The Whispering (26 page)

“
Will it be enough?” 
I ask, as I allow the energy to flow through me instead of fighting it.

“
No.  Open the door to Eirrell and let the energy of my father fill you and Lily.  Then it will be enough.  Farewell King Tharin of Velesi.”

The light within his eyes and
of the Ancients grows brighter until I have to close my eyes before it blinds me.  The roar of the cyclone deafens me until suddenly, everything stops.  We drop to the floor hard.  Cessa is up and roaring as she looks around for a shadowed area.  She finds one and disappears.

I help Lily up as everyone else
rises slowly. 

“
What the hell?” groans Mellis.

“
Wait,” says Tolan, “Where’s Ka?”

We look around
us and Colsea runs into the next room before returning, shaking his head.

“
He’s gone,” I say.

“
Gone?  What do you mean, gone?” asks Lily.

I look
at their faces as I tell them, “He passed on the ability to keep the realm intact to all of us, all thirteen.  What you’re feeling is the energy core of the realm that he ‘bestowed’ upon us and what was left in him and the remaining Ancients.”

Tolan drops down on the couch, shaking his head in disbelief. 
He knew the two Ancients who sacrificed themselves so that Velesi and the Thirteen Clans can continue to exist.

Julia looks about
.  “Thirteen?  There are only ten of us, including Cessa.”

Without a word, we
look at the doors, windows and corners of the room in search of the other three Ka referred to. 

“
Maybe you heard him wrong?” offers Colsea.

“No, he said there were thirteen at the start and now thirteen to carry on,” I answer.

“
Now what, Tharin?” asks Ziri.

“
We leave early tomorrow for the doorway and close it for good,” I say. “We’re all exhausted so get some rest, we’ll need it.”

“
You think they’ll be waiting for us?” asks Mellis. 

“
We have to assume they will,” I answer.  I turn to Tolan and say, “Once you finish the summoning, Kolinest will feel the shift in the energy and come for you.  He’ll easily break the wards at the queen’s doors.  He’ll come in a fury and bring his entire army with him.  Once he forces Lily to open the door, he’ll set off an energy explosion that’ll destroy this realm while he passes through the doorway and into Eirrell.”

“
An explosion?” asks Julia.

“
He doesn’t have the ability to destroy it by releasing the energy holding it together,” replies Tolan.  “Kolinest plans to do what he did with Nameth.  There are priests sworn to the practice of dark magic from the UnderRealm.  They’ll be placed throughout Velesi and with each an assassin.  The assassins, after receiving a sign to proceed, will simultaneously kill the priests creating a negative energy that will counter the energy coming from Gastah Lake causing an implosion within the core of the realm.  It’ll destroy Velesi and everyone in it.”

“
My God,” says Lily.  She looks at Tolan, “How many priests are there?”

“
Twenty-five,” he answers quietly.

“
Twenty-five?” repeats Ziri.  He turns to Tolan, “Are you sure?”

“
Yes,” answers Tolan.  “Nedleid spoke of it during my tenure with him.  But it was a worst case scenario...but after Nameth, I’m certain of it now.”

“
He’s right,” confirms Colsea.  “My men have reported seeing priests with a lone acolyte wandering throughout the realm.  Their destinations are unknown.  Each time my men would get close enough, they’d disappear.”

“Wait,” say Julia, “we’re now holding the realm together, not just three.  So wouldn’t that mean he can’t destroy it even with twenty-five priests?”

“Maybe," I answer.  "Ka sacrificed himself and the Ancients so we can keep the realm intact long enough to do what needs to be done.  But one of the last things Ka said to me was for it to work, Lily and I have to allow the energy of his father to touch us.”

“
What does that mean?  And what’s to stop Kolinest from giving the signal if he can’t get through to Eirrell?” asks Lily.

“
The Unnamed Sidhe,” Tolan replies.

“
How can one elf stop twenty-five assassins from killing the priests, or the priests to take their own lives?” asks Mellis, unable to wrap the idea around his head even as he asks the question.

“
I believe he can,” I answer. 

“
Who is he really?” asks Lily, staring at me.

“
I really don’t know and it’s getting late,” I reply.  “And Alorn,” I say directly to the warrior, “you’re going to have a big day tomorrow, so get some sleep tonight.”

Alorn stares at
me as I return his gaze.  Finally, he gives in, nods and walks out of the room. 

Julia turns to Glynnis
, saying, “We should find a room to share.”

“
I’m sorry mistress, the Lady Marilyn wanted to share suites with you and the queen,” replies Glynnis.  “I will wait for the queen’s next call.”

Glynnis
bows and turns to Ziri.  She nods to him, turns into her golden form and disappears. 

“Will you walk me to my room?” Julia asks Tolan.

Tolan gives her a kiss, ta
king her by the hand and leads her out.  Mellis lifts his arms and gives a loud yawn before moving to the couch and stretching out tiredly.  He has been quiet all night, since father’s passing.  Ziri takes the second couch, pulling his coat around him.  Seeming a little put out, he turns his back on the rest of us and goes to sleep.

I look at Lily, taking her hand again.  She looks up and without a word follows me out the suite doors.  When we step into the hall, Colsea is waiting for us.

“We must hurry before your aunt comes looking for Lily,” he says leading us to a door down the corridor. 

“
Coming to looking for Lily?” I ask.

He glances at Lily and then says,
“She is dead set on keeping your queen the Virgin Queen until after the doorway is destroyed.”

I
give Lily an arch look and she actual laughs at my expression.

“
You look beautiful tonight, Lily.”

“
Thank you, Tharin,”
she replies, gently squeezing my hand.

She seems to be over whatever struggle she was going through and more settled into the idea of being married to me.  And that should be enough, but it isn
’t. 

“
Tharin?”

“
Yes, jai’loa?”

“
Will you teach me to whisper, tonight?”

I meet her gaze,
saying,
“If that’s what you want, then yes.  That is if we can dodge my aunt.”

She laughs again and every
time she does is a moment my world stops spinning and strives to be still.  She is like the shields we use to protect ourselves from attacks, but in her case, protects me from myself.  Because of her I haven’t fallen to grief and sorrow over my father’s death.  She anchors me just by being who she is and by the simple sound of her laughter.  Can I
feel
love any more than I do now?  Can I feel freer of burden, here, with her…because of her?

“
I love you, Lily,”
I whisper.

She looks up at me and smiles softly.  She lets go of my hand so she can wrap
her arms around me, easing the pang of pain I feel when she doesn’t say it back.  Instead, she tries to make me feel it through her embrace.  It will have to be enough for now.

I had assumed Colsea had told Lily what was waiting for her but I
am wrong. 

We step through the door
and Lily blinks to adjust her eyes to the dimly lit room.  When she sees Falsad sitting in the middle of the room, she stops dead in her tracks.  In each corner an elfin priest chants as chains made of Thessi’s gold bind the demon to his seat.  No matter how hard he struggles, he can’t escape the chains and the wards placed on it by the chanting.

The demon looks
haggard and defeated, until he looks up and sees Lily standing before him.  He leers at her and the powerful lust permeates his entire being at the sight of the queen.  He licks his lips as if he could taste her, drooling on himself.

“
Lily, my lov…” he doesn’t finish.

Suddenly, I am slammed against the wall behind me and I watch as all four priests are thrown across the room, hitting the walls hard enough to knock them out.  I look for my uncle and find him
unconscious nearby.  I try to get up but find it difficult to move, as if struggling against a storm.  Lily.  It is Lily’s will preventing me from reaching her.  As if knowing my thoughts, Lily turns to me, showing me her eyes, Jarhan’s eyes.  I calm myself and move toward her.

“
No, Tharin,” she says in the dragon’s voice.  “You will not deny her this.”

Lily turns back to the now
terrified Falsad, hanging in mid air as if by a noose, the gold chains broken, strewn across the floor.  Like a marionette with its strings tangled, Falsad struggles against his bindings as his arms are pinned to his sides, his legs kicking out uncontrollably.

“
M-mm-er-cc-yy,” he begs, a desperate gurgling sound.

His cries fall on deaf ears as the
dragon takes full control of Lily.  She reaches toward the demon from where she stands and as if pulling on an invisible line, she forces the demon from her brother’s body.  Falsad’s true form, a black oozing skeleton with melting flesh hangs next to Lucas’ body.  The body once belonging to Lucas drops but Lily reaches out and catches him in mid air. She gently places him on the floor, as far away from the demon as possible.

When she turns back to the demon, it is whimpering and begging but Lily
continues to ignore its pleas.  She steps up to him and lifts her hands, palms facing it and simply says, “Burn.”

I told Lily once that you
can’t kill a demon; you can only send it back to the UnderRealm.  And that’s what I expected to happen.  Instead, I watch as the flames of gold engulf Falsad and the terrifying and deafening screams of the demon echoes through the room.  As the fire burns, black specks float to the floor, the last remnants of the demon settle in a pile of ashes at Lily’s feet.

I rush to her, pulling her away from the demon
’s ashes.  I hold her to me, hoping to shield her from the terrifying scene but when she doesn’t return the embrace I pull away to look at her face.  A single tear rolls down her cheek as she shakes.  I hug her to me again and remain holding her until her body stops trembling and her arms find their way around my waist.  And with the calm, the tears come and she lets go of what she kept inside for Lucas.

“
Lily.” We turn to the voice and standing over his body is Lucas’ spirit.  It is only a brief moment, but within it he says, “Thank you.”

Lily told me Lucas
was the one who left E’leiana on the path where he knew she would be found.  I nod to him, releasing what once stood between us.  He smiles and looks down at his side.  From behind him E’leiana appears and when she smiles at me I believe my heart will burst.

“
I will return her to your mother,” says Lucas and with that, the spirits of our siblings disappear.  Whether Lucas will be judge to the UnderRealm or Eirrell, I don’t know, but E’leiana’s forgiveness has set him free.

~ * ~

Chapter Twenty-Five

~ Lily ~

Glynnis is waiting for us outside the room.  Tharin resists letting me go, but eventually he allows Glynnis to take me back to the royal suites.  Bi’irea wanted to have the queen’s suites ready for after our wedding, and because Thilthen is being prepared for his funeral and still in my father's master bedroom.  So, a suite a few doors down was prepared for our use.

Bi
’irea told me Tharin had a room for us a few floors down but when he realized what his aunt had in mind, he moved back to a suite on the royal floor.  Marilyn and Julia were already situated in our suites, which Julia was already settled in.  I found her sleeping in the bed we were to share, snoring in peaceful slumber.  I was still too amped up from what happened with Falsad.  I know Tharin believes it was Jarhan who killed Falsad and I had no part in it, but he is wrong.  I did.  I knew what I was doing and I have no regrets – none; although afterward I was shaken by the whole ordeal and by the power of the dragon.  I promise you this – I won’t lose any sleep over it.  Knowing Lucas would be judged and released from Demus keeps me focused and determined.  No, I have no regrets at all.

I find myself sitting in the front room looking out into
the garden.  I can hear the rain and its soft calling.  The only thing keeping me from going outside is how comfortable my nightgown is.  I just don’t want to get it wet and have to find another.  Plus, I am really tired.

“
Lily,”
whispers Tharin.

“
Yes, Tharin?”

“
Here is your first lesson in whispering.  I have opened myself to you completely; it is up to you to whisper to me.”

“
But I don’t even know how to start,”
I reply unsure.

“
The first lesson of whispering is to listen.  We all have our own rhythm, our own vibration. The sound of our voice whether we are speaking out loud or we are whispering.  We have our own tone, like finger prints, never two alike.  It is how I find Tolan, Alorn, Mellis and Ziri.  It is how I will always find you.”

He disconnects, leaving me alone.  I take a breath and picture h
im in my mind; and in my mind’s ear I hear him when he speaks, listen to how he speaks.  The tone of his voice vibrates in a way that captures the attention of those he speaks to.  I hear the power and the confidence, the certainty of his thoughts.  I think of the way he walks and talks, the way he moves when he is resting or in battle.  I can even hear him think when he is in thoughtful reflection.  I know his vibe like no other.

I let out my senses, seeking the vibe that belongs only to him.  I come across other vibes,
tones that are familiar to me, but not as strong as Tharin’s.  And when I find him, I feel his heartbeat reach out to me.  He has opened himself as he said and I gently whisper.

“
Tharin.”

“
Yes, my love?”

A joy fills me and I am so excited that Tharin feels it from where he is.  He laughs along with me and I find comfort in it.

“I knew you could do it,”
he says proudly.

“
I couldn’t have done it without you,”
I reply, giving him the credit. 
“But, how is this different from drifting?”

“
Because in order for you to drift, you must leave your body,”
he answers.

“
Tolan made it sound like this would be difficult to learn.”

“
It is, but you have the ability in you and you also have me,”
he replies. 
“But like drifting there is a limit to the distance you can reach me.  There are always limits.”

“
Will I be able to whisper to anyone, including those outside our circle?”

“
No,”
he answers. 
“Not yet, but you will in time.  And they can refuse to let you in if they don’t want to whisper back.  All you can do is ask.”

“
Will I be able to whisper to Julia and the others?”

“
Yes, if they are opened to you.  When we are out on a mission, everyone is opened to me, and I to them.  If Tolan hasn’t told you yet, there’s a downside to this, as well.  Unless you’re experienced in whispering, you can leave yourself open to anyone or anything, demons included.”

“
Okay, I’ll just stick to you for lessons.  I’m exhausted, Tharin.”

“
I know, but you’re getting stronger.”

“
I am?”

“
There was a time when using only a small portion of your energy wore you out,”
he says. 
“Tonight, the Healer took over and killed a demon using your energy and you were able to walk out of the room on your own.  Not to mention making it to your room and ‘whispering’ with me now.”

I nod, knowing he can
’t see me. 
“I guess you’re right.  But I’m still exhausted.”

“
Go to sleep, jai’loa and I will see you in the morning.”

“Wait, how do I, you know, stop whispering?”
I ask.

“Stop thinking of me,”
he answers.

“
Seriously? Tharin...”
I say in exasperation.

He chuckles before saying,
“Imagine hanging up or walking out the door and closing it behind you
.”

I do as he instructs
. 
“Okay, now what?”

“
Tharin?  Hello?”
  Oh.  Okay, that was easy.

I get up to make my way to the bedroom, hoping Julia isn
’t sleeping all crazy like, taking up the bed with her long limbs. 

“
Lily?”  I turn to find Marilyn standing at her bedroom door, looking anxious.

Without thinking I move to her
.  “Marilyn, are you okay?”

“
Oh, yeah, yeah, I’m fine,” she says, flustered.  “I mean, there’s so much that’s happened and I’m still trying to catch up with all of it.  And the people here are so strange, but nice…I mean, don’t get me wrong, everyone has been so, so, so nice, but it’s so strange at the same time.  I mean, I don’t want anyone to think I don’t apprecia…”

“
Shhh, I know,” I say, trying to comfort her.  I take her hand and lead her into her room. 

When I was younger I would wake up screaming in the middle of the night and Marilyn would be the one to hold me until I was no longer afraid or fell back to sleep.  Sometimes in the morning I would find her asleep still holding me and other times she would be up making me blueberry pancakes, my favorite, so I would start my morning on a happy note.  Tonight, however, it is my turn to return the favor for all
the nights she was there for me.

I pull the covers aside and help her in.  She stares at me anxiously and I know she would never ask.  So, I tuck her under the blankets and then move to the other side of the bed and climb in.  I snuggle up to her and she hugs me fiercely and I let her until she stops shaking. 
Everything has happened so suddenly for her and I know she has a thousand questions, each with a freak out moment attached to it.  I am surprised she held it together this long.

For the next hour or so, I
listen as Marilyn talks and asks, and then talks and asks some more until she’s satisfied with my explanations or answers.  She asks about Tharin and then about Tolan, Alorn, Ziri and Mellis.  She particularly likes Mellis because he made her laugh after the ceremonies.  She likes Tolan and find him kind and very much in love with Julia; he has won her approval.  She says she was at first afraid of Ziri because of his size and his large ears, but in the end she decides she likes him and that he is a nice “boy”.  As for Alorn, he scares her with his quiet ways and how his eyes never missed a thing.  She feels even though he looks calm and quiet she expects him to strike at any second.  And she thinks Glynnis is quiet and polite, if not exotic and beautiful.  As for Julia, she has never seen my friend so happy, so content and so healthy. 

I smile
to myself when she talks about Dalim and what a really nice guy he is.  At first she thought he was making up stories when he told her of Velesi and who Tharin and Tolan really are.  But, when he brought her to Velesi, she had no choice but to believe him then.  And I finally get to ask her how they got through the doorway to Velesi.  She goes on to explain that at first Dalim was upset and worried because the doorway he was supposed to have used wouldn’t open for him.  It wasn’t until he felt a vibration from the other side that he was able to open it and bring them through.

As the night dwindles away, I listen
to Marilyn continue to talk.  When she finally stops, I glance up to find her eyes are shut and her breathing steady.  With a special thank you to the Sandman, I turn from her and fall immediately asleep.

I awake to an empty bed. 

I rub my eyes as I look around the room, searching for Marilyn.  Seconds later I find a note on the table beside me and I reach for it.

“My dearest Lily,

Dalim has agreed to take me back to
Perth.  I need to return to Virginia and be by her side.  I have been worried about being away from her this long. 

I want you to know that I love you very much.  Tharin has promised me that he will take good care of you and I believe him.  He seems to truly
love you.  Be happy, my Lily. 

             
Always with love,

             
Marilyn”

I play with the sheet of paper, thinking of Marilyn making it safely back to Perth.  I wonder if Dalim would return or stay with her.  I hope he does stay with Marilyn even though I know how dedicated he is to his duties.  But then again, if things don’t work out today, he may be stuck in Pathen for good. 

I get up quickly and make my way to the shower area when Julia comes in fully dressed and ready to go. 

“Why did you sleep in here?” she asks.

“
Marilyn wanted to have some girl time before leaving,” I answer, calling for the rain.

“
Where’d she go?”

“
Back to Pathen.”  I strip and step into the downpour, enjoying the feel of its cool, fresh cleanliness.

“
So,” calls Julia from the bedroom.  “How’s it feel to be a married woman?”

I don
’t answer but instead hurry to get showered and dressed.  Besides, it is stupid to think I would feel any different after marrying Tharin.  Thinking about him hastens my movements and I quickly rinse off and reach for a towel.

After dressing I walk into the bedroom to find Julia lying on the covers staring at the ceiling.

“Hey, you okay?” I ask.

Julia turns on her stomach to look at me. 
“Yeah.  I was just thinking.”

“
About what?”

“
Frank and Chris.”

I sit
on a nearby chair, putting on my boots.  “What about them?” I ask, surprised to hear her say their names without hyperventilating.

She quickly sits up
.  “I’ve been thinking about what you said.  Now, granted I froze the last time I saw them, but I’ve been getting myself used to the thought of seeing them again.  I mean, it’s inevitable they’ll find me.  I can just feel it.  And I might as well get it over with while I have Tolan with me.”

“
Did you tell him?” I ask, lacing up my first boot.

“
Yeah,” she replies, rolling her eyes.  “I told him this morning.  He insists I don’t go anywhere unless one of the guys, including Tharin, is with me.  Which is not as irksome as I made it out to him.”

I laugh
.  “Well, it sounds like good advice to me.  You ready?”

“
Yup.” She hops off the bed. 

“
Wait,” I stop her.  “I want to try something with you.”

She
looks at me and shrugs.  “Okay.”

“
All right, sit,” I command.  I pull the chair up and set it in front of her.  “Okay, I want you to be completely open to me.”

Julia
raises a brow but remains quiet.

“
Come on, Jules, just do this for me,” I plead.

“
Fine.  What do I do?”

“
Like I said, just open up to me, you know...with your mind,” I instruct.

“
With my mind?  How the hell do I do that?”

“
Jules, come on, please?”

“
Okay, okay, but how do you open your mind, is all I’m saying.”

I look at her and try to remember what Tharin told me last night. 
“Loosen up,” I reach over and roughly rub her shoulder.  “Come on, we’re running out of time.”