A Fractured Paradise

Chapter Ten (Part One)

Water? 

“My dearest, rest your head. Safe now, in your bed. In the glow of tomorrow, there will be no more sorrow. Forever here, I will be. I will keep you close to me. My love will protect you throughout the night. So rest now, my dearest and wake with the light. ” 

Rissa?

*

Larissa brushed a wet brush through Caeli’s hair, a bowl of spring water before her. She used the water to loosen the dried blood from Caeli’s hair. She sang the same lullaby her mother would sing to her when she was afraid.

It had been less than a day since her return. She was caked in blood and pale. Several bags hung above her, one filled with blood, an odd tubing attached in a way to deliver the fluids into her body; the others filled with liquids Larissa couldn’t identify. Darius had explained it to Larissa, but she wasn’t paying attention. 

The prince dabbed her forehead with a cold cloth.

Darius keeps giving her medicine, but the fever won’t break. Larissa was worried. Darius said the fever was why she hadn’t regained consciousness.   

Darius had explained that Caeli’s heart was stopped for two minutes, but he utilized something called cardiopulmonary resuscitation and restarted her heart. He said the damage done to her required surgery, where he had to cut into her body and attempt to fix her. He said to save her he had to remove one of her organs. He refused to tell them which organ. Not until Caeli wakes up. 

Princess Mariana sat in the corner, Tia keeping her occupied. Queen Cassiana had ordered the friends to protect the princess, while she removed the traitors within their kingdom.

As soon as the chaos had ended, soldiers were approaching the queen and informing her of what had occurred. She then approached every treacherous family. It was easy for her to know which members were part of the treachery and which were not. Children were escorted away before their relatives were killed. Some family members even asked the queen if they could be the ones to end the traitors. She was nearly done.

The greatest mystery was how they were able to hide their malicious intent. Only others with Paskoin blood should be able to keep secrets. The friends were positive it was the council, yet the queen refused to entertain their idea. 

Darius said it’s possible more than just our parents arrived. But he believes it's them just as much.

Prince Maximus began cleaning the blood from Caeli’s skin. He seemed lost, though he had blocked Larissa from his thoughts. 

And so Larissa sang, if only to keep the silence from creeping in. 

*

“We’re all here Cae. I need you to wake up, okay?”

Darius? Where am I? No, I failed them. I belong here.

*

Darius’s eyes held heavy bags beneath then. He closed his eyes and tapped his head.

It’s not working is it?

Everything I try to give just drains. Why isn’t the medicine working? Larissa sat, dizzy, beside Caeli. The prince and princess slept on a separate bed, Tia guarding the inside door with, at least, six guards outside the door. 

Darius seemed to stretch, pressing his hands into his head, Larissa noticed the fresh cuts upon his wrist. “Fuck.” 

He’s cutting again.

It’s been two days. If she doesn’t eat something soon...Darius shook his head. “I promise, Cae. You’re gonna be okay.” 

They hadn’t left the room, except for meal breaks and only when forced. Caeli was fading and they knew that. Larissa, Tia and the prince would try and give Caeli their energy, but it’d only drain from her.

Her eyes were still, her breathing was shallow and her pulse was weak. Her fever refused to break. Darius said it’s in her blood.

“It’s not fair!” Darius’s fist slammed into the wall. “I could save her! I kept telling them I just needed the right materials! Even now, her parents could do something more! They could’ve healed her! They didn’t have to burn her like that! It’s not fair! The queen could save her too, yet she’s going to let her die!”

“Dari.” The princess’s frightened voice pulled Larissa’s attention away from Darius. “We have to take her to the springs. Mommy heard you, Dari. She says you’re right. We have to take Caeli to the springs.”

“What do you mean, Mari?” Darius knelt to meet her eyes.

“The springs can heal.” Princess Mariana answered. “They can fix Caeli.”

“Mari, the springs will harm her.” Darius sighed. “We need to bring her fever down. They would only raise it.” 

“It will heal her.” Princess Mariana insisted. “Mommy can help.”

“Your mother is coming?” Darius tossed a glance to Larissa. What do you think?

Larissa squeezed Caeli’s hand. “It’s not like we have any other choice.” 

Princess Mariana shook her brother awake.

“Hmm?” He sat up.

“We’re going to help Caeli.” Princess Mariana smiled. “Mommy’s going to help us.”

It wasn’t long before the queen arrived. These past few days had worn her. No longer did she appear as the young queen Larissa had always seen her as. She appeared to have aged ten years, ebony bags under her eyes. 

“What is Princess Mariana speaking of?” Darius seemed to vibrate with rage. “Do you know of some other healing technique you failed to inform me of?”

The queen gave Darius a snide smile. “It will take three.” She removed the needles in Caeli’s arms and lifted her into her arms. “Everyone, please touch her.”

As soon as they were all touching Caeli, Larissa felt a jolt. They appeared beside the springs, Darius immediately vomited into some bushes. “I’m never doing that again.” He wretched again. “How do you guys do that?”

“Maximus, Mariana, you will join me.” The queen carefully entered the spring, Caeli remained still.

“Listen to me, my children.” The queen slowly lowered with Caeli. “Place your hands upon Caeli. Close your eyes and feel the strength of the water, the life of Duniwa within it. Believe that life can enter Caeli.” The children did as they were told. “See the water changing, tell it to enter her wound, to find what’s ailing her and to destroy it. It flows faster now, do you see it? Revitalizing her body.”

Darius sat, mouth agape as Tia, Larissa and Darius watched the water begin to glow. Under the surface they could see a trail of iridescent cyan entering Caeli’s stomach.

“What are they doing?” Tia gasped. “I’ve never seen the water do that before.”

“Changing it.” Darius answered, wincing and rubbing his head, his fresh cuts showing once more.

Darius, do we need to talk about you harming yourself?

Stay out of my business, Rissa.

I just don’t want anything to happen to you. Do you wanna talk about it?

A quiet gasp escaped Caeli’s lips, as the princess fell back. Prince Maximus caught her.

“Tia, collect and bring this water to all of the injured. Instruct the nurses to place just a bit in their IV’s.” The queen disappeared with Caeli, the prince and princess.

“See ya there.” Tia began her task.

“No, I’ll walk.” Darius backed away, but Larissa managed to place her finger on his shoulder. Caeli’s room.

The queen was attaching the various bags to Caeli once more. Already, her color was returning. 

Darius vomited into the sink. “I wanted to walk.”

Prince Maximus had laid his sister on the guest bed. He sat beside the bed, his eyes closed and his head hung back.

Darius checked Caeli’s pulse while Larissa read her energy.

“Heart’s strong.” Darius' eyes lit up.

“It’s not depleting.” Larissa smiled, noticing Caeli’s energy now stabilizing. 

The queen wasn’t smiling, however. She seemed to be distracted. “Larissa, keep a special watch.” She disappeared.

“Will she wake up soon?” Larissa asked.

“She should.” Darius nodded.

*

“Cae, you gotta wake up soon.”

“We’ve got Darius’s special chocolate for ya.”

“We’re all missing you. Come home.”

*

A chill filled the room. Prince Maximus jolted awake as Darius entered.

“Any change?” A hint of concern in his voice. “It’s been three days since she’s eaten. She can’t go much longer.”

Larissa shook her head.

Suddenly, she felt frozen. Darius awkwardly bent to his knees. Prince Maximus groaned. A tiny squeal escaped Princess Mariana. Tia winched, her body stiff.

No. 

Amu and Aquila entered the room. 

“Does it still live?” Her mother spat.

No. Someone, stop them! Larissa attempted to fight their control. We can’t let them hurt Caeli!

She began to choke. No. 

“Enough!” The prince’s voice boomed, with a growl. “I am tired of you thinking you can control my kingdom.” 

Larissa regained control of her body as Amu and Aquila fell to their knees.

The prince held a death glare upon them, his eyes seeming to hold a red tint.  “I am your king now. I am stronger than you could ever be. I know you hid the traitors from us. I know you aided in Caeli’s attempted r**e. Confess.”

“There were more than just us who escaped, boy.” Amu spat. “You will never be king.”

“Your sentence is death.” The prince’s voice was void of all emotion. “Tia, take Mariana out of here.”

Tia disappeared with the princess.

The room was cold, but Larissa felt nothing as Darius began punching Amu.

“You monsters! Why did you burn her?!” His voice was hoarse. “You knew what her dream was! You knew where her injury was! Why did you do that?!” Amu’s nose cracked, blood poured down his lips. 

“Rissa, make them pay.” Prince Maximus’s voice seemed utterly emotionless. 

Larissa didn’t think. She didn’t feel. Her fist collided into Aquila’s cheek, with the force of a strong gust behind it. Aquila’s jaw cracked. She screamed in muffled agony.

They didn’t stop. Something had taken them over. Larissa felt numb as all of her anger, fear and pain exited her fist and into Aquila’s face.

Was it wrong? Maybe. Merciless? Most definitely. But they didn’t care. The council had tormented Caeli for years, at the enjoyment of her parents. They deserve this. 

“Cease.” The queen startled the group.

Larissa stared at an unconscious Aquila before her. Her face was already bruising, her jaw laid limply and blood covered her skin.

I did that?

“What is the meaning of this?!” The queen demanded. “Maximus, we discussed this,”

“We discussed nothing, you told me what I was to do!” The prince screamed, his voice a booming growl. ”But I am the king now. These people are the reason my father is dead and I know you know that! I am stronger than they are! I will punish them for their crimes!”

“It’s our time.” Darius added. “We will not live in fear. We will not be controlled.”

“Our lives are our own. No one will tell us who to be anymore.” Larissa felt a weight lift from her chest.

“Ungrateful rebels.” Amu spat at them.

“Then rebels we will be.” Caeli’s voice was scratchy. 

Larissa turned to see a shaking Caeli struggling to sit up, she rushed to her friends side.

“No,” Caeli pushed her hand, her gaze returning to her father. “As our knowledge grows, your power weakens. You cannot destroy or control anything here, Amu. Now go in agony.” She fell back onto the bed.

Larissa touched her hand, observing Caeli’s energy slowly increasing. She sent Caeli some of her own.

Caeli’s momentary defiance distracted the prince enough for Amu to escape with Aquila. The rage permeating from the prince sent nausea through Larissa. 

“”Damn it!” The prince growled, the ground shaking momentarily.

“Caeli.” Larissa grabbed his hand. “She’s awake.

*

The queen and prince left the room, arguing.

Caeli was barely conscious, her body a dizzying numb, yet she felt happy. Her friends had defended her, but her parents had escaped. Still, Caeli was surrounded by her friends. 

“Eat.” Darius shoved a sandwich into her hands. “Please, Cae.”

She slowly chewed the turkey sandwich. The world was foggy as Darius checked her pulse and asked her questions. She answered, to the best of her abilities. 

There was silence for a moment, before Caeli recalled the events that had led to her hospital stay.

“Is the king alive?” She asked. “Is Marcellus?”

That place had to have just been a dream. Marcellus didn’t actually say goodbye. He’s not dead. I know he’s not dead. He’s too strong to die.

“It’s not your fault.” Larissa squeezed her hand. “We were betrayed. Your parents claim to have no part in it, but we all know they’re lying. No one blames you, Caeli.”

A sinking feeling tightened Caeli’s chest. No. She didn’t cry; didn’t scream. Her sandwich now sat like a rock in her stomach. “Why?” 

“Girls, will you give Caeli and I some time?” Darius asked. “I need to talk to her.”

Larissa seemed to reluctantly leave with her sister and the princess. Darius carefully took Caeli’s hand. “You had us worried.”

Caeli had a flash memory of pain. “How bad was it?” Her fingers traced her stitched skin. 

Darius’s eyes glistened with tears. He tensed, but he didn’t hold back. “I had to remove an organ.”

“How?” Caeli glanced at her stomach. What could he remove that wouldn’t have been fatal? How could he have removed it?

“From a book.” Darius answered. “And with Queen Cassiana’s help.” His tears streamed down his cheek. “It really wasn’t your fault. You saved so many. And no one saw the betrayal, not even most of their families. Cae, I need you to stay calm, okay? The medicine should be kicking in, is your head foggy?”

His words seemed slow, but Caeli nodded. Did he drug the food? This feels like the chocolate high, but so much stronger.

“I wanted to make it easier for you.” He placed his hands on her shoulders. 

He seems serious. This stuff is strong.

“Cae, the blade that stabbed you injured your uterus and your parents,” his voice caught in his throat. 

Uterus?

“They sent a hot blade into your wound. The shock stopped your heart. You were dead for two minutes, but I got you back.” Darius was shaking.

Dead? Got back?

“You had other damage, but your uterus couldn’t be saved.” His words echoed as his voice cracked. 

Other damage?

“The queen advised me that in order to save you, it had to be removed. She told me what to do and did most of the hard work, if I’m honest. She tried to heal you, but she was so weak and there really wasn’t time for her to collect more.”

 Heal?

“But she said the damage done to your uterus was too great for just her to heal, and you were dying. I didn’t have the equipment for time. I’m sorry, I tried everything.” He broke into sobs, pulling Caeli close to him. 

He’s so sad. Like me.

“Caeli, without it you’ll never be able to have children. But I promise I will do whatever it takes to keep my promise to you. When you find a girl, I’ll be the donor. I even learned of a way to be able to impregnate a woman without penetration. I’ve been trying to develop the tools. But I swear I will keep my promise to you.” His crystal eyes showed pain within them.

“What?” She tried to comprehend, her fingers covering her stomach. “I...I’ll never have a baby?” Through the fog, a lump caught her throat. “Not that. Not with my failure. Not with the king’s blood on my hands. Not without Marcellus to guide me.” 

The loss weld inside her like a pressure around her heart, filling her chest. 

“I will make sure I keep my promise.” Darius insisted. 

But she couldn’t fully comprehend his words. Her mind cluttered with the memories of her bleeding and screaming comrades. 

“Why would they do this?!” A gust of wind surrounded Caeli. “Why must the council do everything to destroy our lives?!” A primal scream escaped her chest. “It’s not fair! They didn’t deserve to die that way! I should’ve stopped it!”

“Stop!” Darius grabbed Caeli, holding her close to him once more. “It is not your fault. You did everything you could to save them.”

The wind calmed, as Caeli collapsed against Darius, wailing into his shoulder. “I couldn’t save them!” 

“It wasn’t your fault.” He stroked her hair. “No one saw this coming.”

“Why didn’t I go with them?” Caeli whispered, the pressure in her chest almost suffocating her, though the fog was taking her mind once more. Damned drugs.

“Because you weren’t supposed to go.” Darius answered. “I worked so hard on the king and my number one desperately tried to save Marcellus, but your injury was one of the very few that Queen Cassiana could heal. She broke the rules for you and the others, Cae. Everyone that could be saved, was saved. Most would’ve never made it home, had you not saved them. Don’t ever blame yourself. And I will keep my promise.”

Caeli closed her eyes, sleep too strong to fight.

*

“I’ll be your surrogate.” Larissa didn’t hesitate. 

Caeli had woken at sunrise, stating she wished for Darius to explain to Larissa and the prince what exactly happened to her. She wept in Larissa’s arms.

“I will keep my promise.” Darius encouraged.

“What promise?” The prince asked.

“Remember that day your mom told us about the Paskoin history here?” Darius asked. 

“Yeah.” The prince nodded.

“Caeli and I felt...bad. We couldn’t explain it. Like we didn’t belong cause we weren’t mixed. I don’t know. I asked Caeli if she’d want to make a shining example with me someday.”

“I told him I didn’t like boys like that.” Caeli whispered.

Darius’s gaze held a sort-of love as he gave Caeli a weak smile. “So I promised that I’d be the donor, like my neighbor had done for Ophelia and Lyla, when she was ready.”

“I’ll still be the surrogate.” Larissa rubbed Caeli’s back. Any child you raise will shine just as bright as you, Cae. 

Caeli shook her head. “I don’t deserve it and I don’t deserve to be alive.” Her eyes met the prince’s. “I let you down. I let all of Adyta down.”

“No you didn’t.” Larissa squeezed her.

Maxy, talk to her please.

The prince sat on Caeli’s bed. “You had us f*****g terrified. You know we postponed burials until you recover? You were the last to pull through, Cae and everyone asked about you. Every soldier, every citizen; hell even some of the animals.” He squeezed her hands. “If you would’ve died too, I think this place would’ve fallen apart. You didn’t fail us. We were betrayed. My mother couldn’t even see it coming. You did everything right, Cae.”

Larissa rubbed her back. “He’s telling the truth.”

“I could’ve done more.” Caeli shook her head.

“Cae, listen to me.” Darius whispered. “There was nothing more you could’ve done. You think that because losing them hurt and you were there, you’re strong and you should’ve been able to stop it. But Cae,” He shook his head. “I’ve done that to myself about a thousand times. There are forces out of our control, this time we know it was the council that did this.” He walked to a drawer and retrieved a book. 

It was the same one Larissa had seen him reading. The one he held most precious to him. 

“But when Max told your parents to f**k off, he lifted the silence they’d placed on me.” Darius sighed. “And with the king’s passing...would you three like to know your real history?”

Finally.

“It’s about time.” Prince Maximus smirked. 

He sat the book on Caeli’s bed. As he spoke, he slowly flipped through pages.

“When the Paskoins first came here, there were nine. My parents found the other two, but they were already dead. My parents figured they had been injured before their departure. They didn’t report them, as their bodies would’ve been discarded in some trash pile. They buried them under the tree in my grandparents back yard. They must have been healers because this book is that of medical knowledge far beyond what we possess still. Our primitive tools leave us at a great disadvantage. There’s a way to impregnate without male penetration. A machine that can be breath or a heartbeat for someone. It’s where I learned the technique to bring you back. I’m lucky you didn’t need shocked back or I don’t think you would’ve lived.”

“Shocked back?” Caeli asked.

“Our hearts function on electrical impulses. Sometimes those can get disrupted and they need a device to shock it back into rhythm.” Darius explained. “But this part explains the most about elementals.” He flipped to a page. “There seems to be five elements. Air, Water, Earth, Fire and Energy.”

“Energy?” Larissa asked. “But that’s something we all use.”

“Yes, you can all manipulate it to your use, but it always returns to what it was before. No matter how many times you alter the frequency, once it's used it goes away or returns to its normal state…” Darius looked at the prince. “Unless your element is Energy. You guys have the ability to permanently alter its properties. Like with the springs, they will always heal now. You, your mom and your sister have this gift. It was the rarest gift among the Paskoi.”

“How do we get them?” Caeli asked.

“It seems to pass through families. Though it’s not always the same. It depends on your genetics. If two people with the ability to use fire have children, then their children would utilize fire. If one were fire and one were air, then the children could get either fire or air. Some children may not have an elemental ability, but their children could go on to show them. Though, according to the book, Paskoi was at a point where no one knew what elements to expect, if any came. Paskoi was around for thousands of years. It’s why they were so advanced. Larissa, did your father ever use the wind to attack anything?”

Larissa thought back. She’d hunted with her father hundreds of times, but couldn’t remember any time where the wind had acted strangely. “Not that I recall.”

“It’s possible it skipped him.” Darius sighed. “Max, I figure you and your sister have your moms because you’re only half Paskoin. No other elements to mix, so the dominance of your mother’s element must have passed to you. Cae, I don’t know anything about your parents. The council kept away from here.”

Larissa flipped through the pages. She found one about healing. 

One must focus intently on the energy of the cells within the sick or injured, in your mind see them as healthy as your own. Utilize your knowledge from Chapter Four and the makeup of various energies to help speed production of new healthy cells.

She didn’t fully understand, but a thought crossed her mind. “We could’ve saved everyone.”

Darius’s head hung as he sighed. “Queen Cassiana would not allow any healing, as according to the council, it was a forbidden ability.”

“The queen?” Caeli gasped.

“No.” Max shook his head.

“She let thousands die!” Larissa shouted. “How could she? Even with the princess under threat! We could’ve killed them!”

“Rissa,” The prince pulled her to him.

“No!” Her anger only grew. “My parents and grandparents died from that plague! And now, I find out they could’ve been saved?! That everyone would have been saved?!” 

“Rissa, I’m mad too but please,” Darius shielded his face. “Don’t blow things around again.”

Larissa took calm, slow breaths. “It’s not fair.” She shook her head. 

“Did she let father die?” The prince’s voice was cold.

“No, never.” Darius shook his head. “Some injuries can’t be healed before their souls are taken. When a soul is taken, they can’t come back.”

“But she couldn’t heal me and I didn’t die.” Caeli closed her eyes.

“When your parents burned you Cae, they damaged your cells too greatly. After trying to save Vitus, and helping me bring you back...she didn’t have enough time to collect the energy to heal you. You were dying, she was on the verge of passing out. And if she had healed you after, your parents would’ve taken Mariana and I don’t know what they would’ve done to her.”

“Take her?” The prince asked.

“From what I understand, Mariana is very strong and the council thinks she could return them home. That they can use her strength to take back their home.” Darius answered. “But I think you scared them, Max. They’ve completely disappeared from Adyta.”

“We will find and kill them.” Prince Maximus shook his head. 

*