Foretold (Daughters of Saraqael Book Three) (7 page)

After a moment, she said loud enough for only him to hear, “Cherry-almond.”

He stiffened, obviously surprised that he had been found out. She pulled back again so she could catch his gaze.

Smiling, she asked in the same quiet voice, “Do you like it?”

Now his smile looked a bit roguish. “Yes. A lot. But I like the jasmine even more.”

If his dancing with her in order to cheer her up wasn’t enough, that simple statement combined with the look in his eyes told her she wouldn’t have as much difficulty as she had thought to win his love.

And she knew then with everything in her as she looked from Caleb to her family that there was nothing Grolkinei would be able to do to defeat the power they would generate together that afternoon.

Because it would be created with love, with hope and with joy.

They gathered in the large amphitheater that had been established at the center of the Estilorian stronghold. Open to the elements, the circular stone building was ideally situated for what they intended to attempt. It could also comfortably accommodate all of them and assure them of relative privacy. The Waresti and Gloresti contingents standing guard around the building’s exterior would further assure this.

The building was almost completely empty as Skye, Caleb, Olivia, James, Amber and Gabriel entered. They walked onto the sunlit stone floor of the amphitheater’s central performance space where the other elders awaited them.

Gabriel had assured Skye that the elders were fully aware of what had happened. She wouldn’t be forced to once again relate her experience. This came as a tremendous relief to her. Still, as they walked in and she saw all of those intent gazes turn in her direction, she felt very exposed and uncomfortable.

Without her having to say a word, her sisters moved ahead of her, shielding her from view.

Thanks, you two
, she thought with a flush of embarrassment.
I know I’m being ridiculous.

You are not
, Amber countered.
You’re being human.

Although she truly appreciated Amber’s words, she couldn’t help but wish that she could control her emotions as well as her eldest sister.

I’m not controlled
, Amber countered.
I’m hardened. You don’t want to be like that, Skye.

We need your vibrancy
, Olivia added.

They reached the elders and Skye sent out an
I love you guys
as they all came to a halt. Then she focused her attention on Jabari.

The Elphresti elder was, for all intents and purposes, the ruling force over all Estilorians. His was the class charged with wisdom, judgment and governance. Skye was again struck by his appearance. Unlike nearly all other Estilorians, Jabari’s form contained the characteristics of an older being. His dark skin crinkled around his black eyes when he smiled. His short hair was peppered with gray. The backs of his large hands were wrinkled and, she thought, full of character. This was the form he had assumed when he became an Estilorian several millennia ago.

Like her, Jabari was prone to dress in brightly-colored garb. Indeed, she had felt an instant kinship with him for this very reason, and had only grown to love him more as she got to know him better. Today his robes were peacock blue and richly pattered. The undershirt peeking out from one shoulder of the draped robe was a vibrant green. She thought he looked wonderful. When he smiled at her, probably hearing her thought, she smiled right back.

“Thank you for coming,” he said in his rich, lightly-accented voice. His gaze moved from Skye to her family. “As Knorbis mentioned, we have been preparing for this ritual for some time now. It requires a harvesting of power that I cannot begin to explain. In particular, this will be a dramatic undertaking for those of us with the strongest mental abilities.”

Skye glanced at Knorbis and Malukali, who stood side-by-side with Jabari. Then she shifted her gaze to Ini-herit, the Corgloresti elder and the leader of her father’s—indeed, of her—Estilorian class. Ever stoic, he stood with his legs braced apart and his arms held loosely behind his back, his silver eyes gazing placidly straight ahead. In his black tank, khaki pants and combat boots, he looked more ready to enter a kickboxing ring than engage in powerful mental exercises. His taut muscles and the silver tattoos decorating his arms and back merely added to that impression. In point of fact, Skye had learned a great deal about her lessons in self-defense from him.

But she also knew the exotic-looking elder was highly mentally attuned. It was essential that this be the case in order for him to cross the planes, which he did regularly. So she imagined it would be Jabari, Malukali, Knorbis and Ini-herit who would be projecting the most power during this ceremony.

“It will be to the rest of you that we funnel our combined powers so that you may shape it into the shield we need,” Jabari continued.

There were nods of acknowledgement from Uriel, the Waresti elder, Zayna, the Scultresti elder and Sebastian, the Lekwuesti elder.

Jabari turned. “Gabriel, you will serve as the conduit between us and Amber, Olivia and Skye. You must guide them through your connection with Amber so they know what to do.”

Gabriel nodded.

“We do not know what to expect,” Jabari said, again looking at Skye. “For this ritual to succeed, we must proceed with absolute faith that our efforts will be enough.”

She smiled. She already knew in her heart that they would do it. He evidently sensed this.

“Very well. We should get started.”

The elders all began moving into a circle of power. James and Caleb walked a short distance away to observe. Skye glanced at Gabriel and Amber to figure out what she was supposed to do.

Step into the circle and extend your wings
, Amber conveyed.

She did. Olivia stood to her left and Zayna to her right. They touched wings with each other, as did the others, until they stood in a complete, joined circle.

And without further delay, the ritual of power began. It surged through Skye like an electric current. She felt the combined powers of Jabari, Knorbis, Malukali and Ini-herit slowly building. It flowed through the circle in a clockwise motion, rippling up from the tip of her right wing, across her entire body and then out from the tip of her left wing.

Then whispers unfurled in her mind.

Protect us, no matter our class…

No matter our blood.

Repel efforts from those wishing us harm, no matter our class…

No matter our blood.

Guard our every level of thought, no matter our class…

No matter our blood.

The whispers continued, growing in urgency and speed. She watched the eyes of the elders glow brighter and brighter as their power surged.

Strangely, though, the currents of energy running through her were not growing in strength in sync with their brightening eyes. It seemed to have leveled out. And she knew that something was wrong.

We’re disrupting the flow of power
, she sent toward her sisters.
I think they’re trying to curb it because they’re afraid they’ll hurt us.

What should we do?
Olivia asked.

We need to separate ourselves from them
, Skye decided. She wasn’t sure how she knew, but she did.
Move into the center of the circle.

We’ll disrupt them
, Amber argued.
They’ll release the energy they’ve already built up when the circle is broken. It’ll screw everything up and we’ll lose this chance.

Skye understood Amber’s concerns, and recognized them as valid. But her instincts were pushing her in another direction. She glanced around the circle, following the flow of power with her eyes as it made its way around the circle one more time.

And then she knew what she needed to do.

Amber, you need to have Gabriel tell the other elders to close the circle when we move into the center. Wait for my nod, then we need to move and touch our wings in the center.

There was a moment of hesitation.

Believe in me.

Then Amber nodded. So did Olivia.

Taking a deep breath, Skye again turned her attention to the flow of power. She also turned her thoughts to their purpose. They would prevent Grolkinei and anyone else wishing to do them harm from having the ability to do so. She would do whatever it took to keep from being at his mercy that way again. To keep anyone else from being a victim.

And when the power reached her, she collected it all rather than pushing it back through.

She envisioned the power filling her body like sand in a vase, beginning at her toes and collecting in vibrating sizzles of energy until it was centered in her chest, pounding through her with every beat of her heart.

And the whispers swirled into one cohesive thought. Her thought.

Evil will never enter here again.

She nodded and stepped forward. Amber and Olivia did the same, touching their wings to hers. Behind them, the elders closed their circle. And then, with tears caused by the utter purity of what they were doing coursing down her cheeks, Skye slowly sent the power back out.

It circulated from her to Amber and Olivia, multiplying in strength and ferocity. She sensed their growing faith and felt that faith enhance the power they wielded. It seemed they were in a vortex of energy. Their eyes glowed like beams of colored light. It was a wonder the air was so still, as it felt to Skye like they were standing in the middle of a storm of tremendous proportions. And she knew that she needed to send the power back to the elders to complete the ritual. But she sensed that another connection was needed to create the ultimate result they were seeking.

Tell Gabriel that he needs to join us in the middle. And we need James and Caleb, too.

Amber didn’t question her this time. Simply sent out the thought.

Gabriel moved forward. James and Caleb passed through the circle of elders where Gabriel had stood and then the circle closed around them. Once again, Skye used her ability to funnel the power. This time when she pulled it all in, she realized it had extended beyond chest level all the way until it felt the power filled her.

She wanted it overflowing.

She nodded. Amber and Olivia stepped far enough away from Skye that the six of them could all join wings. As soon as she stood with Caleb on her right and Gabriel on her left, she once again began circulating the energy, imbuing it with her absolute faith that they would succeed.

And this time, as it coursed through each of them, feeding off their connection to each other, their total commitment to each other, their love for each other and their belief in each other, the power grew to insurmountable heights. She couldn’t stop her wide smile as her family looked at her with undeniable awe.

Gabriel needs to send it to the elders.

He nodded a second later. When he funneled it back to the circle behind them, she heard several gasps. She guessed they hadn’t been expecting the change that had occurred since the power left them.

Now, continuing to trust her instincts, she closed her eyes and envisioned that the power they were circulating was flowing not just through them, but around them. It seeped into the ground and floated into the air. Every molecule of Estilorian Central had to be imbued with their power of protection. There would never be an unprotected Estilorian or human—or any combination thereof—living within this shield.

And she pictured Grolkinei and Layla screaming in fury when they realized that they would never, ever breech the Estilorian base again in any form.

Her family smiled at her, having shared the image.

After a while, the energy slowed. The glow of their eyes dimmed. As the surge of power faded, she realized that her physical energy level was also draining. She watched the looks of fatigue enter the eyes of her sisters, as well.

Uh-oh
, she thought.

But she had to hold it together until the very last of the energy had been expelled. There was no way she was going to risk it all simply because she was tired.

Once again, she closed her eyes. She focused on pushing the energy out…into the atmosphere…every last ounce of energy…gone.

“What do you mean, you cannot get through?”

Grolkinei paced as he awaited Layla’s response.

“I mean exactly that,” she snapped. “I have been trying for the past hour to send my thoughts through. All of the sudden, it is impossible. It is as though a new barrier has been erected.”

Frustration had Grolkinei’s eyes blazing red. “Try harder,” he said through gritted teeth.

“You do not seem to understand,” she said in slow, condescending tones. “I have attempted every way I know to get through. It is no longer possible. Apparently, our earlier breech was the one that finally prompted them to shore up their mental defenses.”

Growling dangerously, he lashed out with his fist and caught her across the face in a vicious backhand. “Do not tell me you cannot get through. We just did it a few hours ago, by unholy light. I had her in my grasp—felt her beneath me!”

Trembling where she huddled on the floor, Layla wisely changed her tone. “Of course, my lord. I was not thinking of attempting the intrusion while we were joined. We can certainly try that again.”

“Yes,” he responded, running his hands through his hair with something approaching desperation. “I want to get back to her. You made it so real. I must get to her again.”

So they did, following the exact pattern they had used the first time. Only now, there was a definite barrier in place. An unbeliveably powerful one. It seemed to saturate the entire Estilorian stronghold.

And when he realized they would not get through, his scream of rage shook the walls.

The sisters fell one after another as the remaining power was fully dispersed. Amber first, then Olivia and finally Skye. Their wings winked out as they collapsed.

Caleb grabbed Skye as she fell, much as Gabriel caught Amber and James did Olivia. But Caleb’s knees almost failed him as he lifted her and he had to sink to the ground, holding her in his lap. James was in a very similar condition and stumbled over to lean against a wall. It was like half of their strength had been drained.

Gabriel, however, remained standing. As an elder with millennia more experience and power than the two young Gloresti, he was more used to wielding power of this magnitude. And even then, Caleb was rather surprised to note that Gabriel’s step toward Ini-herit was a bit faltering, as though even he was experiencing fatigue.

Ini-herit moved forward. Gabriel had evidently conveyed a thought to the Corgloresti elder, who had some healing ability. Walking up to Amber, he placed one hand on her forehead and another on her lower abdomen. His silver eyes flashed briefly.

“They sleep,” he said at last in his unemotional monotone. “All is well.”

Caleb exchanged a relieved look with James. Neither of them had wanted to consider the alternative, but they had felt each other’s alarmed thoughts when they watched the sisters fall. Since Skye was sitting in his lap, her head resting against his chest, he leaned down slightly to smell her soft hair.

She had amazed them all, he thought. An eighteen-year-old being should not have been able to do what she did. He didn’t think she had even noticed the expressions of the elders as she had taken over the flow of the ritual with such calm and confidence. He was very proud of her.

He would never have thought to do what she did. Taking on the power of the elders? Not possible. But she did.

And she had further determined that he and James were required to finish the ritual. As soon as Gabriel sent the thought to them, Caleb’s first thought had been,
Of course.
They were all bound together, for good or for bad. What did it matter that he and James were less than a century old? The sisters were far younger, but rather remarkably powerful. Now they all shared some of that power.

They really were going to change everything.

He noticed the elders approaching. They glanced from one sister to another, ultimately focusing on Skye. He imagined their thoughts were flying rapidly between each other.

Ini-herit had paused briefly by Olivia to place a hand on her head and now walked to Skye to do the same. After a moment, he nodded. “She will sleep for a while,” he predicted, catching Caleb’s gaze. “To restore her energy.”

Then he surprised Caleb by placing a hand on his head. His eyes glowed liquid silver again and Caleb felt renewed energy flowing through him.

“Thanks,” he said, prompting a nod from the elder.

“I have never felt anything like that,” Zayna said, her brown eyes wide. She moved closer to Skye and gazed down at her, her bright yellow skirts brushing Caleb’s leg. “How did she contain all of that power by herself?”

Jabari stood beside Zayna. “She believed she could. So she did.”

“Such faith.” Malukali shook her head in obvious wonder.

“Energy such as hers does not exist among Estilorians,” Uriel said, his muscular arms crossed over his chest. “It is far too pure.”

“It didn’t exist here,” Gabriel corrected. “It does now.” He caught Caleb’s gaze.

“We have always known that Skye was the most vulnerable to a non-physical attack,” Knorbis said. “Her absolute faith and open-mindedness make her more susceptible to the influences of others who would wish her harm. But it also allows her to do what she just did…wield power greater than any one of us could possibly handle.”

“Did you sense how she sent the energy out?” Sebastian asked in his deep, calm voice. “Control like that is beyond the ability of most Estilorians, even those with centuries of being. I did not expect it from Saraqael’s youngest.”

There were murmurs of agreement.

“I have no doubt that this ritual was successful,” Jabari said. He looked at the perceptive Wymzesti for confirmation and received Knorbis’ nod. “I believe that we should perform this same ritual at each of the class homelands as we bring Saraqael’s daughters there to introduce them in the coming weeks.”

Caleb and James frowned.

“Why don’t we see how they get through this experience before we go jumping on that idea,” Gabriel drawled dryly. He shifted Amber’s weight. Her limp arm slid from her waist to dangle lifelessly in the air. Caleb had to steel himself against a smile, as he realized Gabriel had done it deliberately to achieve a dramatic effect.

“Of course,” Jabari agreed, bowing his head in acknowledgement. “We can meet again to discuss this after they have regained their energy. They should most definitely have the option to decide against doing this again.”

As Caleb caught James’ gaze and then Gabriel’s, they all exchanged similar, concerned thoughts. They all knew the sisters would never say no to the elders’ request.

No matter how much it put them at risk.

Amber, Olivia and Skye slept through the rest of that day and night and well into the following morning. None of them so much as turned over throughout the hours of the deep sleep.

Caleb wasn’t sure whether or not to be concerned. Skye didn’t generally move restlessly during the night, but she did always sleep on her side. At the moment, she was resting on her back in the same clothes she had worn during the ceremony. Gabriel said in a low tone that the sisters looked like they were in comas, whatever that meant.

The hours passed with excruciating slowness. He tried passing time with Gabriel and James playing cards, but none of them had been able to focus. Besides, Caleb was more comfortable being in the same room with Skye.

His mattress remained on the floor where he had left it. Pavati, the Lekwuesti overseeing Skye’s needs while she was at Central, had been told by the Lekwuesti commander, Caoilinn, to remain away until summoned, so there was no risk of someone seeing the moved mattress and making comments. Besides,
archigos
Gabriel now already knew about it, as did the Wymzesti and Orculesti elders. It wasn’t as though they were coming down on his head for it.

Thinking of the two other elders reminded him of the conversation he’d had with Gabriel and James shortly after placing the sisters down to sleep. It had been a topic at the forefront of his mind since he first understood what happened.

“They were with each other when Skye was taken by Grolkinei,” he had said.

James’ eyes had widened at that. He glanced at Gabriel for confirmation.

Their leader sighed. “Yes. They have feelings for each other and have a…physical relationship. The timing of their joining last night happened to coincide with Grolkinei’s efforts to get through. The combination of Malukali being, uh, distracted and Grolkinei joining with Layla to enhance their efforts led to the Mercesti’s success in getting through the protections we had in place.”

Caleb had wanted to be furious with the two elders, but after having had a few hours to consider it, he understood that the timing was just ridiculously unfortunate. Gabriel had been right that the one to blame for what had happened was Grolkinei. And Knorbis had been equally correct that Malukali could certainly not protect every single Estilorian—or half-Estilorian—every single hour of every single day.

Thank goodness they had successfully solved the problem of this possibly happening again, he thought as he paced beside Skye’s bed. He didn’t think he’d ever get a decent night’s sleep if he thought she could be vulnerable like that again.

“Wow,” she said suddenly, sitting straight up in bed. “How long was I out?”

He stopped pacing and stood beside the bed. “All the rest of yesterday and through the night. It’s morning now.”

“Gotcha,” she said, giving him a small smile. “That explains the full bladder. Guess I’ll shower while I’m at it.” She eased gracefully from the bed and stopped at her wardrobe, pulling out some items of clothing in various shades of purple. “See you in a bit?”

“Of course,” he replied, completely unfazed by her rapid speech and movements.

When she smiled again and turned to head into the bathroom, humming as she went, he knew everything really was going to be okay.

He communicated to James and Gabriel using their connection that Skye was awake. Since Olivia and Amber were still sleeping, James offered to monitor Skye from the bedroom beside hers while Caleb took a shower. He was happy to take him up on it.

While Caleb was getting dressed after his shower, James sent out the thought that Olivia was awake. Glad to hear it, he responded that he was out of the shower, so James was effectively relieved of duty where Skye was concerned. He pulled on a dark orange tank and khaki pants, but didn’t bother to put on his boots or socks yet, going barefoot as he tugged his hair into a ponytail. Then he brushed his teeth and considered himself ready.

Skye’s off-key singing got louder, telling him she had opened her bathroom door. He hung up his bath towel and then walked over to her room.

When he walked through the adjoining door into her room, he chanced to look through the two other sets of adjoining doors that were open between her room and Olivia’s. James and Olivia were engaged in a rather amorous embrace. Almost out of the range of his visibility, but not quite.

Without breaking stride, he walked right to Skye’s other adjoining door and closed it—quietly—to give the couple some privacy.

“What’s up?” Skye asked curiously.

She was wearing a dark purple tank with a light purple butterfly stitched across the bodice. It was matched with dark purple leggings and one of her favored filmy overskirts in shades of light and dark purple mixed with light blue. Like his, her feet were bare. Also like him, she had pulled her hair back into a ponytail. Of course, hers was tied with some kind of girly ribbon. Her light blue eyes looked wide and incredibly innocent as she tilted her head and awaited his response.

“Nothing,” he muttered, rubbing a hand across the back of his neck and avoiding her gaze.

“Oh, I get it,” she said with a grin. “You saw James and Olivia kissing, didn’t you?”

He could feel himself flushing. Rather than answer, he shrugged.

“Why did you have that look on your face when you saw them?” she asked. “You looked, I don’t know. Put off.”

Put off? What did that mean? He looked around the room as though he could find an escape from the uncomfortable conversation. Then she advanced, that smile teasing her full mouth.

His eyes suddenly focused on her mouth, and he found himself admitting, “I just don’t see the appeal.”

That made her pause. “You don’t understand the appeal of kissing?”

He shrugged again, feeling foolish. “What’s so appealing about sticking your tongue in someone else’s mouth?”

She raised her eyebrows and seemed to give his statement some consideration. He was deeply relieved that she didn’t burst into laughter over his obvious ignorance. Instead, she said, “Huh. I can see your point. When you put it that way, it does make you wonder what all the fuss is about. It sounds kind of gross.”

Blinking in surprise, he said hesitantly, “You haven’t tried it?”

“No,” she responded. “Did you think I had?”

He wasn’t about to say that he couldn’t imagine her with any other male without it making his eyelid twitch, so he just went back to the shrug.

“Well, I haven’t,” she said. “The guys near where I lived weren’t quite that bold. More’s the pity.”

She gave him one of her bright smiles. Anxiety shot through him. And then she asked the question he hadn’t ever anticipated when they began the conversation.

“So, you wanna try it?”