Page 16 of Shattered Heir
“You need to focus.” His deep voice was behind me. I could feel the monster inside of me rise up, trying to reach freedom. Keil placed his hands on my shoulders. “Don’t let the corruption out; forget about the monster, and breathe as if it isn’t even there, because it isn’t there if you don’t want it there. Listen to my melody for a moment.”
I heard his melody, faintly. It was more difficult to locate than my own, but I found it. It was calm and peaceful. Then it spiked and went fast and then slow. Many feelings flooded me and went back and forth and through me. Feelings of despair, pain, longing, happiness, pure joy, and excitement sashayed their way up and down, inside and through me. I collapsed onto the floor, covering my ears. It was too much, and it was too strong. Keil was no longer touching my shoulders after I collapsed, and his melody was silenced.
“That is what your melody is doing daily, granted your melody is much stronger than mine, but this is what it feels like.” He reached for my hand. “Now, watch as I tame it back.” He left his eyes open as if trying to prove the point that he knew exactly what he was doing. He let his melody free again, and I stood firm, waiting to see what he did. Slowly, but efficiently, his song drifted back into him, each small puzzle piece of emotion, feeling, and desire creating one dazzling whole that was Keil. A beautiful melody buzzed around him. He shielded his soul again. “That is the goal. Now, you try. Remember, you must remain present in this moment. Place the monster inside a box and lock it. Lock away everything that is distracting you. Your melody is wild because you are not here with me in this room. You must be here. You are allowing all of your worries to bubble to the surface, and then they become manifest within your melody, like a bubbling volcano erupting. You need to cool yourself down,stay calm, and only let out a small trickle of melody. You must breathe, and you must focus on your breath, focus on the way you are standing, how your shoulders feel, how your arms feel dangling at your side, your neck, the strength of your legs that hold you up, your relationship to the ground, the way your feet are spread apart. Focus on your heart, what is inside of you in relation to it all, to your mind, to your body, to your soul, and to your melody.”
I closed my eyes, and the creature returned to her cage. I stood tall with my shoulders back and focused on my head, thinking about how my neck was holding it up, and then on my shoulders, how my spine felt, as it helped me to stand up tall and sure, even if I didn't feel sure at all. I concentrated on how my legs, the two of them, connected me to the ground, along with my feet—how they held me up. I wiggled my toes, and focused on their relationship with the ground. I focused on my center; I breathed in, and I breathed out.
“That is good, Emma, very good.”
I opened my eyes and listened to my melody. It was softly singing inside me. There was one small part of my melody that wasn't as clear to me as the other parts, almost like it was caught up in a fog. It was distant and unclear.
Whatever—that small piece doesn't matter; as a whole, I have done well enough.I smiled, and then, it let loose again.
Keil handed me my crystal, and I put it on. “Remember, you may think that you are hiding the corruption inside of yourself, but we all can sense it, and it damages that crystal. The more corrupt your soul, the more the magic inside the crystal will die. Try to remember that.” He paused, and I just wanted to go to sleep for a hundred years. I could feel the cool crystal against my skin for a moment before the heat pulsed inside of it. “I think that is enough for today. Be sure to get your rest. Remember, your melody is vulnerable right now while we train. It is eveneasier for the corruption to overpower you. Be sure that you have someone with you at all times. Mary or Ryker will know how to help you.”
I nodded, still proud of myself for doing something right for a change and grateful that Keil didn't seem to know that I had kissed Shad.
Chapter Ten
Iwalked outside into darkness. I wondered what time it was but figured it was late enough to justify to normal people why I was going straight to bed. Every single limb of my body felt like it weighed an extra twenty pounds. I nearly dragged myself back. The exhaustion seemed to pounce upon me as I stepped out of Shad’s house. I made it inside my house, and I realized quickly that Mary was not home. I paused in the kitchen.
What should I do? Keil said I couldn’t be alone while I was this weak.
I decided that I would get ready for bed and call Mary. I headed up the stairs, painstakingly slow. Once I got to my bedroom, I was too tired to even change, let alone make a phone call, and I barely made it to the bed before I collapsed.
“Em, hey, let me help you.” I lifted my heavy eyelids, which was a challenge, to see Ryker sitting in a chair beside my bed.
“Why are you—” I started to speak but couldn’t finish my question. He still had some scrapes and bruises on his face. Perhaps, others couldn’t tell anymore, but I could, and it mademe hate Cade so badly. The monstrous beast roared to life inside of me; that was all it needed to get free reign.
“Whoa, hold on there, Princess.” He moved to me, holding my face in his hands. “I am here. You saved me; I am well.” His eyes were a stormy sea. How did he know that I was worried about him? Was that a guardian knight thing? I focused on his eyes, trying to push black, soulless eyes from my memory and my thoughts.
“The monster—” I started but couldn’t finish as a growl escaped my lungs. Ryker smiled and touched my hair, tucking a strand behind my ear.
“It is okay, Emma. I understand. The hatred, anger, and fear is this monster of corruption. Know what it is, and do not let it run wild inside of you.”
“I can’t,” I gasped as I pulled my sheets tightly into my hands. I was on my hands and knees on my bed; I was sure that I was a beast about to transform. I tried to swallow down the hate, put it back inside of its cage, but she was stronger than ever. Each time I saw those black, soulless eyes of Shad’s, it reminded me of Cade, of what he did to Shad—the boy I loved. I thought about Shad’s sweet lips against mine, and I feared that I would never feel that sort of love again.
“It’s stronger only because your melody is weak from training; it will get better. You just have to get through tonight, and I will be here with you the entire time.”
I nodded because I didn’t want another snarl or growl to come out, and I worried thatmaybe I am turning into a werewolf. Are they real? Am I turning into a magical monster for real?
“I think I am a werewolf,” I groaned.
Ryker laughed beside me, and I felt his warm hands on my shoulders, easing me down, so I sat.
“Em, you are not a monster, and not a werewolf, I know a few.”
I turned to look at him, wanting to trust him, yet afraid because he didn't know about the beast that lived within me.
“Focus on me, Emma,” Ryker said as he rubbed my neck and shoulders. “Focus on my hands, how they feel,” he whispered in my ear, and goosebumps ran down my flesh. He was so close to me.
A memory came into my mind:Ryker and me as little kids, laying in the grass outside, looking at the stars. He held my hand. Peace engulfed me. It was as clear as if we were in the moment, right then.
I opened my eyes and looked at the ceiling. I was on my bed, and Ryker’s arms were around me, his breathing so soft and calming.
“There you are,” he whispered in my ear. My body heated at his nearness, but instead of moving away, I enjoyed the feeling of being there with him in his arms, like I always had.
“What just happened?” I asked, turning to face him and he smiled.
