Earth Child (Romance Novels of The Fae Realm) (5 page)

            “Do you guys know each other?” Sam puzzled.

            “No,” I said.

            “Yes,” Cerus replied at the same time.  A look of confusion settled on Sam’s face.

            “What he means is” I began, “Yes, we met yesterday at the library for like two minutes, but no we don’t really know each other.”

            In a low whisper that only I could hear Cerus contradicted me, “We know each other Alexa.”

            Turning my head slightly my cheek was pressed against his chest.  His skin was as smooth as I had imagined, but it wasn’t cool marble.  He was warm and alive, the steady rhythm of his heart sounded softly against my ear.  He smelled of outdoors; earth and grass and bright sunshine, and a little bit like horse.  His arms tightened around me again, like he was claiming his right to hold me over any other.

            “Sam, this is Cerus.  Cerus, this is Sam,” I quickly make introductions.

            “Are you Alexa’s boyfriend Sam?” Cerus asked extending his hand for Sam to shake.

            “No, just a good friend.”

            “Best friend,” I smile.

            “Then it’s nice to meet you Sam.”

            “Yeah, same here,” Sam replied.

            Are you feeling better now, Alexa?” Cerus asked me.

            I didn’t reply, but instead leaned my head back onto his shoulder, settling deeper into his arms, reluctant to stand and pull away.  I could feel the vibrations of his deep chuckle.

            “Lex, I know you’re comfortable there and all, but if you want to grab something to eat in town then we need to get going,” Sam reminded me.

            “Yeah, okay.”

            I finished my water and with a hand from Sam and a lift from Cerus stood up.  Now that I was on my feet I can see the full expanse of Cerus’chest.  He has muscles on top of his muscles, but he’s not bulky, he’s sleek and smooth. Handing him back his shirt I grin my thanks while my eyes are drawn to the tattoo over his heart.  Now that I could see the entire thing I noticed the other colors subtly woven between the curls of the spiral, reds, greens, and yellows.

            “It’s beautiful,” reaching out I traced the pattern with my fingers, like I had on the paper.

            “Thank you.  It is a symbol of my people.  This one,” he pointed to the blue spiral, “marks me for who I am, and these,” he gestured to the interwoven colors, “symbolize the journey I am on.  When it is completed, the colors will reach the center and be filled in.  Then I will be free to marry and start my own family.”  I looked up into his eyes.  He was much closer than I thought.  I could feel his breath on my cheek and thought if I tilted my head up just a bit more he would kiss me.  I couldn’t help looking at his mouth, and I wondered if he could read from my expression how much I wanted to kiss him.

            Sam, who had already started to walk down the trail turned and shouted, “Are you coming?” and just like that the spell was broken.

            I turned and took a few steps before looking over my shoulder at Cerus.  He seemed too young to be talking of marriage and family, but I couldn’t help feeling he was older than he looked.  He had replaced his shirt, probably a good thing since I wasn’t sure I could keep my hands off of him, and stood looking a little dejected, not sure if he should stay or follow us.

            “So are you coming?” I asked reaching out my hand to him.

            I was rewarded with one of his sultry smiles.  He took my offered hand and together we started down the trail.  I was so focused on the feeling of his hand in mine that at first I didn’t notice the change that had come over the forest.  I probably would have remained oblivious if Cerus hadn’t stopped on the trail. His fine features had turned sharp and alert. Raising his head he almost looked like he was scenting the air.  Trying to understand his sudden transformation I looked into the canopy above.

            The first thing that I noticed was the shadows seemed darker, deeper almost.  It was barely afternoon, so the darkness was out of place.  The usual sounds of the forest were missing as well. The more I looked around, the more uncomfortable I felt.  I looked back at Cerus. He was definitely on the defensive. He was reaching to pull me behind him, but I was too busy looking around for Sam to take notice of his urgency.  What happened next is still a little fuzzy. The best way to describe it is this; the forest went crazy.

            Small birds started swooping and diving over our heads causing us to duck and fling our arms over our heads.  A strong wind blew up bits of leaves and debris, further clouding our vision.

            “Sam!”  I screamed to him down the trail.  He was ducking and flailing his arms trying to scare the birds away.

            Just as suddenly as the attack began it stopped.  Slowly, carefully, Cerus and I stood.  The forest was still dark and quiet.  Something else was coming.  I started to take a few steps toward Sam when Cerus reached out to grab my arm and pull me behind him once again.  Standing on the path, between Sam and us was a sinister looking man.  Where Cerus was pale moonlight and silver, this man was black as midnight.  Dark skin, dark hair, red glowing eyes and the biggest sword I had ever seen.  I couldn’t help but stifle a small shudder as the feeling of pure evil radiated their way from the man toward us.

            “Stay behind me, and stay quiet” Cerus whispered.  “You are not welcome here Jariah” he remarked more loudly.

            “Now, now Cerus.  Is that any way to greet your brother?” Jariah asked in a rasping hiss.

            “You are no brother of mine.  Leave this place.”

            “Or what?  I only came to see what all the fuss was about.” Suddenly Jariah materialized on the path behind me, reaching out to twirl my pony tail in his hands, “Really I don’t see anything special here.  Are you sure she’s the one?”

            Gasping I quickly turned, not wanting Jariah at my back and once more took shelter behind Cerus’ muscled form.

            “This is the last time I will tell you nicely Jariah.  Leave this place at once.  Brother or no, even you are bound by the laws.”

            Jariah’s expression darkened even further before quickly being hidden behind a twisted smile, “The laws won’t protect you forever, Cerus.  Even now the shadows grow stronger.  I wonder, brother, if the Terra council will protect her as fiercely as you do.  Her mother betrayed the sanctity of the forest bringing her into the world.  She’s nothing more than Halfling trash.”

            “If that’s true then why do you want her so bad?”

            Jariah’s expression darkened even more.  The trees seemed to turn in on each other and the air became thick with darkness.  He raised his sword and charged toward Cerus.  Out of nowhere Cerus produced his own blade and pushed me off the path into the bushes on the side of the trail.  The darkness was over powering.  It weighed and pushed on me to the point where I felt I couldn’t breathe.  I could hear the crashing of swords nearby and the physical grunts of exertion.  I rolled onto my hands and knees and struggled to push myself upright.  My hands sank into the soft earth and I heard a new sound, the soft whispering of the forest around me.  The trees were alive with worry and fear; they sensed the unnatural presence of Jariah, helpless against his power.

            I knew how they felt.  With the heavy weight of darkness came a numbing cold.  I longed for the heat of the sun to beat down on my back and head once again.  As if sensing my wish the trees started to shake and shudder around me.  I could hear their whispers more clearly now. 
Earth Child!  Earth Child! 
They grew in volume and excitement. 
The Earth Child has returned!
And suddenly the trees parted, letting the sun shine down full and bright on the path and all that surrounded it.

            With a scream, Jariah covered his eyes from the light and disappeared in a wraith like fog, taking all the feelings of evil and darkness with him.

            Shakily pushing myself to my feet I turned to Cerus.  He was kneeling on the forest floor, like a servant would bow before a queen.  Looking down the path I saw Sam running toward me.  I flew into his tight embrace, grateful that he was okay.  Cerus stood once more and turning toward him I opened my mouth to speak, but Sam beat me to it.

            “Dude.  What the heck just happened?”

            The three of us made our way down the rest of the trail with no further incident.  No one spoke.  I could tell that Sam had a million questions.  A sudden fatigue over took me.  I watched as Sam made his way to his Honda and Cerus turned toward the sleek Cadillac.

            “Sam, I’m not really hungry.  I just want to go home” I said turning toward Sam’s car.

            “Yeah okay” he nodded, stowing my bag in the trunk and unlocking the passenger door for me.

            “Where are you going?” Cerus asked, confused that I hadn’t automatically followed him.

            “I’m going home.”

            “You can’t go home.  It’s not safe.  You need to come with me.”

            “How do I know going with you is safe?  I don’t know you Cerus.  I don’t know what just happened.  What I do know is that I am tired, I am freaking out, and I want to go home” I didn’t wait around to hear his response.  I got in the car, yelled for Sam and we drove off, leaving a dusty Cerus in our wake.

            “What just happened Lex?” Sam asked me.

            “I have no idea” I sighed, “you’re safe, I’m safe, let’s just go home and forget this day ever happened.”

            “Uh…I don’t think that’s going to be possible.”

            I looked over at Sam to see him looking in the rear view mirror.  Twisting in my seat I saw the Cadillac quickly gaining on us, Cerus’ pale form visible behind the wheel, “You’ve got to be kidding me!” I protest.  “Pull over Sam.”  The car had barely come to a stop when I fling open the door and angrily storm out, standing arms akimbo as I wait impatiently for Cerus to step out of his car as well.

            As if nothing was wrong, Cerus stepped out of his car and calmly walked to me.  Reaching up a hand he tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear and wiped a smudge of dirt from my cheek.  He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me in close for a hug.  Deflated I dropped my arms at my side and let his warmth envelop me.  I raised my head to meet his eyes.  There was deep concern written in their azure depths, and something else as well.  Slowly he lowered his face to mine and our lips met in a slow sweet kiss.  Heat and electricity coursed through me and instead of pulling back I leaned into him deepening the kiss.  With herculean effort Cerus stepped back.  I immediately felt the loss of his presence and reached out to him for more.

            “Alexa, we cannot.  Not here, not now.”  I nodded mutely, feeling the strong stab of rejection.  “You are not safe here.  The Shadow Fae have found you faster than I anticipated.  I know you want to go home, but you must come with me.”

            “It’s not that simple.  I can’t just abandon my family without some sort of explanation.”

            “It is a long story.”

            “We have a long drive home.”  I turn back to Sam’s car and ask him to follow us.  He doesn’t look thrilled, but he recognizes that right now it’s easier to just do what I ask instead of argue.  I promise him that it’ll be okay and join Cerus in his Cadillac.  “Start talking.”

*          *          *          *

            “There are two realms that co-exist on the earth, the human and the Fae” Cerus began.  “It has been this way since the beginning of time.  One works to balance the other, without balance there would be chaos.  Keeping the balance is the job of the Terra Council.  The leaders of the eight Fae tribes make up the council and are ruled by Mother Earth and her companion, Father Time.  Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Spring, Summer, Winter, and Fall are the Fae tribes.  There have been times of conflict in the Fae realm that have been mirrored in the human one; times of great war among the nations of the world.  For the most part the two realms have existed for eternity in peace.  Until 20 years ago.

            Mother and Father have always ruled the Terra Council, though never as lovers.  Instead they find their soul mates among the tribes of the Fae, their children inheriting their powers and throne.  Mother and Father are the most powerful of all the Fae, able to control all aspects of nature and the elements.  20 years ago Father decided that there was no female Fae worthy to be his soul mate, instead he launched a cruel campaign to force Mother into his bed.  She fled to the human realm, where she fell in love and married a human named Mikael.  Shortly after that, you were born.

            Father became furious, vowing to never let a half-Fae, half-human take the Earth throne.  His anger became twisted, became something dark and evil, and an ninth Fae tribe was created; the Shadow Fae.  Father wasn’t the only one who was distraught over Mother’s actions.  Soon the Shadow Fae grew in such numbers and strength that a great battle was fought.  Mikael was killed.  Mother knew that it wouldn’t be long until the Shadow Fae destroyed her as well.  She did the only thing she thought would save you.  She gave you up and returned to the Earth throne, bowing to Father’s evil and agreeing to be his wife.  By then Father’s heart was so twisted and black that it wasn’t enough.  He turned the Shadow Fae loose, and they hunted Mother down, killing her.

            A great civil war broke out amongst the Fae.  The Shadow were powerful, but they were outnumbered.  The Terra Council and the eight tribes drove them back, deep into the shadows from which they took their name.  For 18 years the Earth throne has sat empty, the Fae realm ruled by the Terra Council.  Before Mother died, she told the Terra Council of your birth.  My people have been searching for you for as long as I can remember.  Now that we have found you, I must take you to the Terra Council where you can claim the Earth throne as is your birth right.”