“Well, I don’t like it. I’m going to find her. I don’t know this wolf, or what his agenda is.” Jax stalked into the mud room and began pulling on his boots and a hoodie.
Sami followed him “Wait—you’re too weak. You shouldn’t be going out—” He caught himself when Jax glared at him. “I didn’t mean you’re weak—you’re not. I meant from the Awakening,” he backtracked.
“I get it.” Jax turned toward the door.
“Shit. Okay. I’m coming with.” Sami pulled on shoes and followed him out.
TIERNEY STARTED TO ask Kyrian another question, when Jax’s voice in her head interrupted her. “Tierney!” He sounded frantic. Then she heard Sami’s voice. “Tiern, where are you?”
Her heart began to race, and thinking that Jax might be in pain again, she pushed away from the rock slab. “Jax, are you okay?” she asked, intending to head back to the house but his next words stopped her.
“I’m fine. Where are you?”
She glanced at Kyrian and frowned. “I’m up the main trail, at the large rock.”
“Okay, I’m heading to you.” Jax said.
“You are? Why?” She was surprised.
“We’re almost there. Are you okay?” Jax ignored her question.
Tierney scowled. “Ah, yeah? Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Sami said you’re talking with a wolf,” Jax sounded angry and worried.
Tierney smiled. “Yeah, I am.”
“Jax is worried about your safety,” Sami said.
Tierney snorted as she glanced at Kyrian. “I’m fine. We’re having a conversation.” Thinking an angry Jax may not be in the mood to deal with Kyrian respectfully, she glanced at him.”‘I think it best if I tell them about you and what you need.”
“Yes, if you wish, but please, I’m worried about Toren. Any help would be appreciated,” Kyrian said as he started away.
Tierney barely made it fifty feet before she ran into them.
Jax, white as a ghost, freaked out. “Tierney! What the hell? Why would you come out here alone? What if this wolf hurt you?” he stared past her, up the trail.
Tierney frowned. “He didn’t, and I’m fine. You should be resting.”
“Resting? I can’t fucking rest when you’re out here with some weird-ass wolf.” Jax’s power started to seep out of him.
“I wouldn’t have come if I thought he’d hurt me. Didn’t Sami tell you Kyrian helped us last night?” Her own anger flared at his lack of trust in her judgement.
“I did—” Sami said at the same time that Jax spoke.
“He told me, but I don’t believe anyone would help for no reason,” Jax growled, eyes searching the area behind her for Kyrian.
“Well, maybe he has a reason,” she muttered, drawing his attention back to her.
“See, I knew it. What does he want?” Jax glared.
“That’s enough, Jax. Kyrian helped save your life, and now he needs our help.” She waited while he struggled to control his anger.
Taking a step back, Jax ran a hand through his short hair. “Shit. I’m sorry, I was just worried.”
Tierney’s anger disappeared, and she gave him a gentle smile. “It’s okay, c’mon, let’s head back and I’ll tell you about the Okami wolves.”
She led them down the trail, telling them about Kyrian and what he wanted. Then her already aching brain started to pound, and she became nauseous. “Oh, agh!” She stopped and clutched her head.
“Tierney?” Jax and Sami shouted in alarm, as Jax steadied her. “What is it, what’s wrong?”
“My head—it hurts,” she groaned.
“Is she going through her Awakening?” Sami stared, wide eyed.
“Don’t know,” Jax answered.
Then a violent shot of pain ripped her apart and doubling over, she would have dropped to her knees if it wasn’t for Jax’s support. “It’s Dad—” she gasped, filled with horror as a dark void pulled at her. It felt like it wanted to swallow her up, and even though she sensed it was futile, she tried to fight the pull.
Then the temperature dropped, leaving the air bitterly cold as the wind started to whip the trees and brush all around them. Vicious, swift-moving clouds covered the sky, turning it dark in a matter of seconds. “What the—?” Jax’s voice sounded far away as the pain intensified. With a cry, she pushed away from Jax and fell to her knees. A booming rumble of thunder set her eardrums to aching. It continued to roll and lightning illuminated the sky in time to the bolts of pain that zinged repeatedly through her head, making bile rise in her throat.
She felt Jax and Sami grab onto her. Sami said something, but between the pain and all the noise, she couldn’t concentrate or hear very well, though it was hard to ignore the worry in their eyes.
“Tiern, what’s happening?” Jax asked.
She tried to speak and moaned, gasping for breath instead.
“Breathe,” Jax instructed as he gently rubbed her back.
“C-Can’t—” she gasped.
“Yes, you can.” The shock wave of an extra loud, thundering-crack really close by, drew their attention in time to see lightning strike a massive yellow-needled larch tree.
Then the pain in her skull intensified, making her scream at the same time that an echoing crash resounded. The tree had fallen, shaking the ground like an earthquake.
“Is she doing this?” Sami asked. Jax nodded. “Tierney,” Sami shouted. “Try blocking the pain!”
Gazing wildly around, Tierney nodded and closed her eyes so she could concentrate. She imagined building a solid wall in her mind and let out a whimper of relief when the agony began to let up. Opening her eyes, she stared at the pale faces of her two friends. “Thanks.” She gave Sami a weak smile.
Hand trembling, Jax reached out and tucked a strand of hair back out of her eyes. “I got you.” Listening to him, she let his voice lull her and closed her eyes again, willing herself to calm down. Slowly the pain receded enough for her to catch her breath. “What’s going on? What’s happening with you?” he finally asked.
“It’s Dad, something’s wrong—” she whispered. Then everything suddenly went black.
Tierney found herself spinning headlong through space, as if sucked through a rabbit hole. She attempted to yell, but the words stuck in her throat. When she landed, her body floated while her connection to her dad fairly vibrated. “Dad,” she called telepathically, sensing that he was really close by, but she received no reply.
When her sight adjusted to the dark, she found herself in a dank, rock-walled chamber, and flinched as something floated past her. But when she tried to follow it with her eyes, she couldn’t see a thing.
A light flickering from outside of the chamber, made her shiver. Unsure of what might be awaiting her, Tierney steeled herself and made her way to the entrance where she stopped and peered out. A long tunnel stretched in both directions with torches mounted along the walls periodically, dimly lighting the way.
Tierney closed her eyes and drawing on her power, opened up all her senses. She felt the presence of many souls all around, and this time, when she opened her eyes she could see eerie, gray-cast spirits everywhere. She watched them for a moment, but they acted like they didn’t see her, which suited her just fine. Well, if this isn’t freakin’ eerie. The whole thing reminded her of the raven episode.
Ignoring the spirits who seemed to be going about their own business, she concentrated on Zander’s pain and began to move, or rather float. Until finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she paused at an intersection of three tunnels. Every once in a while, she caught what sounded like far off voices, but she never seemed to come across anyone actually alive.
Mind on her dad, Tierney took the tunnel on the far left and pulled up short. She floated in a corridor filled with cells like some sort of medieval prison. Although sharp, spiked iron bars ran from floor to ceiling, it was the dried blood on the spikes that made her shudder. Each cell door was latched on the outside, in such a way that it prevente
d prisoners from reaching through and opening the door. At least not without shredding their hands.
Some of the cells stood open and empty, although many were occupied. Unfortunately, the dark made seeing very far difficult, so she could only sense the hurt people within. Hurrying past, she stopped when a faint light caught her attention. She peered inside.
What the hell? A girl with long black hair, and large midnight wings hovered in the air above her bed, playing with some kind of cell phone or device. Really? Too weird and is she a demon? Surely not … Suddenly, a set of brilliant blue eyes, ringed with red, and blazing with fury, shot to hers. Tierney stepped back with a gasp. Shit, she saw me. Tierney continued past the cells until she came to a short hallway leading into a cavern. She stopped, able to sense her dad within.
Stepping forward, she cautiously peeked inside the dark room. Bright flames licked the rocky perimeter, and yet somehow, like an illusion, shadows danced everywhere. Yet through a gray tint, everything seemed distorted. It was like a mirage—watery and wavy.
Black, wraith-like creatures began to peel themselves from the rock walls, and her focus sharpened when she realized they were actually robed and masked people. Wielding swords, they began to swirl in a macabre dance of death. The Ilyium. Tierney shuddered as her vision came to life. Suddenly, a red mist of blood swirled in the air, and an awful coppery scent filled her nostrils. Everywhere she looked, shadows and monsters writhed in time to the flames, and a sound only they could hear.
Chilled, she shivered even though fire burned everywhere. Finally, the Ilyium came to a standstill and moved back, revealing a large, shiny black puddle in the middle of the room. No, not a puddle—blood. Dancing flames reflected off the inky surface. Tierney gasped when she spotted her dad strapped awkwardly against a wooden, star-shaped alter in the center of the shiny pool.
She strained to see better. His legs looked … she could only see one leg and his arms … Oh gods. Tierney prayed they were tied behind his back, but the pain she experienced was so intense, she intuitively knew they weren’t. “Dad!” she screamed, and attempted to enter the room, only to be stopped short by an invisible barrier of some sort.
The agony on his face brought tears to her eyes. “Dad!” she called again, willing him to hear her. Her heart ached. She needed to do something, but what could she do from the spirit world? Sobbing, she called a third time, shocked when his gaze finally shot past the monsters to focus on her.
“Tierney, baby.” His weak voice filled her head.
“Dad!”
“You must go. Please.” He sounded sad and completely defeated.
“Dad—no! I don’t know how I’m here, but tell me what to do, how to help—”
“You are spirit-walking baby, and there’s nothing you can do.”
“Dad!”
“Tierney, you need to promise me you won’t come looking for me.”
“No. No way. Just, please tell me what to do.” This can’t be happening. There has to be a way to help him.
“Promise me, please. I need you to promise.” His broken demeanor shattered her.
“Dad, no!”
“Please, I need to know you’ll be safe. I cannot allow you to come looking for me, to chance them catching you. I couldn’t bear it if they ever got hold of you.”
“But Dad—”
“Tierney please, I can’t go knowing you could be in danger.”
Oh demon spawn, she didn’t want to. She wanted to fight him. For some reason, when she uttered the word “Promise,” it was binding to her. It was why she was always so careful not to make promises. In the past, she’d made the mistake of using the word and it had weighed her down, and prevented her from breaking it. She’d quickly learned her lesson.
The desperation in her dad’s eyes tore her apart. She really didn’t want to make any promises. She wanted to tear the world apart looking for him, kill as many Ilyium as it took. And if she promised, she’d be unable to do any of that. But he was about to die and deny it as much as she wanted, she knew it was coming. So really, how could she refuse him?
“Fine, I promise.” Tears streamed down her face as the promise bound her, like a mountain settling on her shoulders. Through the flames, she saw the tears running down her dad’s face blood and dirt streaked face as well. “I’m so sorry, baby. I love you,” he said, his piercing green eyes boring into hers.
“No!” Tierney hated not being able to stop what she feared was about to happen. “I love you too,” she whispered as one of the figures turned and stared straight at her. A feather-light whisper touched her mind and with a growl, Tierney viciously batted the detested Ilyium away. The faceless, robed figure grinned a flash of teeth.
“Tell the boys I love them.” Zander’s anguish tore her apart.
She tried to stop him, but with a single thought he sent her away, though not before she caught a blur of a sword swinging at his head. “Oh-nooooo.” The scream tore from her mind before darkness took over. She wanted to go back, she needed to stop—
Thrust back into her body, Tierney’s vision cleared and the air left her lungs. She whimpered and clung to Jax.
“Tiern, I got you.” Jax cradled her against his chest, the beating of his heart soothing her until she quieted.
Jax and Sami’s fear and helplessness mingled with her despair, leaving her wrecked and fighting to erect some shields. Finally, she pulled away and rebuilt her own mental shields so that she could block their feelings. “I—I found Dad. Oh gods, the pain and blood.” Tears stung her eyes as she stared at them, remembering. “I was in a dark, shadowy cave with lots of tunnels. I passed cells full of prisoners. The Ilyium wore black hooded robes and masks, like my vision. He, they—”
“Where is he?” Sami asked.
Tierney opened her mouth then closed it again, unable to speak. They loved Zander like a father, and though they had a right to know, the words wouldn’t come out. But the horror in her eyes told them everything.
“He’s dead,” Jax said, a familiar, withdrawn expression on his face.
She swallowed and nodded. The wind continued to howl, though the thunder and lightning had stopped. She didn’t even notice.
“What—how?” Sami’s voice trailed off.
“I, he said he loved me.” Tierney’s voice wobbled. If she started to cry she’d never stop. “He asked me to tell you he loved you both, then he pushed me away.” She didn’t tell them about the promise. She couldn’t.
Tears trickled down Sami’s face, and even with her shields up, his sorrow bit into her. Jax on the other hand, hid his emotions, just like he had when the Ilyium attacked their village so very long ago.
A terrible anger began to build inside of Tierney as she thought about what the Ilyium did to her father, to them. Suddenly the wind began to howl again, in time to her emotions. Desolate. Cold, and so very angry.
“So, if he sent you away, maybe—” Sami couldn’t finish, and while Tierney wanted to believe, the memory of the sword swinging, combined with the void inside her, told her he was gone.
“I’m sorry.” She climbed to her feet. “I need—” She needed to get away. It didn’t matter where, as long as she was moving. Turning away, she took off. Her feet flew over the rocky, leaf-covered ground, unaware and not caring if Jax or Sami followed. She went faster than ever before, and for once, the noise she made didn’t matter.
She wanted to cry and scream, but didn’t. The wind continued to howl as images whipped through her mind. Robed figures danced and swung swords. Flames writhed faster and faster, until they became a blur. Then as if sucked into a vortex, everything disappeared, leaving her empty.
Eventually, she stopped, and heart thundering in her chest, dropped to the ground where she sank her nails into the cold damp earth. Despair filled every part of her, tendrils seeping through her entire body. When she finally glanced up, she found that Jax and Sami had stayed with her the whole way, although Jax looked ready to drop.
“C’mon, Tiern
, I got you.” He gently picked her up and carried her, cradled against his chest, all the way home. Later, when she would think back on that day, she’d marvel that Jax had carried her so far, without once wavering.
Once they made it back home, Jax laid her in her bed and then he and Sami joined her. But when Jax tried to wrap his arms around her, Tierney stopped him and feeling numb, closed her eyes.
When she finally woke up, she found him studying her. His eyes reflected her horror and pain.
“Tiern,” he said.
She shook her head. “No, don’t. I don’t want to talk. I’ll start crying and never stop.”
Jax nodded. “Okay.” Then they lay in silence, lost to their thoughts. The fact that both he and Sami were there for her, was all the comfort she wanted.
Chapter Thirteen
Bound By A Promise
TIERNEY DRIFTED IN and out of sleep for two days, her only desire to stay buried under the covers. She refused to eat, and only surfaced to use the toilet. She needed to bury the horror of Zander’s execution. So, when a commotion downstairs roused her from her semi-conscious depression, she growled and pulled her pillow over her head to block the intrusion.
She groaned when a few minutes later Jax opened the bedroom door, despite her ignoring his knock, and walked over to the bed.
“Hey, Tiern, get up.” He gently rubbed her shoulder, making her want to scratch his eyes out for bothering her.
“Go away.”
Jax sighed. “Nope, you need to get up.”
“No.” No way was she getting up—ever.
But a moment later he yanked the pillow and blankets off of her, making her gasp.
“What are you doing?” she blinked up at him, completely stunned by his actions.
“Up—now,” he said in a determined voice, although guilt showed in the depths of his eyes.
“What the hell?” She glared. How dare he?
“There’s someone here to see you.” Though he didn’t sound happy and she definitely wasn’t. Tierney pulled on the blanket, but it was futile, he was too strong and determined.
Bk 1 Dracones Awakening Page 12
