Dream of Me

by Magenta Phoenix

  Moving toward the tense group, Sera folded her white wings against her back as she spoke softly, “It is time that you all know the truth of our world. Believe it or not, our world is not only our home but it is a prison for Zyaid’s kind. Many don’t realize that when we existed in the human world; the Kelithians were a plague upon the earth. Using their dark gifts they sought to destroy all of the life on earth. They were banished here before we ever came here.

  “Elena is the first of mate’s to cross the veil of our worlds. It was because of her that Kieran was able to cross into her world in the first place; she is the key to destroying the veil that separates our worlds. Zyaid must have figured this out before we could. I guarantee anything that he plans to use her to open a bridge to the human world once again.”

  “Why were we never told of this?” Dajran asked with anger.

  “You were not meant to know,” Sera whispered with a heavy heart.

  Kieran shared his companion’s anger. Could it be true? All these years they had believed that their Goddess had given them this plane of existence as a safe haven against the cruelty of the human world. But instead they were banished along with the Kelithians for the good of the humans.

  “So you stood by while the Kelithians murdered thousands of our people for the good of the humans?” Dajran hissed out in outrage. “We should have destroyed the Kelithians when we had the chance centuries ago!”

  “Priestesses before me took a pledge to the mother goddess to conceal the truth. Our forebearers believed if we knew the truth that we would simply force each other into extinction. Kalaya believed that human kind wasn’t ready to accept either of our kinds, but she believed that there would come a time when they would. Our males have begun to dream seek because this war is coming to a close. It will end soon and it will end in rivers of human and Garmorian blood if we allow Zyaid to use Elena to cross the veil.”

  Turning away from the others, Cian approached Sera with a look of foreboding. “If that is true, Priestess, what would that mean for our world here?”

  Hesitantly, Sera’s gaze shifted around the group of faces. When her eyes fell on Arlen, she jerked her gazed away fearfully before looking back at Cian. “I believe that the veil that separates our two worlds would dissolve and there would be no containing the evil of the Kelithian race that we have held at bay all these centuries.”

  Turning away from Sera, Cian paced back to the three warriors. Bringing a clenched fist to his lips as the burden of his forebearers became more uncertain. “Even if what the priestess says is true and that we were sent here to contain the evil of our enemy, this is our home. And it is a home to millions of our kind. I do not pretend to understand it nor do I pretend to understand why the goddess would send us to seek out human mates. But I for one will not let the evil of Zyaid’s line destroy more lives than it already has.” Turning his sharp gaze to Arlen, Cian nodded. “Prepare your warriors; we march on the Kelithian kingdom tonight.”

  “You are a fool,” Lord Rameir whispered as he strolled forward. Having been quiet long enough, he decided if he was to be killed for choosing the winning side, he would do so with courage. “The Kelithians are more powerful than anything on this earth. If you wish to allow our race to survive you must do as I and others have already done, join with Zyaid. Step away from your pride and your crown and think of the greater good.”

  Cian’s lips thinned as he nodded his head in acceptance. “So it is true. You — a lord of the high council — has turned against your own?” Cian asked, glaring at the beseeching lord.

  “I didn’t want to. But there comes a time when you have to think of our future, Gu’an. Sooner or later Zyaid would destroy us. It is only by the loyalty of a few that he hasn’t already. Who will you choose: the humans or your people?”

  “Garmorian’s protect the weak. We always have, whether it was human lives or that of our own. You have lost sight of that, old friend. For what you have done, you will join Zyaid in hell.” Striding toward the heavy double doors, he jerked it open, surprising the two guards with his enraged expression. “Take Lord Rameir to the dungeon and keep him there.” Issuing the order, Cian strode from the throne chamber, ignoring the pleas for mercy from the lord.

  He couldn’t dwell on the friend that he had just lost. Nor could he think on the lies that his people had been living on for centuries. It was time to prepare for the battle of their world and the humans.

  * ~ * ~ *

  Sliding his black spiked gauntlet onto his left forearm, Kieran’s head jerked around as he heard the door to his chambers open slowly. His eyes widened in surprise when Sera stepped into the dark room. Her white gown seemed to glow against her gray skin as she moved. Moving towards him she gave him a concerned look. Not wanting to see her look of pity he turned back.

  Coming to a stop next to his bed, Sera reached out to touch his shoulder, but he jerked away from her touch.

  “Don’t, Sera.”

  “You’re too weak. You have the Gu’an and Li’r on your side; let them take care of this,” she beseeched, pressing her lips together with worry.

  “What kind of mate would I be if I would let others rescue her and when I would not? I’m going — end of discussion, Sera.”

  Picking up his long sword he ran his thumb along the edges to check its sharpness. Satisfied when his finger came away smeared with his blood, he slid his weapon into its scabbard hanging from his hip. His hand shook slightly with the effort as his draining strength begun to hit him. He refused to allow it to keep him from retrieving his sou’tali.

  “Your Malrai Hin is almost complete; you are in no shape to go off into a battle,” she argued fiercely.

  Jerking his head sharply around to glare at her, Kieran’s gaze hardened. “It is my choice and you are going to hold your tongue. Much like you did with everything else.” Turning away, he strode to the door. Jerking it open he left Sera staring after him. Soft footsteps echoed behind him as she followed, making his shoulders tense.

  “I had no choice, Kieran,” she whispered at his back as she struggled to keep pace with him down the dark corridor.

  Stopping abruptly, he jerked around to face her. His seething expression hovered above her startled one. “Do you remember the night I was drawn through the veil to Elena’s world the same night the eastern village massacre? You could have said something then. You knew how conflicted I was, but you stood by and said nothing.”

  “How many times do you want me to say it, Kieran? I was sworn to secrecy by my predecessor. It was the only way to maintain the balance of the world we live in and protect the human world from the evils of the Kelithians. It’s how our ancestors wanted it and how Kalaya wanted it.”

  Scoffing, he jerked paced away, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. “I no longer care, Sera. I no longer care what our ancestors thought or what you do. I’m going to get my mate.”

  “If you use what life force you have left before the Malrai Hin is complete — you will die. I cannot watch you do that.”

  “Then run back to your temple, Priestess.”

  Sera flinched as he uttered her title. Though he’d called her by it before, this time it was spoken with a cold indifference.

  Adopting a firm expression she moved to counter his coldly spoken words but paused as the sounds of heavy footsteps approached. Turning to look over her shoulder she frowned as Li’r Arlen stepped from the shadows wearing a dark scowl. His heavy gaze settled on her face for a brief moment before moving to look above her head at Kieran.

  “Everyone is ready.”

  Nodding tensely, Kieran nudged Sera aside before striding past his commander. Watching him leave caused Sera’s heart to squeeze in her chest. Clenching her thin fingers into tiny fists, she turned around, her eyes hesitantly settled upon the watchful eyes of Arlen before she glided past him. At the sound of his voice calling after her, she stopped.

  “Sera.”

  Her shoulders tensed at the sound of his voice. A voice she�
��d heard in her dreams for years but never knew why. Panic seized her. She wanted to flee, but a priestess never ran from anything. Placing a look of indifference on her face, she turned to look over her shoulder at the mighty general.

  “Do not address me so informally, Li’r. I am the priestess of the moon goddess and you will address me by that title."

  Not even his eyes blinked. His dark gaze held hers as he took a single step forward. His chest rumbled as he drew closer. “I will address you any way I please, Priestess Sera,” he replied curtly.

  Taking a step back, her lips thinned as her face tensed with the beginning signs of her temper. “I’m returning to the temple. If the Gu’an has need of me I shall be there.” Before she could storm away as she longed to do, a strong hand circled her delicate wrist preventing her from moving an inch.

  “I wish to speak to you.”

  “Then speak,” she bit out, attempting to twist her wrist from his hold with no success.

  Air seemed to burn within her lungs at his touch. Heated tingles of pleasure danced along her skin at the touch. At the feel of his strong fingers she could nearly feel his soul stroking hers. It was forbidden to touch a priestess in the way he was. Because of how she served the Goddess she was much like a guiding star in the darkness, untouchable but always present to guide the lost.

  “Let go of me, Li’r. You, as well as everyone else are not permitted to touch the Goddess’s vessel.”

  She let out a gasp as she was jerked around and crushed against his hard frame. His hands moved to grip her by her upper arms. The feel of his armor pressing against the material of her dress caused her to tremble. She had never been this close to another living being since the death of her parent’s and her initiation rites.

  His breath batted against her face as he leaned dangerously closer to her, “I will touch you whenever I please, Sera. What were you and Kieran talking about?”

  Clamping her mouth shut she glared up at him. Arlen scoffed at her stubborn look before removing his hands from her. As she took a careful step back, he held her gaze. He scowled down at her as she rubbed at one of her arms where he’d touched her.

  “I do not like this closeness that you share with one of my warriors, Priestess.”

  Rolling her eyes, she crossed her arms defensively over her chest. “It is none of your concern, Li’r.” Turning to walk away, she didn’t get very far until his hard voice was calling after her again.

  “It is my concern.” Pausing he strode closer to her. Her body tensed as he stopped but a hair’s length from her. Bending close to her ear, he whispered, “I have begun seeking my mate.”

  Not turning around to face him, she struggled not to give away at how his close proximity unnerved her. “I’m glad. May the Goddess guide you to your sou’tali.”

  Straightening, he whispered out harshly, “Is that all you have to say?”

  Not bothering to answer, with her head held high she began walking. The further she walked the more her limbs began trembling. Only once she was outside the stronghold walls did she trust herself to look back. She didn’t understand the general here of late. It seemed anytime she was summoned to the stronghold, there he was. Always he seemed to be watching her with his disapproving eyes.

  Shaking her head, she continued to move toward the temple. She needed to consult with the Goddess. The day had come and many would need guidance. Tonight their world would change forever.

  Chapter Twenty

  Giving the iron bars in front of her a final kick, Elena wasn’t surprised to receive the same result as before. At her harsh contact the bars didn’t even shake. Instead sparks of golden energy danced along the interlocking bars, reminding her that her new prison was enchanted. Unlike the one she’d awoken in, this one was built into the foundation of the bowels of the Kelithian fortress. From outside her prison cell, there was very little she could make out. Unlike the rest of the golden fortress, the dungeon was dark with only a single flamed torch hung by the entrance for light. The air around her smelled of decay and fire at the same time.

  Welcome to the four seasons… she thought sarcastically to herself.

  Kicking her foot against the dirt covered floor, her hands tightened into fists as she fought the urge to yell in frustration. If Zyaid thought sticking her in this crappy place would change her mind about accepting his earlier offer he could forget it! She’d rather rot in this cell until Kieran rescued her than lift a finger to help that delusional mad man.

  “Hello, my little human,” Zyaid’s smooth voice startled her from her thoughts as she spun around to see him standing at her cell door. He was accompanied by one of this guards that held a torch above their heads. As Zyaid stepped closer to the enchanted bars, she saw that his hand held a plate of food.

  “Your Majesty,” she acknowledged mockingly.

  His eyes narrowed at her mocking tone. His lips compressed before he spoke in his typical even voice. “I thought you would care for some food.”

  Scoffing in mock disbelief, she shifted from one side of her cell to the other. “First you give me your finest room and now I get room service too? You sure do know how to make a guest feel welcome,” she replied, not meaning a word she said.

  Sighing, Zyaid bent down to shove the plate under the bars with more force than needed. Straightening, his face tightened in anger. Not the least bit afraid of him, she met his dark gaze with a knowing smirk.

  “Did you really think I’d rush for your so called offering?” she inquired, raising a brow at the offered food at her feet.

  “You would do well to remember who you are talking to, human. Your next breath is depended on my good will. So I would mind my tongue if I were you,” he warned.

  “You won’t kill me,” she stated with confidence.

  “Oh, you are sure of that?”

  “Yes I am. Because you want me for some idiotic scheme you’ve cooked up in your mind. But just like in the past, the Garmorians will stop you.”

  Chuckling, Zyaid turned and paced out of the light of the torch. Turning back to face her, his face shrouded in shadows, he smiled back at her, “You still believe you can deny me what I want? I have ways of making you do what I want.” Moving closer to the bars of her cell, he shook his head. “You see; I wanted to do this differently. If I had, you wouldn’t be in this cage right now. Befitting I think since its where your kind would have my kind and the Garmorians if given the chance.”

  “I bet it made you angry that Cian refused to turn me over to you didn’t it?” she asked mockingly.

  “Cian’s time is ending. By the end of this night, I will have the key I need to cross the veil into your world and mold it in my image.”

  “And what is your image? Where you are king over everything?” Shaking her head, she scoffed at the idea, “You’re an idiot.”

  “No, my dear, the true idiot is your mate: Kieran.” The lit torch swished through the air as both Kelithians turned to leave.

  “What does that mean?” Receiving no answer, she rushed toward the bars before she could stop herself. Arcs of golden energy shot through her hands feeling like a thousand volts of electricity. The hot energy shot through her chest and knocked her off her feet. Hitting the cold ground hard, she gasped for air as her chest and fingertips burned with pain.

  Groaning, she curled onto her side before raising her eyes to see Zyaid smirking at her from the lit doorway.

  Breathing though the pain, she repeated her question. “What…” she gasped out. “What do you mean?”

  “To open a door to the human world you first need someone that is a part of that world. With you I can finally escape this world.”

  “I don’t care what you do to me. I will never help you invade my world.”

  “I know. However I have found that it is easier to make someone bow to my wishes if you cut off their legs first.” Tilting his head with a knowing look, he waved toward the plate of food near her. “Eat up. You will need your strength — or should I say, I
will need your strength — all of it. We begin once your mate arrives.” With a swish of his robes, Zyaid disappeared from sight.