by K. E. Miller
“I love you, Aiden,” I told him. “Nothing is ever going to change that. We are going to be together in this life and any other. If I have to marry you to make you see that, then I’ll be happy to marry you.”
He looked up at me, hope shining in his eyes.
“Do you really mean that?” he asked.
“Every word,” I replied.
He smiled at me and I smiled back. I was glad my careless words hadn’t permanently damaged our relationship. I wanted to go to him, but a sound from downstairs drew my attention.
“What was that?” I whispered as a loud crashing sound drifted up to our room.
Aaron sprung to his feet. He gathered our things and threw open the door.
“Come on!” he shouted to me.
He stepped into the hallway and I made my way to the door. I would have followed him into the hallway, but the sight of him flying backwards away from the stairs froze me in my tracks.
“Aaron!” I screamed.
I dashed out of the room and turned towards the stairs, a fury building inside me unlike anything I’d ever felt. I stared at the Warriors bounding up the stairs toward us, not really seeing them. I could feel the power of the Mage who was still at the bottom of the stairs and recognized it as the power of the Mage who had attacked us on the road.
As my anger grew, so did the multitude of spells that had begun pouring into my memory. Knowing as soon as I thought of it that it was the spell I needed, my power flew out of me and threw the Warriors down the stairs, blowing out all of the windows in the stairwell at the same time.
I turned around and ran down the hallway to where Aaron was lying on the floor, still holding onto our bags. I held out my hand to him and he took it without hesitation. I pulled him after me back down the hall and down the stairs. There was some movement from the Warriors who had been in the back of the group and therefore hadn’t received the full impact of my power. It was easy to see that they weren’t a threat to us as they were too injured to attack us.
We made it outside and ran to the car. Aaron had the engine started and was hurtling out of the parking lot before I could fasten my seat belt. We needed no other encouragement to leave town and before I knew it, we were passed the outskirts and once again amidst the trees.
The nearest bridge across the river and into Illinois was outside of Morgan field. Aaron was driving faster than I’d ever seen anyone drive so we made good time and ended up across the state line in no time.
“How do you think they found us?” I asked, finally breaking the silence.
“The Mage could be the one who used the Dream Spell,” he suggested.
“But I had us shielded,” I argued.
“Unless the Dream Spell is immune to that,” he replied.
“How do I sever his connection?” I asked, hating that I was such a liability.
“I really don’t know,” he replied.
We returned to silence as I mulled over this serious problem. We hit the fifty-seven interstate and began the long drive north to the other end of the state. Aaron seemed more relaxed once we were on the highway. I felt safer just knowing that there was so much distance between our attackers and us.
I pulled out my spell book, determined to sever the connection to the Council Mage once and for all. I flipped through the pages, finding nothing. I groaned in frustration as I realized the book didn’t have what I needed. I was supposed to be one of the most powerful Mages and yet I was at the mercy of my incomplete memories.
An idea popped into my head. I put the book away and pulled out a blank piece of paper and a pen. I spent the next several minutes writing, knowing my work was a far cry from what I would have been able to do before, but hoping it would do the trick.
When I was finished, I looked at the spell I had created. It was sloppy and the wording was poor. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, pouring all of my focus into what I wanted the spell to accomplish.
Bright light filled the car, blinding me even with my eyes shut. The car swerved and the light disappeared. Cars around us honked as Aaron got the car under control.
“What was that?” Aaron asked with surprise.
“A spell to sever the connection from the Dream Spell,” I said.
“A little warning next time would be nice,” he said.
“Sorry,” I replied. “I wasn’t even really sure it was going to work. I’m still not sure it worked.”
“Knowing you, it worked,” he said with a little chuckle.
“Okay I might have been good at all of this before, but now it’s all brand new to me. You seemed so skeptical that the connection could be broken at all.”
“Even if it’s new, you’re still you. Besides, I felt the power behind that one. The Council’s Mage is powerful, but his power is nothing compared to yours. Your power should easily overcome anything he’s got. I’ll be shocked if it didn’t work.”
Feeling reassured, I put my pen and paper away and hoped that he was right.
◆◆◆
We’d been driving for a little over two hours when we passed a sign for the Mt. Vernon exit. The sun had set and Aaron and I were both tired from the events that had led to our swift departure from Marion. I was relieved when Aaron took the exit and drove us to a motel that was near the highway.
We checked into one of the dirtiest places I’d ever seen, but we needed to keep a low profile and the motel was so cheap that Aaron paid in cash. We moved the car so it was right outside our room and we could watch it from the window.
Our room smelled like cigarette smoke and one look at the mold growing on the ceiling over the bathtub made me glad I’d showered in Marion. The last thing I wanted was to lie down on the questionable looking bed. Aaron barely glanced at it before lying down. He looked up at me and smiled at the look on my face. He opened his arms to me.
“We’ve slept in far worse places,” he chuckled.
I smiled back at him and decided to lay down in his protective embrace. Somehow, curled up in his arms, I managed to find enough peace to fall asleep and stay asleep until he gently shook me awake a few hours later.
Chapter 5
Shaylee
We were on the road before the sun was up. It was about a five-hour drive to Chicago and then there was still the matter of figuring out where the Resistance was located within the city.
It was late morning when our car sped along the busy Chicago streets. I felt like I was leading Aaron around in circles as I tried to sense a friend I had never met in this life. When we pulled up in front of a tall building that looked like any ordinary office building, I had serious doubts about the presence I had been focused on locating.
Aaron parked the car in a parking garage less than a block from the building. We walked quickly back, anxious to see if we were indeed in the right place. I wasn’t so sure. I kept giving Aaron looks of uncertainty, convinced that I had led us to a regular financial firm and not the secret Resistance base.
“We don’t know why Nolen might be here. We should still go in and investigate,” Aaron said, clearly having more faith in my powers than I did.
Once we were passed the revolving door, Aaron took my hand and led the way to the large circular desk in the middle of the lobby. The small young woman behind the desk looked up at us questioningly. I knew we didn’t look like the people who seemed to frequent the building.
“Good morning,” Aaron said, sounding perfectly confident. “Aaron Tremain and Shaylee Kensington for Nolen Darby.”
The woman’s eyebrows rose in surprise. Asking for Nolen by name was obviously the last thing she had expected him to say. She began furiously typing on her computer.
She looked up from her computer and said, “You’re on the list Mr. Tremain. If you will go through the security checkpoint on your left, those elevators will take you down.”
Aaron thanked her and we made our way over to the security area where several guards were waiting. Aaron gave them our names again and they waved us th
rough the metal detector. The elevator doors opened just as we approached and I forced myself to remain calm as we stepped inside. My grasp on Aaron’s hand was firm as the elevator began moving. I was stepping into a world I knew very little about and he was my lifeline. I was not letting go anytime soon.
When the elevator doors opened, we emerged into a brightly lit room with a large desk and another receptionist. There were too large men wearing earpieces guarding a door off to the side.
A figure in front of the desk flew toward me. It moved so fast I didn’t have time to react before arms were squeezing all the air from my lungs.
“Shaylee!” Jaden exclaimed, tightly embracing me.
“Jaden?” I managed to croak, in complete shock to see her.
She released me and smiled unapologetically.
“We just got here a few minutes ago. Thorn’s identification card isn’t working because his security clearance was revoked when he didn’t report in so we’re stuck in here trying to get access to the building,” she explained.
I glanced at the imposing Warrior behind Jaden. Although he was definitely one of the most intimidating men I had ever seen, there was something about him that I trusted. He was calmly having a discussion with the receptionist.
“Who is he?” Aaron asked.
“He’s an Eternal, like me. He’s sworn to protect you both. He was tracking us and he found me in the woods after I escaped from the Warriors. He patched me up and brought me here,” Jaden said.
“What happened to Andrew?” I asked, gripped by fear.
“I don’t know,” Jaden said, sadly. “We got separated.”
“Trudy,” Thorn said, bringing my attention back to him. “You know me. I have been loyal to the Resistance for seven hundred years.”
“Excuse me,” Aaron said, stepping forward. “These are our Eternals. As you can see, I have been granted access. You will allow them to accompany us.”
There was no denying the authority in Aaron’s voice and there was a distinct click from the door as it was unlocked.
“Thank you,” Aaron said to her.
Thorn led us through the door and it took all of my willpower not to stop and stare when I saw what was on the other side. I was forced to lean on Aaron for support as memories bombarded me, clouding my vision.
The building beyond the elevator lobby had been constructed to resemble the Royal Palace of the Sacred Isle. The only difference between the seemingly endless hall before us and the Palace was the lack of windows.
There were quite a few people moving up and down the hall. As we walked, I saw that there were many corridors that connected to the hall. After a few hundred feet, Thorn led us down a corridor on the right. We passed several intricate doors, each with a unique design carved into it. I noticed that although each door was different, the royal crest was present on each one, adding to the intense anxiety I was feeling.
Thorn stopped and opened the fifth door on the left. I walked into what I guessed was an antechamber. There were Warriors seated on a bench that lined the walls of the room. There was a single door on the opposite wall from where he had entered.
Thorn walked across the room to open the other door. The Warrior sitting right next to it stood and blocked the way. I felt Aaron tense for the first time. My heart began to race and it pounded in my ears.
“The Mages are in session, Warrior Liam. You haven’t been called to the session,” the Warrior said. His voice was deep and rough. My fear instantly left me and was replaced by intense irritation when I heard the disrespect in his voice. Even though I had just met Thorn, Jaden had said that he had sworn allegiance to Aaron and I. I didn’t like anyone disrespecting one of my friends.
“When you address my Eternal, you will show him your respect,” I said, my voice hard, clear, and without hesitation. It filled the silent tense room with more grandeur than I would have ever thought my voice was capable of producing. I looked the Warrior directly in the eye and his face began to redden.
“I am going into that room,” I said to him. “If you try to stop me you will lose. Stand aside.”
“I would do as she says,” Aaron said, quietly.
The Warrior looked away from me. When his gaze settled on Aaron, his face drained of all color. I instantly knew he recognized Aaron. His eyes snapped back to me. Slowly, he sat back down, his eyes never leaving my face.
Aaron squeezed my hand. I turned to see him smiling at me. I smiled back, my irritation evaporating. I looked at Thorn and nodded. He opened the door and led us into the large circular room beyond.
There was a large round table in the middle of the room. The men and women standing around it seemed to be having a very heated argument. I instantly recognized one of the more animated men as Nolen.
“You promised us results! Yet we are still living underground in fear!” a short, balding round man shouted at Nolen while shaking his finger at him.
“It’s not my fault the Council became involved. Somehow, they got their hands on the information,” Nolen replied. He sounded calmer than he looked, but I wondered if I only thought he looked upset because there had been a time when I had known him better than anyone. Perspiration lined his ebony forehead and I could tell these Mages had been arguing for a while.
“Are you implying that one of us has given information to the Council?” the short man asked, his voice incredulous.
“I’m not implying anything, but it is clear that somehow the information found its way into the Council’s hands. They were attacked in Salem and then in the middle of nowhere for heaven’s sake! That cannot be a coincidence,” Nolen replied.
“If a Dream Spell is in play, then that explains everything,” the short man argued.
“It doesn’t explain how they were attacked almost immediately after Eternal Liam’s last communication.”
“The entire thing is a Council scheme,” someone said. “Tremain shouldn’t be trusted. The girl must be a Council spy attempting to infiltrate our operation.”
Several Mages nodded in agreement.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Nolen scoffed. “The Council would never risk losing support by creating a fake queen.”
“That’s why it’s an ingenious plan!” the short man chimed in.
“If she is real, then where are they?” a tall overweight Mage asked in a gravelly voice.
“They’re both dead,” a small woman with flaming red hair and a vacant expression said from her seat. Silence filled the room for the first time and all eyes turned to her. “That’s why they haven’t come. All is lost.”
“Forgive me for interrupting,” Thorn said.
Everyone at the table turned to look at us. Thorn moved aside, giving everyone a clear view of Aaron and I. I met the looks of shock and disbelief with as much confidence as I could manage, but I wasn’t sure I was pulling it off.
“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen,” Aaron said.
His calm and confident voice carried across the large room. I saw a wide grin spread across Nolen’s face. As I took in his familiar smile, my mind was filled with memories of him and the friendship we’d shared.
I was blinded for a moment by the memory of Nolen pleading with me to find another way. The fear and worry in his eyes had been overwhelming. I knew that must have been shortly before the Exodus. I pulled my focus away from the memory, not wanting to be distracted.
A movement behind Nolen caught my eye. I forced myself to remain where I was as I saw a ragged looking Andrew staring at me from across the room. Relief flooded through me at the sight of him. Just knowing he was safe made me feel like facing the Mages was the easiest thing in the world.
“It cannot be,” the short man said, drawing my attention back to the Mages. “It’s not possible.”
“It’s a trick. The Council has found us. They will destroy us all!”
The voices of the Mages echoed around the large room as chaos ensued.
“He is a traitor that works for the Council!” someone
called out. Silence filled the room.
“I can personally guarantee that the king has been passing information to the Resistance from within the Council for centuries,” Nolen said. “He has never betrayed us.”
“Only a fool would believe that!” another voice said. The shouting began again as insults were hurled around the room.
“How dare you!” Andrew’s angry voice cut through all the others. He walked up to the table and stood next to Nolen. “How dare all of you! Is this the welcome you wish our queen to have after all this time? You want her return to be spoiled by your doubts and accusations?”
“No Bard has ever spoken in this chamber before, Mr. Hastings.”
I couldn’t tell who had spoken, but there was disgust and contempt in their voice.
“Then it is well over-due,” I said, my voice quiet, but strong.
I sensed their collective gaze shift to me. Almost immediately I felt them attack my mind. I was grateful that I remembered enough of my power and had spent so much time relearning spells that I was able to protect myself. I began shielding my mind from them, confident that I could keep them out.
The force of the attack grew and I leaned into Aaron, knowing it was only his arm around me that kept me upright. Thorn and Jaden positioned themselves in front of me, defensively. In the distance, I could hear Andrew shouting. I glanced up at Aaron and saw that he looked angrier than I had ever seen him before.
My vision began to narrow and I started to think I might pass out. I realized that I’d tolerated as much as I was able. Instinctively, I drew on my power and shoved them all away from my mind. Several Mages sat down in their chairs, unable to handle the force of my power, while others leaned against the table for support.
