Hey guys! Whew! It's been a while, hasn't it? Well, here is a new chapter and I really hope that you enjoy it! Now, if some of you want to listen to my excuses for this being a late update, well, I'm home schooled, and I've been falling behind, so I was trying to concentrate on my work. Plus, the Internet went out for a while, so I haven't been able to use it. Well, that's the excuses! ^_^
Now, you guys read and enjoy!
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Blessed
Author: Tevrah
Email: kmw852@yahoo.com
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Chapter Three
The night was dark and silent as the shadow moved across the field. The tall grasses were dry from the lack of rain. A light shone in a window of the cottage beside the field. It was a small house that was home to the farmer, his wife, and their three children.
In just a few hours the farmer would be rising to greet the sun. He would go to the small barn and feed the animals, then he would return to the house and eat his breakfast with his family. After that, he would gather the vegetables that he and his two sons had picked yesterday and take them to the village square to sell.
Only he would never make it to town. As a matter of fact, the farmer would never even make it out of bed.
The light in the window went dark. A blade flashed in the nearly moonless night. The shadow crept closer and closer to the small cottage and soundlessly opened the door.
This should get his attention.
***
Hitomi couldn't sleep. Someone had died tonight. She had felt their spirits leave the mortal world behind and travel into the next. Their deaths had been painful and slow.
She closed her eyes and her mind immediately filled with flashes of a small cottage and barn beside a large field. The cabin door was open and her mind hesitantly entered.
Oh, dear gods…
A scream gathered in her throat as she bolted up in her bed and her eyes snapped open. Her chest heaved as she tried to erase from her mind the sight she had seen.
Oh, the blood! There had been so much blood and agony in that house. Evil had been there.
Her bedroom door was slowly creeping open and Aidan's sleepy face popped in.
"Mama?"
Hitomi spread her arms wide in a welcoming gesture and he scampered into her arms. She cocooned his tiny figure in her tight embrace.
"My head hurts, Mama," Aidan said against her chest.
Hitomi rested her cheek on the top of his small head and closed her eyes. "My precious baby," she whispered.
A melody came to her that her mother used to sing to her when she was a child and her powers would come in sporadic bursts, leaving her barely lucid. Softly, she began to sing it to her son.
"When the night falls
And the magic comes to call
Free your heart
Let your soul depart
And wish…"
Aidan sighed and snuggled against his mothers chest. Her voice always seemed to make him feel better. "Why does my head always hurt, Mama?"
Hitomi sighed and smoothed her hand down the back of his head. "You're special, baby," she explained. "And one day you're going to do great things with your gifts."
"Will my head hurt anymore?" he asked sleepily.
Hitomi allowed herself a small smile. "No, love, your head won't hurt."
She held him close to her heart as she felt him drift off to sleep. Gently, she laid him on the pillow and tucked the covers around him. Then quietly, she wrapped a thick robe around herself so that it covered just about all of her skin and, opening the bedroom door, stepped into the hall.
Candles were burning brightly in their holders, lighting the entire hall with an ever-present glow. She walked across the hall to Aidan's room and quietly opened the door. Nana Boa was sitting in her stationary chair, her snores echoing in the large room. Hitomi smiled, then stepped back out.
She walked over to stand in front of the door next to her own. This door led to the king's bedroom. Her husband's room. She laid her hand on the door and closed her eyes. He wasn't in there. She sighed and removed her hand.
For the past three years there had been nothing but formal politeness between the two of them, and it cut Hitomi deeply. She wanted to know him, to see the man and not the king.
She had tried many times that first year to get to know him, to talk to him, but each time he would brush the matter aside with stiff formality that had hurt her for a long while.
But when Aidan had been born she saw something in his eyes, just as she had seen on their wedding night.
Hope.
But that too had faded once more after a minute when the nursemaid had taken the small baby from his father's arms to give him his first bath.
Hitomi often wondered why Van kept himself detached from everyone and everything. The only person he allowed himself to feel for was Aidan.
Sleep began to slowly cover her senses as Hitomi made her way back to her room. She climbed into bed and wrapped her arms around her son.
With a gentle sigh, she fell asleep.
***
Van wearily rubbed a hand down his face. His arms, face, and clothes were covered with soot. He stared at the small barn, cottage, and field. Everything had been burned.
Everything except the cottage.
Van watched with a coiled gut as Jon and two other soldiers walked into the house. He started running when he heard a shout from inside the house. Jon stepped outside just as Van made it to the door.
One look at his trusted friend's face and Van knew his gut feeling had been right.
"They're dead." It was a statement.
Jon slowly nodded and stepped to the side to let Van see inside. Van had to swallow the bile that rose in his throat. There was blood everywhere. The small cottage had been home to a family of five. Each one had been brutally mutilated. Their blood had been splattered all over the place.
And directly in front of the bodies, written in blood, was a message.
Semia Ti
PURIFY US
"Oh, gods…"
The coil in Van's gut exploded into rage. He turned from the cottage and stomped outside. Grabbing a torch from one of the soldiers he turned and hurled it into the house. He didn't explain his reasons, but the soldiers understood. The family didn't deserve to be taken out of their homelike they were. Their blood would not leave that house.
The flames licked the wood as the men stared on in silence. Jon put a hand on Van's tense shoulder. "We'll get him, Van," he promised. "We'll get him."
Van clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. "He attacks me by burning our lands and now killing our people."
"He'll make a mistake," Jon said. "And we'll be waiting."
"But will more die because this coward cannot come out and face me?" Van questioned quietly.
Jon's hand tightened on Van's shoulder. "It'll happen, Van. It'll happen."
Van let out a shuddering breath. He turned and began walking to one of the horses. Mounting, he said to Jon, "When the cottage finishes burning everyone returns to their homes. The deaths will be announced tomorrow at midday. Keep it quiet until then. We don't want a panic."
"I'll take care of it," Jon assured him.
Van gave a curt nod then turned his horse and pushed it into a full gallop. The wind whipped against his face as his thoughts raged. He had gone too far! That monster was beyond out of control. He had started with burning small useless fields and then had progressed to large fields that were used for growing trading crops. And now he had killed an innocent family of five that had nothing to do with his vendetta.
Van and his horse were both soaked with sweat when he rode into the castle gates. He jumped down and threw the reins to one of the stablemen. He walked quickly up the stairs and into the palace.
Going straight to his room, he stripped from his clothes and took a cold bath. When he finished he pulled on a pair of breeches and a loose shirt. Walking across the hall he opened the door that led to Aidan's room. His son wasn't in his bed. Van didn't worry.
Leaving Nana Boa snoring in her chair, Van walked to Hitomi's room. The sight he saw took his breath away. Aidan was curled against Hitomi's chest and Hitomi had her arms wrapped around him lovingly.
Van slowly walked to the side of the bed. He softly smoothed some hair from Aidan's forehead. A small white hand covered his. He looked over to see emerald eyes staring up at him. He stared back at his wife and for the millionth time wished he was free to love.
What if he just—
No! He couldn't, no matter how badly he wanted to. He couldn't love her. He wouldn't put her through that kind of torment. Van had understood early on that Fanels weren't meant to love or be loved.
So though it was one of the hardest things he had ever done, he pulled from her touch and walked away.
***
He had pulled away from her. And he had walked away without a backwards glance.
Those two thoughts kept racing through Hitomi's mind the next morning as she dressed and ate breakfast. Why, oh, why, did he always turn away from her? Was there something so wrong with her that she was repulsing him? She closed her eyes and went over the night before one more time. There had been something in his eyes. Something that had almost pulled him to her. But then another glint had entered. The glint had almost looked like…fear?
Hitomi opened her eyes. Yes, it had definitely been fear. Was he afraid of her? But if so, then why? What had she done to cause such a reaction in him? Or was he afraid of something else? She pondered over that thought until one of the maids came to fetch her.
"Your presence is requested in the throne room, milady," the maid said softly. "There is a messenger there."
Hitomi nodded her head and got up from the table. "Thank you," she said. "I'll go there directly."
The maid nodded and left.
Hitomi walked down the corridor that led to the throne room and let the sun flowing in from the open windows warm her skin. She nodded to the two guards standing by the throne room doors as they opened the thick wood doors and let her enter. There was a boy standing in the middle of the room dressed in muddy peasant clothes. Hitomi walked up to him and he stared at her.
"You're pretty," he blurted out.
Hitomi smiled at him and his face turned run as fire. Keeping her amusement in check she asked, "What's your name?"
The boy lowered his gaze to the ground. "Tylen," he mumbled.
"How old are you?" she asked.
He mumbled something that she couldn't make out.
"What?" she asked patiently.
"Thirteen, milady," he said.
"Do you have a message for me, Tylen?" She hoped to put him out of his misery.
He nodded his head quickly and held out his hand. Hitomi took the crude piece of paper from him and gently kissed his forehead. He almost fainted, but instead took off running for the doors.
"Thank you, Tylen," Hitomi called out.
The boy turned, tripped over his own two feet, caught himself from hitting the floor, made an improper bow, then rushed out the doors. Hitomi let a small laugh escape her lips when he was gone. Being thirteen was the definition of awkwardness.
Hitomi turned her attention to the paper and brushed some caked mud off of it. Breaking the seal with her nail, she opened the message. After reading it, she had to sit down. She went to her throne and plopped down unceremoniously. Slowly, she read it again.
To Her Royal Highness, Queen Hitomi Iris av Kanzaki-Fanel.
We are known as the Puritans of Fanelia. Fanelia was once a great country, ruled by only the kings with the purest of dragon's blood. But now our once great country is ruled by an infidel who has cursed blood flowing through his veins. We will rid our country of this imposter and we will once again have a strong country that will be ruled by only the strongest and purest of bloodlines.
Know this, your highness, we will succeed in our mission and no one, especially not some cursed draconian king will stop us. We will start anew and rise to be the most invincible kingdom in all of Gaea!
This message is a warning to you. If you wish to live, you will leave Fanelia, or we will be forced to kill you.
You have been warned.
Hitomi's hands began to shake as she looked at the words. They couldn't be serious! Oh, dear gods, they just couldn't! Aidan! Her head snapped up. Oh, gods, would they try to kill Aidan? She leapt from the seat and rushed out the doors, past the guards, and down the hall. Where was Aidan? Dear gods, don't let me lose my son, she pleaded.
Running around the corner, she hit what felt like a wall and fell back. Strong arms caught her and straightened her. "Milady?"
Hitomi looked up and found that Jon was who she had run into. She grasped his arms tightly. "You have to help me, Jon!"
Concern clouded his eyes. "What is it, Milady? Has something happened? Are you all right?"
"Aidan! We have to find Aidan! Please, Jon!" Hitomi begged. Panic was clawing up her throat now and was threatening to explode.
Jon grasped her shoulders and saw her distress. "All right, Milady," he said soothingly. "We'll find him. Come on."
Hitomi took off at a run again and didn't see Jon motion to one of the soldiers or hear him tell the soldier to find the king immediately. He soon caught up with her as she was running into the garden. She ran to the middle, then twirled in a circle.
"Aidan! Aidan!"
"Mama!"
Hitomi turned around and found her son running to her with a smile on his face. She dropped to her knees and caught him in her arms. Sobs began to shake her as she held him close.
They were in that same position when Van came running into the garden a minute later. He stared at his wife and son and willed his heart to start beating again. Aidan caught site of his father before anyone else did.
"Papa!"
He untangled himself from his mother's arms and launched himself at his father. Van picked him up and hugged him as tightly as Hitomi had. He looked at Aidan's face and smoothed a stray lock from his son's forehead. "Are you all right?" he asked.
Aidan nodded then turned his head to where Hitomi was slowly picking herself off of the ground with Jon's help. "I'm okay, Papa, but Mama's crying. Is she sad?"
Van lowered Aidan to the ground and motioned to Jon. Jon picked Aidan up and put him on his shoulders, laughing when the boy let out a squeal of glee. Van waited until Jon and Aidan were a good distance away before he stepped toward Hitomi. He hadn't made it two steps before Hitomi threw herself in his arms. She wasn't crying anymore, but she was shaking badly.
Van slowly wrapped his arms around her loosely until her shakes calmed a bit. Then he untangled her arms from around his neck and held her at arms length. "What happened? Why are you shaking?"
"I—I thought that they were going to do something to Aidan," Hitomi whispered, staring past Van's head to the figure of her playing son.
Van narrowed his eyes. "Thought who was going to do what to Aidan?"
Hitomi's eyes shifted back to his for only a moment before returning to Aidan. "I—I got this message and the boy was so young and dirty and I didn't even think to ask him who sent it to me, and I just read it and then I thought that Aidan might…" She stopped as the relief passed through her.
Van's hands tightened on her shoulders. "Look at me, Hitomi," he ordered. Her gaze shifted back to him and he placed himself in her view of Aidan. "Aidan is fine," he said. "Now what message? And what boy?"
Hitomi took a deep breath. "There was a boy in the throne room who had a message for me. I think his name was Tylen. He gave me the message and then left. I read the message, and, oh, Van, these people, they're monsters, they have to be."
"Who?" Van demanded. He wanted to know who had frightened her so much that Jon had sent a soldier to find him and tell him that something was wrong with the queen. Van was sure his heart had stopped beating.
Hitomi realized that she still had the message clenched in her fist. She slowly opened her hand and gave Van the message. He read it three times before trusting himself to look at her again.
Those bastards!
How dare they send a message to her! They wanted him, not her! Van regulated his breathing and clenched and unclenched his fist until he felt that he had most of his rage under control.
"They're going to try and hurt him, aren't they?" Hitomi asked quietly. Her gaze was directed back on her son. He was so small and so innocent, but she knew that those people were going to try and take her son from her.
"I'm not going to let them get the chance to," Van promised.
Hitomi looked at him. "Neither am I."
"I want you to take Aidan inside and keep him there," Van ordered. "You'll be safe there. I'll have guards assigned to see to your protection. I'll take care you," he promised.
Hitomi gave him a small smile but said nothing. She went to Aidan and Van watched as she took his hand and led him inside, their son talking animatedly all the while. Jon walked up next to Van.
"They frightened her," Van said quietly. "They frightened her so badly that she cried." He turned to Van and his eyes betrayed his voice. He was raging. "I want them found."
"What happened to her?" Jon asked and was answered by the message being shoved at him. When he finished reading he let out a breath. "They really mean business. First the killings and now this. We're going to find them," he said to Van. "I swear it on my life. We will find them."
Van stared at the entrance where Hitomi and Aidan had disappeared to. "We had better find them soon," he said, "or I may just have to find them my own way and kill them myself."
That was a promise.
Well, what do you guys think? Was it okay? I hope so!
Have you guys ever read any books by Christine Feehan? I'm telling you she is the best! I just got hooked on her books about two weeks ago, and I only have two, but they are so good! I have the Carpathian Series! It makes me think of a good story for Inuyasha with mating and everything, but you guys just have to check them out if you're into paranormal romance books! They're great!!
You guys don't forget to review! Thanks! ^_^