Adrenaline overdose.
"Go... away!" She screamed in her mind.
"Is that what you want?" He stood several feet away but his voice seemed to be beside her. Or maybe inside her?
She shook her head. Words formed slowly in her foggy brain. "No. I don't want that. I just... don't know... what...to do."
He kneeled on the sloppy ground beside her and took a thick gold chain from his neck. A thin silver key hung from the chain which he slid off and held out to her.
"Trust me. Look in the Book, and take this, one day you'll need it." He pressed the cold key hard into her palm. His fingertips brushed hers and a sudden shock rocked her, throwing her backwards into the mud again.
Then everything went dark.
CHAPTER 17
Aliah
Ellersly sprang into action. He lifted his sack full of jars high over his head and swung them around and around. The burning in Aliah's chest increased and robbed him of breath. He gripped the corner of the nearby table and watched as Ellersly launched the sack into the air toward the wolf. The bag exploded against the wall in a fusion of bright colors that leaked through the burlap. Pickled beets, carrots and mixed berry smells permeated the air.
The wolf disappeared.
Bands of pressure squeezed Aliah's head and he gripped the table harder. Ellersly approached breathing heavily. "It's gone. You should go... find Shai. Make sure... she's alright."
Aliah turned to look at his young friend and raised one eyebrow.
Dimples formed in the boy's round face as he smiled. "I know enough about your... strange connection with Shai... to realize the pain you're in... is more than because of Sileas's death." The Adam's apple bobbed in his throat as he swallowed. "Just go, Aliah. I will... gather supplies then... head back to the cave."
Aliah nodded. He breathed in a shuddering breath and steeled himself against the pain in his ribs. He gripped his shirt with one hand just above his heart where his birthmark was and walked with halting steps to the door. The pain had never been as intense as this before. He clamped his teeth over his lower lip and forced himself to run.
His hood slipped off and the rain pummeled his face but he didn't care. He knew many pairs of eyes watched him as he streaked down the muddy streets, his cloak flapping behind him. The Mothers would be pulling the children away from the windows about now. Fear of the Watchers had amplified since the night before.
He ran for several minutes before reaching the bottom of the hill near the Hill House. He stopped for a moment to breathe, then began to climb. He struggled for footing on the slippery slope until he made it to the top. Smoke from her chimney curled into the grey sky. Everything appeared as it usually did. Pain jabbed his chest again, but with less intensity. The danger must be over. But what if he was too late?
He scanned the bushes behind the house with his eyes. No sign of her. He took a few steps towards the front door then stopped. Movement to his left caught his eye.
He found her lying near the back of the house face down in the mud. In a ceremonious swoosh he swept her up and cradled her in his arms.
The pain in his chest flared as he struggled to walk to the front door to push it open. His arms shook as his adrenaline-infused strength began to fade. Once inside, he laid her on the bench in front of the fire and arranged pillows around her. Her eyes were closed and in spite of the mud caking her face and hair she looked peaceful. He grabbed a blanket from the rocking chair and tucked it around her. When he pulled it up under her chin the knuckles of his hand brushed the smooth skin of her cheek.
His heart hammered. He stood over her, watching her breathe. He raked a hand through his wet hair. He had a good idea of what had happened to her.
With the little strength he had left, he warmed some water in a kettle then poured it into a porcelain bowl. He rummaged around in the kitchen until he found some clean rags then knelt beside her and dabbed at the mud on her face. He cleaned as much as he could using the water and cloths then set the bowl aside.
She didn't seem to be visibly wounded and he could do nothing else until she woke up. He made a pallet of blankets for himself close to the fire, but closer to her. He laid on his back, with his arms behind his head, chewing his lower lip. I have to get her away from this place without telling her anything. If she finds out who the real Leader of Lael is she'll never agree to leave with me. Especially if she’s suspicious that I’m a Watcher. She'll think I purposefully joined ranks with our enemy.
He must have slept a little because he suddenly jolted awake. Propping himself up on one elbow he looked over at Shai.
She stirred and her eyes fluttered open. Her long, golden hair fanned out around her face, her fingers interlaced across her chest.
Her face was turned towards him, staring. He got up and bent over her. She didn't move. Her eyes remained fixed, staring beyond him. He moved so close to her that he could feel the warmth of her breath on his face.
Her lips parted slightly. "Tell me your name." she barely moved her lips, her voice just a whisper.
"Shai! It's me, Aliah." He knelt on the floor next to her and gripped her shoulders. She became rigid beneath his touch.
"Remiel?"
No! That name on her lips twisted like a dagger in his heart. His face flushed and his stomach twisted.
"Shai! Get up! I can't.... you shouldn't..." He could barely breathe. He pushed his face into Shai's neck and pleaded. No, no, no! This isn't happening! He lifted his head and scanned the room. Where is he? Did he come back from the dead for revenge?
Shai seemed to be focused on something behind him. He stared intently.
Nothing.
A wave of heat flashed across his chest, piercing the birthmark above his heart. He whirled around again.
"Show yourself!" But the room remained as it was. He frowned and buried his face in the pillow next to Shai. He ground his teeth into his lip until he drew blood. Damn! Why didn't I get her out of here sooner?
He felt Shai's hand on his face, stroking a line from his ear to his jaw. He lifted his head to look at her. She met his eyes and smiled, but her face revealed nothing.
He swallowed hard. "What happened, Shai?" He pushed aside a few pillows and sat beside her, trying to read her eyes. Her features softened in the pale sunlight that now streamed through the window beside them. She reached for his hand and her warmth thawed the chill that had crept into him. She had spoken a name he had never wanted to hear again, but he had to know what she had seen.
He gripped her fingers tighter and rubbed his thumb across her knuckles. "You can tell me anything. Don't be afraid."
She smiled again and untangled her hand from his then sat upright. "What are you doing here, Aliah?"
"You fell. Outside... last night. Who... who did you see, Shai?" His chest tightened. He already knew the answer but the question hung in the air as Shai rose to stoke the fire. Aliah watched her push the hot logs around with an iron poker. Her hair clumped together where it had dried with mud and rain. She seemed distant even though she was only a few feet from him.
He wanted to go to her; to hold her. He ached to tell her that everything would be okay. But the truth was that everything had changed in the last twenty-four hours. Nothing was okay.
He hated her reoccurring visions. He remembered her last encounter like this one. He had made her promise to send her vision-friend away and she hadn't spoken of him since. Aliah thought it was finally over but hearing that name just now brought snippets of memories bubbling up to the surface.
Shai continued to crouch at the fire and without turning she spoke. But not to answer his question. "I think I'll just go to the bath house to clean up. It was a long night."
So, he was dismissed. Just like that. No explanation for what had happened the night before.
Heat rose in his face and he clenched his teeth together. His head swam as he reached down to tighten the stiff metal buckles on his boots. In his frustration his finger slipped and the metal buc
kle sliced into his soft flesh. He winced as a bright red ribbon of blood formed. The sight reminded him of Sileas. Why he was doing what he was doing. He closed his fist on the cut and let it sting.
Shai may have dismissed him now but soon she would have no choice but to be with him. For her own protection.
When there were no more words to exchange, he drew a deep breath, forcefully expelled it and stood up. He stared hard at Shai's back, willing her to turn around and beg him to stay like she did the other night, but she remained unresponsive.
Finally he spun around and clasped the sides of his cloak, drawing it around himself. The heels of his boots clunked on the stone floor as he made his exit.
CHAPTER 18
Shai
Her back and neck muscles burned and a dull ache squeezed the top of her head. She removed her damp cloak and left it to dry on the bench. Her feet squished inside her black leather boots. She could let them dry later; she needed to get to the bath house now.
Images of Sileas's blue-grey face swam in and out of her mind. It was her fault her friend was dead. She couldn't let anyone know that she didn't try to stop Sileas from committing that infraction. That she knew Sileas was desperate enough to do something crazy, but Shai didn't try hard enough to talk her out of it. But am I really to blame? I didn't really know that Sileas would go through with it. She needed to put it out of her mind. Feeling anything this deep was frightening. Maybe the Laelite Laws were right about passion. Sileas's passion eventually killed her. She was better off going with their Gracious Leader, Elchai, to his home. At least with him she'd be safe until her child was born. After that, well, she'd think of that later.
A shudder rippled through her. She glanced out the front window to make sure Aliah wasn't in the vicinity. She had no desire to talk to him.
She grabbed a towel, soap, and some dry clothes and left the house. The short walk to the bath house on the other side of the hill was a cold one since the sun lacked strength to warm the earth. Lael hadn't seen a hot, sunny day in years. A fine day was a dry one.
Anxious to get into the hot bath water, she picked up her pace. A narrow footbridge over a small creek stood between her and the bath house. The hollow clomping of her boots on the wooden bridge was suddenly joined by a low growl. She stopped then turned in a slow circle.
"Hello?" Her voice sounded strained and thin in her ears. Sudden heat spread across the mark over her heart. She clasped her bathing things closer and held her breath for a moment.
She jumped at a sudden movement to her right. A large black wolf sat on its haunches near the bath house. It lowered its head and followed her every move with its eyes.
She released her breath in a loud hiss. "Shoo! Get away!" She stomped her feet on the footbridge. "I said Go! Shoo!" The wolf bared its teeth but didn't move. The white-washed door of the bath house swung open and a large woman with blotchy red skin emerged balancing a stack of towels on her ample arm.
"Whacha doin, girl! Sounded like Samael hisself was gonna come right through the walls! We're tryin' to git the children cleaned up and calm after our terrible night, so quit yer noise and either come in or don't!"
"Sorry Maire. Did you see... never mind." The wolf had disappeared; her path was clear. She ducked her head and apologized again as she crossed the bridge. The Mother sniffed like she was disgusted then moved aside as Shai entered.
The warmth and humidity inside was a welcome change. Shai paused and blinked a few times until her eyes adjusted to the dim light and she could see, just inside the door, a large entry-way with two long wooden benches. She took a seat on one of them and started unlacing her knee-high boots. She wrinkled her nose. Somehow she'd managed to sleep in her damp clothing. She had removed one soggy, wool sock when she heard two female voices arguing.
The bath house had only two rooms; one for boys the other for girls. Voices from both sides blended together until the arguing crescendoed and Shai recognized one of the voices as Eliana's.
"I don't know where you get off accusing them of such a thing! I don't care what you say, Maire!"
Shai shoved her wet socks down into the toes of her boots then gathered her bathing supplies. Just as she stood to enter the girl's room the blotchy-skinned Community Mother careened around the corner pulling two young girls behind her by their wrists. She pushed the outside door open with her hip and with a hmmmf she exited the Bath House. Before the solid wood door closed after her, Shai caught a glimpse of the dark form of the wolf lurking nearby. She shuddered and entered the steamy girl's room.
She found Eliana bent over the furthest tub, at the back of the room, swirling her hand around in the water as it poured from a gooseneck faucet. Green flecks floated on the water and the scent of mint filled Shai's nose.
Eliana straightened up and smiled. "Maire told me you'd just come in. Here, let me take your things and you can use that closet there to undress." Eliana busied herself with laying out Shai's clean clothes on a nearby chair and draping her towel over the side of the tub while Shai stepped over puddles on her way to the changing closet. She pulled the thin curtain closed and struggled out of her tunic and dirty leggings.
"So what was that all about?" She pulled her long hair up and twisted it around her hand so she could secure it with a pin.
"Eliana?" She moved the curtain back and peered out. Eliana turned the water faucet off then wiped her hands on the front of her tunic and glanced up.
"Oh that was just Maire being...Maire. She figures both you and Aliah are responsible for those missing children. But she's bitter about everything regarding Aliah.. I think she's just never gotten over the fact that Aliah's blood-mother had asked me and not her to look after him. Come on, get in before it cools. You're the last one."
Shai eased into the tub and let the hot, minty water ease the tension in her body. She breathed deeply, grateful they seemed to be alone.
The only sounds were the muffled voices from the boy's side and the occasional drip from a faucet somewhere. She longed to keep the conversation light, steer clear of any mention of Sileas.
"Why did Aliah's mother leave? I know it was a long time ago but I've often wondered."
Eliana smiled and nodded. "She didn't leave. She was exiled. You would've been too young to remember." She shrugged her slender shoulders. "She was too passionate. Disturbed the peace by asking too many questions."
Shai swished the water around with her hands, letting little sprays of water shoot over the sides of the tub. She leaned back and closed her eyes.
"Then I must be dangerous too, Eliana. Because I don't agree with the Leader's methods. I hate his Laws, I hate the pendants. But I never would have taken those children." A few moments passed before Shai opened her eyes. Eliana was seated on a chair a few feet away looking at her.
"Normally I wouldn't allow you to talk that way about our leader. But under these circumstances I understand. I even shouldn't tell you I agree. But you do cause trouble in your own way, Shai. Your hatred for the Watchers is well-known. And even though you've never been caught in an infraction it was only a matter of time. Be careful when you go with Elchai, okay? Every infraction starts here." She tapped her head. "Once you start thinking a certain way it eventually comes out in your behavior." Eliana leaned forward in her chair. "You need to be able to show that you have a healthy amount of respect for our Leader from now on. And stay away from Aliah. Everyone knows he hasn't been staying at the Boy's House for quite a while and that he takes off into the woods to who-knows-where. I know how inseparable you two are, but it won't help you to be seen with him. Not now."
Shai sighed. "I know. I just can't bring myself to say good-bye to him." She sank deeper into the water.
Eliana stared into the swirling fog with a vacant expression and twisted a slender, silver tube-shaped pendant that hung from a chain around her neck. After a while she turned back to Shai.
"Strong feelings often lead people to make unwise choices. It's better not to encourage tha
t kind of passion." Her voice was soft. She stood up to grab the bar of soap. "Elchai is a wise Leader." She patted Shai's head like she was a small child. "Wash up. I'll leave you to it."
She passed the soap to Shai and with a small smile she turned and retreated into the mist. The sound of the door closing echoed through the large room.
Shai furrowed her brow. Even Eliana accepted the way things were. But it was out of fear. Sileas dared to desire something more than what was deemed an acceptable life in Lael and she had paid the price for it.
Fear was a terrible master, but it was all anyone had ever known. And in spite of the warning in her gut, the more Shai tried not to feel anything deep for Aliah the more she felt it.
She held her breath and slid beneath the water. Her hair escaped its pin and floated around her face as she stared up from the water into the mist and rafters above. Her fingers found their way to the skin above her breast. She traced the bumpy contour of her birthmark then closed her eyes as its familiar heat spread through her body.
She thought about last night. Remiel. She finally knew his name. When he had spoken to her in the rain it frightened her. And after a deep sleep void of dreams she had opened her eyes and there was he was again, standing in a pale beam of sunlight in the living room like he'd been there all along. The strength and power that emanated from him pulsed into her and every fear had vanished.
He had held out his hand to her and spoken gently. "I'm here. I will always be here." She had longed to take his hand but her limbs felt heavy. Instead she asked him what she'd always wanted to know.
"Tell me your name." She could feel his smile caress her and he simply said, "Remiel," then he was gone again. When she had repeated his name she found herself awake and looking up at Aliah.
She shuddered. Aliah had looked horrible.
She surfaced and scrubbed vigorously at every inch of skin with the soap until her skin wrinkled, then she drained the tub and dried off. She dressed in another clean, grey, tunic and leggings, then twisted her damp hair into a low bun secured with a leather string.
She wasn't sure how long she'd been in the Bath House but the thin sun that had peeked out earlier had gone by the time she laced up her boots and stepped outside.