Caly…
The familiar voice forced Calyx Archer’s eyes to pop open. Quickly scanning the room, she attempted to get her bearings. Yes, she was still at the Little Gale Inn in Cairning. Theodavian Sagedeluna was long gone. He was not even in this realm anymore.
As she squeezed her eyes, she willed herself to drift asleep.
Caly!
She gasped, jolting up. Eyes once again searched the room. Nothing. Nobody. His presence was here though. She could feel him.
Theodavian? she questioned nervously.
Then he was gone. His presence.
Biting her lip, she laid back upon the sheets, wondering where and what he was doing. On and off for years, his presence had come and gone, lingering like an apparition haunting her. She questioned if she was losing her mind gradually. Perhaps, she just missed him so much that she imagined his presence to keep her sane. The loneliness haunted her, because he had been her constant companion throughout childhood. It had been different when she left the City of Pearl.
Groaning in frustration, she knew her attempts to sleep were futile. She was not fond of sleeping drafts, but tomorrow she started the journey to The Great Willow in the Elovaisus Forest and she needed her rest. She received a summons by Lady Crystobelle, the Elvish Queen of Elovaisus. She felt a shift in the wind. It was in the breeze and then she saw an image of The Great Willow with Lady Crystobelle beckoning her.
The Elvish fire was still burning brightly in the hearth. She relished the heat as she got out of bed to prepare the sleeping draft. Lycans, even half Lycans, are pact species by nature and now being a loner, the chill quickly sunk into her. Most of the time, she wished it was like the old days when the City Of Pearl was her home and Theodavian was here.
However, she was no longer that selfish and naïve youth. She loved him. She always would, but she pushed them into something they could never take back. Though she would never regret those stolen moments, she never expected him to reciprocate it as she bit into the crook of neck and shoulder to temporarily claim him as hers. As long as he did not seal the mating claim with his bite, everything would have remained intact.
When his teeth pierced her own skin, she could not properly react in sheer horror of the reality of the situation. Instead, the bittersweet pleasure burned through her like a blinding wave of euphoria. His cerulean blue eyes locked unto hers and he smiled before pressed a kiss to her lips before sleep dragged them under.
As she prepared her sleeping draft, she glanced out at the window of the room. The view was of the City Of Pearl in all its majestic beauty. She felt homesick for all it stood for. She saw the tower in the castle where Greer resides. He was so adamant at first to not help.
She glanced down at the enchanted ring upon her finger. All the secrets this little trinket kept were hidden within the marrow of it. Shuddering for a moment when the memory of Greer grabbing her arm burned into her mind.
“If you must,” he pleaded. “If you must go down this dark path, the heartbreak will shatter your soul if you two are truly soulmates.” He worries his bottom lip, looking over her face as if memorizing it. “If you love him more, his very presence will steal your health and cement your death… and even not in his presence, you will succumb to a gradual death. You must leave and never come back until he returns and you must be ready to face the truth.”
She frowned at that. “Truth? Face what truth?”
“You are needed, Caly,” Greer said. “Your story is not quite done yet… and this chapter of your book is ending, but if he is true like I know he is, he will find you again and you must not deny him. It will only hurt you both.”
Inhaling sharply, she knew that Theodavian must be somewhere out there with a mate by his side and their children. She heard he was High Alpha in the Earth Realm. He must be happy, she concluded. It was what she had hoped for him as she drank her sleeping draft still gazing up at the city. She had a legacy and a prophecy to fulfill. Their paths were no longer intertwined.
It was that simple except she knew it was not.
Her heart twisted when she imagined Theodavian lifting up a child in his arms. His child. He curled his child into his chest then lovingly gazed at his beautiful mate. The sharpness stole her breath and she began to cough uncontrollably. Droplets of blood speckled the palm of her hand as the panic and the fear settled within her.
Death did not scare her. She suspected it would catch up with her and she would give in to it blissfully at the end. No, it was the running out of time part that welded her fears. She still had responsibilities weighing heavily upon her shoulders and people depended upon her.
~
Freedom.
Whenever she changed into one of her hybrid forms, the pain dulled and Calyx felt deceptively whole again before reality set in. It was a two-week run in her wolf-hybrid form and that was even with resting at night to get from the borders of City of Pearl to the western part of the Elovaisus Forest.
For almost two weeks, she ran, rested, ate, and slept. She was ecstatic to see the Silver Star Mountains in the distance two days ago. As she ran through the forest in the thick fog, she came to a complete stop as a huge willow tree finally appeared seemingly out of nowhere. The Great Willow Tree was in the middle of the Valentine River. Above it, the great Vale Waterfall streamed down from the Silver Star Mountains. She was not surprised when a wooden boat in the shape of a swan appeared from the depths of the water.
Once again grateful for the wizard she met in her travels that showed her how to cast spells and use her Elvish magic as she shifted without worrying about exposing her nude form. As long as she wore a broach made from actual elements of earth like wood even metal, she could shift and shift back into her clothes and knapsack would still be intact upon her body. The boat drifted to the shallow part of the river close to her and she waded out to it. It remained still as she pitched herself over the side. Without another moment, it glided across the water towards The Great Willow Tree. It stopped as it reached the gigantic roots of the tree and she climbed up on the roots to get to the large staircase leading up to the opening in the trunk one-fourth the way up the tree.
Glancing up, she took a deep breath before she climbed the steps. When she arrived at the opening, she was met by a fellow elf dressed in warrior attire.
“Welcome, Lady Calyx Archer,” he greeted. “Lady Crystobelle suspects you may have an appetite and has set up a fare for the both of you while you two discuss important affairs.”
Calyx smiled at Dante Elderys. “Thank you, Dante, but you do not need to be so formal with me.”
“You have a great role to play,” he told her with a sigh. “I believe it helps to be seen as someone valued, respected, and worthwhile. You are deserving of all that. That is why I will continue to address you so formally.” He looked directly into her eyes. “The moment you start understanding that then I will address you differently.”
With that, the Elvish warrior proceeded to walk down the grand staircase that led to an enchanted forest within the gigantic willow tree and Calyx felt at peace here within the safe haven. There was something magical about this place. Lady Crystobelle offered her shelter when she left the City of Pearl. For years, she called The Great Willow Tree home and still did. She learned Elvish magic from her peers. Here, she never felt the chill and felt the pact-like quality she once had in Pearl.
As they pass through, she greeted familiar faces with warm embraces. The white wooden arch with blossoms twisting up the trellises is a familiar sight and her heart lifted as she saw the youthful face of Lady Crystobelle standing there.
“Calyx,” she called out, offering a brilliant smile. “I see you have made it home without delay.”
Calyx grinned and rushed to embrace the Elvish queen of Elovaisus. “Your summons were pretty clear.”
When she pulled back, she noticed the frown marring the queen's face and watched as the enchantingly beautiful lady surveyed her body as if she was doing a scan. Lady Crystobelle sighed then turned to Dante.
“Please ask Seraphina to brew her a healing drought.” Her request was more like a command as Dante bowed then left to her bidding.
“Is it that obvious?” Calyx finally questioned.
Lady Crystobelle eyed her shrewdly. “To Elvish and Celestial eyes and perhaps Lycans since they can smell blood,” she told her honestly as she glanced down at the ring. “I wish you would take that off and allow destiny to unravel accordingly.”
She flushed. “You know I cannot do that. It will not make a difference anymore. The damage has been done.”
“Oh, you can, but you refuse to and it will always make a difference,” the Elvish Queen clarified. “Come, my child, we have much to discuss."
She watched her turn on her heel and seemingly float up the steps. Not wishing her to make her wait, she quickly followed Lady Crystobelle into the royal palace.
Throughout the meal, it was quiet. Lady Crystobelle continued to watch her closely as she attempted to eat. When Dante returned with a corked bottle, the queen quickly poured the contents into a goblet of wine and immediately gave it to her.
“Drink.”
It was a command and Calyx took the offered goblet then took a gulp of it without hesitation. The tension and concern in Lady Crystobelle’s body visibly eased and Calyx was happy to see the change. Lady Crystobelle was very much like a maternal figure in her life. It was not a surprise since the Elvish Queen was the best of friends with her mother.
“We have received confirmation from Priestess Alethaliyah that it is the Fortress Of Silverd that will be the location the Vampiress will attempt to do the ceremonial ritual.”
Wide eyed, Calyx met Lady Crystobelle's calm gaze. “So it begins.”
She nodded. “This dark season.”
Calyx took a deep breath. Of course, the Vampiress would choose the dark season. For half the year, the only light would be that of the moons. It would be permanent nightfall for six months giving the Vampiress ample time to amass a war. She could not believe the time was approaching. The dark season was in only three months.
She felt a hand over hers and she looked up into sky blue eyes.
“Your allies are already journeying to Silverd,” Lady Crystobelle informed. “They are awaiting your arrival. It is time to step into your destiny, Child. Many will come to your aid even from far far away.”
The weight of responsibility slid over like armor. Pushing her fears back, Calyx steeled herself with the knowledge and she sat a bit straighter in her chair.
“I will leave--"
“In a few days after you have rested," Lady Crystobelle cut in. "You must come before the dark season. Seraphina will have worked something out for your declining health… especially if he…” she trailed off before she smiled mysteriously and then continued: “Just in case.” Before Calyx could question her, Lady Crystobelle rose to her feet. “I must depart. Please do continue eating then find your way to your chambers to rest.”
When Calyx nodded, the Elvish Queen smiled, reached out, and squeezed her hand before she left her to her own devices. She sighed, taking another gulp of wine and relished the warming sensation in her body accompanied by itchiness. Her body was healing and she was once again reminded of the wonderfulness of Elvish magic.