Bliath: Shattered (11 page)

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Fera was so happy to see Vance it took most of her will power not to run over and throw her arms around him.  He met her with an engaging smile, “I see you have been doing a little redecorating since I was last here.” 

“Do you like it?”  Fera hoped he would, it was one of her favorite places back in Thoren, her and Oren used to go there almost every night.

Vance looked around, he was having trouble remembering she created this place, that it was all an illusion.  It was a dense forest, with sun shining through the trees, and a clearing with a pond, but the most amazing part of the scenery was the waterfall.   His eyes met hers, then he realized he was wrong, she was the best part of the scenery, “Yes Fera, it is spectacular, you did very well.” Fera smiled “Vance, do you want to see more? “  Vance gave her a puzzeled look, “More of what, Fera?” 
“Thoren, Vance, do you want to see more of my home?” 

How could her refuse anything she offered, and he was more than curious about Thoren, no one has been able to go there in a long time.  He felt her start to pull in energy and he watched her face focus, then flip the switch. 

Vance let out a gasp, they were standing on a ridge high up, he was looking down on Thoren. 

“We are standing on the widow’s rock, it is almost at the top of the valley, but you can see the whole kingdom from up here.”  Fera looked over at Vance trying to see if he liked it or not, but he was pale, very pale.  Fera put her hand on his arm, “Vance, are you ok?”

“Fera, this might be a good time to tell you I am not a very big fan of heights.”

Fera moved her hand down his arm and took his hand, “Then I probably shouldn’t tell you how Widow’s rock got its name.”  Vance looked at her with a raised eyebrow so Fera continued, “This newlywed couple went camping for their honeymoon, I know, a camping honeymoon, but keep in mind our options are limited in Thoren, ok so the man was tricked by a wood spirit and followed her off, and when his wife went looking for him, she found him with the spirit on this rock in a compromising position, needless to say she pushed him to his death.” With that she gave Vance a play little shove.  It really wasn’t her fault he over reacted and jumped.

Fera not knowing if a fall in limbo could hurt him changed the scenery, as fast as she could. 

Vance found himself sprawled face first on a very fluffy pink rug, he turned over with a groan, clearly not as amused as Fera was, she hadn’t stopped laughing since the push.

When she was able to control her giggle fit she asked. “Vance, are you ok?” 

Fera held out her hand to help Vance up, he gave her a rueful look. “Fera you know, it is not the height part that scares me, it is the falling, and you made me fall, for that you need to be punished.”  A slightly maniacal grin graced his lips, and before Fera could process what he said, she found Vance grabbing her hand and pulling her to the ground.  He started tickling her, this time they were both laughing so hard.  It had been too long for both of them to go without this kind of soul shaking laughter.  

When the tickle attack stopped Fera found herself looking up at Vance, both still on the cotton candy pink rug.  She couldn’t help but focus on his perfectly sculpted lips, her mind wondered what it would fell like to have those lips pressed on hers, she had never really kissed a boy, in fact, she had never really wanted to before. 

Vance could only focus on her, half in his arms staring up at him, she was by far the most beautiful girl, creature, and or creation he had ever seen.  Without thinking and it was easy to do because when she was around his mind seemed to fog over, he leaned down and gently brushed his lips against hers. His hand came forward cupping her face and she brought her hand up running her fingers along his neck.  When the kiss started to deepen, an electric current sent a shock through them, breaking them apart.

Fera could fill her face redden, she didn’t know what to say, but she knew she wanted more, more kisses, and more of him.  She was disappointed when he stood up and began to look around her old room in Thoren.  “Welcome to my room at the castle Thoren.”  She sighed, and climbed up off the floor to go sit on her bed.

Vance walk around the room, “There is a lot of pink, your favorite color?” 

“I never really thought about it, I mean I like pink, but I am more of a crimson and pear kind of girl.  My father hired people to decorate, I think this is, or was, the attempt to keep me young.” 

Fera tosses herself back on her bed and gazed up at the celling that was painted in a blue and green swirl the only contrast to all the pink.  Vance joined her, both mesmerized in the intricate swirl.

Vance spoke first, “So still haven’t slept Princess?”

Fera couldn’t help but notice every time Vance called her Princess, there was a slightly different tone to it, almost bitter.

“Nope, no sleep, and oh I miss it.  I must say being in my own bed, even if it isn’t real per se, feels sensational.”  

She rolled over on her side facing Vance, he started playing with her hair.  Before Vance knew it Fera was asleep, and she snuggled into him.  He was shocked and not sure what to do, he cradled her to him, softly tracing circles on her back, and soon he was asleep too.

Chapter 16

Vance was jerked awake and back to reality, he was about to yell at Desree, but it was not her angry scowl he met, it was Leo’s and if looks could kill, Vance would be dead at least three times over. 

Vance waited, knowing not to talk first, not to give anything away, and wait for Leo to explain what was going on in his mind, that way he could give a better excuse.

“What are you doing!?”  Leo’s words were sharp and angered.

Vance took a moment, he looked around, he almost feared he was in bed with her the way Leo was looking at him, but he wasn’t he was sitting in the same chair, but he was holding Fera’s hand, and had fallen asleep.  “Desree had an emergency, and asked me to sit with Fera while she was away, I must have fallen asleep, I am sorry your Royal Highness.”  Leo looked from Vance to Fera and back to Vance, just when Vance was sure the Leo was ok with it, Fera sighed Vance’s name and smiled.  At that point Leo came a touch undone, he pulled Vance up and without warning his fist came at Vance’s face, catching his eye. 

“You are now banned from the Rose room and as along as she is on the grounds, you will advert your eyes when she is near and if you must talk to her, don’t find someone else to, and don’t come near her! It will be your head if you forget. Now get out and remember your place shit shoveler!”

It took every ounce of control Vance had to leave that room, he could end Leo right then and there, but he truly had the upper hand, he would be leaving there in a few days at the most with Fera. 

When Vance got to the kitchen to go out the back servants door, he met his mother. 

“Oh what have you done?” she hissed in a low voice.

“Got caught asleep holding a Princess’ hand, and now banished from her presence.”  A cheeky smile emerged “just lucky he couldn’t see into limbo.”

Desree mouth fell open, and Vance had to quickly explain it was nothing bad, and she was asleep, actually asleep.  They sat in the kitchen and he explained their little trip around Thoren in limbo.  His mother particularly loved the part where Fera shoved Vance off the cliff. 

Vance’s eye was swelling and Desree got up to get him some meat to put on it, when she came back at looked at him, she saw he was just as bewitched with her as he was when he was little.

“The next few days are going to be interesting if we have to sneak you in and out of the Rose room.” Vance just smiled at his mom, he knew she would help him.

Desree took his hand, “There is something I want to show you, it is the last time you saw her from our little binding trip.”  She didn’t wait for him to agree.  He spun into the memory much like before.

Vance stood in a room he had been in before, it was just as pink then as it is now.  Fera was laying on a blanket in the middle of the room, and his little toddler form was laying on his side right next to her.  Vance walk closer to her and himself, his little form was holding her hand, just staring at her, but there was a slight frown on his face.  Desree and Riel walked into the room, Riel had been crying, her eyes were puffy and her face was blotchy, but she was beautiful.  Vance recognized some of Fera’s features in her.  Desree lingered in the door way, but Riel walked over and sat down in front of them.  His little form looked up at Riel and pointed to Fera’s wrist, and gave Riel a worried look and asked “gone?”  A tear escaped Riel’s eye, she opened her arms and he climbed into her lap, then she picked up Fera and they both held her.  “Yes little Prince, but it will be back, you will help put it back.”  At that his little form beamed and he looked back down. “Mine.”

Riel let out a pained laugh, and touched Vance’s cheek, “If you only knew little one, I just hope one day you both can forgive us.”  Riel kissed his little forehead. 

Riel lifted up Fera and Desree was in front of them now, she went to pick up his little form, her arms were out, “Come on little man, it is time to go.” 

His little form looked mad and ran to the other side of the room, yelling NO.  Riel and Desree looked at each other, “You know you both could stay, Goodale would not mind, I am sure he would welcome the help raising her?”  A few more tears escaped Riel’s eyes.  Desree went over and crouched down in front of her, “Riel, you know why we can’t, and you have to believe you will be here too, that you can pull off the seal and survive, sometimes in casting magic, hope is enough.”  Vance watched Riel nod slowly, he was watching the exchange between the two ladies to really focus on his little form, who now was standing next to Riel. 

“It ok?” his little form kissed her cheek

A bittersweet smile graced her lips.  Desree took that moment to snatch up his little form. 

“Now Vance please tell them goodbye.”

He leaned down and kissed Fera’s forehead and the baby smiled up at him, cooing, and reached for him.  Desree stood and started to carry his little form out .

“Wait”  Riel calls  as she gets up from the floor with Fera still in her arms and goes over to them, the tears streaming down her face, she leans in to his little ear, Vance is too far away to hear but he can hear what she is whispering just as if she was whispering it in his ear now. “I know you will help her, watch her, protect her, love her, let her do the same for you, and remind her of me, remind her how much I love her, how I protected her, and will always watch her too.” 

The memory is fading out and Vance is left with sad, haunting violet eyes fixed on him when the darkness comes before reality sets in.

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Vance was sitting at the table mouth agape.  Desree was hoping it would trigger a few things in his mind that she was not allowed to tell him, point him in the direction that he need to seek, but like when he was little, he could only see Fera and not the big picture around them, or who he is too and where he comes from.  Instead the first thing he says “How did she know I would find her, or she would find me, or we each other?” 

Desree didn’t answer but instead stood up. “I better get back up the Rose room and make sure all is well and maybe talk to Leo.  

Vance sat in the kitchen for a while, replaying that memory in his head.  When he saw the sun slowly peeking up he figured he better go try to sleep for little bit, and since the barn was closer and hay is soft enough, that is where he headed.

He settled himself down in a big pile of hay, his mind replaying the memory, he knew as soon as he would fall asleep Riel’s sad eyes would haunt him, but he couldn’t stay awake any longer.

Chapter 17

“His heart is beating really fast, maybe we should wake him?”  Larin looked at Vance slightly worried, he had slept almost the whole morning, Larin had taken care of the morning chores with Oren’s help, and now she paced in front of Vance. 

Vance was dreaming if you can call a nightmare dreaming.  He was in a smoke filled forest, he could hear explosions and screaming, smell sulfur in the air, confusion all around, he was moving, but lost in the madness of it all. 

He woke, and shot up, to find Larin looking at him with confusion.  The little girl looked at him with an old soul, “Vance, you shouldn’t meddle with magic before bed, it can cloud your mind and addle your judgment.”

Vance just shook his head.  “Larin, when did you become so good at all this?”

“Your mom said it is because Fera is here, and she has so much energy that she is giving me some, and it feeds my ability, she thinks when you two go, I will go back to normal, but it might get worse before that.”  She seemed so nonchalant about the whole thing.