A Flash In The Densest Shadow: From Forest To Flames #2

by K. Lyn Hill

  The ship stopped rocking; the storm almost completely passed. Eli dropped on his butt exhausted as he willed his body not to completely shut down. When he spoke, his voice was strangled. “Aerity.”

  Her head suddenly jerked from side to side looking for someone. “Is Malachi ok?”

  All his panic and anxiety seeped out. “Yes.”

  Taking deep breaths, her body crumbled back to the deck.

  Eli groaned. “You’re going to be the death of me, Woman.” She released a puff of air that might have semi resembled a laugh if her lungs weren’t still waterlogged and patted his hand that was shaking next to her. Her movement drew attention to the red spot blooming across her shirt. “You opened your wound again.”

  “Good thing my body is so numb that I can’t feel it.” She croaked.

  He shook his head in disbelief. She really was unbelievable. “I can’t believe you dove off of the side of a boat into a raging ocean.”

  “Well I can’t believe your still rocking the same hair cut you had in middle school.”

  He shot her a dirty look as a small smile appeared on her face. Well she must be feeling ok if her sarcasm was still intact.

  Chapter Thirty

  Aerity

  Aerity concentrated on greedily sucking in air. Blessed, wonderful, much needed air. She tried to slow herself down seeing as though each inhale made her stomach clench, but the memory of water choking, suffocating her was more than she could stand. Panic had begun to rise again, immobilizing her breathing.

  She had thought she was going to die.

  When Malachi gripped onto her neck, he had accidentally shoved her under. As much as she kicked and flailed, she couldn’t break the surface for air. It was as everyone says when they feel they are leaving this world. Memories of her childhood had played like a film strip in her head. Everything that had gotten her here and those most important in her life. She remembered seeing her mother’s loving eyes, her father’s stern voice and Eli’s maniacal youthful smirk. When she opened her eyes and saw Eli’s drawn face, she had attempted to make a joke, but in reality, it had scared the hell out of her. Since being here, she had brushed death far too many times but was it weird that she felt like she was actually making a difference? As if sacrificing herself had opened her up to a part of her that she never knew resided inside.

  Elis face was pale and his features tight. She knew what it was to think someone you loved was going to die and he had seen it twice before this. New lines vined under his eyes. She was used to his smiles and laughter. An indistinguishable frown formed on his lips as he looked down at her. She reached up and traced the lines with her fingers, without permission or any reason as to why she was doing it. Maybe to confirm that he was alive and there. After all they had been through, he was always there. His eyes traced her face as his frown loosened up.

  “I’m sorry I put you through that.”

  He gently kissed her palm. “I would say not to do that to me again, but we all know how well you listen and how lacking your obedience skills are.”

  She snorted. “Yeah you would have better luck getting a cow to jump over the moon.”

  Shaking his head, he ran a hand through his curly hair. She offered him a small smile as she attempted to sit up, leaning backwards on her elbows. Her arms shook but she resisted the temptation to lay back down. The storm had settled, and the sun threatened to peak out almost mocking them. Shadows skipped over her skin as she looked up to about seven crewmen staring at her, one of them being the captain who had Malachi wrapped protectively in her arms. Natalia’s body appeared to be shaking but it could have been a figment of her imagination.

  Seaweed and fish parts were scattered all around her on the deck. The crew was drenched with salt water and the oceans additional contributions. The reverent looks she was getting from all the crew members were beginning to freak her out and it seemed they didn’t plan on looking away anytime soon.

  Reluctantly releasing her son, the captain kneeled on the ground besides her, holding up the beads she always wore around her neck. She began to chant. Anyone in the crew who wore a hat, prayerfully removed them and lowered their heads.

  Now Aerity was really freaked out.

  She shot her eyes from Eli to the captain as the chanting grew louder. Lips parted and eyebrows furrowed, tears began to stream down her face. Aerity wanted nothing more than to back away from

  the crazy but stayed there hoping it would end soon. She had no

  idea what was happening, but Malachi’s eyes were widening with

  each word the captain spoke in her foreign tongue.

  “Ana orridor tabahan. Meekali ratee.” Her dark fingers steepled as they raised skyward and then fell to the ground. “Matawli kabba ti ope v.” Abruptly she stopped as she opened her palms to the sky, all the crew following her motion. Aerity wanted to know what was going on but didn’t want to ruin the moment, whatever moment that was.

  She remained silent as the crew all got down on one knee and held out their hands to her. She blinked in confusion. Did they want a high five? Really people? Was now the time for this? Thankfully the captain translated but all it did was fill her with shock instead of confusion. She wanted to say that her thick accent made it hard for Aerity to understand but that would be a lie.

  She heard every word of it.

  “In my country, we have what is called Meekali ratee. The binding of souls.” Why did that not sound good? “They are considered closer than any connection that can be formed. Closer than even family. In our lifetime, we may choose one person who is worthy of being our Ana nai. Their will becomes our will. When they call, we come. To form one and break the trust in considered the highest Ferali crime. Punishable by death. This oath is not one to be taken lightly.” Uhoh what did she get herself into? “I have made this oath to you before my entire crew. You have saved my son, which makes you worthy of anything you may desire. Anything you ask of me, within my power, I will perform.” What the what? That sounded like slavery. Aerity was so not down for slavery. “By touching all our hands, you accept my vow.”

  Aerity glanced at Eli for help but he was just as dumbfounded as her, with a stupid expression plastered to his face. “Does that vow work both ways? Am I supposed to make the same vow to you?”

  “No. It is only my vow to you. You may reject it, but it’s considered the highest of rejections. I could be banished or live a life of ridicule.”

  Wow. Talk about pressure.

  Shakily, Aerity reached out her fingers to touch all the hands held out to her. She hoped this wasn’t a stupid decision or that they were secretly trapping her in some weird voodoo spell. But she saw the look of gratitude in the captain’s eyes, so she hoped for the best as she touched the last of the hands.

  Eli’s mouth dropped open as if he finally realized something big was going on here.

  Typical boy. Comes in after all the hard word and stress is done.

  Finally, they all shuffled backwards and Aerity couldn’t help but release a breath of relief. Claustrophobia had begun to set in with them all breathing down her neck. Now the rest of the trip was going to be super weird. While they were all still standing around her, she gave an awkward smile as she looked around nervously at the water lapping her legs. “So, who wants to play Marco Polo?”

  ∞∞∞

  Eli

  “You have issues.” He said while shaking his head. Her level of stupidity was ridiculous.

  “Well what else was I supposed to say?” She asked on a huff.

  “Oh, I don’t know, maybe a thank you for this wonderful honor your bestowing upon me?” He retorted.

  She snorted one of her very un-ladylike snorts as her face contorted like a bunched up old person’s does. “She said she was binding our souls together while she chanted. It was basically like she was saying, I’m a vampire and I want to suck your blood.”

  Eli rolled his eyes. He had no idea where she had drawn that conclusion. “Those are too very diff
erent things.” He deadpanned.

  She bristled as they continued to mop the deck, cleaning up all the sludge from the storm. Broken wood shards were scattered everywhere, it was a wonder the boat was still in one piece. “Ok great and wisdom filled Elias. Why don’t I start chanting and do the same thing to you? Huh? Humina humina haver lard. You are the other half of my soul.” Wiggling her fingers in the air she made a hissing sound as her eyes creepily widened.

  Ok point taken. It was kind of weird, but he couldn’t let her know that. “You disrespected their most sacred vow.”

  She sighed dramatically while scrubbing at a frustrating stain beneath her. Her arms flexed with exertion. The crew and himself had insisted she rest but just like every other time, she did what she wanted to anyway. “Ok but you know how I am about serious or weird situations. I’m pretty sure that qualified.”

  She was right about that. Expressing emotions didn’t come easily to her. She was a wall. Immovable, impenetrable, but if you were able to find the secretly hidden doorway, you were able to see the beauty inside. And it was the most certainly the most incredible sight.

  He had been fortunate enough to sneak into her defenses at a young age and when he never left, she simply allowed him to stay.

  A rare gift indeed.

  In the deep recesses of his mind, he figured out that he’s probably always loved her. Not many people could meet her and not. Just her aura was intriguing. She had exotic eyes and a light-hearted soul but a fierceness that settled deep in people bones. Laughter followed her into every room. Everything she touched was made to feel special. Combined with her awkward jokes and inability to speak from the heart, there was no one quite like her. And there never would be ever again.

  He leveled a glare at her anyway. “Yeah super awkward and rude.”

  Her arms crossed stubbornly over her chest; the broom stationed in the center. “What happened to the loving, caring Eli from when I almost just drowned?”

  “His soul almost died along with yours.” He said it with a straight face even as she lifted her eyebrow.

  “I think you drank too much sea water. Your beginning to crazy talk.”

  He lifted his hand to feel her forehead as if she was sick. She swatted his hand away with a scowl. His laugh was only halfhearted. The thought of losing her, he really couldn’t stomach.

  “Your right, what was I thinking? You’d be just fine without me. Make your way through all the girls here, leaving a trail of broken hearts in the wake of your disaster.” She meant it as a joke, yet he couldn’t help the dip in his gut when she said it. He always had plenty of woman, but none of them were her. He only wanted one heart, but it would never be his.

  “I can see the headlines now.” She held her hands up and fanned them across the sky. “Man from another world, rocks every woman’s world.” She chuckled and playfully nudged him in the shoulder. His body begged to lean into her touch.

  To just have a little bit more contact.

  Ignoring it, he went back to mopping, her warmth was replaced by a shiver. “Hey maybe your right. Some good can come out of this. Maybe I’ll start my reign of terror with the captain.” He wiggled his eyebrow as her face scrunched up and then a fit of giggles broke loose, sending a flare of warmth through his belly.

  “Maybe then you’ll understand why I was so creeped out. She will be yelling alakazoo magictado Oh yes Elias! Bibity bopity boo. Put them together and what do you got? Oh right there! Bibity bopity boo.”

  He punched her in the arm with little gusto. “Did you really just defile a classic Disney movie while making fun of someone’s culture?”

  She did a funny little skip with her feet and looked at him with all smiles. He couldn’t help but laugh.

  Perfect. She was perfect.

  After all they had endured. All she went through. A smile still illuminated her face. A wicked grin replaced the joyful smile as she started to spin, dancing with her broom. The song to Cinderella popped out of her mouth as she moved around the deck, almost tripping over the debris on the ground. They had been alone on this section of the boat before but now some crew members walked by and shot her curious glances. She ignored them and kept dancing, blowing them kissy faces as she twirled. They smiled in response, shaking their heads in amusement and he knew they were all thinking what he was.

  That out of all the darkness of the day, she was the main ray of sun, peeking out through the clouds.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Damien

  Another attack had his people on edge. Even more so than usual if that was even possible. After Aerity had been stabbed, there was an eerie calm that had settled over the land and he couldn’t help but think of the calm before the storm. The princess’s words echoed in his head still. Only now they held more meaning. A big storm is brewing…what did she mean? What was coming their way on top of all these other events? Was this all just a small notch in a much bigger scheme? Or was she referring to this most recent attack?

  Again, when he rode out to the scene of the crime, bodies had been tossed and shredded in disarray. Horrified faces and shocked wide eyes stared back at him; his men’s faces. As he examined the evidence, it once again became clear to him that this couldn’t have been done by an ordinary animal. Even if there were bears or other animals that preyed, why attack his soldiers? No, this felt personal. Planned.

  Perched in a crouch, he trailed his finger over a massive paw print left on the ground. Yes, this was indeed no ordinary animal. His eyes caught on a flicker in the trees in front of him and he scanned his surroundings cautiously. The edge of the woods glimmered in the distance as if taunting him. Warning him not to send his men any closer. After the other attacks he had wanted to scout the area to find some clues, what he was left with was more death and still no answers.

  He thought of his father’s outlandish decree to sanction off the woods. Tails of unholy beasts that ran the forest floors. Damian had always thought of it as a children’s tale, now he wondered how much truth there was too it. It was curious that these attacks had only started right before the princess had first arrived. Was it a coincidence? But why? What purpose would these attacks have? If she had wanted to cause mayhem or chaos that was certainly accomplished. But it felt like more than that.

  Did his father know anything about this? And if so, why was it kept a secret? Shouldn’t he, the future king know about any treachery afoot? He couldn’t wait for answers. This needed to be dealt with. Damian questioned whether his father would even give him the answers he needed. Who else would have been around when the king issued that decree? His mind floated to the council and the man older than dirt who seemed to barely be breathing. Benjamin. He was the king’s advisor since before Damian was even born. When he got back to the castle he had to pay the old man a visit.

  He sighed and squeezed the back of his neck, hoping to relieve some of the tension. As much as he had wanted to bring a carriage full of food and blankets for the villagers on the outskirts of town, he was sorely lacking the time to do so. The pack he had thrown together with a few items, hung insignificantly on the saddle bag of his horse. There was barely enough to feed one family for a week.

  When he became king, things would be different.

  Of course, isn’t that what they all said? Without the alliance, how could he do much more than his father?

  You’re not as cruel as your father. You actually care about the people.

  He shivered. There was no excitement that accompanied the thought of his father returning. There was no telling what he would do if he realized Damien had skimmed off the top of their supplies.

  Although he didn’t have much to give the people, he desperately needed to check on Marecio’s family. They had been far too close to this latest attack for his liking and he hadn’t been back to see them since that day of the festival.

  He had chosen to ride without a guard that day so that he could have more time with them. He didn’t get there as often as he would have liked
and if he wasn’t mistaking, Rebecca would be close to her due date.

  Climbing back on his horse, he snapped his heels and clicked his tongue. Regent, his horse, gave way to a brisk trot. “Come on boy. Let’s go see if they’re okay.” The mud beneath Regent’s hooves slurped as they made their way down the slick hill. The meadow that used to be coated in vibrant colors and smelled of wildflowers, now was painted in dull black and white with grey edges. Musk scented the chilled air. Leaves had already begun to fall from the trees as winter crept up on them without warning. Damien couldn’t believe how much time had passed and all that had transpired in that time. He wondered again about how Aerity was fairing. What was she up to? He thought about her smile and defiant spirit. The way her cheeks heated when she was angry or embarrassed. Oh how he longed to watch her flare up again.

  The little cottage came into view faster than he anticipated because his thoughts had been elsewhere. With the feeling of being watched in the woods earlier, it was not good that his mind had been somewhere else but neither did that stop the smile from appearing on his face. The feeling of her kiss still lingered on his lips.

  Dropping down off Regent, he tied him to a post that still had some grass around it still struggling in the final part of autumn. His horse happily partook in the offering, shaking his head in thanks. Damien rubbed down his neck and grabbed an apple out of the pack, sticking his hand out as a warm tongue greedily lapped at it.

  “You spoil him. Keep it up and he’s going to start acting like he is the prince.” A familiar voice called to him from the doorway. He smiled and turned to see Rebecca leaning against the door frame, her belly the size of a carriage wheel, grinning at him.

  “God, I hope not. Then we would have three entitled prince’s and that would just be overwhelming.” Damien walked over to her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Then looked down at her belly in concern. “Should you really be on your feet right now?”