The Land Of Shadows (7 page)

My heart leaps into my throat and I swallow hard. I wish he would just let it go!

“The one minute you were weak and then you took something from me … my energy? You drew strength from me, Luna.” I look away from Storm because I hate being put on the spot like this. I feel cornered. “It felt like you took my essence. How did you do that?”

I shake my head. I can’t run from him anymore. He won’t stop asking questions until I give him something. I sigh, feeling frustrated. “I regret doing it, Storm. I thought you were Lucius. I apologize. What more do you want from me?” Feeling cornered by Storm unleashes my anger and my eyes blaze at him.

“You and Lucius can draw strength from each other?” His voice is filled with disbelief. The fact that he doesn’t jump down my throat for taking his essence throws me slightly.

“Yes, we can give energy to each other, replenish each other.” I sigh.
Now it will only be a matter of time before Storm figures it out it all out.

“The electricity you have in you … you took it from me?” He sounds astonished and I’m too relieved to care.

“I absorb any form of energy,” I whisper, hating that I have to admit that to him. I watch as he takes in what I just said.

“Is that why you did not want to touch me?”

“Yes.” I know he wants more of an explanation. I roll my eyes in frustration. “Look, Storm, I was not aware of your energy. You do not exactly advertise your talents.” I use my sarcasm to hide my discomfort talking about this. “I would like to go home and get cleaned up if you are finished questioning me.”

Storm stares hard at me and I know that look well. He is far from finished.

“What would have happened if I didn’t have energy, Luna? What would your touch have done to me?”

I close my eyes. I feel a wave of dread wash over me. “I would have killed you,” I whisper, knowing I just sealed my fate. Now he knows and there will be no way for me hide my talent any more. My eyes snap open and I see the shock on his face. “My talent is to kill, Storm. That is why I kept it from you. It is not exactly something to be proud of.”

I turn around and walk away. We never greet each other with the accustomed ‘peace be’. I guess it’s because there will never be any peace between us, especially now that Storm knows what I can do.

~*~

Storm~

I stand shocked to my core. I wanted answers and now that I have them, I don’t know how I feel about it all. Luna’s talent is to kill? She can drain a person until nothing is left. My Luna is a killer? I can’t believe that! I won’t believe it. She’s the most innocent person I know. She might have a temper but I know she won’t hurt someone on purpose.

Today has given me a lot to think about. It is a relief to know the real reason behind why Luna would not let me touch her. She was scared she would hurt me. I go home and start to put all the puzzle pieces together. I now understand why Luna changed so much.

“What are you so deep in thought about?” Finding Raighne outside my house is not what I’m in the mood for now.

“Nothing that would interest you.” I am most certainly not sharing what I have found out about Luna with him. I’m not sure how the village would react if they had to find out what she can do.

“I would like a moment of your time.” Raighne gives me his notorious look, one which intimidates most Immortals, but me. It lost its effect on me a long time ago.

“It has been a long day, Raighne. Can this not wait until tomorrow?” I open the door to my house and turn to face Raighne. “See you on the training field.”

I start to close the door, but Raighne quickly steps forward. “I would like to talk to you about Luna.” He places his hand on the door, keeping me from closing it. “I want to talk about how strong she is becoming.”

“What of it?” I say too quickly and immediately regret sounding so defensive.

“You saw with your own eyes what happened with Alchera! If Luna can-”

I hold my hand up, knowing where Raighne is heading with this. He’s hoping Luna can heal Alchera and that’s not the case. Luna will kill Alchera and that would be the worst thing that can happen on Vaalbara. “We do not know the extent of Luna’s talent, and to assume she can cure Alchera would be ill-considered on your part, Raighne. I found Luna and she was in a bad way after helping Alchera.” Raighne’s not listening to me. I can see it in his eyes. He only cares about Alchera’s life, and if he has to crush every one of us to keep her alive, then I fear he will do so. “Go to your wife and let me deal with my trainee as I see fit, Raighne. Nothing good will come of thinking like this.”

Raighne nods slowly but I can see the ideas forming in his mind. He is a just man…but a man in love nonetheless, and that is a dangerous thing. He will do anything for Alchera.

~*~

Luna~

I have this urge to destroy something. I have failed myself so miserably today, aside from the part where I got to help Alchera. At least that worked. Next time I’ll remember to do it on a night I have a full moon. I don’t know how long my light will last inside of her, to fight of the shadows.

“Do you know that everyone is looking for you? What did you do? No one ever asks about you.” I smile at Rue as he walks toward me. I wish I could hug my best friend right now. I need a hug from someone who doesn’t judge me.

“How many everyone’s are you referring to, Rue? Besides, do you think I care?” He shakes his head. His smile fades as he stops the safe distance from me. I can see the same longing on his face as there is in my heart. He wants to comfort me, and I need that comfort. Rue is good-looking with his dark brown hair and unique eyes, one amber and one sapphire. He might be shorter than Storm, but he can still hold his own when it comes to the girls of Vaalbara. Sadly, Rue’s heart belongs to one girl and she is a blinded fool. Caia sees hearts and stars whenever Raighne is nearby. She doesn’t care that Raighne is married. It hurts me to watch Rue love her when she doesn’t appreciate him.

I shove the morbid thoughts aside and smile brightly again. “Rue, I did it!” I take a step closer and the impulse to take his hand has never been this strong before. It felt so good to touch Storm. I miss the contact with other people. “I took Alchera’s shadows from her.” He is the one other person besides Lucius I can share my happiness and sadness with. I keep no secrets from Rue.

“You did! What happened? Are you well?” I should’ve known he would only think of me. He always worries about me.

“It worked. Alchera is healthy.” My smile fades away. “For now. I should have waited for a full moon, though. The shadows were much stronger than I thought they would be.” I sigh as I remember what happened afterwards. “Storm came and I did something so horrible, Rue.”

As always he doesn’t interrupt me and allows me to spill my heart to him.

“I touched him.” Rue’s mouth drops open but he still keeps quiet. “I did not hurt him and he took nothing from me. Instead, he gave energy to me like Lucius gives. He has the same energy that Lucius has. My touch did not kill him, like I thought it would have. I do not fully understand what happened.” I shrug, not sure how to explain what happened.

“Are you telling me that Storm can replenish your essence? How is it even a possibility? You and Lucius are the only two who can draw energy from the sun and moon. Where does Storm get his energy from?”

“He used some of his talents. Think about it, Rue. Storm controls the weather. What do any of us truly know about his talents? Maybe he draws his energy from nature?” Excitement bubbles up within me and I know I shouldn’t let it. There can never be anything between me and Storm. “Tonight he mentioned using electricity. It could very well be that Storm draws from nature, the same way I draw my energy from the moon.”

I think I have lost Rue. I’ve realized something about Storm that I’m not even sure he knows himself and I don’t know how else to explain it to Rue.

“If what you say is true,” Rue steps away from me, his face turning pale, “then do you mean to tell me if Storm one day decides to get really angry–” He lets his sentence hang in the air. The silence grows heavy between us as we each contemplate this.

“Just because I can take all the light from the moon and Lucius all the light from the sun, it does not mean Storm can take
all
the energy from nature. He has been angry before and nothing has happened.” I want to grab Rue and shake him for even mentioning such a thing, but I know the possibility is there. I have seen what a drop of his power can do. “We speak of this to no one! Do you hear me, Rue?” I nudge him with my elbow in the ribs to make sure he gets my message. He walks with me for a while in silence. We both have a lot to think about.

Later that night I stare at Alchera’s window and count down the seconds. Very much aware of Rue standing only a few feet away, I brace myself before the images start. They hit hard and swamp my mind … and then I see
his
face.

‘Void!’
His name fills me with disgust and I can’t wait for the night when he will come. This time I will be ready, not like today with the shadows. All my training will finally be worth it. I will kill that monster!

“Are you a stalker now?” Caia’s giggle makes me jump and I squeal with fright. The flashes splinter away and I wait a second before turning to the girls with a scowl. Willow and Elita also start to laugh, and it only darkens my mood more.

Their smiling faces suddenly freeze as Alchera’s scream echoes into the night. The three girls stand together in cold, intense fear.

“Luna, what is happening?” Willow is the first to recover, moving closer to me. I don’t miss how Elita and Caia cling to Willow. Why those two are in training I’ll never understand. They are too gentle and kind to hurt anyone.

I look back at Willow and answer her question. “She is having a nightmare. It is common knowledge.” I’m in no mood for my friends and don’t even try to hide the sarcasm in my voice.

“She really dreams of
him
? How terrible!” Elita steps forward. Compassion for Alchera washes her fears away and with it, my dark mood. I can’t stay angry with her for long. Elita just has that way about her that demands respect and love.

“I did not know we were having a meeting.” Lucius’ teasing voice makes the girls spin around. “For future guardians, I can sneak up quite easily on all of you.” Lucius can never resist taunting them.

I smile as I watch them scowl at Lucius. He keeps teasing them, ignoring the dirty looks they are giving him. “Perhaps you should train more.”

“I would recommend not taking us all on at the same time, Lucius.” Willow’s voice is stern but her eyes tell a different story. “Besides, it is Friday night. We train during the day and have fun at night. Please do not spoil our night by mentioning training.”

Caia offers a smile that can melt an iceberg. “How about a kiss, Lucius? Perhaps we would do better killing you with love and kindness?” She puckers her lips at him and a giggle bubbles up from her throat. It seems she is in the mood for plenty of fun, just not the kind I want to be a part of.

“Behave, Caia!” Rue’s voice whips her into silence, and as soon as his hands come to rest on her shoulders she freezes. Her eyes grow huge and her cheeks flush.

Maybe I was wrong about Caia and she does feel the same for Rue?

“Have you all forgotten where you are standing busy making your silly jokes?” Rue snaps. I look at him with gratitude. I’d rather be alone with him tonight. I’m too tired for the girls and hope he can find a way to get rid of them.

Not waiting for the others, I make for the woods. Elita soon catches up to me. “What happened today at training? We did not know that you can also throw orbs, Luna. I thought only Lucius can.”

I stop in the shadow of a tree wishing it would swallow me whole. Storm already knows too much, I don’t want the whole of Vaalbara knowing all of my secrets!

“It is something she is still dabbling with. I am trying to teach her, but she is a slow learner.” Lucius places himself in the line of fire, using all his charm to save me from any further questioning. “So, who is looking forward to the graduation ceremony? Has anyone been asked yet?” There is so much romantic innuendo in my brother’s voice that I can’t help but roll my eyes.

“You know a girl cannot resist a chance to dress up and dance an entire night away. It is only a week away, Lucius. Have you decided who you are going to take?” Willow glances quickly at Elita, who is staring very intently at Caia, who in turn finds her nails quite interesting as she stands next Rue.

I want to laugh at how funny they all look.

“I have to
take
someone?” Lucius’ face drops for a second as Willow catches him off guard with her question and I can’t hold it back anymore. This is all too funny. I burst out laughing. It is seldom my brother looks like he has swallowed a bug.

He flinches as Willow shrieks, “Of course! It’s a ball, Lucius. People do not go alone to these things!”

I slap him on the back. “Sometimes I really wonder where your mind is.” I can’t resist taking advantage of the situation, teasing Lucius a bit.

“You are one to speak! Who are you going with?” Lucius turns on me with a sparkle in his golden eyes. Oh, I’ll get him back for this.

“It is none of your business. Besides, I am not—” The scent of hot desert air clashing with cool rain wafts up my nostrils and my first impulse is to turn around, but I manage not to. I just want to stand and inhale him a little longer.

“Humor us, Luna. Who is brave enough to ask you to the celebration?” Storm’s sarcastic banter makes my stomach twist in a way I don’t want it to. I can’t allow myself to feel anything for him.

“I am.” Both Lucius and Rue answer at the same time. They don’t notice the disappointment on both Elita and Caia’s faces. I appreciate them always wanting to be a barrier between Storm and I, but when will it stop? Lucius is hurting Elita. Then there is Rue and Caia. I’m hurting the people closest to me with all my secrets and it makes me angry.