Perilous Light

by Alyssa Rose Ivy

  “If I remember correctly, there is an open air market nearby. I need to find a gift,” Henry explained as we headed in the opposite direction from the park.

  “Who’s the gift for?”

  “Rachel. I do not know when I will see her again, but I want to have something to give her to help make up for my unexplained absence.”

  “Good point, a gift can’t hurt. So are you two serious, then?” I asked as we continued walking.

  “I have never met anyone like her.” He smiled momentarily, but it quickly faded. “Yet I do not know how it would ever work between us.”

  “Why? Because you come from different worlds?” I laughed, realizing how true the words were.

  “I am a Guardian. I have to stay with Charlotte, and eventually, she will take her place in Bellgard. Rachel would never leave her life behind.”

  “You know I never really thought about that before.”

  “About what?” he asked.

  “About Charlotte and I really living in Energo. I mean, she hasn’t even finished high school.”

  “She is the Essence; she does not need to finish school. I suppose there is no reason to worry about any of that now. None of it matters if we cannot overthrow Blake.”

  “Right.” I let Henry’s words sink in. For a few minutes, I had actually let myself forget about Blake.

  After a short walk, we arrived at the market. Set up along the water, it spanned several city blocks. Rows of stalls were covered with canvas canopies that made it difficult to see the goods unless you ducked underneath. We walked through the market slowly. Henry stopped occasionally to look at some stalls.

  “So what about you and Samantha? What is happening with the two of you?”

  “I wish I knew.” I shook my head. “I have no idea what I’m doing or how to date someone in Energo.”

  “Samantha probably does not have any idea how to either. She is not exactly a typical Energo girl.”

  “Yeah, I can see that. Even Charlotte is forced to wear dresses in Energo so she blends in, yet I’ve never seen Samantha in anything but pants. I don’t think there is anything typical about her.” I continued to peruse the items in the stalls with little interest. “I like that she’s different. I can’t really imagine myself with a traditional Energo girl. Well, I guess we are both in impossible relationships.”

  “Maybe, maybe not. You may have been raised somewhere else, but your home is Energo. You have that advantage.”

  “Possibly.” I thought about the truth in his words. Energo may not have been home, but it was definitely growing on me. “I hope things work out for you and Rachel,” I said genuinely. It was obvious that Henry had real feelings for her.

  “Thank you.” Henry stopped at a stall selling jewelry. He lifted a bead necklace off the table and held it up to the light. The small beads looked somewhat like pearls, but they seemed to be glowing. “This seems like Rachel.”

  “How are you going to explain glowing beads? They’re not exactly the type of thing you find in Charleston.”

  “I will tell her I bought it somewhere in Europe,” Henry joked.

  “Do you wish to buy one for someone special?” the old woman manning the table asked.

  I reached into my pocket and fingered the coins that Monty had given me before I left the caves. Energo’s currency was accepted almost anywhere. “No thanks. I don’t think she’s really a jewelry person.”

  “Every woman loves jewelry.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind. Maybe next time.”

  The woman smiled kindly. “Please come back if you change your mind.”

  Henry paid for the necklace, and we headed back in the direction we came.

  After fending off an eager merchant trying to sell us some sort of pottery, Henry pointed to a small food stand on the corner. “You have to try one of these calu; they are incredibly delicious.”

  “I have no idea what it is, but why not? I’ll try anything once.”

  Henry handed over a few coins to the seller and accepted two pretzel-like items wrapped in paper.

  I bit into the snack Henry handed me. Crunchy and shaped like a figure eight, it was covered with a sweet seaweed-like coating. “Wow, that’s awesome.”

  “I am glad you like it. I love pizza and everything, but have missed the foods I grew up with.”

  “I can understand that. You ready to head back?”

  “Sure. We do not want to be late for your big speech today.”

  “Thanks for reminding me,” I grumbled.

  ***

  Bry had warned me there would be a large group, but the mass of people in front of me was huge. Bry and I stood on a balcony by the port. Hundreds of boats lined the port, all preparing for launch. The boats were nothing like the dump of a boat we had sailed. They were sleek ships, many extremely modern. The crowd swelled below us. Each nation had sent a sizable contingent of soldiers, and they nearly filled the port. When I had first arrived in Alak, I would have been shocked by the differences in those assembled. Between the ox-like people from Kenset, the blue people from Cardian, and the shimmering diamond people from Zale, the crowd was clearly not a typical Carolina one. Even the most human-looking people, like the Sutonti and Nordicos, had an otherworldly feel to them, similar to Naomi and the rest of the cats from Zatamania. The group that took me most by surprise was the Aves, tiny people who barely came up to my knee. I wasn’t sure how much help they were going to be, but I certainly wasn’t going to turn away more support.

  Bry nudged me forward to stand on a blue square etched into the balcony. “You have to say something.”

  “What am I—” I stopped when I heard my voice amplified over the crowd. The blue square must have been part of some sort of speaker system.

  Once Alexander agreed to get the Nordicos involved, it seemed like everything in Alak stood still while everyone’s attention focused on getting ready to face Blake back in Energo. With everything going on, I had failed to prepare myself to make another speech, so I just winged it.

  “Hi, everyone. I’m glad you have all decided to join us.” The crowd fell silent, watching me intently.

  “I know the decision to support our cause was not an easy one, but I appreciate the sacrifice each of you are willing to make. Just remember we are doing this for our family and friends, for our people.” I paused, and the crowd started to cheer. Maybe the whole speaking thing wasn’t as hard as I thought.

  “We leave for Energo tomorrow, and we will not stop until Blake is put back in his place. We must aid the Resistance and find a way to defeat the darkness surrounding Blake.” I paused. “Are you all ready?” The crowd roared again, and the only thing missing was loud music.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Charlotte

  While the guys continued talking outside, Mom and I walked inside and upstairs to the room we were sharing. We sat on two beds, both covered with old quilts. Although the house hadn’t been lived in for a while, it was comfortable. After lighting a small fire in the fireplace located in the corner of the room, Mom and I sat quietly for a while, enjoying the warmth and each other’s company. My hands started to thaw as I rubbed them together. I was really tired of the cold.

  Mom broke the silence. “It is not supposed to feel like any other attraction, Charlotte.”

  “Then what is it supposed to feel like?” I wasn’t quite prepared to jump right in discussing my feelings for Calvin, but I forced the awkwardness away.

  “Magic. Magic you cannot possibly repel, stronger than anything you can imagine. That is what a bond between an Essence and a Gerard is.”

  “So you admit it isn’t natural?” I understood what she was saying, but I needed more.

  “That depends on how you define natural. Maybe it is not natural the way you were raised to view relationships. I suppose using that reasoning, your feelings for Liam feel more natural than the ones you have for Calvin, but for us, it is the most natural connection possible.”

  It took a seco
nd to process that my mom had actually just called me out on having feelings for Liam. “Mom, I know it’s weird that I kissed Liam like that, but—”

  “There is no reason to explain. I have been thinking about it, and I think that it was the Source.”

  “The Source made me kiss Liam?”

  “Yes. The Source must have known that his presence on your Guard held a great purpose and made you kiss him to make it possible.”

  I gawked at her. If only all actions could be explained away that easily. Maybe the Source made me do it, but I had a feeling the crush was all of my own design. “What kind of purpose?” I wouldn’t have believed her, except that I remembered that intense feeling to kiss him and the heat that resulted when we had touched. Besides, I had no other explanation for how he had become a Guardian.

  “I do not know what the purpose is yet. For now, I’m satisfied knowing that he is someone who cares for you deeply and would do anything to protect you.”

  “And why did my kiss make him a Guardian?”

  “Growing up, I was never allowed to spend much time with any boys but my brothers. Everyone assumed I would be the Essence, since I had no cousins and Ruth felt a new Essence was due. I complained about it to Ruth once, and she told me about the fear that a physical relationship between a future Essence and a boy of the right age could influence the makeup of the Guard. I always thought it was just an old myth, but you may have just proved it true.”

  “Wow, you really only spent time with your brothers? I can’t imagine if Kevin were the only one I could socialize with.” I may not have been the most social person in the world, but even I needed to get out sometimes.

  Mom laughed. “My brothers were not too bad, and I did not know any different. But when I talked about feelings, I did not mean just the kiss.”

  “Then what did you mean?” I felt uncomfortable, afraid of the direction the conversation might move.

  “Charlotte, honey, you have had a crush on Liam since you were a little girl. You are not going to sit here and deny it, are you?”

  “You knew that?”

  She laughed. “It was pretty obvious, sweetheart. You followed him around like a puppy, and those Barbie weddings…” She shook her head.

  “Do you think he knew? And Kevin?” I was mortified.

  “I doubt it. I think they were clueless. I am sure the kiss shocked Liam quite a bit.”

  “You could say that. But then again, I didn’t see him for three years afterward, so I don’t really know his reaction.” I shuddered, thinking of how much I had worried about that kiss while we were in Alaska.

  “That crush never disappeared, did it? You still felt something when you came back after being away, right?” She looked at me expectantly.

  “I guess I did. But really, I only saw him for a week or so before meeting Calvin, and then nothing else compared.” I absently pulled at a loose piece of string from the quilt.

  She smiled. “And something tells me that you and Liam got closer during the year when you were apart from Calvin.”

  “Mom, nothing happened. We were friends; my feelings are for Calvin.” I started to feel funny. She wasn’t exactly accusing me of doing anything wrong, but I didn’t like it.

  “I know that, but that does not mean you do not have feelings for Liam. Of course, you will not act on them, and I trust he will not, either. He seems acutely aware of your position with Calvin.” She paused. “Well, and he is probably terrified of your brother’s reaction anyway.”

  “Mom, Liam and I are just friends. Just like James is just a friend. His kissing me meant nothing and—”

  “James Mendel kissed you?” The look of shock on her face reminded me that she didn’t know about that yet.

  “It wasn’t a big deal. We were out, and this guy was hitting on me, and when I asked James to get him to leave me alone, he kissed me.”

  “Real subtle.” She seemed aggravated, but not exactly mad.

  “That’s just James. He does impulsive things just to annoy me sometimes.”

  “I agree with you there. And I trust your instincts, so I will trust him. I do not believe we should judge a man by his father, but that kind of behavior reminds me of Blake.”

  “What? James is nothing like Blake!” I had raised my voice, and I hoped no one else could hear me. I felt so guilty about the unexplained doubts that lingered every time I thought of James that I jumped to defend him even faster than usual.

  “Blake was not always the way he is today. He was never the nicest boy. As I explained, he was a lot like James. He was no Liam or Calvin.” She gave me a small smile, and I could feel myself blush.

  “So he was once something other than evil?”

  “Of course. I do not know of anyone who is born evil. He was actually a good friend of both your uncles.”

  “I still can’t believe you have another brother I knew nothing about.” I didn’t want to make a big deal about it, but I couldn’t just pretend that I wasn’t bothered by how much she had hidden from me.

  “It was too complicated. Honestly, would you have believed me?” She watched me intently, searching my eyes for something.

  I thought about her question. “Probably not. I would have thought it was just another one of your fairy tales…” I stopped, unable to quite accept the realization that she had tried to tell me the truth in the only way she could without putting us in danger. How had I not put two and two together before?

  “Wait. All those stories you used to tell us before bed, they were real, weren’t they?” My head filled with memories of stories about a princess who lived in an old castle.

  “Well, they were partially based on the truth. I never fought dragons.” She laughed and her whole face relaxed. She looked more like the mom I remembered.

  “So, when did Blake change?”

  “After I became the Essence. He was upset that he was not my Gerard, and he grew darker.”

  “Darker how?”

  “He was more sullen and became determined to figure out why certain people became Guardians and others did not. It was all very awkward because his best friend was my Gerard.” She sighed.

  I could tell she was thinking about her Gerard. I couldn’t fathom losing Calvin; even our time apart hurt horribly. “I’m sorry, Mom. I can’t imagine how hard it must have been. Do you still miss him?”

  “Yes. I do not think one ever gets over that sort of loss, but in the end, I was lucky enough to meet your father. Having you and Kevin has been the most wonderful experience in my life. I would not trade my family for anything—even my Gerard.” I could feel her hurt, but I knew she was speaking the truth. I hadn’t thought about it before—how Kevin and I only existed because Mom lost her Gerard.

  “Do not worry about that. You and Calvin are reunited, and I can tell that he makes you happy. I really did not mean to suggest anything by bringing up your feelings for Liam. I only wanted to explain the difference between Energo and how you were raised.”

  “I love him, Mom.” The words flowed out quickly. I had never told anyone but Calvin that.

  “I know. I can see it in your face, and I can feel it.” She stood and rested a hand on my shoulder. “With that thought, I think it is time that we both get some sleep. We have a big day tomorrow.” She tucked me in like she used to when I was a little girl and kissed my forehead. “Goodnight, Charlotte.”

  “Goodnight, Mom.” I slipped off into one of the best sleeps in ages.

  ***

  We left early under a hazy sky. A cool mist made it difficult to see beyond ten feet. Mom didn’t need to ask if I was the one who had created the weather conditions; she just smiled.

  “Do we have you to thank for the cover?” Calvin wrapped his arm around me again, and I snuggled into his side, content to be back with him. I wasn’t certain if my abilities were better because I was with Calvin and my mom, or if it really was all about the confidence, but it felt good to be useful.

  “Yeah, it was me. Isn’t it ni
ce to have an Essence around? I just hope someone has a good sense of direction.”

  “It’s more than nice, and I am glad to see you still have your sense of humor.” He leaned down to kiss me lightly. Calvin and I were finally together again, and I couldn’t get enough. Any lingering anxiety over how little I knew him was alleviated after talking to my mom. When I allowed myself to really feel like the Essence—to really feel at home in Energo—I accepted that our bond was natural.

  We discussed strategy as we walked. I had finally learned to use more of my abilities, which would be a huge help, but we still needed numbers. We hadn’t heard from Kevin, so we had no idea how his mission to recruit the other Pact nations had gone. I was confident. I couldn’t imagine my brother failing at anything. The nervousness bubbling inside of me was all about my part. I knew I had the potential, but I still had to use my power in the heat of battle. As James had pointed out at Icentris, I couldn’t afford to hesitate. Seeming to sense my unease, Calvin pulled me in closer, and I let myself relax.

  When we stopped for lunch, Calvin led me to the side. “Would you care to eat lunch on our own?”

  I smiled. “Absolutely.” Mom overheard the exchange and waved for us to go ahead.

  After eating a quick, nearly tasteless lunch, Calvin and I lay down in a grassy clearing. I leaned my head on his chest and listened to his breathing and beating heart. The reunion with my mother had temporarily distracted me from how amazing it was to have Calvin fighting on my side.

  “What are you thinking about?”

  I thought about picking my head up to reply, but I was just too comfortable. He started running his fingers up the sides of my arm, and I was beyond relaxed. “I’m just so happy that you’re here.” I left out the part about him finally coming to his senses and joining the Resistance.

  “My thoughts exactly.” He rolled me up on top of him. Pleasantly surprised by his playful side, I looked down and kissed him.

  “You’re not going to ever leave me again, are you?”