Chapter 12
Alchera
After not getting much sleep , I wake up while it’s still dark out, feeling like a truck ran me over.
Every muscle aches so badly it takes me a few minutes just to get to my feet and to slowly stretch out.
Letting out a groan, I make my way to the tub and open the faucets. I brush my teeth and untangle my hair before getting a clean set of clothes from the cupboard.
God, I’m not looking forward to today at all.
Once the tub is full, I close the faucets. I strip out of my nightgown and sink into the balmy water.
Oh yeah, this is much better.
Slowly, my muscles begin to unwind, and I let out a satisfied moan.
Soooo much better.
I soak until the water starts to cool before I wash my body with my right hand, seeing as my left shoulder is still tender. I thought it would’ve hurt more but whatever the healer gave me must speed up the healing process.
Thank God for small mercies.
Once I’m done, I climb out of the tub and dry myself off before putting on the clean clothes. The more I move, the better I feel, and when I walk out of my living quarters, the sun’s just starting to peek over the horizon.
Leaving the camp, I climb a hill that leads to Roark’s camp, and at the top, I stand and watch as the sun rises.
The pinks and purples in the sky are beautiful, and for a while my mind is clear of all worries. I let my eyes roam over the natural beauty around me, and I get glimpses of a creek that’s twisting through trees and shrubs to my left.
“Please tell me you didn’t sleep out here,” River suddenly says from behind me.
I turn around to face him while shaking my head. “I just got up early.”
“I saw you standing out here and thought you could do with some coffee before the training,” he says as he hands me a cup of coffee. “How do you feel?”
“Better.” I take the much-appreciated caffeine from him. “Thanks.”
We stand in silence for a while, just enjoying our beverages, then River says, “It will get easier with time.”
I nod, my eyes drifting over the picturesque landscape.
A moment later, he says, “Come, it is time for breakfast before training.”
Even though I didn’t eat yesterday, I shake my head and hold my empty cup out to him. “You go ahead. I’m not hungry. Thanks again for the coffee.”
Luckily, River doesn’t argue, and when he walks back in the direction of our camp, I sit down on the grass and pull my knees up to my chest. Wrapping my arms around my shins, I stare at the fields and wildflowers.
The visions I’ve had fill my mind, and I wonder if all the training isn’t for nothing.
Will I be able to become stronger?
Will I save the chosen ten or die long before I can even try?
When I think of the billions of people that will be killed, my heart aches and frustration pours into my chest.
God, how can any of this be fair?
I hear movement behind me, and a second later, Raighne sits down beside me, resting his forearms on his knees.
Minutes pass as I stare at the flowers, then he asks, “How do you feel?”
“Better.” I turn my head and let my eyes drift over his attractive features. “What happened last night?”
A heavy breath escapes his chest before he meets my gaze. “I can move things.”
I nod. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because yesterday was the first time it happened.”
“Oh!” My eyebrows lift. “Well, congrats on getting a new power.”
It’s better than having visions.
“Talent,” he corrects me. “We call them talents.”
Giving him a curious look, I ask, “Do you have any other talents I don’t know about?”
The corner of his mouth lifts, and he climbs to his feet. Reaching a hand out to me, he says, “You’ll find out soon enough.”
When I take his hand, his fingers wrap around mine. He pulls me to my feet and doesn’t let go immediately but instead steps closer to me.
He lifts his other arm, and his fingers brush over the cut on my throat that’s healing much faster than it would’ve on Earth.
Something electric ignites between us, and it rushes through my body.
Oh wow.
All the emotions this man has made me feel since we first met flood my chest. Once again, I stand before him with a racing heart and fluttering stomach, trying my best not to fall in love.
It feels like I’m fighting a losing battle, and unable to hold back, I close the distance between us and wrap my arms around his waist. Hugging him might be overstepping, but I really need it right now.
Luckily, he doesn’t push me away but instead wraps me up in a tight embrace.
Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath of his scent.
He smells so good.
I wish I could just stay in his arms and forget about everyone and everything .
Raighne’s hand brushes up and down my back, and he presses a kiss to the top of my head. It feels like something a protective father would do and not a man who’s romantically interested in me.
Shoot.
Reluctantly, I pull back while trying to hide the disappointment I feel.
“I better get my butt to training,” I mutter, my tone sounding awkward.
He just nods, and when we start to walk, I say, “You don’t have to come with me. I can find the field on my own.”
“Where you go, I go,” he grumbles.
Glancing up, I see a frown on his forehead. He actually looks upset.
“Did I do something wrong?” I ask, wondering if hugging him was crossing a line.
He shakes his head but doesn’t meet my eyes.
When we near the field, I see two people standing beneath a canopy of trees.
The man looks different from the others I’ve seen, his light brown hair cut short, whereas Raighne and River wear theirs a bit longer. His eyes are so light they remind me of ice.
The woman is a different story altogether. She doesn’t look friendly at all as she practically gives me the evil eye.
She’s tall and built quite muscular and can probably kick my ass like Brenna did.
“Peace be, Princess Alchera.” Both voices pipe up at the same time. It sounds like a rehearsed phrase.
I try not to scowl at the princess part. “Morning, just call me Alchera.”
The guy is the first to smile, while the scowl remains on the girl’s face.
“I’m Storm, and this is Blair. Don’t mind her, she doesn’t speak much.”
Just then, I hear Roark call out, “Training will begin now.”
As I turn around, I see Raighne standing to the side, talking with River. Great, just what I need, spectators to watch me make a total ass of myself.
Raighne’s eyes flick to me, and he stares for a moment before returning his attention to whatever River’s saying.
“Alchera, Storm will show you how to hold and handle a knife while I finish yesterday’s session with Blair,” Roark orders, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Sure thing,” I say as I turn to face Storm.
Nerves begin to spin in my stomach because if he trains me the same way as Brenna, they’re going to have to scrape my dead body up off the grass.
Here goes nothing.
Instead of jumping into action and kicking my ass, Storm gives me a patient smile. “Watch how I hold the knife. It’s important so you don’t cut yourself by accident.”
As I watch the way his fingers wrap around the handle, a slow smile spreads across my face. He swipes the blade expertly through the air and then holds it out to me. “Your turn.”
I take it carefully and hold it the way he showed me.
“Your hands are smaller. I suggest you hold the handle here for better grip.” He slides my hand further up the handle, and my grip feels firmer.
Storm turns out to be a patient teacher, which I appreciate after the two days from hell I’ve just had.
After a three-hour session of holding and stabbing, I’m not tired at all. Unlike yesterday, where after ten minutes, it felt like I was dying.
Roark finishes up with Blair, and as he heads toward us, Storm takes the knife from me.
“Thanks for being patient with me,” I say. “I really appreciate it.”
The corner of Storm’s mouth lifts in a genuine smile. “You’re welcome. Just keep practicing, and you’ll get the hang of it.”
When Roark reaches me, his eyes lock with mine. “How do you feel today?”
I stare at my brother’s face, that’s so similar to mine, and try not to focus on the sense of loss because I never really got the chance to know him before now.
I swallow the lump of emotion in my throat and answer, “Better. Thanks. ”
“That’s good.” He places his hand on the small of my back, then says, “The first thing you do in the event of an attack is to bend your knees slightly so you can move swiftly and bounce on the balls of your feet.”
I do as I’m told and get a satisfied nod from him.
God, I have a big brother.
The emotions threaten to overwhelm me as he orders, “Now you’ll practice kicking. Stand as you are, then go down to the grass as if you’re doing a squat. Coming back up into your original standing position, bring your right leg up until your foot is at knee level with your left leg.”
I do as I’m told and look at his face as he nods. “Yes, like that. Now, when you kick out, use only your leg muscles. Keep your upper body still.”
I’m so damn happy he’s pleased with what I’m doing that it quickly gets easier to perform the kick.
“Use your arms to balance yourself. Hold them out in front of your chest as if you’re getting ready to punch someone.” Roark adjusts my arms a little, placing my right arm a bit higher than my left.
“With your left arm, you need to block. With your right, you’ll punch while kicking.”
“I’m left-handed,” I tell him.
“Okay, then just switch hands.”
I adjust my arms and carry out the move while ignoring the pain in my shoulder. A grin spreads over my face when I get it right.
“Good,” my brother praises me. “Keep practicing.”
As the hours pass, I get better, and the exercise feels good.
By the time the sun starts to set, my stomach grumbles something fierce, and it has Roark saying, “Let’s call it a day. You did well. Same time, same place, tomorrow morning.”
Feeling like we’ve bonded a little today, I smile at him. “Thank you for taking the time to train me.”
He nods, and lifting a hand, he gives my right shoulder a squeeze. “Go get something to eat, then rest.”
“Have a good night,” I say, watching as he walks toward River before they head back to the camp.
Storm and Blair also leave, and when it’s just me and Raighne, I grin at my guardian. “I actually learned something today.”
“I saw,” he murmurs, not returning my smile.
Damn, is he still upset from the hug I gave him?
He starts to walk back to our campsite, and I follow behind him, wondering why a hug would upset him so much. It’s not like I professed my undying love to him.
Geez, he’s making a big deal out of nothing.
When we reach my living quarters, Raighne just nods at me before heading to his own tent.
I’m staring at his back when I hear Fleur snap, “Where have you been? I’ve looked all over.”
I turn my head to her. “I was training with Roark and Storm.”
Her eyes widen. “Oh wow. That’s such good news. They’re the best, and you’ll learn fast.” The surprise fades from her face, and she gives me a serious look. “But next time, let me know. When I brought your breakfast and found the tent empty, I almost had a heart attack.”
Frowning at her, I ask, “Why?”
She takes my hand and tugs me into my tent, looking as if she’s about a share one hell of a secret with me.
She glances around, then leans in and whispers, “I thought Adeth got a hold of you.”
Having heard the name before, I ask, “Who’s Adeth?”
Fleur’s eyes widen with shock, and her grip on my hand tightens. “You don’t know about her?”
“No.”
“We’re not supposed to talk about her,” she whispers. “She wants to end all life on Earth. She doesn’t want humankind to survive.” Fleur glances around the living room again, looking anxious as she continues, “I’ve heard she wants you so she can stop you from retrieving the chosen ones. You have to be careful. She’s dark and powerful. Always be on guard and never go anywhere alone.”
What the everloving hell?
“You’ve got to be shitting me,” I mutter. “Are you telling me I have some psycho woman coming after me? ”
Fleur steps closer to me. “We’ll keep you safe. I just thought you should know so you don’t wander off alone.”
Remembering my vision from the night before, my eyes widen. I quickly pull my hand from Fleur’s and turn my head away so she can’t see the worry on my face.
“I’m pretty hungry,” I say. “Want to go get us some food?”
“Oh yes. Of course.” Luckily, she doesn’t pick up on my change of mood and she quickly leaves.
Adeth.
Is that the name of the woman I saw in my vision? The one with the guy called Ares? Are they a team?
God, does the vision mean they’ll get a hold of me?
I remember the agonizing burning, and wrapping my arms around my middle, my teeth worry my bottom lip.
When Fleur returns with two plates of meat, veggies, and mashed potatoes, my appetite is long gone.
I take a seat and give her a smile as she hands one of the plates to me.
Not wanting to talk about Adeth, I steer the conversation in a different direction by asking, “Is there something going on between you and River?”
Fleur almost chokes on the bite she just took and clears her throat before asking, “What makes you think that?”
“You almost choking, for one.” I force a grin to my face. “You really like him a lot, don’t you?”
Worry flashes over her pretty face. “By Awo, is it that obvious?”
Not wanting her to panic, I shake my head. “I just picked up on the way you look at each other.” I scoop a bit of the mashed potatoes onto the fork, then add, “I think you’ll make a cute couple.”
“The way we look at each other?” she asks, her cheeks turning pink. “River doesn’t even know I exist.”
I lock eyes with her. “Trust me, girl. He knows. You’re the nicest person I’ve met on Vaalbara, and I’m sure he sees it too.”
A wide smile spreads over her face. “Do you really think so?”
“Of course. You’re beautiful, and he’d be blind not to see you. ”
A dreamy expression fills her eyes, then she leans forward and whispers, “I’ve had a crush on him for years. Don’t tell anyone.”
“Your secret’s safe with me.”
We chat about random things while we enjoy our food, and when Fleur collects our empty plates, she says, “Don’t run off without me tomorrow.”
“Do you mind getting up early?” I ask.
“Why?”
“I’d like to watch the sunrise.”
She nods, then says, “See you at the crack of dawn.”
“Bring coffee,” I add before she can disappear out the door.
“Will do,” she chuckles.
I get up from the chair and head to the bedroom. While I go through my nightly routine, my thoughts alternate between Raighne’s behavior today and the visions.
Once I’m dressed in a white nightgown, I walk to the living room and stand in the open doorway. My eyes drift over the other tents and a bonfire where a group of people are sitting on logs.
When I see Fleur sitting beside River, the corner of my mouth lifts.
I recognize Storm, then my eyes land on Raighne. He’s smiling at something a woman says, and there’s an unexpected burst of jealousy in my chest.
Not wanting to see anymore, I turn around and walk to one of the chairs. Taking a seat, I pull my legs up and rest my chin on my knees.
Thinking back to when Raighne pretended to be my friend and how happy I was, the crack in my heart runs deeper.
I looked forward to finding his truck parked in front of my house and our short drives to school. I miss all the times we sat by the waterfall talking about our lives.
Come to think of it, I did most of the talking.
I let out a sigh, and intense loneliness digs its claws into my heart.
Yeah, being on Vaalbara, nothing has changed. I’m just as alone here as I was on Earth.
At least I have Fleur .
I hear movement, and turning my gaze to the doorway, I see the woman from the bonfire and Raighne standing a few feet away from my tent.
She gives his arm a possessive squeeze while saying, “Get a good night’s rest.”
“You too,” he replies.
I quickly look away when Raighne begins to turn his head in my direction.
I hear him come into my living quarters and hate that I feel excited because he’s here.
He takes a seat across from me, and resting his forearms on his thighs, he links his hands. I can feel his eyes burning on me, but I refuse to meet them.
“Have you had any other visions?” he asks.
My heart sinks heavily in my chest because it’s clear he doesn’t have a personal interest in me. He’s just here to do his job.
I clear my throat and lie, “No.” Climbing to my feet, I walk to my bedroom while saying, “I’ll let you know if I have another vision. Good night.”
I don’t hear him get up and leave as I crawl beneath the covers. Gripping the extra pillow to my chest, I listen for any sign that Raighne’s still here.
Long minutes pass before I hear a chair creak, and my heart instantly starts beating faster.
I see his shadow fall in the bedroom’s doorway, and I close my eyes, pretending to be asleep.
When I hear him move closer to the bed, I struggle to keep my breaths even.
He places his hand on my forehead and keeps still for a moment.
What’s he doing?
Does he know I’m awake?
Probably.
“Why are you pretending to be asleep?” he asks as he sits down on the side of the bed, the mattress dipping under his weight .
He moves his hand to my shoulder, and feeling his skin on mine, tingles rush over my body.
“I’m tired,” I whisper.
He’s quiet for a moment, then asks, “You didn’t have any other visions besides the one of being shot?”
The vision of Adeth flashes through my mind, and Raighne’s grip on my shoulder tightens.
He pushes me to lie on my back, and leaning over me, his eyes burn into mine. “Tell me about the vision.”
“I did,” I lie.
He shakes his head, anger tightening his features. “The one of Adeth.”
How did he know? I didn’t tell anyone.
Acting ignorant, I ask, “Who’s Adeth?”
Raighne stares at me for a while before he says, “You can trust me.”
It has nothing to do with trust. I’m just not ready to talk about it.
He lets out a heavy sigh, then lets go of me. “Fine. We’ll talk when you’re ready, but don’t wait too long. It’s important for you to tell me what you see in your visions so I know what to expect.”
As he climbs to his feet, a frown forms on my forehead. It feels like Raighne is able to anticipate what I’m thinking without me having to say anything.
Feeling unnerved, I watch as he leaves the room.
God, I miss the easy-going friendship we had on Earth.
This…whatever’s between us…just sucks all kinds of ass.