Bloodless Dreams

Chapter Ten: Mates

I woke up the next morning surrounded by warmth. I smiled and opened my eyes to see the Dragon instead of Harland. I slowly sat up and looked at him. He is wrapped around me like a snake protecting his eggs. Slowly I ran my hand over his body feeling the smooth scales on skin. He stirred and lifted his head looking at me.

“Saab daurnrs Loweyn.” I whispered.

“Saab daurnrs Nethae. How did you sleep fe lowey?”

“Very well thank you. Is everything okay?”

“Yes Nethae, everything is perfect. I just wanted to sleep next to you.”

“You kept me nice and warm. What do I call you?”

“Orintuss.”

I smiled at him. “Orintuss The Tender.”

“Don’t go telling anyone my reputation needs to be strong.”

I leaned my head down on him brushing my hand over his scales.

“You are only allowed to be tender with me.”

He started purring wrapping tighter around me.

“I must go now. Harland wants control.”

“Come see me again Orintuss The Tender.”

“Soon my Nethae.”

He uncoiled from around me and climbed off the bed transforming back into my Harland. He stood in the middle of the room looking at me with a worried expression. 

I stood up in the bed letting the blanket fall around my legs. He looked at me still worried. Knowing he’d catch me I jumped from the bed into his arms. I wrapped my legs around him and started placing kiss all over his face. I pulled back and watched his face relax and a smile grow.

“I thought I scared you…”

“Never Loweyn. Never.”

He leaned down placing a kiss to my lips carrying me into the washroom for a hot shower. We got dressed and went upstairs to join the others for breakfast. We walked into the dining hall to see everyone sitting down talking amongst themselves. I spotted Adabella sitting next to Vorigan looking unsure and uneasy.

I looked up at Harland, he looked at me and then to her understand what I was saying. He took my hand and led me over to the table sitting me right next to my new sister. I looked over at her and smiled.

“How are you settling in?” I asked leaning over whispering to her.

“Not well.”

“What can I do to help you?”

“I need to go for a walk without him.”

I looked at her and then down at my plate.

“It isn’t safe for us to go outside without our Loweyn’s. Not until the mating ceremony is complete and we are transformed…”

“That is what Vorigan said… I do not know if I want to become like them though…”  

“Don’t you want to spend the rest of your life with a man who will love you instead of beating you?”

“Yes.”

“Vorigan won’t ever harm you. Ever.”

She looked at me and then to her mate. She sat back in her chair with the same expression I had the first day I was here. She is ready to run. I cannot allow her to do that, I cannot allow her to suffer the same fate I did at the hands of King Avden. I watched her excuse herself from the table saying she needed to use the washroom. As she got to the door, I leaned over to Vorigan.

“She is going to run.”

He looked at me and then to his mate. He got up and went after her while King Kachelsis closed eyes and focused the same sheer sheet came down over the windows. He is spelling the house again just like he did when I ran. I can hear her yelling and banging on the doors. I looked up Harland and understood the pain I caused him each time I ran from him.

I am happy I can be here to protect my sisters, to protect them from the same fate I suffered. I stood up placing a kiss to his forehead and I went into the hallway where Ada was banging on the door begging for us to let her out. I passed Vorigan placing my hand on his arm. He took a step back before turning away joining the rest of his brothers in dining room. I watched Ada sink to the ground, she covered he face with her hands and sobbed. I sat down in front of her and waited for her to calm down. When she did, I smiled at her.

“Come on. I have somewhere you can be alone.”

I stood up holding my hand out to her. She accepted and stood up with me following me upstairs into a large library.

“Harland and I are the only ones who use it anymore. You will safe and no one will bother you.”

“Thank you, Eva.”

“Of course.”

I smiled at her and left the room shutting the door behind me. I went back downstairs greeted by Vorigan standing in the middle of the room. I smiled at him and went to stand in front of him.

“She is in the library.”

“Thank you, sister.”

“I am always here to help you and Adabella.”

He nodded his head and took a step aside holding his hand out to me. I took it and let him led me back into the dining room where Harland and his brothers sat around the table laughing. I let go of Vorigan’s hand to stand by Harland. He looked up at me for a moment and smiled wrapping his arm around me pulling me down onto his lap. I rested my head to his shoulder and let me mind wonder.

*        *       *       *

Harland

Watching my mate care for my brother fills me with pride. She is not required to do any of it, yet here she is comforting the most damaged of us all. She left the room and went to help calm Adabella down.

“She is a good woman drarhour.” Phaeron said moving over to sit closer to me.

“She is.”

“Do you think Selene will send all of our mates soon?” He asked with hopeful eyes.

“I do hope so drarhour. But who really knows our goddess is cruel sometime.?”

He nodded his head in agreement when Deacon came over to join our conversation.

“When will you be completing the ceremony?” He asked pulling the chair out.

“I do not know drarhour that is for Eva to decide. I am just going at her pace with this.”

“That is probably wise. I just want her to remain safe from King Avden. Same for Adabella.” Deacon replied.

“As do I drarhour.”

I looked up to see Eva and Vorigan walking back into the room. She let go of his hand and came to stand next to me. I looked up at her and smiled wrapping my arm around her pulling her down on my lap. She rested her head on my shoulder.

“I am going to our room loweyn.”

“Are you alright Nethae?”

“Yes.” She said with a soft smile.

She leaned pressing her lips to mine and got off of my lap leaving the room. I looked at my brothers and then to the King. He stood up and went to the doors closing them.

“Drarhour’s we need to discuss our nethae’s. They are staring to come to us in different ways. King Avden is taking notice. They are in danger until we have completed the ceremony. We need to make precautions and reach out to the community for help.”

“How can they help my lord?” Damian asked.

“We ask them to keep a watchful eye out for any female who seems to be out of place. To help any female who asks for their aid.”

“I will gather contacts and send the letter my lord.” Viktor said.

We watched him get up and leave the room. All of my drarhour followed leaving King Kachelsis and I sitting alone at the table. He looks pained, worried.

“Are you well my King?”

He looked up at me and shook his head no.

“There is something haunting me, I can hear pain and fear. Something does not feel right and I do not know what it is drarhour.”  

“I will help you in any way I can my King.”

“Thank you, Harland. Go to your nethae, protect her.”

“Yes, my King.”

I got up from my chair and left the room heading to mine and Eva’s.

*        *       *       *

Evangeline

I got into our room and shut the door. I want a hot bath to clear my mind. Something is calling to me, making me uneasy, I can feel pain and fear that is not my own. I closed my eyes and took a deep breathing trying to calm myself and then I went into the washroom to get the tub running. I undressed myself an got in turning the water off and sinking into the hot welcoming water.

--Please just let me go… Let me pass from this world into the fade I beg you…

I opened my eyes and shot up. I hurried myself out of the tub and into some clothing before bolting from the room running directly into Harland. He wrapped his arms around me steading me.

“Nethae what is it?”

“Violette…”

“What?”

I removed myself from Harland’s hold and ran upstairs into the Kings office. Harland followed me all of the way there catching the attention of the other brothers. We all burst into the Kings office to find him on the ground unconscious. I ran over to him placing his head on my lap and checking his pulse.

“Someone call the doctor!” Harland yelled.

I placed my hands on either side of the Kings head and closed my eyes focusing as my body took over. Memories that are not mine flooded through my mind making my body tense up. Then I saw her… Violette…

*        *       *       *

Harland

I sat back watching my Nethae place her hands on the Kings face and closing her eyes. Then her body tensed and her face looked pained.  I went to her side and grabbed her face.

“Come back to me Nethae.”

After a few moments, her eyes opened and tears fell from her eyes landing on the Kings face. She looked down at him and whispered the same name. I looked at the King to see tears of his own falling down his cheeks as he laid there staring up at her. His hand rose and went to her cheek wiping her tears away and then he pulled her down hugging her. I sat back and watched just as my drarhour did. Every one of us confused.

*        *       *       *

Evangeline

“Did you see her too?” He whispered to me.

“Yes.”

He released me and sat up rubbing his temples. I looked around the room to see each one of the brothers staring at us and then my gaze turned to my Loweyn.

“What is going on?” He asked me.

“I do not know…”

I stood up and looked at the King one more time before leaving the room. I walked downstairs and out the backdoor into the garden. I went to the fountain and closed my eyes trying to focus on her. I tried to find her again.

“Kekthar… Formir Fei….”

[Sister…. Find me…]

I stopped moving and opened my eyes looking into the sunrise. I focused on her soft voice floating into my mind.

“Hax? Vrara ea’i?” I asked her.

[How? Where are you?]

“Sowa da nan ronan kekthar.

Qroio kekthar.”

[I do not know sister. Please sister…]

“Thoi franall. Sowa en kabend ras iyai.” I said closing my eyes again trying to find her face.

[Stay strong. I am coming for you…]

“Lo kascrok kekthar.”

[Be careful sister.]

I opened my eyes and turned around looking back at the house. I can see Harland watching me from a window. I gave me a soft smile mouthing. – Trust me… I will be back soon. Before taking off towards the woods letting this feeling, I have in my heart pull me to Violette.

Running through the woods I can hear her voice getting louder and louder in my mind until it sounded like she is yelling at me. I stopped and looked around to see a large stone out of place. I went over and looked around for any kind of door. Stopping the door, I pulled it open and looked down all I can see is darkness. Pitch black darkness. I stood up and looked around the area seeing nothing and knowing I need to go down there. My kekthar is down there and she needs me more than ever. I took another deep breath before I went into the dark abyss.

The smell of vinegar grew as I went down deeper into Phetterea. I got to the bottom and looked around to see a faint light at the end of the tunnel. Slowly I made my way towards it when I heard Selene float into my mind.

--Do not fear srafse’as I am here.

I released a pent-up breath, having her watching me, guiding me makes me feel better as I made my way to the light.

--The room next you srafse’as is empty hide there now.

I did as she commanded and went into the room softly shutting the door. I can hear taking and footsteps then I heard the hatch door open and slamming shut.

--Go now.

I left the room and raced to the light. I got to the door and looked through the small window to see Violette huddled on the floor in the far corner of the room. I opened the door and stepped inside.

“Kekthar I am here.”

She looked up at me and I saw myself. She looks exactly like me… I dropped to my knees and stared at her with wide eyes and confusion.

“Kekthar you found me…”

I cannot form words all I can do is look at her… At myself…

--You need to leave this place now srafse’as now.

I stood up and held my hand out to her. When she took it, I pulled her from the floor and ran back down the hallway towards the hatch door. I had her go first and followed her up slamming the hatch door closed behind us. I grabbed her hand heading back towards the house when Selene appeared and stopped us.

“You have to hide. They are coming.”

“How many?”

“Hundreds. They know you are here go now srafse’as.”

I nodded my head and turned with my kekthar hand in mine. We ran coming across a town. We ran down the road looking for any kind of abandoned house when a man opened his door and whistled gaining my attention. I looked over at him and he waved at me opening his door more. I looked behind me to see the trees swaying back and forth. My sister went to the house pulling me with her. We went into the man’s house and he shut the door sliding the lock into place.

“In here please.”

He opened a hidden door under the staircase waiting for us to enter.

“I swear it on the brothers I will not keep here long.”

I nodded my head and went in with my sister. The man shut the door and my sister reached up sliding the lock into place. She sat back and looked at me.

“You look just like me…” She whispered.

“Where are you from?”

“Washington state.”

“Earth….”

“Yes, you too?”

“Yes.”

“Where are we not? North Carolina?”

I looked at her and sat down leaning against the wall.

“We are no longer on earth… We are in a world called Phetterea… How long have you been in that cage?”

She looked at me and then down at her hands concentrating.

“Almost a two years I think.”

“I did not hear you until now…”

“I know. I felt you three months ago. I tried calling you to before but I didn’t have any luck until today.”

I sat up and scooted closer to her.

“What about Kachelsis?”

“I know that name… I have seen him in my dreams before but I have never been able to talk to him like I did with you.”

“I saw you in his mind. That is when I really heard you.”

She stretched her legs out and looked around the room finding a few blankets and a sweater. She took the sweater putting it on and handing me a blanket. We covered ourselves up and listened to what is happening outside of this room.