Page 112 of Rising Out of the Darkness
“No Terran has ever created life, something new from beneath the soil, besides the vines or the roots that they can summon.”
Swallowing the anxiety that wedged its way sideways in my throat, I plucked the flower from the vine and gathered the courage to ask the question lingering between the two of us. “What do you think that means, Nayla?”
“It means…you’re a very powerful woman.”
All the anxious energy leaped out of me in the form of a scoff, in turn causing Nayla to laugh as well.
“So, Lena…what exactly were you thinking about that made you glow?” Her face was alight with mischief.
“That’s a secret that will stay locked in a vault forever.” I pretended to lock my mouth and throw away the key.
Chapter 44
Elena
Imunched away on a delicious muffin as I walked the dimly lit halls of the castle. It was no wonder Eloise was a Flame. She was a bundle of fiery personality and extremely passionate about taking care of others. Like feeding my addiction to baked goods and chocolate.
Eloise had made me swear to stay in the room to rest after I had returned from training with Nayla. She’d told me if I went without rest or sleep for one more night, she would stop covering up the purple underneath my eyes as punishment. Naturally I hadn’t followed orders. I’d waited until enough time had passed before making my escape to the library.
Welcomed by the wonderful smell of parchment, I bounced towards the area where I stored the collection of books that Declan had pulled for me. Heaving them onto the table took effort, my arms and body sore from today’s training. Just as I snuggled down into my seat, my body jumped at the sound of a sneeze behind me.
“Oh, thank the gods! For once, there will be someone to keep me company while I’m forced to read the thrilling tale ofThe Properties of Potions and Elixirs: Volume 12.You’d thinkby the twelfth title they’d come up with something a little more original.”
Stumbling around the corner of a bookshelf appeared Clara, arms wrapped around several books. They spilled onto the table as she shoveled them out of her arms. Pieces of hair had fallen in front of her face, and I couldn’t help but giggle as she blew out a big breath that sent them flying. Clara’s head fell forward onto her folded arms on the table as she let out a groan.
“Ugh,” she huffed. “I would much rather be reading a book about love, or anything more interesting than this. Alastor has me here every week. Says he requiresextensivenotes on each potion and elixir. I think it’s more of a retaliation against me.”
“What did you do, Clara?” I placed my hand over my mouth, feigning shock.
Her head rose from beneath her arms, a malevolent grin growing on her face. “Well, I may have accidentally added an extra herb into his daily health tonic that made his tongue swell to the size of a potato. Which may have also been the day he had to deliver a very important speech in front of the king and council.”
“You are a vicious woman, Lady Clara. Remind me to never cross you.”
“That’s probably wise.” She smirked, then her lips fell back down into a frown. “Honestly, that man deserves everything he gets, accident or not.”
“Agreed.”
She got out some parchment and her quill as she began taking notes from the massive book. I opened the red leather book from last night, eager to learn more about different powers within the kingdom, still searching for something to explain the violet dynamis that had erupted between Declan and I. Of course, my thoughts lingered on Declan more than they should have.
“Why hasn’t Declan just left?” I whispered.
His captains were aware of the abuse that he had been taking for years from his father and his advisor, so it wasn’t a far stretch to believe that his cousin would know as well. Especially since she was also a Healer.
Clara’s shoulders tightened as she inhaled a deep breath before glancing my way. “Lena, as much as I would like to share, I wouldn’t want to cross my cousin’s boundaries more than I already have by telling you about the curse. This story may be one he’d like to tell on his own.” She paused, as if choosing her next words carefully.
“He’s been living deep in the darkness for a long time. Declan is trapped here, just like I am. However, his father and Alastor have forced him to endure far worse atrocities than I have. There are things that haunt the deepest depths of his soul, but there’s still so much beauty inside of it. Dec has always guarded his heart, never opening fully to anyone, even me. Perhaps he’s been waiting until he met someone with enough light to help guide him out of the dark.” Her hazel eyes twinkled as I let the meaning behind her words settle within me.
“I know that it’s been nothing but a whirlwind since your Ascension,” she said, covering her palm with mine. “I’m glad that Declan was the one to bring you back here. He needs someone like you, and something tells me that you need someone like him as well.”
Lifting her palm from mine, she continued writing down notes from the massive book in front of her, leaving me staring blankly at the words on the page.
Turbulent was the word I would use to describe the interactions between Declan and I. Whenever we were around each other, there was a storm of animosity or euphoria. I supposed there was a fine line between the two. Warmth began to bloom inside of me as my lips curled up into a smirk.
Maybe Clara did have a point. Declan might have been waiting for someone like me, but something deep within me shouted out that I’d been waiting for someone like him as well.
Shoving the thoughts away, I dove back into the pages of text beneath me. I’d been searching for anything that discussed Elysians’ dynamis reacting with one another, and I thought I’d finally found something.
There have been some records of combining one’s dynamis with another. Upon further investigation, we have found that these events seem to occur between fated mates…
