Kira felt something brush against her cheek. In her dream she saw Nigel kneeling near her shelter in the clearing. Even though she knew in her heart he wouldn’t hurt her, she still jerked awake and put her arms up for protection.
“Don’t!” she screamed.
It took a few seconds for her to realize where she was. Octavion sat on the edge of her bed-both hands in the air as if in surrender. At first he didn’t say anything, then lowered his hands. “I am sorry. I did not mean to frighten you.”
She let the tension in her muscles melt away as she took in a breath. “It’s okay.” She rubbed her eyes and pulled at her covers. “I can’t get them. . out of my head. Maybe you should let me wake on my own for awhile.” She looked around the room. The light didn’t seem to be as bright as the day before and she smelled rain. “What time is it?”
He smirked. “Sorry, I left my watch in my blue jeans.”
“Very funny.”
“It is a little after mid day,” he said.
He’d trimmed his beard short to his face. A thin line of whiskers ran from his sideburns along his jaw. Both sides met at his chin, where the beard filled out and connected to his mustache. It was perfect. Besides making him look even more handsome-which she hadn’t thought possible-it exposed his dimples. She gently traced the bristly hairs with her fingers.
“You shaved. I like it.”
He winked. “I thought you might.”
“You’re color is better, too. Did you hunt?” She gave him a sideways glare.
“I am a man of my word. I spent all night hunting in the rain. It was quite refreshing.” He smiled, the truth of his words evident by the sparkle in his dark blue eyes.
“I have a surprise for you,” he said. “I asked Ussay to prepare you a bath.”
“Seriously?” She untangled her legs from the sheets and clumsily pulled herself up to sit.
Ussay entered through a door on the right. “Your bath is ready, my lady.”
“Kira. Please call me Kira.”
Ussay looked at Octavion who nodded his approval.
“As you wish. . Kira.” Ussay smiled.
“Okay, then. You need to get out so I can get undressed.” Kira pointed to the door.
Instead, he threw back her covers and scooped her up in his arms.
“Octavion, put me down.”
“You are too weak to walk. I will help get you into the water.” A mischievous grin crossed is face.
“You will not.” But in the midst of her protest he crossed the room and walked through the arched doorway she’d seen earlier. Along both walls were shelves and hooks where clothes hung-trousers on the right, and shirts and tunics on the left. The biggest walk-in closet she’d ever seen. Through another doorway they came to a large brass tub sitting in the center of the room. Steam rose from the water’s surface.
“No, Octavion. It’s too hot.” The thought of hot water hitting her back sent her struggling to get free.
“Hold still, Kira. I will drop you.” He adjusted his hold and stepped closer to the water. “The steam is not from heat. I added something to help sooth the pain of your wounds.”
Kira relaxed the sore muscles in her body and waited for him to set her on her feet, but instead he lowered her into the tub, clothes and all.
“Octavion!” As the warm water rushed over her body, her gown filled with air and rose to the top. She grabbed it and pulled it into the water.
Octavion laughed.
“What?” She couldn’t see what was so funny, but then Ussay gasped. Kira looked down to find her nightgown, now soaking wet and clinging to every curve of her body, was almost completely transparent. She quickly gathered the fabric to cover her breasts, then picked up a sponge and threw it at him.
“Get out!” she shouted.
He bowed. “As you wish, my lady.” He left the room snickering.
“Men,” Kira said, only half serious. How could she be mad? She was safe in Xantara with the man she loved.
Ussay giggled.
Between the two of them, they managed to pull the gown off. Kira leaned her head back and Ussay poured a bucket of warm water over her hair. It felt as though years had passed since she’d had a bath or shower. Her skin craved a good scrubbing. Ussay opened a small bottle and poured a dollop of lavender liquid into the palm of her hand. The fragrance reminded Kira of Lydia. Her hair always smelled like that.
Kira’s heart ached. As much as she wanted to ask Ussay about what had happened, she thought better of it. She didn’t want to get her in trouble. So while Ussay gently massaged her scalp, Kira thought of something else to occupy her thoughts.
“Have you taken care of me since I arrived?”
“Yes.” Ussay lowered her eyes and Kira wasn’t sure if she was shy or being respectful.
“How long have you worked in the castle?”
“Since my thirteenth year.” She lifted another bucket of water into the air and gently rinsed the soap from Kira’s hair. “I am in the middle of my sixteenth year now.”
Her strong accent suited her. Even more surprising was that Kira understood her at all. Back on Earth, the Crystor magically taught her to speak and understand Eldor, but the tiny thread of silver wasn’t working now. Not even a tingle of power remained. Maybe it was like learning any other language-her mind simply remembered the right words.
“Did you know Octavion. . before he left? I mean, before he came to my world?”
Ussay walked to the side of the tub, picked up a sponge and poured some of the soap mixture onto it. “I have known him my whole life. My mother worked here and I came with her. May I wash your back? I will be gentle.”
Kira nodded and then pulled her hair over her shoulder to get it out of her way.
“What was he like?”
“Octavion? He was my whole world.” Ussay rinsed her back and handed Kira the sponge to finish with the rest of her body, then started rummaging through some clothes that lay across a large upholstered ottoman. She held up a simple blue dress with a bodice that laced up the front. “Would this gown be acceptable?”
What Kira wanted was a pair of sweats and a T-shirt, but she didn't want to hurt Ussay's feelings. “Perfect. Now tell me more about Octavion.” She really wanted to know what he was like before his world came crashing down around him and he had to take Lydia away. She could only imagine what he'd missed.
Ussay brushed the other dresses aside, sat and loosened the ribbon on the blue gown. “I was very young, but he had a kind heart and allowed me to follow him everywhere. He never seemed irritated with me, like other boys. I guess I was a bit of a pest.”
“I’m sure he enjoyed your company.”
She giggled. “I did not give him a choice. He was learning to be an alchemist and, even though it is frowned upon, I wanted to learn as well. He taught me many things. When he left, I continued my learning. I used to sneak into his lair and read his books. It was not the same as learning from him, but I did well.”
When Kira finished with her bath, Ussay held a towel out and helped her stand. Her legs were weak and shaky, but she was able to stand on her own long enough to dress. While Kira laced the ribbon loosely across her chest, Ussay brushed out her hair.
“Could you braid it for me? I’d like it out of my face.”
“Of course.” She ran her fingers through several strands and separated them. “You have beautiful hair. We do not have this color in our world.”
“Really? Not one has red hair?”
“Not one.”
“Wow, so tell me something. Why can’t you learn?”
“Pardon?”
“You said it was forbidden to learn. Why is that?”
“Forgive me. Your accent-sometimes it is difficult to understand your words.”
Kira laughed. “To me, you’re the one with the accent. I’ll try to speak slower.”
“That will not be necessary. I will ask if I do not understand. As to your inquiry, women are permitted to learn if it does not interfere with their duties, but we are not allowed to hold positions as alchemists or physicians. The best I can hope for is to be a midwife.” Ussay flipped Kira’s braid around in front for her to see, but she couldn’t get the full affect.
“Where I’m from, you could do anything, even be a physician.”
Ussay rounded the ottoman and stood in front of Kira, her eyes wide with amazement. “A woman can be a physician?”
“Yeah.. You can be anything you want. Now, I need a mirror.” Kira scanned the room, but didn’t see one.
Ussay’s smile quickly faded. She clutched her neck and took a step back, a fearful expression crossing her face.
“Ussay, are you all right? Did I say something wrong?”
She shook her head. “No, my lady. It is. . not. . I was told not to bring a mirror to your room.”
“What? Who told you that?”
“Octavion. He made me take them out and said you were not to have one.” Ussay began gathering things from around the room-avoiding meeting Kira’s eyes.
“Ussay, would you help me to my room and then please tell Octavion I need to talk to him.”
She curtsied. “Yes, my lady.” Holding her arm out, Ussay offered support as they made their way back into Octavion’s sleeping chambers. Instead of sitting on the bed, Kira sat in the chair so she could see out the window.
“I will return in a moment,” Ussay said as she exited the room.
“Bring me a mirror,” Kira called after her, but Ussay didn’t respond.
A small gap in the rain clouds let a stream of sunlight break through and splash across the room. It felt warm against her face. She gently ran her finger along the scar on her cheek. It felt only a little tender, but mostly it itched. He lied. It was worse than he’d said. So bad, he thought it would upset her to see it.
While she waited, she took in her surroundings. She could see the whole room now that she sat in the corner. A huge fireplace rose up to the ceiling on the other side of the bed-the opening almost big enough for a small person to walk into-the dark wood mantle covered with ornate carvings. Above it hung a tapestry of a lion.
Another window, shrouded with long heavy drapes hung from ceiling to floor, stood to the right of the fireplace-the deep burgundy fabric a drastic contrast to the white stone walls. On the other side of the fireplace sat a large desk with a rectangle bench slid underneath. The only door in the room appeared to be made of the same wood used for the mantle. On either side of the door, built in bookshelves stretched so high a ladder rested at one end to reach the books at the top. The shelves were filled with tattered volumes of all different sizes and colors. Some stood neatly arranged while others were piled askew, like in Octavion’s lair back home.
Home.
It was hard to imagine herself sitting in English class or leaned back on the hood of Lydia’s car listening to her iPod. She wondered if her mother had come back or if she’d tried to contact her. Probably not. A twinge of regret seeped into her heart when she thought of not graduating from high school. She’d worked hard for that day, but what good would a diploma do her now? She had to accept this world as her own if she was to be happy with the man she loved.
She tried to picture Octavion living here. It was so formal and proper, not at all like the life he’d made for himself in the clearing. A prince-the idea boggled her mind. As she glanced out the window she heard heavy footsteps approaching. It didn’t surprise her when the door swung open and Octavion walked in. He paused a few steps from the doorway.
“Kira. .” He said her name like a long drawn out sigh, then put his hand to his heart. “You are beautiful.”
Kira smiled. “You like it?” She tried to stand to give him the full effect of her fancy dress, but he quickly crossed the distance between them and prevented her from getting up.
“Octavion, let me up. I want you to see the dress. I’ve never worn anything like this before. It’s like playing dress up.” She put her arms out to show off the puffy sleeves.
“I was not looking at the dress. You are the one that is beautiful. You could wear dirty rags and I would still think you beautiful.” He knelt on one knee in front of her and took both her hands.
Kira gave him a crooked smirk. “It’s not like you haven’t seen me before. I’m the same person.” Then she remembered her scar. She put her hand up to touch it. “Except for this. Which reminds me, why can’t I have a mirror?”
His brow furrowed. “It is best for now.”
“I already imagine the worst. Why won’t you let me see it?” She pulled her hands away and put them on the arms of the chair.
“It has nothing to do with your scar.” He sat back on his heels and turned to look out the window. A long moment passed before he stood and went to the door. When he opened it, Ussay stood on the other side, a small round mirror in her hand.
“Ussay, how did you know-?”
“She asked me for it. I thought. . I hoped you might change your mind.” She handed him the mirror, stepped into the room and closed the door behind her. “May I stay?”
He nodded, then motioned toward Kira. Ussay flashed a grin and winked as she climbed up to sit on the edge of the bed.
Octavion, on the other hand, hesitated near the door, turning the mirror over and over in his hands. He took a deep breath before returning to his position in front of Kira. He laid the mirror on her lap with the reflective surface hidden, his fingers pressing it down, keeping her from grabbing it up. “Like I said, it is not your scar I have been afraid you will see.” The sunlight streaming in from the window caught in his eyes at just the right angle and she noticed tiny veins of yellow in them.
“What then?”
“First I have a question. Did you bite Zerek or Nigel?”
Zerek’s image flashed in her mind and she quickly pushed it away. “I don’t know and I don’t want to think about it. Why?”
“We fear you may have ingested the blood of a Darkord when you would not wake. There were other signs as well.” He lifted the mirror, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly turned it so she could see her reflection. “They are not as bad as when you first woke. You only saw dark shadows then and your eyes had no color.”
Kira shifted her focus from Octavion’s face to her own. Looking back at her, were the hollow eyes of a Darkord. She knocked the mirror out of his hand. Tears threatened to overwhelm her as the mirror shattered on the ground. Octavion quickly scooped her up and sat her on the bed next to Ussay.
“Kira, please do not cry. It will pass. I am sure of it. I can see threads of green woven within them now, when before there was nothing. Give it time.”
Ussay jumped off the bed and started picking up the broken pieces of mirror. Octavion swung around, lifted her up and literally threw her back on the bed. She landed on her back. He leaned over her, both hands planted firmly on either side of her torso.
“Do you have a death wish? One slip, one drop of blood and you would die, Ussay.” He lowered his face even closer to hers. His eyes were on fire again and the muscles along his back and shoulders began to swell. Being the victim of an ancient curse, like all Royals on Ophira, left him with the heart of a wild cat. Only Octavion was different. With his father’s heritage of the lion and his mother the tiger, he was a hybrid and had less control over his cravings. It didn’t help that he’d been on earth for the past three years and his ability to control his hunger was almost non-existent. And with only two days before the moons were new, he had to be suffering terribly.
“Please, stop.” Ussay threw her hands over her face, exposing a deep scratch on her wrist. Most of it had scabbed over, but one section was red and swollen.
Octavion jumped back as if he’d been hit in the face, crushing a shard of the mirror beneath his foot. “I would never hurt you.” He turned and remained still for a few seconds. Kira knew he fought for control over his transformation-she’d seen it in his eyes. “I will clean this up.” When he crouched to gather the pieces, Kira turned her attention to Ussay.
“Are you okay?” she whispered, no longer focused on herself and the black nothingness of her eyes.
Ussay nodded, relaxing her hands at her sides.
Kira helped her to sit, then pulled up Ussay’s sleeve to examine her wound. “This is infected.”
Octavion dropped the pieces he’d collected and stood. He gently took Ussay’s hand to examine it. “How did you get this? And why did you not treat it?”
Ussay brushed his hand away and pulled her sleeve down to cover the scratch. “It is nothing. It will heal.”
“Why haven’t you taken care of it?” Octavion asked. “You know what infection can do. You could have used the same salve we used on Kira’s back.”
“I did,” she snapped. “Perhaps if you would have been in better control of your temper. .”
Octavion's shoulders slumped forward. “I did this, didn't I?”
Ussay nodded, but still didn't look at him.
“What?” Kira looked at Octavion for answers. “Why would you do that?”
Octavion backed away from them and sat in the chair by the window. He leaned forward and put his head in his hands.
“It was an accident,” Ussay said. “He had no idea he scratched me. It is nothing.”
Octavion raised his head. “No, I should have been more careful.” His gaze met Kira’s. “I was upset because you would not wake. My mind was not in a good place. She suggested I admit defeat and accept your death. I reacted badly.”
“Reacted badly?” Kira brushed Ussay’s sleeve back again to get a closer look. “We need to take care of this, Octavion.”
“Not yet,” he said. “I will get her something for it, but you need to wait until I leave. I cannot take the risk of it bleeding. Not this close to the new moons’ phase.” He went back to collecting the pieces of glass, carefully wrapped them in a towel and left the room.
“I will be right back,” Ussay said as she scooted off the edge of the bed. “I will bring you something to eat.”
The room fell eerily quiet when Ussay closed the door behind her. In the quiet, Kira thought about the image she’d glimpsed in the mirror-herself, but not herself. Something had caused her eyes to lose their color. Octavion said Darkord blood, but she’d only swallowed a drop or two when she’d bitten Zerek. And that was the first day with her captors. They held her hostage for over three days-if Zerek’s blood had caused her illness, why didn’t she get sick right away?
And then she thought about Altaria. Lydia forcing Al’s spirit into her was the only other change. It made her wonder how connected Al was to her. They couldn’t share their thoughts, but she could hear Kira’s voice. Did Altaria also see through Kira’s eyes and feel what she felt?
“Crap!” She’d felt a lot of pain during her torture. What if Al had experienced everything she had? “Al, I’m so sorry for all this. I can’t begin to understand how you feel, trapped inside me.”
Kira’s heart rate increased and warmth filled her body. Al is still with me. “I’m sorry about Lydia. I promise I’ll figure something out. There’s got to be a way to get you out of me.” Kira lay back on the bed, curled up into a ball, and began to cry. Not uncontrollable sobs like before, but a deeper silent sorrow. She knew getting Al’s spirit out of her was impossible and she was pretty sure Altaria knew it, too. Without Lydia’s body, she had no place to go.
Kira didn’t know how long she lay there, but at some point she fell asleep. When she woke, darkness filled the room and there was no sign of Ussay or Octavion. The cool night air gave her a chill so she pulled the covers over her body and drew them up around her shoulders. She tried to listen for any sounds from beyond her door, but heard only silence. Even the sounds of life coming from outside the castle had quieted. Her stomach ached from hunger and her body shivered from cold and fear.