Chapter 4
Trent continued to lead me through hallway after hallway and before I knew it we were in a part of the compound that I had never been. He finally stopped in front a very thick, old wooden door. He mumbled something that I couldn't quite catch and the door opened on its own. As we passed through the doorway and inside I felt a wash of ley line energy. This room was protected by a ley line spell. I looked at Trent but he was distracted, moving books about on the large tables that filled the room. There were chairs around the tables and a fireplace at the far end of the room surrounded with plush cream colored furniture. I took my eyes off of Trent and looked around the room. The ceiling must be at least eighteen feet high and all the walls were covered in floor to ceiling books. I was in Trent's library.
I whistled. There was no point in denying it. I was clearly impressed with his collection. "Why didn't you tell me you were hiding all of this?" I approached one of the shelves and was careful to only look and not touch the books. Trent seemed like the type of person to be a little offended if I touched without permission.
"Feel free to look at whatever you'd like Rachel." Trent said as he moved onto the next table, clearly looking for something in particular.
The first book that caught my attention had no title and the binding was falling off. Why do the old ones always catch my eye? I went to pick it up and I felt a tingle in my hand as I touched the book. I immediately shoved it back onto the shelf. Wild magic. I don't know why I'm so attracted to such dangerous things. That little lesson in the kitchen not ten minutes ago had taught me absolutely nothing. I sighed.
I eyed Trent up and down hoping he wouldn't catch me ogling him again. I couldn't help myself. The man was gorgeous. His back was to me as I admired the lean muscles that his shirt did nothing to hide. He was intently searching the tables and seemed to be unaware of the wonderful view he presented.
"Rachel." Trent said catching me checking him out. I just shrugged. I'm just looking and there is nothing wrong with looking. I know I've caught Trent more than once doing the same to me. He's just a lot better at it than I am.
"No, I'm just more subtle." He had a genuine smile on his face. I loved that smile. Why am I thinking about his smile? I returned to my browsing of the book shelves. "Found it."
Trent walked over to the table nearest to the fire place and took a seat. I slowly made my way over to join him, glancing along the book titles as I went. I wanted to keep looking but I wanted to know what it was that he needed to show me even more; curiosity always got the better of me. He held what looked more like a very large notebook rather than a regular book. As I glanced at it over his shoulder it in fact was a notebook. Some of it was written in another language that I assumed was elven. It looked like a mixture of medical terminology and genetic research. I realized it was a notebook from Trent's fathers research. I felt my body stiffen.
I was one of Trent's fathers projects. His father was the reason I was a demon. He had done it as a favor to my father to save my life but I was stuck with all the repercussions. Trent quickly flipped through the notebook knowing exactly what he was looking for. He stopped on the page that had Rachel Morgan printed at the top. I moved to sit in the chair next to him. He slid the notebook over to me and busied himself with another book he found on the table.
I looked at the pages with my name on them. It was mostly about my condition and what doses of medicines he was giving me to get rid of the rosewood syndrome. Then on the last page with my name on it, Trent's name was also at the top. It was a note left to the both of us. His father knew that someday we would both read this. It described everything I would become. That I would be a demon. That I could do demon, witch, and elven magic. That it was up to Trent and I to finally stop the war between the demons and the elves. That it was our destiny to do it together. It was what our fathers had wanted. I felt tears in my eyes. I didn't want something so big to fall on me. The realization that it already had finally hit me. I had known for a long time and I felt a tear slip from me.
Trent had been watching me out of the corner of his eye. "It's not an easy burden when a whole entire race is depending on you."
I suddenly knew exactly how Trent had felt all those years. He had probably known about this letter since he was a child. That is so much weight for one person to carry. No wonder he always came across as such a heartless bastard.
"I don't want to do this alone anymore Rachel. I trust you. I know what you are and I trust you with my life. With my daughters life. We can end this war. Together." He reached over and wiped the tear from my cheek.
I slowly reached out and set my hand on his. He glanced down at our hands and looked back up at my eyes. "I get it Trent. You don't have to waste a speech on me. I've already done what I can to help your species, now it's time for you to follow through with that promise to fix mine." He nodded his head and I moved my hand.
He let his breath out when I hadn't even realized he had been holding it. "That's why I showed you this notebook Rachel. You are the key to fixing them. My father left his notes in hopes that I would pick up where he left off. I need you to be able to do this." He looked as if a huge weight had been lifted from him. I wonder if even Quen knows about this notebook. "He doesn't." Trent answered my unspoken thought.
"Alright, lets get to it. What do you need me for?" I stood and made my way over to the fireplace. It was kinda chilly and the fire felt nice. Trent was never cold and I envied that about him. I remembered Ceri would walk in the snow with no shoes. Stupid elf thing. I wasn't so lucky, I seemed to be more sensitive than humans to the cold.
Trent came over by the fire and relaxed in one of the plush chairs. "I don't know how or what I will need you for yet, I just know that I will need you." Hearing those words from him made my heart skip a beat. He's just talking about helping the demons. He isn't talking about anything other than that. I was careful to keep looking into the fire that way he couldn't fully see my face. I didn't trust Trent with my heart. After sitting for a few moments in silence Trent moved over to stand next to me.
"You haven't had a thought cross your face in five minutes Rachel. What is going on in that head of yours?" Trent reached out to turn my chin towards him so he could see my face. I wasn't sure what it was going to show but I was fairly certain it was masking whatever kind of feelings I was having for Trent. Maybe it wasn't even feelings. I think it was just raw attraction. I remembered the time in his office when I was a mink. Not all of those memories were bad. At least I got a great view of his backside. When he was angry at Francis even his fish felt it. I don't know what it is about this man but he had such power and personal strength. I have always chosen to ignore it. I'd much rather stick my tongue out and not listen to him.
"Trent what are you?" The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them and I felt really silly. Trent was silent and took a step back from me. His eyes tightened and I knew right then there was more that the elf isn't telling me. "What?" I stammered and I took a step back from him. Why is there always some kind of mystery surrounding this man?
"I'm me Rachel. It's just well there are different levels of elves. I guess the best way to explain it is there are higher elves and lower ones. The higher ones are capable of doing much, much more with their magic. We have the ability to possess more power than other elves."
He shifted from foot to foot looking nervous. Maybe he thought something he has to say is going to make me yell at him. I once enjoyed yelling at Trent. Despite my small outburst in the kitchen, I didn't yell at him anymore. Hell I even understood him. I'm more like him than I had wanted to admit.
"So you're a higher elf? I didn't know elves had some sort of ranking system. So are you like royalty? Is Ceri a high elf? She's royalty. What's Quen?" I was full of questions but only asked the few that popped into my head first.
Trent laughed obviously relieved that I had taken it so well. "I'm not really sure how it works. My father never explained it to me. Quen told me what I was. Ceri knew when she met me. To my understanding it just means we're more magically inclined than other elves. It's a bloodline. The power and abilities are carried through the bloodline."
He moved back to his chair and I did the same. "We can do magic that not all elves can do. That is why I was able to pull a Druchii out of you. Quen could not have done so. Ceri I believe could but she doesn't embrace wild magic."
"You're still you but you can do...I guess more rare forms of magic?" I was trying to understand what he was saying and I think I was tracking. He nodded. I wonder if I can do some of the magic that a high elf can do. "Would I be able to do some of your high elf magic?"
"I think you may. I've not had the chance to test it with a demon." He said the last word so softly I could hardly hear it. I knew what I was. He knew what I was. I was starting to learn to live with it. I couldn't walk on eggshells forever around the d word.
"I'm a demon Trent. It's okay to say so. I'm just a good demon, one that never wants to live in the ever-after." I shuddered thinking about the few days I was stuck down there when Trent had cursed me. I know he was helping me but I never want to be stuck there again. Not being able to come and go as I please was a horrible feeling.
"I won't let you go back there Rachel. You will stay on this side of the lines." Trent said it with such force I knew he wouldn't let me be stuck there again. My feelings about Trent had been softening for a while. I was looking at him as a person, not as a murdering, drug-lord, bastard.
"I'm still a bastard." Trent smiled.
"That I will believe, Mr. Kalamack." I laughed. I studied Trent wishing I could know what he was thinking. He reads me so easily and it just isn't fair.
"I was thinking you're beautiful when you laugh." Trent whispered.
I looked at him open mouthed. He stood and leaned over my chair. I leaned back not knowing what he was trying to do. He leaned down til his face was only inches from mine. I had the urge to kiss him. I can't kiss Trent Kalamack. That only happens in my head in my kitchen when he's saving my soul. Well not entirely in my head but in the hospital. I was babbling in my head about kissing Trent and he was not three inches away. Could I really let this happen? Did I even want this to happen? He was a good kisser sure, but this is Trent. He could put me in the ground without even a second thought.
"I would never hurt you Rachel." He stayed his three inches back waiting for me to make up my mind if this was going to happen or not. I moved forward and now there was only two inches of space between us. He smelled like cinnamon and summer. He closed the space between us and just as his lips went to touch mine the door burst open.
"Sa'han! We have a problem." Quen looked angry. I sat there in shock. I almost kissed Trent and he wasn't doing it to put my soul back in. Trent quickly regained his composure and headed to the door. I just sat. I almost kissed Trent. "Ceri and I felt a drop in the line. Someone jumped in but we can't find an intruder. The alarms are set. Shall I loose the hounds?"
"Yes." Trent didn't even hesitate to answer. They both stopped in the doorway. "Rachel, are you coming?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm yeah." I jumped up and headed to the door. We moved through all the halls and were back in the big living room with Ceri and the girls. Ceri didn't look bothered by the thought of someone roaming around the compound but she was quick and she knew spells that I don't think even Al knew.
"Ceri you'll stay with the girls." Trent kissed both girls on the head and kept going, heading for his front office, with Quen and myself in tow. Quen had already put security on alert by the way they were moving around through the compound. There was so much activity I don't know how they could tell who should or shouldn't be there. Quen and Trent talked in quiet voices that I couldn't hear. As we reached the office Quen continued on.
"Quen, find Jenks. He can help." I said as I followed Trent into his office. I received a nod of acknowledgment in return.
"Trent stop!" I don't know why I said it but I did. He stopped dead in his tracks not knowing why I had made the request. I didn't even know why. Something just felt wrong. It felt like there was someone else in the office. "Do you feel that?"
He turned and looked at me. "Rachel?"
"Sshh." I needed it quiet. It was almost like I could hear whispering but not really hearing it. It was the strangest feeling. Trent moved back to stand by me seeing as I had only taken two steps into the office. I cleared my mind and used my second sight. I wanted to make sure there wasn't a demon standing in Trent's line. Empty. I was kind of disappointed. That would have been more normal for me to feel a demon than whatever I was feeling. It began to get stronger, almost like the whispering had gotten louder but I still couldn't figure out what was being said. It was like someone was talking into a pillow.
I tapped the line and let down my second sight. Tulpa. I spindled the extra energy into my head once my chi was full. Trent had felt me tap the line and did the same.
"I don't know what's coming Trent but something is going to jump in on your line." I could feel it coming.
"Quen!" Trent yelled. I wasn't sure if anyone besides Sara Jane could hear him but she would get the message to him. I pushed Trent behind me getting ready to make a circle as I felt the line drop.
"It's jumping right into your office." I whispered and waited. "Get yourself in a circle Trent." Before Trent could get any words out Lee popped into the office. "Lee!" I was confused. What was he doing?
"That isn't Lee." Trent said becoming stiff. Sure enough I took a look at him and his eyes had almost a silver gleam behind the brown. "It's a Druchii."
"Swell." I let out my breath. Now would be a good time to see if I could pull one out too, or maybe not. I don't think Lee would appreciate me practicing on him.
"Put us all in a circle Rachel." Trent whispered and took a step out from behind me. I had the circle up before he finished saying my name.
"Damn." The Druchii swore. "How did you know I wasn't Stanley?"
"Is Lee in there?" Trent questioned. "Let me talk to him." I knew how Lee felt being locked in your own body. The Druchii was powerful and the normal ways to get something that was possessing you out of your body doesn't work with these things. Lee's eyes flickered strange silver and brown.
"Trent. What the hell is going on? Why is it every time someone kidnaps me Rachel is waiting for me at the other end!" Lee looked pissed but he had a smile on his face. I guess the fact that I'm always involved from one side of the country to the other in chaos was amusing to him. I snorted. I didn't find the humor in being stuck in the middle of every kind of supernatural event funny.
Trent smiled. "Surfer dude...this is going to hurt."
Trent looked at me and I knew I needed to help hold Lee down. We both moved forward Trent on the left, and myself on the right. Trent started to sing. I was surprised to hear it seeing as he wasn't doing it out loud, he was doing it in Lee's head. How could I hear it? I remembered the words from them being in my head. If Trent can do this and I can hear it, I wonder if I can too?
Without another thought I picked up the words where Trent left off tela sina templa tessa i' uuvanimo eithel he sii' kela yaara er. Trent turned to me as Lee lost the will to stand and we gently helped him to the floor. Trent could hear me. I know he could. He let me continue until all we could hear was Lee's thoughts. Just as Lee was closing his eyes to go to sleep we heard the other voice.
Trenton, Trenton, Trenton. It was screaming over and over in Lee's head.
'What do you want from me?' Trent spoke into Lee's head. This has got to be one of the weirdest conversations I have ever had.
Why can't I get into Rachel's thoughts? What did you do to her? It asked him, calming slightly.
"He didn't do it. I did it myself. You aren't ever getting back in my head!' I told the Druchii.
We will see Rachel. We will see. It laughed. I could tell Trent was ready for this to be over. He did a hand gesture that I had never seen before and I felt the power of the line run through me and into Lee. I sure hope he didn't fry Lee's brain knowing how much more line energy I could hold, than well anyone I know besides maybe Newt. Lee's body twitched a little but it was nothing like the outburst I had when the Druchii was inside of me.
Lee's eyes opened to show brown unfocused eyes. "Thanks." Then he passed out.