by A. M. Hodges
I am so overwhelmed with emotion that I can't speak. My parents are dead, but my brother is alive. I have family. Not that Jackson isn't my family, he will always be my father, but this is different. This is blood. This is my heritage. These are the answers that I’ve wanted my entire life.
"What is my name? My real name?"
Such a silly question really, but I was not born Reyna Lynn Mathers. Over the last few days, it feels like my identity has been ripped away. I know who I am, but I need to know who I was born to be.
"Your name," Jeb takes my hand and pulls me to stand, "is Reyna Sorialla Valdikye, after the two royal families. The mark that you were born with, is the mark of the Valdikye. Your entire line shares it. Unlike in your world, the females in Malatia do not automatically take the male’s last name. Children born to a pair, take the name of the most powerful side of the family. In your case, that side was your mother's."
Huh. Interesting. And a little irritating, considering they seem to know so much about the human realm, yet we know nothing of theirs. Only myths and stories filled with inaccuracies.
"Okay, I think that's enough answers for now," I sigh. Not because I don't have more questions, but because I don't think I can handle any more answers today.
Lucah has retaken his place next to me and is rubbing my back again. Jeb visibly tenses, as usual, and his jaw grinds as he takes a seat across from me.
"I know this is hard Reyna," he takes my hands in his, "but I want you to know that you are strong. Stronger than you know. And no matter what, Lucah and I will be here to get you through this. We go where you go. Until the end of time.”
His words make me tear up again. These men barely know me. Yet, they are promising to stand by me always. It could just be because of my heritage, but I don’t think it is. I can feel that it’s more. My heart is truly touched, and I am quickly realizing that I am a big ole softy. I never cry this much.
"I do have another question, but it isn't about my family," I say.
"You can have any answers you want, just ask," Jeb assures me sincerely.
"Can you find me in my dreams too, like Jeb?" I look at Lucah. He shifts uncomfortably and looks to Jeb for permission to answer me. I guess he gets it through whatever look Jeb gives him, because he takes a deep breath before beginning again.
"No," he admits, "that is strictly a Jeb thing. Not even Rune can find you in your dreams."
That makes no sense. My own twin, who can feel me through a bond, can't find me in my dreams but Jeb can. I assumed it was a Pixie thing. But then, Rune should be able to find me too. I can understand Lucah being unable, he doesn't share either race or blood with me. But why only Jeb?
"I don't understand?"
"We are Tiarkye," Jeb interjects, his body tensing once again, "it means, that we are soul-bonded."
Woah. "You mean we are soul-mates?"
"No, not soul-mates. It’s different, although Fae do have soul-mates," he explains, "Tiarkye are very rare in our world. It doesn't matter the age. I am nine hundred years old and didn't have one until you were born. The bond snapped into place the day your mother gave birth to you and your brother. The bond allows us to search for each other and sense each other’s need for power during battle. It even allows us to share small bits of power. I originally thought that it was Rune. Since he was always near, I never used the bond to search for him.”
“It wasn't until I did, just to try it, that I figured out that it was you instead. It just means that we are meant to fight side by side in battle. Your magic feeds my magic, calls to it, makes it stronger, and my magic does the same for yours."
"Woah there cowboy. That is a shit ton of information and my head is swarming with questions right now," I begin massaging my temples with my fingers.
"I will answer them all," he promises, his body relaxing once he realizes that I’m not flat-out rejecting him, "Ask them one at a time and I will do my best to explain so that you understand." "Okay then," I start, "first question, you said that we can use the bond to sense each other during battle. Does that mean you can reach me outside of my dreams? Like while I'm awake."
"Yes," I hear him say with a grin on his face, but his lips don't move. I think he is in my head. Which makes sense, considering the only time I saw him over the last five years was in my head.
I look to Lucah to see if he heard him. He smirks at me and shakes his head.
"Well then, I guess that answers that question. So, what is that? Telepathy?"
"I guess you could say that. What happens is, the bond runs from me to you. Like an invisible string. No one else can see it, but if you concentrate hard enough, you can see a slight shimmer running between us. That is the bond. When I speak to you, or come to you in your dreams, I open my mind and my thoughts and then send what I want you to see or hear down the bond. If your mind is also open to me, then you can receive my messages." "When I was little, we used to take two tin cans and poke a hole in the bottoms. Then we would run a string between the cans through the holes in the bottom and talk through them like a telephone. The vibrations in the string transferred our words from one can to the other. Does the bond work like that?" I cringe at my lame example.
"Yes. Yes, that is a very good way of explaining it" Jeb lets out a sigh of relief.
"You also said you found me from your world, so I am guessing there is no limitations on distance for this thing?"
"With dreams, no. With the telepathy I need to be closer to you. As long as our minds stay open to each other," he warns.
"Okay, next question."
"You've asked three questions already," Lucah teases.
I narrow my eyes at him before turning back to look at Jeb.
"You said our magic calls to each other, feeds off each other. But I don't have any magic."
"Yes, you do," he argues.
"I most definitely do not! I have never done anything magical in my life!" I shriek at him.
"That is because you didn't know that it was there. All Valkyn have abilities that assist them in battle. We will have to wait to see what that ability is to you. But you are also half Pixie, and all
Pixies are elementals."
"So, what is your ability then?" I quip, deflecting.
"I am an earth elemental. Dirt, clay, wood, stone, plants. If it comes from the earth, I can bend it to my will. I can erect a mountain as well as cause an earthquake and all things in between," he pauses, "is there a specific element that you feel a connection too? One that calms you. It'll fell like an extension of yourself. It'll call to you. Like a bond of sorts."
Well it looks like I won't be pissing him off any time soon.
As for his question, the answer comes to me immediately.
"Water," I blurt out, "I feel a connection to water. It’s why I love to swim so much, and maybe also why I am so good at it."
"That has to be it. You're a water elemental," Lucah states and Jeb nods in agreement.
This is insane. I knew I had a connection with water, I've always felt it. I just didn't know that it was this extreme. I can control it. Bend it to my will as Jeb said. I start thinking of all the water sources in the world and my head begins to swim with panic. There is another feeling there too, something hidden beneath the fear. Excitement? Yes, that's it. I'm excited.
"How do I do it?" I stand up excitedly and almost fall directly into Jeb’s lap, "How do I use my ability? How do I control it?"
"You will learn in time Reyna," Jeb laughs as he grabs my arms to steady me, "I will help you. It won't happen overnight, but if you are open to it, I will teach you. We are Tiarkye after all, I know your magic better than anyone." His tone drops a whole octave as he smirks.
Oh my god. Is he flirting with me?
"I guess you can teach me," I grin at him, "as long as you promise not to erect a mountain on my head when I annoy you. I'm pretty stubborn so I am bound to piss you off at least twice."
He cocks his head at me, "I'm sure I can handle you."
<
br /> My heart skips a beat.
"Don't you mean it?"
"Oh no," his smirk grows as he steps closer, "I mean you." Another awkward cough sounds from behind me.
"Well," Lucah interjects sounding highly uncomfortable, "Now that that's over with, we have other matters to discuss."
I fight not to smile as I turn to look at him. "We need to talk about returning you to Malatia." My heart drops.
"When?" I murmur.
"Within the week," Jeb insists.
WHAT. Jeb flinches a little which tells me he heard my thought. Good. I hope it rattled his tiny little brain.
"No," I snap, "I will not leave. I graduate high school in the spring."
"Reyna- "
"No," I stand my ground, "not Reyna. I will graduate. I understand that a high school diploma means nothing in your world. I have accepted the fact that I am not going to college like I planned. But I have worked too hard, and I will not throw that away. Not for any one or any world. I WILL graduate. We can leave after. The day after if you want, but after. This way Jackson won't worry. I will tell him I got a scholarship and that I am going off to school. I can't just leave him," I plead.
Lucah looks to Jeb for support, but all he does is sigh.
"Fine," Jeb relents, "you will stay until you graduate. In the meantime, you will report here nightly so that I can help you master your element and so that we can try to uncover your Valkyn ability. You may continue on the swim team, and Lucah will become the water boy so that he can watch over you."
He smirks at that and Lucah rolls his eyes, "However, you will no longer be attending classes at the gym. Instead, you will spend the nights that you would normally be taking classes here, training with Lucah. I will also give you this," he walks over to the desk and pulls out a large old book, “to read and learn about our realm and its history. But if I get a hint of any trouble you will leave immediately with us and return to Malatia with no arguments.
Do we have an agreement?"
His tone implies that I don't have much choice and I resist the urge to give him a mock salute. If I disagree, I have no doubts that they will tie me up and carry me back to Malatia kicking and screaming.
"We have a deal."
"Good," Jeb nods, considering the discussion over.
"But,” I begin as Jeb’s eyes narrow into slits, “since were staying a while, let’s make this fun."
I am grinning from ear to ear.
"Oh, I don't like the sound of that," Lucah groans.
"Don't be a wuss, you'll be fine. For now, let me show you my world, and all of the things in it that your books with never be able to teach you."
Chapter 9
The next few weeks fly by and Thanksgiving break is quickly approaching. So far, I have shown them absolutely nothing of my world. It seems like they have been keeping me busy on purpose. My training has been brutal. Lucah gets an immense amount of joy out of beating she shit out of me three days a week.
Turns out he was holding back at the gym; he is a fully trained Shvetlani warrior and has been fighting since he could stand.
It’s all fun and games, until we enter the make-shift training ring that they constructed in the mansion's back yard. Then, I come face to face with a ruthless, blood thirsty warrior. I go to the mansion straight from school on the days that I don't have swim practice. I then spend two hours training with Lucah and two hours training with Jeb. The first hour with Lucah is hand to hand combat and the second is weapons. Both hours with Jeb have consisted of practicing releasing and retracting my wings.
The last thirty minutes of training though, he makes me hold them up, so that I don't let them rest on the ground. He says that I need to learn to support their weight because it makes me look lazy.
He also repeatedly says if I can't support them while standing still then I will never be able to use them to support myself while flying. That's right, I said flying.
On the nights that I do have practice, I spend the normal two hours with Jeb. Weekends are the worst. I used to enjoy my weekends, bumming out on the chaise with snacks, a book, and my favorite TV shows. Not anymore though. Now I spend the two days being tortured. My sessions last way longer than the four hours that I train during the week, but they insist that it is necessary to prepare me for when we return to Malatia. My only reprieve has been swim meets, and I am still required to train after they are over.
So far, I have mastered releasing my wings without pain. Apparently, in Malatia everyone just leaves their wings out. Jeb says next week we can start working on my water abilities, but the last thirty minutes will continue to be holding up my wings. It hurts, a lot, and my back is constantly sore.
The ice baths I have been taking make it bearable to walk, but even that is a stiff limp. Just standing still and holding them up for that short amount of time is the equivalent to spending hours doing dead lifts at the max amount of weight I can handle. I break a sweat within the first five minutes. If I let them drop Jeb makes me run laps around the house while holding them up, which usually ends in me puking and crying so I try to avoid that at all costs.
We still haven't figured out what my Valkyn abilities are. I guess we are just waiting for some freak thing to happen that will cause them to make an appearance. The guys say that I have probably used it before and not even realized that I was doing it or recognized that it was unnatural. So, we will just have to wait and see what happens.
Thanksgiving is next Thursday, and I want to invite them to dinner, but I am not sure if they have a holiday of their own to celebrate. It also would require me to convincing them to take a break in training for that day. Thanksgiving is not for exercise; it is for wearing elastic pants and stuffing your face until you go into a coma from being too full.
It is also very important to me that they meet Jackson. I'm not sure why, but I feel like I need his approval. I need to know that he trusts them, that I am safe with them, even though being with them feels as natural as breathing already. Sitting on the ground in the training ring, I sip on my water and try to figure out how to approach the situation.
I don't want to insult them by asking, but then I don't want to hurt their feelings by not asking either. That's if they know that Thanksgiving even exists. I am still unsure of everything that they know about our word. Jeb stands over me stretching and preparing for whatever tortures he has planned next. Since I can now release my wings painlessly, he has found a new form of torture. Cardio.
"Hey Jeb, I have a question."
He raises his brow at me, "If it is can you skip out on cardio, once again the answer is no. I don't care how much you whine."
I roll my eyes at him, "No that isn't it. Do you and Lucah have any holidays coming up? Like Thursday for instance?"
"Are you speaking of Thanksgiving?" he surmises.
"Um, maybe."
"We do not celebrate it in our world. We only celebrate the winter and summer solstices."
"Oh," I whisper, my face warming, "well we celebrate it here and I was wondering if, maybe, we could take a break in training for the day and you and Lucah can come to my house for dinner? I would really like Jackson to get a chance to meet the two of you."
A rare, genuine smile warms his features, "It would be an honor, Reyna. But know that skipping a day of training is going to cost you."
Of course, it is.
"Great!" I beam, "I will tell the old man to grocery shop for two extras then. I do the cooking, but I'm a good cook I swear."
He laughs at that, "How about this? Lucah and I will come over the morning of and help you prepare the food. It's the least we can do."
"Y’all can cook?" my face scrunches in honest doubt. That just makes him laugh harder.
"We do have to eat to survive you know. Yes, we can cook. Though I am the better between the two of us. Lucah is a bit savage in his ways."
"I heard that!" Lucah yells from the back patio. I giggle, and Jeb shakes his head.
"Alright, times up.
Get off your ass and get to work."
Gone is the relaxed Jeb. I groan and then stand.
The next few hours pass by excruciatingly slow and by the end I am considering crawling home. Jeb gives me some herbal concoction that he says will help to relax my muscles and tells me to take another ice bath before sending me on my way. There is never any sympathy from him. It’s almost beginning to make me reconsider my stance on tough love. I chug the tonic after I walk out the front door and begin my slow limp home.
The temperature has dropped significantly now, and the sweat drenching my clothes is making me shiver. It's unusually cold for Georgia this time of year, early warning signs that we’re in for a rough winter. Although we never seem to get any snow, it seems that my track suit just isn't cutting it anymore, I make a mental note to start packing a change of clothes and a heavier jacket.
When I get home Jackson's truck is in the driveway and I can see the TV is on through the window. I find him in his usual spot watching the eight o'clock news. Exhausted, I stop by his recliner to tell him that I am having two friends over for
