by R. G. Porter
"Rest easy child, you will be fine.” How could she be so sure? There still was the uncertainty of Elroy. Alayia knew she needed to still make it to her parent's house but what might lie in wait there terrified her. “All that has been destined to happen shall. Don't worry about the future. Just do what you know in your heart has to be done."
"You don't know Elroy. The man is persistent and evil, two traits that aren't healthy together."
"Alayia."
"No Talon. I'm scared to do the one thing I know I have to and that's go home.” Her heart had begun to hammer out in her chest so loud she swore they could all hear it. “If I run into my parents they will give me a tongue lashing like no other or Elroy could be there waiting. Either way I'm chancing going back but I have no other path available to me."
"You can just live the life as it's given to you and not ask questions.” Elza's words brushed against the vice that was squeezing the breath from her lungs, releasing the hold it had on her. “You and Gabriel love and accept each other as is, why worry about the curse?"
There was the heart of the problem. Why? Alayia's mind drifted back in time to when Robert had been alive and they'd run around their parent's field in play. So much innocence lost long ago, so many deaths since then. All linked to one person. Elroy. In that one moment Alayia saw it clear as day. She finally gasped the meaning of it all, more than anything she'd understood before. The Wheel from the woman's vision had led them from the past to the present. Only they could determine their future.
"It's because the curse is more than the changing of the dragon. Elroy has tainted the lands with his greed for too long. So many have suffered at his whims yet he goes unpunished.” Alayia lifted her head toward the sky, the shadow of a beast in flight catching her attention. Gabriel. “This needs to end. Soon."
"You are the one to do it then. Trust in yourself and those you hold dear. The elements of mother earth and father time will aid you when the time comes. You need to be open to that which isn't obvious.” She wanted to believe in her words more than anything, she needed to. “Now, be off with you. There is much that needs to be done for the coming of ages."
Alayia felt a renewed sense of purpose as she watched the old woman wave them off as she entered her home, a smile crossing her face. Could she do what had to be done? One way or another it would need to be finished. The one fate she refused to allow was her life in Elroy's.
"Let's go. Nothing more we can do here.” Her head shot back to Talon to see him head toward the forest. “We can make your family's home by early evening.” He knew her thoughts and still, even with the knowledge that certain death could await him, he chose to follow. She had to find a way to repay him someday.
"You're right, nothing more here to do.” Her mind set Alayia moved past him, her hand a light caress on his arm in thanks. “You're a good friend Talon. Someday I'll find a way to thank you.” As she made her way back into the thick of the woods Alayia took down the area into her keeping. She would come back and see if between the two of them they could find a way to bring back Talon's sight. He deserved at least that.
For as short of a distance it was suppose to be, Alayia swore they'd traveled for days when she finally spotted her parent's house over the horizon. Fear and happiness merged inside as she wondered what kind of reception she might get when she walked through the door. Would they be happy to see her? Worried about what had happened to cause her to leave. Somehow Alayia had a feeling the only reaction she would get would be a nice tongue lashing from them. They'd never understood her, just wanted her to disappear to a rich husband. Just the thought of being pawned off on some man grated her nerves.
"Alayia?” Talon's voice penetrated her thoughts.
"I don't think you should venture any closer Talon. They wouldn't understand."
"I'm not letting you go in there alone. Gabriel would kill me.” The image of the dragon and Gabriel's devilish smile moved through her thoughts. God how she needed him right now. Never had she found going home as hard as she did right now.
"It will be easier for me to get in and out without you there. My parents wouldn't understand your presence. For that matter, I'm hoping to avoid them all together.” The fact the lights were off worried her though. Never in her life had she known her father or mother to allow the house to go dark. It wasn't them.
"You are uneasy though, I can smell it.” His hand gripped her arm in a protest.
"Talon, please, I need to do this alone.” Something deep inside screamed at her to keep him back, to not allow him any closer to the house. There was an uneasy feel in the air and it was making her natural warning systems go off in full alarm.
"Alayia..."She placed her hand on his mouth to silence his words. The moment she touched his skin scenes she couldn't have imagined flashed in front of her eyes. So much sadness and pain, the feel of abandonment so strong it nearly brought Alayia to her knees.
"Talon, you've suffered through so much.” She couldn't believe what he'd gone through. So much for one man to bear, yet he never asked for anything. She needed to find a way to change that. He deserved a life better than he'd been given.
"I'm guessing you saw.” His words felt raw against her ears. It was a subject that ripped at him and she knew it. “Now you know why I'm going with you."
"From what I saw it gives me even more of a reason of why you're not going with me."
Before he could protest further Alayia slipped from his grip and out into the clearing. The images she'd seen continued to move through her mind. He'd been so young, so full of life. Yet it hadn't stopped Elroy from ripping away his innocence. All Talon had wanted to do was protect his mother from a tyrant. His punishment had been swift and severe. Eternal darkness at the hands of a madman. Alayia could still feel the burning of the red-hot pokers as they moved toward an eight year old boy, his terror all encompassing. Her situation had been easy compared to what Talon had endured at the hands of Elroy. Never would she allow another to suffer at the hands of his insanity.
As she rounded the corner Alayia kept to the darkness of the shadows, her gaze searching the area for any signs of life. Nothing stirred. If her time was right her parents should have been preparing dinner, where were they? Everything about the area felt off. She shifted her body to the right as she made her way to the house and the back entrance she'd used to leave the last time. Everything looked the same, the board still secure as she'd left it. Perhaps she'd lucked out and they'd gone into town. Still, her gut told her something was seriously wrong. She'd have to be careful, it was the best she could do for now.
The board creaked into the silence of the early evening breeze as she pushed it up to reveal her entry. She'd lost count of how many times she'd used it to get out when confined to her room. Good thing they'd never found out about it, otherwise her father would have boarded it up by now. Ducking inside Alayia stopped to let her eyes adjust to the darkness of the house. The normal feel was gone, lost to an odd staleness. Despite the vibes she was getting Alayia moved to her room and the last place she'd heard her mother put the paper. The moment she opened the door an onslaught of emotions raced through her. They'd gone through her room, torn it apart in search of something. Could they have been looking for the parchment?
Alayia shook her head. “No, he wouldn't have known about it.” Her voice sounded odd in the emptiness of the house. Apprehension began to weed its way into her confidence. She needed to find that paper and get out. She moved to the back of her room, her steps hollow on the floor. There in the corner sat the candle she'd made her mother. Next to it wrapped securely in yellowish paper was the crystal vase. It was still here. Alayia touched the paper her eyes lifted to the ceiling. “Thank you for not throwing this away mother.” She pulled the paper from around the vase and read the text written on it. She'd been right all along. As she continued to read a cold breeze moved across her body as full understanding registered. They had to find a way to lure Elroy into that forest. If she knew enough about him he wouldn't go wil
lingly.
Alayia began to tuck the paper into her pocket when another thought crossed her mind. If Elroy found them he would understand what was on the paper. She couldn't chance that. Against her better judgment, Alayia put the paper under the candle and prayed no one figured out it was there. She'd found what she needed and now it was time to leave. Too much time had already been spent here and that was dangerous. Retracing her steps back out of her room she was headed to the exit when she felt a pull to the living room. Another minute shouldn't hurt, or at least that's what she kept telling her self as she made her way from the secret exit and toward the common area. With every step she took Alayia felt as if a weight was pressing on her heart. The air felt so stale, the sounds distant as she entered into the living room. She scanned the area but everything looked the same, save the sheet that covered the back of the couch by the window. Why had her parents done that? Curiosity pushed past the nagging warning going off in her mind as she made her way over to the couch. She should leave, she knew she should, yet something was wrong. Each step her heart beat faster till she swore it would burst through her chest. Never had the room seemed so large, did it always happen when the unknown was so vivid?
Seconds passed as she came to the edge of the couch, a smell she couldn't recognize assaulted her senses. Against her better judgment she gripped the edge of the white fabric and pulled, a scream lodged deep in her throat. Three pairs of eyes stared at her, frozen in deaths embrace. Her mother and father held tight in each others arms, a deep red crimson line across each others chest, and their screams forever silenced. She wanted to turn away but she couldn't, not after she'd noticed the third person who laid so still, his vibrant life torn from his body way too soon.
"Robert..."She whispered his name like a prayer. His body looked better than she'd thought it would, considering he'd carried the brunt of Gabriel's fury as the dragon. Yet, she could see not claw marks and his skin had no fire burns. How could that be?
"That's an easy answer. The dragon didn't kill him.” The blood froze in her veins at the sound of Elroy behind her. He'd known she would come.
"If Gabriel didn't kill my brother..."She didn't want to hear lies; instead she reached down and touched her brother's hand, his memories becoming her own. Foggy images moved through her mind, the laughter so carefree silenced forever. She moved through and cataloged his dreams for later review and found that fateful day in the field. She'd yelled to him, she remembered that, and he had turned at her warning. True the dragon had come and descended but not close enough to Robert. He'd watched as it dipped toward her and something deep inside recognized her. Instead of destruction it had flown away quickly, confusion pulsing through its mind. She watched from a distance as the scene continued from where she'd been knocked out, her heart heavy at the knowledge she'd planned to kill Gabriel at first.
Robert had turned to head toward her, calling out to get his father to help. From behind a noise had caught his attention and he'd turn, expecting to see someone he knew only to be met with the stare of a blade plunging deep into his chest. He'd tried to scream, but his lungs had filled too fast with blood, his eyes taking in the man who'd come so recently to secure the hand of his sister. Horror planted in his soul at the knowledge that the man didn't plan to give up his money for his sister, instead he'd planned to take it all. He'd failed to protect his family but worse, he'd failed to protect Alayia. The last he saw as death had overcome him, his final memory was the sadistic smile on Elroy's face as he turned to head toward his family's home and whatever plans he had laid.
Tears ran unchecked down Alayia's face as the memories of her brother finished. How wrong she'd been. It had never been Gabriel or the dragon, but Elroy all along.
"I see you understand.” His words slithered across her skin.
Fury unlike anything she'd felt before raged through her body as she turned to face the man who'd taken so much from her. His face was a mask of indifference, no show of remorse anywhere. In that moment she knew he was as evil as they came. No one deserved to have the power he yielded, yet he used it without a thought to those he harmed. Now more than ever she wished she'd taken Talon's advice and stayed away from the house. Now it was too late. Memories of her parents came back to her, their lives forever extinguished, all because of one man's perusal.
"I hate you Elroy. Everything about you disgusts me.” She flew at him, her hands flaying in hopes of inflicting some damage before he could bind her. “You don't deserve to live.” The world spun in a whirlwind of blacks and grays as she felt the hard connect of his hand to her chin. Sparks flew in front of her eyes at the impact, knocking her to the floor.
"You cannot harm me Alayia, don't think to try. I've wasted more time on you than most. Don't think I don't plan to get my just rewards for it.” Alayia's stomach convulsed at his words and the ideas she knew were floating in his mind. “You will not get away like before. You see what I do when others defy me."
She knew. She knew exactly what he did to anyone who didn't follow him. Alayia rose to face him, her head pounding from the blow she'd sustained. “You will never get me to go with you. Kill me now and get it over with.” She didn't care anymore. Everyone she cared about was gone other than Gabriel and in Elroy's hold she couldn't save even him.
"Oh I think not my dear. You see I have one more card to play.” Elroy whistled out into the darkness, a rustle the only answer. A commotion of men outside alerted Alayia that she'd never been alone; Elroy had known she would return. A knock at the front door and Elroy grabbed her arm tightly, his fingers digging into her skin. “Come in.” Alayia felt as if the world had turned on slow motion as the door burst open and Elroy's men entered dragging Talon's limp body in with them.
"No.” Her throat felt dry, the words lost in the sea of sadness that engulfed her. She could live with being caught in Elroy's trap, but to have involved Talon was more than she could handle. Tears welled deep in her heart when she saw the welt marks along his back from the beating the men must have given him. “Leave him alone. He isn't part of this."
"Oh, I'm afraid he is. You see, if you don't come with me without protest you will watch him die a very slow death.” Venom laced his words and she knew he would make Talon's suffering worse.
Defeat wove around her like a web. “Fine... I'll go with you. Leave him be.” Her words choked in her throat. She hated Elroy with every fiber of her being but she had to go with him, she was left with no other choice.
"Good, I'm glad you finally understand your destiny.” His words rang in her mind bringing forth the vision the demon had shown her. No, she refused to give in to Elroy. She would find a way out; she just needed to clear her head. “Now, let's go. We have a good distance to travel before nightfall.” Night... Gabriel. She'd almost forgotten.
"Where do you plan to head?” She could sense his reluctance to answer. Fine, she would do it the forbidden way. His hand still clamped tight to her wrist she let down her natural barriers to allow the flow of information. East, he was headed east. She needed to find a way to make him change directions or they would never get to the darkened forest.
"I hope you know Gabriel will find me. He can follow you anywhere in the natural woodlands.” Alayia gave a slight mental nudge to slip the fleeting notion of the mysterious forest and the demons that resided within. “You don't want to tangle with him in man or beast form."
If it was possible Elroy's scowl deepened. “Don't rely too heavily on your savior Alayia. You are right though, he will be able to find you in forest. We are headed somewhere he won't go alone, a place that evil resides and he can't use his dragon senses to locate you.” He'd taken the suggestion, Alayia couldn't believe it. Now she needed to make sure they headed to the right spot.
"I trust Gabriel. You fear him.” It was more of a statement then a question and Alayia could tell Elroy hadn't missed it. His fingers gripped her wrist, the pain shooting through her arm.
"Gabriel will not find us and don't confuse planning wit
h fear. Gabriel will die soon and then I won't have to deal with him any longer.” His words cut through to her heart.
"Suit yourself, but I have more faith in him than I fear you.” She prayed her words sounded full of the confidence she was slowly losing. They had a day before the cycle would end and she needed to make sure that all were present at the site.
"Did you find what you were looking for?” His question took her off guard, his matter of fact tone different than how he'd just spoken.
"No. I have a feeling what I needed was lost long ago.” As much as she hated to lie, Alayia couldn't allow the information she'd found to fall into his hands. Its knowledge, she held deep inside. Her head turned back to the bodies of her family, their eyes staring back at her. “I need to get out of here."
Not waiting for Elroy to stop her, Alayia moved to the door, her head spinning with all the information she'd gathered so far. Her family was dead, all of them murdered by Elroy for his own personal pleasure with no one around to save them. The fact he'd waited at her home for god knows how long terrified her. What had he gone through while no one was around? A shiver ran across her body at the thought of him rummaging through her room, his hands touching her personal items. A grunt from behind reminded her of the wounds on Talon. Her heart broke knowing he'd suffered more on her behalf. The moment she stepped outside she breathed in the fresh air, dispelling the stale air from inside.
"Don't think about running off."
Anger burned deep inside her body as she turned. “I'm not going anywhere, now leave me alone.” Her head turned to face Talon, his head bobbling as the men dragged him from the house. “I need to tend to Talon's wounds since your men have to be so rough.” She moved toward Talon, each step a challenge. She dared any of them to stop her and she would teach them exactly how capable she was.
"Fine, let her tend to the cripple.” His words bit against her heart. “Then we head out. The sun is starting to set and I want to make the dark forest before nightfall.” Of course he would. Elroy believed he would be safe in the enchanted forest, too bad he was so into his own wants that he'd never thought to learn anything about the land he ruled.
