章 5: Chapter 4
Stepping through, the portal was the worst. Tempest and Dominic couldn’t remember the last time they went through a portal they were too scared and the memories of that horrible day had faded. Going through the portal was scary it was cold and filled with blue and green light it only lasted minutes but felt like hours.
One minute they were outside Dominic’s house the next they felt themselves hurtling through time and space just to end up falling on hard cold leave covered ground.
“Did it work?”
“Take a look but I suppose you will already feel that it did work.”
“This has to be the worst place ever!”
It wasn’t dark as I thought it would be there was sunlight it was just very faint light and wasn’t so warm the energy of Nutt was wrong and that made the place feel cold and unfriendly and look uninviting, but I had a feeling the energy and look of the landscape had more to do with the ruler of the place than Nutt itself.
Turning around I saw Tempest brushing leaves off her clothes and Dominic helping to get the dead flowers out of her hair.
“Well, Tempest you would make a very fine Nymph.”
“Humph, I suppose”
“I would say a very hot one but I don’t think you would like it very much if bugs made themselves a home in your crown of leaves.”
“Bugs! What bugs get them out right now! Why are you just standing there laughing?”
“Because baby there are no bugs but the look on your face was priceless.”
“That is low just you wait, Dominic I will get my revenge and it will be sweet.”
“O no you should start running Dominic. Layla always says Tempest is a force of nature.”
“Yeah that she is but I take my chances.”
“Ok I love hearing you two talk and joke at my expense but this place gives me the hee-bee-gee-bees and the longer we stand talking the longer Layla is with that creep.”
“Your right Tempest we should get going.”
“Yeah sorry, babe your right but which way are we going.”
“That is easy we go straight into the woods.”
“WHAT?”
“Boys please don’t look so surprised I know it is that way I can feel Layla and she is deeper in the woods but I must let you know I do not like the dark or the look of those trees.”
“Are you sure Tempie that it’s…?”
“Alex you know magic and potions I know how to find things.”
“Ok but we stick tight right Alex?”
“Yes”
Taking a very long rope out of his backpack he ties one end around his waist.
“Tie this around you, so no matter what, we stay together. This rope has a spell on it, it will not break or get untied unless all three of us wish it to do so, it also lengthens on its own and it becomes invisible and disappears but it is still there and will keep us together.”
Leaving them to tie themselves up Alex takes three small bottles with bright green liquid in, out of his backpack handing one to Tempest and one to Dominic and keeping one for himself.
“What is this?”
Tempest asks with a look of apprehension on her face.
“That is a potion that makes the purple smoke useless meaning you will still be able to use your powers.”
“Cool and you’re sure it will work?”
“Yes, Dominic it will, now drink up we need to go. Tempest, you’re in the middle so you need to tell me where to go Dominic?”
“I will guard from the back got it.”
“Remember every elf here is our enemy or we can assume that. Don’t hesitate to use your power and don’t freak out when I use my magic you will know it is me because my magic shines with blue and green light.”
“Ok, we got it anything else?”
“Well, you might want to tell me about the mark of the elven kiss. Just to pass the time.”
“I notice you two don’t kiss and I don’t think it is because you don’t want to.”
“You don’t miss much do you.” (Dominic says with a rueful smile)
“The mark appears when a female elf kisses someone for the first time it can fade if it is not the elf’s true love. If it is true love like lasts forever and ever kind of love, the mark will last even after death. If it isn’t the mark will fade but there is always, a bound the kiss forms so female elves are very careful kissing is not something, we do on an impulse like humans do, but you knew that or you guessed because you haven’t kissed Layla when you kissed her goodnight you kissed her on the top of her head and did not give her a chance to kiss you? Not that she would have even if she really wanted to.”
“I may have had an inkling.”
“Which way straight?”
“Yes, still straight”
“I want Layla to be the first to see it and she is not around so...” (Tempest says with a small sad voice)
“Aaa, you want her to see your mark on Dominic first?”
“Yes, she will get it she will be happy and granny and Tempie’s parents, mine well you met my Dad, right?”
“Right I get it, but it must be hard on you both because you know you belong together forever and always right Tempest?”
“Yes, but finding Layla is more important at the moment, do you think she is ok?”
“Yes, and she knows we are on our way, she will fight and she will stay strong, but what she has to fight scares me.”
“Me too” (Tempest and Dominic say together).
They walk for what felt like hours and hours, Alex following Tempest's directions.
“I think we should rest you two don’t look so great.”
“No, we should go the longer we take the longer Layla is with them.”
Tempest wanted to sound strong and forceful but her voice was just above a whisper. Trying her hardest to keep on walking but her body betrayed her, on her next step her legs gave way falling with no effort of stopping her fall. Dominic’s strong arms wrap around her dragging her to his chest.
“Baby, I know how much you want Layla back, but she will kick your ass and have my head if she could see you now, we have to rest you can’t go on.”
“Dominic is right, we will rest a few hours eat, warm up and sleep. Besides I need time to make a strengthening potion for you both this place isn’t good for you two.”
“But Layla!”
“Tempest no one wants to find her more than me. I feel like I am going crazy and that is just about her being gone, add the fact that I know some weirdo wants to force her into a marriage, and do who knows what with her. Well yeah, we will not go into that but, you are her family and I will be dammed if I don’t make sure you are ok. Plus, I think she will want me to look out for both of you. Now lie there against Dominic and pretend I am not here and I will start dinner or breakfast or lunch well you get the idea how they tell time here is beyond me.”
“You know, I think I like you like this you don’t fight for control and I just get to hold you.”
“Dominic don’t be silly I never said you can’t hold me.”
“Baby, you did not make it easy on me, to get to this point you are aware of that?”
“Well, how was I to know how you felt it wasn’t easy on me either.”
“Yeah, Layla was right we were both too scared and stubborn but, I am glad we got to this point. But I am looking forward to your kiss, but you are right now is not the time.”
“It is harder on Alex isn’t with Layla being gone?”
“Yes, it is but he is strong. I think the Dark Elf prince and even Layla are in for a few surprises.”
“You know Honey, I think you are right. Is it ok if I rest my eyes for a bit? I feel sleepy and sore.”
“Sure, baby your safe. I am not going to let anything happen to you sweet dreams.”
Dominic realized as Tempest gave a sleepy sigh that she was already asleep wrapping his arms a little tighter around her and pulling her closer he holds her wanting nothing more than to never let her go again thinking that he wants her like this with him for the rest of his life. That will be paradise in his opinion.
“Wake up guys the food is ready.”
The first thing Tempest saw was Alex’s hazel eyes.
Staring right at me I could understand why Layla likes him and gets that lost in a daydream look his eyes were something picking up colors making the shades of brown and green change like a kaleidoscope.
“Wow, that smells great what did you make? How did you make it.?”
Dominic says as we untangle ourselves it became clear we both fell asleep as we both had pillow hair but my heart did a funny flutter thing when I looked at Dominic, he was seriously cute and hot at the same time and I smiled thinking he is all mine.
“I have skills, you two look better, now that you have taken a few hours long nap.”
“Wait a few hours!”
“Yes, it took a while to get the food ready. Everything is damp all the leaves and wood. So yeah it took time, but the food cooked and I also finished the strengthening potion which you both should drink right away.”
“How did you do all of this and yet you don’t look exhausted.”
“Yeah man, you should have woken me up to stand watch so you could rest.”
“Ok first give a guy a chance to talk the strengthening potion… I took some too and that is why I look so fresh and wide awake. And I did not wake you because you needed the rest and I had to finish the potion, look I am good with potions and spells but not all spells are defensive and well truth is I need you guys to be strong and rested if something goes wrong.”
“Making this potion, Alex how much magical energy does it use? Plus making that portal and the potion to stop that purple smoke messing with our powers?”
“Don’t worry Tempest I'm good I am just saying…”
“How much ALEX!”
Tempest's voice went from concerned to having a slight bit of a cold edge to it and looking at her now Alex was glad she was on his side he could swear he saw little flames dancing in her Caribbean blue eyes. Even Dominic moved a little bit back with a look of apprehension on his face.
“A bit, a lot I won’t be much good in a full-on fight at this moment. I am powerful and all but, it isn’t the magic use that is taking its toll on me.”
“It’s not being around Layla, why didn’t you tell us the despairing feeling is yours that lost feeling that is you, I thought it was just this place but it is you. You’re in pain and you're becoming weaker because the time apart from Layla is becoming longer. You need her that much?”
“I don’t get it.”
“Yes, Dominic it is me, my emotions your feeling and yes I need her that much and to the how question. Tempie Druids don’t have a choice when they find their Destined the bond is instant and I am weakening faster because my bond with Layla is stronger because she is so powerful in her own right, but don’t worry I will be fine I made enough strengthening potion to last us at least until we find Layla. Now if you’re not going to burn me to death with your fire stare Tempest let’s eat shall we.”
“I won’t ever hurt you Alex unless you hurt Layla then you should run far and very fast because then I will be your worst nightmare.”
“Your loyal to Layla, your love for her runs deep I respect that and I would expect nothing less from you Tempest.”
“Well, that food does smell good what is it?”
“Stew”
“How did you make stew in the middle of the woods?”
They both ask with shocked faces
“Magic!”
We were just finishing our meal when we heard a rustling of leaves.
“Shh, did you hear that?”
“Yes, baby be ready they will most likely go for you first using you as leverage.”
To my surprise, Dominic was smiling like a crazy person.
“I don’t get it why are you smiling like that you know Dark elves are somewhat stronger than Light Elves right.”
“Yes, we do “
“Then why are you smiling?!!”
“Remember Layla and me saying Tempest is a force of nature?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, you’re going to see why really soon.”
Purple smoke engulfed us the sweet smell made us all want to gag. There was so much smoke we could not see a thing I felt shackle’s around my arms and legs and by the groaning sound coming from Dominic I knew he was shackled too I so hope Elves don’t need their hands to use their magic.
The smoke cleared and Dominic was on the ground clearly haven taken a few blows and by the smoke coming off of his clothes, the dark ones used their fire magic on him. There were about five dark ones all of them big and handsome, but they had an aura of danger around them the biggest guy had Tempest in his arms and she was struggling to get to Dominic. I did not get it at first but then as he rolled over, I saw the stain of blood on his shirt they had stabbed him.
“Kill them both will take this beauty with us the prince might give her to us to have a little fun with, as I am sure he will be using all his skills on the silver-haired beauty she is a feisty one I heard.”
With that Tempest became as still as if she was carved out of stone but her eyes did not move away from the blood stain on Dominic’s shirt. But I saw the change in her eyes they went from filled with fear to filled with furry and blue flames and I knew Tempest was going to kill them all.
Tempest
The blood stain was growing and they were going to kill Dominic and Alex and the dark one with his arms around me was finding this funny. Looking at Dominic’s blood, I felt it the part I never wanted the part my parents knew was there. The side of me that would not be controlled They knew it was there, the moment I was born. I was always aware of it the dark power from a long-since-dead ancestor. My parents always knew one day it will break free and either I will control it or be consumed by it. But they loved me always and never made me feel bad about that part of me.
But standing there seeing the blood of my true love staining the ground. I knew I will not be consumed by my darkest power. Reaching for it was so easy like it wanted nothing more than to obey and with a will of iron and an all-consuming fury in my mind I called to it and I knew I will own it and control it.
Alex
At once brilliant blue and red flames spread outwards trapping all of us in a circle of fire. The dark one holding Tempest fell to the ground screaming in pain as his arms were turning to ash in front of his eyes. Tempest was on fire like she was made out of the fire. The flames were blue like her eyes but yet at the same time they were the color of her waist-length hair and where the two colors touched they turned purple. This was not a normal fire the dark ones had no control over it. She sent the fire outwards burning them all to ash and when not one of them was left she fell to the ground at Dominic’s side tears streaming from her eyes. The fire had gone as if it was never there so were the shackles.
To say I was shocked was putting it mildly. Tempest just turned a small band of masonries into ash without lifting a finger. I just got a whole lot more respect for Tempest and a healthy dose of fear. She was a force of nature alright and I really wanted to know what just happened but my shock wore off fast as the pool of blood became bigger.
“Honey, can you hear me, don’t leave me please?”
Tempest was talking pleading with Dominic her voice just slightly above a whisper. Running over I knelt to see how bad it was and to my horror, it was really bad.
“Tempest! Tempest sweetie listen I am going to try and heal him but it is bad, really bad you have to help anything you can think of, to do to help would be great give him a reason to stay. No, make him stay and Tempie if we are successful, I am going to be out cold so don’t freak ok just stay and watch over us ok.”
When she finally lifted her head, I was robbed of my breath and voice for a moment. I have never seen so much sorrow and total heartbreak on a person's face. It was so strong and overwhelming it was almost tangible.
“Save him please…”
Just that a small plea. With that she leaned over whispered something in Dominic’s ear and kissed him on his lips it wasn’t a big kiss and it wasn’t the kind that would be considered hot and steamy but there was something so powerful and profound about it that it felt like I was intruding on something too intimate to be witness to.
There was no flash of light no sparks but the moment she lifted her head I saw it spreading from Dominic’s hand up his arm to his shoulder like a Trible tattoo, a purple mark shaped like a flower on fire connected with vines and flames. There was no other way to describe it, it looked almost like runes but yet it did not it was clearly visible and it was Tempest like her essence was in every little detail of the flower and vine shapes. Even though it was a flower shape it did not look out of place on Dominic, it if anything it made him look even more manly than he ever had before. As soon as the mark appeared Dominic’s eyes popped open and found Tempest's face at once. There was more than just love in his gaze there was so much more there. Tempest smiled the prettiest smile, I have ever seen on her face and just held his hand leaving them to their moment, I pressed my hand on his wound and willed all my strength and a lot of power into healing him whatever comes next Dominic will live to face it with us. As the blue-green light of my power surrounded us, I thought of Layla and how I want nothing more than to bear her mark.
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