Page 9 of The Dark Rising
The sound of the fire crackling is the only sound in the room for a moment. Thoughts of all Kade has been through, that Josh and I have been through, swirl through my mind. Only Josh knows the extent of what we both went through, the others have had bits and pieces over the years, but it’s not easy for the words to come and tell others your horrors.
“Rhea’s right. The way he was talking…” Josh sighs, running a hand down his face. “If he had his memories from when he was a child, there is no way he would have sided with the Highers. He would have never destroyed the blood link between us.”
Taylor grunts and moves to take a seat next to Josh. I look over to him, his eyes are hard and fierce. “They all need to go. It’s time.”
“I know,” I agree softly, knowing he’s referring to the Highers. “They have been in power for too long, have lied and cheated and caused so much pain to so many. The issue is, only those affected by them know, the people of the lands are blindly living with wool over their eyes. I just don’t know how to end them once and for all. The Highers are powerful, but with Elites at their back? It’s impossible to take them out. Edward and I have spoken about taking out Charles for years and we have come up with nothing that wouldn’t get us killed in the process. And that’s just one Higher, alone. They’re strong, and we… aren’t.”
“But you’re an Heir, that’s powerful in itself,” Hudson chimes in.
“When I accepted and unleashed my Heir power at Wolvorn Castle, I was able to destroy the barrier around me and Josh, and then push others back. With every second I used it though, it was also draining out of me, and it’s not there anymore. I know I don’t have my markings visible either, I would feel them. It’s just not there.” What use am I to anyone like this?
“But it did come to you, so it will again,” Taylor reassures me. “It probably doesn’t help having those cuffs on you and not being fully healed.”
“Probably,” I agree, “but I don’t know how to call upon it again.” I flex my fingers, feeling nothing coming from within me.
Josh tilts his head at me, leaning forward on the bench and resting his arms on his knees. “How did it come out in the first place?”
“My mom,” I whisper, and all their gazes sharpen. I sigh and lean further back into the chair, carefully. “My mom always told me to keep it locked down, you all know this. I have kept that promise ever since I made it to her. It was locked so deep inside of me that I just thought I would never feel it again. The first time I did was when I was about six, and I haven’t since and was okay with that. Then Josie and Danny were killed.” I pause, willing the tears in my eyes back, taking a shuddering breath. “When they died and Kade broke our link, it was all too much. The pain, anger, loss, helplessness, it overwhelmed me, and I felt a flicker of my power. It was there, ready to be called upon and I did. I promised I would never reveal it and that promise had always held me back as it was the last one I made to my mom, but then I felt her.” Their eyes widen in shock and I sniffle, wiping a tear that falls from my eye.
Shaking my head, I sigh. “It’s crazy, right? Over the years, I’ve felt odd phantom-like touches. I thought it was just me, or maybe the land was greeting me, as I feel like it does that at times. When we went into The Deadlands, that was the first time I felt it so strongly and accepted it. It was strange, but I felt the need to welcome it. Then it kept happening again and again, that it just became normal and a comfort. There was no malice in those touches. It wasn’t until we were in Wolvorn’s great hall that she came to me, telling me it was okay and I needed to let go. She told me that she was giving me the last piece of her and she released me from the promise, telling me to be strong. I was so scared.” I laugh, but it’s hollow. “I was so scared of what would happen if I revealed it, but also because I knew it would reveal Darius as well. Stupid, I know,” I grind out, watching the flames eat away at the wood in the fireplace as the others tense. “Why would Darius being the Heir of Cazier worry me? But two Heirs under the same roof speaks of disaster from historical texts, even Charles knows that. But I had no choice, and I told Darius that, and that I couldn’t let them take anyone else. So I let go and it was like the shackles I put around myself fell away, and I felt my markings appear as my power came to me.” I clench my hands on my lap. “But even doing all that was for nothing.” They still have Kade.
“It was meant to be, child of Zahariss.” Belldame’s voice startles the room, and our heads turn toward the door. She stands there with Anna at her side, looking at me with something like sympathy in her violet eyes.
I swallow roughly as she comes forward, her steps slow as she takes a seat on the chair opposite me. She leans her stick against the fireplace, the light still glowing at its top as Anna sits next to Sebastian on the bench. I look at Belldame, scanning the bones that hang from her neck as I wonder who they came from. She also wears a tunic, dark linen pants and a light fur shawl draped across her shoulders. She gets comfortable in her seat and looks at me, wrinkled hands resting in her lap. We stare at one another for a time, wary, assessing, but strangely, it’s not uncomfortable.
Then she shocks the shit out of me.
“I knew your mother.” I jolt, sitting upright, hissing at the burning sensation racing up my back.
“Careful,” Anna chastises, but my eyes are only for the old witch in front of me.
“W-what?” I stutter, my hands gripping the armrests tightly.
“I knew your mother,” she repeats softly. “She visited me many times, especially in her youth.” She chuckles, and I just stare at her, my mouth open. Mom came here when she was younger? She knew the blood witches?
I shake my head, trying to process what she’s telling me. “How?” I ask eventually.
She smiles, the wrinkles on her face more prominent as she does. “Do you know why us blood witches here have no alliance with the Highers and never have?” I shake my head. “It’s because our only alliance is with the Gods.”
I blink.
“What the fuck,” Josh says, and the rest agree with him, including me.
I turn to Anna. “Did you know?” Her eyes are guarded but she eventually nods.
“We have always followed the wolf Gods, even though we are witches. It’s said in our history that your Gods and the Bielsorcia, Blood Witches, have been in a pact throughout thousands of generations.” She shifts uncomfortably, picking a strand of her red hair and twirling it around her fingers.
“When we spoke about me being an Heir, you were scared of me, wary of what I was capable of,” I accuse, and she hangs her head.
“I may stand with your Gods, but the Heirs?” Anna sighs. “You hear things out in the lands, scary tales of them roaming the lands and devouring your soul if you wrong them. Before I came to Eridian, I would hear it all the time in Aliseon, people would say, ‘Should you cross an Heir, you will live in despair.’ I guess after hearing it so much I thought it to be true, but I know you’re not like that,” she rushes out. “It was just a shock, finding out you’re an Heir of Zahariss. I’m sorry.”
“Silly girl,” Belldame tuts at her, but I can understand why she may have thought the way she did, even though I bristle at what the people of Vrohkaria think of Heirs.
I knew the Heir’s reputation was bad, thanks to the Highers spewing their poison on the minds of their followers. Hearing it from Anna hurts more though, but I accept her apology, nonetheless.
I turn to Belldame. “How did I not know about this alliance between blood witches and the Gods?”
“It’s been kept a secret, child,” she answers. “Only we, the Highers, and your Gods know. Until now.”
