The Unmaking (The Rayne Whitmore Series Book 1)

by Alanna Faison

  “Ray Ray, you’ve had to grow up really quickly and I’m so proud of you. I know you’re who Selene says you are, because you’ve been that all along. You’ve always been brave and kind and protective. I just don’t want this to change you into something you’re not. You hold on to who you are. Do not let any power that you obtain corrupt you. Do you hear me? Don’t seek out revenge, get strong so you can protect yourself,” Damien speaks, his voice shaky. “I don’t want to lose you too.” I know he isn’t just speaking in terms of death.

  “I can only try,” I tell him, not willing to promise him anything yet.

  “You are your father’s daughter,” he responds after one final embrace. “I will see you later. No goodbyes.” He waves at me and walks away, not turning back once as if I won’t be there anymore if he does.

  “Later.” I call back, too late because the SUV is already driving off. I don’t even stand there alone for two seconds because Selene is at the door trying extremely hard not to run to me.

  “I was worried. It’s been hours,” she says instead.

  “I know. I’m sorry, but I had to get some type of closure,” I respond levelly.

  Selene waves me in the house, then, really gets a good look at me. After about twenty seconds of staring, she smiles. “So, you decided to chop all your hair off and color it like Jasmine.”

  “Yeah,” I smile back. “She would’ve loved to see me like this. I think I read somewhere that in some cultures when a family member dies, you cut your hair. Well, this is my version of it. It’s so every day when I see myself in the mirror, I see her too. Not to mention when I train, it’ll be more manageable.”

  “Well, you certainly look even more like twins now. I love it.”

  We smile simultaneously.

  Then, I get serious. “So, this is the final evening we have together alone for a while and I don’t want to spend it sad and afraid of what’s next, but I do have some questions.”

  “Okay. Well come sit and I’ll see if I can help you out,” Selene says, sounding studious.

  She pats the spot next to her on the couch and I sit close to her, collecting my thoughts. I don’t know how much she’ll be able to answer, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. “So, what do you know about the training that I’m going to have to go through?”

  Selene shrugs her shoulders. “Nothing really. I’ve never met someone who has gone through it, I just know the stories and that those who are successful went through hell.” Selene sees my face turn up into a frown and changes tactics. “But don’t worry. I would never ever in a million years have summoned Diana if I thought that you wouldn’t be able to handle this. I’ve had my suspicions about your potential for a while now, but after the Devourer, I knew you were different.”

  “But, why? What have I done or shown you to make you even think that I could be eligible to have this ‘mysterious’ power that humans thousands of years ago negotiated with the Immortals?” Oh my God, saying it out aloud truly makes this sound like a sitcom. I put my hands over my face, bracing myself for her response, and expect to magically hear clapping from an invisible studio audience.

  “Baby, listen to me. You have this force about you that you don’t even see. Do you remember the time that we were out at the club and that poor guy was getting pushed around because that dude thought he was looking at him sexually? What did you do? You picked the guy up off the floor, wiped him off, marched up to that asshole and maced him all in his face.”

  I laugh. “Don’t forget, then I kicked him in his nuts,” I say as I remember the situation and how angry I was that no one else did anything to help him even though about one hundred people had seen what was going on.

  “Right! You didn’t even know that man, but you wanted to protect him. Seriously, even though you could’ve gotten hurt.”

  “Because what’s wrong is wrong. That man had no right to do that to him just because he thought he was hitting on him. Shit like that just pisses me off.”

  “Rayne, that’s not all. What about when we were at the swimming pool and you dove in, swam faster than the lifeguard and saved that little kid who was running, slipped, and fell into the deep end?”

  “But, he was drowning, I just-” I try to diminish what I had done, but Selene abruptly cuts me off with a wave of her hand.

  “But, there was a lifeguard who was right there. Someone who was trained to save people, someone who was more than capable to save the kid, but you couldn’t handle it. You had to save that kid, because you knew that you would succeed and someone else might fail. And if that lifeguard would have failed you would have never forgiven yourself, so you put it all on yourself. You know I’m right Rayne. I know you, I know how you think. Don’t you see? You have the qualities of someone who has the potential to do great things. You didn’t let fear consume you then or with that demon. You are the prophesy Rayne and now the Immortals are going to equip you with the tools to be a force. Embrace it and don’t second guess yourself,” Selene tells me in a compelling way that makes me believe because she truly believes what she is telling me as well.

  “Am I really that awesome?” I smile.

  Selene leans in and kisses my forehead. “You saved my life when you had no idea what you were facing. I think you’re pretty fucking awesome meu amor.”

  “Okay. I’ll believe you then. But, what do you know that will be able to help me when all this goes down?”

  “Well, you just have to keep believing that you can pass all the tests. You can’t defeat yourself before whatever they throw at you has a chance to. So you have to go in there believing you are meant to do this, that this is who you have always been. Next, time does not run the same here as it does there. One month there could be about three months here. That’s partly why the immortals chose to leave this plane. Eventually, they start to age and there it slows the process. Still, they only age about every couple hundred years give or take, so if you see an Immortal that looks like a child, do not treat them as such. They are probably thousands of years older than you.”

  “Wow. So they’re not truly Immortal are they?”

  “Yes and no. They will not die of old age, they ascend.”

  “Okay, explain. And what the hell is ascending?”

  “It means that they reach the end of their lifespan and then go through a ritual where they are drained of their aura and then are reborn. It is almost like reincarnation, into yourself.”

  “Ok, wow, I don’t think I want to know anymore about what that entails. Moving on. What else do I need to know?”

  “Well, um. Let’s just say, Immortals are not shy about their sexual needs and will take and share lovers with no problems,” Selene says hesitantly, but still trying to hide a grin.

  “Well, they can just count me out. I don’t want a ten-year-old-looking-but-actually-thousand-year-old trying to take my goodies,” I say.

  “You say that now, but the Immortals are like uber sugar daddies. They shower their lovers with lots of gifts and rewards,” Selene says as if to test my reaction.

  “Ha. I think I’ll pass. I will try to be as respectful as possible about it,” I tell her.

  Selene lifts an eyebrow. “Who said I was talking about you?”

  I punch Selene softly and she chuckles making me feel relaxed. “I’m kidding Rayne. If I did that, they might forget all about training you,” Selene shoots back.

  “Don’t make me leave you here Selene,” I warn jokingly.

  “Okay, okay. I couldn’t deal with that. I’ll stop,” Selene promises, crossing her heart while her accent makes me shiver. “There’s something else too. Although I’m not sure what other awakened groups live on that plane, you can be certain that the immortals are not the only inhabitants. So, we must be cautious because they may not all be kind.”

  “I understand, I’ll be careful. Now come here. There’s something much more important than talking that our lips could be doing.” I pull her into a slow meaningful kiss that she gladly reciprocates.
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  Chapter Eleven

  Before we realize it, it’s dark outside. Both of us unwillingly peel ourselves off of each other, still locked in our embrace. I give Selene a quick kiss on her now swollen lips before I stretch and yawn. Judgment time.

  “So, what’s next?” I ask, feeling butterflies in my stomach.

  “Take a quick shower and I’ll get everything ready. I won’t summon Diana until you’re absolutely prepared,” Selene assures me, putting a hand firmly on my shoulder, her naked body still calling to me. I mentally shake myself and touch my scarred arm so that I can remember why I’m getting ready to do this.

  “Alright. I won’t be long.”

  After I shower, I throw on a black tank top and some green yoga pants, since I’m a little short on a wardrobe right now. Besides, I don’t know how I’m supposed to dress to go to the realm of the Immortals. I laugh a little inside at the thought that not only am I doing this, but I’m concerned about what kind of clothes I should be wearing to go to another dimension in. What in the hell am I getting myself into?

  Finally, I bring myself to take the steps into the living room where Selene is standing, waiting patiently for me. She turns to face me and smiles and I can’t help but do the same because of how sure she is about me. “Are you ready, Rayne?” she asks.

  I nod, then say, “I’m ready. What do I need to do?” I close the gap between us and catch Selene with my gaze.

  “Nothing. The candles are all lit and in place and we are already standing in the circle. I will just say the incantation, cut my hand for three drops of blood, and then call out to Diana. A gate will open and she will come for us,” Selene explains as if she does this sort of thing every day.

  “No,” I tell her. “I will cut my hand. It’s the least I can do. I’m the one marked so it should be my blood. You said that last time you didn’t know what Immortal would show up, but if I do it, it will surely be Diana who comes,” I say insistently.

  “Hmm,” Selene responds, studying me. “You might be right. We can try it your way then.”

  “Good,” I say and then reach out my hand, ready to get this over with. Ready to start my life over again, to become more, someone who protects.

  Selene places a gentle kiss on my lips and then steps back to grab the knife. I unconsciously gulp at the thought of the knife slicing my skin, but Selene doesn’t seem to notice. She grabs my hand firmly and looks at me one more time before nodding. A second later, there’s a slice, then a burning sensation as a little bit of blood begins to pool out of my cut.

  “Don’t do anything until I look at you and then drip three drops into the air like a triangle like this.” Selene demonstrates in the air and I nod in understanding. Then, she continues, power dripping through her words, “Ah signum ma rah. Um Immortalis rekesch. Ah fidelis ad mah rah. Um tah rah Immortalis sanguine ad rekesch,” She chants it three times before looking at me and then I do as she instructed making the drops of blood into a triangle in the air.

  For a couple seconds nothing happens, then suddenly, my hand stops bleeding and I am in a vacuum. Where I put my blood, I feel a pull and I gasp as the air itself rips open and reveals some sort of portal. All the lights and candles behind us go out and then, even more so like a surround sound system, I hear Diana’s voice swirling around us, demanding, and yet, amused.

  “So, you’ve made your choice, child. Then, come. Step through the portal and begin your awakening. I am waiting here for you on the other side. But know this, you either succeed or you die. Step into the world only with the intent of triumph, because even the slightest hesitation can cause you to be lost forever, stuck in the grey between our worlds.”

  I gulp one last time and look back at Selene who now has locked her hand into mine. Without saying a word, we both step forward and into a world I never even fathomed could exist. The pull is strong and I find myself almost flying toward the exit and almost letting go of Selene’s hand. I fall to the ground and barely get to catch my bearings. The air feels different as if it’s heavier against my skin, tastes different because it is lacking the pollution of my world, and even smells different here like there are different species of flowers and animals. Everything seems brighter and as I try to shield my eyes, Diana’s standing over me with a sadistic look in her inhumanly blue eyes. I try to scoot away, but powerful hands grab me.

  “Un-make her,” Diana orders the hands.

  Before Selene or I can protest, before I even see who’s clutching me, the bright lights of this world go out.

  ◊◊◊

  Cold. Dizzy. I slowly open my eyes and visually explore my surroundings. It’s dark, but not so much that I can’t see anything. However, I feel like shit. My arms are killing me. My hands are chained above my head and as I try to pull myself free, a sense of fear creeps over my entire body. I’m on my knees and the heavy weight of the chains causes my arms to shake.

  I realize that I do have enough give in them to be able to stand, but not much else. To do this, I have to shimmy up the wall scraping my back against the jagged rock. I’m completely naked, exposed, afraid. The chains won’t budge and Selene is nowhere around. At least while I’m standing, the chains allow me to put my arms to my side. It’s all very unpleasant still. The shackles upon my closer inspection are rigged so that if I try to pull them off, I could end up peeling off all my skin, if not scraping bone. If the tiny drops of blood forming on my wrists are any indication, I’d better be careful.

  What’s going on? I thought they were going to help me, not lock me up. Diana’s words run through my head. ‘Un-make her.’ I become frantic and pull harder on the chains trying to free myself as I forget exactly what I just learned about the shackles. I learn my lesson with a sharp cut to my wrist. I break skin and hiss in pain. I call out Selene’s name urgently, hoping that she will come to my rescue. Instead, someone else shows up, another Immortal.

  He’s tall, blond hair, with dangerous green eyes that are staring at me like a hungry lion. I study him as he stalks towards me, smirk on his face. Like Diana, he is nearly glowing, otherworldly. He has on no shirt and his grey bottoms look like a type of sarong. His body is that of a swimmer. Lean, muscular, but not overpowering. On earth, he’d give Brad Pitt a run for his money. Here, there is no doubt that he’s a warrior. He lifts up my chin and studies me silently. That’s when I notice the sword and try to pull away. I’m not familiar with blades, but it looks like a machete, only much sharper and older. He just laughs and turns his back to me, pacing for several seconds.

  Finally, he says, “I’d been expecting you to ask a million questions by now. Why am I here? What are you going to do to me? Where is my lover? But you, young one are surprising.” His voice is deep and commanding as it echoes from all over the room the same way Diana’s did when I first met her. In this deep cavern or dungeon, it is even more eerie as his voice seems to even reach the high ceiling. Where Diana’s voice is similar to someone who lived in England long ago, his voice sounds more modern, even if the same accent is still there. I still stay silent, afraid that my voice will betray the fear inside.

  He continues. “Well, I am Lawrence, the younger brother of Diana and the best weapon forger in the land. That will suffice for now. It has been a long time since there has been a human in our midst and I must say, I do not think you will be with us for too long.”

  “Why is that?” I ask quietly, flinching as the shackles eat into my skin.

  Lawrence takes three long strides and is so close to my face that I think he’s going to kiss me. “Because, young one, no human has ever survived being un-made by me.”

  Before I can even process what he’s telling me, I am being impaled by his sword right through my diaphragm, upwards, until the sword exits nearly at the base of my neck. The pain explodes through my whole body and I am screaming inside, but no words form on my lips. Lawrence locks eyes with me and I cough up blood right in his face. Ignoring the splatter of blood on his brow, he smirks in pleasure at my pain.
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br />   He retrieves the sword and it’s more painful going out than in as he slowly turns it inside of me. My vision wavers and I lose control of my bladder as reality sets in. Is that why they stripped me naked? Excruciating pain, humiliation, and paralyzing fear eat away at my soul. I can’t even tug at the chains as my strength becomes nonexistent. I feel my life being cut away and confusion sets in. I don’t understand this. I came here to get help, not to be murdered in cold blood, tied up, with no way to defend myself.

  Suddenly, Lawrence slams his palm into my wound and the heat from his hand seeps into my skin. I feel the wounds inside me stitching themselves back up and I gasp for air with tears in my eyes. He’s healing me and the pain recedes, leaving me more confused than I was in the beginning.

  “Why?” I whisper, tasting blood on my tongue.

  “Why? Now, you ask the questions after you have tasted the steel of my blade. Fool. Because you are weak and I do not think you are worthy of the mark that you wear. Because fear rules you and revenge calls to you. How anyone could think you could ever have any power inside you is unfathomable. I know you will not prove me wrong. I will break you, human. I will torture you, heal you, and then start all over again. When I’m done, you will beg for death to take you and I will gladly oblige. There’s one other thing that I forgot to mention about myself. I apologize for not telling you this bit of information sooner, but I am the greatest master of torture our people have ever known,” Lawrence tells me with such heat in his voice that I begin to sweat. I don’t even have a chance to take another breath before I am impaled with his sword again, this time piercing a lung and causing me to black out from the pain.

  I awaken after what seems like days upon days to find myself dripping with sweat. My hands are now raw, my lip bloody, and one eye is swollen shut. Lawrence has healed the worst of my injuries, but has left just enough pain so that I remember every slice, every punch, every broken bone. For three days he has come and assaulted me, tortured me, and mocked me. On the third day, I begged for him to stop, pleaded and cried that I wanted to go home. He told me that he would not only kill me, but Selene too. I spit in his face.