The Arrival: An Epic Fantasy Romance

by Nicole MacDonald

  Sian could feel the underside of her wrists fluttering with her pulse while she followed her blood down, around, and back up. It felt refreshing to observe, as though she could feel each cell within her arms and hands sighing in pleasure when the freshly oxygenated discs moved past them.

  Elena spoke again taking care to keep her voice gentle, so not to startle the girls in their meditative state. 'Now I want you to focus on your heart again but this time look past it a little. With your mind’s eye, see the color of your element swirling behind your heart. Loi, you should see a beautiful fresh green, Kassie, a vibrant yellow, Cat, yours will be a rich red and Sian, a lovely sky blue.'

  I relaxed my mind further, relieved to have a deliberate reason to focus on something else. The sense of calm and peace within the circle felt so soothing. Following Elena’s instructions I allowed myself to slip past my heart and discovered a swirling mass of ruby red light. Wow, that was easy. I hadn’t even had to think of it. I studied the energy as it spun, admiring the glints of lighter and darker reds mixed amongst it.

  Elena watched the girls as they slipped deeper into their relaxed states. Each of them glowed with the color of their element. A rush of delight, relief and fear flooded through her. They were the ones she’d hoped they were which meant so many more things to consider; one, a lot of work in very little time, and two, the chances of them being in danger sooner rather than later.

  She was determined that these Elementals would survive. Jenviet had to be eliminated for her powers only grew stronger and stronger. Where and who she lifted these gifts from, Elena hadn’t a clue, but it made her a formidable enemy. Bringing her attention back to the girls before her, she led them through the remaining part of the exercise. 'Focus on drawing the energy down one arm to your hand. Then bring it across to your other hand drawing it back up that arm, so you’re creating a running loop of energy. Try to keep the energy running for as long as you can.'

  That sounded more difficult. I focused on the energy mass, attempting to coax it in the right direction. It took a bit of urging. I quickly realized I needed to stop trying to force it all down my arm. Some needed to stay put. After a little bit of work I managed to move a portion of it down my left arm. My arm grew warmer, like I held it under a heat lamp, the sensation unnerving. I gritted my teeth when it reached my fingertips. Getting it to link to my other hand was more difficult. I could feel it sparking at my fingertips, but the gap between my hands seemed impossible.

  Elena could see Cat frown when she tried to pass the energy to her other hand. She had done well so far. Her arm glowed red and tiny swirls of energy spun out and back, into her fingertips. 'Cat, relax, allow your body to let go of the energy. You can’t lose it; it’s a part of you. So relax, let it swirl out and turn your focus to your right hand. Your energy will follow your thoughts.'

  I rolled my shoulders keeping my eyes closed and visualized what I wanted the energy to do. The link between my hands forged, the energy surging up my right arm, back to its place in the center of my chest. I felt a rush of delight when it completed its first full circuit. After I’d completed a couple more, I opened my eyes.

  WHOA. I’m glowing red! I literally saw the energy as it traveled down my arm, between my hands and back up my other arm. It was fantastic to watch. Curious to see what the others looked like, I glanced up, taking care to keep my energy continuing the loop. They glowed. I watched their energy flow across the gap between their hands in amazement. Then an idea occurred to me. I wonder if I can push it out and keep some of it separate instead of flowing through me. Though it wasn’t what Elena had intended when she’d explained, I focused on her instructions again. With closed eyes I visualized a ball of energy floating between my hands. I gasped in delight when I opened my eyes. The roiling crimson sphere of energy pulsed and shifted between my open hands, a few inches from my palms. I managed to hold it in place for a moment longer before I released it with a gasp. The energy pinged back into place behind my heart.

  Chapter Twenty Four

  A sudden twang that felt like it reverberated through her teeth shook Loi from her focus, her energy snapping back to the spot behind her heart. She opened her eyes, glaring at Cat who lay on the ground panting, her face pale. 'Cat! What gives? I was just getting the hang of it.' Sian and Kassie made noises of agreement.

  'I’m sorry.' Cat pushed herself up to sitting with a guilty look. 'I went the next step and it’s hard.'

  'What next step? Elena didn’t say anything else.' Loi shot an accusing look at Elena.

  'No I didn’t, Cat chanced upon it. Now come and eat something. You will all be exhausted, it’s hard work.' Elena began to unwrap the parcel she’d brought with her.

  The sight of the four women shocked Sabyn when he and Daron arrived for lunch. They looked ages older and whiter than an ice sprite. He gave Elena a concerned look.

  'They need to eat and rest, that’s all,' Elena said reassuringly.

  Sabyn nodded, hurrying over to help Kassie to the cloth, then Loi. Both gave him a brief nod in thanks and fell to eating.

  Daron watched, astonished by the amount of food the girls consumed. Elena must have expected it, he realized; she’d packed enough for at least twenty. The color came back to their faces and they started to look more alert. Cat seemed to take longer than the others to recover. Perhaps she’s weaker than them, Daron thought, surprised. Or maybe it’s the result of Alek’s behavior toward her. He watched her, glancing at Sabyn who watched her too. They exchanged a concerned look.

  It took a bewilderingly long time to feel normal again. Especially after the rush you got from first handling the energy. The food began to make me feel better, but I still had no strength when it came time to climb on Tomiar’s back. Sabyn ended up tossing me up into the saddle. What is it with these men, I grumbled to myself, tossing me about like I weigh nothing? I clutched at the saddle handles when Tomiar pushed off.

  'I guess the girls won’t be training the guard today,' Daron called to Elena who sat behind him.

  'No. I think I’ll arrange for them to start that next week. By then they should be able to handle their energy without it exhausting them.'

  Yakov and Rumal waited at the Griffon quarters, smiling when they saw Nesha and Tomiar come into view. The two griffons dropped from the sky, landing in the courtyard and headed over to them. Rumal felt shocked at the sight of the women and heard Yakov’s sharp intake of air behind him. They looked exhausted. Cat swayed in the saddle, and Kassie, in front of Sabyn, barely looked conscious.

  'Can you hang on a moment longer, Cat?' Yakov called up. She nodded blearily.

  Sabyn passed Kassie down to Rumal then slid down from Tomiar. Rumal scooped the woman up and spoke to Elena, 'I’ll take her to their room.'

  'I’ll get some food sent to them.' Elena headed off to the Generals office to inform them of the change of plans.

  'Okay, Cat, c’mon down.' Yakov stood by Tomiar’s side, his arms ready.

  Right, okay then; I twisted out of the saddle. This is a lot harder when you can’t think straight, I thought, frowning at the effort. Grasping tight to the saddle handles I meant to lower myself down. Unfortunately my strength failed and I started the beginning of a belly flop.

  Yakov scrambled to grab Cat when she slipped off the side. She landed half on the floor and half in his arms. He froze, concerned she’d hurt herself until she began to laugh. Everyone joined in while Yakov helped her to her feet. 'And that,' he announced grandly with a cheeky smile. 'Is how it’s done.'

  Cat obliged his performance with an attempt at a curtsy that had them laughing harder. With an arm around her waist, Yakov helped her to the suite, with Sabyn and Loi behind him. Few people saw the girls being carried or helped to their room, but Yakov knew it’d be all over the castle by the next morning. As he helped Cat through the door, he turned to push it open for Sabyn. A table had been set up in the room, Elena had arranged for more than enough food. Kassie and Rumal already had full plates and sat cro
ss-legged on a bed. After a bit of coaxing, Cat agreed to eat rather than go straight to sleep. She climbed onto her bed, leaning against him as she ate.

  I turned to stare out at the courtyard while the girls said goodbye. Yakov had been such a gentleman and hadn’t mentioned him at all. How sad was it that, exhausted as I was, I still thought about him. The others clambered into their beds. I turned the light off, grateful for the darkness when tears slipped out. At least I could blame them on the training if anyone did notice. I climbed into bed and rolled back into a ball, wishing hard that this was all a bad dream.

  The next day Alek and Rumal were meant to take the girls to the training circle but Alek, unsurprisingly, was absent. Daron stalked the castle for the wayward Prince, checking all the usual spots.

  Damn him! The least he could do was stick to his responsibilities. It wasn’t like Alek to shirk. But then, he reflected, it wasn’t like Alek to get so interested in a woman either. For the umpteenth time in the last few days, he wondered what had happened.

  'Did you find him?'

  Daron jerked about in surprise. Sabyn stood there, his arms crossed and a dark look on his face. 'Nope. He’s good at staying out the way when he wants to.'

  'Indeed.' The silence felt awkward. Sabyn had been fuming at his cousin since he made his public display after dinner the other night. Daron couldn’t blame him, it’d cooled down the developing relationship he had with Laura fast, the girl was as temperamental as Alek. 'I’m going to see Elena tonight. I want to see if she knows anything.'

  Daron nodded in agreement. 'Good idea, I’ll join you.' Sian would like an explanation, Daron thought. She’s been so quiet, I know she’s worried about Cat.

  It ended up that they weren’t able to see the Sorceress until the following evening. Alek made appearances at meals but otherwise stayed absent. Rumal led the way to Elena’s chambers, the three men stopped when they saw Yakov already there. Maybe he’s here for the same thing. Rumal nodded to him, the advisor smiled at the men. 'Come on in, Ellie’s in the washroom, she’ll be out in a moment.'

  Ellie? He seems to be on a rather casual basis with her. Rumal turned and caught Sabyn’s eye, quirking his brow. There had been a rumor of a liaison between the two. Elena came into the sitting area of her suite, her dark hair loose from the plait she kept it in for training. There were times when Rumal forgot how attractive the Sorceress was. He watched Yakov when she took a seat but the advisor stayed polite and pleasant to her like normal; maybe not then.

  'What can I do for you three?' Elena took a seat, accepting the cup of tea Yakov offered her.

  'You know what,' Sabyn shot her a frustrated look. 'What is Alek’s problem? We’re sick of it being our problem.' Rumal and Daron nodded. She explained.

  They contemplated the situation in silence. Sabyn now began to understand Alek’s predicament, a little.

  'But that sort of spell can’t force a person against their will?' Daron looked confused. 'So if there was, or is, a genuine attraction then it would mean…,' he stopped, looking a bit wild-eyed.

  'Yes. It would mean you’ve found your soul mates,' Elena looked amused at their dazed expressions. 'I find it rather strange that so many would kill to be in your positions, yet you all look terrified.'

  'But what if we’re not? ' Rumal asked.

  'Then it won’t work out. In some ways this will be very similar to any other relationship you may have been in. The difference will be that this one should feel easier and give you a sense of completion or wholeness. Though as I have never found mine, how can I tell?'

  The men gave her unimpressed looks.

  'Oh stop that,' she snapped, her eyes flashing with annoyance. 'Be as childish as you like, but I will tell you this. Those girls did not cast that spell believing it would work in this manner. On Earth where they come from, spells are used to attract positive energy. So seeing as this one did work like this perhaps you really need to consider your feelings toward them. They’ve lost their world and they don’t need cowards pretending to be those they seek.' Elena dismissed them.

  While they wandered back to their quarters they discussed the situation. 'I think we should let the girls know that we’re aware of why they’re here,' Daron glanced at the others.

  Sabyn agreed. 'At least I have an explanation for Loi now. Sort of.'

  'Does it concern you?' Daron asked Rumal.

  'It is a bit unnerving. To think that you’ve met your one and only. But only time will prove if that’s actually true. I’m going to wait and see, just like normal.' Rumal frowned. 'Though I still want to have a word with Alek. Cat didn’t deserve public censure for this. They didn’t intend to arrive here.' Sabyn and Daron agreed.

  The next few days were the same as the first. We’d have breakfast then meet Elena in the Griffon quarters and two of the men would be summoned with us. Then we’d fly out to the beginning of the desert, the men and griffons would head off on errands for Elena. We sat within the circle Elena cast and practiced. I felt grateful for the challenge of learning something new. At the end of each day I was so exhausted that I could almost fool myself into thinking I didn’t miss him. I knew the others worried for me, but there wasn’t anything they could do. This sort of thing just takes time, I reminded myself again, or so I’d heard. Is it conceited to say this was the first time I’d really ached for someone and they didn’t return the feelings? So many thoughts went through my head. I just couldn’t get over how he’d been so affectionate then so cold. It suggested to me that I’d done something. But what?

  While I lay in bed that evening, thrashing over the same thoughts, it occurred to me that I should ask Loushka. Hell, it wasn’t like I felt sleepy at all. Quietly I snuck about locating my clothes, pulling them on in the dark, then Audi and I slipped out of the room.

  Loi flipped over the moment the door closed. 'Sian, Kass?' she hissed.

  'Awake.'

  'Same here.'

  'Should we follow her?'

  'No.'

  Loi frowned. 'What if she’s going to see him?'

  Kassie yawned and sat up, turning the glow lamp beside her bed up a notch. 'It might not be a bad thing. Now that we know what the issue is.'

  Loi wasn’t convinced. 'If that were just the issue he should be over it. The other guys are fine with it. Sabyn understands it wasn’t intentional.'

  'Maybe it’s something to do with losing both his parents so young,' suggested Sian.

  'Whatever, Ms. Psychiatrist.'

  'Don’t be snarky, Loi.' Sian gave her a hard look. 'If you hadn’t seen your parents in a loving relationship you might have different ideas about them too. Plus he’s the Crown Prince. He’s used to girls trying to get close to him for that.'

  Kassie objected. 'Yes but Cat never knew that. Maybe he’s scared by the intenseness of the situation, it freaked me out a little.'

  Loi felt relieved. 'Really? Oh good, I thought it was just me.'

  'Me too,' Sian said. 'It's weird thinking this could literally be your one and only. Especially when we’re all so used to being independent. It’s panic attack inducing, for me anyway.'

  'But would you take the spell back?' Kassie asked, staring at her bedspread, avoiding eye contact. They contemplated that in silence. If we hadn’t cast the spell we’d be on Earth. I’d be able to see my family. Loi winced at the pain that brought up. But if we hadn’t cast the spell I wouldn’t have met Sabyn, or discovered my gift. 'I don’t know,' she whispered, feeling haunted.

  The others stared back with similar expressions.

  'And now we’re stuck here,' Kassie finished the unspoken thought.

  Audi and I skirted down the corridors, ducking into doorways when we heard footsteps. So far no-one had noticed us. Relief washed through me when we reached the Griffon quarters. I opened the door and ushered Audi in. The room felt warm, I could hear the pups snoring softly in their pen but couldn’t see any of the adult griffons. Weird. They left the pups alone? I heard a shuffling noise and froze. It sou
nded like a servant was in the adjoining room. They must be keeping an eye on the pups, I thought, still hesitating. Now what? Loushka and the others were likely out hunting, so they'd be back. I snuck over to the pups’ pen and climbed in. The pups made murmurs of recognition when I snuggled down with them, they sleepily clambered about me and Audi, making themselves comfortable. Audi appeared delighted and set to grooming them. I smiled, feeling the weight on my heart lift a little. Hopefully the griffons wouldn't take too long, but at least Audi was happy.

  Alek watched from the backroom as Cat settled down with the pups in the pen. What is she doing here? Is she looking for me? She couldn’t be. If she was she wouldn’t be in the pup pen. And how would she have known? No-one knew where he was at the moment. Maybe it’s to talk to Loushka. That thought made him uncomfortable. He hadn’t talked with Loushka about it yet, though he knew she’d know about it from the others. He sat back on the bench seat, his makeshift bed for the time being and watched her. So far he’d managed to avoid the guys, but a talk was inevitable. Light from the entrance gleamed off her hair, the locks appearing a dark ruby. For the umpteenth time in the last few days he wished Elena hadn’t told him about the spell.

  Watching Cat hurt, but he still couldn’t take his eyes off her.

  I must have dozed off because I jerked awake when Loushka’s voice popped into my mind.

  ‘Cat! What are you doing here? Are you okay?’ the griffon sounded astonished to see me. Not surprising I guess, but I wished everyone would stop asking me if I was okay. In my current state it brought on tears. I took a couple of ragged breaths before I could answer her. The other griffons regarded me curiously.