The Whispering (15 page)

She is
defenseless and we move in.  Ziri and I stand before her, but Tolan remains behind her just in case.  She struggles against her bindings, but soon gives up, realizing her efforts are wasted against the Chains of Odessa.

“
Ziri, place your blade at her throat,” I command quietly and deliberately.

Ziri doesn
’t hesitate and Nameth leans her head back as far as she can from the weapon.  She glares at Ziri, and then stares back at me.  She blinks, knowing what I want.  One utter of a spell from her lips, Ziri will take her out.  I release the vine from around her face and she takes in a deep breath.  Slowly, Tolan releases the chains from her.

“
Why have you closed the doorways?” I go straight to the point.

She grits her teeth, refusing to answer.  Ziri
presses the blade down, drawing blood.

Reluctantly, she
answers.  “All right!  Kolinest wanted them closed to keep you trapped in Pathen and out of his way.”

“
Out of his way for what?” That uneasy feeling comes over me once again. 

Suddenly, my father
’s face appears in my mind and I reach past Ziri and his blade, grabbing Nameth’s neck in a hard grip.  Her knees buckle but I hold her up, lifting her off the ground.  She grabs at my wrist, trying to struggle out of my hold. 

“
Tell me what he’s done with my father?” I demand menacingly, as I bring her face close to mine.  “I swear I will kill you if you don’t talk now.”

“
Tharin,”
Tolan’s calm voice breaks through my anger. 
“She can’t tell you if you squeeze the life out of her.”

I drop Nameth and she hits the ground hard.  We hear the snap
of her ankle, but no one moves to help when she yells out. 

“
Bastard!” she screams at me.  She huddles against the rain, holding onto her ankle, and starts to cry pitifully.

“
Get up,” demands Ziri through clenched teeth. 

“
I can’t, you idiot,” she screams back at him.

“
I said get up,” he repeats as he leans down and grabs her arm before I can stop him.

“
Ziri, no!” I am too late. 

The
blade laced with a red substance slides into my brother’s chest to the hilt.  Ziri goes still, shock on his face as his eyes lock with that of a sneering Nameth.

“
No!” roars Tolan. 

Before Nameth can make another move Tolan
’s chain wraps around her neck and he yanks her back.  She hits a tree, followed by the sound of broken bones as she hits the ground with a thud.  For good measure, Tolan gives a final twist and we hear a fatal break before he releases it.  A second later a sudden energy blast explodes from Nameth’s body and we hit the ground for cover.  The blast levels the area and its vibration last long after it is over.

I raise my head and look at Tolan.  He lifts his head
, shocked, not sure what just happened.  He quickly gets to his feet and moves to where Nameth’s body was thrown.  I watch as he does a quick search then turns to me shaking his head.

“
She’s gone,” he yells back through the rain.

“
Tharin,” gasps Ziri, grabbing at my coat.

I
had caught Ziri before he hit the ground, and covered him when the blast occurred.

“
Don’t talk,” I reply as I hold onto him. 

I wave my hand and the jungle moves around us, creating a shelter as Tolan rushes
back to Ziri’s side.  I take off my coat quickly, roll it and place it under Ziri’s head.  He coughs up blood before settling his head back onto the coat.  Tolan is already moving his hands over the wound.  I see the familiar white light encase his hands and watch it pass from brother to brother. 

Ziri
smiles wryly.  “I guess she won after all,” he chokes before passing out.

“
Ziri,” I call as I shake his shoulders.

Tolan puts a hand out for me to back away. 
“He’s alive, but barely.”

“
Can we take the blade out?” I ask anxiously.

“
No, it’s been laced with poison.  We might do more damage by removing it.”

I run a frustrated hand through my wet hair, scared and angry.  Tolan reaches out and places a hand on my shoulder.

“I need you calm, Tharin,” he says with an edge of authority. “You have to think of a way to get us back to the tower, to Lily.  The poison is something I’ve never encountered before.  I can try and keep him alive until then, but I can’t be sure.”

I sense his own anger and know he is just as scared for Ziri
as I am.  I also feel the tremendous amount of effort to stay in control.  He has to – we both do, for Ziri’s sake.

I think for a moment
and finally say, “We have no choice but to move him but we can’t do it alone.”

Tolan nods his agreement and waits for the plan.  I only have one.

“I’ll have to go back to the doorway, or at least get close enough for me to reach Mellis.  I’ll help you move Ziri into a thela before I go.”

Tolan shakes his head
.  “No.  I can handle it.  The sooner you get back the sooner we can catch up with Lily.”

I give Ziri
’s hand a final squeeze; I didn’t even realize I was holding it.  I reach for the inside of my coat trying not to move his head too much and retrieve three panswa, handing them to Tolan. 

“
This should help keep you both warm until our return.”

Tolan takes
the light spheres from me with a nod.  I am about to leave when he holds out his hand, stopping me. 

“
I can’t move him,” he says, eyes on Ziri’s face.  “The poison seems to spread with movement.”  He places his hand over Ziri’s chest, again the white light.  When he is done, I can see the energy he has used to prevent the poison from spreading.

“
I’ve slowed his heart and breathing.  The less movement, the better chance we have,” he states tiredly.  “Help me with the shelter, Tharin.  This will have to do instead of a thela.”

Without
hesitation, I reinforce the shelter by calling up roots from the ground and pull the branches from nearby fallen trees.  They will not only protect my brothers from the rain and cold, but from enemy eyes.  I lay my hand to the ground and will my energy further to strengthen the makeshift shelter.

Tolan looks at me thankfully, before turning his attention back to Ziri.  I leave the shelter as he calls on the warmth of the panswa.  I move
about a yard out before taking one last look.  Tolan and Ziri are buried within the jungle, invisible to anyone not looking for it.

I take off, back to the doorway, back to Mellis. 
I try reaching out to Alorn, but they are too far out of range.  I send a prayer to the Mother for protection over Tolan and Ziri.  I also pray for speed to bring Mellis and me back in time to get Ziri to Lily.  With that in mind, I speed through the dense jungle, careful to stay away from the trees.  Suddenly, I’m out in the open, but I don’t care.  I need to get Mellis and get back, fast.

I think of Phoris. 
I won’t lose another brother.

~ * ~

Chapter Fifteen

~ Lily ~

I can feel the fatigue coming on, but I push myself to keep up with Alorn.  Although he is going at my speed I find myself falling behind until the inevitable happens.  I hit a tree. 

I hear the rain in the distant and voices
that are closer, trying to pull me up from the darkness.

“
Lily? Lily can you hear me?”

“
Julia?” Damn my head hurts. 

“
Ssshhh, just rest, Lily.  Alorn has gone to find some herbs for that bump on your head.”  She places a hand on my cheek and her touch feels so cool against my skin.

“
Tharin…” I can barely croak out his name. 

There i
s a fire near me, I know that much because I can feel its heat.  It’s too warm; I need to move away from it before it burns me.

“
Hey, hey, hey…where do you think you’re going?” asks Julia. 

I feel her hands on me as she
pushes me back down onto what feels like a blanket, maybe two…I don’t know.  I’m just so tired and my head hurts so bad it's hard to think, to concentrate. 

“
Where…where…” I can’t seem to get out what I need to say.  I want to know where Tharin is.

“
It’s okay, just lay back and rest.  We’re safe.  We’re in a cave.  Alorn told me it’s a shelter the Sidhe use when they’re out, you know, doing elf stuff,” she explains, misunderstanding my question.

My throat hurts. 
“Water.”

“
No problem,” she answers.  I hear her moving about and moments later, “Here, drink.”

She places a cup to my lips and I drink from it greedily, not caring how much it hurts to swallow.

“There, better?” she asks.

I attempt to nod, but it hurts too much so I let her help me lay back down.  And darkness, thankfully, takes me.

I am at the clearing, our clearing.  The sun is shining and there is no rain here.  I turn when I hear the waterfall and I remember seeing Tharin standing before it.  At the time he was undressing, ready to go into the water, and he wanted me to join him.  I smile at the memory.

I turn to the thela he and the sisters setup for us.  I walk toward it and Milina steps from behind the oak.  She is in her golden form, smiling at me.  I run to he
r but when I reach the tree she is gone.  I turn, scanning the clearing for my friend but find I’m alone.

I
’m no longer outside but inside the thela.  Everything is exactly as I remember it; the table, chairs, the basket of fruit, the sofa…everything.  I walk to the table, pull out a chair and sit, reaching for a fruit.  As I bite into an apple, I feel a change in the air and I turn to where I remember the door to be.  Tharin is standing there, dressed as he was the last time we were here – with only his pants on.

I swallow, placing
the bitten fruit back on the table.  I slowly rise, not taking my eyes off his as he remains quiet.  He doesn’t make a move, but waits for me to come to him. I feel a prick of irritation at that thought.  Why can’t he come to me? 

As if reading my thoughts,
his lips form that half grin of his, cocky and gorgeous.  I feel the thrill run up my body, starting at my toes.  I want to kick myself, but I can’t help but move toward him when he offers me his hand.  When our fingertips finally touch, he pulls me in, crushing me to him.  He starts with my neck and I am lost.  I grab at his head to find his lips and just when I am about to kiss him, he pushes me away.

“
You know we can’t, why do you tease me like this,” he asks in a low voice, taking me further off balance.

“
Don’t you want me, Tharin?” I ask in a small voice.  I hate that voice...small and weak.  And even after asking the question, I find myself rushing at him, trying to hold onto him.  I wrap my arms tightly around his neck, trying desperately to reach for his kisses.  But he resists and keeps his arms at his sides, shaking his head at me.

“
You will learn to do as I say, Lily.”  He reaches up behind him and pulls my arms away.

“
No, please…please don’t,” I beg, all the while hating myself for it.

“
Where is your dignity, wife?  Where is your pride?” he mocks as he puts an invisible barrier between us.  Suddenly, Ka appears and moves to stand behind Tharin.  In one hand he holds the king’s crown; in the other is a long blade.  With a sudden swiftness that belies his age, he slices his blade down the middle, splitting Tharin in two.

“
No!” I scream.

The two halves
vibrate and waver, pulsing until two fully grown Tharins stand before me.  One is in the king’s clothing and the crown upon his brow; the other is dressed as he always is, the warrior. From nowhere a woman appears between them, but she is like no woman I have ever seen.  Her skin is like porcelain.  Her white hair falls straight down her back, melding into her gown which is as white as her skin.  But what is most startling is that she has no face.  On top of her head is a crown, golden and bejeweled with diamonds and somehow I know it belongs to the queen of Velesi. 

With
in a blink of an eye, I find myself standing in the white dress.  In one hand I hold a large wedding bouquet, in the other a gold scepter; the staff has a design of embedded oak-leaf topped with a large green diamond, protected by thirteen thin gold bars studded with diamond baguettes. The Velesi crown sits heavily on my head and a heavy pressure descends on me.

I turn to my king
. 
“Tharin, are we married?”
 

I realize I am
whispering
because I have no mouth to speak with. 

“
Yes, wife,”
whispers Tharin.  I feel him take my hand, rushing me down a corridor.  We are now in a room and although I can’t see it, I know we are back in his suite.  Tharin picks me up and I hold onto him tightly, before he tosses me onto a bed.  I feel him climb on and settle next to me. He gently pulls me to him and I too settle in, resting my head on his chest. 

I listen to his heartbeat, but it doesn
’t sound right. 

He puts his hand on my head, stroking my hair gently.

It doesn’t sound like
his
heartbeat.

He kisses me
softly on the forehead.

Why is his heart beating erratically?

I feel him move and he sensually whispers against my ear.  “It’s because I’m crazy about you, dear sister.”

I
jolt and try to escape from his hold, but Harlu pins me easily.  “Tell me you love me, jai – “

“
No!” I try to scream again, but it comes out hoarse, hurting the back of my throat.  I’m so hot – I’m burning up.  I kick what feels like blankets off me, but only tangle myself in them. I struggle and strong hands take hold of me, I struggle even harder.

“
Lily, it’s all right,” he comforts, his voice soft and soothing...and...safe.

“
Please, Tharin, please,” I beg as I throw my arms around his neck, this time not letting him push me away. 

The feel of his arms around me, his body hard and comforting takes me over the edge – so close, so close.  Screw the prophecy, I don
’t care anymore.  I tighten my hold around his neck and my heart breaks when I feel him resist again.

“
Lily, stop it, you don’t know what you’re doing,” he breathes against my ear.

I can feel the struggle within his words
, a reluctance to let me go.  I know he wants me as much as I want him.  I can feel it…why is he fighting it?

Not caring seems to free me and I throw caution aside as I pull
my head back, seeking his lips.  And when I find them I kiss him hard, desperately, but still he holds back.  He tries to disengage from me again but I won’t let him. No, damn it, not this time.

Finally, with
great effort he pulls back and I feel my lips pulse from the kiss.  I look up at his green eyes and I see the fight in them begin to waver.  For a moment we do nothing.  We’re breathing hard, hearts racing and eyes locked onto each other; and then his lips are on mine again, just as desperate and with a wanting so deep I am lightheaded and dizzy.  I feel him sink into me, lost as I am, never wanting to let go.  And I never want this moment to end. 

And then suddenly, he pushes me away roughly and I fall back hitting my head on something hard.

“Damn it,” I hear him curse under his breath. 

For a moment everything goes dark and I feel like
I’m falling.  His hand catches me by the back of my head, searching – his fingers probing for any bumps.  And then he stops, but I can sense him towering over me.  After another long moment his hand touches my face and softly strokes my cheek.  Despite how I’ve been feeling about our upcoming nuptials, I know just by this one touch…this gentle touch, that he loves me. 

“
Tharin…” I call softly, finally losing this fight, too exhausted to continue. 

I feel the darkness coming over me
as I grow distant and disconnected.  I sense him moving away, but before he does he says something to me.  I can’t make it out.  What did he say?

I never need an alarm clock to wake when Julia spends the night.  Her snoring usually does it.  I open my eyes
, looking about and realize it is still night.  My head still hurts but not as much as it did before.  I reach for the bump on my forehead and to my surprise it doesn’t hurt when I touch it.  I turn onto my back staring up at the ceiling wondering how I got here and where Tharin is. I touch my lips lightly, they feel slightly swollen a reminder of our passionate kiss?  Or was I just dreaming? It felt so real.

I sit up quickly and
regret it immediately when pain shoots through the back of my skull.  I reach behind and feel a slight lump there.  What the hell?  So which was it?  Did I run into a tree, or fall back onto it?  Maybe I did both.

I search out the small cave and find Julia sleeping on the other side of the small fire.  As usual, the sound of her snoring gives me comfort.  It takes me a moment before I realize that Alorn is nowhere in sight.  He must be outside keeping watch, always vigilant.  I grab my coat, slip it on and get up slowly.  Seems my head isn
’t the only thing that got banged up when that tree ran right into me.  My body aches and I am pretty sure it is covered with bruises.  Next time, I think I will shield myself before going elf mode through a dense jungle.

At first I
try to tip-toe around Julia before remembering
it is
Julia
.  Unless I physically wake her, she will sleep through any noise I make. 

I find the doorway and step out into a cold night.  I
am standing in an open hollow cave looking out at a landscape of tangled forest so dense I can’t see the ground.  It is like a heavy green tarp placed upon the land to protect everything under it from the pelting rain. I breathe in the cool, fresh air and when I exhale I feel like my lungs have been cleansed and my head cleared. 

I walk to the edge, still protected by a stone overhang.  I reach my hand out, trying to catch the rain, to taste it; but the overhang protrudes out farther than my arm can stretch.  Before I know it, my foot slips over the edge and I find myself flailing my arms trying to catch my balance and pull my body back into the cave.

A strong arm catches me at the waist and pulls me back in.  Alorn.  He holds me close and spins me into safety. 

“
Lily, what the hell…” he says, annoyed.

He puts me down but continues to hold me.  I laugh, trying to cover the fact my heart is stuck in my throat.  I look up to
see a frown on his face; he is definitely not happy with me.

“
I’m sorry,” I say, laughing shakily. 

“
Are you all right?”

I
take a step back but he keeps his hands on me, looking at me with concern.  I look up into his green eyes and suddenly this feels like déjà vu.  Alorn drops his gaze and continues to look me over worriedly with his…his
green eyes
. 

“
Alorn,” I say hesitantly, unsure what to say as if something is missing or just out of reach.  Feeling awkward, I ask instead, “Where did Tharin go?” 

He takes a step back
, nodding absently with a small smile.  “Your betrothed is here.” 

He
says it so softly that without thinking I step up to him, asking “What?”  I place my hand on his arm, “Alorn, are you all right?”

He doesn
’t look at me.  First he couldn’t stop staring now he is trying hard not to look me in the eye.  What gives?

I
grab at his coat, softly asking, “What’s wrong?  You know you can tell me, right?  I’m here if you need me, Alorn…I’ll always be here.”