Return to Kiluemar

by Kimberly Marraffino

“Why didn’t you just use your own last name for mine?

  “Howton?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Howton is not my real last name. It’s Ward. We changed our names as well. Pavian and I used our mother’s maiden name to help make it harder for us to be found. And Will thought since James had a connection to him with his last name, you needed a connection too. A connection to your mother and your life in Kiluemar. You were both born a Cassil, though.” Rhiannon was intrigued and turned her body toward her aunt. “Will decided to use one of your mother’s names for you. Her full name was Karramis Llewellyn Ward Cassil. Llewellyn was your grandmother’s maiden name before marrying your grandfather—my father. I guess, your dad just thought it would connect you and your mother better or something. This whole situation wasn’t an easy decision for your dad to make. He did it to protect you guys.”

  Many questions buzzed around in Rhiannon’s head. This vast information caused her head to spin. Feeling dizzy, she made her way back over to Kavana, who was still sitting on the table. The chair would not suffice this time, Rhiannon needed to lie down for a minute or two. Throwing herself onto the couch, she let out a disgruntled groan and closed her eyes.

  Neither spoke nor moved. Kavana wanted to continue the conversation—fill in the blanks, answer all Rhiannon’s questions, and defend her part in all of this, but she needed to wait for the right time. The silence allowed her to go over all the details in her head and come up with the right way to tell her niece everything. Words were never Kavana’s strong suit. She always managed to say the wrong thing at the wrong time or spoke before she could think things through. So, the pause was greatly appreciated and not just for Kavana, but for Rhiannon as well.

  I just need a moment. The news of magic being real and the possibility of having an amazing power was not the cause of Rhiannon’s unaccustomed emotions. Those were the last things bouncing around in her head. She could only deal with the here and now. The current matter at hand was not magic, but rather that she had a brother. A twin brother, nonetheless. A brother who was erased from her memories—one she was forced to grow up without and was not even allowed to remember. Her emotional response was new but justified. Anger. Resentment. A gut-wrenching tightness filled her chest. She wanted to scream. Throw something. Storm out of the house. Anything to help release the rising fury surging through her veins. But, somehow, Rhiannon kept herself composed—never showing any physical signs of distress.

  Placing an arm over her face, Rhiannon sank lower into the couch. She sensed a new set of emotions emerging. The ache in her chest dwindled and flutters filled her stomach. Her skin started to tingle. Her rigid muscles relaxed. She was happy. Comforted. She had a brother. The part of her life she always longed for and sensed was missing. A family beyond her aunt. Learning she had a brother and an uncle, who were still alive, gave Rhiannon hope.

  She bolted upward, throwing her legs sideways and placing her feet on the ground. “So, I have a brother and an uncle? And both are alive, right?”

  The sudden movement and noise startled Kavana, and she jumped, placing her hand against her chest. “Yes. As far as I know.”

  “What’s that mean?”

  “Well, I haven’t seen or heard from my brother in eight years. We promised not to tell each other where we were going and to never try to find one another.”

  “Okay, but how . . .” Rhiannon trailed off, trying to put the pieces together. “How were you guys going to contact each other once we found out about our powers? Didn’t you guys think that far ahead? This whole prophecy thing claims we’re the ones who are supposed to do something amazing, right? So, why wouldn’t you come up with a contingency plan to get us back to Kiluemar?”

  Rhiannon waited.

  Kavana’s blank stare was obvious.

  “I gather by your expression and lack of response,” Rhiannon chuckled nervously, “no one figured out a game plan to get back.”

  “Nope.”

  “Well great. So, we’re completely oblivious as to how we are supposed to find them then.”

  “Yeah. I—I guess so.”

  Neither one spoke as Kavana tapped her foot uncontrollably and folded her arms across her body. Rhiannon ignored her aunt’s anxious behavior and headed back over next to the window. She leaned in, gazing out at the landscape.

  Murky clouds rolled in over the mountains and the sky darkened. The naked branches shifted side to side as the wind blew harder. A storm was coming. Resting her forehead against the window, Rhiannon shivered as her skin pressed against the freezing glass. Despite the subtle movement of the trees, the outside world was still.

  Small, individual flurries fell from the sky. Rhiannon took note of each snowflake as it traveled passed the window, slowly descending to the ground. A sudden movement swooped into sight and broke her tranquil concentration. It was the hawk again. It glided beautifully across the gloomy sky. Circling around, the hawk seemed to be searching for something. She wondered if the magnificent bird could sense the impending storm, if it knew the possible dangers coming. Mesmerized by the hawk, she continued to stare at it as it looped in and out of the trees. More snow dropped from the sky and the white thickness concealed the animal. She searched, trying to catch one last glimpse before it disappeared completely. She spotted it soaring lower, the stunning frosted sky behind it. Absolutely magical. Rhiannon lifted her head from the window. That’s it!

  She raced over to Kavana. “That’s it!”

  The loudness made Kavana close her eyes and wince. “What’s it?”

  “Magic!”

  “What about it?”

  “Magic is going to help us find them and get back.”

  “How? You don’t even have your powers right now.”

  “Yeah, but don’t you have any?”

  Kavana grimaced. “No. Not at the moment.”

  “What?” Rhiannon asked in a somber tone. “Why not?”

  “Well, I don’t have powers outside of Kiluemar. I, unlike other magical creatures, only have magic within the realm. Mine are bound to Kiluemar.” She paused. “And . . . so are Pavian’s. We don’t have any powers in this world.”

  Rhiannon stood, gawking at Kavana. “What? You don’t have any magic? Like none at all?”

  “No. Pavian and I are only Guardians. We have no other forms of magic . . .” She lowered her voice. “. . . unlike our sisters.”

  “Unlike what?”

  “Never mind, off topic.” Rhiannon opened her mouth to talk, but Kavana elevated her voice. “Guardians were created to protect and guard the portals to and from Kiluemar. The realm’s magic made Guardians and gave them their powers, but the magic only works within the realm itself or when a portal is open. When we sealed the portals, we lost our magic.”

  “Did you know that was going to happen?”

  “Yes. We wanted and needed it that way.”

  “Why?”

  “Because then we couldn’t be tracked by other magical beings. Sealing the portals not only protected you and James, but us as well. Our magic is constant—always working—so tracking it is easy.”

  “Okay, so, if you don’t have any magic . . . and Pavian doesn’t have any . . . and James and I don’t have any . . .”

  Rhiannon narrowed her brows, pondering a solution in her head––a way to reopen the portals—but she needed more information.

  “What’s the plan to open the portals then?”

  Kavana’s face lit up. “Now, this is the part I do know. We’re going to open them the same way we closed them. With our blood and—"

  “What?” Rhiannon screeched, the color draining from her face. “Our blood?”

  “Relax. We don’t need much,” Kavana said nonchalantly.

  Dumbfounded by this new bit of information, Rhiannon’s mouth fell open as Kavana went on.

  “When we came through the portals, we used blood from all four of us to seal them shut. It was a simple spell, and it lock
ed them permanently. With the portals being locked from the outside, they can only be opened from the outside. And the four of us together are the only ones who can reopen them . . . and we need our blood. We’re the keys.”

  “By the four of us, you mean—”

  “Yes, I mean, you and James, and me and Pavian.”

  Kavana could tell by the look on Rhiannon’s face that she wanted to say something, so she patiently waited for her to speak.

  Sensing the quietness was meant for her, Rhiannon demanded, “Okay, can we please get back to the whole needing- our-blood thing?”

  “No,” Kavana snapped, a slight smirk on her face.

  Scowling at her aunt, she resentfully agreed, “Fine. Then let me ask this again, you had the plan to open the portals, but no clue how we were to find each other and move forward with this foolproof plan?’

  Curling her lips, Kavana shook her head sharply. “Nope.”

  Rhiannon threw her arms in the air, slapping them against her upper thighs. “Great.”

  “We didn’t have much time to cover everything. We had a week to get everything in order and get you guys out of Kiluemar. Will did all the planning in this world and Pavian and I took care of everything there. We had to talk to our father—fill him in on everything—and make sure everything with us and our lives there were taken care of. We didn’t even have a chance to say good-bye to everyone. It was all spur of the moment.”

  “Why though? What was the rush? And what did my dad have to take care of?”

  “We agreed Will would be the only one who would know where each of us were located. He was the one who found us homes based on our specifications. The rush was to get both of you out of Kiluemar as soon as possible before anyone found out you were there. When Will found you—"

  Kavana did not have a chance to finish. Rhiannon was no longer paying attention, but instead she was peering over at the window. She was frozen in place, her face lacking any emotion or color. Kavana repeated her previous sentences in her head, trying to find something she might have said to send Rhiannon into a state of shock.

  “Are you okay?” Kavana asked Rhiannon, stepping in front of her and blocking her view of the window.

  “I think . . .” Rhiannon gulped, forcing herself to blink, “I think I’m seeing things.”

  Kavana moved over to the window and peered out, trying to see through the falling snow. “Why? What did you see?”

  “A hawk—”

  “A what?” Kavana shrieked, twisting around to face Rhiannon. “Did you say a hawk?”

  “Yes, I said a hawk. Why?” Walking over to the window, Rhiannon joined her aunt in the search for the bird, but the thick snow made it impossible to see anything and both reflections bounced back at her. Calmly, she added, “But, it’s not possible. It was probably just my imagination. Or maybe I’m just tired.” She walked away. “I mean, I didn’t get much—"

  “Rhiannon?”

  Stopping, Rhiannon did not face her aunt. “Yeah?”

  “What was the hawk doing?”

  Rhiannon pivoted on her heels and glanced sideways. “Uhm . . . It was sitting on the outside windowsill peering in and, uhm, looking around. It was staring at me. When I noticed it, the hawk made eye contact with me and . . .” The words she was about to say were going to make her sound crazy but she smirked. “And, I swear, it looked like it smiled and winked at me.”

  Kavana faced the window, her eyes fixated on outside.

  “Aunt K, what’s wrong?” Rhiannon walked over and placed a hand on her aunt’s shoulder. “Is everything okay?”

  Half expecting to see shock on Kavana’s face, Rhiannon was surprised to see she was smiling. She was delighted about something, but her lack of communication made Rhiannon uneasy. Leaning forward, she blew out a loud huff directly next to her aunt’s ear. The warm and unexpected blast caused Kavana to jump.

  Placing her fingers against her ear, Kavana rubbed it aggressively. “What’d you do that for?

  “Sorry,” Rhiannon said, laughing, “but you were ignoring me.”

  “Oh. Sorry. I get lost in my own head sometimes.”

  “Yeah, I’m aware.”

  “Anyway! I think I know how we are going to get back to Kiluemar. Go start packing.”

  Rhiannon’s stomach filled with tiny prickles, working their way down her legs and up to her chest. She smiled and hurried out of the living room. Making her way up the stairs, she stopped short of the third step when rustling came from outside the front door. Who could that be?

  Company was not a common occurrence around here, in fact, no one had ever visited their home before.

  The rustling stopped, followed by footsteps slowly moving along the front porch. Rhiannon held her breath as loud knocks hammered against the door.

  Chapter 7

  Unexpected Visitor

  The knocking surprised Kavana as she raced into the entryway at the base of the staircase. She glared over at Rhiannon, who was still standing on the steps.

  Pointing at her niece, she whispered, “Was that you?"

  A wide-eyed Rhiannon shook her head as another set of knocks pounded louder at the door.

  Rhiannon tiptoed down the stairs and mocked her aunt’s hushed tone. “Who the heck is that?”

  “I don’t . . .” Kavana faced the door as her low tone returned to normal. “Wait. I think—It can’t be.” Her beady eyes and clenched jaw relaxed as her panicked expression shifted to annoyance. “Hey, what color was that hawk?”

  “Like a light brown and . . . a slightly reddish color. Why?”

  Kavana groaned, walking over to the front door and gripping the doorknob. “That wasn’t a regular hawk.” She flung open the door and sneered at a man on the other side. “I knew it.”

  A tall man with a slender but toned body stood on the other side of the doorframe. The subtle lines along his smile and eyes showed signs of middle age, but this did not take away from his dashing appearance. Rhiannon’s cheeks grew warm upon seeing the man. He was incredibly attractive despite his age. His dark maroon shirt brought out the red in his strawberry-blond hair and accentuated his porcelain skin. But the one thing Rhiannon noticed most about the man were his bright, emerald-green eyes. She was engrossed by the magnificent and unnatural color.

  “Hello, Kavana. Mind if I come in?” The man shivered, wrapping his arms across his chest. “It’s a wee bit nippy out here.”

  Rhiannon snapped back after hearing the man’s undeniable Scottish accent. His voice made him even more appealing. She continued to stare as her aunt swung open the door, motioning for him to come in. Stepping back over next to the stairs, Rhiannon never took her eyes off Kavana and the mystery man. The floorboards creaked under her, and the man turned. Catching a glimpse of Rhiannon, he gasped and widened his eyes, making the deep green even more pronounced.

  “She looks just like her,” the man announced, walking over and placing both hands on her shoulders. “Minus the eyes.” Pulling her forward, he hugged her.

  The embrace made Rhiannon’s face feel even more flushed, but she welcomed the hug, especially from him. Raising her arms, she returned the gesture and smiled.

  Kavana complained with a snarky tone, “What’re you doing here, Aidan?”

  Pulling away from Rhiannon, he smiled at her before stepping toward Kavana. His cheery demeanor made Rhiannon grin even more. Aside from his warm persona, he had a protective nature about him, making her feel safe and relaxed. Trying to ignore the sudden rush of excitement taking over, she concentrated on their conversation.

  Kavana repeated bitterly, “What’re you doing here? And how the hell did you find us?”

  “I tracked you,” Aidan announced with a sly grin.

  “What?” Kavana said, her voice loud and frantic. “We have to get out of here! I mean, if you were able to find us, then—”

  Grabbing her arms, Aidan pulled her forward and snapped, “Kavana! Relax!” Her body stif
fened at the sudden shout. He lowered his voice. “Relax. You need to calm down, lass. Yer way too tense.”

  “Yeah, no kidding,” Kavana said annoyed, pushing him away. “And I have every right to be.”

  With the conversation paused, Rhiannon reevaluated the most recent conversation she had with her aunt. Something was off.

  “Wait! Aunt K, you didn’t know he was coming?” Kavana shook her head. “I just figured—I mean—It’s just—Well, I just figured since you told me to go pack, you knew he was coming. But I guess he’s not the one you were expecting?” She frowned. “And who is he anyway?”

  “Oh right,” Kavana said, placing her hands on her hips. “Well, this is Aidan Reade. He’s a . . . a friend of the family.” She tossed him a stern scowl. “And no, I wasn’t expecting him. I thought Hermes found us. I thought, maybe, my father figured out a way to send him through and give us a message.” She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “No such luck, I guess.”

  Ignoring Kavana’s childish stance, Aidan reached out a hand to Rhiannon. “Pleasure to finally meet you, lass.”

  Rhiannon extended her hand and smirked. “Nice to meet you, too, Aidan.” Letting go, she directed her attention to her aunt. “Who’s Hermes?”

  Kavana dropped her hands and relaxed her rigid posture. “Oh. He’s my father’s Messenger. I just assumed since you saw a hawk, it was him.”

  “Messenger?”

  “Yeah. One of the coolest things about being a Guardian, in my opinion, are the Messengers. All Guardians have a flying animal to help relay messages and keep an eye over the realm. They are our eyes and ears to all things happening around the island. We don’t have all the necessary powers to be everywhere at once, so magic created Messengers for us.”

  Rhiannon smiled, her face beaming with excitement. “Will I get one, too?”

  Aidan grinned as Kavana chuckled and nodded. “Yes. If you have Guardian magic, you’ll get one, too.”

  “Well, how does it work? Do I get to pick any bird I want? How does it communicate?”

  “The animals find us. Messengers are linked to a Guardian, so they usually appear within a few weeks of a Guardian gaining their powers. No one knows where they come from, they just appear one day. The animal arrives nameless and they prefer you to name them—it helps make remembering easier. Now, it communicates telepathically. You’re the only one who can hear your Messenger’s inner voice.”