of how Layla wanted them to behave. Now that they’ve met Layla and discovered she’s awful, they’re beginning to question their religion. It’s causing a lot of strife for the priests.”
The Surpen King - Part 2 - Rise of the Elves Page 22
