by Stacy Lee
Chapter Two
“You told her what?!” An irate voice rouses me from unconsciousness. The clean smell makes me think we might be back in the first room however I keep my eyes closed, my breathing even, listening to them.
“I told her who she was.” I think that was Violet’s voice but wasn’t sure.
“And what was it you said, exactly?” This voice I didn’t know, it was deep and filled with anger, the same voice that woke me.
“You are the prophesized one, the one who will save us from damnation, you will be our Queen.” An exasperated sigh can be heard, I think from the angry man.
“So much for easing her into this new role.” He spits.
“You mean she didn’t know?” Silver? I never heard him speak out loud but for some reason I know this is his voice. It’s the same voice I heard in my head when he held me prisoner.
“No.” The angry voice all but growls out.
“Then how did she leave the room?” Violet asks.
“Why don’t we ask her? She is listening to us.” My breathing catches as I open my eyes to meet Violet and a pair of blazing yellow eyes, I avoid Silver like the plaque. “Evangelina, I see you have decided to rejoin us.” I sit up, once again on the hard mattress in the white room.
“My name is Samantha.” I state boldly getting a growl from Yellow and a chuckle from Violet, Silver stays silent.
“Fine, for now we will call you Samantha.” Yellow throws out but it was in no way friendly. When nothing else is said I sigh.
“Do you have names or do I keep referring to you as Violet, Silver and Yellow?” This time Violet and Silver both chuckle and even Yellow’s face softens.
“I am called Xavier.” Silver says with a deep bow that makes me blush then quickly look away before he can meet my eyes.
“I am Axel.” Says Violet with a dip of his head.
“And you may call me Maddox.” Adds Yellow grudgingly.
“Okay, Xavier, Axel and Maddox, will one of you please tell me what I am doing here?” All three shift uncomfortably but don’t respond. “Okay then, who will tell me?” I ask irritated.
“That would be your father.” Xavier supplies with an elbow to the gut from Maddox.
“My what? I could have sworn you said father.” I halfheartedly chuckle however when they fail to laugh with me I stop abruptly and search their faces. They weren’t kidding. “And where is this father of mine? As I can’t remember anything other than dying maybe he will tell me what’s going on.” Again they shuffle uncomfortably. “What?” I groan.
“We don’t know where he is.” Axel says quietly. “Can I ask how you left the room?” His eyes dart from me to Maddox and back. “You should not have been able to leave without one of us opening it for you.”
“I don’t really know. I was aggravated. I leaned against it and prayed for it to open, it did.” Gasps spread throughout the room.
“Prayed how?” Maddox asks skeptically.
“I don’t know. ‘Please open’ I guess. I didn’t say a prayer like ‘dear heavenly father please open this door’. Not pray like that, I guess beg is more the word.” I shrug.
“Show me.” Maddox says obviously not believing me. I hop down from the table, place my head and hands against it as I did before and this time I speak aloud.
“Please open.” The door slides wide giving me an opening to leave. I turn back to their faces of pure shock. The tingling sensation on my back makes me reach behind me to scratch it. Axel’s brow arches but he says nothing.
“And the Great Hall? How did you find it?” Maddox asks barely above a whisper.
“The Great Hall?” I point to the hallway. “That hall?” I ask.
“No, the room we found you in.” Xavier supplies.
“Oh, I’m not sure exactly. I felt like I had been walking forever and I shouted something like ‘where is the exit’ the next thing I know a doorway…… like that.” I say as a door shimmers into being blocking the hall right outside my door. Maddox stalks forward and opens the door to the same noises I heard before. He quickly shuts it then waves a hand before it speaking under his breath. It stays. He does it again and still it remains. He looks at me from the corner of his eye then back to the door. Another tingle causes my back to itch. Glancing at Axel shows his grin as I fight to hit the right spot.
“Tell it to leave.” Maddox states.
“Leave.” I say sarcastically. The door vanishes. The tingling becomes irritating.
“Amazing.” Breathes Xavier.
“How is that amazing? How do you get it to come?” I ask as I take in their varied expressions from shock to disbelief to pride.
“We have a certain set of words that must be said to bring and dismiss it. Those you uttered weren’t them.” Maddox states with vehemence. He wasn’t happy about this development. As I had no clue what was going on I really didn’t care what he thought. Until someone gave me answers they weren’t getting anymore from me.
“Are any of you going to tell me what’s going on?” I ask again, once more the itch is gone.
“We don’t know, Eva…Samantha. Not enough to tell you the truth of it. You must speak to your father. Unfortunately he’s disappeared. We were gathering a party to go search for him when you showed up in the room. Would you like to accompany us?” Axel asks.
“I don’t know if that’s a very good idea. We will be leaving the safety of The Cloud; we’ll be on the ground in the Deep with fewer defenses to protect her.” Xavier pipes up. I shoot him a look but quickly lower my gaze before he can meet my eyes.
“Why do you keep doing that?” Asks Maddox in an irritating whine.
“Doing what?” I ask innocently.
“Avoiding looking at him. Do you not like the way he looks?” His voice is filled with humor however I don’t find it amusing what he did to me in the Great Hall. Honestly I haven’t given him enough of a look to tell you what he looked like. I was terrified of his gaze.
“No. Last time I looked at him he took over my body, held me prisoner. It won’t happen again.” I state with attitude.
“You did what?!” Maddox yells turning his burning gaze on Xavier.
“It wasn’t my fault. You know how these things work, we have no choice. She broke the link before it finished.” He mutters the last part like he was disappointed.
“By the stars you young people are going to be the death of me. And how in the heavens did she break the link, that’s impossible.” He growls out. Young people? He couldn’t be more than twenty five himself. Tall and muscular, those yellow eyes shining like the sun matching his bright yellow wings and blonde hair.
“He’s close to three hundred.” Supplies Axel with a grin obviously reading my expression.
“Three hundred?!” Maddox waves my exclamation away as he is still glaring at Xavier.
“I don’t know how but she did.” He says weakly, almost as if it pains him to think of it.
“Why would you break the link, child?” Maddox asks very seriously turning to me.
“First I have no idea what you people are talking about, second all I did was shut my eyes. Someone please tell me what’s going on!” I rant.
“What you experienced is a bond between Kindred’s. The link basically pairs you together mentally and psychically, he is your other half.” My jaw hits the floor so hard it could have cracked it.
“Whoa, um, no offense but I just arrived in this crazy world of yours and didn’t ask for a Kindred. I didn’t know I was denying or accepting anything. Does that mean every time I look at him it will do that prisoner thing again?” For the first time Maddox chuckles.
“That prisoner thing only lasts for a few short moments before it is over. I suggest you finish the bond. If it began, then it will continue trying till it has finished the process. If you came upon trouble in your search for your father and happened to look at him in the middle of battle all would be lost. You only have one Kindred, child.” The seriousness of that statement weighs on
me. Half of me wants to jump on the idea and finish the bond immediately. The other half recoils shaking her head and waving her hands around flat out refusing the idea. Then somewhere in the back of my brain is the merest of whisper telling me to wait, it wasn’t time yet.
“If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to keep my free will till I at least talk to this man you call my father. Until I get some kind of answers I’m not bonding to anyone! No offense meant to you Xavier but this is not my custom, I hope you understand.” He bows low to me keeping his eyes averted but I can see the disappointment in his body language.
“Very well. Let me find you proper traveling clothes, you can’t wear a dress into the Deep.” Maddox leaves the room as I eye the boys.
“The Deep?” I ask curiously.
“The land below the clouds is called the Deep. It will be a treacherous journey to where we believe your father was taken but I believe you will handle it well.” A crooked grin slides up Axels face as he excuses himself leaving me alone with Xavier.
“We would be stronger if we let the connection happen.” He says quietly, his toned body rigid, fists clenched.
“Xavier, seriously I am not trying to hurt your feelings or discount your culture but I am not ready for a Kindred mate or spirit or whatever you call it. I don’t know where I am or how I got here. I don’t know what you people are or what I am even. Am I still human or am I now one of you people? Why am I here? What does it all mean and why did I have to die to get here?” With each question I throw at him he flinches away from me. “I don’t mean to be rude or whatever but I am confused. Can you give me time to work this out first?” He nods, bows and leaves the room.
Oh, holy moley! We better find my supposed ‘father’ quickly before I lose my ever loving mind! Kindred spirit! Yeah right! Not in this lifetime.
