Chapter 50
CHAPTER FIFTY
From the ashes, she will rise
As she was always meant to be
Erased from memory,
Yet she was born to soar
Fire knows its own,
Even when all forget
When she reaches her crescendo,
It will be the beginning of the end
The words are whispered in my ear by the male voice of my dreams. I don’t really understand what he’s doing here right now, but since he is part of my consciousness, it makes sense he is with me when it all ends.
Something touches my cheek, like a snowflake, just as light, but…not as cold. The scent of smoke fills my nose and when another flake lands on my forehead, I open my eyes.
The thick, toxic smoke is gone and replaced by the crisp scent of snow with a hint of burned wood. I blink against the dizziness that makes my world spin. My body aches, which I realise can only mean one thing.
I am not dead.
My fingers dig into the damp soil that is underneath my palms. Soil, no wooden floor, because the cabin is gone, the flakes are ashes drifting through the sky.
I quickly push myself up, looking back at my friends who lay behind me, alive but unconscious and…weak, their heartbeats have slowed even more.
The groaning of wood draws my attention away from my friends as the dark figures move towards us. Yet, they remain at the same distance, walking in circles. Only then do I realise why; there is a dome around us, but it’s flickering, like an old lamp.
Would…I have conjured that? A creation of my lash out? A dome to protect us? I willingly send more power into my shield and watch as it grows stronger again, the golden flames thick and keeping everything at bay.
The Myrvael try to touch the shield, but as soon as they do, sparks travel up their branched arms. They try to suck out the energy around me — of me — but my shield doesn’t even flicker, it is somehow impenetrable.
I try to command my fire to burn them down, but all of my powers must be into the shield, because nothing happens.
I count twelve Myrvael walking around us and there might be even more that I cannot see. I need to call for help, but how? It seems like we’re in the middle of nowhere from what I can see.
Think, Maily.
An idea comes to mind, a theory I have to test. I am running out of options. I don’t know how long I can keep them away. I’m sure they will eventually find a way in.
Beautiful sun kissed skin, chestnut curls that lay perfect every single time, high cheekbones and a strong jaw, a mischievous grin, burning amber eyes.
Something tugs inside of me, a little sensation traveling from my heart straight to my head.
Conláed?
Silence remains, but I try again, ignoring the screeching sounds outside of my dome.
Conláed? Can you hear me?
I’m certain I didn’t imagine him talking inside my head that night. I try once more, but before I get the chance, a faint voice whispers back. Maily?
Relieve makes my heart jump and builds another layer around my dome. I can’t believe it worked.
The Myrvael took us, all of us. They are still here, Conláed, and I don’t know how long I can keep them away from us.
Panic washes over me, but not mine. His.
Where are you?
I don’t know, we’re in a cabin, somewhere in the middle of nowhere. You need to bring Althea and the other healers as well.
His heartbeat stumbles. Are you hurt?
I shake my head, realizing a second later he can’t see that.
I’m fine, but please hurry. I’m running out of time.
I’m on my way, sylvaethrin, hold on.
The tingling sensation disappears after that. I keep my eyes closed, to maintain my focus. I hope he’ll find us, I know he will. It’s Conláed, there is nothing he can’t do.
I hear the others stir behind me. Good, they’re okay, at least that’s something.
A cool hand touches my neck and I welcome the relief it brings. “Gorgeous, you’re burning up. Stop this, we can fight them together.”
Not sure why his voice penetrates my state of focus and why I even answer for that manner. “I’m okay, you are not. You’re still weak. I can feel it. I can hold on a little longer, at least until help arrives.”
Deep down I know I’m far from okay, I’ve reached the limits of my power. The lash out this morning asked a lot of me and maintaining this is not a walk in the park either. The rot searches weak spots in my shield, trying to go underneath it to drain us. But I will not let them touch my friends.
I push even harder. Help is on the way, I just have to hold on.
A cool hand touches one side of my cheek, the other one. Someone puts a hand across my heart, on my stomach. Two hands hold my shoulders, another my back, steadying me. Hands land upon each of my knees.
My temperature lowers slightly, it’s enough to win me some energy. My friends are helping me, just like I am keeping them safe. And when a feather light kiss lands on my forehead, I erupt.
Light shines from behind my eyes, changing my view on things to high definition with vibrant colours and exceptional sight. A light beam shines from within me up to the night sky, like a beacon. The flames of my protective dome burn wilder, purple colouring the fire as well.
I feel a tug near my heart, as if someone’s calling out to me. The ground shakes beneath us. More Myrvael? Can they create earthquakes? I don’t think I can protect us from that, but I at least have to try.
Ravaging sounds erupt around us, the snapping of wood as loud as a thunder strike now. It goes on for a couple of minutes, maybe longer and then, utter silence.
Two heartbeats pass.
Open your eyes, sylvaethrin, you are safe.
Conláed. He is here. I open my eyes, or at least try to, but my body refuses to cooperate.
“Maily. Open your eyes for me.”
The command is clear in his voice and when I try to open them now, my body listens and there he is, my rescuer. I know I should feel relieved, and I do, but the all-deep bone-chilling exhaustion is taking the upper hand.
He reaches out a hand and tugs on one of my curls. “It suits you, I like it.” A little confused — and hazy — I too grab one of my curls, noticing a warm red lock instead of the dull black I’m used to. That’s odd…yet somehow it doesn’t surprise me, as if I knew it was coming all along.
The ground surrounding the dome is pitch black, all of the energy sucked out of it. My dome still burns, but seeing the danger is gone, I slowly pull the fire towards me. Althea’s acolytes swarm us immediately.
I place a hand on the earth, the feeling somehow soothing me as I try to remain up right. “You found me.”
Conláed’s hand grazes my cheek and I close my eyes automatically. “I will always find you, feather, no matter where you are.”
I try to stand up, ignoring everyone behind me that tells me I should stay down and search for support with Conláed when the waves of dizziness won’t go away. He carries me. I know my feet don’t touch the ground. I can’t be bothered by it.
Althea comes into view, draws something on my forehead and pushes something in my hand. “For the dizziness,” she says and I quickly put the small flower into my mouth.
“Are my friends okay?”
She offers me a kind, tentative smile. “I don’t know how you did it, my dear, but you healed every one of them. They are all doing great, it’s you I am worried about.”
I look at Conláed, seeing the worry in his eyes as well. “Can you take me to the Academy, please?”
He gives Althea a quick look. “Watch her closely, Conláed. she isn’t out of danger just yet. We will leave as soon as we can, I’m not sure how long they will be out.”
He nods. “Have you ever ridden a dragon before?”
A dragon? What kind of question is that? I’m about to say no, when he morphs into this magnificent creature with black and golden scales. He’s huge, the size of the clocktower huge.
I watch my friends, see how they are taken care of by the acolytes. They look tired, but will be fine, I know it for sure. When worried glances start to find me, I turn away. I know what they think, but I don’t have the answers.
Conláed lowers his head and slowly blinks at me with his golden eyes. Move closer, feather, I’ll help you get on.
Unsure of how he’s going to do that, I walk towards him and see how his flames curl around me, lift me from the ground and gently place me at a safe place on his back. They also form some kind of grip around me, keeping me seated and warm.
Hold on tight.
Right before he launches up in the night sky, an uneasy feeling tugs at my insides, demanding for me to look to my right, towards the forest that surrounds us.
Dark green, venomous eyes blink at me, the face that goes with it beautiful yet terrifying. Her smile is pure evil and I grow ice-cold at the sight of it. She whispers something on the wind and it follows me even when we’ve left the clearing far behind.
I am coming for you.