Crossing Forbidden Lines (Guardian Series Book 2)

by J. W. Baccaro

  She smiled and looked away from him.

  Secretly, Darshun felt thankful she didn't know him to be Nasharin, for the hatred said to exist between the two races would have most likely caused her to kill him. Though he didn't think of her as an enemy, in fact she gave off a peaceful presence. Darshun liked her immediately, regardless of what her people said about his race. “It's wondrous to meet you. My name is—hey, wait a minute…” Darshun felt his face, then he moved his arms and legs—no blood, neither were there any broken bones and his eye remained intact. But most of all, the pain of sorrow and loss had disappeared entirely. “It’s gone! The pain, sadness—everything! But—how?” He stared at her with curious eyes. “You healed me didn’t you?”

  Glancing up at him, she quickly nodded and then set her gaze back to the floor.

  “Oh…wow!” He stood up and paced around making sure it wasn’t a dream or trick, even pinched and twisted his own belly skin. He sucked in a mass of air and slowly breathed out. “I can’t believe it! I can’t believe it has lifted! I have no desire for her any longer, nor is my soul buried in self pity.”

  “I know what you are speaking of,” Kelarin interjected. “I felt it in your spirit and it moved me to tears. Someone cast the Spell of Sorrow upon you, a feeling of failure, depression and utter loneliness. In time, the pain becomes so dark, so deep that you would have taken your own life.”

  “It was Aurora, I mean Talvenya, the Dark Queen of Asgoth.”

  The she-elf stared back at him, her expression serious. “She is a dangerous woman. Her powers of seduction are the strongest there is.”

  Darshun waved a hand her way, brushing off the comment. “Ahh, that is all in the past. Thanks to you, I feel nothing for her anymore. The spell is broken. No longer will she or anyone else’s trickery enter my mind.”

  “I hope so, but I fear for you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Darshun, you are different than other Nasharins—chosen by the highest God of the Light, Abidan, for a task you must complete. Because of that the Dark seeks to devour you above all creatures.”

  Feeling a little shocked, he stepped away. “How do you know my name? In fact, how do you know any of this? I never spoke to you of my heritage or calling.”

  “That silver crystal on the necklace you are wearing. The symbol of the Light is engraved on it, the seven-pointed star. Therefore that necklace must be the Golden Crystal of the earth’s original Guardian Aurelius, hidden from its original form. And only the chosen one can carry it.”

  “But—how do you know this?”

  “I witnessed the Wizard Olchemy putting it on you in a vision, you might say. I also foreseen the cruelty they inflicted upon you and how it would be up to me to heal your wounds.”

  Darshun fell on his bottom, his fingernails scrapping the stone floor. Abidan gave you a vision of—me?”

  “In a sense, yes. At least the gift comes from him.”

  He did not want to ponder her meaning of ‘gift’ rather, he felt ashamed of his past faults, believing she may know about them. His lust, lack of trust and murderous heart. If Abidan is giving her visions about him pertaining to the necklace, that would mean he truly was the Guardian of prophecy. Every doubt and scoff he made about such a tale—a direct smack in the face to his God.

  “I have been waiting for you a long time, Darshun Luthais, son of Ariel Abdias.”

  “Mirabel Luthais is my father,” He felt relieved now, seems she did have him confused with someone else after all.

  “I am speaking of your blood father, not your adoptive.”

  So much for hope.

  “Ariel lived in my village—the same village you are originally from, Ashhaven. I knew him well. I also remember you as an infant. Had I never seen you in a vision, I still would've recognized you last night; your eyes give you away. Looking into them…one sees the depths of your soul. The original name given to you was ‘Windtros,’ which in Elvish means ‘Holy Warrior.’ ”

  “Like Mirabel and Seth, Ariel too must have survived the Great Plague of Death our race suffered,” Darshun replied, admittedly interested. “Please, tell me more of my blood father.”

  “He was a good and mighty Nasharin, possessing the power of Air Magic—”

  “Ha! Like my adoptive father Mirabel. Was it lightning?”

  “ Um—no, his main ability was Telekinesis and a master of it he was—”

  “Oooh a master? More. Tell me more!” He felt like a little child again, hearing tales about his people for the first time.

  She squinted her eyes. “I am trying to Darshun, but you keep interrupting.”

  “Apologies. I will behave.”

  Smiling, Kelarin continued, “One day a small group of my people wandering too far off from Ashhaven were attacked by a horde of Dark Elves. Being outnumbered they were falling fast until a mysterious warrior, Ariel, stormed out from the woodlands, incredibly taking them all on and defeating them. Among my people, four survived, one of them a she-elf called Meyanna. At first, they were shocked, being that a Nasharin of all creatures came to their aid—”

  “They knew he was Nasharin? He must have been in Transformation.” Darshun could not help but to interrupt, the excitement rolling in his eyes.

  Kelarin seemed to realize his youthfulness and so she kept her cool. “Yes Darshun, they witnessed his Transformation, and respected him, believing it was a blessing from Abidan. For that reason, Meyanna invited the Nasharin to her home. He refused. Ariel was no stranger to the hatred existing between Elves and Nasharins. However, Meyanna assured the Lord of Ashhaven would greet him with respect, that the legends of the past of Elves murdering Nasharins, Nasharins murdering Elves were greatly exaggerated. Debate sparked between the two, but in the end she won him over. Ariel accepted the offer and was so welcomed into the city he vowed to make Ashhaven his new home and Meyanna his wife.”

  “So Meyanna is—my mother—”

  “Shhh!” She put a hand over his mouth.

  At first, Darshun thought she’d heard enough of his rude interrupting, that is until footsteps began to echo off the walls.

  “Get behind me,” she whispered.

  Down the corridor strolled two Cullach guards relighting the dying torches mounted to the walls. When they passed Kelarin’s cell they took a quick glance in.

  The she-elf sat with her legs crossed and head down.

  They continued on their way. “All right. They're gone.”

  “They walk these halls all night huh?”

  “Only to relight the torches. In a way, I thank them for that. Otherwise, I’d live in complete darkness. Now proceed with your question.”

  “Oh, it wasn't really a question. I was just taking to heart that Meyanna was my mother.”

  Kelarin nodded, throwing a lock of hair out of her flawless face, her eyes never abandoning Darshun's. “From your father, we learned much about the Nasharin race, your ways and truth. We gained a high respect for Nasharins. We even know about the horrible plague that wiped out your people, what you earlier referred to as 'the Great Plague of Death,' something that truly bothered Ariel. As time went on, he began having dreams of other Nasharins still in existence. Night after night, theses dreams haunted him until he came to believe they were divine visions, revealing he was not the last Nasharin. He was inspired to find them and planed a journey with his family, a 'pilgrimage,' he called it. They left with many blessings, vowing to return a year later, perhaps in higher numbers. But they would not.” Kelarin let out a long frustrating sigh.

  Darshun knew a tragedy must have occurred, or he wouldn’t have been raised by Mirabel.

  “When passing through the north east they were attacked suddenly by hundreds of Dark Elves, Cullach and Lycans working for King Tanarokai of Asgoth, searching for children to make sacrifices. It was not by chance that they found your family that horrible day but rather influences from darkness. I am convinced the dreams interjected within Ariel were for one specific reason
only, to get to you."

  Darshun tilted his head, confused.

  “A 'pilgrimage,' Darshun. Though just an infant, that included you also. When the attack came both Ariel and Meyanna were killed and you ripped from your dead mother's arms and taken to be sacrificed. Fortunately your sister escaped—”

  “Sister?! I have a sister?”

  “Minevara is her name and like you she is a Nasharin warrior. She escaped and in tears told us the tragedy. Then my father gathered the Aryeh—our elvish warriors. They retrieved the bodies of your parents and we respectfully buried them. It was a long time ago.”

  “So, I really am elvish.”

  “You have elvish blood flowing through your veins. You never knew this?”

  “Some tried to tell me because of the prophecy but I denied it. I mean do I look elvish to you?”

  “Your elvish heritage shows in the uniqueness of your eyes and that is all the more reason you are the fulfillment of the prophecy.”

  Darshun fell quiet for a few moments, pondering these things.

  Placing a hand on his shoulder, her gentle touch soothing, she asked, “Why do you doubt the prophecy?—”

  “Why should I accept it with open arms?”

  Staring at him a moment, she repeated, “Tell me first why you doubt.”

  “Because I am nothing special! Understand—it’s not that I really ‘doubt,’ for until recently the signs have been evident. I just do not want the role. I cannot succumb to its acceptance. The idea has made me bitter. True…I have fighting skills, but to protect the world from this ancient evil and to be the only one capable of destroying this Demon Lord Abaddon? Where if I fail, the world shall fall? It is too much to bear on one's heart. No other individual has to live with such consequence. It's a heavy burden cast solely on me alone.”

  “An impossible burden to bear alone. But you are not alone.”

  “Of course I am.”

  “Abidan dwells within you, guiding you on this quest.”

  He looked to her, a gleam in his eyes. “Does he also dwell within murderers?”

  “How do you mean?”

  “My adoptive father Mirabel has taught me everything from wisdom to strength. He has been there for me all my life, through hard times and easy. And how did I repay him? I fell victim to Queen Talvenya’s mind trap! Mirabel warned me to beware of the Dark and to stay focused. He even warned me of the Queen when she was gathered among us as someone else, so we thought. One night upon a mountain, she touched my necklace asking me where I’d gotten it, and from her touch I felt a horrible evil within her spirit, as if the crystal was warning me of her. But I didn’t listen. I fell hard for the Queen, almost too easily, and revealed to her our plans to destroy the crystal.” He lowered his head in shame.

  Kelarin stared at him her eyes welling with tears as he paused.

  Darshun raised his head. “ Worse yet, I brought her into the city of Zithel to be fed, clothed and taken care of, never knowing she would soon to annihilate them. Now because of my foolishness both Zithelians and Loreladians were slaughtered from King Tanarokai’s soldiers. I do not even know the fate of my father—or uncle! How could a sacred being of Light dwell within me and make me his holy warrior? Why would he? Perhaps that alone stands as proof I am not the Guardian.”

  “Harsh as it sounds the incompetence you dread over it is your own fault. Trust Abidan, if He has chosen you, the past does not matter, He will work things out for good…everything happens for a reason. Also, keep in mind what you are called to do is no minor task. A little incompetence is okay but to continue in such feelings will keep you all the more vulnerable to the dark powers that are trying to destroy you. Be strong Darshun Luthais and you will succeed.”

  “There is something else…” He let out a painful sigh full of guilt.

  Kelarin took his hand. “Tell me.”

  “At the siege of Zithel, when I was going mad searching for Aurora—Talvenya, I killed a man mistaking him for an enemy. He was my late best friend’s uncle, Uncle Alaric. A fine man and Captain I knew since I was three years old. I still cannot get past the look in his eyes when he died.”

  She lightly squeezed his hand, trailing her thumb to and fro of his warm palm. “It was not your fault Darshun. Blindly, you were led by the Dark and deceived. Your hand was their tool. That cannot be helped now.”

  “Perhaps, but I still did it.”

  She took his other hand and setting both on her lap, her palms over top. She looked directly into his eyes her gaze not only getting his full attention but also captivating him. “Please hear my words when I speak this.” Her voice sounded soothing like a gentle midnight summer breeze. “I can see into your soul and nowhere is there the sin of a murderer. You must forgive yourself. I am convinced Alaric already has in the other world.”

  He smiled, feeling a bit more comforted. “You seem like a very wise Elf, kind and beautiful. Are they all like you?”

  She blushed and looked down at the floor, locks of honey brown hair covering her face. “That will be for you to decide when you meet them.”

  “It would be an honor to visit Ashhaven, see my blood parent’s graves. But as of now here in Asgoth what am I supposed to do?”

  Raising her head, a more serious look swept her face. “Retrieve the Wizard Crystals before Abaddon can corrupt them.”

  “The crystals, that’s right! I almost forgot.” He closed his eyes and focused. “Strange, I can sense three crystals in this castle but cannot feel their location.”

  “Then they are most likely in the Demon Lord’s lair, enclosed within dark magic walls, therefore clouding your senses.”

  “Do you know where this lair is?”

  “No. This is an enormous castle and could take some time before you find it. But understand this, if you ever sense feelings of ungodliness or impurity coming from the crystals, abandon their rescue immediately! For it means Abaddon has already corrupted them. Your best chance would be to escape and continue on with your next task, involving the necklace you carry—”

  “To destroy the Unholy Altar in Syngothra, Abaddon's source of power.”

  “Yes. Though the chances of the Light’s victory are much, much higher if we possess the crystals. Still, there is no use in risking your life for what would then be worthless objects.”

  “So be it. I will play their little game and remain a prisoner here until I find the crystals. Then I will get us out of here, these bars cannot hold me.”

  “Do not play this game too long.”

  “What’s the rush? It sounds exciting to me!” He grinned.

  “Without a doubt, Abaddon is on his way to take the crystals to his home castle in the north where he shall cast the Spell of Destruction on the eve of Saruinkai.”

  “Saruinkai, I remember the Wizard Olchemy speaking to me about that, the night when evil first entered this realm.”

  “Indeed, it is the time when the powers of darkness are at their max. So understand that you cannot delay…he could arrive any moment.”

  “Abaddon has dominion here also?”

  “Of course. This castle doesn’t just belong to the Dark King and Queen of Asgoth, but to the Demon Lord as well, he controls it all.”

  “I see.” A sudden growling noise came from Darshun’s stomach—so loud it made Kelarin move back and squint her eyes. “Oh wow, am I hungry,” he said rubbing his belly.

  She giggled. “I would say so. Do not fret. I’ll get you something good to eat.”

  “There’s food in here?”

  Smiling, she answered, “There will be.” Kelarin whistled a pretty little melody and a few moments later, a rodent came out from a hole in the wall—a little thing with a long white body and a hooded black head.

  “Brianna is her name.”

  Brianna climbed up her arm, ran across her shoulders and down onto her breasts, snuggling herself between them, standing up on hind legs.

  “Please bring this man food, but do be careful.” Cupping the r
at in her palms Kelarin set her onto the floor and she scurried back into the hole.

  “That—rodent understood you?”

  “Yes. She will have food for you in no time.”

  “Can you communicate with all animals?”

  “Only creatures having feathers, fur or hair. I have tried talking to lizards, turtles—even fish but it is always to no avail. They run away as if I want to eat them.”

  Darshun laughed. “I have an uncle that can talk to animals too, the ones that live amongst the woodlands. His name is Seth.”

  She smiled. “A unique ability indeed. I would be lost without my furry little babies.”

  About fifteen minutes later, Brianna and a herd of companions returned out of the holes with a feast.

  It was the funniest and strangest thing Darshun ever saw. Working together like a band of little people, they rolled out a honey dew melon—small enough to fit through the space, probably a miniature. Four plump and juicy chicken breasts, three slices of thickly cut multi-grain bread—buttered in all, and a bag of freshly picked green beans.

  Darshun could smell them from where he sat.

  Brianna tugged the bag along by her mouth. And if that wasn’t enough to make one laugh, there came a big fat rat, the strongest no doubt and he pushed a sealed wooden bottle, lengthwise too, so it would fit through the space.

  Kelarin got up and took it from the big guy who seemed to be huffing and puffing. She placed it at Darshun's feet beside the rest of the food.

  The rats then ran over to Kelarin and crawled into her lap, some atop her shoulders.

  Looking down at the food and back to Kelarin, Darshun asked, “Um, would you like any?”

  “No no,” she answered with a smile as wide as the sea. “It is for you. Eat up.”

  Darshun didn’t waste any time and dove right in.

  By their wide eyed expressions Kelarin and even the rodents probably wondered if he was going to choke, or at least stop to take a breath.