Vaalbara; Visions & Shadows (28 page)

             
I quickly walked into the house, running away from Eamar’s words. I slowed down as I reached the passage, stopping in front of the room where Aurian was killed.

             
I hesitated at first. It was dark, although I saw Raighne’s form lying by the window. The bed was moved up against the wall, and he was on the floor. Hunching down, I touched his shoulder to get his attention. I almost had a heart attack when his body jerked and he grabbed my hand. This was also the part where I realized it wasn’t Raighne I was touching. It was Carter.

             
“I th-thought you were Raighne.” I pulled away immediately, trying desperately to put space between us. The light went on, and the brightness blinded me.

             
It was Raighne. “What is going on in here?” His eyes went to Carter and then settled on me.

             
“I th-thought you were sleeping in here.” I blurted the words out so quickly it made me sound guilty. I looked down at Carter, of all people, for backup.

             
“Oh…” My eyes were as huge as saucers. I knew it was rude to stare, but I couldn’t stop. Carter’s upper body was half exposed, and every inch of his skin was covered with stab wounds and whip marks - some of which were so wide and deep they had formed ridges on his skin. There was also a fresh wound on his right side covered with a bloodstained bandage.

             
He grabbed his shirt when he saw us staring at him, and tried desperately to cover himself. I could see he was self-conscious and…it stirred something in me. It was the first time I didn’t feel fear in his presence.

             
“Your own mother did that to you?”

             
“Raighne!” I spun around shocked. “You can’t ask him something like that.”

             
“I thought my father exaggerated when he told us about your…situation.” Raighne reached out and took my hand, pulling me to him.

             
Switching off the light, I stole one more glance at Carter as I closed the door.

             
He was looking back at me…smiling gently.

Chapter Eleven

Chaos Rules the Day

Chaos – A state of utter confusion and disorder.

Carter was standing over me with his whip ready to begin yet another day’s torture, but I couldn’t understand why he was crying.

             
“I do not want to hurt you, Alchera. Please forgive me?”

             
“Carter?” I looked into his bright eyes, alive with pain, as he lifted his arm for the first lashing. “You can fight her. Please, don’t!” Nothing I could say stopped him from bringing the whip down on my broken skin.

             
“No! Please… don’t” My words echoed in my ears. My voice? No. It was Carter’s voice, begging for Adeth to stop. I looked at the whip-bearer - a six-year-old boy.

             
“Carter!” I woke up calling his name, half my body slumped over on Raighne’s - my face pressed tightly into his chest. His hand was in my hair. I couldn’t help the tears coming, some dripping on his bare skin. I could still feel the pain from the lashing on my back.

             
“Alchera?”

             
“Yes.” I whispered softly, trying to hide the conflicting emotions I was feeling. Here I was, very conscious of Raighne’s body, while trying to deal with the aftershock of the nightmare.

             
His fingers moved soothingly over my cheeks, then his hands took me by the shoulders and gently pushed me on my back.

             
“How can I help take your nightmares away?” He was leaning over me - his one hand caressed my face.

             
“Keep me awake.” I gave a fleeting laugh. “I’m sorry f-for crying again, it’s becoming a habit.” Raighne’s closeness made my stomach clench into a tight ball.

             
“It is understandable that you will be emotional. You have had a lot to deal with so far.” He took a deep breath. “When you need to cry I will be here to comfort you. I will never leave you, Alchera. Never.”

             
His words from last night flashed through my mind. My skin tingled as his hand slid along my arm. Lacing his fingers through mine, he pinned my hand down beside my head. My breath caught in my throat. I could see my reaction excited him. He did the same with my other hand, before bracing himself over me.

             
I wet my lips nervously. I wanted him to kiss me so badly. My eyes darted from his bare, firm chest to his full lips, then on to his dreamy eyes. I couldn’t stand it anymore. I lifted my head the small distance between us, kissing him with everything I had. I kissed him with all the love I felt for him.

             
Raighne released my left hand, allowing his to glide slowly over my body. It left me gasping for air before his mouth took mine again, his tongue dancing with mine. His hand slipped under my top gently caressing my quivering body.

             
His familiar warmth surged through me when he pressed his body hard against mine. I let my hand slide down his chest to the place where the warmth of his skin was scalding.

             
Raighne was incredible - mind-blowing to look at - yet, here I was touching him. He moved down…inching up my shirt, he trailed kisses along my ribs.

             
I want you to be mine.

             
I shouldn’t have said that. He was off me so fast I felt his warmth leave with him.

             
“I did it again! I cannot lose control when I am with you.” He was angry.

             
“
Why
?”

             
“It would not be right. Awo would not approve.” He kissed my forehead like he used to when I was still plain, old Aislinn. “I have to protect your virtue but, I, somehow have become its biggest threat.” He offered that lazy smile, as he helped me out of bed. 

             
“It is time to get up. I have to…shower.”

             
“I’ll get coffee.” I headed for the kitchen, only to freeze halfway through the door. Carter stood there inspecting the wound I had seen the night before.

             
“Morning. I will leave now.” He yanked his shirt down and darted for the backdoor when I did something inexplicable.

             
“Don’t.” Carter turned back to me in surprise.

             
I pointed at his wound. “What happened?” I looked around the kitchen for any sign of coffee.

             
“One of the men shot me. Eamar took the bullet out, although it will have to heal the human way. I cannot heal it myself until we go back to Vaalbara. Our immortality does not count for much here on Earth.” He took a step towards me, setting me in motion. I started opening cupboards, looking for anything even remotely caffeine-related.

             
“Can I make you some coffee?”

             
“That would be kind. Raighne told me about our strengths and weaknesses here on Earth; coffee seems to be a necessity.” He smiled at me. I was stunned by how different he looked, he was so…alive.

             
Damn, what was I doing? Have I lost my mind? I was having a morning chat with my…abuser, as if I could stand the sight of him, as if—. Wake up Alchera, this is the guy who almost
killed
you!

             
He handed me the cup when our fingers accidentally touched. The cup smashed to the floor in my rush to break contact.

             
“Sorry, I’m… I still have—”

             
“Please do not apologize. I am happy you are even tolerating me. The look of total disgust is no longer in your eyes. I cannot tell you in words how much that means to me.”

             
“I have to go.”

             
I turned to walk away, but was brought to a standstill when a man fell down at my feet. 

~*~

“How could everything disappear overnight? Surely the security systems were in place?” The man at my feet covered his face with his hands, as he shook his head. “The sculpture of Laocoön?”
He looked up, hope flickering in his eyes.

             
“No, Antonio, nothing was spared. The stone tablets and inscriptions…they are all gone. Whoever it was cleared all fifty four salas, without setting off the alarms.”

             
“I cannot believe it. It is an abomination!” Antonio grabbed at his chest, breathing faster, little drops of perspiration forming on his brow.

             
My hand went through him as I tried to comfort him. I could feel the waves of panic hit me and a cramp streaked through my chest.

             
“Antonio!”

~*~

“Alchera, please come out of it!” Carter was panic-stricken, kneeling beside me on the floor.

             
I waited for the pain to subside before attempting to speak.

             
“It’s just the after-effects from my vision.” He was so happy I was back that, without thinking, he grabbed me and hugged me to him.

             
“Oh, Awo! My heart stopped beating.” He held me at arm’s length. “Are you well now?”

             
“Yes, I’m fine.” I nodded. “Just a vision, is all.

             
Raighne came in at that moment; his face draining of all color.

             
“Take your hands off her.” Raighne growled, shoving Carter away from me.

             
“It’s okay; I had a vision. Carter was worried, he wasn’t hurting me.” Raighne didn’t relax. If anything, he tensed up even more. I could feel the tension build between the two men. “Raighne, really, it’s okay.”

             
“He still has no right to touch you!” Raighne took my hand, dragging me down the hall towards the bedroom.

             
“There are your fresh clothes and toiletries. I will be right outside the door.” I gathered my stuff and closed the door, not wanting to argue now.

             
While I showered, I took the time to think.  There was something bothering me. I was sure Raighne and Carter just had a moment back there. You know, one of those moments where men size each other up? Could it have been Raighne telling Carter to back off? Had Raighne staked his claim back there?

             
“What happened in the kitchen?” The words were out of my mouth, as I opened the door.

             
“I was about to ask you the same question.” Raighne replied.

             
I felt intimidated with him standing so close to me, yet our bodies yearned to touch.

             
“Answer me! What happened back there? What happened between you and Carter?” I wasn’t going to let go of this.

             
“I had to let him understand he cannot touch you; he cannot come near you. You are not his to…you are not his.” Raighne’s hands cradled my face. “Are we forgetting who we are talking about here? This is the man who took you from me in the desert. Carter took you from me once, and I will not allow it again!” Raighne’s body shook all over.

             
“You say this to me now and I hear your words. Still, yesterday, you left me to face Carter alone. Where were you? If he wanted me so much he could’ve taken me then.”

             
“I was
with
Carter. I wanted to be with you but I returned with them to Vaalbara when they took Aurian and Adeth’s bodies back home. I did not want to let him out of my sight. I wanted to keep him away from you, though he slipped me for ten minutes. He used a story of needing the bathroom. I now know that I should have known better.” He took a step away from me, wiping his brow in frustration. 

             
This morning he’d proven once and for all that he had feelings for me. It
had
to be true. How else could he kiss me - touch me with the intimacy he had - only to turn around and sound like my guardian again? Was it so easy for him to just think of me as his ‘charge’ again?

             
“Right, you were protecting me. Silly of me to think otherwise.”

~*~

After everyone had a turn to freshen up we re-grouped outside. We were twelve people, the group growing larger in number every day.

             
“Why can’t we send them to Vaalbara? I don’t understand why all ten have to go together.” I looked to Raighne for an answer.

             
“Elora said it was written so but, if I had to guess, I would say it is because they have to get to know each other through the worst of times. After all, they are the future of mankind.” He smiled at Jason, who was standing beside Sarah.

             
“Don’t forget, we are helpful in more than one way.” Jason smiled. “The car, plane, and this house to mention just a few. We’re not just tagging along for the entertainment it offers.” Sarah laughed.

             
“Our next stop is Italy,” I said. “The only problem is I don’t know where in Italy. Who knows anything about art galleries?”

             
Carlo stepped forward. “Some of the biggest art collections are held there. The Vatican, alone, has fifty-four galleries filled with precious artifacts.”

             
“The man in my vision did mention fifty-four ‘salas,’ could that be the same thing?”
             
Carlo’s face lit up at the mention of the word. “Yes! Yes, it means galleries. What else did he say?”

             
“All the art had been cleared out overnight, and all the rooms are empty.” I thought Carlo was going to faint. He staggered back against Lee.

             
“It cannot be.”

             
“Don’t worry, Carlo. All of it has been taken to Vaalbara,” Raighne cut in.

             
“Is everyone ready to go?” Eamar seemed to have taken over leadership of the mission, as he called us to order.

             
“Sarah needs to take her medicine.” Doug headed back inside the house, followed by Jason.

             
“Everyone has ten minutes to get everything together, then we leave,” Eamar announced.

             
I went over to Sky - anything to get away from Eamar, who appeared to be in a foul mood this morning.

             
“How are you holding up, Sky?” She looked so small standing between Lee and Carlo.

             
“I am doing well. Carlo has been very supportive since we have met.”