Elysium (27 page)

It was then, when I watched the stills of my life, I noticed the same large form in the shadows. As if I willed the scene to enlarge, I saw who watched me, who had
been
watching me for my entire life. I wasn’t surprised as I should have been at who it was. As I stared at Cadeon, his face adoring me as he watched, I realized he had been there the whole time. I should have felt love and happiness at the thought of him watching over me, but I didn’t. I felt hurt and betrayed by the two people I had grown to care for. They had left me in this world, knowing what I would become, but not taking me until the very end. They had left me to fend for myself, to grow up with strangers, and to face ridicule and hurt, knowing they were only a short distance away.

I squeezed my eyes shut and screamed to end it. Although no words came, I could hear myself yelling in my head, pleading to make it all stop. When I opened my eyes again, I was in my field, the beauty and serenity of it almost enough to make the hurt subside, almost. Rhyker stood in the center of the field, his long black duster blowing in the breeze, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his pants. He was in front of me in the next instant, but I didn’t care, his eyes showing emotions I knew he didn’t feel.

“I’m sorry I had to show you those things, but you must know your life has been a lie.”

I didn’t know what to say, didn’t know how to feel about the revelations which had just transpired. My mouth opened, though I didn’t speak. I stared at the field, the grass, so mesmerizing, I wanted nothing more than to lie in it and get lost in the sea of waves. I turned around, wanting to look at the ice tree. There was nothing more, but a pool of water, the entire tree melted and forever lost.

“I can make this heaven, Meadow. I can make it so you will never feel pain, sorrow, or anger.” He stared at me, his hands staying in his pockets, his face impassive. “I can also make this your worst nightmare, the one place where your demons and monsters haunt you, for as long as you live, and in here, Meadow, that is eternity.”

My throat felt raw, and I took a step back. What options did I have? How could I not do what Rhyker said? He was immensely powerful, and, even if I was able to get away from him, how could I possibly leave this place.

“I just don’t understand how I can help you. I’m nobody. I’m just a teenager.”

“You are so much more than that. With you in this realm with me, I can draw the strength I need to walk both worlds. I can reign over all again, be as powerful as I am supposed to be.” Rhyker’s face became dark, his eyes seeing the memories he was dwelling on. “I have been here for a long time, Meadow, longer than I care to remember, but now that I have you here, I can be the King I was born to be.”

“I need to think.” I really had nothing to think about because I had no options.

Rhyker stared at me before inclining his head. “
Understandable, but time is running out.”

With that said, he was gone, leaving me in the field, the beauty of it still stunning. I knew this place wasn’t real, but it seemed like it was. Everything felt authentic, even the wind which chose that moment to sift through my hair. I sat down, the grass reaching past my head, as I tried to think.

I was angry at Cadeon and Mikhail for how they deceived me. True, Cadeon had known all along and had told me to speak with Mikhail, but he could have told me then, could have come clean on how he played a part in this. I had been lied to about something so monumental and despite all of that, despite how furious and heartbroken I was, I couldn’t help but smile as I remembered my time with them.

The images flashed through my mind, broken pictures of my time at Arcane Manor. I remembered the dress Mikhail had given me. As I thought about it now, knew the truth behind everything, I remembered his expressions, when he looked at me. He had seemed far away, as if he were remembering a better time. Did I remind him of my mother? Did he think of her when he looked at my face?

I wished I could have gotten to know him as a daughter would a father. Now that I was trapped in this world, the lies seemed so insignificant and I wished I could go back. I thought of Violet and Nik, and how much I would miss them. They had been my best friends during my time at the Manor. I thought about Marie and the kids, wondering what they were doing and if they ever thought of me. I missed them tremendously and wished I could have seen them, one last time.

Finally I let my mind conjure up the image of Cadeon. I remembered our last night together, how passionate we had been and whether things would have gone farther. I wanted them to, and I wondered if he had, also. I wish I had more time to do the things I wanted, but I knew it was of no use. Rhyker had this planned all along. He had been in my dreams, sending me messages I never understood.

Rhyker claimed I had this incredible power that would allow him to walk between both worlds. I didn’t feel like any such power went through me, and I idly wondered if he could be wrong. I wanted to cry, but the tears wouldn’t come. I looked into the sky; the white of the clouds against the blue seemed so real, so tangible. I wished I could have awakened and found this was all a bad dream.

I suddenly realized something. If I had the power to make a portal between both worlds, maybe all I had to do was think about it and it would happen. I didn’t know how long Rhyker would let me be alone, so I quickly got up. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I closed my eyes and pictured all the people I loved and cared about. I remembered when I was at the party and my emotions had been so extreme about Nik and Dorian’s fight. I remembered the portal opening then, and I thought about when it opened the second time, when I thought I was about to make love with Cadeon. I never saw the portal then, but I had felt myself go through it, had seen the world around me shift and change, until I was no longer in my room, but in a dream realm.

I thought about how good Marie’s apple pie was. I thought about Cecile, Mack, and Toby, and how they used to tackle me to the ground and tickle me. I thought about Nik and Violet and how their friendship crumbled my isolation. I remembered Mikhail and his sweet and caring demeanor, how everything he did made my life easier. I smiled as I felt my body tingle and warm, the same feelings I had before the portal opened.

I thought about Cadeon, how his lips felt against mine, how he smelled of pine and wilderness. I thought about how it felt, when our bodies pressed together, how his hands felt along my skin, and how he whispered in my ear. A single tear slipped down my cheek, and I felt power surge through me. It started in my fingertips and spread throughout my body, so powerful I had to force myself to keep standing. I opened my eyes and stared at the pool of water, the images of what I was thinking rippling through the clearness of the liquid with such clarity, I wondered if they were real. The water started to churn, spinning and spinning until a hollow black hole filled its center. I heard Rhyker’s animalistic roar wrench through the field, but I kept my focus on the pool of water.

Hands grabbed me by the waist and ripped me backwards, but I kept my focus in front of me, sending everything I had into that water and hoping the outcome was what I wanted. The fluid shot upward, yet stayed suspended in the air. I could see through it, could see Nik and Violet standing in the distance, their faces showing their concern, as they watched me. I saw Mikhail and Cadeon off to the side, both of them yelling, but no sound reaching me. I saw men and woman in white robes, a thick book in one of their hands, as their mouths moved, as if they were chanting.

“You will not leave me here. I refuse to let you go, not after I’ve waited so long for your arrival,” Rhyker said.

Rhyker’s demonic voice wrapped around me, and my blood ran cold. He held me tight, his nails digging into my skin and drawing blood. The pain was excruciating, like acid. He slowly dragged me backwards, and I reached my hand out to Cadeon. He did the same, his face a mask of rage, as his mouth continued to move. I wanted to tell him so many things, wanted to tell everyone so many things.

“I will make you suffer for this, child. I will make your world hell.”

I started to shake, knowing I needed to break free. The anger of never seeing the ones I loved again grew inside of me until it became a potent mixture of determination. I let it fester inside of me, let it grow and blossom until it consumed me. This was my only chance of freedom. I became warmer and warmer, so warm I heard Rhyker scream behind me, the smell of burning flesh pungent. His grip on me loosened, and I used my remaining strength to move forward. Either he was expecting me to do that, or he was in too much pain, because his hold on me ended and I ran forward. I didn’t dare look over my shoulder. I held my hands out as I headed towards the water.

My fingertips touched the clear fluid, the water so cold it felt like my skin was freezing. Steam escaped from my hand, and I wondered if it was because my body had gotten so hot. I pushed my hand through the liquid, which was so thick it was like going through molasses. Cadeon was right in front of me, the barrier still between us, but he was so close, I could see the blue-green of his eyes. I knew as soon as my hand broke through the portal, and I used that as an extra ounce of strength.

I looked over my shoulder and saw Rhyker’s fearsome expression. His hands and arms were completely black, the smell of charred flesh making my stomach churn. His flesh flaked off of his limbs as a gust of powerful wind tore by us. I didn’t know if it had been created by me or him, but those black flecks of flesh peeled away from him, turning my stomach even further and causing my fear to mount. He wanted me to pay in kind, that much was clear from his expression. He started moving towards me, and I knew if he got to me I might not ever leave. I saw and felt Cadeon grab my hand, his strength helping to pull my body through the portal. I turned back around, the serene field turning darker, the skies becoming black, as lightning, the color of blood, slashed through it. Fires burned all around, and I imagined this was the hell Rhyker planned on keeping me in. I screamed, his body propelling towards me, as his face changed to the monster I remembered, from my dreams.

I could see the red of his eyes as he propelled himself forward, grabbing my by the waist and wrenching me backward. I screamed as my fingers slipped from Cadeon’s. My entire focus was on Rhyker, on how to escape now that he had me once again.

“You stupid little bitch.” His voice, distorted and low, sent chills down my spine. I imagined this was what the very devil himself looked like. “I gave you a chance at happiness, but because you betrayed me I’m going to make the rest of your life your worst nightmare.” He spun me around so that I was staring into his bottomless eyes. “Everyone you love will know what true pain is when I am released.” He leaned forward, his warm, putrid breath causing bile to rise in my throat. “I want you to know that once they are before me, I’ll unleash the worst imaginable agony ever known. And I want you to know it is all because of you.”

I started to shake, but it wasn’t from fear this time. Threatening me was one thing, but threatening the ones I loved caused rage to burn brightly inside of me. I thought of Violet and Nik, how their kindness to me had only gotten them into this whirlwind of disaster. I thought about Mikhail, the father I had never really known, but that I desperately wanted to get to know. Then I thought about Cadeon, the man I loved, the man who had opened up something inside of me with just a look. I don’t know when all of these realizations had occurred, but they were there, and they were strong.

Feeling a powerful energy travel through me, I used all of my strength, all of my concentration to focus it in my hands. Rhyker still watched me, a maniacal smirk on his face as he was no doubt thinking of all the horrid things he planned on doing to me and the ones I loved. I couldn’t do this, couldn’t let him escape and hurt others because of me.

“You won’t hurt anyone, not now, not ever.” I raised my hands, taking this one moment where he was distracted, and blasted all of that powerful energy out of my body and into his. He was propelled away from me, through the air just as a roar left his lips. I didn’t waste any time as his body hit the ground a few yards away from me.

Turning back around, I threw myself into the portal. I felt hands grip me almost painfully, and as my head went through its thickness, I heard chanting and frantic yelling. I couldn’t breathe when Cadeon pulled me through. I sucked in great gulps of air once I finally emerged on the other side and looked into the crystal clear rip between our worlds. Rhyker had since gained his bearings and grabbed a hold of my legs, and I screamed, suddenly hearing the chanting surrounded me more clearly. It was in a language I couldn’t understand, but Cadeon was saying it, as he helped to pull me out. I kicked my legs, looking over my shoulder at the same time and seeing Rhyker’s claws tear at my legs. Pain exploded through me, but with my arms in front of me I wasn’t able to use my power to blast him away again. I didn’t even know if I could while I was half in this world and half in the other.

Another hand grabbed me, and then another, until I couldn’t tell how many people were helping pull me out. Rhyker lost his hold on my legs when I found the strength through my pain and kicked out at him, connecting with his jaw and hearing a sickening crunch even through the noise all around me. The rest of my body came through the thick fluid, and I landed on the ground hard, breathing roughly, as every part of my body burned and ached. I shot to my feet, momentarily becoming weak legged as the pain intensified. I forced myself to stand straight and tall as I finally felt the power in my body gaining momentum. I guess that answered my earlier question about whether or not I still had it. Rhyker and I stared at each other, and everything seemed to fade away for that one moment. His face was incredibly distorted and mangled, the centuries showing on his decaying flesh. He smiled at me, his teeth and fangs a yellowish brown, the blood of so many he had killed forever marking them. He started to come through the portal, and the chanting around me increased. I closed my eyes, focused all of my energy on this one moment, and willed myself to close the portal. If I had opened it, then surely I could close it.