Things changed quickly between them. In a matter of days they'd gone from strangers to lovers in that cave. She knew it moved too fast, but she cared and liked him - too much, and he grew on her. There were no reservations anymore - at least not for Yuliah. She hoped it would be the same for him.
Ryas clasped a hand around Yuliah's waist, the other on the back of her head, and with his fingers tangled in her hair. He drew her closer to him, in that cave, until the rise and fall of each breath she took drummed against his chest. Then he returned her intrusion on his mouth with quick caresses to her tongue. The sweetness of his breath replaced the stench of blood and sweat that had been there earlier.
Yuliah let out a slight whine. She found her home, a place she felt safe, where she belonged, and that's next to Ryas. He become the light to her darkness, the comfort to her pain, and happiness at that moment.
Ryas must have sensed her need as it overwhelmed her and pulled away. 'I worried about you.' He sounded gentler than she'd heard before.
"You worried about me?" Yuliah rolled onto the balls of her feet. Her lips curled up at Ryas words.
"I did. I promised to get you safely to the south.' He took in her scent. 'Your different today," and took another sniff.
"Is that good or bad?" she asked.
"Both." He yanked the hair in his hand, and Yuliah's head tilted back.
"Perfect," she smiled. "I want to be different." It's how she planned to capture his heart, for a man to be as old as he is and still unmarried. She assumed he's still unmarried. He must have found no one interesting enough to like.
His nose skimmed across her throat, taking in deep breaths of her scent again. "I like different."
"Different is the only way I can make you mine." She leaned up and meshed her lips against his.
Ryas accepted her gesture by pressing his lips more passionately against hers. Then pulled away, leaving Yuliah wanting more. "That's not the first time a woman's forced herself on me," and released her hair. "I won't fall for cheap tricks. I've seen it all." His thumb traced over her lips.
Like hot embers in the pit of her stomach, a heat rose up and out her mouth. She took another kiss and savored it. "Mmmmm," her eyes closed. "I've already taken another kiss. It must be working." and laughed.
"No, I'm just figuring out how you work." Ryas doused her rising heat with his lips once more. "You're more confident than before," he tilted his head back to get a better look at her.
Yuliah wasn't sure how he could see her when they stood in a dark cave.
"I like confidence," Ryas said.
"Moootherrr..." A cry echoed through the cave. Putting an end to their sweet reunion.
"There's something I need to do before we leave," Ryas' remembered. His voice changed from teasing her to a serious tone. "It will not be nice. I don't want you to see this."
Ugliness had become a part of her world more than before. Yuliah knew that and as a Blood Bearer now; there would be worst things to face. "Thank you, but I should see it."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am," Yuliah swallowed.
He kissed her forehead. "I care about you, but there's evil in this world you don't understand or have seen. I - am the balance."
Ryas sounded too serious - Yuliah wondered if she made the right choice. "I'll be fine."
"All right... If what I do next becomes too much, tell me, and I'll stop."
"Ummm."
"Hold on to me and stay close." Ryas handed her the end of his cloak, then released his ethereal spirit, and the cave lit up.
The stone walls were covered with drawings of the creatures and a woman with long golden hair. How long did they live in the cave? Yuliah glanced around. It must have been quite a while; the colors looked faded. The paintings and creatures reminded her of children desperately searching for their mother; she felt sorry for wanting to hurt them.
At the back of the cave, the bits and pieces of bodies scattered everywhere mixed with a rancid stench, made Yuliah immediately clutched onto Ryas and covered her nose with his cloak.
"Mooother..." Crazy Eye's head tilted from side to side. The yellow iris that swirled become a smashed blotch inside his left eye. He wept and gurgled on the ground. A gash stretched from his head to chin, and his body a mangled mess. She couldn't bear the sight of him anymore and turned away to hide behind Ryas.
Ryas pushed her further behind him, shielding her from Crazy Eye. He nudged the creature with his foot. "Who sent you?" He asked.
"Father. He said mother lived here...". Crazy Eye's head lolled sideways onto the stone floor.
"Who's your father?" Ryas bent down and pushed his head in another attempt to keep him wake.
Yuliah gripped Ryas' shoulder. Her head felt dizzy, and her ears rang. "Aleric," she said out loud. He's the only one who could conjure up such vile creatures.
Ryas looked over his shoulder and up at her; his eyes narrowed in on her face. "How do you know that name?"
"I'll tell you when we get out of here." She looked pained.
He continued to torture Crazy Eye, whose cries rang through the cave, and shrills became so loud that Yuliah covered her ears. It went on until he gave up and provided Ryas with everything he knew including the passageway they took to get through Murai.
"Enough Ryas." She touched his shoulder, and he stopped. "What are you going to do with him now?" Yuliah asked.
"Can you wait for me outside," his hand closed around the swords hilt.
"Do you have to kill him?"
"If I don't Aleric will know of us."
That's the last thing she needed. "Mmm," Yuliah nodded and slowly made her way over to the cave walls. It's better she did not see this.
"Mother," Crazy Eye muttered. His voice was childlike.
Yuliah gripped the wall hard. She wanted revenge, wanted to hurt them, but when it happened why did it feel awful?
"Ressst," he giggled.
She paused with her head slightly anchored back, her mouth opened but no words came out. She turned back around when the clanging of Ryas' sword echoed behind her. With heavy-footed steps, Yuliah made her way towards the shafts of sunlight that stretched into the entrance of the cave. She followed them across the hard floor and shortly after exited the cave, followed by Ryas moments later.
-----------------
"You've been quiet since we left the cave. What's wrong?" He tightened his arms around her and released his Ethereal Spirit to keep the cold away.
Yuliah closed her eyes, lifted her head towards the sky. She inhaled, then exhaled. Glad to be out of the cave, to put what happened with the creatures behind her, and back with Ryas' again. The heat from the sun warm across her face while she tried to concentrate on the shift in their relationship. She wanted him to confirm what it was they were to each other, but; she needed to figure out what to do about Aleric and her missing brother.
"I'm thinking," Yuliah answered. She killed three people and an entire race of creatures so far — monsters who may have been innocent but born on the wrong side — her parents, and Yujen. The guilt sunk in.
"Did something happen?"
"Yes," she nodded. "That thing you killed. The one that called me mother. When he touched me with his eye, it pulled me into the Ethereal Flow." Yuliah wasn't sure how or where to even begin telling Ryas what happened in there.
"What did you see?"
"Aleric," she answered.
He didn't reply right away but continued to steer the horse ahead. "So his name is Aleric," Ryas finally spoke. "He created the Nomens. By giving them an a dark Ethereal Spirit," his mouth curled into a sneer.
Yuliah wanted to ask Ryas why he hated the Nomens, but asked about Aleric instead. "I've seen what he does. He scares me." General Wey's words about having bad blood came to mind. Yuliah questioned if she should tell Ryas or not about her being a blood bearer. What if he asked her more questions and found out that she's half Nomen? She didn't want to lose what they had or just started, but wanted him to know the truth. Not sure where to begin, she talked about General Wey.
"I told General Wey I wanted to leave the Northern Kingdom. He didn't like it. He said there's no place for me out here." Yuliah took a deep breath and turned her attention to a patch of flowers they passed. She wanted to ease him into it, the truth. "General Wey said with my bad blood, no man in this world could keep me safe," Yuliah sighed. "I know what he meant now," she waited for Ryas to ask her why, but he didn't. "I'm worried," she sank back into his body. "That I might not be powerful enough." Why didn't he ask her questions?
"Powerful enough? Are you planning on fighting someone?"
"I don't want to but I have no choice."
Your place is here with me now, and I won't let anyone hurt you," Ryas answered.
Yuliah sighed and right as she was about to open her mouth he cut her off.
"I'll kill him and everyone responsible for the death of my people," he stiffened.
She wasn't sure anymore if now was the right time to tell him. "He killed the people closest to me too and took my brother. The Ethereal Flow showed me all of that," she said instead.
"We'll look for your brother, and I'll deal with Aleric," his hand cupped the side of her face. "After I deal with the Nomens first."
"Why do you hate the Nomens so much?" She finally asked. Would he hate her too if he knew she's half Nomen?
"They were Geneoshi but sided with Aleric. He gave them the dark Ethereal Spirit. They used it to kill and enslave my people. Right before we brokered a truce between the three races. Their King turned on us.
"How do you know he turned on you?"
"King Baasa's the only one who knew the locations of the last Geneoshi Kingdoms."
Yuliah didn't know her actual father, but he gave his life to protect his family. He would not have turned on the Geneoshi to side with Aleric. She wanted to tell Ryas this, but the words could not come out. Afraid he wouldn't believe and even leave her.
Ryas continued to tell her what happened. Even though Yuliah seen it all in the Ethereal Flow, she pretended not to know.
"Aleric came with his armies and killed everyone while we were away."
"Why were you away?" She asked another question she already knew the answer too.
"The blood bearer sent a call for help," Ryas voice grew angry. "Only the Geneoshi who can harness the power of the Ethereal Spirit become soldiers. I'm the only one from my royal family who can."
Her body felt heavier as she leaned into Ryas and a dull ache drummed from inside her chest. Tears pooled in her eyes. "Ryas, I'm - I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault they died. It's Aleric's," he kissed her head. "My younger sister would have liked you, along with my mother and Brother." he smiled.
Would they have? Knowing she killed them.
"Are you the last Geneoshi?"
"No, a few only but we have been fighting with the Nomens and Aleric for too long. Many have died or grew tired of war and disappeared."
"Do you grow tired?" Yuliah asked. He looked young and possibly in his early thirties, but when he spoke his actual age and tiredness showed on his face.
"I do, but I'm a royal. It's my duty to protect and serve the Ethereal Spirit."
Shaking, Yuliah leaned against Ryas and closed her eyes. "I need to rest a bit."
------------------
By the time the sun set, Yuliah awakened from her nap. They traveled through miles of forests. She spent most of their morning and late afternoon asking Ryas about the Southern Kingdom and Geneoshi customs.
He'd been on the lookout for a place to camp when Yuliah asked him another question.
Something that she knew the answer to already deep down inside. "Earlier, what did you mean by the call from the blood bearer? Do you know what she looks like?" Yuliah been wondering about it the whole time.
"The Geneoshi soldiers protect the Blood Bearer. We don't know who he is, but he carries an Ethereal Ring. It calls us to arms and return the Ethereal Spirit back to its form. My guess is the blood bearer has to be the first of the Geneoshi, and the Nomens destroyed that line." Ryas sounded angry again at the mention of Nomens.
She could tell he carried a lot of hate towards them. "Would you consider being with a Nomen?" She suddenly asked.
"No. There's too much bad blood between the two races. Nomen females are much bigger than most Geneoshi and human males, and they can turn you sterile," Ryas said.
Even more afraid now to tell him the truth. Yuliah changed their conversation. 'How Old Are You?'
'I'm old. Over two thousand years.'
"WHAT? You're lying," Yuliah spun around to look at him. "How's that possible?"
Ryas shot her a serious look. "The Ethereal Spirit made us to live alongside him," he ruffled her hair. "He doesn't die of old age, neither will I. I have no reason to lie to you. If that's what you're worried about?"
"I know you wouldn't lie to me.' Yuliah touched his face. 'So you can't' die at all?" she looked at him curiously.
"I can die but not from old age."
"How long will a half Geneoshi live?" she asked.
"You mean someone who is part Geneoshi?"
"Yes. Geneoshi, human, and Nomen."
"It's unheard of but probably as long as we do. Geneoshi blood consistently repairs the body."
"Liang always told me no man in this world would love a woman like me," she swallowed. "Men would use me for body because I love to be used." Yuliah exhaled.
He didn't answer her but slowed his horse down to a lazy walk, almost a complete stop.
"Ryas," Yuliah asked. "Should I have married Liang?"
He stopped his horse completely and jumped down. Large patches of flowers surrounded them. Their strong fragrances stirred in the air.
Ryas didn't look at her but held his hand out until Yuliah took hold, and he lifted her down. Then bent his head down until they were face to face. His eyes pierced into hers, as though he broke down Yuliah's barriers and could read into her most private thoughts. "No," he said. "It's true I want to use your body." a smile tugged at his lips. "Who wouldn't but it's not the only thing I want from you. Throw away the words of a man like Liang. Know only me and what I say from here on out."
"Do you mean it, Ryas? Please don't say things you don't mean to me because I'll believe every word." Yuliah slid her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest. If she could be selfish, he's all she needed. He'd been her only comfort and where she wanted to be.
Ryas closed his arms around her. "I mean it. What do you want from this life? What makes you happy? What makes you sad? Tell me who is Yuliah Wey." He moved his hands to her face and lifted her chin towards him. "I'm Ryas fucking Ib. I can give you anything that you want." He grinned at her.
Yuliah swallowed and bit down on her bottom lip. She inhaled deeply through her nose and fought hard to hold back tears. Ryas reached down into the depths of her heart and found the loneliness and pain she'd hidden away for so long. He stripped it all away with his words, comfort, and actions. A man she hardly knew. If this was love, she wanted it.
He's the first to ask her that simple question. The care - the sincerity in his eyes and face - they were more real than she'd felt before. It touched her deeply, and tears continued to pour out.
He smiled at her. "Did my words touch you that much?" Ryas wiped the tears from her eyes with his thumbs. "I'm yours." He touched her face. "What do you want? I'll give it to you." He said confidently.
She exhaled. "I want to be free," her face scrunched up. " I want to break these chains and leave... from this place," her nostrils flared, and she turned her eyes downward as tears dropped from her face. "I want to be strong for once." Ryas didn't take his gaze off her. Nervous Yuliah looked away. She forced a smile when she looked up at him. "I don't believe - I don't feel - alive anymore. I'm just living to live." Yuliah sniffed, and more tears spilled down her face.
He continued to wipe her tears and listened to her cry. A lock of hair fell across her face, Ryas twirled it between his fingers, feeling its texture. "I can make you strong." he tucked the strand behind her ear. He pointed to her heart. "Your trapped here and I'll break these chains and free you." His blue eyes softened when he spoke. "I'll be the reason you live and feel again. I promise you that."
Her eyes glassed over, lost in his. "Forever?" She'd only accept forever with Ryas.
"Forever." He gave her a half-sided smirk; that turned her thoughts to mush. Yuliah's heart fluttered as he moved in towards her with no sign of stopping.
She was hoping for a kiss and froze as he leaned in closer and closer. With both eyes shut, Yuliah waited eagerly.
"Your face," he placed both hands on her cheeks. "It's healed with no scars. Impressive for a human."
Her ears burned hot by the time her eyes opened. Ryas had his face within a half inch of hers. He turned her head from side to side. Yuliah sighed.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
She wanted him to kiss her again, but too embarrassed to ask. "Nothing." Yuliah answered. 'Maybe I'm part Geneoshi.' she half joked.
He laughed loudly. Before poking her in the forehead. "Cute... Maybe your part Nomen and human too."
"Who knows, I could be." Yuliah sheepishly smiled at him.
"You're too small to be a Nomen and pretty."
"I should be able to find a man easily then."
Ryas gave her a displeased look. "Already onto a new man. I see." He grabbed her chin. "I should have let this pretty face scar over then," and pressed his lips to hers.
Yuliah's pulse took off faster than her heart could keep up and lost her footing. She slipped, but he caught her in his arms.
"So clumsy." He bit her lip gently. "Just stay by my side."
His touch she craved it. She slid her hands under his shirt and ran her fingers over the hard pecks of his stomach and then to his chest. Good Gods! He felt perfect, and she wanted him even more. Her hands slid in the opposite direction.
He laughed. "Be careful. That's a big burden to bear," Ryas cocked his head to the side and looked at her. "Are you sure you can handle it?"
He's thrilled with himself, Yuliah heard it in his tone and pulled away.
"It's a lifetime commitment," his eyes quickly darted downward and so did his head, then back up again.
Yuliah's hand went straight for the bulge below his stomach. "Someday," she patted and pranced off, smiling.
A booming laugh erupted from behind her. She glanced over her shoulder to find Ryas with a hand clasped to his chest.
Yuliah barely had enough self-control to escape him. She wanted his lips on hers, his entire body, and wanted it badly that her inner thighs ached, but she would not give it up to him that easily. Luckily, she pulled away in time.
"We should get to bed," Ryas caught up with her.
"Why are we staying in a field full of flowers?" Yuliah asked.
"I wanted to cheer you up," he pulled her close.
"Thank you for always thinking of me, Ryas." Yuliah's eyes sparkled in the moon's light. Her ache for him stirred again. She broke from his grip and headed for their bedroll, unpacked it and crawled in. Her body could not tire as her desire burned strongly again.
Ryas stretched his arms over and snuggled her tightly against the cradle of his chest. "I'll never lose you again. I promise."
Yuliah sighed. "Remember your promise. Good night Ryas." She knew the night would not come to an end easily for her and started counting the stars in the night sky until her body tired. When her eyes finally closed, her mind continued to play. Play it did, for her dreams filled with nothing but dirty thoughts of Ryas all night...