Chapter 8
Alchera
When I follow Raighne out of the infirmarius, the sun is so bright I have to squint my eyes until they adjust.
I notice we’re in a camp of some sort, then my eyes land on a woman who doesn’t look much older than Raighne. I don’t immediately recognize her.
A glow hugs her petite frame, and she’s the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen. Staring at her golden hair and eyes, I’m at a loss for words.
She moves with such grace she seems to be gliding. Lights flicker over her skin, like fireflies dancing around her with every step she takes.
“I’ll give you some privacy,” Raighne says, but when he turns to walk away, my hand shoots out and I grab his forearm.
Even though I’ve missed my family, it’s clear a lot has changed since I was last here.
Right now Raighne feels most familiar after I spent the past two weeks with him.
Even though I’m angry, I whisper, “Stay.”
Raighne nods and takes a step closer to me.
“My talents have grown since we last saw each other,” the woman says. “I used to have blonde hair and amber eyes.”
My gaze darts nervously over the woman, and when she smiles warmly, it helps ease the tension a little.
“Peace be, Alchera. I am your sister, Thana. Brenna, Roark, and I have been waiting for your arrival with great excitement.”
Wow, she looks completely different from what I remember.
I suck in a deep breath before I say, “Hi, Thana…” An awkward-sounding chuckle escapes me. “I’m sorry. It’s a lot to take in all at once.”
I thought I would be happy to see my family, but all I feel is apprehension.
What if they don’t like me?
What if I’m a disappointment to them after being gone for so long?
What if it never feels like home again?
Thana closes the distance between us and when she hugs me, she smells like a warm summer’s day and blossoms in the spring.
I’m so scared I’ll hurt her, so I keep my touch gentle when I return the hug.
Emotions overwhelm me as we hold each other, and I feel tears sting my eyes.
My heart hurts from getting to hold my own blood again. It makes me realize how lonely I’ve been over the past five years.
“Welcome home, my sister,” she says. “May Awo’s blessings be upon you.” Thana pulls back and holds me at arm’s length, taking in my appearance. “You’re more beautiful than I remember and so grown up. It’s such a shame we can’t celebrate your birthday with you next week.”
She looks at me with so much love I can barely breathe, making my tears come hot and fast. She reaches up and wipes some of my tears away, the look on her face gentle.
Her voice is hoarse as she whispers, “I missed you too, Alchera.”
If all my family is like her, then I don’t need to worry, right?
But I have questions, and I’m hoping she’ll answer them.
“Why didn’t they send you away? Why only me?”
“We’re not so much a threat to Adeth as you are. Awo gave you the talents of visions and hope.”
I stare blankly at her. None of what she just said makes any sense to me .
Her honey-golden eyes fill with sorrow, confusing me.
“Unfortunately, only you can perform the task at hand. We each have our destiny to fulfill in the coming days.”
When a breeze picks up and blows some of my hair into my face, I quickly brush it away before asking, “What do you mean?”
“You had to go to Earth to live as a human,” Thana explains. “You had to feel how they felt in order to have compassion for them.”
I sure wasn’t feeling any compassion toward Robert and his friends.
But the Calders. They were good to me.
“You needed to go on this journey so you’ll understand the chosen ones when the time comes to retrieve them.”
Thana moves away, leaving golden streaks of light trailing in her wake.
“Who are these chosen ones I have to retrieve?” I ask, just glad someone’s actually answering my questions.
Thana sighs heavily, and worry tenses her features before she says, “The end of the human world is coming, Alchera. Armageddon is upon Earth, as it’s been written in so many scriptures. Until you receive your visions, we won’t know who the chosen ones are, but they will be the only ten humans who’ll be saved and brought here.”
My lips part with a gasp as shock shudders through my body.
“All living species on Earth will come to an end. All except for the chosen ones you’ll bring to Vaalbara – the new Earth. You can only return to Vaalbara when you have all of them.”
My mouth falls open as I stare at her in utter shock.
This has to be some cruel joke.
How can they expect me to only save ten people out of billions?
Fear shoots through my body. “I can’t be responsible for saving the human race. That’s insane!” I shake my head wildly. “You can’t expect me to do that. Are you all crazy?”
My eyes dart from her face to Raighne’s. He watches me with a worried look carved into his handsome features.
Realizing they’re serious, horror slams into my gut, and I keep shaking my head at them .
This has to be a nightmare. It just has to. I have to wake up!
“I know it’s going to be difficult, but we all have our parts to play,” Thana says, her tone filled with sorrow. “You’ll have Brenna and Raighne by your side throughout it all.”
My face must show the horror I’m feeling as I gasp, “How can you just stand there and tell me it’s the end of the world without at least trying to stop it?” I look at her in disbelief. “Surely there’s something we can do.”
My heart races in my chest.
Wake up!
You have to wake up.
“The human race has brought this upon themselves,” Thana says, her tone suddenly harsh.
I stare at her as more shock pours into my chest, frazzling my already overwhelmed mind.
I can’t believe she just said that. So many innocent people will die, and none of them deserve it.
Thana lets out a heavy sigh. “They’ve been warned by so many different religions and visions we’ve sent over the centuries, yet they refuse to change their destructive ways.”
I raise my eyebrows at her as I cross my arms over my chest. My voice trembles as I snap, “It’s going to take more than that shitty excuse to convince me it’s okay wiping out an entire planet.”
“They’ve ignored all the warnings, Alchera,” she exclaims before her features soften again. “I feel for them and wish there was another way, but we can’t stand in the way of Awo. They've destroyed their Earth and must face the consequences of their selfish actions.”
She places her hand on my arm, and I watch as some of her light transfers to my jacket.
Her voice is filled with anguish as she says, “In less than three months, the worst natural disasters Earth has ever experienced will be unleashed on them. There’s nothing we can do but to preserve the human race by saving the chosen ten.”
Thana pulls her hand away from me and brushes her palm over her forehead, looking as tired as I feel .
“But there are so many good people,” I argue. “There are certainly more than ten.”
“I know, but it’s not for us to question the ways of Awo.”
“Why me?”
I’m not happy with taking on this responsibility.
Hell, I’m not even twenty-one yet.
“Awo has spoken it,” is all she says.
I vaguely remember that Awo is the source of all life. When you die, your life’s essence returns to Awo.
I suppose humans would call Awo God, but it’s so much more than that.
Needing to know more, I ask, “If I have to retrieve the chosen, then what’s your destiny?”
A smile wavers around her mouth. “I have the power to control water, wind, fire, and earth.” She exhales a heavy breath. “It’s my destiny to ensure Earth returns to dust.”
God, and I thought my destiny was bad.
She has to destroy Earth? That’s horrible.
My chin quivers as I stare at my sister. After long seconds I manage to whisper, “I’m so sorry.”
I don’t know what else to say.
“There’s nothing to apologize for.” She tries to give me an encouraging smile. “It is my destiny, and I’m proud to fulfill it.”
Hoping she knows why, I ask, “Why can’t I see our parents?”
“It’s too dangerous.” She gives me a compassionate smile. “Just trust that it’s for the best.”
Yeah, I don’t think so.
Raighne takes hold of my hand and says, “That’s enough information for now. It’s time for Alchera to go to our camp, where she can wash up and eat something.”
Thana nods. “Yes, you should rest. I’ll see you again once your visions of the chosen ones start.” She closes the distance between us and gives me a quick hug. “It’s good to have you home, Alchera.”
I nod, and when she pulls away, Raighne tugs at my hand .
“See you around,” I say before I follow Raighne in the direction of a hill.
My heart feels heavy from the terrible information I just learned, so I don’t free my hand from Raighne’s and let his warmth flow through me.
In a matter of hours, my entire life has changed irrevocably, and I have the feeling it’s only going to get worse.
As if I’m coming out of a daze, I slowly focus on my surroundings. The first things I notice are the lush fields and hills and the different colors of the wildflowers.
I’ve forgotten how beautiful Vaalbara is.
I suck in a deep breath of air that tastes sweet compared to the polluted air on Earth.
When we reach the top of the hill, I see a bigger camp than the one we just left. There’s a forest behind all the tents and it stretches for as far as the eye can see.
I hear chirping and notice a pond nearby where birds are bathing, and when I glance to my left, I notice mountains in the distance.
As we get closer to the other camp, that’s made up of numerous large tents and a building that stands to one side, people stop what they’re doing to stare at me.
Oh, just great.
I swallow hard as my stomach begins to spin with nerves, and without realizing it, I move closer to Raighne. My cheek brushes against his arm, and it has him looking down at me.
“It’s okay,” he says, his tone firm and filled with confidence. “They’re all happy to see you.”
Suddenly, the crowd makes way for a beautiful woman who looks sexy as fuck. With thick auburn hair that reaches below her shoulders and eyes made of onyx stones, she looks like a force to be reckoned with.
Damn, she gives me the impression she can kick some serious butt.
“You’ve finally decided to grace us with your presence,” she says, her tone biting.
Uhm…come again?
When she stops in front of me and crosses her arms over her chest, I get a full display of her cleavage.
Damn, it must take some powerful magic for the tiny leather top to stay on.
“Brenna,” Raighne mutters. “Watch yourself. You, of all people, know Alchera had no say in any of this.”
Brenna?
My eyes widen, and I stare at her. Last I saw Brenna, she was as skinny as me and wouldn’t hurt a fly, whereas the woman in front of me is nothing short of a warrior.
She takes a step closer to Raighne, lifting her chin as if she’s challenging him.
My eyes jump wildly between them.
“ Guardian , you better watch your tongue, or I will sever it from your mouth,” she threatens him.
From out of nowhere, I’m hit with one hell of a protective feeling toward Raighne, and before I can stop myself, I step between them.
With a look of warning, I say, “Back off.”
Her eyes flick over my face before she lets out a burst of laughter. “Would you look at that? Seems you grew a spine on Earth, little sister.” She looks me up and down as if I’m nothing but a piece of shit. “Sadly, I don’t think it will keep you alive for long.”
Jesus, what did I do to her to make her act so hostile?
“Enough!” Raighne’s voice thunders over us, making me flinch.
He tugs me back to his side, and stepping forward, he levels Brenna with a glare that has fear slithering into my chest.
Raighne squares his shoulders and clenches his jaw, and I can see how much it’s taking for him to stay calm.
“Alchera is my charge, and I have custody over her, which makes me more than a mere guardian.”
His tone carries more authority than I’ve ever heard him speak with, and it makes me feel a little scared of him.
Another man comes up behind Brenna and places his hand on her shoulder. Her head whips around, and I almost think she’s going to attack him, but then she immediately calms down at the sight of him.
“Brenna, this is a time to be happy,” he whispers to her .
She frowns and shakes her head. It looks like she wants to go against him.
He slips his arm around her waist and gives me a warm smile. “Peace be, Alchera. Welcome home.” His eyes flick to Raighne, and he nods. “Brother. It’s good to see you again.”
Raighne’s fingers tighten around mine. “Finian,” he mutters. “Control your charge.”
Finian is his brother and Brenna’s guardian?
I’m surprised when Finian nods and Brenna actually allows him to pull her away. I watch as they whisper to each other.
“What the hell just happened?” I mutter, stunned by the altercation.
“Brenna will come around. She just needs time to adjust,” Raighne says as if all that didn’t just go down.
“She’s been here all along.” I let out a bitter chuckle. “Adjust to what?”
My sister obviously has some serious issues with me, and it makes hurt blossom in my chest.
This wasn’t the family reunion I wanted.
“You’ll both get past this. It’s Brenna’s destiny to assist you, and she feels it’s beneath her. She and Finian will join us when we go to retrieve the chosen ten.”
“By the looks of things, that’s going to be fun,” I mutter sarcastically.
Raighne leads me to a tent that’s situated next to an old oak tree.
“Brenna is also responsible for training you in combat,” Raighne says, dropping a bomb between us.
My eyebrows fly up, and I glance at him. “It looks more like she wants to kill instead of train me.”
“She’s just emotional from receiving her destiny, but she’ll calm down, and hopefully, you can become friends.” Even he sounds doubtful. “Concentrate on the present and leave the future for later.”
I shake my head, highly doubting that will happen.