Demon Within (13 page)

Sabe charged up the stairs with Kai behind him. They’d put the men in the rooms at the end of the hallway, leaving Eloise and Nissa nearer to the stairs. As they drew closer to Eloise’s room, they heard shouting and raised voices.

‘Why can’t I take a bath?

‘There’s not enough water.’

‘I don’t believe you! You’re just being spiteful!’

‘No! I’m not! You can use a jug of water to wash, like everyone else!’

‘I can’t do that! Why isn’t there any water?’

‘It doesn’t matter why; you just need to know there isn’t any!’

Kai and Sabe listened to the arguing between Kiera and Eloise. Leaning his back against the wall, his eyes slid shut. He sighed quietly. ‘Can we start today over again please?’

Sabe chuckled and edged closer to the doorway. Gingerly he leaned forward to peek in but suddenly pulled back for fear of being seen.

‘I need a bath, and I’m not going anywhere unless I have one!’ Eloise snapped.

‘You lost the title of princess when you moved here so don’t expect everyone to start falling at your feet! We’re all the same here, get used to it!’

Kiera shouted her final insult over her shoulder and stormed out of the room.

Almost bumping into Sabe, and then noticing Kai, she lowered her head. Rolling his head to the side along the wall, Kai glared. Deciding it would be better if she left; she squeezed past them both and flew down the stairs.

‘I think you should explain our water situation to Eloise.’ Sabe replied coolly.

If Kai didn’t know better, he’d think he was cursed. It looked to be one of those days, where everything and anything could go wrong. Not known for his patience, or calmness the only reason no one’s head was ripped off, was because he hadn’t had time. Glaring at Sabe, his voice growled.

‘Go and ready my horse.’

Raising his brows, Sabe was about to ask why, but didn’t get chance.

‘Now!’

Pushing past Sabe, he stormed into Eloise’s room and Nissa gasped when he barged through the door. Standing with his feet apart and his fist balling at his sides, he looked furious. His brows knit together while the muscle on the side of his clenched jaw, twitched. Eloise didn’t know he was there, and turning to speak to Nissa she was startled.

If Eloise hadn’t been exhausted and ached, she might not have been so angry; adrenaline surged through her after the spat with Kiera. She’d not eaten and Kai barging into her room without knocking was the final straw.

‘I want clean, fresh water for a bath!’ She glared at Kai. ‘I’m not moving from this room, until I get it!’ Eloise had no fear as she faced him.

Nissa clasped her hands over her mouth as she watched Kai step slowly towards Eloise. He looked so angry; she feared for her mistress. Towering over Eloise, his head bowed as he looked down.

‘There’s no water to waste on a bath.’ Kai spoke slowly with wide eyes; obviously straining to hold back his rage, his breathing was ragged.

Eloise was tense and stressed. Unfazed by his enraged expression, she snapped at him.

‘Why not?’

‘It hasn’t rained for months and the wells are almost dry.’ His words came out raspy; fighting to hold onto his calm, his fists squeezed tighter.

‘Then why did you bring us here?’ Eloise almost screamed. ‘If you can’t provide for your guests, or your residents, you should be doing something about it!’

She turned her back to him and yelped when large hands grabbed her by the arm, and spun her around.

‘LET GO OF ME!’

She tried to pull herself free and yelled at him, but Kai’s grip was strong and as much as Eloise wriggled, he didn’t let go.

‘Come with me!’

Without waiting for Eloise to agree, Kai dragged her from the room. Nissa didn’t know what to do and chased after them. Eloise kept struggling and shouting at him to release her but he didn’t take any notice. Marching her down the stairs and along the hallway, he called to Sabe, who was waiting with his horse as instructed.

‘What are you doing? Let me go!’

More protests, but Kai ignored her.

Kai shoved Eloise into Sabe’s arms and threw himself onto his horse. When he’d settled, he pulled her up; her legs fell to the side while he wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her tightly. Still ranting and shouting at him to release her, Kai continued to ignore her whaling and kicked his horse forward. Eloise stopped fighting when they raced out the courtyard and through the main gate. Hanging onto Kai’s arm, with one hand, she’d reached the other around his side and gripped his tunic. Looking up and seeing his furious expression, she started to worry.

Angry and breathing hard he concentrating on the road ahead. Galloping alongside the city walls towards the open lands, Eloise had no idea where they were going and regretted her outburst. She kept glancing up, to see if he’d look at her, but he didn’t. His face was as stone; the only visible emotion was anger.

They reached what was once a lake; it was now a muddy expanse, with an insignificant puddle in the middle. Pulling on the reins he slowed his horse to walk along the ridge. Taking in a few deep breaths he looked across the lake bed. It took a few moments to regain his composure. Feeling Eloise’s trembling body, he knew she was afraid.

‘Do you still want to take a bath?’

Kai’s voice, just above a growl, made her shiver. Halting his horse, he lowered his eyes to Eloise. She was trembling and could barely look at him; averting her eyes away from his she kept them lowered.

It wasn’t Kai’s intention to make her afraid of him. The morning hadn’t gone well so far, and if he was honest, he was angrier with Kiera than with Eloise. But her remark about him not taking care of his guests wounded him.

A lock of hair caught in the breeze and fell across his arm. Enjoying the feel of it against his skin, his agitation started to slip away. Compelled to touch it, and removing his arm from her waist, he brushed a wayward lock of hair with his fingertips; teasing it away from her cheek, the slight touch to her skin made her look up. Meeting his gaze, Eloise hadn’t expected to find him looking at her so fondly, or his touch to be gentle.

Swamped under his huge form; his hand smoothing around her waist sent a tremor through her body. Seeing his gentle eyes stare down at her, her nerves settled. Still clutching his tunic she finally relaxed her grip now they weren’t riding hard; pressing her hand against his back, her fingers pressed gently against the rock hard of his muscles. Relaxing and feeling safer her body leaned into his. Eloise had never touched the body of a man, other than her brother and father in a hurried embrace. But being close to Kai and feeling the warmth and power from his protective hold, she’d never experienced anything so comforting.

Heat radiated from his body; the gentle rise and fall of his chest was almost hypnotic and Eloise wasn’t sure if it was something he was doing to still his own nerves or hers. It didn’t matter either way; feeling calm and noticing Kai was the same, Eloise felt they were in synchronicity and the connection between them was growing stronger. Captivated by his intense eyes, burning into her, she should have looked away; self-confidence overwhelmed her and she dared to gaze back. Kai wasn’t angry anymore, his face changed. Describing him as handsome wasn’t enough. Eloise had never seen a man that could be referred to as beautiful, but Kai was.

The faded scar across his left brow stretched high on his forehead. Obviously old, unlike one along his jawline, not yet healed, it remained slightly inflamed. Resisting the urge to touch them; she wondered if they still hurt. The history on his face could read like a story, having each scar tell a tale; maybe one day he’d share them with her. Unshaven for a few days, the varied colors of his whiskers hid smaller scars low on his cheek, some faded and others more noticeable. The realization she’d been staring, suddenly hit her. Blushing and pulling her eyes away, she gazed towards the lake.

Remembering she’d insulted him, back in her room, she closed her eyes and felt the need to apologize. It wasn’t usual for her to behave in this manner, and she’d need to apologize to Kiera too.

‘I’m sorry about what I said.’ Glancing up and caught in his gaze, she felt a shudder rush of heat through her body.

‘Don’t worry about it.

His casual reply and fixed stare made her swallow; she could feel her throat drying up. His eyes locked on hers, and a grin started to form formed. Her eyes fell to his lips briefly.

‘I had no idea about the lack of water.’ She nodded towards the dry lake. ‘Now I can see the problem, I realize I’ve acted like a spoiled child.’ She lowered her head in embarrassment.

Startled by the gentle touch of a large hand under her chin, Eloise raised her head and saw gentleness in his eyes.

‘You’re forgiven. And I promise, once the rains come, you can bathe every day.’

The gentle curve of his lips made her smile. Eloise had never experienced tenderness from a man the way Kai touched her, and surprised at his gentleness, her cheeks blazed with heat. Kai enjoyed holding her close, and replacing his hand around her waist he squeezed her gently and grinned as he noticed her glowing cheeks.

‘Is it always like this?’ She stammered.

‘No. There’s not been any rain since the spring.’ He sighed and quickly glanced at the lake, ‘and the rains are late, so it’s making it harder for us.’

Kai shuffled in the saddle but tightened his arm around Eloise’s waist. His thick arms and large hands reached around her tiny frame and the friction from his hot skin brought another blush to her face. After he’d finished shuffling she leaned into him and nestled her body against his protective form. Noticing the change in her and feeling her relax; he looked out to the mountains and drew in a deep breath. The feeling of calmness was unusual and holding Eloise in his arms made him feel at ease.

His brows knit together. ‘If I could make it rain, I would.’

Sighing and looking over the dry grass, Kai wondered how much longer they’d have to wait.

Eloise widened her eyes at his words. Her soft hand on his arm, made his head turn back quickly to look at her. Smiling because she’d felt comfortable enough to touch him, he breathed sharply.

‘I can make it rain.’ Eloise nibbled her lower lip after she’d said it.

Kai’s brows creased. She could tell he had no idea what she was talking about.

‘Didn’t my father tell you what I could do?’ She raised her head up to look at him.

‘I don’t know what you mean.’ His head cocked to the side.

Taking a moment, she wondered how to explain it. Finding the right words she continued. ‘I have a gift; I can summon and control the elements. Shall I show you?’

Kai cleared his throat and wasn’t sure what she was about to show him, he didn’t fully comprehend what she thought she could do. But if she wasn’t as mad as he believed, he wanted to see this ‘gift’ in action. Settling in his saddle, and tightening his arm around her waist, he nodded. ‘Let me see.’

Pulling her arm from around his side and bringing in front of her, she sat up as straight and closed her eyes. Balling her hands in front of her, she took a deep breath then blew out slowly.

Amused by her actions, Kai watched; the concentration made him grin. Surprised by a sudden gust of wind, it blew her hair across her face, and without hesitation, he brushed it away, gently. Eloise didn’t flinch from her meditating state and after a few moments, a stronger blast, enough to make the horse stir, blew around them. Kai pulled on the reins while he kept a tight of Eloise. Scowling, he looked around nervously. The gathering wind made the branches on the nearby trees creek when they bent. Listening to the grass as it rustled and quivered; he couldn’t believe what was happening.

‘Eloise?’

He began to worry when he looked up and watched dark clouds forming overhead. Looking towards the hills in the distance, he could see them gathering over there too. He snapped his head around searching the sky; the clear blue had almost disappeared, and in its place was a thickening, dark veil.

Opening her eyes and looking around, Eloise smiled. She’d never freely exercised her gift and could comprehend the extent of it or the power. She and Nissa had played in the garden back at Brightstone when her brother and father were busy. Nissa had encouraged her to make it rain, in the middle of summer. It only lasted a short time, but she’d summoned the rain clouds and it was small and not enough to notice. Roulan would have scolded her if he’d known. It was her and Nissa’s secret. If she could conjure up more than one cloud, enough to make it rain for a few hours, this would make Kai happy, she hoped.

Feeling the wind grow stronger and seeing dark clouds swirling above them, she could hardly contain her excitement. The horse trampled the ground; Kai’s reassuring pat from his hand against his neck steadied him.

Eloise hooked her arm around Kai and gripped his clothing. Without realizing she laid her head against his chest and waited for the rain to fall. After this morning’s frustrated start, she felt calm and at ease.

The energy around changed, something felt different; charged with a strange, tingling force, she wasn’t afraid. It felt natural.

The first drops of rain started; Kai raised his head to the sky in disbelief. Overhead, the clouds released their burden; doused under a torrent of cool liquid, Kai’s head fell back. With closed eyes, he accepted the freshening downpour. Eloise squealed excitedly; she couldn’t believe she’d done it.