Morning Diamond

Tell me Something

“Carry her.” Mark ordered. Claire felt relieved when her legs were alleviated from the great burden of carrying her worn and weary body. The moment she was safely in Keith’s arms she snuggled into his shoulder, grateful to be off her feet. They had been traveling fast all night and most of the day and Claire was beyond exhausted. Several times over the last hour her legs buckled causing her to trip and forcing one of her brothers to catch her before she took a nosedive. Now her gratitude for the twins’ seemingly endless sense of endurance made her smile before a yawn escaped and her eyes began to drift closed.

Keith’s body swayed as he walked, luring her closer to sleep. She fought against it, fearing what would happen to her if she allowed herself that comfort. After an indiscernible stretch of silence, she heard Mark’s voice. “We should have told her. We should have prepared her for that.” Claire’s fatigue made it difficult to register what her brother’s words meant, but something told her they were important. Struggling to stay awake she tried harder to pay attention to what they were saying. What had they been hiding from her?

“Don’t you think I haven’t thought about that a thousand times? I know we should have told her, but how do you prepare a child for something like that?”

“I know,” she heard Mark sigh. “And I fear the worst is yet to come.”

“Mark, we can’t wait any longer. They know where we are, we can’t hide her. I only pray we can make it there with no more setbacks.” Go where? Mark and Keith’s conversation seemed to cause more questions than it answered.

“I’ve felt like something was wrong for a while now, but I chalked it up to her being in college. Well, that and her new interest in boys. I should have followed my instincts.” Mark sounded ashamed. “Our plans won’t work now. We need to find someplace to rest and plot out our next move.

Claire could feel Keith looking at her. She remained still, hoping they would continue if they thought her asleep. “Whatever we do, we need to do it quick. We need to protect Claire, and most important, get her back to Danyon.” Danyon? The land of her brother’s fairy tales? Why do fairy tales have anything to do with what’s happening now. Claire’s head spun and the effect lured her closer to unconsciousness. “I know we agreed to wait until the week of her birthday and go on a surprise camping trip, but it appears neither the trip, nor waiting to tell her is an option.”

“Yeah, I know. With Leishman’s men here,” Who’s Leishmann? “Hiding and getting her back is going to prove even more difficult to accomplish. I just hope his men know nothing about the cave. Wasn’t there other ways of leaving Danyon?” Mark asked hopefully.

“From what I understand, possibly. But there is only one way to get to Tyrell from Danyon; the other portals lead to other worlds.” Keith responded. Claire was baffled, are the twins crazy? They were talking about other worlds and portals, had they lost their minds? There was no such thing. “I hope I am wrong and the cave remains a safe passage home.” Claire heard Mark sigh in response to Keith’s words. Home? “She’s not going to be too happy when she wakes up. We have a lot of explaining to do.” That’s for sure! Claire thought.

“I know. Do me a favor,” Mark paused. “Pick a place where there’s nothing to throw!” Claire half smiled. Her brothers knew her well. For a long time there was silence and Claire began to feel the unwanted pull that beckoned her to rest.

“Mark, I have to tell you about Mike….” Exhaustion overtook Claire before she could focus on this new conversation; the one she was most interested in.

***

When Claire woke it was dark and the cold hard surface beneath her felt familiar. She opened her eyes long enough to scan the darkness and hear her brothers soft snoring beside her. The familiar sound made her smile. “I love camping.” She stated sleepily. Pulling her blanket up under her chin, she quickly fell into a fitful slumber.

***

Claire woke feeling anything but rested. Her body hurt from tossing and turning all night. Nightmares had plagued her and they had seemed so real and intense she shuddered at the memory of them. I hope I never have dreams like that again. Flipping over she attempted to stretch and work out some kinks in her back. “OUCH!” She cried out, startled by the sharp rock stabbing her ribs, she jolted up. “What the heck, where am I?” She looked around the small rocky cavern, confused and slightly disoriented.

“’Hey, Claire-Bear, you’re ok sweetie.” Mark instantly came to her side. His arms wrapped around her and he began to speak in a calm and reassuring voice. “I have you, you’re safe. Nothing will ever hurt you. I promise. Everything will be okay.” He rocked her back and forth in a comforting manner. She pushed against him, but his hold on her remained firm.

Confused by his sudden concern she attempted to shake her sleep brain into waking up. One moment she didn’t have a clear thought in her mind and the next…

“It wasn’t a dream. Oh. My. Gosh. It wasn’t a dream!” Reality snuck in to steal away the peace and serenity of her simple life. Her lungs constricted and she began to pant. Flash backs of the night before began whirling across her mind in vivid detail.

Her mind spun as sounds and images caught up with her. She jumped as a loud explosion echoed in her memory. Men shouted all around her, but the cave remained empty of anyone but her and Mark. It all came rushing back: explosions, men had broken into their home, the tunnel, emerging into the night and running until exhaustion overtook her. She reached for the small pendant hanging from her neck.

The necklace had been her mother’s and since childhood it had comforted her in ways her brothers could not. She believed her mother’s spirit dwelled within the immaculate carvings and watched over her. For this reason, she never took it off. She traced small circles over the smooth wood to draw strength and comfort. She looked, unseeing, around the cave as panic welled inside her.

Never panic.

Her brothers’ words screamed in her mind and she took several calming breaths. Finally she was able to meet her Mark’s worried eyes.

“What happened?” She demanded, pushing him back. The last thing she remembered Keith had lifted her off her feet and cradled her like a child. She vaguely remembered her brothers speaking gibberish for several minutes until their voices faded and sleep destroyed her resolve to stay awake and find answers to the horrors that has become her life. Her stomach grumbled.

“Let’s get you something to eat, Bear.” Mark offered. Claire glared at him, knowing he only stalled for time.

“NO! I want to know what happened! Mark, you and Keith have to tell me before I lose my mind. I heard you talking when you thought I was asleep. I know there is something you haven’t been telling me.” She looked around the small cave, “Where’s Keith?”

“He’s hunting. Claire, Baby girl, listen to me.” He cupped her face with his hands, forcing her look at him. He flinched from the large tears gathering in her violet eyes. His words caught and he was unable to continue before she started questioning him.

“Who were they? Why did they try to hurt us?” Her voice turned from a forceful demanding manner to a weak and drawn tone she did not recognize. She stood and began to pace before Mark. “Why won’t you answer me?” She felt her spunk drain from her body. She always believed she was strong woman, but this whole situation was becoming more than she could bear. Without her brother answering her questions, she was forced to use her own imagination to draw conclusions.

Her brothers were not who they appeared to be. They had kidnapped her as a child. The people who attacked her home were sent to rescue her and return her to her family.

No.

Her blood had an immunity factor for some disease, but to discover how to use her blood to save millions of lives she would be forced to endure torturous studies that could potentially cost her life. Her brother’s fought against it and now the head scientists of Tyrell have decided to take her by force.

No.

A dozen other possibilities were quickly discarded as her mind swirled. It was no use. She had no answers. She could not comprehend why anyone would choose to attack her home or why they would want her. She pressed her hands against her eyes and Claire dropped to her knees.

“Claire, sweetie, Keith should be part of this conversation and we need to wait for him to get back.” Mark moved to her side once more, using their brother’s absence to excuse his reluctance to give her answers. He hooked a finger under her chin and lifted her face so he could meet her eyes. “I promise, when he returns we will explain everything.”

Hysteria threatened. She felt like her world had shattered and she would never feel whole again. She wanted answers now, not later. She threw her arms around Mark and cried. He remained quiet not knowing how to react to her tears. She had never acted this way.

Mark held Claire close, trying to provide what comfort he could. Finally, after an eternity of minutes she quieted. “Claire-Bear?” She let out a small weak sigh as he pulled back from her, searching her face to confirm her tears were spent.

“You know, when you called me that the other night, I thought I would tear your head off,” She said looking up at him. “Today I’m just glad you’re here to say it. It sounds wonderful.” Mark chuckled and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. Claire continued, “I’m so confused; I don’t understand what happened. One minute we are watching a stupid horror flick with Mike the next……Oh Mark,” she grabbed onto Mark’s shoulders and shook him, “Mike! He didn’t leave with us. You said something about him last night. I fell asleep before I heard what happened to him.” She struggled to search her memory for clues; focusing on the cool grey rock beneath her she hoped the veins of color snaking through the stone would aid her.

“Bear, look at me.” He gently shook her shoulders, but she did not look up. “Claire.” He lightly pinched her chin, forcing her to look away from the stone. “He told Keith to get you out safely. He said he had a way out. I am sure he is just fine.” She looked at him, speculating. Her brothers had never before lied to her. At least that’s what she had believed. Maybe they had a reason for lying to her, but she was sure he would not lie about this.

“Really?” The innocent, trusting look in her eyes, combined with the tear streaked face and pouty lip made Mark chuckle. He hugged her close and kissed the top of her head.

“Yes, Baby Girl, I know he is alive.” She accepted his answer with a small smile. “Listen Bear, we kept some things from you to protect you and I need you to trust me now. When Keith returns we will explain everything.” A tear streaked down her cheek and Mark lifted his thumb to clear it away.

“Claire-Bear, you’re leaking.” Keith called from the mouth of the cave. “I thought you hated to leak.” He teased lightly, but the worry in his eyes was evident. He stepped further into the cave, carrying a handful of robin eggs and wood for a fire.

“Keith.” Claire called while pulling away from Mark. She jumped up and ran to him, throwing herself at him and smashing the eggs between them. “Keith, I am so glad you’re ok.” Keith looked over her shoulder to Mark. His mirror image shrugged and gave a meaningful look, but Claire did not see it. Keith nodded, dropped the wood and egg shells, and wrapped his soggy arms around her. After a moment he cleared his throat.

“I’m fine sweetie…but I think my shirt has had it.” Claire pulled back to look at the egg yolk dripping from his shirt; she gave him a half smile.

“Guess I didn’t think that all the way through did I?” She looked guiltily at his slimy shirt. Her eyes lightened with mirth. She burst into laughter. The stress of the last couple days half melted into hysterical laughter over the smashed egg yolk. Mark and Keith shared another worried glance.

“I’m sorry,” Claire stated. “I just can’t stop laughing at this.” She gestured to the yolk dripping from both of their shirts.

“its fine," Keith’s said cautiously. "I know where to find more eggs and the shirt will wash. Mark, I have a skinned rabbit outside just waiting to be roasted. If you’ll grab it, I’ll get a fire going and we’ll start breakfast.” Keith bent to retrieve the wood while glancing between Claire and Mark.

“I want answers.” Claire instantly sobered before Mark could take more than two steps. Keith nodded and took her hand to lead her further into the cave. She watched him build a fire in silent seething while Mark prepared the rabbit to cook. Claire waited impatiently until the meal was cooking before giving Mark a meaningful glare.

“Let’s have a little talk, shall we?” Mark offered while positioning himself more comfortably beside the fire.