Chapter 15:
Used
Zyra stood in shock as she was embraced by the blonde traveler.
"R-rell?"
"I heard the call 6 days ago," he said pulling back from her.
She blinked owlishly as she took him in. He looked less slight, more muscled, healthier. He still possessed his sharp faerie like angles and his moonlight paleness. His face was still devoid of any stubble, but for some reason, he seemed more masculine. He was stronger, she was sure.
Had he always been taller than her?
"What call?" she asked finally. She wrinkled her nose to change her dazed expression.
"My mark."
He pulled up his sleeve to reveal on his hand the marking that mimicked her own. It was small in comparison but still shone with the same strange metallic light.
"But why would you be called?" she asked surprised. "They said you were a replacement. That you would only be needed if I failed."
Rell shrugged and looked over at Kail whom was waiting impatiently.
"I don't know. I only know that it began to tingle and I knew that I had to return here. You are about to go back are you not?"
She nodded gravelly, wondering why he would be needed. And why did he feel only a tingle? She didn't wish him ill, but that wasn't fair. Another dreadful thought occurred to her.
"Where is your brother?"
Rell's pinkish lips upturned into a smirk.
"Back at the village. He did not accompany me on this journey."
"Oh."
Thank the Maker.
"You sound relieved," he said in an amused tone.
She frowned. "Is it so obvious?"
"Very
much
so."
It was then that Kail cleared his throat. She saw him watching her impatiently. Rair looked expectant. Nodding in acknowledgement to his silent demand she turned back to Rell.
"Rell do you need to rest?"
He shook his head and walked up to join the group.
"No, I am fine." He gave her a brilliant smile.
"You were right, I am stronger now."
He proceeded to bow his head to Rair, then to Kail. He looked at Kail curiously.
"Have you been adjusting well?"
Kail wrinkled his mouth. "Well enough I supposed."
"Wait, you know he can speak?" Zyra asked incredulously.
Rell frowned.
"Yes, he spoke to me while you were recovering."
"He did...and you
didn't
tell me?"
Rell's eyes widened.
"I-i wasn't aware that it was a secret."
Zyra narrowed her eyes at Kail and tried to fight off her indignation. Of course he had spoken to Rell. He had only played games with her. Then when he was done fucking with her mind he would try to fuck
her
.
Classic, Classic Kail.
Kail looked a bit taken back by the venom in her eyes. He had sworn that this issue had already been resolved. Besides, he was trying to change. It seemed that Rell was an ill omen. He was a character of the past, and with him he brought past problems. It was annoying to say the least.
Kail glanced at the male who physically would not appear to be the slightest challenge to him. Kail was very much the alpha male in this combination. Nevertheless, Rell was in reserves for a keromedio. While he would not have Zyra's abilities he would inherit the same amount of magic, just over a slower period of time. In time, Rell could be quite formidable. Hm, perhaps his animosity was personal. Rell was the first male he had seen in months. Threatening or not, the testosterone that pumped through his veins was unsettling. Seeing his arms wrap casually around Zyra with her
acceptance
did not make him happy either.
"Rell this is Rair, a fellow huntress of mine," Zyra announced turning to Rair.
"Pleased to meet you," Rell said smiling at her.
She didn't return his smile, but she nodded her head.
"Are we ready?" Kail asked, trying hard to avoid sounding irritated.
Zyra let out a sigh and ushered them forward.
"Fine."
The pace she set was brisk, but they kept up easily. Before nightfall they were at the edge of the border. Zyra was about to propose that they make camp when the air in front of them began to ripple.
Zyra extended an arm out, automatically pushing Rair behind her. Rell grabbed her arm as though he intended to do the same.
Strange, thought Zyra.
"Relax," Kail snapped, glaring at Rell's hand. "They are coming."
They stared in wonder as the air in front of them began to warp and widen like a burn. A thin sliver of translucent colorful light stained the edges of the hole and they flinched when a pale feminine hand reached through the opening. The disembodied arm swayed up and down and the burn widened until a slender cloaked body stepped through. Behind her another figure stepped forward, the gap behind them undulating like a gasping mouth. Horrible.
"Zyra! My
darling!
"
Zyra winced as Etaceh ran to her and scooped her up in her arms.
"Oh my baby! How I've missed you."
With a growl Zyra shoved the witch off and took a step back.
"Back off Etaceh, I don't have time for your games."
She watched the blood red lips of dark eyed woman quiver as though she were about to cry.
"But...but Zyra. You're my keromedio. You're mine now. I'm practically your mother. We're practically sisters..."
"I have a mother. And a sister," Zyra snarled, watching as Rair regarded the witches with both awe and suspicion.
"I don't want nor need you."
"But think of what I've done for you!" Etaceh shrieked mournfully. "Even after you left I..."
"Etaceh," Caligula hissed. "
Stop
it."
They watched as Etaceh roughly internalized her feelings. She appeared to swallow them back and they caught once, like a large lump was stuck in her throat. When it was gone, she became the sinister, jovial witch that had enjoyed torturing them.
"Oh Caligula, you're no fun."
Caligula didn't look at her, his eyes were instead focused on Kail.
"You know you cannot go with them," he said firmly.
"I know this," Kail said easily. "But I would ask to have a word with you."
Caligula's face remained stoic and he peeled his eyes away from Kail long enough to looked at the others.
"You seem to have grown," he said to Rell. "Good, you're more useful then."
"I thought you did not need him unless I failed," Zyra uttered, glaring at him.
Caligula smirked in amusement.
"We don't. We need you, but Etaceh wanted to make sure that the call was strong enough to summon the both of you. Should you ever fail, we now know that the magic is well embedded into Rell."
"So this was a test?" Rell said in disbelief. "I travelled for 6 days for a test?"
Caligula's smirked widened, but he did not answer him. Instead he looked at Zyra.
"Why is your arm bandaged? Are you injured?"
Zyra looked at her arm. She had covered it again out of habit.
"No, I..."
"Then take it off," Caligula said frowning.
"Why?"
"It is our mark you bear," he said, his voice no longer amused. "To cover it means it shames you. This shames us, take it
off.
Zyra stared at him for a moment then began to undo the knot that held the bandages together.
"Here, let me help you!" Etaceh said gliding forward.
Zyra held her breath as the witches red fingernails twisted furiously to unwind her bandage. They moved so furiously it looked like two spiders were scratching and drawing blood on her arm. She shivered. When Etaceh had pulled it from her she looked up at Rair who was slightly behind her.
"Well...hello there," she said warmly. "I don't recall having seen you before. What a pretty thing you are." She took a step towards her, a hand outstretched.
Zyra stepped back from Etaceh, leaving the bandage in her hand. She immediately placed herself in front of Rair.
"Leave her alone," Zyra said firmly.
"What are you?"
They both looked at Rair who had spoken for the first time all day. Etaceh and Caligula looked at one another before Etaceh laughed.
"We are witches," she said smiling at Rair. "We are the ones whom Zyra has told you about."
"She hasn't spoken about you."
The witches turned their attention back to Zyra.
"She hasn't?" Caligula said curiously.
"No."
An awkward silence followed until Etaceh clapped her hands.
"Well, you'll learn plenty about us on your...visit young Rair."
Both Rovians flinched when they heard Etaceh say Rair's name. They had never told her Rair's name. She had been toying with them. She knew exactly who Rair was. Rell looked equally as pained.
"What do you want then?" he asked, glancing back at them. "Should we return to our villages?"
"No you are needed."
"But I thought you said."
"All that will be explained inside of the Marble Tree," Caligula declared. He turned back to Kail. "Now go."
Etaceh pointed to the rippling void. Peeking inside Zyra saw that it was a portal directly to the inside of the Tree. All they had to do was step over the border and through the hole.
"Zyra!"
She looked at Kail and swallowed hard. She wanted to touch him, to say something that would take that stricken look off his face. His yellow eyes burned into hers.
"Do whatever you must to return," he gritted firmly. "
Whatever
you must. Promise me."
"I will," she replied.
She took a step towards him to say goodbye, but Caligula's back was suddenly blocking her way. He glanced over his shoulder, his purple eyes slitted. Dejected she turned from Kail and took Rair's hand.
"Hold on," she said to the calm level headed woman.
For a village huntress, she was taking this all rather well. Rell took her other hand and together, they stepped through the void.
Etaceh disappeared behind them and the void contorted, twisting and turning until it sealed closed.
Kail watched as Caligula's eyes narrowed, his lip upturning to a grin.
"So, you have seduced our keromedio? Have you bedded her yet?"
"What are you planning?" Kail said gruffly. "The magic inside her in unstable. It hasn't even been a year. Why couldn't you have waited?"
Caligula snickered, his purple eyes raking over Kail with disdain.
