Chapter Two: Voices in the Air
(edited version)

Tania shook her head vigorously. "I can't," she said to her parents, "I just can't."

Lady Evelyn frowned at her daughter's reaction. "What are you talking about, Tania?" she asked in confusion.

Tania took a deep breath. "I cannot spend one minute with this…person," she replied, pointing a shaky finger at Darrin.

"My name is Darrin, Lady Tania," said person piped up with a very polite (yet strangely mocking, but only Tania sensed that) voice.

"Oh, shut up!" she snapped, glaring fiercely. "I am not going to fall for that fake politeness of yours."

Sir James started. "Tania," he said with a warning tone, "do not be rude."

Darrin spoke up. "I am used to such treatment from noble girls," he said breezily. He turned and looked at her with laughing eyes.

Tania, upon sensing his amusement, exploded. "I WILL NOT HAVE THIS…THIS BRUTE AS MY BODYGUARD!" she yelled. "WHY DO I NEED ONE ANYWAY?"

Lady Evelyn gasped. "TANIA!" she shouted. "Do NOT raise your voice at us! This is for your own GOOD, and Darrin IS the best and most loyal fighter! Whether you like it or not, he WILL be your BODYGUARD!"

Tania paused while staring at her mother, then sighed heavily. "I'm sorry," she said wearily, "I don't mean to be angry…but…I'm so…frustrated. And damn clueless! You won't explain to me anything! Tell me why someone wants to kill me, Mother."

Her parents exchanged dark looks. Again.

She sighed angrily. "If you don't tell me…I am going to run away," she threatened.

"Not if I can help it," Darrin piped up, who was still grinning like some idiot.

"Shut up!" Tania shot him a glare, then turned back to her parents. "Please tell me."

For a moment there, Lady Evelyn looked as if she was about to consider it, but then sighed and shook her head, much to Tania's disappointment. "Go to your room, Tania," she said silently. "I'm sorry, but we cannot tell you. Please understand."

Silence. No one dared to move or say a word. Tania stood menacingly, looking in frustration at one parent to the next. Lady Evelyn and Sir James looked grave and tired, and even Darrin wore a serious expression on his face as he leaned comfortably against the wall.

It was Tania who broke the silence. "Fine," she said very softly as left the dining room, "good night."

Tania walked up the stairs slowly, with a certain someone following close behind.

"Will you stop following me?" she said angrily at her lovely companion.

Darrin grinned and shook his head. "No can do, my lady."

"Wipe that stupid grin off your face."

His grin grew wider and his eyes danced, and because he wanted to annoy her even more, he took a step, closing the gap between him and her.

It worked. Tania let out an angry sigh and shot him her famous glare.

Darrin chuckled. "You know," he said thoughtfully, "if I'm going to be your shadow for the next months or maybe even years"—he made sure he emphasized the word "years"—"you might as well be nice to me now."

"You are not my bodyguard," she replied firmly.

"Forgive me, but are you deaf, my lady?" he said with an innocent voice. "Your parents just told you downstairs that I am."

"I'm going to do something about it."

"What can you do about it?" he said, sounding very amused. "Your parents think that I am the best for the job."

She ignored him and continued to walk on.

Darrin shrugged and remain silent. Later on, he snuck his fourth sideway look at his companion. Her lips were pursed tightly together and she had a ruddy shade on her cheeks. She walked with brisk, hurried steps.

He smiled at that, then said, "So…don't you have a question for me?"

"Of course I have a question for you," she retorted. "Why is your head extremely massive and why is your brain smaller than an acorn?"

"Ha-ha, that's pretty funny," he said, rolling his eyes. "And by the way, that's two questions."

"Amazing, you can count."

Darrin chose to be the mature one, so he didn't shoot back a retort, even though he was dying to. Because she was answered by silence, Tania smiled, thinking that she had won the squabble.

After a moment of silence, Darrin cleared his throat. "Seriously," he said, "don't you have a question for me?"

Tania groaned. "What question?" she said in exasperation.

Darrin raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you going to ask me if I know anything about what your parents are hiding from you?" An annoying, mysterious smile appeared on his face when he saw that he had managed to catch her attention.

Tania paused. It was true…she hadn't asked him anything about that. How did he end up with this job? Why did her parents think that they could trust him,of all people?

She took a deep breath. "Do you know anything?" she asked softly.

His smile turned into a grin. "Maybe."

Her eyes widened. "You are such a child!" she cried out as she opened her bedroom door and stepped in. She turned back around and looked at him with pleading eyes. "Just tell me!"

Darrin gave her a long, pensive look. He then nodded and said, "I will tell you, if you do something for me…" His voice was suddenly low and husky. He took a step forward, closing the gap between them. Meeting her wide eyes, he arched an eyebrow and stared intently at her.

Tania backed away. "No way!" she bellowed. "I am not going to kiss you or do anything else on that matter!"

Darrin threw his head back at this and laughed. "What makes you think I want that?" he said, amusement lacing his voice. He grinned and shook his head. "No offence, but you are not my type."

There was a stunned silence, filled with embarrassment on Tania's side.

"Oh." Her cheeks were flaming, which she knewhe found amusing. And he knew that she knew that he knew, which made him chuckle and lean contentedly against the doorframe.

"So," she said, clearing her throat awkwardly, "uh…what is your condition then?" Was it just her or did her voice sound so…high-pitched? She certainly hoped not.

Darrin grinned. "If you say 'Darrin is really handsome and nice,' I will tell you all that I know."

Her eyes flashed the moment he said this, herself going from embarrassed to angry. "Over my dead body," she growled. "In your dreams, Darrin. In your dreams."

He chuckled. "It's your loss, my lady." He nodded politely and turned to leave.

Tania's brain screamed at her: Don't let him leave, you fool!

"Wait!" She grabbed his arm impulsively, and he stopped and gave her a questioning look. "Uh…all right," she told him, while cursing her brain at the same time. He grinned, and she took a deep breath. "I…uh…think that Darrin is…really handsome and nice," she announced, purposely cringing at the word "handsome."

He burst out laughing, and she crossed her arms in annoyance as she waited for him to sober up.

"I didn't know you felt that way," Darrin said, while wiping a tear from his eye.

She chose to ignore that stupid remark. "Now tell me everything you know about my parents' secret," she commanded.

His laughter stopped, and he became serious all of a sudden. He nodded and leaned over, bringing his lips close to her ear. Tania gulped as his tall figure loomed over hers, but she didn't push him away.

"I'll tell you everything I know," he whispered, his warm breath fanning her ear.

"Go on," Tania said. Her heart was pounding heavily, and she was unsure whether it was because of the information she was about to find out or because of him being so…close.

"I know…"

She held her breath.

"…absolutely nothing."

"YOU BRUTE!" Tania screamed instantly. She shoved him away with all the strength he could muster, and he staggered out of her room, a wolfish grin fixed on his face.

She slammed the door shut angrily. BANG.

"I don't want to see your ugly face again!"

Even with thick walls to separate them, Tania could still hear his howls of laughter.

The moment Tania woke up in the morning, she realized instantly that what her parents had been dreading had now occurred. She was sixteen years old.

She didn't feel different at all. She still felt as if she was fifteen. She frowned, as she recalled back to last night. What was Father talking about last night? He said that strange things are going to happen…

Shaking her thoughts away, she rose and made up her bed. After changing into a dark blue dress, she brushed her hair, tied it into a half-ponytail, and braided it once.

When she opened her bedroom door, she nearly screamed when she saw something sprawled on the doorstep. Then she almost burst out laughing when she realized that it was only Darrin, sleeping away.

The corners of her lips curved into a devious smile. Then, without any mercy whatsoever, she stepped on his stomach and crossed over him.

"Oof!" As if in impulse, Darrin grabbed the sword lying beside him and pointed the blade straight at Tania. He did it so quickly that she couldn't help but be impressed.

But of course, she would rather die than have him find that out.

"Uh…I think you're supposed to protect me, and not the other way around," she said cheekily.

He glared at her. "You—"

Suddenly, he stopped. His glare vanished in a split second, and his face lost colour as he stared fixedly at her. Tania frowned and tried to stare back defiantly, but was caught off-guard when she saw a strange expression in his eyes. What was it? Confusion? Amazement? Anger? Uncertainty? Uh…sadness?

She couldn't tell at all. But it was unnerving.

She glared. "What is wrong with you?" she asked with a dangerous voice. "Stop staring!"

Darrin jumped—which was very much unlike him—and snapped out of his hypnotized state. He blinked, then shook his head vigorously. "Nothing's wrong," he said quietly. When he met Tania's eyes, his glared returned, and she was actually relieved to see it. "Did you just step on my stomach?"

She shrugged. "You were in the way."

He scowled. "Thank you for treating me like a rug."

"And thank you for tricking me last night," she replied.

His scowl was immediately replaced by an amused grin. "That was pretty funny," he replied, chuckling to himself.

"It was not! You are so immature…to play a trick like that."

"Immature…as well as really handsome, right?" The familiar devilish grin appeared on his face. Tania responded by kicking his side, but it was obvious that he did not feel any pain because he kept on grinning.

"Be quiet," she muttered.

"Hey, it came from your own mouth! You said that I was handsome!" Darrin said in defense.

"That's because you forced me to say it!" she said fiercely. "I thought that you knew something about my parents' secret!"

"Tania, Tania, Tania." He shook his head as he rose from the floor, using the scabbard for support. Then he sheathed his sword, with mirthful blue eyes fixed on her. "Your parents are not stupid. Why should they tell me anything if they don't know me that well?"

Tania frowned. He did have a good point, but of course, she refused to agree with him. She huffed and headed for the stairs. Darrin followed and found his place, which was right next to her. He had no trouble keeping up with her brisk strides, much to her annoyance. It was like reliving yesterday.

"Who are you anyway?" she asked as they went down the hallway.

He gave her a look. "Have you gone mad? Or do you just have a horrible memory? I am Darrin, your bodyguard."

Tania rolled her eyes. "I really wonder if anybody in this whole world likes you…" It was meant to be an insult, but he took it the wrong way.

"Do you mean girls?" he said absent-mindedly. He shrugged. "Yes, a lot of them like me…giggle loudly whenever I pass by…follow me wherever I go…"

"Blind girls they must be," Tania said flippantly. "They don't know your true self."

Darrin just laughed. "My lady, do you even know my true self?"

"Of course," she retorted. "You are rude, sly, arrogant, proud, uncouth, deceitful, vulgar, haughty, full of yourself—"

"And handsome?" he interrupted with a glint in his eyes.

Tania exploded. "For the last time, stop it! I did not mean any of those words that I said last night!"

He laughed. She glared. Then she picked up her pace, and he did the same, with that same insane grin on his stupid face (Tania's own words).

They paused at the top of the red-carpeted stairs. It was here where a brilliant idea entered Tania's head. She laughed inwardly, congratulating her cunning mind.

Perfect, just perfect, she thought gleefully.

Darrin's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Why are you grinning?" he asked suspiciously.

Tania had not realized that she was grinning. She wiped it off immediately and replaced it with a scowl. "Is it illegal to grin now?" she challenged.

He shut his mouth after that. A long and dull moment of just standing there followed. Tania was waiting for the right moment, while Darrin was waiting for her.

Finally, he cleared his throat. "What are we doing here?" he said impatiently.

"I think we are standing at the top of the stairs, but I could be wrong," she replied with a casual air.

"Stop your sarcasm. Please. Why are we standing here?"

She shot him a look. "We are standing here because I feel like it, and since you're my bodyguard, you will have to do the same thing too," she said triumphantly. She smirked, leaned against the banister, and started to hum a merry tune.

"Fine," Darrin said with scowl. He leaned against the banister beside her.

Thirty seconds passed.

One minute.

One minute and a half.

It was at the end of two minutes when Darrin released a cry of impatience and frustration. With a scowl on his face, he sat down on the carpet and crossed his arms.

Perfect, Tania thought, smiling inwardly. It will take him time to get up.

"Toodles," she said to him with a cheerful tone and a wave of her hand.

She quickly jumped on the banister, pushed herself, and slid down very easily, having done it so many times before.

The moment she landed at the bottom, she dashed away. She clearly had an advantage: she knew her way around the enormous manor, while he didn't.

She ran as fast as she could, the rhythmical sound of her footsteps echoing throughout the walls. She ran past the banquet hall…past confused servants…into the kitchen (she greeted Georgia with a quick hello)…out into the open…and towards the stables.

Damn, she thought when she saw Erius in his stall withouta saddle or reins. It was hard to ride without both.

But she did not have a time to spare, so she released her black stallion from the stall and climbed up bravely. His back was glossy and smooth: she could easily slip off with one wrong move.

"Ride your fastest and do not stop," Tania whispered to her stallion's twitching ear. She held on to his neck tightly and kicked his sides.

The war-horse neighed loudly and galloped off.

The sun's golden shafts and the cool morning wind greeted them. Erius galloped against the wind, and Tania's hair blew away from her flushed face. A few seconds later and she saw a figure up ahead. She grinned when she saw who it was. Even from afar, she could see the rage in Darrin's face.

He stood in her way, as if daring her to proceed. "Stop!" he shouted.

Right, Darrin. Like that will really stop me, she thought wryly. What a dolt.

She did not let Erius stop. In fact, she did the opposite. She kicked his sides, and the horse responded to the kick by picking up his pace. She saw Darrin's eyes widen, but he did not move, and she couldn't help but be impressed by him once more.

Erius was only a few metres away…

Ten…

Eight…

Five…

Three…

One…

Darrin jumped out of harm's way in time. When Tania looked back, she saw a look of fury on his face.

She grinned and waved.

Tania slowed Erius to a trot when they reached the outskirts of a lush forest.

The forest was known as Emerlin Forest. It was twenty minutes away from Tania's manor, and it was a vast woodland that covered three kingdoms: Geldrin, Kyrria, and Arsen. There were many rumours that involved this quiet, mysterious area. Many believed that something (or someone) powerful dwelled deep within. The enchantment that the forest contained was so powerful that no one ever dared to venture in. Of course, those ones who did venture in never returned to tell the tale.

Or so the rumours said.

Tania felt daring. She actually wantedto enter and discover Emerlin Forest's deep secrets, if such actually did exist. Stupid or brave?

Probably both.

Erius immediately stopped at the entrance, refusing to take another step. He snorted and neighed loudly.

"Oh, come on," Tania told her stallion. "Don't tell me you're scared. You're a war-horse, for crying out loud!" She kicked him lightly at the sides, but he did not budge.

She sighed. My horse is afraid of a forest, she thought wryly. Fine. I'll go on my own.

She climbed down, and it was in this moment when she realized that Erius had no bridle, which meant she couldn't tie him up.

"Great," Tania muttered.

All of a sudden, something dangling from the low branch of a tree caught her eye. She turned, then gaped.

A bridle.

She cheered inwardly. Although it was extremely odd to find such an item at the very edge of a forest, she shrugged off the thought. She took the bridle without hesitance and used them for Erius.

"Stay here, all right?" Tania said to her stallion.

He neighed in reply. She smiled, gave him an affectionate pat, then proceeded to walk in.

One step…

Another step…

Another step…

Someone grabbed her arm from behind. She yelped and immediately turned around.

It was Darrin. Tania did not even bother to hide her shock.

"How did you get here so fast?" she demanded. She saw that a brown horse was beside him, which shocked her. She didn't hear anything or anybody approach her from behind. Not one sound! She looked at him suspiciously. "How did you arrive so…quietly? It's actually creepy, you know."

"I have my ways," Darrin said gruffly, "but that doesn't matter. Do you know what you are doing?" He was in a really bad temper.

"I'm entering a forest, you halfwit," Tania said in reply. "What else does it look like?"

"A foolish and naïve girl placing herself in danger. This isn't just a normal forest, Tania. This is Emerlin Forest. Just to remind you, my lady, it is the oldest, most mysterious, and most dangerous forest of all! Do you know how much enchantment there is inside?"

"I'll find out if you let me go," she replied. He was still holding her arm, but the grip had softened.

He shook his head. "I will not let you go," he said sternly.

Tania struggled to get free, but he was clearly very strong. He even looked amused by her attempt. She glared at him. "Let me go! You are so annoying, did you know that?"

"And you are stubborn and foolish."

She glared at him, while he scowled at her.

A deadly silence followed as the two stared defiantly at each other, each feeling the same amount of anger surge in them. Tania maintained steady eye contact with him, not willing to back down first. No…she was not going to give him that kind of satisfactory.

Just look at him, she thought sourly. Acting so haughty! I could just punch him right now and…and…

There was a soft whisper in the wind. Startled, Tania broke the gaze (much to his surprise and delight) and looked around.

There was no one in sight. Yet, she could have sworn she heard something…

"Tania..."

There it was! There was definitely a voice, and it was definitely calling her name.

"What's wrong?" she heard Darrin ask. The angry tone in his voice was gone, replaced by a soft, concerned one.

"Don't you hear that?" she whispered, looking around wildly.

Then there was a soft gust of wind, and a ghostly song followed, chanted by many voices that sounded like melodic echoes. She did not know what language it was in, but for some reason, she was able to understand every word and every line…

"Vema herilus tuarmul

Telae presimas halemal consas uste

"Tania?" Darrin said worriedly. "Are you all right?"

"Hush!" Tania hissed fiercely, which instantly shut his mouth.

Telae asidis els restus

Ese hatica peramae uste veloe

Ese uste sobe els Tania—

Ilis'Adelle Lovrin cesevi

The words sounded strange, yet oddly familiar. They sounded powerful, and Tania couldn't help sensing something ancient behind them.

Vema herilus tuarmul

Telae presimas halemal consas uste…"

Then the musical voices trailed off, as if the wind carried them away, to somewhere distant.

The air was dead and silent.

"Tania? Tania? Are you all right?"

Tania, who was in a dreamy state, felt someone shake her gently. She frowned. What? Who's shaking me? Oh…it's Darrin…

She looked at him stupidly. "Huh…?" came the intelligent answer.

"Are you all right?" Darrin repeated. His voice was filled with worry. "You seem…dazed."

"I…I'm fine," she mumbled as she shut her eyes and rubbed her forehead. "Didn't you hear those voices?"

He looked at her strangely. "What voices?"

"I…" She paused. It was clear that he had heard nothing. "…n-never mind. Let's just leave."

Darrin chuckled. "I'm glad you've gone back to your senses."

Tania untied Erius distractedly as she thought about what just happened. How could I understand that language? What language was it? Who were the ones singing it?

And there was that one other question…

"Darrin…?" she spoke up quietly.

He turned instantly. "What is it?"

"Do you know anyone named Adelle Lovrin?"

She did not expect him to react the way he did. For a brief moment there, he lost all composure as he stiffened visibly and paled.

But it was only for a brief moment. It was so brief that she would not have seen it if she hadn't been looking at him so intently.

"No," he said, the moment he regained his composure. "Why?"

She shrugged. "No reason."

"Let's go," he said gruffly. He turned away from her and mounted his horse.

As they were riding away from Emerlin Forest, Tania snuck a sideway look.

A brooding darkness was radiating from him. He carried a heavy solemnity she had never seen in him before.

He was hiding something.

A/N:

If you're wondering about the language, I made it up! A mixture of Spanish and Estonian. Try to speak them out loud. They're a mouthful.

Translation:

"Come, fair lass,

She asks to speak with you.

She holds the answer

That will allow you to see

That you are the Tania—

Adelle Lovrin's gem.

Come, fair lass,

She asks to speak with you…"