by D. M. Sears
“Elaborate if you wouldn’t mind?” My voice was that flirty high-pitched girly sound. I hated myself for being such a girl.
“Did you not think of wanting a shower early this morning? This is a lavatory, please utilize it as you see fit.” Gregor’s eyes bore into me and heat flooded to my face.
“Thank you. I would love a shower.” My face was flushed, the knot in my stomach radiated teenage hormones. I needed to get a grip.
“We will see you in the living room once you are finished.” He quietly left me standing by the door.
“Okay, let’s see what kind of bathroom is in this monstrous house.” My hand turned the knob and the door opened to a virtual spa.
“Shut up!” My mouth was on the floor as I drank in the large eight head shower, sauna, and ginormous jetted tub that could easily fit four people in it.
A girl could live in a room like this and never resurface. I threw my clothes in a heap on the stone floor and raced to the shower. It was open with only three walls, three showerheads on each sidewall and two waterfall heads on the front. Luxury at its finest. I blasted the hot water and lost myself in the steam.
Feeling totally refreshed, I made my way to the living room. Just like earlier, I found myself in awe of his living room. With the height of the ceiling, and the vast amount of books, we looked like ants. I noticed that on one of the tables a tray of mugs was set. The aromatic steam had the hint of mint and chamomile. I smiled to myself, Val just couldn’t help herself. I took a cup and slowly sipped the amber liquid.
“Good evening, Eden. Isn’t this place lovely?” Val gestured around the room and gave me a quick hug.
I nodded and hugged her back. The volume I was in thrall with earlier pulled at me. I stared at the earth-colored binding, my mark flamed under my sleeve. Reflexively, I rubbed it. I raised my sleeve to see my birthmark glowing silver.
“Eden, what is happening?” Lex came to stand by Val and both looked at my wrist in astonishment.
The mug fell from my hand and by the swift movement of my new friend, was caught before it hit the stone.
“Gregor, you better come look at this.”
Gregor speedily came up behind me questioning me. Are you okay, Eden?
What is happening to me? The pull is strong.
“What do you feel, Eden? There has to be something to cause this reaction.” Lex and Koren nodded at Val’s remark.
“Well, there is a book on the shelf, just there, I get this weird pull, like I am tied to it.”
“Which book in particular?” Those oh-so-gorgeous eyes burned.
Hesitantly, I felt my feet walk towards the volume, but as I got closer, a type of trance took control. I watched like an outsider as I lifted the heavy leather book. My body turned by its self and carried the book to a table. I felt too warm, burning from the inside out. I tried to speak, breathe, anything, but nothing came out. I raised my hands above the book and began to recite words from nothing I knew before. My mark, fueled by something unseen, cast a magnificent light that filled the room. The blue light grew bright as I chanted the strange words. I tried to close my eyes, but again, nothing. I had no control over anything I was doing. With a loud crack, the book opened up and I collapsed onto the floor in a sea of unconsciousness.
Chapter Ten
“Eden, wake up! Eden… can you hear me?” The voice was loud and deep. I felt my body being shaken as I opened my eyes. I had to squint as the light blinded me. I blinked and realized I was in Gregor’s arms. If I hadn’t just collapsed, I would be loving this.
With a very dry throat I tried to speak, “Why are you yelling at me?” I searched his face and saw what looked like relief and misery in his reflection.
“Can you tell me what happened?” My head was fuzzy but an energy I had not yet known coursed in my blood.
Gregor released me and I sat on the wool rug as Val brought me a cup filled with tea. I sipped it cautiously as I waited for someone to respond. My eyes went around the room until they fell upon a huge crack running along the ceiling and down the north wall.
Gregor, did I do that? Tell me please.
You did. I have never seen the likes of what transpired here a moment ago.
Which was what?
I am uncertain. His beautiful face showed worry and awe.
“Someone please tell me what I did!” I sounded a bit hysterical.
“We were hoping you could tell us.” Gregor walked in front of me and extended his hand. He lifted me with too much force and I fell into him. That warmth spread through me and our eyes locked on each other. This whole situation was weird at best. There was no normalcy to my life anymore.
“Sorry, I wasn’t expecting such force.” That flipping thing in my belly sent tingles down to my toes.
“I remember feeling something take me over as I went for the book, I had no control over myself…then it is all a blank.”
“We watched you get the book off the shelf, and then something strange happened. You began to chant and the book opened.” The twinkling voice of Maiya reached my ears and instantly began to take my anxiety away. I nodded feeling the release of all my tension.
“Gregor, she is very special. We need to…” Maiya’s voice trailed off, but I heard the solicitude for my well-being hidden in her melodic vocals.
“If it is all the same to you all, I would prefer to go back to my room for a little while.”
I didn’t wait for a response; I walked towards the beautiful door counting my steps until I could feel the tranquility of the minerals thrumming through my body.
I fell onto the soft fur burrowing my hands and feet into the fluffy soil. Instantaneously I felt as if Mother Earth herself were caressing me. I felt the earth’s song of serenity being carried with the minerals that surrounded me on the walls and in the ground. The opalescent specks of light in the vein running in the rock shined a little softer; changed to a golden yellow and sunset pink. I began feeling my mind clear and my body re-energize.
Footsteps took me out of my zen state. “I have never seen such a connection to our Mother before.” Koren’s voice filled with amazement. Staring around the room, he lifted a hand full of fluffy loam.
I sat up keeping my feet firmly snuggled in the ground. I couldn’t bare the absence of the soothing remedy the earth was bestowing unto me. I felt the thrumming in the minerals lessen to a minor hum, but still consoling me.
“This is most fascinating!” I saw the pearlescent glint of Koren’s smile and realized the others were staring in the same awe.
“Can you explain what you are feeling and how the connection is being made?” Val looked at me with pride. I guess I was living up to the mage in me after all.
“Is this why you left the room so quickly?” Gregor gazed down at me in confusion.
“When I woke up the first time, I could feel the energy in the air from the minerals, surrounding us in the rock and soil. I had my fingers and toes in the dirt and felt a vibration of something coursing into me, like a song you hear. The melody filled my body and I felt soothed. Just like now. I can feel it calling me. The same call found me when I was in the other room. My body isn’t tired anymore and my anxiety is gone.” So many mixed expressions around me right now. How was a girl to know what was normal anymore?
Val reached into the soil, “I can feel a slight humming when I touch it, but nothing like you have expressed. It seems you are very rare indeed, sweetheart.” I leaned my head against her shoulder. Her warm embrace covered me.
“Aunt Val, what does all this mean? I don’t understand how I can see and feel all these things and have no idea why.” I sat in her arms while the others quietly discussed the things I had told them and what they were seeing.
Because you are the one, Eden.
How do you know for sure? Maybe I just have some cool gifts from being a Heinz 57.
I do not understand that expression.
It means mixed breed.
Is that supposed to be funny?
I gue
ss not.
“May I speak to Eden alone?” As he asked my family, he was already walking to the door.
“If you all would be so kind as to meet us in the living room, we will be there momentarily.” Gregor opened the door as to make sure everyone understood his intent. Val was the last to leave giving me encouragement as she vanished into the other room.
My heart raced inside my chest as I heard the door shut leaving us alone.
Chapter Eleven
“You may find this hard to believe, but I too, have this affinity with our Mother Earth.” Gregor crossed the room and knelt before me in the rich, dark soil, running his hands just above the dirt.
His vision glazing over as he spoke. “Centuries back; I was fatally wounded in a fight with many shades. I lay on the ground, flesh torn and bleeding to death. I reached out to whomever was close to aid me in healing, expecting someone near to hear my plea. Instead, I heard a song that compelled me to follow it. I inevitably made my way to this mountain. My body was weak and barely able to carry on, so when a crevice opened for me to crawl into and escape the elements, I assumed it was a figment. I couldn’t have been more mistaken.
I ended up in this particular room. It sits on the richest mineral deposit in the whole mountain. I fell against the soil tired and broken. The pores on my skin opened and began absorbing the healing nature of the minerals, rejuvenating and mending my broken body. I sank into the dirt, vines covered me, tethering me to the earth as water filled in around me. The water soothed my burnt skin as the minerals continued to heal my wounds.
Many nights passed as I lay here listening to Mother Earth and accepting her healing. Once I was at full strength, I explored what has become my mountain home. So, you see, I feel what you feel when I touch the gift that is her essence.” His hands touched the earth and brought a small amount to his forehead, with reverence; he said a phrase in another language. In my heart, I knew he was thanking the earth for her healing gifts.
The soft glowing light turned more red and orange in hue, I could feel an intensity building between us. The soil drummed along to my racing heart as I stared at this beautiful man right in front of me.
When Gregor opened his eyes, my world shifted a tiny bit. The blood rushed through my veins and I felt it pool at my wrist. My skin tingled, my mark glowed a golden white. He sent back an expression of curiosity. I felt compelled to kiss him. I wanted, no, needed to kiss him. My soul reached out to his knowing he was meant for me alone. Our faces were closing the inch gap between us and I felt his cool sweet smelling breath on my face. My wrist pulsed out the faint golden light leaving an effervescent trail in my blood.
His lips touched mine; electricity arced down my skin fueling my desire. I pressed against him fervently as images faded in and out before me.
I saw two people hand in hand walking on a path with a toddler in some kind of a meadow. The details were blurry, there was no way to see if the child was a boy or a girl, but their eyes were the color of a storm at sea. The vision faded and I was left out of breath. My heartbeat so loud I thought Gregor could see it beating in my chest.
“What was that?” I asked in shock and awe. I could still see the vision of the child in my mind. Gregor looked at me in serious concern.
“Tell me what you saw.” Gregor had a matter of fact tone to his voice.
“How did you know I saw something?” Did he see things too? I turned my face and looked at my birthmark. I was still feeling the residual effects of our kiss throbbing in my lips. The golden light was gone, but a small outline showed me I wasn’t crazy.
“When we kissed…” he cleared his throat, “I saw some images. A path made of rock, hands intertwined, and a small child.” His face was unreadable now.
“I saw the same thing. What does this mean to us? Why did it only happen when we kissed?” I searched him for a hint of an answer. There was none.
Gregor, what does this mean?
Eden, now is not the time to discuss it. I should not have taken advantage of you.
Oh because it isn’t like I wanted it or anything. Such a frustrating male. Grrr, he had to know how much I was drawn to him. Didn’t he?
I saw the bemused expression, “Maybe we should go meet the others. We have been in here alone long enough.”
Those intense grey eyes clouded as Gregor rose. I slowly followed him out rethinking the kiss we had just shared. I was lost in thought as I ran into his back.
“Are you able to join the others? If you need a moment, I understand.” His smoldering gaze hit me and my knees shook. Kryptonite.
“I am fine.” I walked carefully behind him into the room where my family sat.
Gregor gestured for me to take a seat in a large mustard-yellow chair. The chair was fuzzy, like a warm sweater, and it struck me as odd he would have such soft things, he seemed so hard.
You didn’t think I was such a hard man a moment ago. I could feel the smirk in his words.
And cue the blush…
“Eden, can you read anything in this book?” Lex brought the worn book to me. As soon as I laid eyes on the pages, my birthmark responded.
I flipped through the book until I came upon a page with a picture of an eclipse. I started to read unknowingly aloud. “A child born bearing the mark of the ancient will rise to rule over all of Ellethny. Each race will unite and this child will heal the land. Such power will be given to the one child as none before them. They will possess the sight of the winged, shape of the shifters, speed of the night, and magick of the mage. This is the prophecy set by those who came before.” Holy crap…this is what I am supposed to do? No way.
“Wait, I don’t understand. I don’t have any of the powers it says I am to have. If I can’t do these things, then what does that mean?” Things were getting heavy.
Maiya’s bell like voice broke the silence. “Eden, I think if you tried, it would come naturally. We can all help you develop these gifts, and after seeing you, talking to you, I am certain this will be a piece of…what is that expression?”
“Cake, my love.” Koren put his arm around her slender body and squeezed her gently. They were so cute together. It made me jealous.
You shouldn’t be, Eden. All things come in time.
I have no idea what you’re talking about, sir.
I have no doubt you do.
Insufferable.
“Oh yes, cake. Funny stuff, cake. I find it is not so simple to make at all.”
I laughed at that and felt some of the tension ease a little. “I will do my best, as long as you all do not expect me to be perfect at this whole thing.”
* * * *
“Again, only this time feel the energy from your surroundings, not just what’s inside you. A mage can only last so long off our own energy. Once you deplete that, you will go unconscious and sometimes, you can lose your very essence and die. The key to magic is being focused and in tune with everything that is around you.”
Val raised her hands and began to chant. She weaved her hands in and out of each other as the violet symbols appeared in the air.
I raised my hands as she did and chanted, “Ubian Satae Flore Crescerde.” As I said the words, I cleared all my thoughts. I felt the energy around us. I reached towards the energy I felt the most, the sun. I pulled at the warm radiant threads and felt them unite with me. I chanted louder and saw the violet symbols a blaze with the sun and the small seed erupted into a large bush. It had giant leaves the color of eggplants with frilly edges. Hanging from the bush were green spheres. I put my hands down and fatigue settled in.
“Sit down, Eden.” Val walked to the bush and picked one of the bright green fruits. I watched her take a small pocketknife and cut a small hole in the top. “Drink this, it will refresh you.”
I took the fruit cautiously and examined it. It was bumpy and had a rather pungent smell coming from the hole in its top. I curled my nose at the smell and watched Val tip hers back and drain the fruit. I followed suit and felt the rush of cool
liquid in my mouth. The liquid was citrusy with a mild sweetness. I tipped it all the way back to get every ounce of juice and felt a little run down my chin. I wiped it with my hand and was surprised to see it was cotton candy pink.
“What an unusual fruit.” I cocked my head sideways and looked at Val, who was giggling.
“This bush was one of the few things I have missed about our world. I used to pick these fruits with your mother when we were just girls. The smell is off-putting, but the juice is magnificent. It refreshes and restores. Mages use this fruit in many healing concoctions we make. I tried to grow one back home, but they never took.” Val came and sat next with more of the pungent fruits.
“Can you tell me what you were feeling when you chanted this last time?” She drained her fruit and set the now dried out shell on the ground.
“I could feel the sunset. It was as if I reached for it and it came to me. I felt the rays fill me up, like a glass, and it burst through me.” I looked at the deflated fruit in my hands and began pulling at the small hole in the tip of it. I peeled back the fruit to find a bright pink center covered in blue seeds, like the one I made grow.
“It’s interesting that the sun came to you so easily. Most mages are depleted very fast when trying to manipulate the sun’s energy. I, for one, can only use it shortly before I get weak.”
I felt the rush of wind beside me before I saw him standing there. “Ah, a murell bush. I do not get to see these much. Thank you for adding them to the scenery, however, they will be much like a beacon. I suggest we add them to my garden. Don’t you think?”
I saw that half-smile raised-eyebrow look he was so fond of using and my body melted. It had been months since our kiss, summer would be almost gone back home. I had tried to be alone with him every chance I had, but he always found a way to evade me. I was so frustrated, every time I felt him near, my body hummed and I knew I wanted to be his. We were still no closer to finding Amend or my parents. All I did each day was train, and try to figure out the man in front of me.
“You are right, Gregor. Let me just…” Val closed her eyes, and the bushes disappeared.
