Within a few minutes she felt it start in her chest, but it escalated down to her wrist and from there it started to build. Vance could feel it, her energy was building, her body was growing warmer, he didn’t want to let her go. He had to cool her down fast! He was becoming frantic, he place her back on the bed. In the next moment Vance’s brain could not keep up with what happened and his inner battle slipped out. Desree stopped Vance from putting an iced rag on her forehead that was all he could take. He lost control of his energy, sending a wave of it out in the room, Leo at that moment also lost his battle to stay away and opened the door. Vance’s energy added to Fera’s acting like a super charge, that made hers ripple out, the room glowed like the sun. The last thing Vance could remember was blinding light, followed by absolute darkness.
Chapter 14
When Vance opened his eyes he could still feel the wild mix of energy in the room, he was on the floor by Fera’s bed. He pushed himself up and looked around, Leo was on the floor right inside the closed door, he hoped he had just been stunned, same with Desree who was on the floor at the foot of the bed. His main fear was for Fera, he grabbed her hand and was pulled in limbo.
It was pitch black. He called out for her. There was no answer, panic was setting in, and he knew he couldn’t use his magic in here, it might make things worse. He waited quietly listening for a few moments, and then he heard it, she gasped, he turned and went straight toward the sound. Tripping over her, he sat on the ground and pulled her back into his arms. She was breathing, her hearts was going strong, so she must alive outside of limbo too.
Vance sat there for a while just holding her, humming, playing with her hair in the darkness. He finally felt her shift, then she called out his name, his heart just about beat out of his chest. He held her tighter. “Vance,” she whispered followed by “too tight I can’t breathe.”
He let go and felt the buzz, then the lights came on. He saw her, took her in, at least in limbo she looked ok, tired still but ok. Not sure what to do or say, he just stared at her. In a strange turn of events she reached out, touching Vance’s arm to comfort him. “Vance, I am ok.” Fera was looking at him confused.
“You were screaming, burning and screaming, do you remember being awake?”
Fera sat back and thought about it for a moment, “I remember waking up and seeing you and Larin, then I remember you had to go, I took a bath and then I talked with Desree and Leo for a while, then I remember getting really dizzy, then warm, then I woke up back in limbo. What happened?”
“Fera, the binding on your magic broke, I think most of the way, your body was on fire, you were screaming, I…I thought, I didn’t know what to do, you were in so much pain. Then I lost control of my magic when I started to panic, it mixed with yours and knocked everyone out.” Vance and Fera stared at each other for a moment in silence. Fera was the first to break it, “Are the others ok?” Vance didn’t honestly know, and Fera was worried she might have hurt someone or worse. Vance was more afraid that Leo would come to and see him in bed with Fera and not understand. They both agreed that he better go back and make sure everyone was ok and take care of things outside of limbo, but he promised her he would be back as soon as he could.
He landed back into his conscious in the real world, he knew he had not been gone that long. Fera was on the bed and appeared to be back asleep. Vance went to Desree first, she was breathing, he gave her a slight zing of energy, she shot up with a gasp. She looked around the room. Her eyes narrowed on Vance and she gave him a look only a mother could, it said you are in trouble mister. He left her side so she could get her wits about her. Leo was going to be tricky, he would want to know what the flash was, and what was going on, both things he could not know. Vance just stood above him staring down at him. Desree put his hand on Vance shoulder, “Help me take him back to his room he can wake up there, and when he asks, we will say the stress of the situation caused him to faint, and hit his head.” Vance nodded, he knew then the rest could be explained rather simply.
With Leo tucked safely in his bed, they turned back to the Rose room and Fera.
Vance sank back down in the chair exhausted, he watched his mom check Fera over, she had a slight fever, her energy fluctuation was becoming more stable, Desree’s main concern was Fera’s lack of actual sleep, she was starting to think it had less to do with the manic energy thrusting itself upon her and more the thoughts that were weighing on her. Before Desree could finish her exam, Vance was on the side of the bed with her right wrist in his hand, both Desree and Vance were fixated on her arm. Her magic mark had been restored. Vance brought it to his lips and gently kissed the intricately twisted mark, and he felt the pull to go back to limbo, he regretted ignoring it.
Desree took her wrist from Vance and she clicked her tongue, “A magical rebirth by fire.” With that being said she started to bandage it so it would go unnoticed. “Vance, my boy, you look like the walking dead, in fact in my time I have seen undead that have looked better. Why don’t you go close up the barn, let Oren know what happened and get some rest, if things change I will send for you.” He stood, kissed Desree on the forehead, turned walked to the head of the bed, and kissed Fera on the forehead, she sighed and he left.
Once Vance was outside he saw the lights in the barn still on, and he knew Larin would more than likely still be in there. When he got to the barn door, he heard her talking, but this time the conversion was not so one sided, someone was in the barn with her, a male. He paused, thinking it might be Leo, he listened closely first he heard Larin, “Wow, I still can’t believe you are, well, you!” “Do you think it will scare her?” the male voice said, that he heard Larin gasp and say something too low for Vance to catch. Vance walked around the corner to see Larin outside Oren’s stall. He looked around no one else was in the barn. “Larin,” Vance said, “Who was talking to you a minute ago?” Larin gave Vance a funny look, “umm, I was just talking to Oren, Vance are you ok? You look really bad!” Vance chuckled, “Thanks, I think I am hearing things too. Just so you both know everything is fine now.” He really didn’t want to go into or think about her screaming right then. He started closing up the barn for the night, when he was finished he turned to Larin and told her he was taking her back to her room and she needed to go to bed. Larin said good night to Oren and followed Vance back into the castle.
Taking Larin back to her room meant going right by the Rose room, Vance had to use most of his will power to not go back in that room. He hoped his mother was sleeping, even if it was in a chair. Maybe, just maybe, Fera was finally resting, and that alone was not worth the risk of rousing either with a squeaky door.
Larin was in her room for the night, and Vance was on his way to his room and to his actual bed, there was some comfort in that.
Chapter 15
Five steps, five steps past the Rose room, is all Vance got before Desree stuck her head out the door and asked him to sit with Fera until she or Leo came back. Apparently, a bird came and told Desree that a couple was almost to her cabin with a dire medical issue. As he walked in the room, Desree placed her hand on his cheek, “such a good boy, but don’t get any ideas, stay out of that girls head.” Desree was gone, and Vance hurled his tired body into a chair by Fera’s bed.
He sat there for a few minutes, sleep was not going to come, Desree would probably be gone for a while, what would a fast trip to limbo hurt, to check on her, to let her know everyone is fine here. He leaned forward on the bed and grabbed her hand and gave into the pull.
******************************<3~*~<3*******************************
Fera was so happy to see Vance it took most of her will power not to run over and throw her arms around him. He met her with an engaging smile, “I see you have been doing a little redecorating since I was last here.”
“Do you like it?” Fera hoped he would, it was one of her favorite places back in Thoren, her and Oren used to go there almost every night.
Vance looked around, he was having t
rouble remembering she created this place, that it was all an illusion. It was a dense forest, with sun shining through the trees, and a clearing with a pond, but the most amazing part of the scenery was the waterfall. His eyes met hers, then he realized he was wrong, she was the best part of the scenery, “Yes Fera, it is spectacular, you did very well.” Fera smiled “Vance, do you want to see more? “ Vance gave her a puzzeled look, “More of what, Fera?”
“Thoren, Vance, do you want to see more of my home?”
How could her refuse anything she offered, and he was more than curious about Thoren, no one has been able to go there in a long time. He felt her start to pull in energy and he watched her face focus, then flip the switch.
Vance let out a gasp, they were standing on a ridge high up, he was looking down on Thoren.
“We are standing on the widow’s rock, it is almost at the top of the valley, but you can see the whole kingdom from up here.” Fera looked over at Vance trying to see if he liked it or not, but he was pale, very pale. Fera put her hand on his arm, “Vance, are you ok?”
“Fera, this might be a good time to tell you I am not a very big fan of heights.”
Fera moved her hand down his arm and took his hand, “Then I probably shouldn’t tell you how Widow’s rock got its name.” Vance looked at her with a raised eyebrow so Fera continued, “This newlywed couple went camping for their honeymoon, I know, a camping honeymoon, but keep in mind our options are limited in Thoren, ok so the man was tricked by a wood spirit and followed her off, and when his wife went looking for him, she found him with the spirit on this rock in a compromising position, needless to say she pushed him to his death.” With that she gave Vance a play little shove. It really wasn’t her fault he over reacted and jumped.
Fera not knowing if a fall in limbo could hurt him changed the scenery, as fast as she could.
Vance found himself sprawled face first on a very fluffy pink rug, he turned over with a groan, clearly not as amused as Fera was, she hadn’t stopped laughing since the push.
When she was able to control her giggle fit she asked. “Vance, are you ok?”
Fera held out her hand to help Vance up, he gave her a rueful look. “Fera you know, it is not the height part that scares me, it is the falling, and you made me fall, for that you need to be punished.” A slightly maniacal grin graced his lips, and before Fera could process what he said, she found Vance grabbing her hand and pulling her to the ground. He started tickling her, this time they were both laughing so hard. It had been too long for both of them to go without this kind of soul shaking laughter.
When the tickle attack stopped Fera found herself looking up at Vance, both still on the cotton candy pink rug. She couldn’t help but focus on his perfectly sculpted lips, her mind wondered what it would fell like to have those lips pressed on hers, she had never really kissed a boy, in fact, she had never really wanted to before.
Vance could only focus on her, half in his arms staring up at him, she was by far the most beautiful girl, creature, and or creation he had ever seen. Without thinking and it was easy to do because when she was around his mind seemed to fog over, he leaned down and gently brushed his lips against hers. His hand came forward cupping her face and she brought her hand up running her fingers along his neck. When the kiss started to deepen, an electric current sent a shock through them, breaking them apart.
Fera could fill her face redden, she didn’t know what to say, but she knew she wanted more, more kisses, and more of him. She was disappointed when he stood up and began to look around her old room in Thoren. “Welcome to my room at the castle Thoren.” She sighed, and climbed up off the floor to go sit on her bed.
Vance walk around the room, “There is a lot of pink, your favorite color?”
“I never really thought about it, I mean I like pink, but I am more of a crimson and pear kind of girl. My father hired people to decorate, I think this is, or was, the attempt to keep me young.”
Fera tosses herself back on her bed and gazed up at the celling that was painted in a blue and green swirl the only contrast to all the pink. Vance joined her, both mesmerized in the intricate swirl.
Vance spoke first, “So still haven’t slept Princess?”
Fera couldn’t help but notice every time Vance called her Princess, there was a slightly different tone to it, almost bitter.
“Nope, no sleep, and oh I miss it. I must say being in my own bed, even if it isn’t real per se, feels sensational.”
She rolled over on her side facing Vance, he started playing with her hair. Before Vance knew it Fera was asleep, and she snuggled into him. He was shocked and not sure what to do, he cradled her to him, softly tracing circles on her back, and soon he was asleep too.
Chapter 16
Vance was jerked awake and back to reality, he was about to yell at Desree, but it was not her angry scowl he met, it was Leo’s and if looks could kill, Vance would be dead at least three times over.
Vance waited, knowing not to talk first, not to give anything away, and wait for Leo to explain what was going on in his mind, that way he could give a better excuse.
“What are you doing!?” Leo’s words were sharp and angered.
Vance took a moment, he looked around, he almost feared he was in bed with her the way Leo was looking at him, but he wasn’t he was sitting in the same chair, but he was holding Fera’s hand, and had fallen asleep. “Desree had an emergency, and asked me to sit with Fera while she was away, I must have fallen asleep, I am sorry your Royal Highness.” Leo looked from Vance to Fera and back to Vance, just when Vance was sure the Leo was ok with it, Fera sighed Vance’s name and smiled. At that point Leo came a touch undone, he pulled Vance up and without warning his fist came at Vance’s face, catching his eye.
“You are now banned from the Rose room and as along as she is on the grounds, you will advert your eyes when she is near and if you must talk to her, don’t find someone else to, and don’t come near her! It will be your head if you forget. Now get out and remember your place shit shoveler!”
It took every ounce of control Vance had to leave that room, he could end Leo right then and there, but he truly had the upper hand, he would be leaving there in a few days at the most with Fera.
When Vance got to the kitchen to go out the back servants door, he met his mother.
“Oh what have you done?” she hissed in a low voice.
“Got caught asleep holding a Princess’ hand, and now banished from her presence.” A cheeky smile emerged “just lucky he couldn’t see into limbo.”
Desree mouth fell open, and Vance had to quickly explain it was nothing bad, and she was asleep, actually asleep. They sat in the kitchen and he explained their little trip around Thoren in limbo. His mother particularly loved the part where Fera shoved Vance off the cliff.
Vance’s eye was swelling and Desree got up to get him some meat to put on it, when she came back at looked at him, she saw he was just as bewitched with her as he was when he was little.
“The next few days are going to be interesting if we have to sneak you in and out of the Rose room.” Vance just smiled at his mom, he knew she would help him.
Desree took his hand, “There is something I want to show you, it is the last time you saw her from our little binding trip.” She didn’t wait for him to agree. He spun into the memory much like before.
Vance stood in a room he had been in before, it was just as pink then as it is now. Fera was laying on a blanket in the middle of the room, and his little toddler form was laying on his side right next to her. Vance walk closer to her and himself, his little form was holding her hand, just staring at her, but there was a slight frown on his face. Desree and Riel walked into the room, Riel had been crying, her eyes were puffy and her face was blotchy, but she was beautiful. Vance recognized some of Fera’s features in her. Desree lingered in the door way, but Riel walked over and sat down in front of them. His little form looked up at Riel and pointed to Fera’s wrist, and gave Riel
a worried look and asked “gone?” A tear escaped Riel’s eye, she opened her arms and he climbed into her lap, then she picked up Fera and they both held her. “Yes little Prince, but it will be back, you will help put it back.” At that his little form beamed and he looked back down. “Mine.”
Riel let out a pained laugh, and touched Vance’s cheek, “If you only knew little one, I just hope one day you both can forgive us.” Riel kissed his little forehead.
Riel lifted up Fera and Desree was in front of them now, she went to pick up his little form, her arms were out, “Come on little man, it is time to go.”
His little form looked mad and ran to the other side of the room, yelling NO. Riel and Desree looked at each other, “You know you both could stay, Goodale would not mind, I am sure he would welcome the help raising her?” A few more tears escaped Riel’s eyes. Desree went over and crouched down in front of her, “Riel, you know why we can’t, and you have to believe you will be here too, that you can pull off the seal and survive, sometimes in casting magic, hope is enough.” Vance watched Riel nod slowly, he was watching the exchange between the two ladies to really focus on his little form, who now was standing next to Riel.
“It ok?” his little form kissed her cheek
A bittersweet smile graced her lips. Desree took that moment to snatch up his little form.
Bliath: Shattered Page 8
