Out of the Mountain (21 page)

I wrapped my thumb into the top of the towel to stop the blood from dripping onto the floor and screamed when my door burst open. Rowan entered, eyes ablaze looking around the room for the source of a threat. I pulled my towel closer to me.

“What are you doing?” I asked, still shaking from the force of the power.

“You’re bleeding?” he asked noticing the red on the towel immediately. I held my thumb out to him.

“I cut it.” I rolled my eyes while showing him the dagger in my other hand.

“Vinnie . . . you must be more cautious,”

“I did it on purpose,” I grumbled at his tone, and ripped my hand away from him, conjuring my clothing.

“Why did you come bursting in like I was under attack?”

“I felt your shock,” he replied simply, and I sucked in a sharp breath.

“You what?”

“I felt that you were shocked by something, and I smelled blood . . .”

“You felt?”

“I have been sensing your emotions,”

“Since when?” I gasped. That was not cool.

“Yesterday,” he said, eyes heavy with meaning.

“Since we—”

“Yes.” He interrupted me before I could finish.

“Well, stop it,”

“I do not know how,”

“This is not something I need,” I said, embarrassed.

“It is only strong emotions Vinnie, not all of them,” he said as if it should be a comfort.

“Let’s talk about something else,” I said, holding up the dagger.

“Your mother’s dagger?” he asked warily.

“Yes, the dagger you swore your oath to me on,” I said, and his eyes widened.

“How do you?”

“I had a vision of it. I saw our blood intermingle . . . I heard the words you swore to me,” I said with a tingle spreading down my spine at the memory. I knew that was what made our bond different . . . special.

“That is what you saw when you healed me.”

“It was beautiful,” I replied honestly, and he looked away from me.

“I did not keep the oath.” He sounded remorseful.

“Of course you did.”

“I left your side,” he growled, eyes flashing.

“You did it to keep me safe,”

“I tried to find you soon after. I regretted allowing you to leave.” He was searching my eyes for something.

“If you’re looking for forgiveness, I have none to offer,” I replied, and his face fell. “You have done nothing to need it. I don’t regret the time I spent with the monks,” I felt the truth of my words seeping into my bones. I stepped toward him and took his hand. It was much larger than mine and rough, but I didn’t think I had ever felt something as nice. He flipped my hand in his and at the sight of the cut on my thumb, a small smile lit up his face.

“You tried to stop me from touching the blade, as if you were protecting me from harm. You didn’t understand that I knew . . . I knew what I was doing,” he whispered as he pulled my hand to his mouth and kissed it. Chills swept through my body at the contact of his lips on my skin.

There was a knock at the door, and he stepped away from me quickly.

“Come in,” I said too loudly.

“Vivi, are you ready for dinner?” Farran asked as he swept in the door. He looked at Rowan knowingly before he passed by him and exited the door.

“Ready,” I said with a fake smile as I slid the dagger back into its sheath.

***

“Would you stop that?” I sighed, exasperated at Jonah’s attempts to sneak-attack me with fire.

“It’s just so bizarre.” He puzzled aloud.

“Yes, well, I realize that,” I grumbled, and he finally relented. Peyton and Genevieve were standing nearby, whispering in excitement. My eyes narrowed.

“Don’t even think about it!” I warned, and they smiled guiltily.

“Don’t be upset, Vivi. Everyone’s just excited about your potential,” Luca said, putting an arm around my shoulders. I sighed loudly, and he pulled me into a hug. I relaxed into his hold quickly. He smelled really good, like the woods.

“Yes, well, I just hope you’re not all disappointed,” I admitted, and Briony knocked Luca’s arm aside to put her own around me.

“That would never happen,” she said, and I smiled at her.

“I hope you’re right.”

“I know I am.” She winked.

***

The next morning, Farran woke me bright and early and escorted me to training. When we found no guards waiting on the field, he left me with the novices and went to see if something was amiss. It was not normal for us to arrive before they did, and every minute that ticked by felt like an hour.

“Do you think something happened?” Briony asked with concern filling her voice.

“Surely someone would have told us if it had?

“I don’t know, Vivi. We’re not really the first called to the scene yet,” Finley said.

Farran reappeared in front of us, startling us all by his quick return. He didn’t smile, and that wasn’t a good sign.

“Training is cancelled for today. Vivi, if you would follow me please,” he said, taking my arm. I exchanged worried glances with the others before he rushed me off the field.

“What’s going on?” I asked, but he shook his head and didn’t reply. My imagination started running wild, and my nerves kicked up. His urgent pace and sealed lips weren’t helping to keep me calm and thinking rationally. When he led me into Guard HQ and continued taking the route to the dungeon, apprehension flared within me.

When we began the descent of the stairs I felt the hot, sticky press of dark magic in the air, and I could hear loud wailing, even from here. I took Farran’s hand in mine, and we stepped behind the door to the cells. I froze when the wailing sound screeched to a halt. My eyes searched the room and found Rowan, Adelaide, and Tamora standing against the far wall, faces grim. As I walked, I saw the man I had spoken to before sitting on the floor of his cell, head down. I fought an eerie chill as I passed him to get a look at what was holding the guards’ attention.

“What is going on here?” I gasped when my eyes registered who was within the cell.

“She calls to him,” Farran said, eyes sad.

“Why is he locked up?” I cried, unable to process his words.

“Narissa is calling him to her, Vivi!” Farran said again, and I blinked.

“She’s pulling him to her like you did with me? But how . . .”

“Take a closer look at him,” he whispered, and I did. He was pressed against the bars, face stretched in pain, eyes wide and out of focus. I flinched as I watched him trying to force his body through the bars of the cell. He shifted into his enormous bird with no luck at fitting it through either, but he didn’t stop trying.

“Malachi!” I roared trying to pull his attention to me as I looked at his bruised and bloody arms. He was harming himself.

“I have to go to her. I need to. Help me, please!” His voice was raw as he pleaded with me. It was unnatural to see him like this; he wasn’t in his right mind. I reached my hand out to his, and he clasped it tightly. I felt the familiar dark magic recoil from me and met his eyes as he cried out in pain. I saw sanity return to him briefly and felt hope swell.

“Let me in with him,” I pleaded to Farran, and he eyed me pensively.

“No,” Rowan barked.

“Please, Farran?” I begged, and without hesitation, he pushed me flush against the bars. I yelped in surprise as Malachi wrapped his arms around me and froze. I could feel the dark magic trying to distance itself from me, and I pushed my hands through the bars, wrapping him in my hold as well.

“Help me, Vivi.” His voice was rough in my ear. He was desperate, but I practically heard him fighting for control. I felt magic buzz in my veins at his plea for help, and I pulled at it, willing it to build and expand, wrapping it around him and forcing the dark magic to flee. Magic poured from me onto him in a wave that I couldn’t stop, and there was an explosion of light as we both fell to our knees with the force of it. I felt the world tilt and heard the high-pitched wailing begin again.

“Vinnie!” Rowan caught me before my head hit the ground. His face appeared above mine, beautiful and full of concern. I blinked a few times before finally succumbing to the darkness.

I awoke in the infirmary, feeling as if my entire body had been yanked in all different directions. I was alone, and it appeared to be night. My mouth was dry, and I lay still as I allowed my mind to catch up with my body. I caught whispers from outside my curtain and strained to hear.

“It’s been three days. Maybe she’s not ever going to wake up.”

“Adelaide!” Tasmin gasped suppressing a giggle.

“What? I’m not saying I hope she doesn’t. I’m just saying we have better things to do than play babysitter.”

“Your shift is almost up. Tamora was getting ready to head this way,” Tasmin reassured her.

“I’m just not comfortable being around her. You heard Farran: she has powers of the mind. Who knows the extent of them?”

“I have wondered if that is what has been going on with Rowan,” Tasmin suggested suspiciously.

“You think she is manipulating his mind somehow?” Adelaide gasped.

“It’s just that before she came here, he was untouchable. No offense, but you had been after him for years, and then all of a sudden he’s interested? Maybe he is trying to resist her mind control.”

“That’s absurd.” Adelaide bristled.

“You’re right. I’m sorry. She just has us all on edge,” Tasmin apologized.

“Ah, there you are!” Adelaide sighed with relief.

“Yes, you can go.” Tamora dismissed them, and I lay still. When I heard the infirmary doors close, I attempted to sit up.

“Princess, you’re awake!” Tamora exclaimed, rushing to my side. I winced as aches and pains radiated through my body.

“Yes, it would seem that way,” I whined as she helped prop up pillows behind me.

“The sun is rising. Rowan will be off duty and coming to check on you as Seraphina makes her rounds,” she reassured me. Her short dark hair was slicked back from her face in her usual style, her dark brown eyes alert and taking stock of my every movement.

“Malachi?” I asked, almost afraid of knowing.

“He’s fine, still being held in quarantine for observation and making a ruckus over it, but otherwise he seems totally back to normal.” She patted my arm, and I let go of the breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

“That’s great.”

“You gave us quite a scare, though. You’ve been out for days. How are you feeling?” she asked, pulling a chair up and sitting next to my bed.

“I’m OK.” I tried a brave smile, and I could tell I had earned a little respect with that answer.

“I’m glad you are OK.” She grinned, brushing my hair back from my face and attempting to put it into some kind of order. I blushed when I accidently leaned into the feel of her hand in my hair, and she grinned knowingly at me. She had her own set of moves, and apparently I liked having someone run their fingers through my hair.

“You might be the only one,” I grumbled, remembering what I overheard before she arrived.

“I assure you she is not,” Rowan murmured from the doorway, and Tamora moved her hand away from my hair quickly. She stood and winked at me before leaving. Rowan assessed me with his eyes, looking for evidence of some sort.

“I’m fine.”

“I can see that,” he replied, crossing his arms over his chest. I wanted to smack myself for the way my eyes lingered over every part of him, as if starved of the sight of him.

“Well, now that you see it, you can leave. I am no longer in need of babysitters,” I complained and his eyes narrowed on me. There was the Rowan I knew.

“Look who is up!” Seraphina slipped by Rowan and into the small space. She put both her hands on my arms and closed her eyes.

“What are you doing?” I puzzled after a moment when no explanation was given.

“I may not be able to heal with a touch, but I can look into you and take stock of your injuries. I can sense illness as well. It allows me to make the best potions for each person.”

I looked at Rowan for confirmation, but he was watching her, so I followed suit. When she opened her eyes, she pulled back with a sympathetic smile.

“I’ll get you something for the pain, but other than that, you seem absolutely healthy.” She grinned as she swept back out of the room.

“Pain?” Rowan asked, and I frowned at him.

“I said I was fine.”

“I did not realize you were lying.”

“I thought you said you could feel my emotions.” I goaded him.

“It seems to have stopped when the burst of your magic pulsed forth.” He frowned, but I sighed in relief.

“Good,” I whispered, but he looked like he thought it was anything but. Seraphina returned with a vial, and I gulped down the sweet liquid, allowing it to settle into my stomach before jumping off the bed. I felt better already.

“Where do you think you are going?” Rowan asked, and I pushed past him. I could smell myself; three days was a long time to go without a shower, and I didn’t even want to know what they had done about my need for the toilet. I grimaced, pushing the thought away. It was better not to know.

“I’m going to take a long shower, eat something, and then go and visit Malachi,” I said, marching out of the infirmary where I abruptly ran into my group of friends. A smile split my face.

“Vivi!” Briony yelped, running toward me quickly, followed by Luca. I threw my hands out to stop them from plowing into me. I felt Rowan at my back and stiffened, taking a step closer to them.

“You’re awake!” Luca’s smile lit up his face.

“Yes, and I smell horrible. Stay away from me,” I joked halfheartedly. I seriously did feel gross and didn’t want them to get too close. Briony laughed, pulling me into a hug despite my protests.

“We were so worried!” she cried, releasing me. Luca pulled me into a hug then and I didn’t even worry about my smell any more as he did.

“I’m so glad you are all right,” he said, voice rumbling in my ear. I felt a shiver at the soft contact and smiled when he kissed my cheek as he pulled away. My hand found my cheek, and I was blushing.

“I am sorry to interrupt your little reunion, but the princess has matters to attend to,” Rowan said formally from behind me, and I rolled my eyes.

“He’s right,” I said, thinking of Malachi, I needed to get him released from where he was being held. I knew in my heart that he was completely fine. I had felt it.