Chapter 9
Alchera
The tent is much bigger inside than it looks from the outside.
There’s a room with wooden chairs situated around a coffee table. Brown and cream-colored pillows and soft-looking quilts add warmth to the otherwise bland decor.
We walk further into the tent, which opens into a smaller space with a bed.
Just seeing the covers and pillows, exhaustion washes through me.
All I want to do is sleep until this nightmare ends.
On one side of the room stands a tub and sink. There’s also a cupboard beside a window, a pattern of flowers and vines carved into the wood.
“This will be your home while we train,” Raighne informs me.
I glance around again and say, “Thanks.”
“My living quarters is next to yours. Your clothes are in the cupboard, and your aide will be here shortly with something to eat.”
Nodding, I turn to face him.
For a moment, my anger and heartache were forgotten with all the information that was dumped on me, but the emotions quickly return when I meet his eyes.
Exhausted to my core, I whisper, “I’d like to be alone. ”
Raighne nods, his eyes drifting over my face with worry still etched deep into his features, then he tells me, “Tomorrow will be very busy, so I suggest you get to bed early.”
I stand frozen like an idiot when he leans down, his hand wrapping around the side of my neck. He presses a kiss to my forehead, then says, “I’ll see you in the morning.”
I hate when a fluttering explodes in my stomach, and I clench my jaw as I watch him leave.
Staring at the doorway, I shake my head.
You have to get over the unwanted feelings you have for the man.
Finally alone, I let out a heavy breath and glance around the room that will be my home for the unforeseeable future.
I still can’t process everything that’s happened and feel utterly overwhelmed.
Sighing, I walk to the cupboard, and when I open it, I find a few pairs of leather outfits and boots.
God, I’m going to miss jeans and sneakers.
When I take an outfit from the cupboard, I notice it’s nothing but a short skirt and a leather top similar to the one Brenna wore.
Hell no. You won’t get me dead in this.
On closer inspection I see the bottoms are a cross between a skirt and hot pants.
I throw the clothes back into the cupboard, and walking to the sink, I pick up the decanter and pour some water out into the bowl. Scooping water into my hands, I splash it over my face before grabbing the towel.
As I pat my skin dry, I mutter, “You’re not in Steamboat Springs anymore, that’s for sure.”
My eyes lock on my reflection in the mirror, and I gasp.
The sparkling emerald green eyes staring back at me and black hair with silver streaks look foreign. Never mind the fact that I’m three years older.
I barely recognize myself.
Unable to look at my reflection for a second longer, I turn around, an intense urge to scream building in my chest .
I walk closer to the bed, and sitting down on the edge, I press the towel to my mouth and scream into the fabric.
Holy fucking shit.
I can’t believe what’s happened.
It’s insane.
They just left me at a waterfall and made me believe I was thirteen. They left me completely defenseless.
Tears of anger burn my eyes as I clench my jaw, my entire body trembling.
And five years later Raighne just swoops in and rips me away from the life I had to build on my own.
He made me believe we were friends.
My heart clenches when I think of everything I lost in the blink of an eye.
And now they’re telling me Earth will be destroyed, and I have to save ten people.
God, I can barely keep myself alive. This is all too crazy.
Standing up, my fingers dig into the fabric of the towel as I start to pace up and down.
Holy shit.
What do I do?
How do I begin to process all of this?
Realizing my breathing has sped up, I inhale deeply and close my eyes.
Calm down. You need to think clearly about everything.
I take another deep breath and let it out slowly.
You’ve survived the past five years without them, you can survive whatever lies ahead as well.
When I open my eyes, movement by the door catches my attention. There’s a pretty blonde girl, her hair tied in two pigtails. She gives me a hesitant look as if she’s waiting for permission for something.
She’s at least a head taller than me. Her eyes are something else, though, sparkling like soft pink gems.
“Hey,” I say, tossing the towel onto the bed.
Her face instantly lights up with a friendly smile. “Peace be, Princess Alchera. I’m Fleur.” She takes a step into the room. “I’ll be your aide.”
“Just call me Alchera,” I mutter.
“I brought some food and thought we could eat together. You must be starving.”
She has a beautiful, open smile, but I’d rather be alone. Instead of declining, I say, “Yeah, I can eat.”
Following her out of the bedroom, I make myself comfortable on one of the chairs. When she hands me a bowl of something that looks like pot roast, I murmur, “Thanks.”
I watch as she sits down, giving me a cautious smile before she takes a bite of her food.
Overcome with all the chaotic emotions and memories, I stare down at the bowl in my hand.
“Don’t you want to eat?” Fleur asks.
Letting out a sigh, I scoop up some of the food into my spoon and take a bite.
It tastes much better than it looks, and realizing how hungry I am, I focus on finishing everything in the bowl.
When I place the empty bowl on the coffee table, Fleur gives me a satisfied smile, then says, “You can ask me anything. I’m here to help you while you adapt, and I’ll answer any questions you might have.”
Her features soften, then she adds, “I’m hoping we can be friends.”
Friends. I don’t think so. The last one hurt me enough, thank you very much.
When I keep quiet, she asks, “Do you have any questions?”
I’ve had enough information today to last me a lifetime, but there’s a lot I still don’t know.
I lift my eyes to hers and say, “My memory is very spotty. Can you tell me about the people on Vaalbara?”
Her smile widens again, and she seems relieved that I asked a question.
“We’re called immortalis. Janak and Aster are our elders. They’re also the oldest. Do you remember your parents?”
“Vaguely.”
“They’re our monarchs. You’re a daughter of House Regales.” She looks excited as she asks, “Did you know Raighne’s father is King Eryon’s guardian?”
A frown forms on my forehead as I search my memory, and I remember glimpses of my father and his guardian. “I don’t remember much about them,” I admit.
“Griffith’s his name. He’s our strongest guardian, and he trained Raighne, so you’re in good hands.”
“So Raighne’s whole family guards mine?” I ask.
“Pretty much. It’s their destiny.”
I nod, then ask, “I had normal green eyes when I left.”
“Oh, they changed because your talents are coming into effect.”
“So not everyone has sparkly eyes?”
“No, not everyone.” She lets out a burst of laughter. “Most guardians have purple eyes when they initially bond with a charge. Their eyes change as their powers grow. Griffith’s eye color is similar to that of the lapis lazuli stone, but it just means he can heal the King.”
“Oh, that’s a nice power to have,” I mutter.
She nods, then continues, “Your eyes are emerald, so I think part of your talent must have to do with nature. Brenna’s is onyx, as she is a warrior princess. But if you ask me, they should be ruby red and spitting fire because she has quite the temper.”
Suddenly, she looks guilty for insulting my sister.
“Don’t worry. After running into her earlier, I totally agree,” I say with a chuckle.
Fleur’s smile returns. “Thana’s eyes are golden, like a spessartine stone. Everyone loves her, especially Brenna. They’re very close.”
Great, my sisters are close, and I’ve lost touch with them because I was sent away against my will.
I try to think of something else I can ask Fleur when she gets excited again. She seems to be in her element. “Griffith also has the ability to make himself unseen. Now that’s a talent I wouldn’t mind having.”
“Do you have a talent?” I ask.
She nods. “I can create spells and elixirs. Once the chosen ten have joined us, I’ll study under Aster. ”
“Damn, yours sound awesome. Want to swap talents with me?” I joke. “Because mine sucks ass.”
She shakes her head. “Unfortunately, that’s not how talents work.”
“Raighne said I’m starting my training tomorrow,” I mention. “Will you be there?”
“If you want me there.” Fleur stands up and gathers the dirty dishes. “I’m here to help you with whatever you need, Alchera.” She glances at the doorway. “You should get some rest. I’ll see you in the morning for training.”
“Thanks for the food,” I say as I climb to my feet.
“You’re welcome.”
I watch as she leaves before heading to the bedroom. Kicking off my sneakers, I think about all my belongings that I had to leave behind on Earth.
I wish Raighne had given me time to pack a bag.
Opening the cupboard, there’s only a nightgown for pajamas.
Finding clean underwear, I check the tub, and when I open the faucets and water pours in, I let out a relieved sigh.
As soon as the tub is full, I quickly strip out of my dirty clothes and climb in. Lying back, I close my eyes and let the balmy water ease the tension in my muscles.
God, what a day.
I let out another sigh, wondering what’s in store for me.
I never thought I’d miss Steamboat Springs and my boring life there, but damn, what I’d give to return to the sleepy town where nothing exciting happens.
I soak in the tub until the water starts to get cold then quickly wash my body and hair before getting out. After drying myself, I put on clean underwear and the nightgown.
I’m going to have to do something about pajamas because I don’t like nightgowns. I’m a shorts and T-shirt kind of girl.
I brush my teeth, then take a seat on the side of the bed and use the towel to squeeze all the excess water out of my hair.
After brushing all the knots out, I get up and walk through my living quarters, turning off all the lamps. Stopping by the doorway, I glance outside and see a group of people sitting around a fire.
My eyes land on Raighne, and when I see him smile at another man, there’s a mixture of emotions in my chest. My stomach still flutters at the mere sight of the man, but the crack in my heart because he betrayed me runs deep.
I really fell for his act and thought I finally made a friend I could call my own.
God, I was a dumbass.
A lump forms in my throat, and I wrap my arms around myself.
I trusted him.
For the first time in my life, I was falling in love.
Suddenly, Raighne’s eyes flick in my direction, and we stare at each other for a long moment.
A tear threatens to fall, and when Raighne stands up, I shake my head and disappear into my tent.
Crawling beneath the covers, I let out a quivering breath before burying my face in the pillow.
How am I supposed to process everything?
Something slams into my chest, and I fall backward as excruciating pain tears through me.
Lying on the ground, I stare at all the debris floating in the air as I gasp through the pain.
“Alchera! No!” I hear Raighne shout before he drops to his knees beside me.
My vision blurs as I stare up at him, and I try to focus on his face that’s torn with worry.
Leaning over me, he breathes, “Awo, no.”
I cough, and droplets of my blood hit his neck.
It takes more strength than I have to lift my hand to his face.
My vision blurs again, and I realize I failed in fulfilling my destiny.
I failed .
There’s no hope for humankind.
“You’re going to be okay,” Raighne says, his tone harsh and determined as he presses his hand to my chest.
I feel his warmth flood me, and my vision goes spotty before I start to drift in and out of consciousness.
As I startle awake, a tear rolls down my temple before disappearing into my hair.
Jesus. What was that?
My lips part, and I suck in a deep breath before a sob bursts from me.
Turning onto my side, I bury my face in the pillow as the hopeless emotions from the nightmare wreak havoc in my chest.
Did I just have a vision of my death?
It’s the second time I had a similar nightmare, and if it’s a vision, it means I won’t fulfill my destiny.
Sitting up in bed, I wipe the tears from my cheeks, and as I throw my legs over the side, I can hear birds chirping outside.
Still struggling to process the nightmare, the memories of everything that happened the day before rush through my mind.
Even though I slept through the night, I feel tired as hell.
Climbing to my feet, I walk to the basin and stare at my reflection in the mirror.
The black hair with silver streaks doesn’t look as weird anymore, but the sparkling green eyes will take some getting used to.
With a sigh, I pull the brush through the messy strands before brushing my teeth.
Is any of this worth it if I’m destined to die?
After patting my hands and mouth dry, I walk to the cupboard and stare at the clothes.
I hear footsteps in the living room and glance down at the nightgown I’m wearing. Hopefully, it’s Fleur, and she can get me something else to wear.
I walk to the doorway, but instead of Fleur, I see Raighne, where he places a cup of coffee down on the table.
When he glances in my direction, he says, “Morning, I brought you coffee.”
“Thanks,” I mumble, and moving closer, my eyes drift over the leather clothes that look ridiculously hot on him.
Will I ever get used to the fluttering in my stomach just from seeing him?
God, I hope so.
I pick up the cup and sip on the much-needed caffeine before taking a seat on one of the chairs.
“After you’ve gotten dressed, we’ll head out to the training field.”
“I’m not wearing the clothes in the cupboard. They’re too revealing, and I won’t have my ass hanging out for the world to see.” Trying my luck, I ask, “Can’t we go back to Earth to get my clothes?”
Raighne sits down across from me and shakes his head. “You have to blend in with your people, and that means wearing the same clothes as them, Princess.”
“Don’t call me that,” I snap.
And they’re not my people.
“I want pants,” I demand. “Similar to what you’re wearing.”
Raighne lifts an eyebrow and before he can shoot my request down, I say, “Let’s get one thing straight, Raighne. I’ve been ripped from my home. Twice. Very little makes sense to me, and the least you all can do is give me decent clothes, or you’re not getting shit from me.” I point to the door. “Go get me long pants and a shirt that covers more than just my nipples.”
I’m surprised when he nods, and without arguing, he leaves my quarters.
That was much easier than I thought.
Hey, at least I’ve won something.
While I drink the coffee, I stare at the open doorway. It’s quiet outside, and soon, my thoughts return to the nightmare I had.
Should I tell Raighne about the dream?
I shake my head before the thought can take root.
No one needs to know until it actually happens. Maybe I can use the visions and do something to change the future.