Chapter 6: Darkness and Secrets
Melissa's POV
The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was a wooden ceiling with shadows created by a flickering fire. Every muscle in my body hurt, and my brain throbbed. Pushing myself up slowly, I discovered Kane sitting across the room, honing a blade.
"Where am I? With a scratchy and dry throat, I croaked.
Looking up, Kane's eyes were unreadable. "Safe," he snapped back.
"Safe?" Safe is the last thing I feel right now," I said again, letting out a sour laugh.
He approached me while standing, his presence imposing and unsettling. "Melissa, you need to rest."
Sleep? After all that had transpired. I glared at him and said, "I need the truth." What made you turn me down?"
Kane's jaw tightened as he tensed. "This has already been discussed."
"No," I shot back, feeling my chest flame up. Like you always do, you dismissed me. Kane, I deserve answers. You pushed me away, but why? You rejected our link, but why?"
He didn't answer right away, his eyes falling to the ground. "It's difficult."
I threw my hands in the air and moaned. "Difficult? You only ever say that. Does that, in your opinion, justify what you did?"
"Melissa," he said in a low, almost begging voice, "now isn't the time"
"Kane, when will the timing be right? My voice cracked as I interrupted. "I'm running for my life and carrying a child, and I'm meant to just trust you without understanding why you turned me down?"
His face was concealed as he stepped back. "You're not aware of the stakes."
"Then explain things to me!"
However, Kane turned away and simply shook his head. There were so many unspoken statements in the deafening quiet between us.
Kane took me through a thick woodland early the following morning. The scent of moss and earth was overpowering, and the air was heavy and moist. Kane wasn't in the mood to explain, and I had no idea where we were going.
Will you ever let me know where we're going? Trying to keep up with his big strides, I inquired.
Without turning around, he said, "To someone who can help."
It wasn't comforting, but I was at a loss for options.
We reached a tiny cabin nestled in the woods after what seemed like hours. The air hummed with an odd force, and smoke curled from the chimney.
Before we could knock, the door creaked open, showing a woman with silver-streaked hair and piercing emerald eyes. Her eyes lingered on my stomach as she examined me closely.
"Come in," she ordered in an authoritative yet smooth voice.
Herbs, jars, and odd symbols carved into the walls were all over the cabin. The woman motioned for me to take a seat.
With her gaze remaining on me, she introduced herself as Myra. "You have a lot of power inside of you, child."
Unsure of how to react, I blinked. "I'm not sure what you mean,"
Myra took my hands in hers and said mysteriously, "You will." There are evil powers at work. Although Damon and Lyra are unrelenting, you and your child are at the centre of their schemes. They try to claim things that are not theirs.
"With me, what do they want? I muttered, my heart racing.
Myra's hold became firmer. "You have a legacy they fear but long for a power they cannot have." However, your potential is still unrealized. You need to get ready.
"How? With a hint of urgency in my voice, I asked.
Myra turned to Kane instead of responding immediately. "Preserve her." Everything will be lost if she ends up in their clutches.
Kane gave a sombre nod, but I couldn't help but see how his shoulders stiffened, as though he already had too many secrets.
I went about the cabin that night while Kane was outside, trying to understand all Myra had said. Myra had vanished herself, and I was left to think alone.
I discovered a little pile of papers on a desk while exploring. They appeared to be hurriedly scrawled notes and maps. One phrase drew my attention: "Ritual of the Unborn."
As I read further, my stomach turned. I and my infant were to be part of a ritual that Damon and Lyra were organizing.
"No," I said, my hands shaking. "This isn't possible."
I turned to see Kane come in as the door cracked open. When he saw the documents in my hands, he froze.
"What is this? I held up the paperwork and demanded.
Kane's face grew serious. "Where was that found?"
"It makes no difference! Is it accurate? Are they going to use my child in a ritual?"
All I needed was assurance that he hesitated.
"You were aware," I charged, my voice trembling with rage. "You were aware of this the entire time, but you kept it from me!"
His voice was low as he said, "I was trying to protect you."
"Keep me safe? I chuckled sourly. By not letting me know. Do you know what it's like to live in perpetual fear, never knowing what the future holds?"
"Melissa, I'm trying my best! His poise broke and he snapped. "You believe I can handle this easily? Is any of this anything you think I want?"
Then be honest with me! I yelled. "Let me in and stop hiding behind your excuses!"
Kane remained silent. Words could hardly express the depth of his quiet.
I ignored Kane's pleas for me to stop and bounded out of the cabin, feeling angry and overwhelmed. I didn't mind that the cool night air pricked my flesh. I needed time to think and distance myself.
I didn't go too far.
A person leapt at me, knocking me to the ground before I could respond to a shadow moving in the trees. As I struggled under my attacker's weight, I let out a scream.
"Give me up! Panic rushing through me, I screamed.
The figure seized my wrist, a man with a vicious smile and mad eyes. "Little wolf, you're joining me."
"She isn't," a deep voice snarled.
Suddenly Kane was there, his blade shining in the moonlight. With lethal accuracy, he struck the man and dragged me to my feet.
"Are you alright? With his hands on my arms, he inquired.
The man laughed, blood dripping from his mouth before I could respond. "Kane, you can't keep her safe forever. You'll wish you had remained faithful when Damon gets what he wants.
Kane's knuckles whitened as his grip tightened around his blade. "Stop talking."
As his life decreased, the man's chuckle weakened, but his words remained.
"Loyal? I looked at Kane and repeated. By that, what does he mean?"
Kane clenched his jaw, avoiding my eyes.
"Kane," I demanded, my voice trembling. "What do you not tell me?"
He didn't answer, and my heart sank. The relationship between him and Damon was deeper than I'd anticipated, and whatever it was, it wasn't over.
As the wind howled around us, I knew one thing for certain: Kane was harbouring secrets, and those secrets might destroy us both.