CHAPTER XII #7
“You are the Human Reborn,” he corrects, “the more you fight against that, the harder the summoning is going to try to push out.”
“Show us,” Sianoa demands quietly from my side, “show us what you’ve already been able to do.”
I shake my head at the two of them. “Nothing. Nothing large. I can write…”
“Alexis,” the Ancient’s voice is stern and consoling “Show us.”
My eyes dart around the small room, to the dimly lit walls without any windows or view of outside.
“It’s Hirovale’s,” I deny again, “his summoning that I’ve been able to practice.”
“Then show us his summoning,” Heysan stands from his seat, looking at me curiously. “Show us what he’s already taught you.”
My thoughts drift to the night in the Southern Palisades when the Ancient of Death walked so strongly towards me, gripping me tight with the night air that consumed my full body.
He wanted me to fight against him, to expel his hold and the clutch that made my body unmovable.
I also think of the white mist that always seems to travel at his feet, the same that surrounded the Queen and I in her rose gardens when he appeared.
I was able to move that mist in my bathing room back in Bardot. Could I do it again?
“He hasn’t taught me much of anything,” I shrug, watching as Heysan visibly frowns. “Anything that comes from me is just a reaction to what he is already doing.”
Both brother and sister turn towards eachother, their glances quiet and hidden. It isn’t until Heysan scoffs in anger that they resume their conversation.
“What is the fuck is he playing at!”
“I don’t know,” Sianoa sighs, “but our brother always has his reasons.”
“He hasn’t even been teaching the girl? All of this talk about remaking the Old World. Telling us to trust his champion! And he doesn’t even spare the time to teach her how to summon?”
Sianoa turns her green eyes on me. “Anything you’ve been able to summon has to do with the elemental air, yes?”
“Yes.”
“That air is around us now, Alexis, even if you can’t see it,” Heysan folds his arms over his chest in small anger. “Move it. Push it towards me. Command it to follow your lead.”
Why would I want to? The thought leaves my mind before I can stop it.
Heysan narrows his eyes and takes a few steps around the table.
“Do I need to goad you into showing us, Human Reborn?”
“Brother…” Sianoa’s voice is cool as I stand up slowly from the table and face him.
“I’d like to see you try, Ancient.”
“Brother, leave it to Hirovale. He has his own plans for her.”
“And we’re supposed to what?” Heysan turns to laugh at his sister, “just wait around for that to happen? So much of his plan rests on her shoulders and she can’t even summon the air around us! Are we really supposed to believe that this is the Human Reborn who will defeat Rivian?”
I scowl at the Ancient of Good Fortune and Celebration, hating the genuine doubt behind his words.
“No,” he looks at me mockingly, “it can’t be her. She fights it too much. Fights him. How my brother has the patience to be with her is beyond me-”
My own anger forces my fingers to flick to the ground at his feet, willing the air to catch his boots and pull them out from under him.
Heysan is completely caught off guard, launched into the air before he falls back down and stumbles on the ground.
Somewhere in the distance I hear the door open again, but all I can look at is the Ancient watching me in shock before a deep laugh starts to tumble from his lips.
“There she is,” he reaches a hand in my direction to help him stand.
I scoff and flick the gesture away, watching as the air slaps his hand down to his side, only making him laugh harder.
“Alexis?” Keane’s voice is cool.
I immediately spin in my stance.
Both him and Desmond are looking at me in hidden astonishment, watching as Sianoa and I stand over her brother.
“He pissed me off,” I explain, moving back to my chair as I reach for Stormfall.
“Thank you for joining us,” Sianoa’s sultry voice greets the King and his brother.
Heysan is quick to take a hard seat to my left, pushing his shoulder against mine as he whispers with a grin.
“You’re the only Human Reborn for us, Alexis… You just need to be reminded of that every so often.”
I turn towards his smirking face, watching his eyes dance across mine in genuine affection.
“Your brother reminds me enough on his own.”
“Apparently not,” he chuckles.
“Alexis,” Sianoa walks the two men into the room, “you’ll need to master the block in your mind with more going on around you. I’ve asked the King and Prince here to train at our side. They’ll move next to us while I try to communicate with you.”
My eyes reach for Keane’s, noticing the small hint of playfulness that rests behind them.
Am I about to see his summoning? What him and Desmond get up to in the hidden alcoves to keep themselves honed?
“I’m game,” I say with a large grin.
“Well this should be fun,” Heysan throws his boots back on the table.
“Where do you want us?” Keane smirks, eyeing me mischievously.
“We’ll sit here,” Sianoa reaches for her own chair next to mine, “within close proximity. So whatever works for you two.”
Keane nods to the woman but keeps his eyes on mine, holding them heatedly.
Ancients, this may be a bad idea.
I watch as he reaches for his dark green tunic and pulls it over his shoulders, extending it in my direction as if to hold onto it.
I shake my head with my own smirk and watch as he rolls up his black satin shirt below his elbows, his eyes glittering on mine before he takes a step back with his brother.
“Let’s start with basic hand to hand,” Desmond stretches his arms behind him.
“Eyes on me, Alexis,” Sianoa says at my side.
I peel my glance away with much, much difficulty.
“Close the door to everything around us,” her voice is amused, watching me knowingly as the brothers begin to move towards eachother. “Do not let them distract you.”
“Fat chance.”
Keane’s summoning hits me hard in the abdomen, his want and need dripping into my lower body as I shift hot in my seat. I look towards him quickly with a grin, spotting as Desmond extends a heated punch towards his face in which Keane blocks effortlessly with a grin of his own.
Eyes on me, Sianoa’s laughing voice fills my mind.
I scowl and look back at her, watching the black snake move across the door as it shuts out the sound of her voice.
I’m not a fan of you right now.
The boys pick up speed as they move next to us, their feet and steps quicker than I ever could have envisioned. They move with such swiftness that they turn into thick blurs from the corner of my eyes, the sight of it so amazing that I can’t help but marvel at the two Discerni.
“You’re not even trying,” the King chuckles at his brother, grabbing the foot Desmond sends his way.
He twists the Master Informer’s boot and pushes him to the side, grinning when Desmond disappears in the next breath using his stealth.
“That’s better.” Keane’s lips turn up in a sly grin.
Fucking Ancients, I’m so hot right now.
Heard that, Heysan chuckles in my mind.
As am I, Alexis, his sister laughs next to me. As am I. But let’s close that door now.
I turn back to the Ancient with a nod, trying beyond anything not to look at the men again.
I’ve seen him in a few of my visions, Sianoa presses through the door, have seen the man that he is to become. You are a lucky woman, Human Reborn.
I’m completely thrown off by her comment, turning my head back to Keane again as he moves in defense at his brother’s unseen attacks. He’s only using his senses now, his leaf-shaped ears perked as he waits for the next blow.
I am lucky, I reply with a small grin.
And you, Alexis…
And me, what?
I have also seen you-
-Closing the door now! I cut her off.
“Hmm,” the beautiful Ancient watches me thoughtfully. “Heysan, give it a try.”
I keep my mind shut to any intrusions.
“She would have jumped in her skin if she heard my last thought,” he laughs, shaking his head.
“Brothers!” Sianoa tips her head to Keane with a smirk. “More please.”
The ground below us begins to rumble as a large white marble stone shoots out from the ground. Keane grabs the summoned staff in his hand, turning his body towards an empty space as Desmond’s cool voice groans at the sight.
“Well that’s not fair.”
My eyes cannot leave Keane, watching as he holds the staff so brilliantly in his hands, his body so perfectly in tune just as Mana is with his kedge. Has he always been adept with this weapon? Was he analyzing my Discerni friend back in Gaumond when we watched him spar with Desmond?
Dear Ancients.
I know he was.
My own summoning flushes through me hard, reaching for Keane with all my hot desire as it pushes against my abdomen and towards him. I know Keane feels it because he hesitates in his next step, the slight mishap landing him straight against Desmond’s unseen fist as it hits him square in the jaw.
Shit.
I hastily turn back in my seat towards the Ancient, lowering my head in a blush as Desmond unstealths himself in surprise.
“What was that!” the Master Informer yells.
Keane twirls the staff in front of him with a grin of pure delight.
“Just distracted, little brother. Let’s go again.”
Here, Alexis, Sianoa’s voice fills my mind, I’m not done telling you what I’ve seen of you.
I frown at the beautiful woman in front of me and will my mind to be completely closed off behind the door.
I don’t want to hear it.
Not strong enough, she shakes her head as Keane lunges for his brother.
I stare into the depths of her vibrant green eyes and add an extra lock, one that has the snake circling its lengthy body around in protection. Sianoa’s eyes bore into mine as she leans in closer, willing me to hear what she has to say as nothing comes through.
My turn, Heysan’s voice chuckles from outside the door.
I’m not done, his sister’s voice pushes forward, the two of them trying to get through.