A sharp pain shot through her head and the cabin re-materialized before her astonished eyes.
It was lying on the floor. Her knee throbbed terribly as she hit the chair in the fall. There was a deep cut that was healing on her body and stinging painfully. She looked at her attacker who was rubbing his hand even though a burn mark was visible. Involuntary magic. She was defending herself and couldn't control it.
-You're resisting and it's useless. – The man spoke calmly. - No concentration.
Unfortunately, it had already been fixed. He looked at his attacker with pure contempt. She didn't like the idea that he glimpsed her thoughts and memories, penetrating her mind.
She took a deep breath.
"Empty your mind. Relax. Forget all the emotion..."
It wasn't as easy as the goddess wanted. Why did that have to be difficult? Her anger pulsed like poison in her veins, corroding and burning. Forget emotions? Lilandra had died that day. It was easier… Damn Phil. Lizandra dead… He wasn't a family member at all. It was his fault for Lizandra's death.
"Focus. For the love of the old gods!"
It was in vain that Kassuim tried not to remember, not to feel anything at all. Nothing at all.
Lilandra was screaming in front of two ICHICHOS and her little daughter was clutching the skirt of her dress and scared. She had never seen those creatures before.
Please, I beg you. And only one child. She does not! - Lilandra's voice echoed in her ears.
-NOOOO!!!!
She was panting, her hands clutching her face. Her head was throbbing so much it felt like it might explode. Her stomach churned.
-You're not letting me access your memories, memories you're afraid of. Where they are?
She tried to pull away. Her heartbeat wildly as if she had seen Lilandra face those ICHICHOS alone at that moment. She just couldn't control her emotions.
"Control the damn fear. Focus; you are no longer a child. He cannot penetrate your mind so easily."
The child watched the inert body of the mother lying on the floor. Amidst the flames, she could hear the desperate screams of the man looking for her. The heat was unbearable. There was a wolf there with her... Cassie was standing at the entrance to a cave. Those objects were heavy. She liked to play with her mother. It was clear she could hide them and Lizandra wouldn't find them. She was always proud of that. No one ever did.
-NO!
This time she was convinced that her head was exploding. For the past few weeks, she'd dreamed of that tower. Those dreams had started when she'd returned to Scarlet Castle. Only in that instant did she have the perception that the place was real. She relived that memory. What was so important hidden in that cave?
Cassie felt chills and fever. The only sound she heard was the lapping of the water. There was a river nearby.
"Control yourself. Try to empty your mind."
I can not. I can't do this, she told herself.
"Don't let him keep eye contact. Block the mind."
I am unable. What the hell!
She was running again. They had arrived at dusk without any warning. The castle residents watched with resignation as the air was consumed by total darkness. She was shaking violently with fear. It was both cold and fearful...she'd never seen Lizandra so terrified before. She was forbidden to do magic. Only that day... Lizandra asked. She knew how to conjure the elements. She was a lady of lineage.
-No. His voice echoed with dread.
She desperately needed to clear her mind. The succession of images was brought up and her last memories blended in. She struggled to breathe maybe a blocking spell or shield.
The man gripped her chin tightly as if he was ready to wring her neck.
-I don't have all day. Where are? - the man was impatient.
And she screamed again in pain. The point of the scythe cut into her shoulder, blood running down her arm.
-We'll do it the old-fashioned way then.
The man covered Cassie's nose and mouth with his hand, preventing her from breathing, staring hard into her eyes.
There were so many ICHICHOS! She had never seen so many. Women screamed and ran. The men fought. None of those weapons seemed to have any effect. Their attack had started unprecedented carnage. That night more than two hundred sorcerers had been drained. The orders were clear. There should be no survivors, she listened in dread to the furious growls before the agonized screams.
"Empty your damn mind now! This is not real!"
Kassuim could hear the woman's furious orders. That voice echoed in her ears. No strength to obey. She couldn't move. The slightest movement and that monstrous beast would sniff it out.
"It's not real, Cassie!"
It couldn't be. The voice now sounded imperious in her mind. She should be dying. Did she hear voices? Was it the spirits that welcomed the souls of the dead?
"Now! CASSIE!"
Prompted by the furious voice, she forced a knee into the man's groin, ignoring the excruciating pain. She pushed her attacker away and the fresh air that entered her lungs was precious. She tried to run. She stumbled dizzily and panted. How many days had she been in that bed? An absurd weakness dominated her.
A trembling handheld the stone of light around her neck. It was the first time she was relieved to notice the excitement she was emanating from.
-Block! - she shouted victoriously. She breathed in between gulps- It has no power over me. I bow to none but the gods...
Suddenly the vision of those beasts became blurred and unreal. The man in front of him, however quite, recoiled, staggering.
She didn't expect it. Without any explanation her mind was filled with faces she didn't know. Several men were gathered around the fire. Memories that weren't yours surfaced. She was on his mind.
"The woman's blood was useless. Not even with the venom of the wolves running in her veins, she had the necessary power..."-one of them spoke.
Their leader smiled with genuine satisfaction and a shiver washed over her. Was it... Was it Philip? The unfortunate man contemplated his people, remembering the glory of a past marked by death and defeat.
The man's gaze was fixed on the crowd gathered there.
"Make sure she's still under control. Perhaps a mastery spell..."
"The spell, ah, sir… She's getting stronger. She is managing to resist the enchantments."
"Faith, ah Faith..." Cassie muttered lividly.
-Enough!
She gasped again at the sensation of the strong push pushing her away. She staggered several steps, bumping against chairs and a table trying to stay upright. Several objects fell to the ground.
His body was damp with cold sweat from exertion. She said nothing. She was sure she had just witnessed real scenes. It was terrifying to imagine Faith dominated by spells. A new tremor ran through her. He was sure to kill her for what she had just witnessed.
The man rose to his feet again, this time wielding a knife, his fierce gaze promising a tragic end to her life. She tried to back away and fell to the floor supporting herself in the tub full of water. And she screamed again as her wrist was grabbed violently.
At the same moment, the door was smashed open with a bang. In the same instant Cassie... Blinding light shone from her hands with the channelled flow of energy.
Rick threw the sword against the chest of that angry man at the sight of his woman lying on the ground. He'd also found Giles's replacement dead in the hallway.
He also noticed the dead figure's white clothes cursing in utter disbelief. He was undoubtedly a member of the Crescent Moon. He was starting to hate those mercenaries. Damn lunatics and their religious beliefs. He hated these people. He was a man who worshipped the old gods. The unfortunate intransigence of these people...
-Are you okay? he asked as he lifted an astonished Cassie into his arms.
This time they had all listened. The screams had caused an uproar. It was just amazing and bad luck.
-Philip? – Kassuim stared at him astonished.- Philip is leading the mercenaries… He's going to give orders to kill all of us. All of us.RICK! Rick?!
Was she aboard the Gaia? Like?
Since when was he there?
-I already know that.