“Maybe you should ask her,” Kaeleigh said to their surprise as she and Chel came around the corner with their arms folded over their chests, clearly annoyed at whatever it was that was transpiring. Hunter was obviously not taken unawares of her entrance if the small grin on his face was any judge; however, he didn’t do much more than give a quick glance up from what he was working on. Daegan and Finn each let down just enough, turning toward Kaeleigh. Their eyes, wide with surprise, caught Kaeleigh off guard, as they had obviously forgotten the changes that she had gone through, or maybe she had changed even more as she slept. She suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable, but refused to let them see that.
Finn broke the awkward moment as he gave her one of the biggest grins she had seen him put on since, well, maybe since she had known him... no, that couldn’t be, but it made her smile even as it made her feel self-conscious. He wasn’t usually one for public displays of affection but he reached out and touched her arm. “How are you feeling? You look amazing!” Then he suddenly blushed and back-pedaled from his comment. “I mean, you always looked great, you just look different... good different, but not totally different...”
“You better stop before you hurt yourself, Finnlan,” Chel interjected with a roll of her eyes.
Uncharacteristically, Finn laughed then took a deep breath and gave her one of his “I’m sorry let’s move past this” looks. “I just made an awkward moment more awkward, didn’t I?”
Then it was Kaeleigh’s turn to laugh. She patted his hand that was still oddly lingering on her forearm “It’s all right, Finn. Yes, I feel... great, actually and thank you.” She smiled sweetly. “It’s a big change and I don’t expect anyone, including myself, to get used to it that fast.” Then Chel shoved him off because that’s something normal they would have done.
Kaeleigh caught Daegan’s eye as he still stood back where he seemed to be more comfortable, which in this case she didn’t blame him. He was simply watching their exchange, but something in his gaze was off, confused even. She shook it off as she approached Hunter to peer over his arm at what he was working on.
Hunter looked up at her. “You look well rested, my dear.” Then he paused and really looked at her. “You look beautiful and like you... how you’ve always been, it was just hidden. You also look much like her, you know, especially in her dress.”
After a brief emotional moment, Kaeleigh nodded at her grandfather. “I really do feel fantastic! I have more energy than I think I’ve ever had.” Kaeleigh practically bounced on the balls of her feet. “I can feel it coursing through me.” Kaeleigh held out her dress, “Is this ok, that we are wearing her clothes?”
“Of course, they are now yours. You are also radiating that energy and you must unfortunately also learn to put a damper on the expression of that energy as it will be seen to any and all who may or may not be looking for you,” Hunter said gravely.
Kaeleigh stopped bouncing and closed her eyes, trying to focus the way Daegan had taught her before when her emotions were leaking out. It took her a few minutes and a few deep breaths, but she did temper it down. It was harder this time to harness the free energy.
With that feat accomplished she looked to Hunter, who smiled. “Well done, Kaeleighnna. You learn quickly.”
She chanced a quick glance to Daegan, who was still leaning against a wall, the furthest wall from her, with not so much a confused look on his face as an inquisitive one. He did give her a quick nod, which for some reason gave the flutters in her stomach a little stir. She quickly shifted her attention back to Hunter and her friends, who were much more relaxed than they had been in quite some time; apparently when imminent death was no longer a concern people let down. Thinking of death reminded Kaeleigh of why she had been in the In-between in the first place.
“As much as I would really love to catch up and get to know you,” she said to Hunter as she placed her hand upon his closest forearm and gave it a little squeeze, “there are things I know we need to discuss. I need to share with you why my mother interrupted the ritual.” Before she could continue, though, Hunter stood up, and, placing his hands on her shoulders, he looked her in the eyes and said, “I would like nothing more than that, to get to know you, my granddaughter.” Then his eyes grew sad. “But you are right, we have important matters to discuss that can not be put aside, but perhaps after that we shall make up for lost time... I regret that you had to meet your mother under those circumstances, but the seized opportunity I believe will be most vital to everyone.”
Kaeleigh nodded slowly, saddened by the painful pricks inside her heart at the mention of her mother, but she wouldn’t have changed meeting her other than to have had more time.
Hunter continued, “Your changes are quite remarkable and they reflect your inner beauty—that I can tell without knowing you for too long. I am proud to be called your grandfather.” With watery eyes that obviously made him uncomfortable, he shifted his position and withdrew his hands, suddenly taking on a “time to get to business” expression.
Kaeleigh quickly grabbed his hand and held it for a moment, not embarrassed that everyone was watching their exchange, but proud that she had a moment with her grandfather. “She showed me some memories. One of me as a small child. You came to visit me. I was happy to see you and you loved me... I know that.”
All Hunter could do was nod and squeezed her hand in return.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Pops and hisses flew from the fireplace as Daegan stoked the fire. He poked and prodded a stubborn log that refused to ignite. Frustrated, he reached for a nearby candle and without thought or care laid it on top of the log for a slower catch. He seemed to be keeping himself busy, but Kaeleigh was oddly drawn to watching him work.
Next to her, Chel nudged her arm to bring her back to the present, reminding her that they were all watching and waiting for her to share what her mother had told her. Finn looked annoyed and Hunter simply waited with perfect patience as he sat still with his hands folded on his lap as he watched.
Kaeleigh took a deep breath. As she recounted the details of her encounter with her mom and shared the memory that she was shown from when Eva was killed, her hands shook with slight tremors. Hunter hung his head. She noticed and wondered if it was out of sadness or shame or possibly even both. Deciding to keep the personal things her mother showed her to herself, she went on to explain the danger that The Orchids were expecting and how their sight was blocked for some reason. She wasn’t entirely even sure what she was sharing, but hoped that Hunter would know. Leaving it for last, she briefly mentioned the prophecy as a side note, feeling odd talking about herself, especially since she didn’t even know what it said and how in the world “they” could ever think that she would be involved with it.
When she was finished, everyone seemed mostly in shock, except for Daegan, who looked perplexed. She stared at him a moment too long, as did Hunter, she observed. The sudden tension kept everyone silent so Kaeleigh interjected with her most immediate question. “Hunter,” she asked, breaking his study of Daegan, “what is this prophecy? She didn’t have time to go into more detail than to mention it. She said to ask you about it. I don’t understand how it’s possible I could have anything to do with it.”
Hunter’s expression shut down. She wasn’t sure he was going to answer her, because a few minutes of awkward silence had passed before he took a deep breath. “Forgive me, Kaeleighnna. I am not sure how to express my surprise. I always knew you were special from the moment I saw you for the first time as a baby, but I was not as positive about your association as your mother or your father was.” He paused, beginning to pace again as he seemed to be recalling the prophecy to memory. “It is an ancient prophecy. A foretelling of one to save Alandria in its greatest time of need. If memory serves, it went like this.” He closed his eyes and began to recite:
In the time of the lull and transition after a great battle, when Alandria sheds tears for the fallen crowns, that darkness will cloud the skies, the moo
ns will grow weary, and the time of color and life will begin to gray by the hands of those taking their place by force, that new power will come of age out of the hidden places and the land outcast. An heir from the mountains and the ancient oaks will be born and reborn to bring the color and to unite Alandria, but should the power be squelched by the darkness, hope will fade, the mountains will collapse, and all that is hidden will be lost.
Everyone was stunned into silence or deep in thought. Kaeleigh opened her mouth to say something, but then it snapped shut. She was at a loss for words. Hunter, eyes now open, stared at her, trying to make the connection between her and the prophecy. Actually, when Kaeleigh looked at each of the individuals with her she realized they were all watching her. Waiting, hoping for her to say something. Daegan didn’t seem surprised at the specifics of the prophecy as his eyes bored into hers watching her reaction to it. It did look like he wanted to say something about it, but then chose not to.
“There’s no way that is me!” Kaeleigh stumbled out, not truly feeling the truth in what she said as she said it. Her heart began to speed up. There was no way she could be what their prophecy foretold, who they were hoping for. Panic threatened to explode her heart, the air in the room quickly evaporating, and she clutched at the neck of her shirt, even loose as it was, as if it was suffocating her. Everyone was staring at her. Concern lined their faces. Their faces... beginning to blur. The room... too small. Clumsily rising from her chair, she took quick steps backwards, not watching where she was going, and bumped into a table, sending the unlit candles on it crashing to the floor. Clearly unaware of her surroundings, she tried to pick everything up, but only seemed to become more clumsy as she went. Even in the foggy state of her mind, she could tell that Hunter was trying to talk to her. Daegan stood unmoving, yet focusing sharply with a burning flame rising in his eyes. Chel and Finn were coming toward her saying something, but it sounded muffled to her overcrowded brain and she needed... what? What did she need? Out! She needed space. She needed air. She had to get out of this house.
Backing herself up against the door, she blurted, all the while gasping for breath, “Can’t breathe. Need air... to be alone.” With that she flung the door open and ran from the house, ran from the unlikely possibility this could have anything at all to do with her, ran from the sudden expectations that were dropped upon her, ran for all she was worth toward the woods surrounding the house.
After several minutes of running, Kaeleigh slowed to a walk, trying to catch her breath. She was surprised how fast she had gone and realized she was further away than she safely should have been, especially now that the whole world was depending on her—if she truly was who they thought her to be. Yeah, no pressure there or anything! She still couldn’t sort it out in her head, but she couldn’t truthfully deny it either. The weight upon her chest and the echoes of her own mother’s words combined with her own inner stirrings spoke of some element of truth in what was suddenly put upon her. She turned back toward the house. She wasn’t one to run from life and the things it brought her. This was something she had to face, had to talk about with her friends. She just needed to breathe. Panic attacks had come on her before but never that intense or that quick—at least since the night she fled her last foster home.
Not quite ready to go back into the house, Kaeleigh found a quiet place behind the house—not far but still slightly out of eye shot, where she sat on a rock next to the little stream that trickled in from the river that they had crossed not that long ago. The sun was still high in the sky even though she could feel that late afternoon was on the verge of descent. It was peaceful out here, listening to the trickling of the water as it flowed over smooth stones. Off in the distance, there were snow-capped mountains that reached eerily toward the sky. Something was “off” about them, but she had enough to dwell on at the moment. There was a slight breeze and she lifted her face into it and breathed deep. It was fresh and it caused her to relax until she felt a slight tingle along her spine that made her feel like she was being watched. Willing herself not to panic and look about frantically, she bent down as if she meant to tie her shoe and tried to look behind her through her veil of hair. She couldn’t see anything, but the tingling she felt grew stronger and gave her a mysterious indication that a presence was closing in on her. Suddenly realizing how stupid it was for her to have come out here alone, at least without any kind of weapon, she looked around her for something she could use. Nothing but those smooth stones, so she grabbed a couple of those if for nothing else than to hurl them and cause a brief distraction while she ran back to the house screaming. The sudden image released a nervous laugh out of her even though she kept it silent.
“That wouldn’t stop me if I intended to harm you,” a deep and familiar voice chuckled as he came out from behind some trees moving silently.
Letting out a sigh of relief, Kaeleigh dropped the rocks she was clutching. “You could have just told me you were there instead of lurking, Daegan!” Irritated, she added, “How long have you been there?” She was surprised she hadn’t heard him approach, or felt him for that matter. She had been able to feel his presence when he had been around before; she must have really been out of sorts when her panic attack had come on the way that it had.
Daegan stalked closer to where she was now standing with her hands on her hips. “Long enough to watch your very covert move to try and see who was behind you.” Again he laughed.
Even though it was at her expense she couldn’t help but smile at the sound of his laugh. It touched something deep inside her and she wanted to hear it again. Kaeleigh wanted to be annoyed, but lost the willfulness behind her remark. “What, that wasn’t stealthy enough for the warrior’s approval?” Then a sudden thought dawned on her and her irritation flared back up. She could tell that he noticed too as his relaxed expression was suddenly on guard again. “You’ve been following me, haven’t you?” Kaeleigh started pacing by the stream in short back and forth steps as she started in on a rant. “You don’t even need to answer that! I can’t even have a few minutes to myself to have a minor breakdown? I wasn’t stupid! I didn’t go that far, which you of course know.” She continued for another minute, going on about being a “big girl” and about “taking care of myself and have for many years,” clearly irate about the need for privacy to Daegan’s complete confusion.
“Kaeleigh.” Daegan’s commanding voice broke through her ranting and she immediately felt embarrassed and immature. He was still just standing and focused on her with an intense gaze a good twenty feet away by the tree that he had just come out from behind. His arms were crossed accentuating his very strong build and tight muscles. Not even giving her a second to blink, he was right in front of her, almost touching her but not close enough. His eyes pierced her with fury along with something else akin to being insulted. “I gave an oath that I would protect you!” he spat out a little more gruffly than he had intended to.
“So? If I run away from you, that’s on me... NOT on you. My choice!” Kaeleigh spewed back at him as she took a step closer.
With even more anger Daegan fired back, “Then you do not trust me to be able to fulfill my vow to you. You dishonor me by taking it so lightly. You do not understand a warrior’s vow.” He took a step backward and, giving her a mocking bow of his head, he turned to stand guard back by the tree from whence he came.
Kaeleigh’s shoulders sagged in defeat. “Daegan. Wait. I didn’t mean...” She jogged to catch up to him and grabbed his upper arm. When her delicate fingers gripped his very firm muscular bicep, there was a brief shock similar to what she had experienced before at his touch but this was almost painful. Quickly, she pulled her hand back to her chest, eyes wide with a shock. He spun back toward her, apparently also surprised as his eyes widened a fraction from the glare he had meant to bestow upon her and moved instead to the place where she had touched him... to the marking on his arm distinguishing him as one of the elite guards, then back to her with a hint of confusion and now concer
n.
“Daegan, I’m sorry,” she said genuinely. “I didn’t mean to dishonor you. I appreciate your service to me and my friends thus far, and I...” Kaeleigh swallowed her pride and her fear of being out of control of her own well-being. “I’m choosing to trust you, Daegan. I don’t give that easily, you need to know—whether you deserve it as my sworn protector or not.” Finishing her words, she looked back up into his eyes where she stared far longer than what was appropriate, but she couldn’t tear hers away.
He knew he was asking something of her that he hadn’t ever truly given to anyone before. Daegan knew it wasn’t fair, but he challenged her and she accepted. She was brave. He took another step closer. They were mere inches apart. She looked up at him with determination mixed with vulnerability at her choice. Daegan could see all the gold flecks of her eyes and how they sparked when her emotions were charged as they were now. Her chest rose and fell more frequently the closer they stood. He could lean in... but he wouldn’t. He couldn’t. Daegan took a step back for both of them, breaking the spell that was drawing them close. He didn’t want to compromise his job to protect her or hers to save them all.
Suddenly awkward, Kaeleigh dropped her eyes and turned back toward the water’s edge, sitting, turning her back to him and tucking her knees to her chest. Taking a deep breath, almost imperceptibly she asked, “What am I supposed to do? I don’t know what the prophecy... what this place expects of me, not to mention that I am one girl and have no idea how I can help. I can barely cook myself dinner.”
Something pinched in his chest at her openness. Daegan took a few hesitant steps toward her, unsure if his approach would be welcome after their more than awkward almost kiss. He berated himself at the foolishness of letting his body react to her and then at his emotions for wanting to. Her dark long hair moved slightly in the slight breeze, the color reminding him of cinnamon. The memories of his dreams and the feel of the energy that had moved between them at their contact suddenly struck him.
Veiled Shadows (The Age of Alandria: Book Two) Page 8
