Essentia (20 page)

    He starts to laugh with me and says "I will get us something to dry off with."

    "Thank you," I say as he walks to the bathroom to grab us a towel to dry off with. I can't believe I did that.

     When he comes back, he takes the towel and starts to dry me off. When he finishes, I do the same for him. "Shall we try this again my love?" he asks.

    "I will try not to soak us this time," I say with a smirk. He enters twined his fingers with mine and lead me back to the living room. I go sit in one of the overstuffed chairs that he waves too. He heads off to the kitchen quickly returning with a tray with tea and sandwiches stacked on it.

    "Here My Love" Enre says as he hands me a cup of tea and a small plate with two sandwich halves on it.

    "Thank you, My Husband," I say. Still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I am a married woman now. But one thing is for sure I do love him, very much. My heart knowing this before my head.

  
 
  Chapter Twenty-Five

           Enre

   While I sit here drinking my tea and snacking on the sandwiches that I had made earlier, I look over at my Beautiful wife. My Wife, I never thought in a million years that I would find the one person made just for me. But here she is, sitting in front of me. I feel like all the worlds aligned just for us when we made love. In a way they did. We did get these symbols burned into us. To be honest, I would suffer the pain again and again just to be with this beautiful creature that the Goddess has made for me. Or rather I for her.

     This power sharing is going to take some getting used to, though. I understand now why she was so scared when her powers were awakened. The growing flowers essence is kind of amazing, but it came as a shock if I do say so myself. I laugh at the thought of her soaking us with water. She looked as though she was enjoying playing with the water as I was watching her reflection in the mirror from the bedroom door. "Enre, um you said that the men give something close to their hearts to the one he loves right?"

    "Yes, you want to know about the sword right?" I say to her. She nods her head. So I tell her "The Sword I gave you, was given to my father by his mother. He, in turn, gave it to our mother. Then I gave it to you. And if we have a son someday you will give it to him for his love. I am not sure how many generations that it has been passed down, But I do know that it is very very old." I say to her pausing to think of how I am going to tell her the next part of this story. The sad part. So I continue "Our mother died before she could pass it down so that task was given to our father. Being he had two sons he gave Thegan his sword which has been passed down from king to king and he gave the sword that I gave you to him, to one day give to me. I, in turn, gave it to you My love. For a long time, I thought the sword lost. That's why I was shocked when Enre Handed it to me. But there is no one in this lifetime or the next that I would want to have it other than you My Beautiful Wife."

    "That is a really great tradition to pass down," she says with a sentimental tone in her voice. She was fixing to say something when Thegan and Aiden return. Thegan walks over to the stock for our journey and sets a couple bags down, and he then walks over to us with a Box in his hand.

    He sits down on the couch, and his eyes shoot wide when he looks at Enre’s Chest. "Is that what I think it is Brother?". I have totally forgotten that I was not wearing a shirt. My face starts to warm up from embarrassment. Just then three giant red flowers pop up beside Thegan’s feet. He jumps and looks at Terra.     "It wasn't her brother, and yes it is what you think it is, We Both have been marked," I say to him with a big smile.

    "This is incredible, I am very Happy for you both," Thegan says to us. It has been a long time since I have seen him smile like this. I am so glad that his temper has been under control lately. It has to be because of her.

    I ask her "Do you want to show Thegan what you can do My Love?" Winking at her. She smiled and winked back. Holding her hand out she stares at it and soon a small water orb appears, and it increases to about the size of a kiwi. Then she tosses it at Thegan.

    He smiles and uses his fire to evaporate the water before it hits him. "You almost got me, Sister, you will have to be quicker next time," He says to her. We all start laughing.

    We all sit and talk for a bit before Thegan says "We will be leaving for Aelmere early in the morning so we need to get our bags packed and everything sorted out for the trip. Aiden and his men will come after us and stay at a safe distance so we can investigate what is going on. If we need them all we need to do is signal them using these crystals that the Haruspex spelled for us." he holds out a couple of dark blue crystals.

    "How do they work?" I ask. curious about the small stones.

    Thegan says "you smash it, and the other one will vibrate and turn white."

    "You should be the one to keep them, Brother," I tell him. He nods his head and starts packing his bags. I tell terra "If you will go get everything you are taking, I will help you pack it all up, My Love." She smiles a brilliant smile at me and heads off to the bedroom to gather her things.

    Thegan looks at me and says "I am proud of you Brother; she will be a fine Queen someday." Yes, she will. She is smart and cares about everything.

    "Right now brother, I am just happy about her being my Wife," I say with a smile.

    "I never expected you to be married before me. To be honest, I never thought you would get married". Thegan says with a laugh. "But I am truly happy for you two," he says. Then grabs me in a hug patting me on the back.  Me doing the same. Soon Afterward Terra returns, and we start packing our things.

    I start packing her stuff, and I ask her "Is this all you want to take Love?" She didn't have much.

    "I just grabbed the things I thought I would need, Is it too much?" It doesn't look like much at all. Just clothes and a few personal items. I guess she doesn't have much after what happened at her house. Things will change if we succeed in our quest. She will have everything her heart wants if I have it my way. I would give her anything.

    I say to her "No my love, I was just making sure you have everything." She smiled, and I finished helping her pack her things. Then I get my bag packed and the other supplies ready to go. She is handing me stuff, trying to help.

    When we all get done, Aiden says "I am going to make us all some dinner. Is there anything you would like in particular your highness's?"

    We all look at each other, and Thegan says "Anything will be fine, Thank you Aiden." Aiden really is a good cook. Everything he has made us has been delicious.

    "Anything to be of service My Lord," Aiden says and heads to the kitchen.

    I look over at Terra and tell her "I had Aiden pick you up a charger for your phone my love. If you want to go charge it and call your friend before we go to Aelmere, that's fine. There are no phones there."

    I reach the cord out to her, and she smiles real big at me and says "Thank you, I will do that now." I tell Terra to take her time, and she heads to the bedroom. While I am waiting for her to get back, I go sit in the chair by my brother and stare out the window.

    Chapter Twenty-Six

          Terra

              I plug the new charger into the wall and hook my phone up and touch the power button. It doesn't take long before it starts beeping and vibrating like crazy. I read through the mass of texts most of which are from Abby, A few are from Jeremy. I know she is mad because I have not talked to her but to be honest, I really do not want to get her involved in all of this if possible. After reading through them, I decide to just text her instead of calling. I know all she is going to do is yell at me for running off with Enre. If she only knew the real reason behind my disappearance. She is my best friend, and I do feel terrible for not telling her the truth but, in my heart, I know it is safer this way. After our quest is over, if we survive, I will tell her. But now is not the right time. After I finish up typing the text, I press send. Before I can turn the power off to my phone, I receive a text from her. I might as well read it.

    I know what is going on

    Jeremy told me everything

    He keeps threatening me

    Asking where you are

    This is really starting to

    Scare me, He is sitting out

    side my house right now waiting

    To see if I go somewhere.

    I need your help.

    "Oh no," I say out loud. I have to do something. "ENRE" I holler out. I have to tell him what's going on. Jeremy must be one of Ivar’s men. But we are friends. Or at least I thought we were.

    "What’s wrong," Enre asks as he runs in the room. Worry all over his face.

    "Look," I say handing him my phone to read Abby's text.

    "I have to tell Thegan, come on," he says in a panic. Both of us rush to where Thegan is. I hope she is alright. Enre rushes over to him and is telling him what the text said.

    Thegan stands up quickly and says to me "Do you know where she is?".

    "Yes I have the address," I say back.

    "can you write it down really quick I am sending Aiden after her" He must really be worried that something is going to happen to her. I quickly scribble the address down and hand it to him. He yells at Aiden "Aiden, I need you and your men to go here with me to get Terra's friend, she is in danger. One of Ivar’s men is there". Showing him the address

    "I will send the address to my guards and have them meet us there My Lord," Aiden says to him and starts calling someone. I guess it is his guards.

    Thegan then looks at me and says "Do not worry sister, we will go and get her and bring her here where it is safe, send her a message and tell her that we are coming to get her alright. Enre take care of your wife, we will be back soon" Enre nods his head and the men grab a couple weapons and rush out the door.     Enre then turns to me and pulls me into a hug. "Do not worry My Love, they will bring her here safely," he says to me, trying to calm me down.  How could Jeremy have known about all of this? It seems suspicious to me. Now that I have calmed down some, I get the feeling that something is wrong. How would Jeremy know anything about what is going on? Abby was the only one that I told who I was with.

    Just then a text message from Abby lights up my phone. I open and read it, "OH NO... It's her..." I say, and Enre looks at me with a puzzled look. "You have to call Thegan, tell them to wait," I say to enre, and he jumps on the phone immediately without question. The realization hits me. Her text said that I had to be the one to come, she didn't trust anyone else. If she were in danger, then it wouldn't matter who came to her rescue. But how can that be? I have known her since college. If that's what is going on Then, who is Jeremy after I wonder.

    I call Jeremy's phone after it rings three times, he answered "Terra, where are you? You are in danger. Abby, she works for Ivar, you have to, no stop what are you doing? UGHHHH." What is going on?

    Someone else gets on the line "Well since the proverbial cat is out of the bag, I guess you have figured it out, Haven't you Terra?" It is Abby's voice

    "Why are you doing this Abby, your My best friend," I say to her.

    "I was never your friend, I was ordered to keep an eye on you and even though you slipped away. I will find you and kill you, my friend, as I am going to do to this love sick puppy under my blade at this very moment. “UGHHhhh" is all I hear.

    I yell into the receiver "NOOO."

    "I will catch you soon My Friend," she says laughing before hanging up. I start crying. I look over to Enre and tell him "Its Abby, she is working with Ivar, sh-she killed Jeremy, you have to stop Thegan."

    "Already done, they are on their way back. we are leaving immediately for Aelmere, as soon as they return" he draws me in and lay my head on his chest and sob, soaking his shirt with my tears.

    I say to him in a shaky voice "How could she. She was my friend". How could someone act like your friend for so long?

    "There, there My love, I know you are hurting, I am sorry all of this has happened to you. I wish there was a way for me to make it all better". He rubs his hand down my hair, comforting me. All I can do is cry. Every flower in the room has turned a dark blue. Even the ones that Enre created. It hurts so bad. We were so close to each other. Why would she want to kill me? It was all a lie, our friendship, all the times we laughed and had fun. She has been deceiving me for over five years.  The pain turns to anger, and I start to feel myself getting hot. I pull away from Enre to keep from burning him. This time feels different. I am getting way to hot. My skin starts to glow.

    I tell Enre, "GET BACK, I can't control it" he moves back quickly. My body starts to feel light, and I start to lift off the floor, only a few inches, but still. A few seconds pass and my clothes catch fire and burn away. I try to look down at myself. I have small flames bouncing all over my skin, soon my entire body is on fire, it’s not burning me, though, I just fell hot. If I don't calm down, I am going to catch the loft on fire. I try taking small breaths, but it is not working. I look at enre whose eyes have gone wide and say "Help" when I do he gets a serious look and starts forming his water orb. It keeps getting bigger and bigger until he is surrounded by it. He slowly walks over to me. The closer he gets the bigger the sphere gets. When my fire touches the water, it causes a sizzling steam to come from the contact. Enre steps closer and closer until he wraps his arms around me and we are engulfed in steam. His water has put my fire out, I still feel warm, but I am cooling down slowly. My body goes weak, and I sink into Enre’s arms. "Did I burn you?" I ask, worried about him.