Pure Healing (22 page)

“Let’s get this over with,” Ayelet said, a few minutes after the last villager had gone, the autumn sun having just set, volunteering to be the first one to cross. Never a fan of heights, she was not looking forward to this particular roller coaster, but she had a mission to accomplish and she’d never yet let fear get the better of her.
Breath held, she made it to the opposite side more smoothly than she expected. Using a makeshift pulley, she reeled the chain back towards her companions across the ravine.
Valerius secured the chain around Rain’s hips and the back of her thighs to make a seat. As he lingered on the fastenings, she reached a hand to his cheek and brought his face to hers.
Lightly, she brushed a kiss across his lips and murmured, “I’ll be fine. I’ve done this before.”
Valerius hesitated for a moment before cupping the back of her head and kissing her full and hard. He said nothing as he pulled away from her, but his eyes conveyed his worry for her safety.
Rain smiled her dazzling smile and pushed off from the ledge with her feet before he could change his mind and keep her with him. Effortlessly, she glided to the other side like a white dove floating with the wind beneath her wings.
The relief that washed over Valerius when she safely stepped onto solid ground with Ayelet’s help almost buckled his knees. Almost immediately, he felt compelled to make short work of his own harness and join the Healer as fast as possible. The separation of the ravine between them beset him with unease.
The rope creaked ominously with Valerius’ weight, signaling that it had reached its limit. Testing it with a small bounce, Valerius felt assured that the rope could hold him without incident. He pushed off from the ledge and slid with dizzying speed toward the opposite side.
And then he heard the zing of an arrow as it broke through a piece of rope a few feet ahead of him. A second arrow followed closely behind, piercing through another section of rope. It all happened so fast, the strands of rope breaking apart, unraveling with rapid twists, Valerius only had a second to react before the rope broke completely away three quarters of the way across the ravine.
He grasped the chain above him, swung his legs over his head, curled and rolled with the momentum of the downward slide and the force of his swing, then stretched into an arc in midair, and shot the chained scythe from his hands toward the broken piece of rope attached to the other side just as it was starting to swing backwards.
The chain of his scythe wrapped around the thick rope, the blade itself providing the anchoring weight, and Valerius braced his arms as the rope snapped taut with his weight. He increased the momentum of the swing by kicking out his legs and released the scythe’s grip on the rope at the last possible second. Rolling twice in the air to break his velocity, he landed hard on all fours on the opposite ledge a few feet away from Ayelet and Rain.
As the females rushed to him, he pushed them back with arm extended.
“Get back!” he ordered, then covered their bodies with his own against the rocky mountain side just before a slew of arrows whizzed their way.
Expecting the arrows to pierce his back, Valerius was stunned to find them whipped off course at the moment before impact by a steel object that boomeranged back to its invisible owner. A piercing whistle immediately followed, and a white stallion galloped toward them with amazing agility and speed.
The gigantic horse swung its head up, then down, as if gesturing for them to get on. Acting on instinct, Valerius took action and boosted Ayelet and Rain on the steed’s unsaddled back, then swung behind Rain, at the same time lifting her to sit on his thighs so all three of them could fit.
Without his urging, the stallion turned quickly around and galloped up the mountain path as more arrows zipped past, missing them by a hair.
They soon reached a plateau, and the stallion sped into the awaiting woods. By now, no more arrows dogged them, though their steed maintained its incredible speed until the trees around them became green blurs in the rapidly darkening night.
Valerius bent forward to shield the females with his broad back in case they were pursued from behind. A quick check told him that both Ayelet and Rain were unharmed. Winded, but whole.
Finally, the stallion pulled to a halt before a wooden hut with a straw roof. Shaking its head, it nickered for its passengers to alight. Valerius swung off first and helped the two women down.
He pushed them behind him and surveyed their surroundings with a three-sixty view. Dense woods barricaded one side, a ravine another side, and a steep rocky slope extended behind the unassuming hut. There was only one way to get to the hut and it was through the woods. Whoever lived here would be alerted to approach far in advance.
Valerius assumed the owner of the hut had ready escape routes on hand, but looking at the mountain side and the sharp ravine, none came quickly to mind. Feeling confident that no danger lurked in the surrounding area, Valerius cautiously approached the secluded hut, keeping Ayelet and Rain within reach behind him.
The wooden door to the hut, apparently the only entrance and exit, was unlocked. With a slight push, the door eased open with a creak of hinges.
A quick scan of the inside told Valerius that there were three small rooms, with the largest just before him, a sort of living room, sleeping quarters to the left, exposed by a cloth drape that was tied back, and a small kitchen to the right, also exposed by a pulled back drape. Earlier, he’d spied a small shack slightly separate from the hut toward the back corner, and he assumed that was the outhouse.
Behind him, he heard the stallion snort and shake its head, then canter off to the west side of the hut where a makeshift stall stood with a similar straw roof.
Valerius quickly checked all three interior rooms and, finding no sign of occupants, gave the signal for Ayelet and Rain to follow him inside.
“Well that was more than enough adventure for one day,” Ayelet commented drily when she stepped over the threshold.
“Are you all right?” Rain gently tugged on Valerius’ sleeve, noticing that the fabric on the upper arm was slashed.
“I am unharmed,” the Protector answered, showing her that his skin wasn’t scratched from the arrow that pierced through his shirt.
Rain’s hair automatically reached out to ascertain the situation for herself, but Valerius stepped away.
“There is no need, Healer,” he said gruffly, avoiding the seeking tendrils. He could not afford to let her probe him with her
zhen
. There was the risk that she would discover his Decline.
Taken slightly aback by the warrior’s abrupt refusal, Rain’s hair slowly eased back down. Although the Healer did not argue, her eyes roamed his body worriedly.
“Look at this place,” Ayelet said in awe, gaining their attention. “It’s filled with Chinese calligraphy scrolls. I’ve never seen such beautiful writing.”
All three surveyed the room from top to bottom. Covering most of the walls were scrolls of calligraphy art. Stacked on tables and benches and above the ledge of the small fireplace were ink wells and calligraphy brushes of all shapes and sizes, held upright by various stands made out of metal and bamboo. All three rooms were well illuminated by oil lamps, lanterns and candles. In a corner of the living room was a mat along a long, blank rolled out scroll. It must be where the artist did his work.
Though Ayelet and Valerius could not distinguish the writing styles, they could appreciate the artistic mastery and flair, the power and elegance of the strokes, the sentiment of the artist when he put characters to paper.
“This must be Drako’s abode,” Ayelet observed out loud what all three had concluded. “The stallion must be his as well, I recognize it from the surveillance videos. I suppose we should thank him for our rescue.”
“Unless he staged the attack,” Valerius voiced one possibility.
“There are easier ways to hasten your departure,” came a smooth voice behind them from the bedroom.
Valerius shot out his arms to prevent Ayelet and Rain from turning around, remembering to avoid the hypnotic gaze of their host.
“There were two vampires,” the voice explained, moving slowly out of the room, circling around Valerius’ back. “Rare for these remote parts. You three attract an entourage.”
“Our apologies for the inconvenience,” Ayelet said without turning to face the voice despite the instinct to do so. “And our gratitude for the rescue.”
There was a soft sigh of resignation. “Your determination to find me is as much a nuisance as it is admirable.”
Their host shifted so that Valerius could see him out of the corner of his right eye. He knew that Drako was purposely positioning himself within view. He was establishing an unspoken truce, so that Valerius would lower his guard.
“You can rest assured I will not try to force my will upon you,” Drako said aloud. “There’s only so long I can avoid this encounter. I have the right to refuse your invitation in the end, have I not?”
Despite Valerius’ restraining arm, Rain turned fully toward their host. She greeted him in Chinese and bowed formally.
Drako returned the gesture, then bowed in turn to Ayelet and Valerius.
Bound by politeness and protocol, the Guardian and Protector turned to face him and bowed as well.
Straightening, Valerius gazed directly into the warrior’s eyes.
Curious, slightly amused twin ice blue lights flashed back at him. Though Valerius could not feel any imposition upon his will, he still felt the unnerving impact of the glittering aquamarine gaze.
“Your moves crossing the ravine were impressive, Protector,” Drako acknowledged with a nod of respect.
Valerius inclined his head briefly in return. “Your steed is courageous as he is steadfast, warrior. I thank you for loaning us his aid.”
Drako smiled slightly and agreed, “Yes, he is my lifelong friend and companion. He’s pulled me out of many a sticky situation. He’s been waiting centuries for my present incarnation, I suppose. Without him, I might not have survived my Awakening.”
Drako looked to Ayelet and Rain. “Allow me to show you to your quarters. I suspect you will remain for three days at least. A day to make your proposal. A day for me to consider – for I cannot reject out of hand, correct?”
Ayelet quirked her lips in an almost apologetic smile.
Drako smiled back in good humor. “And a day to give you my answer and help prepare for the return journey.”
“
Our
return journey,” Ayelet stated with emphasis.
“That remains to be seen, Guardian,” Drako replied blithely, then gestured for all three guests to follow him. “Come, you must be tired from your travels. A hot bath, cooked meal and long rest, in whichever order you prefer, will relieve all ailments.”
Curious as to where exactly they would procure such accommodations given the size of the hut, Valerius followed his host through to the bedroom.
As they stepped over the threshold, Drako pulled on an invisible string and one of the ceiling-to-floor scrolls raised like a rolling window blind. Drako approached the wall of rock behind the scroll and pressed the tips of three fingers against it at shoulder level. With a groan and a click, the rock began to shift.
The mountain behind the hut was hollow.
Valerius followed directly behind Drako but kept Ayelet and Rain close at hand. As the rock shifted back behind them, torches on the jagged walls lit automatically with bright orange flames.
The passageway Drako led them through was surprisingly wide and tall enough for Valerius to stand upright with still a few inches to spare. After a few twists and turns, they arrived at the opening to a gigantic underground cavern.
A circular ring of torches around a dark pool more than thirty feet in diameter lit a large waterfall from below. Other strategically placed torches in the nooks and crannies of the cavern walls illuminated their surroundings with a warm, soft glow. To their left and right were four brightly lit corridors symmetrically positioned on either side of the waterfall. In this central area, along the banks, tent-like structures shrouded with heavy, transparent cloth beckoned with their plush cushioned seats and tables of fruits and dried meats within.
Quite a luxurious encampment for a humble calligraphy artist in the middle of nowhere in Lushui County, Yunnan.
“Shall we dine first or do you prefer the bath and rest?” Drako inquired politely.
All three voted for food.
Their host quickly got to work on fixing their supper, with Rain volunteering her help, while Valerius and Ayelet relaxed under a tent and snacked on the victuals provided.
Ayelet was chatting amicably beside him, but Valerius paid only enough attention to what she was saying to nod and murmur at the appropriate times. Most of his focus rested on Cloud Drako and Rain, moving in harmony around a stone fire pit in the center of the cavern, preparing the vegetables and meats for their evening meal.
They chatted easily like two long-lost friends in their mother tongue. Throughout the conversation, Rain smiled her dazzling, whole-hearted smile, and often Valerius caught echoes of her laughter as the bell-like sounds drifted toward him despite the splashing of the waterfall.
Cloud Drako was slightly shorter than Valerius, but still well over six feet. Standing beside the petite Healer, he seemed a veritable giant.
Valerius wondered how he and Rain looked together for the difference in their heights was even more dramatic. The top of her head barely reached his sternum.
Rain and Drako were standing together at a chopping table, apparently sorted as to who would dice which ingredient. She laughed at something he said and elbowed him playfully in the ribs, while he smiled warmly down at her and nudged her back. They looked as if they’d known each other for ages. They looked comfortable, familiar and domestic standing hip to hip, cutting the food and teasing each other in a language Valerius did not understand.
They looked… Mated.
The thought speared through Valerius with a blinding flash of pain. Involuntarily, his entire body drew taut and his hands gripped the bench he sat upon until his knuckles turned white.
“Are you all right?” he heard Ayelet ask beside him, as if in a distant echo, her voice muffled by the roaring in his ears, the haze of possessiveness and fury descending upon his mind.
He made himself nod, remotely aware that the motion was stiff and jerky. She fell silent, however, so he didn’t bother to maintain the pretense of being all right.
He was not all right. Not anywhere close to all right.