CHAPTER 22 #2
“Keep her far away from me, promise me this!” Koen commands, his muscles shifting beneath my body. I feel Florian's gentle hands encircle me. “She must never be near me again, or she will die. I cannot protect her. Trust me, brother, do this for me. I beg of you.”
MY TOES TOUCH THE WATER first, sending a chill up my spine, followed by a slow immersion of my body as Florian still holds me close, guiding me into the shimmering waters of Vitaei.
The light from the turquoise water dances across the darkness of the cave, radiating brightly against the shimmering crystals that have formed from the gradual erosion of the walls.
Through my blurred vision, the crystals dance like tiny stars flickering against the dark sky.
This place is beautiful. Now I understand why the Royals are only allowed into the Vitaei.
This place is kissed by their Gods. Perfectly created for the Royals.
It's quiet. Only a soft melody prances around the walls. A soft humming reminds me of the caves in Alaska. I should be nervous that once my body sinks into the water, I will be burned alive. But I don’t fear this, I embrace it.
The chilled water rushes over my body, sizzling as my arm becomes fully immersed into it.
I ache. When will this pain vanish from my body?
But through all of this, he has yet to put me down.
Yet to leave me. He has held me close through the traveling of the realms through the Light Stone.
Has held me close through him sprinting across the Kingdom, ignoring the guards who yelled at him, ordering him to put me back into the dormitory.
They followed us, I heard their boots as the Queen screamed at him.
As Skie screamed at him.
But he ignored them.
And took me straight here.
If I don’t burn from the waters of Vitaei, I fear the Queen might just have my head for this.
The surface glistens like a field of diamonds dancing in the breeze. I silently plead to myself, don’t burn, the thought echoing in my mind.
Don’t burn.
Don’t burn.
I feel too weak, too exhausted, to utter out a plea for Florian to stop, to spare me from the scorching water that awaits me, but it’s too late.
He strides, the water rising to my chin and his footsteps creating ripples in the water that slushes around us.
My hair floats gently on the surface, swaying with the rhythm of the small waves.
My suit clings heavily to my skin, and I’m unsure if it will ever dry after this.
The liquid around me seems to simmer, tiny bubbles rising as if the water itself is coming to a boil.
“Am I burning?” My voice trembles, and a painful sound slips from my mouth. “Is this what happens to those who aren't royal?”
“No, Serene.” He takes his hand, gliding it across my forehead and pushing my strands out of my face. “You are not burning. You are not dying. You are safe.”
I look into his eyes, his amber tones lighting like a fire as he softly smiles.
His golden hair still perfectly sways around his sharp jawline and down to his shoulders.
The scar in his cornea is more defiant in the dark cave, and as I get lost in his melting eyes, I finally suck in a breath, feeling alive once more.
“What is happening?” My eyebrows narrow in as I slightly shake my head. The water ripples, and the soft humming still echoes around us.
He sighs. “You are rising. You are becoming exactly who you are and…” He pauses, leaning closer towards me. “It’s a beautiful sight to see.”
“Koen,” I mutter out, my eyes still dazing from light to dark, as if I can fall asleep at any moment. “Where is Koen?”
Florian’s jaw clenches, rationally looking away from my view.
“He is resting for the first game.” His lips part to deeply exhale, squeezing his eyes shut.
“Do not go near him in the dormitory. Stay as far away from him as possible once I take you back. I haven’t seen this side of him before, something has shifted. ”
No. I don’t want to go back.
How am I supposed to fight dragons in this condition? I fear if the men see me weak like this, they will finally rip out my heart from my chest. They will take my life. I begged Koen to never let that happen, but now, everything is a… mess.
“He won’t hurt me.” My trembling hand reaches up to gently rest my palm against his face. “He has had multiple chances to hurt me, to kill me, yet he didn’t. He stayed by my side every night in the dormitory to protect me. Sliced a man's hand off because he… touched me. He won’t hurt me.”
He won’t hurt me. I repeat this in my head, almost forcing myself to believe this.
He tightens his arms, his chest muscles flinching as my head rests against him.
“The thing is Serene,” his eyes soften as they finally lock onto mine, “I’m not scared of him hurting you.
I am scared of you hurting him. If he dares try anything, and I mean anything, you must stay alive no matter what.
That is more important than any of this. Do you understand?”
“I would never.” I choke on a weak laugh. “I could never.”
“That’s what you say now.” Florian helps me to stand.
My arms shake uncontrollably but I steady myself, my palms drifting along the surface as the light trickles around me.
“If I can find the book of Azure, the written book from the Gods themselves, it will tell you everything. Everything you need to know to fight those who will try and kill you.”
“I am not who you think I am.” I stumble back, catching my balance against the rocky wall that surrounds the Vitaei, my elbow resting over the ledge as I catch my breath. “I am Serene Quinnell, from Seattle, Washington. I am no warrior. I am no Queen. I am no Deskyiara. I am no—”
But as I go to speak, the stone from my arm begins to pulse like a heartbeat.
Calling me towards it. Beckoning for me to…
touch it. My finger traces around it, feeling the heat radiate from it, and drops to where my skin is bonded to it.
It's as if the stone has melted to me. Forever bonding to me.
My eyes widen as my breathing hitches. How is this even real?
“It’s connected to me?” My voice cracks, dropping to a shocked whisper. My eyes flicker in fear as I notice dark lines under my skin, marking down my arm in a pattern. “I—I don’t understand how this is real? How is this happening?”
He moves towards me, the water rippling out from him as the light flickers in the waves and dances across the surface. “It’s real. This is real. The Gods will not let you die tomorrow.” He grabs my shoulder tightly. “The Gods will protect you. I will protect you but…”
His lips tugs into a soft smile. “But you won’t ever need our protection once you unleash who you are. Don’t fight it. Give into it.”
“Give into what!” I grab his hand, ripping it off of me.
I don’t mean to be angry. I know he is trying to help, but all of this is making me feel as if I have lost it.
As if I have gone mad. I fear I am stuck here while Tilly might be fighting for her life, and I won’t be able to get to her in time.
“When the time is right, you will know.” His hand reaches out to me, the back of his finger gliding along my temple and down my cheek. “I will find everything to show you, to make you remember, that this is your home.”
“My home is Seattle.”
His hand drops. “Just because you were raised there, doesn’t mean that's home.”
The guards' boots thud against the rocky gravel path leading to the Vitaei. As soon as they enter the enormous cave, the crystals that brighten against the cavern walls and water instantly disappear, plunging everything into darkness except for the torches illuminating the entrance path.
“She must leave now,” one guard orders, holding a spear in hand. My throat tightens, rage tickling at my fingertips as I notice the blade's tip is stained with red. Is this the man who hurt me?
“She is ready.” Florian nods for me to walk out of the water.
But I am not ready.
My heart beats erratically knowing I will see Koen.
Fear prickles at my spine knowing I’m about to face a dragon.
But as I take my first step towards the unknown that awaits me outside of the Vitaei, my heart sinks.
Is this why he said he should have kissed me before the truth came out? Has he known all along that I might be her, or is there something more he hasn’t told me?
My lips tighten, pulling my emotions in. Hiding them from Florian and the guards. No weakness. I will not be weak again.
I can’t.
My fingers glide along the ledge as I make my way to the staircase that leads me out.
The guards part ways, eight of them total, four standing on each side.
Their spears stand upright as they are frozen, watching me walk through them.
The Queen awaits me at the arched entrance.
Her narrow eyes beam with rage as her foot taps against the concrete walkway.
She won’t enter the cave, just impatiently waits for me to meet her. I pissed off the Queen, yet again.