Chapter eight
I hid my cut by pulling more hair onto my shoulder. I didn't want anyone to see the Band-Aids, especially Caleb. Once we reached him, I've been very nervous all of a sudden. I was trying to take my eyes off his beautiful face and focus on what Elyon was saying. When she was done explaining what was happening, she said, "I really need your help. I can't keep losing other people like this. Can you please go search the city and try to find him? I've already sent guards, but they came up with nothing."
"Of course we'll help you Elyon," Hay Lin said softly. "We'll search everywhere."
"Okay," Elyon said, relaxing. "Thank you so much you guys. Caleb will be coming with you, since he knows the city better than others."
My eyes widened. Me and Caleb on the same mission? That was going to be really uncomfortable. I looked at Elyon helplessly. When I was sure Caleb wasn't looking, I mouthed to Elyon, "Help."
Elyon looked confused for a second, and then remembering that she mentioned Caleb, she understood what I meant.
"Good, then let's go." Will said, turning around, ready to leave.
"Wait," Elyon said before we can go. "Can Cornelia stay here with me?"
The
others turned around to face her.
"Why?" Irma asked.
That made me grow a small vine and bang it quietly on her foot. She
looked at me, and I told her about Caleb in my thoughts, confessing
everything I feel about him. Once I was done, her face turned from
understanding to an apologetic expression.
Sorry about what I told you, she thought, meaning when we were at Will's house. I nodded, letting her know that I forgive her. She didn't know, anyway. So I thought about letting it slide.
Taranee – apparently must have heard my thoughts – went, "Yeah. Sure Elyon. She can stay with you."
Will and Hay Lin raised their eyebrows at her.
"I'll explain later," she muttered to them. I went over to Elyon and stood by her side, looking at the girls only.
"Okay," Irma said, sticking up for me – what a weird thing. "Let's go."
They turned around and left, Caleb not bothering to even look at me.
When they were gone, Elyon held my arm and said, "Spill."
She dragged me with her to one of the sofas. We both sat on it, and Elyon was pleading for me to tell her what was going on between me and Caleb. After her fifth try, I finally gave in. I told her about how I was still in love with him, and that I'd do anything to get him back. Elyon looked so interested, and didn't interrupt me. That's why I love Elyon, and why she's the one I trust the most. When I was done, Elyon let what I said sink in.
"Oh," she said when she understood. "That sucks."
"Yeah," I agreed with her. "Love stinks. Especially if it involves having nightmares."
Oops. I really shouldn't have said that. Especially when Elyon's expression turned into a confused one, and said, "What nightmares?"
"Um," I was trying to think up of a lie. And fast. I can't just tell her what really happened. Even at the time I need to make a lie, I couldn't. Not because I can't think of a lie, but because I can't dare lying to Elyon. She was my best friend.
Elyon must have seen that I was trying to think up a lie, since she folded her arms across her chest, and went, "Cornelia."
"Alright," I said in defeat. "I'll tell you. But you have to promise you won't tell anyone."
"Fine," She said. And seeing how disturbed I really was, she said. "Cornelia? What's wrong?"
I took a deep breath.
"You know the knife that the demon has to cause people to die?" – She nodded – "well, one of the affects is having nightmares. And I've been having nightmares because…"
I took another deep breath.
Then another one.
"Elyon," I confessed. "Three nights ago, the demon – the one causing all this fear – paid me a visit. He threatened me not to tell the others about him, and to tell them to stop their search for him. I didn't do that, of course. So, the demon gave me a little reward. He cut through my skin with the cursed knife." I lifted my hair from where the Band-Aids were, and showed them to Elyon. She inspected them for a minute, her face getting dizzy as she realized that the red stains against the Band-Aids were blood. She looked at space in front of her, digesting what she just heard and saw. Her eyes suddenly widened, she let out a gasp.
"Are you insane?!" She said, staring at me with wide eyes. "How did this happen? Why did it happen? I thought it was only for people with mixed up emotion. We have to tell them. We have to tell everyone to help. We –"
"No, Elyon," I cut her off mid-sentence, standing up. "This is exactly why I didn't tell anyone. I knew this would happen." I left her sitting there, storming away from her. I heard her get up from the sofa and follow me.
"Knew what, Cornelia?" Elyon asked as she stepped in front of me. "What are you talking about?"
"I knew that if I tell anyone," I explained. "She'll – or he'll – tell everyone else. Do you have any idea how humiliating that is?"
"So you risked your life afraid of feeling a little embarrassed?"
"No, Elyon," to my utter fear, tears sprang into my eyes. "Well, yes, that and… well, I didn't want Caleb to know. Because if he did, he won't even care. I feel like he hates me. Like he doesn't love me anymore. Not even like me."
"Corny," Elyon said sympathetically. "You know he loves you. You just don't see each other a lot."
"Elyon, he chose Meridian over me. Twice."
"He
was just doing his duty, Cornelia. And his duty is to the queen and
Meridian."
"Yes, but the queen let him decide. And he
decided. Elyon, he preferred being your special bodyguard instead of
coming back to Earth with me. And when he decided that, evil was
lifted from Meridian."
"Corny," Elyon rubbed my right arm, and I winced when her hand came over the cut in my arm.
"You see what I mean?" I asked her, meaning Caleb. "You've been through that thing. Back before any of us knew magic existed. You know how it hurts to know that he's somewhere else, and that he could be with someone else."
"I know, Corny. But we have to tell the other Guardians. I mean, they are going to find the demon that did this to you. They might as well get the cure from him."
I hesitated before I answered her. What could I say? That I preferred dying than telling my friends the truth?
I looked deeply into Elyon's gray eyes. She was so honest, so sweet to tell her no.
I nodded. "Fine, but only to find a cure. And…just tell them about how stupid I am and get it over with."
"Hey," She said, holding both my arms. "You are not stupid, Cornelia. You were just scared. That happens to everyone. Don't worry, everything is gonna be okay."
I smiled at her. This is why she's my best friend.
"Thanks, Ely," I said as a tear spilled out of my eyes. "This is exactly why you're my best friend."
Elyon squeezed me in a tight hug. When she let go of me, she said, "I'll go call them in the throne room, to give you some time alone."
I nodded. She gave me a kiss on the cheek before she left. I wandered in the empty halls for a while, my arms wrapped around my chest. I felt something grow in my hand, and found out that I was holding Caleb's lily.
It was suddenly hard to breathe. I was panting and sweating so hard all of a sudden. My legs gave up on me, and sent me crashing to the hard stone floor. I was on the floor, breathing so hard. The last thing I remember was the feeling of Caleb's lily in my hand.
