Second Circle, by lyradaemon

Chapter 11: Leaving And Arriving

A/N: THANKS TO KESTREL2106 WHO POINTED OUT THAT LUC COULD ONLY DESCEND TO GREY, NOT EBON-GREY AS I SAID – I THINK I WAS VERY TIRED WHEN WRITING IT! I ALSO CHANGED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BLOOD AND THE LANDENS, WHICH HAD CAUSED CONFUSION. SORRY!

Thankfully Eli fell asleep as soon as Luc laid her on the bed. He tucked the covers around her, mindful not to touch her – it was far too soon for that – then collapsed in the armchair beside the bed.

He just sat there, staring into the darkness, not able to think at all. His whole body ached and muscles screamed at him in pain. There was a lump on his cheekbone – he could feel it – and he had cuts all over his body. He was so tired, but sleep wouldn't come.

Falian kept on flashing before his eyes.

That surge of power, that scream…what was left of him, plastered around the room…

Luc shuddered, trying to put the images out of his mind; but they kept on coming back, repeating again and again…

Luc awoke to the sound of someone screaming. For a moment he didn't know where he was, he was so disorientated. Then it all came flooding back.

Eli was thrashing around, clutching the blankets close to her, screaming with pain and hate and terror. Luc leapt to his feet and without thinking he pulled her into his arms.

"Shh, Eli. It's alright, I'm here, I've got you."

She lashed out, catching him round the face. Luc flinched but didn't loosen his grip. "Eli, sweetheart, it's me, it's Luc. It's alright…"

She stopped. "Luc?" She whispered thickly, seemingly confused. Then she went limp, crying quietly. Luc just held her, not saying anything, trying to comfort her with his presence.

Eventually she quietened. Luc pulled back a bit to look at her; she had fallen asleep.

Eli woke her several more times throughout the night with her screams; and each time Luc held her, comforting her, helping to push the fear away. Then when she fell into a restless sleep again, he would be left alone to battle with his own demons.

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A hand shook his shoulder lightly. "Luc?" A voice said from beyond the fog of sleep.

Luc tried to claw his way out of the drowsiness covering him. "What?" He muttered. He shook his head and looked up to see Arianna standing over him, concern written all over her face.

"Luc? Are you alright?"

"Yeah…yeah, I'm fine," he replied, rubbing his eyes. He glanced quickly at the bed.

"Where's Eli?" He demanded, panicking.

Arianna put a hand out to steady him. "Shh, Luc, it's ok. She's having a bath; Titian's in there with her now. She's not alone." She put a hand to his forehead. "I think you might have a bit of a fever," she said, frowning. "You should probably be in bed…"

"I'm fine," he replied shortly.

"You're going to see a Healer," Arianna said firmly. "I can get Giselle to look at you when we get back to Maghre."

"I'm not going back to Maghre."

"What? But – where are you going to go?" Arianna asked, frowning.

"Back to the Hall. Eli needs Jaenelle; I'm going back with her."

Arianna thought quickly for a few moments. "Well, I should go back home today; and I reckon my parents will want me to stay there, and they'll call Tristan back too. Titian can't travel back to Maghre on her own. She should go to the Hall with you two and Charon."

"Whatever," Luc said, not caring. Mother Night, he hurt. "I want to leave today. I'm not staying here a moment longer than necessary." He rubbed his eyes, yawning widely. "Have you spoken to anyone yet?'

"Well, I haven't seen Charon yet," she began, but Luc cut her off.

"I mean the adults." He was inwardly dreading the answer.

"I talked with father before I went to sleep; I had to tell him," she added at the accusing look from Luc. "Titian contacted Surreal and Saetan this morning. I spoke with Daemon."

"And?"

"They all knew. According to Daemon – he wasn't very clear though – Jaenelle heard Eli calling for help. She woke Daemon up, and they told everyone. Apparently Gabrielle was beside herself." She paused before adding. "She blames Jaenelle."

Luc looked at her sharply. "She blames Jaenelle?" He asked.

Arianna hesitated. "I think she…foresaw…something in a Tangled Web – it wasn't very clear – and she didn't want to tell anyone, in case they worried."

"Oh." He could just picture his mother's reaction. "But apart from that, they're all alright?"

"Yes; a bit shaken, but coping."

"Good." He stood up stretching, wincing at the aches. "Will you get me when Eli's ready? I want to leave soon."

Arianna knew a hint when she heard one. "Of course; I'll gather up her clothes from yesterday then." She left quietly.

Luc sank back down, his head in his hands. Would they blame her for what happened to Eli? Would Daemon and Jaenelle hate him now? It wasn't his fault…

But it was. He couldn't help but wonder whether it wouldn't have happened if he had checked out the inn properly. He had suspected Falian being nearby – so had Aaron. Maybe he should have investigated…

He shook his head, ridding it of those thoughts. They weren't going to get him anywhere. A short while later there was a soft knock on the door and Titian peered around it. "Arianna told me to tell you that everyone's ready."

"Thanks Titian," he said, gathering up his bundle of clothes. "Are you coming back with me, Eli and Charon?"

Titian made a face. "Arianna said a should. And so did mother."

The corners of Luc's mouth raised in the hint of a smile. "She's probably right too."

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Titian hugged Arianna goodbye. "Give me love to Kalush and Aaron," she said with a grin.

Arianna smiled. "Same for everyone at your end. I'm sure I'll see you soon anyway."

Then she turned to Charon. She hesitated slightly, but before she could say anything, Charon leaned in and kissed her lightly on the lips. "Be safe, Aria," he said, turning red but grinning at the same time.

Arianna mumbled something in reply, but was too shocked to say goodbye to Luc. She watched as they caught the winds to the Hall, then shook herself out of her daze and caught the Sapphire wind back to Lyrkhava.

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Daemon was waiting at the main entrance when Luc, Charon and Titian walked in, Eli lying asleep in Luc's arms.

"Eli," he gasped, making straight for his daughter and taking her in his arms. He cradled her carefully against his chest. "Is she alright?" He asked the others, his eyes never leaving her face.

"More or less. She's exhausted though," Titian said. She paused, before adding, "I think she might need to be checked over by a Healer – just in case."

Daemon's eyes snapped up. Titian covered her mouth, realizing too late that none of them had actually said what had happened; they'd just said they'd been attacked in the inn and then assured them they were all still in one piece.

The air around Daemon suddenly turned icy cold and his eyes hardened to yellow. "What do you mean, 'just in case'?" He asked too softly.

Titian's mouth opened but no sound came out.

"I think we should go somewhere private, father," Charon said quietly, looking directly at him.

Daemon's gaze turned slowly to him. "Why?"

"Because mother has a right to hear when you do," he explained levelly.

Daemon regarded him a moment longer, before pivoting and gliding across the hall, still holding Eli. He kicked open Saetan's study door and strolled inside.

"Daemon, would you please knock?" They heard Saetan's slightly irritated voice say, before another one cut across it.

"Eli! Mother Night, what happened?" It was Jaenelle.

Charon, Luc and Titian tiptoed in, shutting the door slowly behind them. "We're here to explain," Luc said, eyes defiant.

Saetan looked at him, puzzled. "Explain what?"

They explained; between the three of them – Luc knowing more than the others did – they told the three adults what had happened. By the end of it the room was so cold Titian's lips had turned blue. She didn't dare say anything though.

"My daughter was raped." It wasn't a question.

"Yes, Prince Sadi."

"And the bastard who did this is now…disposed of."

"Yes."

"How much of him was left?"

The question made Luc blink, but he recovered quickly. "Nothing…I – I, well, redecorated the room with him," he finished, his voice barely above a whisper.

Luc was expecting a gasp from them, but was surprised to see three impressed faces; a sight which was actually more chilling.

"I'm impressed, Prince," Daemon sad, eyebrows raised. That bone-chilling cold had dissipated slightly. He turned to Jaenelle. "It sounds like he didn't make it as far as Hell, darling."

Jaenelle smiled, a cold, cruel smile. "That won't stop me," she said in her midnight voice. She looked at her daughter, lying completely still. "I want to look at Eliene; the bastard may not have finished what he started, but I'm not taking any chances."

Jaenelle stood up followed by Daemon and they left, leaving a trail of hatred and cold, cold anger. Titian shivered.

"I think I should go and see mother," she said, heading towards the door.

"I should go-" Luc began, but Saetan cut him off.

"You're staying right there boyo," he said mildly. Luc sat.

Charon took one look at Saetan before rushing to follow Titian; "I – should – Titian…" he said lamely before shutting the door quickly behind him.

"So you're going to blame me too," Luc said bitterly, remorse in his blue eyes.

"On the contrary," Saetan said disarmingly. "I want to thank you."

"Thank me? But-"

"Luc, you saved my granddaughter's life," Saetan said seriously. "For that, you have my eternal gratitude."

Luc just stared at him. "I didn't protect her though – I promised Daemon I would, and I didn't. None of that would have happened if I had stopped and thought."

"What would you have done though? Falian was a Grey-Jewelled Warlord Prince. Can you imagine trying to stop Chaosti from doing something, just using your Green Jewels?" Luc shook his head. "Precisely my point. There was nothing you could do."

"But I stopped him in the end!" Luc protested, confusion written on his face. "He was far more powerful than me, and I killed him."

"Ah," Saetan smiled. "There's an answer to that too, Luc. You are nineteen now – almost twenty. What does that mean?"

Luc thought. "Well, I'm going to make my Offering fairly soon…"

"Exactly. Every Blood male and female have the capacity for wearing two Jewels. For some, those Jewels might be Light; perhaps they will only descend one or two levels. For others, they are Dark and they might descend the full three levels. No one ever knows for sure until it happens.

"In your case, Luc, you have Birthright Green – one of the Dark Jewels. You have the capacity to descend to Grey; it might happen, but then again, it might not. You won't know until you have made your Offering. However, it seems that you have the capacity to wear a Jewel darker than your own now; perhaps Red, perhaps the Grey."

"But how can you tell?"

"Quite easily. Falian wore Grey; you defeated him. As you are so close to your Offering, it is perfectly possible that you can access some of that darker power now. Therefore, to defeat him, you must be able to wear – after the Offering – either the Grey or the Ebon-Grey." Saetan sat back and looked at Luc with an unreadable expression.

Luc sat deep in thought for a few moments. "So," he said slowly. "I was able to kill Falian because I was able to access power darker than my own, because I will make the Offering soon."

"That's one of the possibilities, yes."

"One of them?" Luc asked, frowning.

"Well, there are others. For example, someone might have allowed you to use darker powers."

"Like who?"

"I don't know. Lorn, perhaps?" Saetan said calmly, taking a sip of the glass of brandy which had suddenly appeared in his hand.

"Lorn?" Luc gasped. Saetan snorted with laughter.

"You never know; he is capable."

"But why would he do it?"

Saetan sobered. "Because it was in order to protect Eliene. She is the daughter of Jaenelle, the Queen of Ebon Askavi, Witch; and also Lorn's daughter – acknowledged by him. Lorn loves Jaenelle; it makes sense for him to want to protect her child when she was in danger."

"I don't even want to think about that," Luc said weakly. Saetan grinned.

"So. Any more questions?" Luc shook his head. "I don't blame you, Luc. Nor does Daemon or Jaenelle. Or Lorn, for that matter. You protected her; you saved her from being violated. They cannot thank you enough for that. You killed someone," Luc flinched, "But it wasn't murder. It was to save someone you love. No one will judge you for that."

"I do have one more question," Luc said eventually.

"Yes?"

"Why were Daemon and Jaenelle so angry? I mean, I know Eli was hurt but – well, Falian never finished it…"

"It brought back memories – for both of them – and none of them are happy." Saetan looked at Luc, as if weighing him up. He seemed to come to a decision. "When Jaenelle was twelve, and living in Terreille, she was raped. By a man named Greer, an acquaintance of Kartane SaDiablo – who, incidentally, is – was – the father of Surreal. Although she would kill you for mentioning it. Kartane was also the son of the lovely Dorothea SaDiablo. At the time, Daemon was staying with Jaenelle's family; as a pleasure slave. Daemon and Surreal didn't reach Briarwood – where she was raped – in time; they took her to Cassandra's alter and there Daemon fought to bring her back from the abyss. He succeeded, but at a terrible price."

"And what was that?" Luc asked quietly.

"His sanity. For a long time – five years – Daemon walked the roads of the Twisted Kingdom. He thought Jaenelle was dead; I, and Lucivar, thought Daemon was dead. It was only thanks to Surreal that he survived.

"So you see, Luc, why Daemon and Jaenelle might be understandably angry at what has happened to their daughter. The memories it has surfaced are not ones they want to face again."

Luc nodded respectfully. He had heard plenty of stories of the antics of Daemon and Jaenelle – among others; after all, how could he not, himself being the son of two of Jaenelle's First Circle. But no one had ever told him that one; he wasn't even sure if Eli knew.

"Eliene doesn't know about that," Saetan said, as if reading his thoughts. "It might be best if it stayed that way."

"So why did you tell me?"

"Because you needed to know. Daemon might now act slightly differently around you now; if he does, it is because he respects you. And, knowing my son, he is envious of you."

"Envious? Why?"

"You saved Eliene from being violated by that man. Daemon couldn't save Jaenelle from it. He regrets that, even if it wasn't his fault. He will hate himself for it, for ever. The very fact that you prevented anything else from happening to her will have earned his deepest respect. And Daemon, while admiring many people here in Kaeleer, only gives his deep respect to a very select few."

They sat in silence a while longer, Luc deep in thought, Saetan humming vaguely to himself. Finally Saetan cleared his throat. "I think it might be time you let Gabrielle know you were back," he suggested.

Luc started, then looked guilty. "Mother Night! I'd completely forgotten," he groaned.

"I won't tell if you won't," Saetan grinned, then stood up. He crossed the space between them. "Thank you, Prince," he said formally, gratitude in his eyes. Then, to Luc's surprise, he kissed him softly on the lips. "May the Darkness embrace you, Luc."

"And you, High Lord," Luc whispered respectfully.

Then he fled in search of two very disgruntled parents.