Shattered (6 page)

Taking in a long and deep breath of air, he brought his gaze back to me. “There is to be a feast.

Everyone plays their part in the preparation and planning. My responsibilities to the Western Nethers include greeting the sovereign djin and join, most joyously, in the feast. I’l make my customary rounds of the palace and see, among others, Torrid.” As though summoned by the sound of his name, Torrid arrived, sweaty, breathless and more handsome than I remembered.

“Kama,” he cried. His arms extended, he rushed to V>

I felt the love in his arms, in his embrace and realized then just how much I’d missed him.

“I’m so happy to see you… safe… here.”

“I was so worried about you,” I said, pul ing away as I suddenly became conscious of the warrior’s presence and interested yet embarrassed gaze. In Torrid’s embrace, I’d forgotten about him.

“How did you get away?”

“They carted me away and were preparing to put the Catcher’s bindings on me. I fought them, if only for the purpose of returning to help you, but they held me two to each arm. I was outnumbered and overpowered. Just when I thought I was done for, my brother came up and struck them from behind, lopping off their….” Biting his tongue, he let his statement hang in the air.

“Their heads,” I finished his sentence.

They both looked surprised, but said nothing.

“I kind of figured it out. I guess it would be the only way you can stop a Catcher.” I looked at them.

“They’re not just human, are they?”

“You're right. They’re human, but they’re also more than that. There’s some magic in there, something they got from a thin line of djin.” That part I hadn’t figured on and I gasped my surprise. “Catchers have some genie in them?” surprise. “Catchers have some genie in them?”

“Yes,” Torrid said. “Not much, but it’s enough.

It’s just enough to give them a touch of magic. A long long time ago, when genies and humans were al owed to marry, the line of human and genies became Catchers, turning against genies. Marriage between humans and genies were then outlawed.

Even when our greatest hero, our greatest warrior, General Adar fel in love with a human woman and had you.” Torrid paused. “Most of the lines from such union have thinned out over time, but you are the strongest one now. And yes, you wil have some of that magic which Catchers have to capture genies.” It took a short while for al this to sink it. I was a djin, but also a Catcher, like Liam. No wonder Governor Pim wanted to raise me as his own…to become a Catcher with him…but a Catcher with strong djin magic. “So we have more in common than the other humans?”

“You’re catching on fast,” Torrid said, his fingers grasping mine and holding tight. “That must be why I love you so much. You're beautiful, in so many ways. Your heart, your intel ect and…
you,
your beautiful eyes, your captivating lips.
” Despite his last words echoing directly into my head, I blushed i V>

He coughed into his hand, his gaze amused.

“I’ve heard of your beauty, that of your heart, but that of your features as wel . I thought my little brother was exaggerating, laying it on too thick. But the moment I saw you, I knew he’d not been lying. It’s no wonder he’s fal en so madly in love with you, Kama.” For a brief and foggy moment, I tried to fol ow the sense of his words. His brother… loving me…

“Are you…?” I stammered.

He grinned and nodded. “I’m Rodin,” he said simply.

The handsome genie who’d so gal antly brought me back to the Western Nethers was indeed Torrid’s brother. But more than that, he was the crowned Prince Rodin.

After I got past my embarrassment, Prince Rodin left us to tend to his responsibilities and Torrid led me inside the palace. Contrary to many palaces I’d heard of, this one didn’t show an abundance of opulence or vulgar riches, but rather a homey feel that was welcoming and warm.

The wal s, adorned with scenes of play, love and laughter, rose to wel over twelve feet high.

Twinkling little lights lit every corner of the main hal and whimsical throw rugs added warmth to the gleaming floors.

“Is this real y where you live?” I asked, awed by the beauty and simplicity.

“Almost al my life.” Holding my hand he led me up the stairs and down a long and wide corridor.

Pushing open double French doors, he said, “And this wil be your suite during your stay.” I brought my hands to my lips as I gazed at the playful and definitely girly room. Blooming flowers, sparkling crystals and cushy pil ows of satin gave the room a burst of color that was unimaginable. I squealed my glee as I hopped into the room and gazed around.

“Not to be presumptuous, but we asked a few of the women of the area to gather clothes that might be suitable for tonight’s feast. Not that itfeasր’s anything fancy or anything, but you might want to wear something other than your Arcadian attire.” I gazed down at my dingy and wrinkled clothes and nodded. “How thoughtful. I’l have a look.”

“And I’l leave you to rest and get ready. I should be back in an hour to escort you down to the feast.” He walked to window. “You have a view of the entire courtyard from here, not to mention much of the Nethers countryside. It’s truly magnificent.” I came to his side, admiring the view that so seemed to touch him. “You must real y love it here.”

“I do. I’d never realized until recently, until the threat of war, just how much I love my homeland. I’d do anything to protect what we have here.” I leaned into him and he wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “I’d like it if you could stay with me a while.”

I heard his loving chuckle. “I’d like nothing more, but duty cal s. My parents have been looking forward to meeting you. I want to go see them, confirm that you wil indeed attend the night’s festivities. Mother would never let me hear the end of it if I didn’t warn her of your presence.” He patted my shoulder and backed away.

Despite my disappointment, I smiled and waved him away. “You’re right. I do need to rest.

And a good washcloth wouldn’t hurt either.” He reached the door, put his hand to the knob and turned to me. “You know,” he said. “I meant what I said out there. It wasn’t just for my brother’s sake.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I love you.”

I stared at him, taking in his words. “I’d heard him out there, but I’d brushed it off as some flippant remark… the way people sometimes throw the word love around. We love apple pie. We love that bright red sports car. We love a beautiful sunny day.

“No,” he said, invading my thoughts. “I love you the way a man loves a woman. The way a man thinks of a woman, eager to see her again, eager to hold her, to kiss her.” He came back into the room.

“I think tearing myself away from you is going to prove more difficult than I’d expected.” I wanted to kiss him, to hold him, more than anything, but I put my hand to his chest and held him at bay. I didn’t know if it was the surroundings, the charm of the palace, the magic of the Nethers… or the fact that I was to meet his parents, but something held me back; something that made me want to take things one step at a time.

He brushed his fingers along my cheek. “Very wel .

This time he left, closing the door behind me and leaving me alone.

I breathed in the air that felt fresher and more fulfil ing than the air of Arcadia ever did. What was it about this place that was so enchanting? Arcadia was supposed to be the epitome of perfection, of happy lives, yet here… The happiness seemed effortless.

With a lively tune dancing in my ears and playing on my lips, I sauntered to the closet that housed the clothes I was to choose from. Indeed housed the clothes I was to choose from. Indeed there was nothing fancy; no lace, no satin, no velvet, no designer names, but everything looked comfortable enough.

I pul ed out a dark violet dress. Fitted at the waist and offering an interesting yet appropriately modest décol etage, it had a touch of class with a hint of youthful exuberance.

“I think you’l do just perfectly,” I said as I laid it out on the bed.

After a wel needed bath and a few hundred strokes through my tangled tresses, I stood before the mirror and slipped the dress on. Longer than I’d thought, the skirt fluttered romantical y around my ankles.

As simple as the dress was, I felt like a princess.

“Your chariot has arrived,” Torrid said from behind the door. “Are you decent?”

“More than decent,” I said with a pleased chuckle.

He nudged the door ajar and peaked in.

“Wow,” he said as he pushed the door open and took me in. “You look stunning. Ravishing.” I twirled around. “Thank you, Torrid. I feel ravishing, if I do say so myself.”

“My mother wil be enchanted and my father wil be so charmed.”

“And you don’t look too shabby yourself.” The truth was he looked beyond gorgeous. His hair was slightly pul ed off his face. Clean shaven and smel ing lightly of musk and vanil a, he smel ed delicious, while he wore a warrior’s suit that fit him al too wel .

In the distance I could hear the rumbling of voices, the tinkling of glassware and the faint chords of music.

“Have the festivities begun?”

Torrid offered me the crook of his arm which I accepted with a giggle. “Indeed, and everyone is awaiting your entrance.”

“Please, don’t put on any added pressure.

Meeting y ^fontt size="3our parents is big enough. I don’t want to be the center of attention.” Grinning, he led me out into the hal . “You’l get over it.”

We entered the main bal room and were greeted by dozens of party goers. Quick to compliment and offer kind words, everyone seemed strangely happy to see me.

“Is this al because I’m on your arm or because I’m General Adar’s daughter?” I asked. As pleasing as al this adulation was, it was nonetheless daunting.

“A little of both, I’d say. But more like it’s because of you.” He patted my hand. “Ready to meet my parents.”

His mother, a smal woman with luxuriously long black hair and porcelain complexion, smiled tentatively at me. “Kama, I’ve heard plenty of lovely things about you. I have to admit I suspected my son of hal ucinating… such beauty… but, then again, he did always have a good head on his shoulders. He knows what he likes.”

Torrid’s father, an older, wiser and slightly shorter version of his son, came forward. “It’s a pleasure to meet the woman who’s so enchanted my son,” he said in a deep booming voice. “Please, join us at our table.”

I sat between Torrid and his mother. Though we chatted throughout dinner, the conversation never turned to anything more important than fashion, the weather and the recipes of various dinner items.

On several occasions I eluded to the troubles of Arcadia, but the subject was quickly diverted to something more mundane.

“I know you’re torn apart by everything that is happening in your homeland, Kama,” Torrid said as he gripped my hand. “Our festivities are a celebration of joy and love. It gives us warriors, my brothers and I, our men and women who are fighting the sense of hope and encouragement we need to be reminded of what we are fighting for…this love, this life, this happiness. As dreadful as the war is, it’s strictly kept out of these events.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize. I think that’s a fabulous idea. I could use a night of happiness and joy. A night that doesn’t have the cloud of horror hanging over it.”

The dinner was a feast of roast duck, fresh garden vegetables and hot bread just out of the oven. Some also feasted on mincemeat pie, steaming and aromatic stew, and a wide variety of dried fruits.

“I hadn’t realized just how famished I was. I can’t remember the last time I had a decent meal, can’t remember the last time I had a decent meal, never mind this gift for my taste buds.”

“I’l be sure to let everyone know just how much you appreciated you meal. They al put a lot of work into these feasts and take great pride in the knowledge that ^>

“So, tel me, what’s your part in this great supper?”

Torrid smiled and I was sure he’d say something flippant about his role in the Western Nethers.

“Wel , I wanted to keep it as a surprise, but I’m the one responsible for the cherry torts that wil be brought out later.”

“Cherry torts?” I said skeptical y. “You?” He chuckled. “Yes, me. Do you doubt my culinary skil s?”

“Absolutely.”

He let out a loud and heartfelt chuckle that had his parents staring at us.

“I’m pleased to see this young woman’s capacity to have you laughing so heartily, my son.

With everything that is happening, here and elsewhere, it’s important to have someone in your life who makes you feel so lighthearted.” Torrid gripped my hand and nodded at his mother. ‘I realize that now, mother. I’ve been too serious lately, too caught up in the negotiation, battles and strategies. Kama is the breath of fresh air I so desperately needed.” He brought my fingers to his lips. “You're quickly becoming a very important part of my life, and I can say I’m very pleased with that.”

I hid my shock. His revelation was more than I could have hoped for. I’d been thinking of him so much, too much, but to hear he’d been thinking of me in the same way… I could feel a giggle shake me deep inside. I was giddy, happy and wanted to just lose myself in his arms.